Attitudes towards Americans

[jeff]

And then we have to take passports away from the British soccer yobs (pre-arrest; afterwards it's no problem), the Euro-trash infesting NYC now on the wings of the strong pound and Euro, and the Russian mafia and petrodollar sheiks swarming in London ... This cuts all ways.

But yeah, when your own countrymen act like doofuses it's an embarrassent. Did I mention that they insisted on ketchup, too? The horror!

[wahrman]

That's a clue as to why some of us here don't have to deal with Anti-American
anything when we travel. Most of don't stick out. It's the loud, ketchup eaters
who make a bad name for the rest of us. But there have been oafs everyplace
I've been in the word.

I remember having a chat with a Turkish kid in Berlin who wanted to know where
I was from (this conversation is in German mind you). He guessed Croatia,
Russia, even Germany. I let him off the hook and said the US and he didn't
believe me.

I should have asked him why he didn't believe me....oh well.

[Shi no Tenshi]

*snip*That many of your citizens can't find us on a map or confuse us with being a US state, really rankles. *snip*

To be fair, I'd say the majority of Americans can't even place many of their own states on a map, so I wouldn't feel too insulted by this.

[Inquartata]

Did I mention that they insisted on ketchup, too? The horror!

At least they didn't order "Freedom Fries".

[wahrman]

Gack!!!

At least they didn't order "Freedom Fries".

[Fencergrl]

To be fair, I'd say the majority of Americans can't even place many of their own states on a map, so I wouldn't feel too insulted by this.

What is it about that??? The odd time I've caught "Who's smarter than a 5th grader?"... or whatever the show is (I've only seen it once or twice). I am stunned that I am getting questions right about the USA that the contestant isn't.

Wouldn’t most Americans know that Alaska is your largest state and not Texas??? Okay... they're not getting other simple answers right either.... do they perform lobotomies before putting them on stage? Or is your education system substantially different than the Canadian one?

[parrythis]

Aside from "Jeopardy", game show producers don't select their contestants based on their knowledge or intelligence. Contestants are chosen based on how well the "play to the camera". Actually, Jeopardy does that too, but their contestants have to be smart first. Don't forget - by definition, nearly 50% of the population has an IQ less than 100.

[wahrman]

I had an argument with two people in a western province that shall remain
nameless that insisted and were upset that Canada sold Alaska to the US.

But yeah, they weren't on TV.

What is it about that??? The odd time I've caught "Who's smarter than a 5th grader?"... or whatever the show is (I've only seen it once or twice). I am stunned that I am getting questions right about the USA that the contestant isn't.

Wouldn’t most Americans know that Alaska is your largest state and not Texas??? Okay... they're not getting other simple answers right either.... do they perform lobotomies before putting them on stage? Or is your education system substantially different than the Canadian one?

[Fencergrl]

I had an argument with two people in a western province that shall remain
nameless that insisted and were upset that Canada sold Alaska to the US.

But yeah, they weren't on TV.

I can kind of see someone making that mistake... When you cross the border into Alaska, it always feels weird... I expect it to be part of Canada. Somehow, it would make more sense if it was still part of Russia.

I think of the US border to be in the south....

Yeah I know... double standard. I also realize that people second guess themselves when they're up on stage, under the lights and trying not to lose the money they won.

[wahrman]

I watching Rex Murphy once and he was making a joke about Canada vs the US
and said "your north isn't even as far north as our south". Which was funny
but it bugged me because it just isn't true. And not just because of Alaska.

He was referring to the 49th of course but eight Canadian capitals and three
entire provinces are south of the 49th.

And the majority of the population.

Yeah, I know, it was just comedy...and yeah, I like maps waaay too much.

[wahrman]

But I always drive south to get to Canada.

Figure that one out.

I think of the US border to be in the south....

[lemon__fresh]

I can rarley tell whos american and whos canadian in the first place

But we resent our dependance on you and wish there were some acknowledgement of our contributions to your life. That many of your citizens can't find us on a map or confuse us with being a US state, really rankles. James.

yeaaa, i have a hard enough time remembering/caring about the geography of canada, let alone knowing anything about america's

so i wouldnt fault americans on that

[Shi no Tenshi]

What is it about that??? The odd time I've caught "Who's smarter than a 5th grader?"... or whatever the show is (I've only seen it once or twice). I am stunned that I am getting questions right about the USA that the contestant isn't.

Wouldn’t most Americans know that Alaska is your largest state and not Texas??? Okay... they're not getting other simple answers right either.... do they perform lobotomies before putting them on stage? Or is your education system substantially different than the Canadian one?

I chalk it up with many an American's sentiment that all they need to know is what is within their small area, and all else is irrellevant. I can't say that our educational system exactly encourages open-mindedness.

[scrapinpeg]

...Wouldn’t most Americans know that Alaska is your largest state and not Texas???...

