Re: American and British (English)

On Sun, 3 Aug 2008 09:26:20 +0200, nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (J.
J. Lodder) wrote:

Jim Karatassos <jim.karatassos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Aug 2, 4:37 pm, nos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (J. J. Lodder) wrote:
Hatunen <hatu...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sat, 2 Aug 2008 14:04:56 , nos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (J. J.
Lodder) wrote:

Chuck Riggs <chri...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Not to ask a simplistic question, but why are such distinctions
important if we're all Americans?

Needless distinction.
We are all humans,

"American" is a culture, not a species.

For better or worse, though, it appears that much of the world is
trying to be American.

Americans are such strange people.
On one hand they believe that anti-Americanism is rife,
all over the world, and that 'everybody' despises Americans.
(see elsewhere in this very thread)

On the other hand they like to believe
that everybody is trying to be American.

Jan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Jan, not all of us believe that everyone is trying to be American. On
the other hand, I certainly do believe that if all Americans went to
the gas chamber tomorrow, there wouldn't be that many tears all over
the world, and there would be a certain amount of dancing.

You are almost certainly wrong about the first,
and no doubt right about the second.

I can't believe that we would see the same in the USA if it happened
to any other ethnic group.

Someone here sometime ago mentioned
the reaction of American audiences to Hiroshima footage,
when it became available months later.

Extatic cheering,

That was completely understandable in the context of a war
against an aggressor.

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Do something about North Dakota today...
    ... Lodder): ... internal conflict. ... Americans have been very lucky. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Is Yanks felt to be insulting or derogatory?
    ... Lodder) wrote: ... someone claimed that using 'Yanks' ... to indicate Americans in general ... Florida Southern several years ago, and went to a showing of his plans ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: engineers and religious fanaticism
    ... Lodder): ... Yes, Jan, we know how you feel about America and Americans. ... lower speed limits on the interstates resulted in less ... fatalities there than on the autobahns; ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Are Whales Fish? The 1818 Trial
    ... Lodder): ... Americans tend to go to court to settle disputes. ... with 11.5 million dead (most ... How very European. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: American and British (English)
    ... J. Lodder) wrote: ... planes crashed into the towers on 9/11, there was enormous sympathy ... generalization that Americans support Bush. ... that the Americans would have the good sense not to re-elect Bush. ...
    (alt.usage.english)