Uniquely Distinct Americanisms

Factual Questions
141

From Sweden, just to get that out of the way.

I could write a book about this, since the topic fascinates me. Everyone outside the US has an opinion about the country. Many get their opinions from media, in the widest sense. When I first came to the US, I was surprised that people weren’t using ‘fuck’ as every third word, as that seemed to be the case, judging from movies.

More seriously, though, is the dualism that is the US. I don’t know of any ‘western’ country that is so violent as the US, apart from civil war zones. Yet, at the same time, I’ve never been to a country that’s so friendly. It’s the only country I’ve visited (and I’m up to 30+) where just about anyone readily invites a perfect stranger into their homes. Maybe not anyone who knocks on the door, but close enough. If I, as a traveller, had the slightest connection to the person I was visiting, they would not only get me someplace to sleep, they’d lend me a car, buy me dinner ASF.
And that’s another thing, my experience in Europe is that most people will ‘go dutch’ (and that’s a strange phrase in itself), whereas whenever I was out for a meal or whatever, someone would offer to pick up the tab, even people I’ve never met. It seems to be sort of a … universal ‘what goes around, comes around’, but I’d say that many, if not most, Europeans keep tabs. The only time we treat, is for the purpose of getting laid, or making business. Sometimes killing two birds with one stone.

Some random things:
Those brownish glasses, that looks like glass, but weigh next to nothing.
Eating with the fork in the right hand. Very rude, where I come from.
The dualism of art and culture. NY is probably the art center of the world, as well as the theatre (stage) center. At the same time, most of the really cheesy and dumb things come from the US (Dumb&Dumberer). Again, it’s like there’s no in between.
Religion. Not bashing religious people at all, but I found it strange that so many people go to church, as I perceived it, from reflex, whereas here, you’re either a devout follower or an atheist.
‘Liberal’ meaning ‘leftist’.

To sum it up (with hyperbole), I think the US is the country of the greatest contrasts in the world. Beaurtiful nature, and ugly, ugly, ugly strip malls. Generous and friendly people, and quick on the draw killers. The best scientist (check records for Nobel Prizes) in the world, with the best universities, and some of the dumbest, most poorly educated, geocentric people in the world.
The best writers, artists, filmmmakers, musicians, composers, photographers in the world. And some of the most superficial people in the world (Joe Millionaire).
Abundant disdussion and debates about abortion and the sanctity (sp?) of marriage, and the largest porn industry in the world.

In short, the US is an enigma. And that’s why it’s so fascinating.

142

The glasses…are you talking about drinking glasses? I don’t know what you mean.

Your comment about either “high” culture or “low” culture is dead on, I think. I have read a lot of commentaries here the last few years pointing out the same thing, that there is almost no cultural middle anymore, people either go to the Boston Symphony or they go to professional Wrestling, with almost nothing in between. Maybe film falls in the middle these days, but even most of that is low-brow IMHO.

Curiously our retail scene seems to be going the same way, with really high end and low end (think Wal-Mart) doing well, but more traditionally middle of the road stores (like Sears) are struggling.

143

I don’t understand this comment.

My “World Series” mention is only slightly facetious. If Canada started entering teams in the 90s, how long was it going with only the USA?

OT but related to OP: The Australian rhyming slang for a citizen of the USA is seppo, short for septic tank, rhymes with yank. I think there’s more than a little personal and social commentary in that.

144

Arrggh, I can’t take it! The Toronto Blue Jays started Major League play in the 1977 season, the Montreal Expos in 1969.

Blue Jays History

Montreal Expos History

145

ummm… Okay. In my 40 years of life in America, I have never, ever, heard an American spontaneously shout “God Bless America”.

OTOH, I’ve never heard anyone shout “Allah Akbar” (sp?) first hand, either.

