I was in Scotland a couple of weeks ago and had no problem at all. I think most people are intelligent enough to realize that individuals aren't responsible for their government's policies. If you act courteously you will usually be treated courteously. Regarding tourists behavior, I have sometimes been embarrassed by crass American tourists but in my travels I've witnessed obnoxious behavior by tourists of all nationalities. When it's your countrymen you tend to notice it more. Once I was traveling in the Caribbean with a British colleague and he was mortified at the behavior of a group of Brits in the airport returning from an island holiday. I hadn't paid much attention to them but if they'd been Americans I'd have been embarrassed too. I don't think it has to do with language - I've seen plenty of rude French and German tourists. Let's face it, there are rude obnoxious people of all nationalities but there are polite, delightful people too.