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matthew330 · 07-18-2008, 08:10 PM

This sentiment seems to be the overwhelming consensus here, but just doesn't jive with my own personal experience. It's been awhile since I've been out of the country, but recently took a trip to Toronto and here's how it went.

I sit down to have dinner in the hotel bar and get talking to a this Canadian who puts 2 and 2 together and realizes I'm America. I do my best to continue our pleasant non-political conversation, but it is definately being forced into the political realm. It goes from how bright his kids are and how well versed they are in American politics to how stupid American children are and the American school system, and the health care system, blah blah mother fucking blah. I really tried to indulge him for awhile and played the "stupid american" bit, hoping he'd drop it, but I finally gave in, humored him, and challenged him on a number of things. This left him a bit speechless but that's not my point....

It didn't matter that it was Canada, this same thing happened to a friend of mine on his honeymoon in Ireland (but he's way left so he was cool with it). When I was 10/11/12 years old I lived in Germany and felt this from adult Europeans. At 13 years old..WTF??

Americans hear an accent and are immediately "where you from, what's that like, welcome....etc etc" How is it that we are the arrogant ones?

Not only can foreigners come here and not be treated like this, I would bet they'd feel comfortable coming here and striking up a conversation about how shitty Americans are right here in the middle of America, because it happens all the time.

Who's arrogant?

07-18-2008, 08:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
matthew330 Banned	Americans are arrogant... This sentiment seems to be the overwhelming consensus here, but just doesn't jive with my own personal experience. It's been awhile since I've been out of the country, but recently took a trip to Toronto and here's how it went. I sit down to have dinner in the hotel bar and get talking to a this Canadian who puts 2 and 2 together and realizes I'm America. I do my best to continue our pleasant non-political conversation, but it is definately being forced into the political realm. It goes from how bright his kids are and how well versed they are in American politics to how stupid American children are and the American school system, and the health care system, blah blah mother fucking blah. I really tried to indulge him for awhile and played the "stupid american" bit, hoping he'd drop it, but I finally gave in, humored him, and challenged him on a number of things. This left him a bit speechless but that's not my point.... It didn't matter that it was Canada, this same thing happened to a friend of mine on his honeymoon in Ireland (but he's way left so he was cool with it). When I was 10/11/12 years old I lived in Germany and felt this from adult Europeans. At 13 years old..WTF?? Americans hear an accent and are immediately "where you from, what's that like, welcome....etc etc" How is it that we are the arrogant ones? Not only can foreigners come here and not be treated like this, I would bet they'd feel comfortable coming here and striking up a conversation about how shitty Americans are right here in the middle of America, because it happens all the time. Who's arrogant?