[QUOTE=catsix]
I just doubt it’s really that much different anywhere else.
[/QUOTE]
It is different. I don’t know if you’ve traveled much in Europe but I’ve been to the States and have spend a few months there on one occasion. It’s different. Not saying worse or anything really negative just different.
From my experience, Germans youth tend to be ill-mannered assholes. Regardless, they never seemed to be particularly embarassed about shoving their political opinions (which were universally bigoted, childish, ignorant, and generally moronic when not outright insane) in my face when I was a guest in their country. Apparently this was an attempt to claim the status of “political resister” while being a white-bread wanna-be. I was not impressed.
And yes, this has nothing to do with this thread. I just felt like making wild and gratuitous accusations.
[QUOTE=Cisco]
Stop right there. I would not respond with any negatives - not in public for sure, and probably not at all. I learned this lesson when I was very young and moved around a lot. As a “recent” (5 years) transplant to Arizona, this topic still comes up a lot, and sure there are things that annoy me about the place - pollution, traffic, awful summers, etc. - but my typical response is, “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love it.” And deep down that’s true and it’s all that matters. But let’s continue for for the sake of argument . . .
Yes, I really would.
[/QUOTE]
You really are a thin skinned moron. What the hell is wrong with answering a simple question? Are you Americans really so insecure that the slightest negative comment about your “great” country sends you off the deep end?
[QUOTE=catsix]
I think you watch too much television.
There are people who are like that all the time, but y’know, I never see them except on television. We have the July 4th thing, and the Olympics ‘Go USA’, but I just don’t see people walking around every day saying the PoA and waving flags.
There is a tendency to write tacky country songs about it, which nobody but country music fans care about. Other than that the only thing I can think of is that Americans have a tendency to be of the mind that ‘I can make fun of my sister, but you can’t.’ and band together when the criticism comes from abroad.
I just doubt it’s really that much different anywhere else.
[/QUOTE]
Uhh, no, my experience with Americans shows me otherwise. I am all for national pride, but you guys take it to the extreme, and most of you don’t even see it. I have many American friends, and I come go down there usually once or twice a year. I have a good time with 98% of you crazy people, but holy cow, enough with the red, white and fucking blue already.
[QUOTE=catsix]
People from England refer to us as seppos. As in septic tanks.
We do?
I’ve heard the expression but to be honest with you I’ve not heard it that often.
Dozy yanks, yes 
I’ve never heard any Brit use “seppo”, ever. I thought that was an Australian thing. Besides, it’s not like the whole of the UK speaks in rhyming slang, anyway. Any use of “seppo” would be confined to some areas of London.
I get the impression that it’s use on this board is disproportionate to reality.
[QUOTE=catsix]
What if I went to Canada and complained about the maple leaf flag being all over the place?
[/quote]
Well, my first response would be an incredulous “It is?” The “fuck off” would be held in reserve for meatier complaints.
I have to admit that whenever I hear that Americans have a fetish for the American flat I think to myself, “what fetish?” I find it rather cute that so many Europeans are uncomfortable with all the flag waving that goes on in the United States. I don’t really see the American flag everywhere I go here in the United States. Driving around in Little Rock most of the places with flags are government buildings – post office, schools, etc. – a few corporate offices and car dealerships. It wasn’t that much different in Dallas either.
Now of course in recent years there have been a bit more flags flying on automobiles and little magnets resembling the flag but those aren’t as ubiquitous as they once were. I really don’t understand why flying flags would bother people.
Marc
[QUOTE=catsix]
I think you watch too much television.
There are people who are like that all the time, but y’know, I never see them except on television. We have the July 4th thing, and the Olympics ‘Go USA’, but I just don’t see people walking around every day saying the PoA and waving flags.
There is a tendency to write tacky country songs about it, which nobody but country music fans care about. Other than that the only thing I can think of is that Americans have a tendency to be of the mind that ‘I can make fun of my sister, but you can’t.’ and band together when the criticism comes from abroad.
I just doubt it’s really that much different anywhere else.
[/QUOTE]
I don’t do this much but I have to agree with you. Since I left high school over twenty years ago the only times I have run into the pledge is at very specific functions. For instance it is tradition to open our PBA meetings with it (why, I have no idea). In fact I think that is the only place I have run into it in the last twenty years. Which includes all my time in the military. I don’t see where the pledge would come up enough to make an outsider uncomfortable.
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers]
Well, my first response would be an incredulous “It is?” The “fuck off” would be held in reserve for meatier complaints.
[/QUOTE]
I am reminded of the Norm Macdonald routine when he was talking about flag burning. He mentions how the US flag is full of symbolism and pride with the stars representing the 50 states, the stripes representing the thirteen colonies, the red for the blood shed… “And in Canada we have a leaf. It practically begs to be burned.”
