BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?

Subject: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 11:04 PM

This article was being discussed on another forum I frequent. I've been to the UK lots of times over the past several years and I never experienced anything like what this woman describes. It sounds pretty bizarre that somebody would not want to talk while walking around in London for fear they'd be bashed or insulted for being American. I'm wondering if this person is doing something to bring attention to herself or somehow egging people on. There are some pretty nasty comments on the article too. What do you think????

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 06 - 11:16 PM

Her comment that she feels the need to defend Bush may hold a clue to peoples reaction to her?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 01:06 AM

It's probably not racist, it's probably personal.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 03:05 AM

Some people need to grow a skin and get a life. She's a pillock and we can do without her.
S:0)

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 03:59 AM

It's probably not racist, it's probably personal. I'd second that. What this woman has experienced is nowhere near the level of victimisation meted out to all sorts of other groups. I suspect that the woman doesn't fully appreciate that there is a difference between disliking the way the US government behaves because of the war, global warming, Alaska, etc [a feeling shared by a lot of Americans, of course] and the way Americans as individuals behave.

Every nationality has individuals who seems incapable of recognising they are in another country when they are abroad. I have, on several occasions, seen Americans trying to pay in dollars when in Scandinavia or France and arguing with the shopkeeper about it; equally I have met with very many more US citizens who were such a pleasure to talk to and deal with that they 'made your day'.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 04:45 AM

Well, that certainly isn't the attitude of British folkies. I can't believe how gracious and welcoming and downright fun those Brits were when I went to visit.
I talked with lots of non-folkies, too, and they were almost as nice.

Perhaps it's true that they don't like obnoxious Americans. I don't, either.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 05:04 AM

Even so, it's disquieting to know people are having these sort of experiences in England. I think about my friends and I can't think of anybody who would be nasty in that way.

There is racism in England, there are lowlife's everywhere I suppose. There has been a decline in moral standards, and we should bring back the red hot poker up the bum, and sort it out.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 05:05 AM

Looking at the picture of the lady which accompanies the article, I would guess she is a bit 'high profile'. I know there is a bit of resentment in the UK against Bush Baby apparently dragging us into the Iraq fiasco, but that is to be expected. There are also older people who still make pointed remarks about how long it took the US to join in the 39-45 war.
A few, and I mean a few Americans are a bit loud wherever they go, the 'Everything's bigger in Texas' sort of attitude, but they are probably obnoxious at home too. This can cause resentment too.
Your average American can be a bit thin skinned though, and find the robust Brit humour hard to take, especially the irony bit which a lot of Americans don't do!
Methinks the lady doth protest too much, is my reaction to the article.
As for Maryrrf, I have met that nice lady, and nobody in their right mind would be rude to her. What's more she has good taste in choosing the nationality of her friends ☺
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 07:23 AM

Having been in Bermuda during 'College Weeks' I have experienced the small minded attitude of 'educated' Americans to ANYTHING that wasnt American in origin . Give one of them a beer ad all they do is complain that it is not American beer - I ALSO very nearly married an Americangirl so I am NOT anti American . The only time I ever had any problems in a foreign country was when there were two separate groups
fighting us (British ) and each other for control of the country when we pulled out . Attitude has a lot to do with how you are treated when away from home .

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:40 AM

Thanks, Giok, for your kind comments. The article is being discussed now on a forum of American ex-pats living in England. A few say that they have experienced anti-americanism similar to what this woman describes, some say that they have experienced nothing of the sort and have been welcomed, and most say they have had a lot of teasing and remarks about our politics, out tendency to be fat, our accents, etc. (which they admit sometimes gets tiresome)but they usually take it in stride. I think it must have a lot to do with how you react to the "teasing". Personally I would be the first to laugh at a joke about Bush - as a matter of fact he's one of my favorite targets. I think one would also have to discount any incident that happened because someone was drunk, or somewhat loony.   I do tend to associate with the "folk" community and, as Joe Offer said, they couldn't be nicer, and of course these are people with whom I share a common iterest. Did you read one of the comments in the article that said "If you are English and move to Scotland you will get the same kind of treatment"????

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:50 AM

yes they don't seem like jokes this woman had had to put up with though. it's not nice, we shouldn't tolerate it. the red hot poker ...the only answer.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:52 AM

Spend time in the pubs, and anti-American sentiments invariably surface as the night goes on. Also, in tourist areas I found it very common, especially in Scotland. But that was as true in the pre-Dubya era as it is now.

