I was handing out charity leaflets at the door after Mass when an angry-looking woman wearing a “don't attack Iraq” badge shook her finger in my face and said, “Get out of Iraq.” She marched off, not leaving me enough time to point out that I wasn't in Iraq but in Devon in the heart of England.

Anti-Americanism disturbs me because I remember my uncle and the other men of my parents' generation who paid a great price to liberate Europe 50 years ago. When English anti-Americanism rears its head I'm inclined to agree with the American joker who said about the French, “The nice thing about the French is that they're always there when they need us.” It is easy enough to be dismayed at European lack of gratitude, but a more mature response is to ask why they harbor such anti-American attitudes.

Could they be justified even just a little?

When I first moved to England I brought with me the typical American idea that we had rescued Europe from Hitler. That summer I came across an old man who wasn't a fervent lover of America. When I replied, “I don't know why you dislike America; didn't we come over and save you from the Nazis?”

The old soldier nearly exploded with anger and said, “Sure you did, but only after you sat out for most of the war happily selling arms to both sides.”

I had to admit he had a point. But during the last few weeks I have come to ask whether his point was valid after all. What made me wonder was realizing that exactly the opposite argument is now being used to beat America.

According to the old soldier, America was wrong for not confronting Hitler soon enough. Now (after allowing 12 years for sanctions to work) America is criticized for invading Iraq too soon.

Most anti-American attitudes are similarly two-faced. Some people tell me America is wrong for being isolationist while others criticize America for interfering in other countries all over the world. America is criticized for not helping the poor, then it is criticized because it uses massive aid programs to further its political agenda.

It seems Americans are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

In addition to revolving-door arguments, the critics are blind to the fact that all the things they criticize in America can be found on their own doorsteps.

Europeans like to look down their noses at what they perceive as American vulgarity, vice and violence while conveniently overlooking the decadence in their own countries. Otherwise intelligent people ignore facts, resort to slogans, circulate gossip and entertain any myth that makes America seem big, evil, stupid and dangerous.

Whenever the anti-American generalizations are challenged, they crumble. This leads me to question where the real root of anti-American attitudes lies.

I believe it lies in the universal human instinct to take potshots at the person in charge. In other words, Europeans dislike America because they resent her overwhelming wealth and strength. They hate the idea that any one country should be so invincible. They dislike the way America uses her power, and they fear the way that power might be used in the future.

This resentment is natural and America has to have big enough shoulders to take it.

When this human instinct descends to petty jealousy, bigotry and discrimination, it becomes destructive. When it leads people to be closed-minded and aggressive, it can become dangerous. However, this same basic instinct can be used as a right and proper check to unlimited wealth and power.

There's nothing wrong with being suspicious of those who wield enormous power. Rich and powerful people should be criticized. When anti-American attitudes are thought through and expressed rightly, they are a good balance to the invincible power of America. Not all the criticism is shallow, ignorant and immature jealousy. If America is to exercise her enormous power for good she has to be big enough not only to shrug off criticism but also to listen to criticism.

This is why the international diplomacy of Pope John Paul II is so important. The Holy Father actually loves America, so his criticism is all the more potent. Furthermore, he speaks from a worldwide perspective and with more than 25 years’ experience on the international stage. Most importantly, he speaks without an ulterior political or economic agenda. The Pope is not jealous of American power and wealth. He doesn't need to win an election. He has no plans to exploit the oil wealth of Iraq.

Neither is the Pope a simplistic pacifist. He is not in favor of appeasement. How could a man who resisted the Nazis and the communists be an appeaser? He wants to confront and solve the terrible situation in Iraq, but he insists the use of military force causes more problems than it solves.

He has experience in seeing harsh regimes fall without resort to war. The Polish regime fell. The Russian Empire crumbled. Marcos was deposed in the Philippines. The Czechoslovakian, Romanian and Albanian regimes crumbled from within. The Pope knows from personal experience that evil regimes can be defeated by peaceful means.

When anti-Americanism rears its head, Americans are right to shrug off the witless attacks.

But Americans must also listen and learn. Not all the attacks are witless. Americans must have the courage to listen to their critics. With intelligence and clear vision, they must question their motives and their means, remembering that the only people who are always wrong are those who think they are never wrong.

Dwight Longenecker, a former Anglican priest, is author of The Path to Rome and More Christianity.