When in Rome Fight Anti-Americanism
by Spike SpencerWe’ve all heard the old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Now that doesn’t mean crucifixions, world domination, and little boy rump humping. That simply means live as the locals do. Blend in. We as Americans are notorious for doing exactly the opposite. And definitely we should all collectively do our best to be decent travelers so we don’t continue to come off as obnoxious boobs to the rest of the world already looking for a reason to hate us. I’ve been that boob before, and I hereby apologize to the entire world. I have learned my lesson.
But, hate us? Really. Then why do people cross oceans on tiny little boats, risking their lives in the process, to get to our horrible country? Why do people from all over the world come to us for serious health care when it really hits the fan? Why is it that someone can come to our country, not even speak the language, and in a few years become wealthy? Let me help you Libbies out here: Opportunity, Freedom, Capitalism, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech (well sort of), Pride, Patriotism, and Water Pressure. We have been the beacon of hope around the world for over 230 years. We are still the most successful and wealthy country the Earth has ever known. We share our wealth more than an other nation on Earth. And we have shed more blood than any other country to give others the chance at the same freedoms we enjoy. So all I can say is… Jealous much?
Fortunately for us we now have a group of visionary leaders doing everything they can to make sure the rest of the world won’t hate us. Things like subserviently seeking approval from lesser barbaric countries, adopting the socialist government styles that have worked oh so well in Europe, and making sure that we bankrupt ourselves so we can be on their economic levels. That’ll take care of that pesky jealousy thing.
I am an avid traveler. Some of you have heard my moniker, “Maverick Adventurer.” I’ve eaten Haggis on the Royal Mile in Scotland, dodged hookers and had my pocket picked in Barcelona (I picked it right back; ah Sangria). I jumped into the middle of a French World Cup victory celebration on the streets of Montreal, and had my head shaved by a Buddhist monk at a monastery in Mt. Koya, Japan. I’ve eaten kangaroo in Tasmania, ridden jet boats in New Zealand, and sampled Guinness straight from the brewery tap in Dublin. I’ve snorkeled in Jamaica, licked a glacier in Alaska, and ate, well, uh, something in South Korea. In fact I’m writing this on a plane heading back from one of the most cosmopolitan places on Earth; New York City. I’ve been around a bit.
So why am I saying all this? Because just like we conservatives are getting a raw deal here in our own country, ALL of us Americans are getting a raw deal from the media in other countries. Left and right. Our media is definitely a prime reason for this. Thanks to the Internet, now most of the world can monitor us. This can be a blessing and a curse. We can at least now get all sides of the story. But mostly they are getting the same skewed vision of who we really are as a country in the mainstream. And these other countries don’t have the freedom, given to us by or Constitution, to stand up and expose the lies. They don’t have the burning desire to create their own destiny. They do; however, have the burning desire to live off the labor of others, be as rude as they want to be to us, take extended vacations subsidized by government spending, and enjoy all that cheese and gourmet goodies and such. Ah, a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and a seething disdain for Americans. Yummy.
So how do we fix this? THE TRUTH!!!!!
A friend of mine in Germany was recently asked by a citizen there if Dick Cheney was really in the Ku Klux Klan like David Duke? No, but Robert Byrd (D-W. Va) was. Zing! Zowie! And who in the world gives a half a flyin rat’s ass what David Duke is doing? Sorry my Libbie friends, that racist nimrod is not affiliated with the Republican party. We don’t want him. But I’m sure he can take over for Byrd if you like.
My point is that as hard as it is getting the truth out here, it’s doubly hard overseas. Yes, they are already mostly Socialist and heading south rapidly. Yes, they are mostly all in financial trouble and of course blame us and capitalism. And yes, just like the Libbies here, talking to them is about as much fun as a colonoscopy from Edward Scissorhands (Thanks Dennis). But just as we are trying to stand up here, we must stand up there. We must do it tactfully, respectfully, and with a big smile on our faces. We must point out the errors and misconceptions that they are getting from our and their media. We must once again be the beacon of truth to the rest of the world. It’s not just our right, but our duty.