And Britain isn't the only place this happens. If you are an American who likes to travel outside the US, you learn to ignore it, accept good natured ribbing graciously, and have a thick skin for the occassions when it gets ugly. As someone said above, there are jerks everywhere.

But that said, I've been surprised at times to see anti-American nationalist rants pop out of some folks I never would have expected it from after tipping a few. It's nothing like racism, though. NOTHING LIKE RACISM!

I would describe it as a form of resentment, like the resentment people express about others who have what we call here in the US "entitlement issues".

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 10:50 AM

It's been my experience in the UK that the Brits like Americans, but they don't like what our government is doing. I agree.
I've spent quite a lot of time in the UK, and I have been treated well.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 10:58 AM

I have too, kendall. But that doesn't mean anti-American sentiment against the government never gets projected onto American tourists, especially when in tourist areas. Or like I said, sometimes in the pubs.

I love Britain, the Brits, the Scots, the Welsh, the Cornish--and have always had a blast travelling there. But then, some of us know how to enjoy ourselves no matter where we go!

Why anyone would whine around about it is beyond me, though. I mean, does this person not have anything to do? Jaysus, the place is beautiful, full of history, charming countryside, edgy, cosmopolitan, and energetic cities, way cool archaeology. I mean, what the hell is this person doing--looking for a fight?

Methinks, perhaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:27 AM

My wife and I spent a wonderful vacation in England and Wales last summer. It was our first time there. I sang at festivals in Broadstairs and Saltburn and half a dozen different folk clubs during our travels. Wherever we went we were welcomed like old friends. People we had never met in person before invited us into their homes and shared their lives with us for the brief time we were there.

As I marched through the streets of London in my kilt, with over 300 others commemorating the death of William Wallace, folks I had never even spoken to came up to me offering a sip of whiskey and wanting to know if I was the bloke from Alaska. I believe that Great Britain is an incredibly friendly place for Americans to visit. I look forward to the time when we can visit again.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:37 AM

I'm a Yank and I am here to say that I think the BBC wasted good space on this 'tart'.

Good advertising for her new business, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:37 AM

it does seem like a case of very thin skin. I know plenty of people from across the English speaking world, and everyone else seems to be able to take a joke in a way that too many Americans don't.

I was in New Zealand when they lost the rugby to England, and they could laugh about it, despite rugby being the official religion of the country.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 11:52 AM

Yes it did occur to me that she might be just trying to get some free publicity for her business.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 12:01 PM

Maybe she was touring Europe with Martin Gibson?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Once Famous
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 01:27 PM

No guest. I am here right now in my son's hotel in Westminster 2 blocks from Buckingham Palace. She is not touring with me and you are a rectum face for thinking so.

So far, the people I have talked to overall here in the UK are OK and have not given me a hard time.

The only problem I have had so far is not getting hit by a car when I try to cross the street by these idiots who drive on the wrong side of the road, and wanting to scream when |hear a voice ordering me at the Underground to "MIND THE GAP" instead of "watch your step"

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 01:39 PM

Wrong is an opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 01:42 PM

The guy on the underground could be talking about the bit between your ears Martin!
Seriously though, hope you have a good holiday in little old Britain England, (un)fortunately I am 600 miles away from London!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 01:50 PM

I'm not saying they drive on the "wrong" side of the road but it is a different side of the road from what I'm used to and I too have almost gotten hit by a car because I looked the wrong way before crossing the street. It's hard to break old habits.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 02:49 PM

When in Rome...

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 03:34 PM

Don't even think about trying to cross the road without the aid of a tank.
If you think traffic in Britian is mad, wait until you see Italian driver. They don't care which side of the road they're on...

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Grab
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 03:50 PM

When in Rome, you'll get flattened whichever way you look, cos the drivers will use any bloody bit of tarmac that isn't currently occupied, and do their damndest to take possession of any that is!!! Paris would be as bad, except that it's wall-to-wall traffic jams. :-)

As far as girlfriend goes, if she's not realised by now that the US is in the middle of the next Vietnam, that plenty of people will object to that, and that many Brits think the US is responsible for the UK being involved, then she really is as much of a dumb blonde as she looks.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST,JTS
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 03:52 PM

The guy on the underground could be talking about the bit between your ears Martin!

