jimmyt, It is your current president I fear, not Americans in general.

I will openly admit that my views of Americans have varied over the years. The first "specimens" I met were loud, boastful, arrogant and obnoxious. To balance that up and turn it on my own place of birth, I shudder at the thoughts that some people may meet what was called a "lager lout" or one of our famed football thugs (not supporters) and get the impression that is a typical Englishman.

I since had more pleasant meetings and in particular, Mudcat amongst other forums has gone a long way to redressing that balance and I can honestly say I have enjoyed very pleasant company from your country including even one person staying with us for a few days. I in no way view you all as "nuke the bastards" style Rambos. In fact the evidence here suggests there are a good number of people who are quite the opposite.

I do have some concerns though. I'd guess they are best summed up by comments made to me by a brother of mine who spent some time over there and had load of hassle trying to get in on his holiday all because a freind of his had grown a canabis plant in his house (I'd guess around the time terrorist were learning how to fly aeroplanes). He said something along the lines that "Americans are really nice people but they are the most fucked up brianwashed people I've ever met".

I think that quite unfair as a statement but I do wonder is it possible that the success of America may make a good number of people unwilling to think in the same way as I as a cynical brit might think? Is it possible that more people would blindly accept whatever the president said than perhaps we might do with our PM, etc.

I apologise that some of my post does come over perhaps even as insulting but my intention is to ask questions that I'm struggling to express and not to slam fellow human beings. Most Americans, or indeed people from other nations I've "met" here would be most welcome to share a pint with me or even share our household for a holiday.

Jon