If you decide to take this route, do your best to get your facts straight. Especially the really weird obscure conspiracy theories. Man, they always throw me! But many actually believe the craziest stuff. So when you go abroad, strap in, have a nice glass of wine and relax. Go with the flow, act as the locals do. Be of good cheer, don’t get angry. Leave the Hawaiian shirt at home and again, relax. Part of the beauty of travel is settling into a foreign rhythm. Don’t make yourself a target. And remember, just like in America, there are so many people all over the world that love us, revere us, and want to have our freedoms. So find those guys and by them a beer. Or a Sake. Or a Cabernet.
Or you can be a whining Libbie apologist and beg for approval from from people who have already made up their minds with false information. False information that you have aided in filling them up with. False information that you stand for and is harming our world view. The truth is radically different and yes, I am blaming you Libbies for our world view. Not Bush, not capitalism; but a constant and never ending effort to blame America first for all the shortcomings of the world. Especially when you go overseas. Why do you shameless politicians wait till you are in other countries to voice your radical leftist views? Oh yeah, because we would vote you out of office. But luckily you’re safe since the mainstream media will never play those glittering moments in their true light. Cowardice, sheer cowardice. How can you stand against your own country like that? Shame on you.
We should be proud that we are Americans. We have every reason to be. Each and every one of us is a representative of this great land. Let’s turn this world view around. Let the French lead the way in rudeness. If we all do our part; we can make a difference. Bottom line, don’t be a Doofus! Or Doofi for the plural, I guess. So stand tall, but not too tall. Be vociferous, but not too loud. Be solid and stern, but remain pliable. Be proud yet humble. And if for some reason things get dicey; just tell them that George Bush is an evil spawn of the lizard people from Beltar 7 come to this Earth to impregnate us all with microbial mind control spores so that he can suck out our souls through our left ears while we sleep. Him laughing all the while like a dark, ravenous Santa Claus in reverse as we all slip quietly into oblivion until he is full and can finally go back to his home planet a bulging hero. That’ll probably get you a drink!
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78 Comments
just tell them that George Bush is an evil spawn of the lizard people from Beltar 7 come to this Earth to impregnate us all with microbial mind control spores so that he can suck out our souls through our left ears while we sleep. Him laughing all the while like a dark, ravenous Santa Claus in reverse as we all slip quietly into oblivion until he is full and can finally go back to his home planet a bulging hero.
Oh, too funny. So much better than Obama's presser!
Amen brother Spike.
Not Over.
The sad thing is, that's not too far from what some guys really believe. The line "spawn of the lizard people" could be right out of David Icke — one of the few conspiracy theorists who can make Alex "Prison Planet" Jones sound sane and level-headed by comparison.
And I just want to pre-emptively use the phrase "Cram it, Shinji" before our regular trolls get around to it.
I find it highly ironic that a guy who's played one of the most psychologically and morally conflicted characters in the history of television should turn out to be completely the opposite.
Hating America has always been a parlour sport in Europe. Of course, it's 'hating' with a small 'h'- for deep in their precious little Eurocentric souls they know they would, if not for the US, be either goosestepping down the Champs D'Elysee or singing the Red anthem in Berlin… so, perhaps 'hate' is too strong a word. No, what they are is jealous- they have been marginilzed since Patton's 3rd Army crossed the Rhine. And scared, too. They would very much like this Islamic nonsense to go away- have the cowboy Bush take it with him.
Soon they will realize just how much they need a strong military-capitalist society of rugged individualists 3,000 miles to the west…
Excellent article.
You forgot to list a typical no-no: make effort to speak the local language. Nothing fits the stereotype of the ugly American more than a tourist flaying around trying to find someone that speaks English!
as an afterthought: the most modest effort to speak the local languages is typically appreciated and I've noticed that people will be happier, then, to reveal that they do know English, and in fact, are enthusiastic about practicing their English skils with you.
I actually started to read one of Icke's books on a recommendation from a "friend". I got about two chapters in and he started on the Bush family. They were pederists that kept small children in the White House basement to use for their pleasure. He was not a raging liberal though. He railed that Hillary Clinton was the leader of a group of subterranean reptile shape shifters. It was at the very least crazy. I threw the book away.
I've been in Europe for almost a year now and the things supposedly 'enlightened' Europeans buy into nullifies any argument of intellectual superiority. I think it's just more annoying when Europeans trash us because we know they would all be eating sauerkraut or borscht without us, yet we suck.
