In view of what was going on in the north of Ireland in 1994, I don’t really think it’s a fair comparison. However, I will point out that handguns are not illegal there, either.
And admittedly there was a large part of the population engaged in terrorism and para-war activities at the time… I wonder how high the rate is since the ceasefires? Dunno if the stats are available yet.
… and while Brutus is bringing up Ireland where it’s totally inappropriate to do so, Boofy Bloke is ignoring the place completely.
Northern Ireland is probably not the best place to be comparing yourself to. Whilst things have improved over the last few years, in 1994 it could still, to some degree, be described as a “War Zone.”
To take it to an extreme, thats like saying - “Well we’re better than Bosnia…”
To be honest though, the point that was being made is not that American is automatically in the wrong because of its gun control record.
The point was that when it comes to the whole issue of Guns, thats something that large chunks of us furriners find weird about America. Which, at the end of the day, is what the OP was after.
As well as India, Kashmir, the Middle East, large parts of Africa; indeed a lot of places my forebears had their mucky fingers in…
Jervoise (or anyone for that matter), what’s so odd about “-- The “sir”, “mister” and “ma’am” thing?” Are you saying we Yanks use those terms more than others or that we use them differently or what? I ask because a library patron once got REAL pissed at me, saying “Don’t call me “Sir,” that’s insulting!” What the hell AM I to call a male person whose name I don’t know? “Dude” sounds really inappropriate!
Confussed in Cleveland
Since this is from a list of Americanisms, I take it that you don’t do this in the UK and Europe–so just out of curiosity, how do you signal that you’ve finished eating? The reason for laying the knife (with the blade pointing inwards) and fork across the plate is so the servers will know they can clear your plate away, even if you haven’t finished everything. Laying them diagonally is probably the preferred method–if you think of the plate as a clock, the fork and knife should point toward “10” and the handles should point toward “4.”
On the other hand, if your knife is laid across the edge of the plate, it means you’re still eating (bear in mind that Americans typically cut with their right hand, then lay down the knife and switch the fork from the left hand to the right to eat–I’d say this is one of the most blatant Americanisms there is).
Despite the custom of laying the fork and knife horizontally, servers at most American restaurants will typically just come straight out and ask you if you have finished. Or, they may ask you the cringeworthy “Are you still working on that?” (it’s inevitably followed with “Did you leave any room for dessert?”). Those phrases seem to be typical Americanisms so far as restaurant dining goes–I’ve never experienced anything like that in European restaurants (where the dining process usually seems more leisurely).
[QUOTE=Enola Straight]
how come we have big NCAA Footbal games, big NCAA Basketball games, but no-one ever sees a big NCAA BASEBALL game broadcast anywhere?)
[QUOTE]
Actually, the NCAA College World Series is broadcast in it’s entirety on ESPN, and, if you live in an area with quality college baseball teams, the local Fox Sports Net station will usually broadcast a few games.
Baseball’s problem is the same as college hockey: A strong minor league system takes most of the best talent away, and only about half the country is set up for the sport on the college level (it’s generally too cold for baseball in the north, and hockey is not traditionally played in the south)
A chapter from Culture Matters suggests that America’s greatest competitive advantage is its obsession with convenience. In America, you get upset if there are three people in line. People get upset if they have to wait a whole minute to get fast food.
Why is the rights issue always brought up when this is being discussed? Sure you have the right to, but are you required to own and possess deadly weapons ith which to defend yourselves, from both private criminals and the government?
Maybe I don’t understand the need for private protection since I’m not mugged at gunpoint every day like you must be, since you need so much protection.
Others? I assume you mean the disabled and such? Well, I’d never tread on their rights to own lethal firearms and seeing the raging success the elderly are enjoying in traffic it is obvious they should have guns, too.
I am sorry for taking this stance, it’s just that I find your line of reasoning …funny. Again, it may be because I’m not used to your level of risk of getting shot.
Does this constitute a hijack?
I’m an American, born and raised. The closest I’ve been to another nation is Chicago.
