Especially since the message all those gaudy, gauche American tourists are trying to send with their “Paris” ponchos is “Woohoo! I LOVE France!”
We could stand to get over ourselves, but my God, get over yourselves.
As a (much later) afterthought, I wanted to expand on my previous post. The poncho thing reminded me of this. I was at Natural Bridge, Virginia a few years ago, just taking in the sights, walking down the path. I walked around a corner, and there was a Japanese tour bus group standing there, evidently on a coast-to-coast bus trip. I swear to God, every single one of them was a National Lampoon stereotype in the flesh. Yellow ponchos emblazoned with DisneyWorld logos, multiple cameras around virtually every neck, the works. Now, I was certainly amused. I even perhaps thought the whole thing was silly. But fuck it. Go crazy. Have a ball. Enjoy the USA while you’re here. Good for you. Why the hell should I hate someone for coming over here, enjoying the hell out of themselves, making a ruckus, spending a bunch of money, and generally raising hell?
I understand the Ugly American stereotype. But I also understand that not all (or even most) Americans are rude and obnoxious while overseas. I understand that Europeans “hating” gaudy American tourists who are otherwise having a great time and not being rude assholes says more about the Europeans in question than it does about the Americans.
Wow, let’s see… I certainly feel where Lord Ashtar, Otto, rocksolid, Hogwash and El Cid Viscoso are coming from. In the early days of the war, I was (still) working, in a regular (read: lossa women environment) job. What was initially talked about is exactly the atmosphere.
How to describe it? Well, it was this mixture that clarified things in the simplest, most direct and effective way possible. Like one of those magnetized ribbon stickers or, say, a flag lapel pin. It said, among other things, that we posed a united front (certainly not bad by any means), we [collectively speaking] believed in the foundation that made this country great ( ! ), like obviously, patriotism and God. By making that stance, it separated the wheat from the chaff.
How do I know? Well, doing nothing more than wearing my own ‘counter’ ribbon got the above basic speech. Now how on earth that a piece of rainbow cloth could threaten someone, I’ll never know. But apparently that was the case with at least one (admitted) co-worker. I heard there were others, but that was the only one that ever materialized in front of my face. The outcome? According to management, the only person who’d better back down was me. C’est la vie.
Anyway, I see what they’re saying as the whole ‘lapel pin’ business as a flash point for something deeper. When I read opinions of others who aren’t Americans, usually (but not always) the responses don’t really seem to meet them equally. Therefore, I can definitely understand why they’d opt for a much more communal level. Surely everyone knows, yanks or not, that fashion isn’t the issue here. If you weren’t a bandwagon jumper (like life-long NY fans), than the OP wasn’t talking about you or yours. However, for those deeming it necessary to Make A Statement All The Time, you folks might be the ones targeted. And even then, I’d suppose it would depend on sincerity.
If y’all mean what you say and you didn’t decide to take up the mantle of Truth, Justice, and the American Way, than dismiss this as pure aggravated ranting (I guess). However, if anyone out there reading along at home realizes this is why you do what you do, perhaps reconsideration is in order. As a native of the USA, I’m just offering one more opinion here, humble at that.
Finally, if all this could be boiled down so easily as someone having taken issue with our accessories = terrorists, than how come what’s perceived as only an increase took place post 9/11? Aren’t many of you contending that these items have been around forever, even back to the late 60s or early 70s? If so, I’d say there is then validity for both points to be taken seriously. As usual though, your mileage (and flags) may vary.
Doesn’t anybody remember John Prine’s song “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Any More”?
“…but your flag decal won’t get you into heaven any more / They’re already overcrowded from your dirty little war / Now Jesus don’t like killin’, no matter what the reason’s for…” Alas, just as relevant today as it was when it was written.
Right after 9/11 we (city employees) were all handed those little flag pins. There was no “wear it or else” attached to it. So I dug out a pin from the 60s, two crossed flags, one the Stars & Stripes and the other one white with a gold peace symbol in the middle, and I wore that every day instead.
Are you saying that wearing a flag pin means you support the war in Iraq? It sure doesn’t to me. It means I like and support the country I live in–no party, individual, nor conflict owns the American flag.
I don’t under this at all. Americans don’t think it rains in other countries? But Europeans know better because they study history? What the hell?
And what I don’t understand is, what would I be supposed to look like when visiting Paris? Sorry for the hijack, but I’m curious to know what you mean by this.
(I also want to echo Miller’s interrogations.)
HAR! You’ve been listening to Dubya’s dictates again, haven’t you? Dang, at least LBJ had a real Texas accent when he was lying out his ass in the 60s. Bush can’t even get that right.
No, I’m saying that liking and supporting the country you live in doesn’t have anything to do with wearing a flag pin. And since so many mindless tub-thumpers identify themselves to the public at large by wearing flag pins, perhaps people who don’t support the war should choose another symbol to make that clear.
I tend to consider it extremely ironic that, as soon as america starts a big war of aggression by the president that is pretty much internationally regarded as a mistake and embarrassment to the US, everyone starts wearing flag pins and proclaiming how great our country is. I think THAT’S the point that rocksolid was making, earlier, in terms of arrogance.
Anyway, the flag pins and stickers and magnets fairly nauseate me, and I live in NYC where 9/11 is still everywhere. To me, there’s something wrong with needing to wear your patriotism, religion, political affiliation, anything, on your sleeve (literally). I understand that you enjoy the US, you enjoy living in the US- but why can’t you quietly show it through voting, participating in democracy, teaching your children to participate in democracy, volunteering, joining a committee, writing letters to the editor, donating time and money to an activist cause… there are as many ways to show that you love your country as sprinkles on a cupcake and yet, of all of them, you pin a stupid trinket pin to your lapel and think you have a right to stand proud?
It’s similar to christians draping jesus paraphrenalia all over themselves and then acting like reprehensible individuals. It’s the philosophy of advertising dedication rather than demonstrating it, it’s typical of loud American laziness, it’s the most passive form of “showing love for one’s country” that I’ve ever seen. If you LOVE the country, let your speech and actions show it! A pin will not make the country better.
Where on earth did that come from?
So you’re saying that even though I was wearing flag pins and shirts and flying a flag in my yard for many years before 9/11, I should immediately abdicate the symbol to George Bush and pick a different one? I don’t think so!
Rain (could) = Terrorism. I condensed the conversation significantly.
severus: My wife and I weren’t pretending to be a nice couple from Lac des Loups, but most anyone on the street (tunnel as it were) could never have pointed us out as Americans. You don’t exactly need to conceal your identity, but it is a good idea to speak French when you’re in France. And for heaven’s sake pack a raincoat. 