Classmates with no idea that we have more political parties than Republicans & Democrats. People telling me all our schools are violent & people get shot in them all the time. Some of my classmates actually thought polygamy was legal in the US! I had one moron inform me that if we (conservatives) don't like Obama, we'll have him assassinated.
That said, I've also had some enlightening conversations with people from Turkey to France about social issues and politics. I've found cab drivers who like Bush, Afrikaners who sneer at Islam-enabling western governments, a Canadian social worker who's convinced that poverty can be cured, Brits who despise socialized medicine, and French people who think they're lazy. In other words, it's a big world, and Europeans are just like Americans only with cooler architecture.
But seriously, don't be afraid to talk to people! The whole 'blend in and don't be an American' thing is junk. Don't be a jerk but DO be an American. What's more, be a conservative American! Every person I've met and talked about conservative principles with has expressed surprise and previous ignorance about our agenda. How can we as conservatives defend ourselves internationally if we avoid mentioning our beliefs for fear of a confrontation that might label us "ugly"?
Amen on the water pressure. I lived in Germany back in the 70's. I had to fold my bathtub down and out of a cabinet, then turn on a 10 gal water heater located in the same cabinet, then wait 30 minutes for hot water. God Blessed the USA.
Damn, you must have been living in my same building back then. No one had washers and dryers either, and there were no Laundromats for 40 miles.
That fold out “cupboard” bath tub worked as a cloths washer too.
Ah…good times…good German gals.
Ten gallons of hot water, and two people in the middle of winter was a real experience of youth.
Not Over.
A very good run down of our UE cousins. Not much has changed from my time living over there it seems. (72’ thru 83’). Same conversations, same biases, same stereotypes of Americans.
And, they are supposed to be the enlightened intellectuals of Europe.
I like it here better, and am not going to have it “changed” into the European model by the guy in the white house.
Not Over.
I've lived in Europe – they were ok w/me, but boy, were many of them way short on brains. No wonder they love Socialism.
I have one word for my European (read: British) friends out there: Dentistry.
Why do they all smoke? Seriously? And ever hear of a bath…go to Paris in the summer – hell – go to Anjou! Phew!
Our hygine-deficient Europeans don't like us because we work harder, smell better, and have good teeth.
Let's see: they inhale Radon to cure arthritis, go to the saliental for asthma, smoke like chimneys, and gave us Hitler, Mussolini, Neville Chamerlain, and Sartre.
We're supposed to admire that crap?
And if that makes me an ugly American, pardon me whilst I floss.
=== In other words, it's a big world, and Europeans are just like Americans only with cooler architecture.===
Agreed. My favorite architect is Antoni Gaudi; not one of the 10 new architectural wonders that are being built [some possible complete?] around the world is being built in the US. I believe Russia has two of them and Dubai has one. In Russia one is a building in the shape of a flame for their Gas Co; simply awesome.
They don't hate Americans so much as they hate the idea of America. Obama is temporarily their love-child, but even that will pass the first time he disagrees with them (Sarkozy is already showing signs of it). Eventually, he won't be a "cowboy" to them in the John Wayne tradiition–more like Pat Buttram or Gabby Hayes, or the Sheriff of Rock Ridge.
I agree. The idea of America disturbs them. They don't understand our independence, our self-reliance, our national pride, or our faith(s) — and that scares them. Also, they don't like the idea that we may be right and that our way is spreading around the world, and that if they want to compete, they will need to change.
Assuming they survive as Europe that long. The only people there who seem to be doing any work at all are their middle-east imports. They're also the only ones breeding. And much of their work has nothing to do with toiling in the vineyards. If they're jealous of us now, imagine how they're going to feel when they're living under Sharia. Or will we be stuck with saving them again?
My guess is that we'll be saving them, but then what else is new.
Having family in Europe, I'm always amazed how unmotivated everyone over there seems to be. The Euros I've met really don't want to make any decisions about their lives.
Something a rather-accomplished, elderly German lady told me years ago, has stuck with me all these years. I asked her whether she preferred living in East Germany or West (she'd escaped from the East in the 1950s). She looked me square in the eye and said: "I think Democracy is good, but it was easier living under a dictator." I was actually kind of startled.
And that is the way Europe will end, "not with a bang, but a whimper."
