Of course, what people want to be called should be respected. In Texas, we call people from That Other Subcontinent “South Asians” & they don’t seem to mind. (They often use “Desis.”)
Suggestions to the OP: “Favourable” is the British usage; it’s also favored in certain ex-colonies, but not in California. You seem to idealize The British Empire; do you realize the sahibs would feel you were beneath them, since you have Asian blood? Two more:
[ul]
[li]Read more Kipling. Read him in depth. Yes, he favored The Empire. But he was a complex, intelligent & well-travelled man; hardly simplistic. [/li]
[li]Read G K Chesterton. An Englishman writing in your favorite/favourite era, he converted to Roman Catholicism. Again, those halcyon days at the turn of the last century contain more than you have yet learned.[/li][/ul]
Similarly, many Americans do not think of themselves as “Yankees,” but to most people outside the USA, all Americans are “Yankees.”
It’s English; words have different meanings. “Scandinavian” varies in meaning depending on the speaker and context. Geographically, it’s reasonable to define Finland as being Scandinavian; “Nordic” is a bit more accurate but close enough. But if someone calls Finnish a Scandinavian language, they are just flat out wrong.
I don’t really know the source, it’s an old doggerel said to have originated with lumberjacks of Norwegian heritage in the North Woods. Apparently the was a bit of racial one-upmanship among those old boys. I’ve heard the verse refers to events at the assault of Copenhagen ca. 1659, but don’t know the historical details.
SS
Are you kidding? Canadians are the biggest chippy shoulderers I know. There are exceptions, but it seems like as a general rule, you can’t even have a conversation with a Canadian without them reminding you that they’re Canadian and not American and Canada is different (and better!!!) than the US every ten seconds. And Canadians know about American history but Americans don’t know anything about Canada!
I love my home, the USA, though often in the way that I love an overly large, often stupid but adorable dog. I hold very positive feelings toward England (both because they’re arguably the US’s closest allies as well as having friends there), Canada and Australia–the usual suspects. Also Japan and Iceland, the last for no particular reason except for a general impression of awesomeness, and Bjork.
Easy solution. Surprise them. Learn about Canada and Canadian history, and use it the next time you get into conversation with a Canadian:
Canadian: We burned the White House in the War of 1812. Nyah.
You: Well actually, the burning of the White House was caused by British, not Canadian, soldiers. And we got the better of you–well, maybe the British, who were supposed to be representing you–in the 1903 Hay-Herbert Treaty, which fixed the Alaska-Canada boundary.
They won’t be expecting this level of knowledge from an American, and will consequently shut up, not knowing what else to do. Don’t know why this isn’t obvious, actually.
Seconded. It’s a fine country in many ways, but lord do they have a superiority complex, particularly if an American is within 50 feet. It’s obnoxious and, IMHO, rather psychologically unhealthy.
ETA: In re. countries I’m “favorable” to…: just about any could qualify, but I’m particularly fond of the UK, Germany, Poland, Romania, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, Argentina, Brazil. Lots more, but those are the first that come to mind.
Do you suppose there’s any truth to the idea that what US Americans see as a superiority complex might be a, “Not thinking we’re as great as we do” complex?
I like the Belgians. They spend a lot of time (recently, at least) agonising over their inability to form a stable government. And yet the country runs just fine without one.
Also: the food is great, the beer rocks, and the architecture is often very interesting. Ignoring the concrete monstrosities found in certain parts of Brussels, of course.
I also am impressed with Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Monaco. That a state managed to survive in Europe for several centuries with an army smaller than my local police force impresses me. And all three have such beautiful scenery…
When I lived in the quiet rural Fenlands on the coast of the Wash (England) for several months years ago I said to my self that it might be a good idea to retire here. I still won’t rule it out. People were so laid back.
On the other hand, I’ve always had a hankering to live in the States especially San Diego or Hawaii and experience the fast pace of American life.
