American Denial Nonsense

[Jeffrey Crawley]

There was once a famous headline in the (London) Times newspaper:

Fog in the English Channel, Europe Cut Off!!

Sometimes it's so hard to divorce yourself from nationalistic fervour.

Personally, when in Europe, I try to gloss over the fact I'm English solely
because my (younger) countrymen and women behave so badly there once they
start drinking.

Fortunately I speak French and Spanish, albeit not very well, which is such
a rarity among English people that the question of nationality soon becomes
of secondary concern.

We are, however, all Ambassadors for our countries and so shoulder the
responsibility.

For my part I voted for Tony Blair, I'm partly to blame. Sorry World.

Jeffrey

----- Original Message -----
From: Ana Young <ayoung2001aYAHOO.COM>
To: <GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, December 25, 2003 4:14 AM
Subject: Re: American Denial Nonsense


> --- Howard Mendes <HMe347aAOL.COM> wrote:
>
> have never had any reason to conceal where I
> > come from and find the term "American" universally
> > understood and accepted.
>
> I'm afraid that my original comment is totally
> misunderstood here. When I said that I avoid saying
> I'm "from America," I never say that I conceal where
> I'm from. I say I'm from the United States. That's as
> clear as can be. There's never any attempt to deny.
> The subject was about pedantics or the terms we use.
>
> I do hear "American" referring to us sometimes as a
> nationality. But I still avoid saying I'm "from
> America." In Europe that term referring to the place
> sometimes doesn't go over so well - quite
> understandable considering that the continents stretch
> from the Yukon to Argentina.
>
> I do sometimes have the same experience as Bob when I
> say I'm from California ... which I sometimes do as
> people often ask me to be more specific.
>
> Happy holidays,
> Ana
>
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