AP, the quote from the German lady sorta reminds me of Jackie Chan's recent statement that "we Chinese need to be controlled". I think that there are too many people in the world, too timid to want to steer their own course. And with our schools systems failing so miserably at teaching the accurate history of the US and our American traditions of indivdual liberties and self-reliance, we're winding up with more and more of these folks in our midst. And as for saving Europe, there will definitely be another conflagration there, and I believe within the next 20 years. The EU is showing cracks, Germany is the powerhouse of the EU, and the national rivalries and hatreds that have existed since the fall of Rome are going to resurface. It's already happened once in the Balkans. And as the Spanish Civil War was both rehearsal and prelude to WWII, the Balkans was (is) a preview of what's not too far down the road. Get ready to dust off that sheet music for "Over There".
Yo, European architecture is older, but it is not cooler than American architecture. I'd put any any American architecture from the time of Thomas Jefferson forward up against anything done in Europe, or the rest of the world for that matter, during the same 200+ years.
I lived in Oslo & Bergen Norway for a while in 1970. In my tante Arlene's apt. bld'g., there was one, unheated toilet room for each two floors, and no tubs or showers. All bathing was of the "whore's bath" variety.
You know, I've been thinking about that Jackie Chan quote. When I first heard it, I figured it was just a "don't rock the boat" comment. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that he really did mean it — just like my German friend.
The sad truth appears to be that many people are more than willing to surrender their freedom if it means that life gets a little easier for them, i.e. they no longer have to make the hard decisions. I guess we should consider that a warning.
As for Europe's future. . . man, I don't know what is going to happen. On the one hand, they seem have happily accepted their second class status. But on the other hand, events seem to be pushing them to the point where they will have to take a stand. I don't know what will happen, but it won't be pretty either way.
And, the “yutes” of America today think that because their cell phone is just plain old red, and not electric blue they have something to complain about and hate America. Spoiled Brats.
To this day, I still call my old auntie, “tante”, tante Ceclinda, 79 years old.
Not Over.
In Russia, building builds YOU!
Good call. I can’t stand it when a fellow Australian makes fun of a rude, fat and obnoxious “American tourist,” who is a Canadian.
I met an English fellow on a train in the US. He was anti-Bush and pro-Obama and the biggest complaint he had about the US is that we sued over everything and wanted a nanny state. When I told him that what he was describing was the property of the Democrats he found it interesting but he ultimately let it go in one ear and out the other. If I talk to Europeans about the US I remind them that my grandparents were Europeans that fled so I couldn't give a rat's ass about their critiques if they pass the level of small talk.
Good point Slveryder, I spent the outbreak of the Iraq war at the counter of a Hollywood studio cafe with the French owner bitching about liberals. He was even more worked up than I was. And I also recently met a cab driver from Ghana who was playing Curtis Sliwa in his cab.
Laugh with them and tell them that Bush was such a bad fascist, he allowed an election to take place for his replacement. Then, when his party's candidate lost, Bush abdicated power and went home!
He couldn't even get being a dictator right!
Laugh with them and tell them that Bush was such a bad fascist, he allowed an election to take place for his replacement. Then, when his party's candidate lost, Bush abdicated power and went home!
He couldn't even get being a dictator right!
nice
Sometimes you run into people who are impressed that a foreigner actually knows a few snippets of their language — it earns you a lot of respect. Even more so in non-Europe places like Japan, where the reaction is more like, "Holy s__t, I didn't think these roundeyes were smart enough to know our language! I'd better be nice to this guy…" (That's a fairly accurate rendition of it, by the way — the Japanese are at best mildly prejudiced against and suspicious of foreigners, and at worst outright chauvinistic and racist. Way worse than the 'love it or leave it' types you get over here.)
While I won't deny there's plenty of anti-americanism going on in Europe right now, I would argue that it's largely unfocused and either based on established stereotypes, from the Americans that they've met in Europe or the most visible Americans on television.
Many of the Americans I have met in the UK have been long term residents looking to emigrate there. These people often have a negative view of the US which they are quite willing to transmit to anyone who will buy them a pint. Tourists, on the other hand, and this goes for all nationalities (Brits are notorious for it in Spain) are just generally obnoxious, loud and annoying to those who live in that place – I lived in St Andrews, Scotland for some years and slow-moving overweight US golf tourists made me want to throttle someone when I had somewhere to be. They weren't the worst though – that would be the Japanese golf tourists surgically attached to their cameras.