Kids ARE taught basic geography in school. But like everything else in life, people retain the information they actually NEED. I sincerely have no need whatsoever to know that the capital of Washington isn't Seattle, but Olympia. I do not foresee ever needing to know the difference between Vermont and New Hampshire. I am a well-traveled human being, but there are many states that I will likely never visit.

Frankly, it's more important that Americans know certain foreign geography than their own internal geography, because it's more likely to affect their interests, and is more likely to make them usefully informed voters. I want people voting for the next president to know the difference between Iran and Pakistan. I don't particularly care if they know the capital of Rhode Island.

That's an important caveat -- they only need to know CERTAIN foreign geography. Knowledge of much of sub-saharan Africa, South America and a great deal of Asia is completely unnecessary for the average American.

[introspective]

We can write as individuals here on the fencing site, and sort of 'demonstrate' to the world at large that 'we' as fencers, past fencers or future fencers are good people, but as they say....

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. While we may look good on paper, what often happens is that the ordinary person living in a small region somewhere on the globe encounters Mr America complete with the manners of a boor, who hadn't bothered to find out if it was taboo or not to sit crosslegged on a saturday next to the River of Eden, and then wonders to Heaven above, why he is being caught by the local villagers and trussed up like a thanksgiving turkey. Well, that's the reason.

We, as Americans have to understand that just as we expect people from other countries to adapt our culture and assimilate asap; we should show everyone else the same respect. Eventually we will all assimilate into one great blog.

[Fencergrl]

Frankly, it's more important that Americans know certain foreign geography than their own internal geography, because it's more likely to affect their interests, and is more likely to make them usefully informed voters. I want people voting for the next president to know the difference between Iran and Pakistan. I don't particularly care if they know the capital of Rhode Island.

I agree... Do you find this isn't or is the case with the average American?

Perahps I'm assuming something here, but most Canadians know where various foreign countries are situated....

They may not be able to name or know where all your states are, but they know where all the Provinces and Territories are in Canada and have a general idea where most countries are situated and something about them... Hell... the average Canadian where I live comes from a foreign country!

[Shi no Tenshi]

It would be ideal for them to have foreign as well as domestic knowledge. However, it seems that most people don't care about foreign. And foreign to some people means the next villiage/town/city over.

[wahrman]

I honestly don't know what the "average" American knows. Most of
my friends and family have a pretty decent grasp of geography. I
really think I'm pretty average. I don't know where they find these
people who think the capital of New York is New Jersey.

Most people I know have lived in or at least visited several other countries.

I just heard yesterday that an old friend from high school has been
missing in Nepal for some time now.

I agree... Do you find this isn't or is the case with the average American?

[Fencergrl]

It would be ideal for them to have foreign as well as domestic knowledge. However, it seems that most people don't care about foreign. And foreign to some people means the next villiage/town/city over.

Perhaps that's the crux of the problem.

If most Americans don't care to learn about other countries (where they are, what their cultures are, what happens there) then they're left ordering fries & cokes in France. Those that take the time, blend in better and don't stand out as the "Ugly/Rude/ Arrogant Americans".... and we've come full circle in this discussion.

In the US, there is a "Melting Pot", in Canada we have "Cultural Diversity".

Maintaining your origins and your culture is part of what makes Canada different than the US.

Most of what I know about Japan, Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey, Greece, China, India etc...... is from people I get to know. I learn a smattering of their language, their traditions, their foods etc... I may never travel to those countries, but it doesn't matter.

I don't think you can live in one of the 3 major cities in Canada and not know something about a handful of foreign places. Between the ethnic TV stations (I'm addicted to East Indian TV & my sister watches Japanese TV ) restaurants and the large number of festivals.... it just doesn't seem possible.

Would anyone like to comment or compare the level of cultural diversity in major cities in the USA? Are there places you can go and almost immerse yourself in a culture? Where the signage, the food, the language spoken on the street etc... is not English?

If you don't have cable TV, can you still get shows where English isn't spoken?

Are there huge celebrations for various ethnic and religious holidays? Greek Fests? Chinese New Year? etc..

[introspective]

Some of our 'customs' don't ring right with other nations, for example in some areas, things like Halloween are considered to be disrespectful toward the deceased as it is belittling them by showing skeletons and so forth. The correct way to respect the deceased is to honor their memory. For ex: in Louisiana [2nd cousin to the Fr.Canadians where we learned most of our manners] they don't 'celebrate' Halloween, instead they visit family graves on the day before "All Saints Day" and clean off the debris and place fresh flowers around the headstones [markers for the deceased] and then they attend Services. It was such an interesting customs that I completely let Halloween go soon after moving there and gladly so.

Maybe we should take a look at some of these things and brush it up, I have a feeling it would create a more happy lifestyle for everyone.