You're probably right Giok. LOL When I was on the tube the message was "Thank you for visting London.... Yes, you there wearing the Atlanta Falcons Polo shirt. Thanks for coming and watch out for the space between the train and the platform."

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 04:56 PM

Interesting side note about American imperial wars and American touristas.

My first trip to the UK as an innocent American travelling abroad was in 1970, during the height of the Vietnam War. I wanted to talk about it incessantly, because I was curious to find but what Europeans thought. Oddly, I didn't find many takers who were all that interested.

My last trip to Europe was two years ago, and this trip it was all Europeans wanted to talk to me about, and I was the one who wasn't much interested in what most of them had to say.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 05:02 PM

Shouldn't really be Anti American sentiments from the British after all didn't the Americans win both World Wars for them after they started them, and don't forget Britain still hasn't cleared the debt to America of World War one yet, let alone World War Two !

Ah it's true what they say about owing money, you become the bad guy when your owed.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Once Famous
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 05:48 PM

Actually in one of the souvinir shops I saw the saying "Mind the gap" on a pair of woman's panties.

Now that was funny.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 05:55 PM

New to tourism, are you Martin?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 06:12 PM

Martin has only been in London with sonny boy a few hours, and he has already posted how many damn times?

Talk about people who don't have a life...

Hey Martin, try talking to the kid instead of us why doncha?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST,Brit1
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 06:21 PM

Hi y'all. I am a true Brit and I love you yanks. You may be t'other side o't'pond but you is de beez neez. If Tony Blair think zo then you muzz be. Good day ter y'all.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 06:50 PM

British after all didn't the Americans win both World Wars for them after they started them,

Well Divis I always knew you were quite mad with prejudice, but blaming the British for invading Poland?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Peace
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 06:54 PM

When in Rome, do as the Romanians do.
When in Poland, do as the Polaroids do.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 07:19 PM

"Mind the gap" doesn't mean the same as "Watch your step" - it's specifically intended to draw the attention of passengers to the fact that in some stations the distance between the platform and the train is a little bit longer than in others.

Why anybody would find something to object about in that is puzzling. Not a problem many American vistors would have, I'd imagine. After all, it might even save your life.
......................................

But "rectum face" - there's a programme they've been showing on our TV called "Brat Camp", about efforts to housetrain teenagers with mouths (and attitudes) like that. I don't know if they have an upper age limit for candidates...

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:49 PM

Repeating yourself again?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:52 PM

He repeated himself. Had he done so "again" there would have been three similar posts in a row.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:52 PM

He repeated himself. Had he done so "again" there would have been three similar posts in a row.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 08:53 PM

He repeated himself. Had he done so "again" there would have been three similar posts in a row.

As you can clearly see, I have repeated myself "again", get it?

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 09:14 PM

No repetition was involved. The second post corrected a grammatical error in the first.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 10:07 PM

Doh I know that.

And mine was mirroring your, " Talking to himself?" quip that gets rolled out when ever two guests consecutively post. But well done for not jumping on the furniture. I think you'll find Bill has that base covered.

Right now that's cleared up back to the thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Teribus
Date: 15 Apr 06 - 10:07 PM

Divis Sweeney - 15 Apr 06 - 05:02 PM December this year fully paid up for both, one of the few if not the only country to do so, your mob on the other hand didn't have to pay anything having allied themselve with Nazi Germany, which states volumes for their discernment - tip for you don't shout too loud about this because with regard to the world in general Britain represented the right side, your mob were with the Fascist enslavers of Europe.

By the way Martin I hope you have a really good time over here in Europe.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Apr 06 - 12:43 AM

"not getting hit by a car when I try to cross the street by these idiots who drive on the wrong side of the road"

A perfect example of exactly what sort of ignorant arrogance triggers "Anti-American sentiment"


ROFLMAO!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Apr 06 - 02:40 PM

I think it was a joke, Foolestroupe.

It's supposed to be the Yanks who don't get irony. Another stereotype bites the dust...

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Peace
Date: 16 Apr 06 - 02:58 PM

'"not getting hit by a car when I try to cross the street by these idiots who drive on the wrong side of the road"'

Step right thiTHUMP

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Apr 06 - 03:21 PM

We were not involved in the Vietnam war, which might account for the lack of interest on this side of the pond Guest.
Iraq is a different matter as there is a feeling that Tony Blair only went in because GW Shrub told him to go.
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Apr 06 - 04:07 PM

I think that the GUEST who got the impression that people in the UK didn't want to talk about VietNam may have run up against polite people who thought it unfair to impose their views on this visitor who couldn't be blamed for what his government was doing.

