USA - the axis of evil?

The USA seems to see themselves as a global police force but are obviously above being policed by anyone else.

Some of the deep seated bias within the US can only mean that some countries are seen as evil whereas others can engage in similar activities and go unnoticed.

I've just come back from Jamaica and have been absolutely shocked by the lack of knowledge of anything outside the US borders by some of the American tourists - one actually thought Athens Olympics was held in London and had never heard of Greece!

Obviously everyone isn't this bad but there does seem to be a lack of understanding of anything foreign across the board.

I can only see this aggressive biased policy heading one direction and it isn't going to be pretty ending.

Roshan, ever being defiant, "dear" shall be engraved on our friendship rings, with the good Peter being our best man; BP providing the champagne and your students singing in the choir - serves them right.

I haven't got the faintest idea as to the issue you raise. Recently the good AA Gill himself said: "To ask an American to make a cup of coffee is like asking him to draw a map of the world". I then recommended to the few Americans known to me personally to make a cup of coffee, draw a map of the world and pay particular attention to rivers since they add division, colour and gorgeous names (and no, the Nile does not count).

There are historians who say that the Americas are just an amalgamation of the Old World; quite right too - and implicating that we only have ourselves to blame; including us adopting the States as the to be obeyed big brother.

Of course, all generalisation is a dastardly business; but then humans feel safest when they can pigeon hole. There is that train of thought to just leave countries to their own destiny; and in a way I think that's correct. After all, how many of us interfere with gross problems next door to us (called 'neighbours')

As to the old chestnut of "axis of evil" may I refer people to Dante's "Inferno". In the end we'll all burn in hell - not necessarily in a chamber of our own choosing.

Let's take responsibility for each other; in not too hasty a manner. And let's not, by default, indulge the school ground bully.

U

CAVEAT: Dear readers of Roshan's blog; this is sort of personal - so don't waste your own good time reading it.

Roshan, in answer to your question, let's just say: "Guardian" 07/08/07. And if you come across the good Steinbeck himself (again), or any musings on poetry, during this summer's GCSEs marking please be kind to my son.

Yes, Americans. It's like saying the British, the French, the whatever. I hate stereotyping - other than as part of a little bit of dinner party fun. Though, of course, every cliche has a grounding in a few grains of truth.

No one gets more needling than an American abroad. One of my American friends (she kindly passes me her well read copies of The New Yorker) married an Englishman, followed him to his own country and is the butt of many a joke - made mostly by her husband who loves her very much. Occasionally it's borderline; to her credit she endures it with good humour.

Interesting that your friend, by virtue of living in America, feels the need to refer to herself as 'American'. Why? I have lived in this country for over twenty years; yet I wouldn't dream of claiming that I am British. I am not.

U

Ursula. Gosh, how early is this - not even 7am! But I'm going to a conference in near Swiss Cottage so had to wake up early.

Thanks for your reply.

Hmmm. yes...

My British friend in USA doesn't feel American but feels a 'compulsion' to regard herself as such since her husband's family have adopted the country as their very own. Her children by virtue of being born there are very much American but she herself, exists in that strange vacuum, in a kind of a cultural transit not here, not there - just being(excuse the seemingly 'poetic' gloss there!).

Isn't there a similar idea in Britain today, that if you live here you should adopt a British way of life and identity (whatever that might be or mean0? Surely that's the thinking behind silly ideas as creating a British Day - to celebrate a sense of nationhood and cultural unity.

Actually my father - from India - had been saying that he was going to go back (to India) after my brother, sister and I had grow up. When he did eventually get the chance to go, he didn't last more than two months! He realised that he had romanticised the past, that India of the fifties had changed beyond recognition. But he also realised that in terms of mentality, affiliation with lifestyle, cultual identity he was British and that he had taken this country for granted. Indian-ness was only an aspect of his past not his present. I suspect that, like my father, many people who have lived in Britain for such a long time will feel alien in their 'home' country. Deep down, I reckon if my friend in America had to live here for a couple of months, she'll sense her Americanism creeping through.

And Ursula - strange as it might sound - I suspect it might be the same with you. Britishness and identification with these isles only happen to you when you're abroad. That's when you truly sense how British you are...

Forgive my rambling but actually, I think I might do a blog on this very theme sometime in the future.