Add in visible Americans, and you can begin to see where most Europeans are forming their opinions. The most visible in recent years has been President Bush. Let's face it, there are few people that would argue that Bush was the world's greatest PR man. He was most often seen on the TV in Europe when he was caught doing something dumb on camera, as any search on youtube will attest. The other times America was on TV was because of another "friendly fire" incident, school shooting or *insert bad thing of choice*. That's not really that great an image of America. We don't hear the good stuff. Rice did a lot of good work as State, shoring up the image of America worldwide, but she was fighting a losing battle. When you factor in some of Hollywood's craziest – the other most visible component – it just gets worse. Tom Cruise has done more to harm the image of America than most of the Republican party put together.
The vast, vast majority of Europeans pay little to no attention to what's going on politically in America. Most can name Obama as President, some can name Clinton as Secretary of State, few can name Biden as Vice-President. Only the most interested have any idea of the issues that are being debated in American politics, and even then many are confused by them, since they stem from a uniquely American perspective. Opposition to flag burning, for example, earns a giant "huh?" from a lot of Europeans. Guns are just generally a big no-no here, and socialized medicine, democratic socialism in general? Heck yeah! I proudly put my hand in the air and call myself a democratic socialist. We've been at this socialism business for a while now. We've gotten better at it.
As for all that "American freedom and democracy"? Most of the British population don't care that much, so long as we get to boot one lot of people out of office when we get bored of them, and will, indeed have, voted people into office for a laugh – I present Boris Johnson as Mayor of London as evidence to this fact. So long as the buses run, the garbage gets picked up and nothing too bad happens, like, say, war with Ireland, we don't really care what politicians get up to. We've got quite a lot of freedom going on as well, so we're alright on that score, thanks.
Lastly, and absolutely most importantly – us Europeans spend far more time and energy hating each other than we do hating America – sorry guys, but Britain and France have got some bad history, going back before you were born.
Full disclosure – I'm not very good at being European – I'm a Brit, living in Japan, with plans in motion for emigrating to either North Carolina or Georgia. I love you guys. Even the ones I don't agree with – that's the point of America, right? I am a Southerner who was accidentally born in the wrong country, and I'll debate anything with you for fun.
I have posted this before but it always seems to be appropriate……
Heard Clint Eastwood talk about the first time he saw this scene from the "Americanization of Emily".
" You American haters bore me to tears, Ms. Barham. I've dealt with Europeans all my life. I know all about us parvenus from the States who come over here and race around your old Cathedral towns with our cameras and Coca-cola bottles… Brawl in your pubs, paw at your women, and act like we own the world. We over-tip, we talk too loud, we think we can buy anything with a Hershey bar. I've had Germans and Italians tell me how politically ingenuous we are, and perhaps so. But we haven't managed a Hitler or a Mussolini yet. I've had Frenchmen call me a savage because I only took half an hour for lunch. Hell, Ms. Barham, the only reason the French take two hours for lunch is because the service in their restaurants is lousy. The most tedious lot are you British. We crass Americans didn't introduce war into your little island. This war, Ms. Barham to which we Americans are so insensitive, is the result of 2,000 years of European greed, barbarism, superstition, and stupidity. Don't blame it on our Coca-cola bottles. Europe was a going brothel long before we came to town. "
Clint said he stood up and cheered when he heard this in the movie…….
If its good enough for Dirty Harry….its good enough for me….
God bless the USA !!!!
Observer, one line you threw in there stuck with me…
"from the Americans that they've met in Europe or the most visible Americans on television. "
Admittedly, I'm guessing when I write this part: But there are what.. 5 general types of Americans the average European encounters?
))
1) College Students enjoying time over in Europe (most of which are being indoctrinated into the Liberal system)
2) Honeymooners (I'd assume younger adults who are just out of/still in college)
3) Military Personnel (how much of a chance do the average Europeans get to see them? I'd wager not much… other than the bar runs for our boys in uniform? (Sarcasm intended there, guys
4) Businessmen (and how many of them go out to see "everyday" Europe? It's company trip and then back to the states.)
