Americans.

[Carl East]

It's strange, I've never travelled very far outside my own country, yet most of my friends live in America. I've seen so many posts that slag off one country after another, including my own, yet I have nothing but admiration for America.

There is good and bad in every country, but I believe it's the people from these countries who can make a difference.

I hate it when someone from my country starts shouting their mouth off, especially when that shouting is ill informed, or just plain wrong.

I recently witnessed a thread that had yanks and brits debating the second world war, I didn't respond to that one, mainly because I was angry. Again, some of the things said in that thread were wrong, for both British and American lives were lost, I chose to honour their names by remembering their sacrifice.

These are just my thoughts, so there really are no questions here, except maybe, how do you feel when someone slags your country off.

Carl.



[Edited by Carl East on 07-16-2000 at 12:23 PM]

 

[April]

Carl, I absolutely agree with you.

 

[Stevie]

Pissed of is how I feel, I have actually been to the US a couple of times, I wonder how many of the Americans who criticize the UK have ever come over here.

 

[CreamyLady]

Stevie, I've only been to the UK twice, and each time I was connecting to a flight going to Ireland.

My visits were very brief, and I only had one unhappy experience with an official who seemed to think that my impending visit to a friend in Dublin made me a card-carrying member of NORAID. I most certainly do not think every person in the UK is the same as the official, and if I ever get the money, I shall probably go back and visit the UK itself. I haven't gotten lost there yet.

 

[Mensa]

Owww, don't hurt me!!

Amused! The old childhood rhyme readily comes to mind, sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

 

[Stevie]

Cramylady I do hope you come back, I'll have to take you out for a cream tea or something.

And what is it with airport officals the world over who seemed dutybound to ensure every visitor's first impression of a new country is a bad one.

I would love to go back to the US, it's such a large and diverse country I could visit every year and never get bored.

 

[CreamyLady]

Stevie, I'd love to go back. When I do, you'll know me. I'll have a map that is in sections, which don't quite match up, and I'll have made a turn, in the wrong direction, too early and ended up in a place that I didn't know was there, and might not actually exist.

I've met a lot of friendly and wonderful people that way. None of them have ever managed to set me straight, but we've talked for hours about everything else.

 

[Cheyenne]

I don't think I've insulted the UK, but I've been to at least a small part of it. Spent a week in London last year and thought it was great. Didn't see any sign of the "rude" English people I'd heard about from the German relatives and French fellow-workers! Everyone was very helpful and polite. Some people went out of their way to help my traveling partner, who has a handicap. No different than in America, actually. Of course, I also think you are often treated about the same that you treat other people. We went there with the idea that we would love it and would enjoy the trip. That's what happened.

 

[Siren]

If you think Brits are rude.....

 

[Isabella Thorne]

Carl dear .. well said .. cheers darling ....
<raising a mug of lukewarm british ale in your honour>
*hugs and kisses*

 

[Svedish_Chef]

Carl since I am going to the US to see all these wonderful people I just hope that it is so... just dont forget the flag.


Da chef

 

[April]

I've never had a problem in another country that I didn't attribute to the person just being a jerk. Even in Paris, they were pretty nice. Except for the fucking museum workers, who just had to go on strike right before my trip!!! I was so mad. The museums were the main reason for the trip, and they were closed. My dream of an entire day in the Louvre, shattered! The pain! *sob* Oh well, I got over it.

 

[Roland Gilliad]

z

[Edited by Roland Gilliad on 07-18-2000 at 11:32 PM]

 

[Xander]

Carl my friend. I have to totally agree with you. Most of my friends are also US citizens.
Now I've been fortunate enough to have been travelling all around the world. And I have no problem with other countries. They'll treat you nice, as long as you do the same. But this whole Europe vs. USA thing makes me think.

Now lets see:
The Brits hates the French
The French hates everybody, but especially the Brits.
The Germans hates the brits and the French, and otherwise feels like they own the world.
The brits dislike the Germans Just like the French does.
Everybody thinks that Switzerland is nothing but a bunch of joddeling moutain goats.
Italians and Spanish is just too damn lazy. And everybody thinks the whole bunch is corrupted.
Denmark and Holland is looked upon as havens of sex, booze and rock'n roll.
Holland is hidden in a cloud of Pot smoke.
Denmark is an island in a pool of beer.
The Swedes is just drunk all the time.
Finland = Nokia - connecting people & Vodka

LOL and that's just for starters. The general way everybody supposingly look upon each others country in Europe.

