Working in an office of Britons, Germans, Austrians, Asians and Indians has given me an interesting view on the events that have occurred this morning... However my mother, A Canadian, said it best:
"The US is a true 'why me' society, they can't let go of the past and they grasp on to every tragedy that occurs. Build a memorial already and get on with it."
The Britons are more annoyed at the fact that someone interrupted their morning commute than afraid or angry at anyone... In fact I would dare to say the US is more angry and vengeful about these attacks than they are. then again, I suppose when your little sister is an angry, angsty and vengeful teenager who is gonna beat up anyone who even breaths on you wrong, you can be a little more relaxed about it all.
The US is also really part of that 'passionate convert' mentality. The world as a whole has been living with terrorism for over fifty years now and they seem to be a whole lot better adapted to it. Whereas the US more or less just discovered it four years ago, and they're like a smoker who's just quit and is now out to make sure everybody knows how bad smoking is.
That smoker has come up to me a few times... I just wish I had the gumption to say what a friend of mine did to a guy at Disneyland...
"Excuse me, but smoking is bad for you and.." "Are you calling me an idiot?" "i..uhm...no...." "Then why do you come up here touting information that everyone on this planet knows already as if I have never heard it before?" "uhm... I uh... just thought..." "No, you didn't. You thought you would be a self-righteous pompous-ass and come up here and try and prove how much better you are than me because I smoke and you don't. Well I hate to tell you Mister, but I know smoking is bad for me and I chose to do it anyway, It's part of living in a free country, I can do what I enjoy doing. Now if you don't mind, your Communist ass is blocking my ashtray."
You might have difficulty getting your ex-smoker to follow your script. I'd suggest something shorter & pithier:
"You know, smoking is bad for your health." [No change of expression]"Thank you. You have changed my life." [blows smoke in face.] "Really. Thanks. Did you know that masturbation causes carpal tunnel?"
But there's also a lot of survival history involved. The Brits have been dealing with the IRA for a long, long time. When I studied abroad there 10 years ago, I remember the speech the native RA gave us about immediately reporting unattended belongings (and not going near them). This is also the city that survived the Blitz (and fought WWII on its own for a bit), and are justifably proud of that.
It's a different outlook on life; one I don't think is particularly dependent on the U.S.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 12:13 pm (UTC)"The US is a true 'why me' society, they can't let go of the past and they grasp on to every tragedy that occurs. Build a memorial already and get on with it."
The Britons are more annoyed at the fact that someone interrupted their morning commute than afraid or angry at anyone... In fact I would dare to say the US is more angry and vengeful about these attacks than they are. then again, I suppose when your little sister is an angry, angsty and vengeful teenager who is gonna beat up anyone who even breaths on you wrong, you can be a little more relaxed about it all.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 12:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 12:45 pm (UTC)Just make sure to footnote properly or the instructor will have to dock you points. (:
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 12:57 pm (UTC)"Excuse me, but smoking is bad for you and.."
"Are you calling me an idiot?"
"i..uhm...no...."
"Then why do you come up here touting information that everyone on this planet knows already as if I have never heard it before?"
"uhm... I uh... just thought..."
"No, you didn't. You thought you would be a self-righteous pompous-ass and come up here and try and prove how much better you are than me because I smoke and you don't. Well I hate to tell you Mister, but I know smoking is bad for me and I chose to do it anyway, It's part of living in a free country, I can do what I enjoy doing. Now if you don't mind, your Communist ass is blocking my ashtray."
Oh to be young again.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 01:11 pm (UTC)"You know, smoking is bad for your health."
[No change of expression]"Thank you. You have changed my life."
[blows smoke in face.]
"Really. Thanks. Did you know that masturbation causes carpal tunnel?"
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 01:49 pm (UTC)I thought it was "Did you know that every time you masturbate God kills a kitten."
no subject
Date: 2005-07-07 02:01 pm (UTC)It's a different outlook on life; one I don't think is particularly dependent on the U.S.