IS ARCHIVE
Americans often find themselves on the business end of criticism over having very little knowledge or understanding of foreign nations, including the European continent to which many of them have fairly recent blood ties. They’re often accused of not having an accurate picture of the differences in culture between the myriad European states, or even being able to identify many of them. I’ve spent some time in Europe, in various places, and I have one feeling about this stereotype at this point. Good lord, do pots enjoy calling kettles black.
Complaining that Americans can’t tell the difference between Sweden and Norway is like complaining that Norwegians don’t know the difference between Texas and Oklahoma. I’ve met myriad Europeans who weren’t aware that the USA is split into several well defined regions, each with its own politcal and social preferences, not to mention local culture. I’ve heard a lot about double morality, a phrase that requires a scoff to correctly pronounce, but not so much about the differences in the North Eastern, North Central, Mid Western, and Northwestern accents. I’ve heard people complain about Madonna and Eminem invading European charts, but I haven’t found more than two people in Europe who’d even heard of artists like Jurassic 5 or the Reverend Horton Heat.
What bothers me is the acrimony with which these fucked up notions are brought out. There’s a pervasive sense of classism, even imperialism in these kinds of comments. They carry a sort of secret nationalism that’s a poison to the listener. Even the people most disatisfied with their home country manage it: “Well, I maybe be disaffected in a shitty nation of jerks, but at least I’m not American.”
The moral here? “Fuck you” is the same in every language. And if it’s not in your native language yet, don’t worry. It’s getting there.
Love,
Captain Cussy Pants.
