Gone4Good
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2005
- Messages
- 5,381
"If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it is good enough for me." [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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Classic.
"If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it is good enough for me." [FONT=Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif]
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...
Heard stories about countrymens to me being assulted in the streets, when visiting a non-western country, because speaking brittish with american accent, then receiving an excuse. "sorry, whe thought you where americans"
English might be the lingua-franka of travellers... but also a burden.
With respect to "anti-Americanism" abroad, I personally haven't experienced it. Most of the people I've met abroad are delighted to talk about their trips to NY, or their nephew who's going to school in North Carolina, or any number of other things. Rarely, if ever, have I experienced any kind of unpleasantness because of my country of origin.
I suspect this notion that American's are hated overseas is mostly an old wives tale perpetuated by a bunch of xenophobes who've never actually left the country.
I think it is some attitude that certain Americans adopt that other cultures or countries are far [inferior]to the USA in some or all respects. As a result, they think other people abroad SHOULD hate us all and hate our national origin.
I think there is some of that. I think there is also a lot of just plain ignorance. A quick calc at the US Passport site shows that fewer than 100MM Americans have passports. That means at least 2/3 of our population doesn't leave the country. Maybe never has. It's easy for people to believe stereotypes when they never actually confront reality.
Like this?How do the Japanese refrain from blowing their noses in public when they have a cold?
We experienced a lot of anti-American sentiment in France after the invasion of Iraq while we were visiting in 2003. Particularly upsetting was dirt in our water at a diner (a big pinch, mind you, with vermiculite floating to the top). C'mon, my child is 12 and you're putting dirt with fertilizer in his water?
Living in Alabama, to boot! I was born here, and I would have major reservations about living in Alabama. Even driving through Alabama.Few select people on this board are aware of this, but I am a Frenchman.
The only country I have experienced anti-American treatment is Canada. Maybe a whiff in Germany and Holland (so much for having a Dutch surname), but the Canucks (not uniformly, but IMHO more than half) are definitely hostile. (I learn so much by keeping my mouth shut and listening. )
But I can attest that the French community living in the US had to deal with similar BS. It was so bad in 2004 that I almost moved back to Europe. In addition to the personal attacks, the constant and widespread French-bashing in the media became unbearable and each anti-French comment or joke became like a dagger that someone planted in my stomach. It felt horrible.
Sounds like we each had unfortunate experiences.It felt horrible.
she's not English, she's American". Her attitude changed immediately and was extremely polite and welcoming from that point on.
The ability to distingish between Aussie, Brit and South African is indeed a fine art. But the speaker will consider it a great talent on your part.Funny. I always get Australian and British accents mixed up...
Don't forget to add New Zealand to that list.The ability to distingish between Aussie, Brit and South African is indeed a fine art. But the speaker will consider it a great talent on your part.
The only country I have experienced anti-American treatment is Canada. Maybe a whiff in Germany and Holland (so much for having a Dutch surname), but the Canucks (not uniformly, but IMHO more than half) are definitely hostile. (I learn so much by keeping my mouth shut and listening. )
Cheers,
Gypsy
The ability to distingish between Aussie, Brit and South African is indeed a fine art. But the speaker will consider it a great talent on your part.
Don't forget to add New Zealand to that list.
Audrey