Editing Americophobia (section)

[[File:Anti-american protest.jpg|thumb|A group of Pakistanis burn an American flag.]]
{{Quote|For as long as I can remember, I have felt tormented and at war, and have felt hatred and animosity for Americans.|[[Osama bin Laden]]}}<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;">The term</span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;"> </span>'''anti-Americanism'''<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;">, or</span><span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;"> </span>'''anti-American sentiment '''<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;">a.k.a</span>''' Americophobia'''<span style="font-family:sans-serif;line-height:19.200000762939453px;">, refers to opposition, fear, hatred or hostility to the policies, culture, economics or international role of the United States. Common contemporary negative stereotypes of Americans include that Americans are: aggressive, arrogant, ignorant, imperialistic, know-it-alls, loudmouthed, militaristic, obsessed with making money rather than making friends, too moralistic, obnoxious, and that many Americans are overweight.</span>

Political scientist Brendan O'Connor suggests that Anti-Americanism cannot be isolated as a consistent phenomenon and that the term originated as a rough composite of stereotypes, prejudices and criticisms towards Americans or the United States, evolving to more politically-based criticism. French scholar Marie-France Toinet says use of the term "is only fully justified if it implies systematic opposition – a sort of allergic reaction – to America as a whole."

Discussions on anti-Americanism have in most cases lacked a precise definition of what the sentiment entails (other than a general disfavor), which has led to the term being used broadly and in an impressionistic manner, resulting in the inexact impressions of the many expressions described as anti-American.

Many people who are anti-American also burn, stomp on, and spit on American flags, as well as protest against the national anthem.