5) General Tourists
So you can say that of the 5 groups, the first two are helping set the negative tone. 3 and 4 are rarely met by the normal European… Leaving #5 as having to try to balance out the first two groups… and with some of #5 falling in the liberal belief system, that makes it just that much harder for the rest of us.
I spent a lovely evening on a porch in QLD with BBQ and XXXX a way back in 2006 completely destroying the misperception of the US to a couple of young men. They had recently watched a 'documentary' regarding the Katrina disaster and were spewing the standard "Bush killed those people" rant. I was very polite, but also very pointed in my response to their misperceptions about that whole Katrina thing. It only helped that a typhoon had recently hit N.QLD and I had a recent example to use while pointing out the problems with that myth. We had only just started on the global warming scam when the beer and barbie ran out…Good times.
I was in Europe back in the late 70's while in the service. We were told on several occasions not to wear our uniforms while ashore. One specific time was because there was a communist rally in the town we were visiting and the command feared violence if uniforms were worn. On one trip into town, a friend of mine asked one of the locals what they thought of the United States. She said they saw us as "conquerers". We tried to explain we liberated Europe not conquered but it fell on deaf ears. A lot of folks in Europe seem to suffer from the same sickness as much of the American left – ignorance of the inherent goodness of the people of the United States. We have, as a people, been blessed beyond belief with this country.
excellent points, Hawk… Obama will disappoint them like no other. They want what Bush did but in Obama's PC packaging… good luck with that…
With the exception of Gehry. His buildings are excessively bloated with facade (Disney Concert Hall, anyone?).
You do have to experience Europe to really get it. I have spent time in Paris and have paid particular attention to the media. Wow, they make CNN look like the Christian right.
Socialism is deep in their blood and the only direction they know is further left.
Strange but true. I like Paris and the French but man, I had to get home after a while. Too many rules, too much political correctness, unless of course you were bashing the US or Israel.
Or the brits. They bash themselves too.
Good one.
I was teaching a seminar in Paris last year. I asked the hotel desk for an alarm clock as there was no clock of any type in the room. He looked at me like I had asked him for his daughter. He said, we would set up a wake up call, and that was that.
No need to know the time I guess.
Then I asked him where I might buy a watch, Again, he sniffed and said, I have no idea.
In short, he was not interested in helping at all.
What can I say? I asked him very nicely.
I'm not a huge fan of Wright either. We have one of his buildings at my school that looks like a giant ball of rust–eye-burning colors and a weird aversion to right angles. Falling Waters is pretty but structurally garbage so I'm not that impressed.
Three words: Experience Music Project. It's in Seattle and it makes a train-wreck look graceful.
Plus, Jefferson derived Monticello from the Palladian movement so that's not really American. Though the Empire State Building is pretty cool.
Agreed. Gehry is a guy who really just wants to be a pop-art sculptor. (Guggenheim-Spain) etc. I really, really don't like his work. He benefits from no ever being able to say "The Emperor has no clothes" to anything in the "art" world anymore. Give me his commissions and I'll give you stuff wothry of the old Penn Station or the Baths of Caracalla.
She should talk to my German professor. Guy was just a kid when his mom got him and his siblings out of the East in '53. He told us once that when they reached the East-West border (not in Berlin, a rural area somewhere), she made each person spread out with twenty or thirty feet of space on each side, so that if one of them stepped on a land mine, it would take out just that one person, and not all of them. One has to wonder just how easy it really was living under a dictator.
Definitely. In places like France and Germany, the waiters will be much less rude to you if you try to speak in their native language. Even if you're not good at it, that's okay, because they'll appreciate the effort and can usually switch to English anyway.
Absolutely! It has been my experience in France that they really do appreciate our trying to communicate with them in their language. Then, when they can no longer tolerate how we are butchering the language, they switch to perfect English….
The French already have a case of heartburn over English replacing French as the international language of diplomacy and air traffic control.
No, there is no ability to save a country that allows itself and its culture to be subverted from within. We have saved them when they have been attacked from without, but if they allow the immigrant population to fundamentally change their culture and their country, there is nothing we can do to stop it. We will have our hands full preventing the same thing from happening here…
Boy ain't THAT the truth. Much of American yutes are spoilt weeners. My friends
kids were teased by friends in high school (2000) because they drove a car w/o electric windows.