He was asked, by his friends, specifically what he liked and disliked during his year here. He answered honestly. How is this wrong?
Well I for one would like to offer you an apology that you were treated rudely. Having been in many bars and a member of many altercations in such establishments we both know every coin has two sides. Please don’t let that statement marginalize my apology in any way. If I stood before you I would speak the exact words here.
In addition, if I didn’t know you better, and well, lets be honest about this too, I might think there is a remote possibility, however slight, that might be attempting to start a little fire and from the posts prior to mine you might very well be placing your marshmallows on a stick as we speak, as in fact my limited conversations in the past have indicated to me that you might a., be a little quick on the draw or b., might be having me on a bit, to use a phrase you might be more familiar with. As an American I stand tall and proud of my country and if I offered you my hand in greeting, or to indicate that we might have gotten off on the wrong foot, I would expect you to do the same coming from a country known for their gentleman, and chivalrous ways. I too have a certain dignity and bearing when I meet someone in person as I am a stout man, with very rugged features and carry my self in a no nonsense way. If you are the same kind of man then lets pretend before you I stand, shall we?
[QUOTE=hajario]
He was asked, by his friends, specifically what he liked and disliked during his year here. He answered honestly. How is this wrong?
[/QUOTE]
Agreed. Interrupting the conversations of strangers should only be done in very rare circumstances and almost never to antagonize either member of the conversing group. To say, “oh, hey, I’m from the UK too,” or, “I really enjoyed my vacation there last summer,” might be acceptable, but the woman in the OP was ill-behaved.
[QUOTE=WF Tomba]
You’ve been there for five years and you’re afraid to criticize Arizona? You’re the wuss here.
[/QUOTE]
Where did you get the mistaken impression that I am afraid? It’s a matter of polite vs. impolite. Ninety nine times out of a hundred, when someone asks you what you think of their native land, they’re fishing for compliments.
Never been to Mexico then, huh?
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ]
I was born and raised in America and the “flag fetish” and pledge of allegiance make me feel weird too.
[/QUOTE]
Ditto. It’s a regular argument between me and the brother-in-law. He’s convinced I’m a communist because I don’t get all weepy when I look at a flag. A FUCKING FLAG! I’m far more bothered by the way some people have inflated the importance of the symbol while keeping their eyes closed to what the government has, from time to time, done to the meaning behind the symbol.
[QUOTE=ZipperJJ]
I was born and raised in America and the “flag fetish” and pledge of allegiance make me feel weird too.
[/QUOTE]
Ditto. It’s a regular argument between me and the brother-in-law. He’s convinced I’m a communist because I don’t get all weepy when I look at a flag. A FUCKING FLAG! I’m far more bothered by the way some people have inflated the importance of the symbol while keeping their eyes closed to what the government has, from time to time, done to the meaning behind the symbol.
He also feels that the pledge should only be spoken in English. :rolleyes: Fuckin’ moron.
[QUOTE=FarmerChick]
Uhh, no, my experience with Americans shows me otherwise. I am all for national pride, but you guys take it to the extreme, and most of you don’t even see it. I have many American friends, and I come go down there usually once or twice a year. I have a good time with 98% of you crazy people, but holy cow, enough with the red, white and fucking blue already.
[/QUOTE]
Care to give a couple of examples of what you’re talking about? As others have said, I have lived in the Chicago area for all of my 40-odd years, and I have never experienced anything of the sort. Nor have I had occasion to say the Pledge since graduating highschool. :dubious:
[QUOTE=Cisco]
Cry me a fucking river. Maybe she was drunk and disorderly but she had a point regarding politeness - don’t criticize a place you’re visiting. Be it someone’s home, another state, or another country, it’s rude.
[/QUOTE]
Out of interest, when am I allowed to say anything negative about the United States? After 14 years or so here, paying taxes, have I earned that right? I love living here, and I love most things about this country, but the suggestion I cannot mention in response to a direct question that there might be things about Blighty I prefer is utterly ridiculous.
You know what - we have better sports. I prefer the UK banking system. Even after all this time your bacon still sucks donkey balls. I used to think the BBC was better than anything over here, but that has changed pretty much.
But overall, I am happy to be here. I made that choice - so has the OP. That doesn’t mean we think everything is perfect though.
I know someone who shares the same attitude as you and the crazy drunk woman, though. Oddly enough, when I knew him in England, he had no problems telling all of us how disastrous the NHS was, and how the English system, or what he called “socialism” was doomed to failure. And even more oddly, none of us gave a flying fuck about it. That was his opinion. Had the OP been sitting there loudly proclaiming in a bar about how everything was better in the UK, and how the US sucked, then I would probably have called him on it. But that doesn’t seem to be what happened.
[QUOTE=catsix]
People from England refer to us as seppos. As in septic tanks.
[/QUOTE]
Australians, I think.
Based on her performance here, I do not trust the OP’s version of events.