And supposingly EVERYBODY in Europe hates Americans.
because they are loud, and think they know it all LOL

Now hows that for prejustice ?? LOL

(Don't worry I love ya all )

 

[Nicole]

Xander am I glad you didn't put Australia in there.

But babe Denmark is a pool of beer isn't it?? Or at least your house is ... Right???

 

[Guest]

You're right about all these prejudices, Xander. I think it's a lot to do with people being territorial - like dogs barking at each other and marking their territory. You can even see the same rivalry between countries as huge as America and Canada.

The Brits hates the French
The French hates everybody, but especially the Brits.

The Scots in general have never hated the French and the French don't hate the Scots. There is a friendship stretching back to "The Auld Alliance" (I think in the 18th century) when Scotland and France were united against the common enemy, which at that time was England.

There is a great rivalry between France and England though - especially the South of England. Again, I think it's because they are so close to each other geographically. There is that same rivalry between the Welsh and the English and, obviously, Northern Ireland and the South. It's all just territorialism.

As far as all the debate about the US that has been going on lately on the BB: I love America and I love Americans - generally they are sexy, fun, enthusiastic, open and optimistic. I very much love one American in particular for these and other characteristics.

But, at the same time, there are things I don't like about many Americans. There often seems to be a greater tendancy to see the world in a one-dimensional way - painting everything in black and white like an old cowboy movie. Many Americans also have a kind of natural arrogance that is very irritating. I'm sorry but phrases like "I live in the Greatest Country in the World" really get my back up. It's like a Prom Queen Cheerleader type swanning through the school proclaiming "I'm the prettiest, most popular girl in the whole school. Everybody loves me." If she transferred to another country she'd soon get a pie in her face.

The United Kingdom used to have this same arrogance - it's even there in the title: GREAT Britain. Not very attractive.

I don't think America is the Greatest Country In The World. I don't think Scotland or the UK are either. I think all countries and continents have good and bad points. I love Japan and the Japanese too but there are things about Japanese culture I don't particularly like.

I love Scotland and the rest of Britain. I have a lot of pride in our national achievements. What an American would call patriotism, is what we'd probably call "National Pride". That's a good thing to have I think. It's good to love your Country. But when that becomes Nationalism it starts getting a bit ugly. Strands like "Fuck Canada!" aren't about National Pride - celebrating the achievements of your country. They're about prejudice and pissing all over the Borderlines to mark your territory - slagging off another country to make yourself feel better.

 

[Xander]

Oi Nicole!!! Australia is too far away to be mentioned in a Europe vs. USA vs. The world bashing

So lass, ya' can have ya' barbies, beer drinking outbackers, Kangaroos, Weird road kitchens, sheep and strange accents to ya' self. For now lass, for now.

Oh and which nationality did the man, who designed the Sydney opera house, have??? hmmmmmm.

just pulling ya' chain lassy hehehehe

 

[Xander]

Yeah Roger. I have to back you on that one. And I think you're right.
Btw didn't Scotland get a lot of attention when Mel Gibson made Braveheart??
Wallace Wallace wallace!!!
At least I saw a lot of people beating their chests in, what I suppose should look like a manly thing, shouting Wallace. And without claiming that I know anything about William Wallace. I bet none of those fools knew what the name stood for.

Yes we do see a lot of rivalry all over the world. But I don't think I've seen it quite like it is in Europe. There is not one single country here, who actually likes the other.
For us Danes I believe it's mostly Swedish and Germans who get's a turn in the grinder here. Which is absolutely stupid..

Roger, do you know a single european country whose population openly bonds with another country witout prejustice??

I know I don't.

Hell most of us has at one time orthe other been at war with each other. Not WW2 Included.
Just think that, at one time, during the Viking period. Denmark was one of the biggest countries in europe. We had Sweden, Norway, England, Scotland, Holland and half of Germany under our flag. Not to mention our colonies later on.
So given the older history in europe, oppose to the american history. We europeans have a hell of a lot more against each other, than we ever had against America.
And we still do, I'm sorry to say. I must admit that when I see drunk swedes in Copenhagen, or Germans acting a certain way on our beaches, it can make me go UGH! (No Offence Hecate, Ya' know I love ya')
But I'm working on getting rid of that unfortunate trade.
I bet every single country also has a thing against danes. Tho' I don't know what it is. Maybe some of you can tell me.