146

Actually, if you learn a little history you’ll discover it was a deliberate compromise between the larger and smaller states. In addition, the ability of the minority to resist the majority is enshrined any number of other places in the US Government, including the Senate (which gives the smallest states as much power as the largest) and in the Constitution itself, which was designed to prevent a “tyranny by the majority”.

147

It’s straight forward - you’re expected to sweeten it yourself, allowing you to decide how much and whether to use sugar or sweet n’ low.

148

Well, we have a level of freedom unapproached anywhere in the world. Where else could a walking afterbirth make a movie titled Bowling for Columbine?

149

  1. I’ve called myself a Yank many a time in my letters to my British pen-pal, as in “Reality shows are real popular with us Yanks for some reason.” I’m sure he’s used the word once or twice with me and I once (jokingly) refered to him as a “limey,” but I can see why some Yanks would be unhappy being called that nby a stranger, especially if that stranger is from a country the news tells us we’re hated in.

  2. Born and raised in NE Ohio and I hold my fork in my left hand (I’m a righty) and the knife in the other because I found it just makes more sence.

  3. I also draw a horizontal line through a “7,” which got the notice of one foring- born store owener who saw me do it. He said he was told if HE had done the ssame thing, he would be looked at funny and would have trouble getting a job.

  4. Still trying to figure out how holding your fork and knife the Euro way is “rude.” Someone needed her head examined.

  5. As seen in hyiyliyi’s post, anything that is actually or is perceived to be connected with Communism is considered a Bad Thing by my countrymen (I’m still trying to figure out how having some socialist programs can possible “crush” someone rather than help them). Speaking as someone who had to use a Free Clinic before she got health insurance through a full-time job, socialized medicine would be a good thing - its there if you NEED it. Kinda like Social Security - not every senior citizen will need it, but its a safety net for those who do and there’s no reason why a country as wealthy as ours shouldn’t have such a net. But, like I said, anything can can ever be associated with “The Red Scare” in the slightest way will be rejected by us Yanks - its a knee-jerk reaction.

Patty

150

Isolating historical events for purposes of national pride.

Example: In history class I learned that the War of 1812 was fought entirely in North America, mostly in America. Highlights include certain naval battles and the writing of the national anthem’s words. Brief mention of the British capturing Washington DC and burning the White house; generally it’s held we came off best in the encounter since ice-cream propopenent Dolly Madison saved some valuable paintings at great personal risk. On the whole, American elementary school teachers seem to concur that it was a stalemate. The British left because we drove them out.

We also learned, somewhat later, about the Duke of Wellington, Waterloo, Napoleon, the Hundred Days, etc. Coincidentally, much of this stuff happened in 1812 also. It’s not actually related, of course, since Napoleon is World History, and the War of 1812 is US History.

Also, we won the Revolutionary War by ourselves, with a little help from the French. George Washington was the greatest military genius ever. Freshman year of high school, those with enough initiative to read a footnote are the only ones to discover that England was simultaneously at war with France and Spain and was on very thin ice with Russia and the Netherlands.

Insert ‘wink’ smilies as desired.

151

That doesn’t alter the fact that under the system, the value of your vote differs greatly according to where you live. And I knew the history. Yes, I know you quoted astraeus, not me, but I had been making the same points.

152

Actually, most of the things I’ve read seem to indicate 1812 was a stalemate. The US failed to invade Canada, which was one of it’s aims, but was able to resolve some unresolved issued, including borders with canada and impressement. The fact the young US Navy managed to hold it’s own againest the vaunted Royal Navy was likely one of the reasons for such concessions at the negoiating table.

Oh, and I was under the Impression that Waterloo and the Hundred days occured in 1815, after the war of 1812 ended.

153

Oh, and regarding the World Series again:

I get tiiiiiiiiiiiired of smart-mouthed Europeans and such making snide remarks about it not being a “world” tournament.

It was called that first because it was the championship between two independent leagues, which were the only professional ones in the world at the time.