In fact there was an enormous amount of activity around the VietNam war issue in this country. Generally speaking people involved in this combined deep contempt towards the administration that was waging the war with enormous admiration for, and a sense of solidarity with, those Americans who were involved in the struggle against it - most especially those ex=soldiers who were opposed to the war.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 09:25 AM

McGrath, something allegedly ironic, when repeated endlessly by a myriad (who think irony is meant to be always funny), loses the irony.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 10:34 AM

One thing is that our American friends tend to re-write actual history in their favour, IE THEY captured the ENIGMA machine not the British, [ who it actually was ] and every single American war film ever made about WW2 is total bollocks but they seem to have the need to believe they really were all like heroes John Wayne.

eric

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 01:33 PM

You have paid up in full my ass Teribus, don't talk crap, you owe the Americans millions.

Ireland was Neutral during world war two not allied with Germany as you state.

Christ fella you talk some shit on this site.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: kendall
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 01:01 PM

eric, you are right, but that sort of crap appeals to the masses. We history majors know better.
A couple of other things, the Brits invented RADAR
The Merlin engine made a formidable weapon out of the dumpy old P51 Mustang.

I remember years ago, looking out the window of a plane and seeing the prop engines with the RR logo placed where it could be seen by all and thinking, "Nothing to worry about, those blokes can build engines".

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: autolycus
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 03:22 PM

I like many Americans I've met.

Americans often don't help their own cause with some of the attitudes that SOME Americans hold. Some often seem not to give a damn for anyone else, oh except when worrying about what others think of Americans. In those cases, the interest isn't in others but remains self-regarding.

Your media don't help (likewise much of the education system) in apparently having little interest in anywhere much outside the States (except when those other places are seen as a threat to the U.S. ,same sense of self-regard). So many Americans appear to have been brainwashed, and don't know it,(by definition?).

And great music, songs, films, books, photos, ideas and people have come from the USA, too.

And there is tons of pro-American sentiment in the UK too. Lots of people here wouldn't be without Friends, US films and pop, that wierd sugar-and-water drink, beefburgers and all the rest.

Americans are like everybody else insofar as they have their pros and their cons, their particular qualities and weaknesses.

Insofar as the sentiment is anti, I would recommend Americans to consider that any of the reasons had some validity, and weren't merely negative (envy etc.etc.). Rabbi Burns had a famous line or two on the subject of how others see us, which , naturally, I won't quote.


   Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Grab
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 07:21 PM

For heaven's sake, not more WW2 bull! Give over already, guys.

In Detroit in late 2004, I was in the pub with a friend (American), and he asked what opinion was like back in Britain about Iraq. So I gave him a rough outline, and my opinions. He said it was actually a relief to have someone to talk to about it, bcos most people he knew (and certainly Joe Random Barleaner) were all "my country right or wrong" and couldn't take any criticism of what the US (and UK) government were pulling. I don't know if this has changed much, but if that's a fair assessment of blondie's attitude, then it's no surprise she pissed people off.

It's kind of ironic really. Brits are famous for being too reserved to complain or talk back, but they've got a built-in distrust of authority. Americans are famous for complaining as soon as anything's wrong, but it seems all too many of them will swallow any crap if it's delivered by someone with a tie and a title. Ho hum...

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 07:31 PM

You hold an opinion Graham, and rightly so should be allowed to express it. Others like myself feel we were allowed one too.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: GUEST,folksongs101
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 11:46 AM

I left some info that might be current on Jo Mapes over in another forum "Is Jo Mapes still alive?" Only sending you this message here since you are writing here lately

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Big Mick
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 11:57 AM

I sure get tired of Americans who think civilization begins in New York and ends in California.

I sure get tired of Europeans who think civilization begins east of New York and ends when one lands in the USA.

I sure get tired of snobs, no matter where they are from.

But alternatively, I sure am grateful for the friends I have made here from UK, US, Eire, Germany, Iceland, Scotland, Australia, et al.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: kendall
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 12:35 PM

Ignorance knows no boundries.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:25 AM

Britain repays £70m war loan

Divis, before accusing others of posting shit, look to the plank in your own eye.

Subject: RE: BS: Anti-American sentiment in UK?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 08:27 AM

Actually, 70 billion