Shared Blood

[Fred]

Many of us see modern Americanization as a problem too.

I for one am no fan of the homogenization of our towns by way of fast-food joints & box stores, interstate highways, the loss of unique regionalisms, local accents and the wanton melding of the population, amongst many other things.

I conside myself lucky though, to live some 40 miles from the nearest McDonald's.

Would it be too much trouble to admit that McDonald's is German-American food and that's why it's so popular, seeing as though the majority ancestry here is in fact, German? Then you got the Italian food pretty stable and Spanish/Mexican food becoming more popular. What's the Final Solution to those "Americans"?

[Frigga]

I think one of the big problems, that get Europeans a bit skeptical about Americans on the forum -- is that Americans claim to know what is better for Europe, than Europeans themselves. They don't. They know as much about that, than Europeans know what is best for America. I can therefore really understand why some Europeans go with the "but you're not European" mantra. It is not that they don't recognise common ancestry/kinship ... but just that they are tired of the American patronisation.

I'm not trying to be patronising though. I'm trying to ask everyone to be respectful. I'm not trying to say that I know what is best for Europeans. If you search my posts, I have never tried to tell Europeans how Europe should be run. I'm just hoping for more mutual respect.

Everyone is occasionally treated like that. It was even suggested by Frigga's_spindle that any conflict here on The Apricity between American's and Europeans originated with Europeans 'sneering at' Americans. I wouldn't know about that, now would I, but it's difficult to believe that she is even trying to assess the situation impartially.

The catalyst for my original post was being told by an European member that they do not wish to talk to Americans. This person's actions were baffling to me, as I had never done anything in my mind that warranted this attutide. I know quite a bit about Europeans on a personal basis though, my brother married a woman from Germany, and her mother lives with them. I have also met a large portion of her German family when they came for the wedding. I liked them all very much, and felt kinship with them. I was sad that my German was so poor, I would have liked to have spoken to them in their own language. I have had very good relations with a lot of the Europeans on the forum as well, but I do have to say that I am saddened by the back biting that I have noticed lately, and wanted to at least speak up and say that it's not good for us to bring the prejudices from the outside world to here, it only makes for more misunderstandings.

I am sorry that you felt the need to write the bolded statement. I am attempting to be impartial. If I fail, then that is because I am writing to defend my point of view, which I do believe is correct. I am not angry and bitter towards anyone based on the actions of their country, or religion. I am only trying to say that we should take each other on the forum as individuals. I hope that we will be able to see each others points of view and at least come to realization that each is entitled to feel the way they do, and not judge them. I do not agree with your point of view Anthropos, but I know that you are entitled to your feelings, and understand that you feel very strongly about them, and I respect them, and respect you for elaborating on them. Thank you for your input.

[Loki]

I'm not trying to be patronising though. I'm trying to ask everyone to be respectful. I'm not trying to say that I know what is best for Europeans. If you search my posts, I have never tried to tell Europeans how Europe should be run. I'm just hoping for more mutual respect.

I wasn't talking about you in particular. In fact, it is correct that you haven't been, as you say.

[Fred]

I'm not trying to be patronising though. I'm trying to ask everyone to be respectful. I'm not trying to say that I know what is best for Europeans. If you search my posts, I have never tried to tell Europeans how Europe should be run. I'm just hoping for more mutual respect.



The catalyst for my original post was being told by an European member that they do not wish to talk to Americans. This person's actions were baffling to me, as I had never done anything in my mind that warranted this attutide. I know quite a bit about Europeans on a personal basis though, my brother married a woman from Germany, and her mother lives with them. I have also met a large portion of her German family when they came for the wedding. I liked them all very much, and felt kinship with them. I was sad that my German was so poor, I would have liked to have spoken to them in their own language. I have had very good relations with a lot of the Europeans on the forum as well, but I do have to say that I am saddened by the back biting that I have noticed lately, and wanted to at least speak up and say that it's not good for us to bring the prejudices from the outside world to here, it only makes for more misunderstandings.