 

[Flagg]

Funny you should mention that Xander. As far as I know, pretty much everyone likes the Danes and the others don't really have an opinion. You have a reputation for being friendly and openminded. You also speak impeccably good english on the whole (at least all the ones I've met around various campsites in Europe do). So you must be doing something right!

Roger - you speak wmy mind, just more eloquently and diplomaticly.

 

[Stevie]

Xander, wasant Denmark the only EU member (along with the the UK) not to join up with the Euro? Maybe you share our mistrust of those smelly continental types.

 

[April]

But, at the same time, there are things I don't like about many Americans. There often seems to be a greater tendancy to see the world in a one-dimensional way - painting everything in black and white like an old cowboy movie.

Roger, I think the reason for that is our new shows. Most Americans only watch the local news, and that is what is shown, local news. If you watch that long enough, you can almost forget that there is a whole world out there. The local news shows almost never tell us about anything that goes on outside our borders. Quite often, they won't even show anything outside the state borders. The best news source for us is CNN, which is good, but not in the same league as CNN International! I've seen Sky News, and they're quite good.

Many Americans also have a kind of natural arrogance that is very irritating. I'm sorry but phrases like "I live in the Greatest Country in the World" really get my back up.

It's a form of propaganda that is pervasive throughout the States. We grow up having that beat into our heads, and when we're adults, we spout it without even thinking about it. I think it's a little like brainwashing! Making us all "good Americans"!

 

[Skibum]

Hey, Xander, I have never heard anything bad about Danes. I have heard a lot of guys with great admiration of Dannish girls, though.

And if one wishes to dredge up history, the heroic stance of the King of Denmark and the Dannish people to resist the expulsion of Dannish Jews by the Nazis is worthy of nothing but respect.

 

[Guest]

Btw didn't Scotland get a lot of attention when Mel Gibson made Braveheart??
Wallace Wallace wallace!!!
At least I saw a lot of people beating their chests in, what I suppose should look like a manly thing, shouting Wallace. And without claiming that I know anything about William Wallace. I bet none of those fools knew what the name stood for.

Exactly. I enjoyed 'Braveheart' as a kind of Hollywood Cowboys 'n' Indians movie where the Indians were the heroes. I watched it in the same way I watch 'Star Wars'. It's fun to root for the under-dog against the evil Empire. Just so long as you don't take it too seriously.

But I hated the way many Scots blindly accepted it as truth and used it as an excuse to beat up English people. I went to see it with the singer of my band, an Englishman living in Scotland. He was scared to open his mouth after the film finished because of the atmosphere in the cinema. It's ridiculous.

I'm proud of the many Scottish achievements throughout history. It was Scotsmen who invented the television, the telephone and lots of other things I can't even remember.

But one of the things I don't like about the Scottish is that we still have a chip on our shoulder about the English and spend a lot of our time moaning on about things that happened over two hundred years ago.

I'd rather we just got over it and moved on. I'm sure a lot of the Irish feel the same way.

I bet a lot of the rivalry in Europe is for the same reason - people clinging on to old battles that aren't even important in the modern world.

April - I think that Americans probably are taught from an early age to be proud to be American. I think a lot of good comes out of this - your optimism and drive to succeed for example. But like you say, it can also breed a kind of arrogance if it's followed too blindly. I think it's that side of the whole thing that sometimes irritates Europeans.

 

[ShyGuy68]

Hey, Xander, I have never heard anything bad about Danes. I have heard a lot of guys with great admiration of Dannish girls, though.

Ok I have to admit, that yes we have nice looking girls in Denmark, but not more than in other countries, at least in my opinion!!

And if one wishes to dredge up history, the heroic stance of the King of Denmark and the Dannish people to resist the expulsion of Dannish Jews by the Nazis is worthy of nothing but respect.

I have to admit that this is one thing that I'm proud off in Danish history. And I hope that if the need ever come again, I'll be able to act in the same way!


ShyGuy

 

[April]

Roland, you've got me confused now. For a while you were being a total jerk, and now you're trying to be a human. What's going on with you? You say you've got college buddies on the Normandy memorial. How old ARE you, anyway? Maybe I'm being naive, but I would hope that somebody of your venerable age would act more mature than you have been at times. Inquiring minds want to know.