I must say, the Swiss had awesome water pressure. They needed some power to pump the water up the mountains or, when they can, used gravity to let the water come down. Also, for such small people, they had great bath tubs. They were huge. I could easily recline my 6'4" frame in one of them.
Way back in 1977, when I was a sophomore in high school, we had an assembly in the school gym. There was a guest speaker, and after we all (2,000+) quieted down, he stepped up to a podium and spat into the microphone in a thick voice "I am here from the USSR and I am going to tell you why we are so much better than you Amerikans, and why you should embrace the Soviet way of life!"
You could hear a pin drop. Then, massive booing. Kids stood up and shouted down to him, yet he continued on with his anti-American rant. Teachers shushed us, told us to listen, until finally one senior had had enough. He stood up and yelled, "if your country is so great, why do we have to build fences to keep people out while you have to build fences to keep people in?" The student body went crazy clapping. After about 20 minutes of this, the speaker finally shouted into the microphone, "I am an American and I am proud of all of you for your defense of this country!"
Turns out he would go around to schools across the area (we were in a Los Angeles suburb, believe it or not) and start out touting the Soviet way of life, then drop the Russian accent and explain the dangers of communism to the students. He really got us fired up and happy and proud to be Americans, even in the midst of the CARTER administration!
Where are these classmates now? Why isn't my generation more fired up about America? Our fathers and grandfathers fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Sorry if this post doesn't fit very well with the story, just while reading it this memory came crashing into my brain.
My point is this: where are my fellow students now?
Ya know, 11 years ago I got to go to Austria and everyone told me to be careful, that they all hated us over there. Completely incorrect. I did not meet one single person in that country that seemed to resent my presence. the complete opposite happened. Maybe I was lucky, but then again, that's why people shouldn't stereotype.
Also, I like to read Europe's media, I check out the UK newspapers all the time and the general consensus, according to the comment sections, isn't that they hate us. In fact, recently, they think our guvment is crazy to try and have a Euro-style gov't.
Last time I was in London and trying to board a bus, I, like most Ugly Americans, dutifully got in line and waited my turn only to be jostled and shoved and pushed aside by little old ladies with brollies. Don't tell me Americans are rude. We can't hold a candle to the Europeans. Then again, I'm from the South where, before this latest influx of goddamnedyankees (see below for translation) we were all brought up to be polite.
A damned yankee is a yankee that comes to visit, then goes back Nawth. A goddamnedyankee comes down here and STAYS.
A friend of mine went backpacking through Europe after finishing college in 1996, during the middle of the Clinton Administration. When he got there, he was told by other American travelers to put a Canadian flag patch to his backpack so that noone would know that he was an American. He was told that this was an easy way to avoid the rudeness and hostility that was guaranteed to be aimed his way. The idea that Europeans hate Americans because of George Bush is simply false. It is plain old jealousy, and very transparent at that. After all, we have all seen the history of the last century in Europe, and we know that they have no moral ground on which to stand.
I saw somewhere the other day, that 47% think soliclism is OK. Scary huh?
I was living in Austin when Alex Jones got his start on the local access channel, what a lunatic. was black helicopter alert followed by "Trilateral Commission" and the lunacy would go on and on. We'dget a twelve pack and sit around laughing at him.
Very. I've said this before, but I wish everyone had seen East Germany when the wall came down. That would have been very educational.
I'm late to the party, but spot on analysis. I plan to advertize my Texas roots while in Europe this summer and I'm going to compile data and interview a bunch of these Euro-weenies to see just what in the hell the problem is with this continent of decendents of Neville Chamberlain. They fight like banshees over a damn boring soccer game, why don't they fight the Muslim invasion and lurch into full blown Marxist-Leninism?
We were instucted by our "Dear Leader" that we Americans are not learning foreign languages at a suffient rate. He said it during the "Lie My Ass Off Tour '08" a.k.a. his campaign. He is setting a good example by learning "Austrian" before he tackles "Australian".
solicalism
Whiny, whiny, whiny. You guys piss and moan because someone doesn't like you. It's the most horrible thing in the world to be an American and not worshipped as a god by the rest of the poor, stupid foreigners.