I am sorry that you felt the need to write the bolded statement. I am attempting to be impartial. If I fail, then that is because I am writing to defend my point of view, which I do believe is correct. I am not angry and bitter towards anyone based on the actions of their country, or religion. I am only trying to say that we should take each other on the forum as individuals. I hope that we will be able to see each others points of view and at least come to realization that each is entitled to feel the way they do, and not judge them. I do not agree with your point of view Anthropos, but I know that you are entitled to your feelings, and understand that you feel very strongly about them, and I respect them, and respect you for elaborating on them. Thank you for your input.

Remember that it is the duty of Europeans to patronise the creoles...I suppose that is the logic in supporting a commonly shared culture, debased internationally by a common plague of self-hating fifth columnists. We just happen to be an international association of those who'd rather stand in solidarity for our nations. I don't consider reactionary internationalism to be treasonous. In fact, the usual recourse for those exiled by regime change in England, was to go to other European nations to regroup and then come back in larger force. Consider Tostig Godwinson and the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.

[Allenson]

I think one of the big problems, that get Europeans a bit skeptical about Americans on the forum -- is that Americans claim to know what is better for Europe, than Europeans themselves. They don't. They know as much about that, than Europeans know what is best for America. I can therefore really understand why some Europeans go with the "but you're not European" mantra. It is not that they don't recognise common ancestry/kinship ... but just that they are tired of the American patronisation.

There's certainly a two-way street in that regard, good sir. Often, the European of whatever nationality will tell the American to mind his own business in one breath and in the next, un-ironically opine of conditions in America and of Americans.

Would it be too much trouble to admit that McDonald's is German-American food

I would have a fair bit of trouble with that one.

[Fred]

I would have a fair bit of trouble with that one.

McDonald's developed out of the old style malt shops, car hop drive thrus and burger joints of the post-war period, with Elvis and the swing bands still pretty popular. It was very populist and part of the "white bread" America, the "Pleasantville" period with greasers and vets living it large.

[Anthropos]

Well, Frigga's_spindle, it is quite simply impossible to take you seriously. You continue to paint a completely black and white picture of nasty Europeans versus American nobles (on this forum i.e.). Your going from that moralist point of view to a sentimental one where you pretend to be understanding my 'feelings', and so on, is completely ridiculous. This whole thread is just that.

[Osweo]

Well, Frigga's_spindle, it is quite simply impossible to take you seriously. You continue to paint a completely black and white picture of nasty Europeans versus American nobles (on this forum i.e.). Your going from that moralist point of view to a sentimental one where you pretend to be understanding my 'feelings', and so on, is completely ridiculous. This whole thread is just that.

Anthy, I begin to suspect that though your English looks fine superficially, you have trouble picking up on the nuances of what people are saying. Conversely, I do struggle a little to read through your posts... FS is clearly trying to wind this up to a diplomatic close, and you now fire this volley...

[Anthropos]

Anthy, I begin to suspect that though your English looks fine superficially, you have trouble picking up on the nuances of what people are saying. Conversely, I do struggle a little to read through your posts... FS is clearly trying to wind this up to a diplomatic close, and you now fire this volley...

She is only talking down to Europeans. Assuming postures like a Martin Luther King 'We shall overcome' one and a 'Peace, Love and Understanding' one doesn't change that.

[SwordoftheVistula]

I think one of the big problems, that get Europeans a bit skeptical about Americans on the forum -- is that Americans claim to know what is better for Europe, than Europeans themselves. They don't. They know as much about that, than Europeans know what is best for America. I can therefore really understand why some Europeans go with the "but you're not European" mantra. It is not that they don't recognise common ancestry/kinship ... but just that they are tired of the American patronisation.

I don't see how that is any different from any of the numerous times when someone from one area of a country tells someone from a different area of the same country "we did this and have this problem, if you want to avoid this problem in your area, don't do that". Just speaking for my area of the country, if people here had listened to what the southerners had said about blacks in the mid 20th century, or to what people on the southern border had said about hispanics in the 1970s and 80s, our country wouldn't be in the mess it is today.