Seriously - this ever happens? 
Seriously - this ever happens?
Yes, the United Kingdom is called the United Kingdom. And England is called England. And England is a country, and England has a national anthem.
Switching topics, I’d like to debunk the “Puritan” thing. The Puritans settled only a small portion of the American colonies, mainly Massachusetts. By far, most of the English settlers in the thirteen colonies were ordinary Church of England, not Puritans. Even the majority of passengers on the Mayflower* were not Puritans.
Since then America has been populated mainly by Germans, Irish, Africans, and Latinos. Their cultures have determined America’s character too. And I don’t think they either know or care what some Puritan in Boston thought about this or that 350 years ago.
- The original settlers of Plimouth Plantation, the first permanent English-speaking colony in New England, came aboard the Mayflower in 1620.
Originally Posted by LemonThrower
“Gun ownership certainly makes criminals more dangerous, but on the other hand the elderly and others who might not be able to physically defend themselves can protect themselves in the U.S.
Others? I assume you mean the disabled and such? Well, I’d never tread on their rights to own lethal firearms and seeing the raging success the elderly are enjoying in traffic it is obvious they should have guns, too.”
People might not be able to physically defend themselve for a variety of reasons, not just because they are elderly or disabled. A few years ago a women’s organization was encouraging women to carry firearms. This was controversial in the U.S. because womens’ groups are on the left on most issues and the NRA is seen as a right wing group. (The ACLU never seems eager to protect Second Amendment rights.) But it makes sense. I have a female friend that is a criminal prosecutor. If I were her, I would carry a gun. She has many friends on the police force, and when she feels threatened she can usually persuade one to escort her home. If I were her and I could never own a gun, I would probably not go into her line of work. Its just too dangerous. This women’s group was making the point that a gun equalizes physical disparities between a criminal and a victim.
And as far as lethal weapons go, knives are very lethal and are legal in most countries, not just the U.S.
The non-gun crime rate is also fairly high.
I’ll try to get back to the spirt of the OP and away from the bashing. I’m trying to remember back to when I was stationed in Germany. All my buddies had a great time exploring Europe and Germany in particular but after a while there were somethings that were unique to America that you started to miss such as:
Stores that are open when people can actually shop.
Round doorknobs.
American plumbing. This was discussed in great detail. It seemed that everytime I visited a different bathroom it took a couple of minutes to figure out how the toilet worked. The one design that was talked about the most was the one with the “shit shelf”. Your fecal matter would just lay there on a shelf out of the water as if ready for inspection. When flushed a wave of water would come by and push it off the shelf (if you’re lucky), but leaving much residue behind. I know this is probably good for water conservation but come on, there has to be a better way.
I’m trying to thing of others but its been a long time.
Sure, but look at the overall crime rate, especially the violent crime rate (regardless of weapon used). I believe that the UK has recently had its murder rate go up drastically (coming close to that of the US?), even though guns are outlawed there.
Furthermore, it’s my understanding that a large fraction of the gun deaths (or at least the underage ones) in the US are due to gang warfare, as opposed to accidents or muggings etc. In other words, many of the gun deaths are not of “innocents” but instead of those engaged in (gang) warfare.
I don’t own a gun myself (yet), but I certainly do believe in them for personal defense. See the research by John Lott demonstrating a reduction in crime for those areas that have more permissive gun laws (esp. concealed carry).
In 2001, 57% of all gun deaths in the United States were suicides.
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 2003.
I can honestly say that I have never done this myself, and I don’t recall ever seeing anyone do it. How widespread is this? I’m from New England and now live in California, if it matters.
Marvel, I am also confused by the “sir” and “ma’am” thing. Is it wrong? What do other English-speaking people say in their place?
Also, is my use of the term “New England” an Americanism? Do people outside the US know that I am talking about the 6 most North-East states? (Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine for those of you keeping score at home) Actually, now that I’ve written all those out, I realize that there are probably many people in the US that don’t know that.