It was never intended to be a contest between countries, like the Olympics or the World Cup. Stop acting like it’s not fulfilling its mission. You don’t get to say what it’s supposed to be.

ALL of the world’s best talent is playing for the United States professional leagues, with very few exceptions (Japanese players still bound by their long-term contracts, or who don’t want to move even for a few years). All the great Dominican, Canadian, Mexican, Argentinian, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Costa Rican, Korean, and even some of the Cuban players are in the American/Canadian major leagues. It’s where the money is, and that’s where they’re going to go.

So in that sense, it comes very close to being a world series. It decides the championship from teams made from the best the world can find.

154

hyjyljyj writes:

> But calling someone a Yank or Yankee always makes you sound vaguely
> offensive and slightly ignorant, while we know all along you’re only trying to be
> good-natured and friendly. For the term to remain only in sports usage, like
> Washington “Redskins”, New York “Yankees” and Atlanta “Braves”, would be
> good. First, if the referent is from anywhere in the southern or western US, it
> sounds just plain silly. And second, it’s not really possible to take this word as
> a compliment. If I’m suddenly asked, “Are you a YANKEE?” I’m instantly on my
> guard. It makes a person uncomfortable–Did I do something wrong?–Why are
> you calling me that? … …See, the term “yank” or “yankee” is a one-way street,
> and a dead end. By that I mean there is no way of reciprocating. We can’t call
> you “Brits”, “limeys” or “blokes” in return without seeming rude to some. (I
> was not aware until today that “Brit” was considered offensive, and I’ll not use
> it again.) Two friends on opposite sides of the pond who agree on calling each
> other these nicknames is a different matter, of course.

On one hand, as I said before, I think it’s time to bury the terms “Yank” and “Yankee.” On the other hand, nearly always when I heard them used, they were used in good humor. Those cases when I thought there was some anti-Americanism in the encounters with people I met in the U.K., it wasn’t because they were using those terms. Usually it was more in their general attitude than any specific term they used. Similarly, Southerners who wished to insult Northerners would use something other than just these words. So while I’ll tell people that it would be better if these terms die out, I don’t think these words are the main problem in anti-Americanism or the anti-Northernism or whatever.

155

Honestly, I can’t recall ever hearing it being used as a general term for the unionist people. Which doesn’t mean it never is, but it wouldn’t be a common usage.

156

Yes. In all diners and cheaper franchise restaurants you get water in one of those, and they weigh like plastic, but are from glass.

157

…I don’t understand this comment.

My “World Series” mention is only slightly facetious. If Canada started entering teams in the 90s, how long was it going with only the USA?..

the World Series is so named because it was stared by The World, a New York newspaper, in the early part of the twentieth century. It has nothing to do with ‘world’ as in globe or earth. :slight_smile:

158

Apparently not.

159

*There is a large reason behind this. First, the UN is not trusted by a large portion of Americans. Fact is, the UN has not shown that it is effective. Moreover, its “peacekeeping” missions are ill-planned, often have no real goal other than “stop stuff from happening” and do not, in fact, make any long-range plans for actually fixing the problems that caused the violence. It exposes our soldiers for what we see as little benefit to us or the target population. Additionally, certain actions undertaken (or not taken) by European soldiers many European militaries in our eyes. We do not consider them trustworthy battlefield forces. *

Another point - quite frequently (and I have some experience of this as a veteran of UN acitons in Saudi Arabia) is that frequently the US is specifically asked to not participate in UN peacekeeping missions, or at least not to send troops. That said, US troops were still involved in Somalia, Serbia, Croatia, Iraq (not the war, but upholding the sanctions), and other places.

And while I don’t agree with many of the above points (for instance - European forces that I have served with, including Brits, French, and Germans) are quite professional and I would be happy to serve with them in future, as long as the US was footing the bills so that we could get decent kit), the US is not much better at making long-range plans and having exit strategies than anyone else…

160

How about the whole “bathroom” / “toilet” thing?