The problem with liberal visions of Europe

I don't think all liberals necessarily and often idealise Europe but some of them do and oftentimes it can be
weirdly romanticised. Though to be honest, though Europe's got both good and bad parts there are some highly
or moderately conservative demographics in whatever country, whether if they're concentrated in the Bible
Belt (Sweden, Netherlands), resurgent fascist movements or religious conservatism in other countries (this
arguably includes Turkey).

There's even a profound Islamophobic sentiment in various European countries (and India too) as well as
outrightly racist ones so at other times Europe and India are really no different from America in some regards.
Even certain European countries are sometimes no different from each other over some things so there's that.
(Germany even has a recurring issue with stray dogs being shot by hunters and dog poisoning, which's also
found in France, Italy, Poland and Russia.)

That and similar stereotypes of others so in some regards Europeans, Russians, Africans and whatever group
are really people all the way. Both good and bad, they're all human.

Not really in defence of...

I'm not necessarily entirely defending Sweden and the Netherlands, the former often being a conservative's
whipping person. But keep in mind that Bible belts or pockets of Christian religiosity exists there. There was
even the (in)famous letter as written by a Norwegian woman should suggest that even Norway may still have
Christians. If I'm not mistaken, there are African missionaries in Europe and evangelicals in France.

So it seems not all is lost. If you look hard enough, true Christians still exist in Europe. The report a Christian
teacher being banned for misgendering a pupil suggests that they still exist. They're not even nonexistent and if
France's any indication, they're even growing. (A celebrity might join their club too.) I've been to Christian
websites from France, Germany and even Turkey (it used to be a Christian country).

Again not all hope's lost and true Christians still exist there.

Liberal Europe romanticism

It's not that liking Europe's bad. But that there's a tendency to romanticise Europe especially by US liberals even
if that's not always consistently nor exactly the case, it does feel like it. In the sense of yearning for some
freedom yet not too removed from home. Or a similar sentiment like that. Not that there's anything wrong with
it.

At other times, Europe's really no different from America when it comes to having Bible belts (Netherlands and
Sweden), substantial pockets of religious conservatism (as well as accompanying homophobia and
Islamophobia), serious racism and misogyny (Italy's sometimes compared to America) and sometimes loud
white nationalism (just like America).

There are undoubtedly some nuances but at other times they're no different. So they're just people, both good
and bad or either one. But still human.

US Conservatives and Europe

I don't necessarily think all US conservatives hate Europe. But I do get how they feel in the sense that they seem
tired of US liberal romanticism of Europe. And I think some of them go so far to seek the grit behind the
glamour though I could be projecting, I do understand where they're coming from.

Europe, in my opinion, is sometimes no different from America in some regards like xenophobia, misogynoir
(racism and sexism aimed at black women), racism, white nationalism, Islamophobia and the like. Similar things
can be said about India to some extent too.

(The constant conflicts between Hindus and Muslims gives an idea of how Jews and Christians were nearly like
in still-pagan Europe back then.)

It could be me find the gritty side of Europe to be more interesting than the glamour. Sometimes it feels more
human this way. That's not to say I dislike Europe, I actually find it more interesting than North America. But the
grittiness outweighs the glamour at times.

So it seemed a good number of US conservatives who're interested in Europe, if at all, are into the grit and dark
underbelly behind the facade and romanticisation.