I think that the article is a good one as it points out their ignorance rather than actual stupidity. (Yes I know that I am generalising here).

A true story.

I was once in Paris doing the touristy thing at Eiffel tower. Whilst in the lift that goes to the top with my then girlfriend, a few other tourists and I where joined by a stereotypically fat American tourist and his wife.

Being the only English speakers there we struck up a conversation. The conversation was along the lines of how impressive the Eiffel tower is and what other sights we had seen across the world etc. I told him that I found the Gaudi cathedral in Barcelona quite impressive, he asked what part of France that was in.......

Anyway, because the lift to the top of the Eiffel tower takes some time the conversation continued and inevitably the subject of US architecture came about. Having never been to the US I asked a few questions and obviously everything in the US was the biggest, the best and the grandest. At one point the guy said:

"This Eiffel tower is quite something, but the French have never done something quiet as magnificent as the Statue of Liberty".......................................... ......

Unfortunately for us Brits drunken chavs are seen to represent us, yet people such as the guy I mentioned above are seen to represent Americans.

I am not sure which I would prefer.