But the truth is you all have NO idea what it is to be hated. Try living in Soweto, 1976 as a high school student. Then you'll know what hatred truly is.
Man up, fools!
That's the God-honest truth…people do not want to be forced to make tough decisions. They want everything handed to them on a platter. America is fast on a pace to catch up and surpass the world in that regard.
So will he learn to speak British after that but before Brazilian?
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the – Web Reconnaissance for 04/30/2009 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.Web Reconnaissance for 04/30/2009
I like your points, Slyveryder. As an American who has lived the last 2.5 years in Denmark, I've found it utterly maddening how much anti-Bush, anti-Republican propaganda is spun by the local (state-run media)…and how the citizens eat everything up as honest & true. They get this anti-capitalism on all sides, so it's logical, common sense to most people. I've come to realize, it's not really their fault that they spew so much mis-information.
I vomit inside my mouth whenever I hear another European tell me that they're so happy Pres. Obama can now save America. What is true more than anything — and this realization happened slowly — is that what we as Americans want for our nation (to succeed and prosper!), is NOT what 95% of Europeans want to see happen. When we thrive (largely under open markets, conservative leaders), they don't look at it positively, it's just America "getting too big for its britches." So why in the hell are we so worried about being liked by other countries!?! They like us most when we're not at our best — so they forfeit any right to have a stake in how we judge ourselves.
The only area where I think Danes are superior to Americans is in their ability to have civil, friendly, open conversations across widely-different political beliefs, and still leave laughing, like friends. Emotions are left out of political discussions much more than what I see in the U.S. And I speak as someone who maybe gets over emotional when ducking attacks from my American leftie friends or colleagues who dare level insults at me for being a Rep. All of us in America need to get better at being civil and embracing other beliefs. Sadly, I blame one side for being worse at withholding judgement.
yes – Jake, T-Rav & JamesCanby – I think it sounds like we've had similar experiences. To me, I think that it says something about the whole "anti-Americanism" thing thats out there. Yes, there is anti-Americanism, but I suspect that psychologically, it really works like this:
1. fundamentally, people like America. we do exert that 'city on a hilltop' thing, which has universal appeal. our success, our culture, our ideals, etc. people want to either come here, or be more like us.
2. given 1) when people get the impression that *we don't like them*…. Or that we might not feel as friendly towards them as they may want to be towards us – as in the cas of the stereotypical ugly American who doesn't have a clue about the local language and doesn't want to …maybe people feel a little crushed! They get the impression that they wouldn't be welcome here. That America is an exclusive club now, all of a sudden.
3, Thus "anti-americanism". They don't really hate us, but they've learned to.
I'm not saying this is really all of what's going on… (obviously there's more to it) …all I'm saying is that my common experience of making an effort to be friendly and respectful, and then having that recipricated very enthusiasically… to me this suggests to some degree maybe something going on like what I've described.
Personally, I like being ugly. It takes a whole lot of pressure out of my every day routine.
Loved the column, but I have two nits to pick. First, the Constitution does not give us our freedoms; that is given to us by our creator. The Constitution is there to limit the powers of the federal government and to enumerate the liberties given to us by our creator. Second, what's wrong with Hawaiian shirts?!
You can say that again. People tend to leave us alone too, for fear of being stomped on by the Shrek dude.
It seems to be relief, essentially, that we're not the @$$holes they think we are.
But who speaks the loudest for us overseas? Our own media. You wonder what people in other countries are seeing there that makes them so suspicious of us… and then I look at Hollywood's "reality TV" movement, and I realize there's a lot of ugliness in the portrait of us that our own TV networks have been painting.
It can't be good for the American image that stuff like THE BACHELORETTE and FEAR FACTOR is essentially representing us abroad.
After 9-11, the MSM were publicly self-flagellating, asking "Why do other countries hate us? Why do they hate America?" They never bothered to turn the mirror on themselves.
At this point I'm just waiting for him to repeat Dan Quayle's "I don't speak Latin" goof.
you think they hate us because of THE BACHELORETTE?
hmmm… maybe they SHOULD. I mean not really "hate" is per se. But I certainly don't deem that a very attractive element of our (exported) culture.
But don't blame Hollywood for it… they're just serving the demand.
And yet as “Yanks,” we may be ugly – but our teeth don’t frighten young children.
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