on taking advantage of snobbery

[theladyrose]

I have to confess, I underestimate my cousin Peter - he embodies my vision of Mr. Frat Guy, but he has the street smarts I'll never have. In between his tale of drinking a "das boot" and enjoying Prague's nightlife a little too much on his five week trek through Europe, he pointed out something that had always struck me as interesting.

After you introduce yourself as an American, most Europeans will rip apart America apart as if you personally personify all of its evils. But once you tell them that you're from California or New York, it's as if you've spoken the magic words to join the civilized bastion of Western culture. Actually, I think people from Washington, Oregon and Hawaii tend to be let off the hook as well - the whole Pacific coast, really. If you're not Caucasian, you gain even more credibility, and if at least one of your parents is an immigrant you walk on water. Sure, I tend to be pretty liberal and see a number of things that I'd like to change about the American government and general social attitudes. I did seriously consider going to college in Canada, though not all for political reasons.

I do find it amusing, though, that America so often becomes the scapegoat for Western anxieties. Does the US serve as a case study for many social ills? Yes. But that doesn't mean it's not the only place that could use a serious dose of reform. It does seem to me, though, that the Europeans I've come across tend to be much more interested in discussing these larger issues and have ideas, if not always the most feasible or practical, ways of addressing the problem.

Comments

[lifeisacookie.livejournal.com]

That's why you tell them(if you are caucasian) you are Canadian, British, or wait until they know you better. If you cannot wait, just tell them that you disagree with a lot of things the govt has done, and you should be ok. That's how i got away with it in France - i also tried to speak French whenever possible, even if i couldn't.

[ladylavinia.livejournal.com]

What would happen if you tell them to take their anti-American bigotry and shove it up their asses? I mean . . . really. I find such attitudes rather hypocritical. Why is it okay to criticize someone or another group who probably shares similar flaws?

[hippiegal22.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. My sister and Hubby talk all the time about foreign travel. My excuse (outside of money, of course) is that the world situation being what it is right now being an American isn't the most ideal position when traveling abroad. It's hard to justify your country to others when we reelected Bush. The past few years has left our country with a lot of egg on our face in the eyes of the world.



I'm grateful Hubby and I visited Europe in the late 90's. I'll leave it at that.

[horosha.livejournal.com]

A perfect example of how people relate to the world via categories. Set "American" is not the same as set "Californian" and people will unconsciously switch assumptions when you give them a new category to relate to you.