Skip to main content

What I take personally

Someone recently said that they wonder why it is I take it so personally every time someone here says anything negative about the US Government.  My answer to that is - I don't.  I agree whole heartedly with what most people say about the current administration.  Hell, I have a sign hanging on my refrigerator that reads 'Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry.'  What I take personally is when people assume because I'm American, I support the government, Bush or this war (the only thing I support in this war are the troops who are fighting it).  I take it very personally when in friendly conversation it's brought up and thrown in my face as if I am guilty of being one of the decision makers.  I have no more control over my government than they have here over theirs.  I don't see a reason to bring politics into friendly conversation nor do I think I should be looked upon in a negative light because of what nationality I am opposed to being judged for the person I am. 
I've lived here for nearly 3 years.  I haven't had one person offer a hand in friendship, but I have had more than one experience where people have treated me unkindly because I'm American without knowing a thing about me.  I've had to listen to the rhetoric and the anti American comments, I've had to walk out of a restaurant because the people behind me were purposely talking loud enough for me to hear about how stupid my accent makes me sound and how obnoxious Americans are.  I've had one person walk away from me in the middle of a conversation after realizing I was American and I had a mother scold her child behind me for mimicking my accent telling her 'Don't talk that way - it's rubbish! You are NOT American - you're English.  It's those things I take personally.  I can handle the politics just fine.

Labels:

Comments

NJ Girl said…
Erren - Here's an article from Vanity Fair that I think might make you laugh!
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2007/04/brits200704
10:48 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 20 Lists

Recently, a magazine here in the UK issued their list of their Top 100 women in show business. This sparked conversation between Wayne and I and one rainy weekend when we had nothing to do, we compiled our own Top 20 lists. The rules were we had to judge on looks alone (not their physique) and only one token model was allowed.
For fun, I thought I'd add our lists here for you to view and enjoy. Maybe it will even spark conversation between you and a friend or loved one.
Wayne and I actually had a really good time creating our lists together - judging each other's taste in the opposite sex and laughing over how long it took for us to prioritize our selections. We still change the order every time we look at it! (although our top five have remained the same)
Enjoy and feel free to comment!

Post a Comment
Read more

Fight Club for Five Year Olds - Part 2

The other mother and I went into the school to meet with the teacher and the assistant head.  We both let them know how upset we were that we were not informed that our children were sent to the office and how much we were against the children being allowed to play fighting games on the playground.  I told them I wouldn't allow it at home and I'm really unhappy that it's being allowed at school.  They admitted it was a problem and explained that they are planning to introduce a a scheme to teach the children to play in a safe way.  They will be calling it 'Super Hero Training'.  They plan to give out capes & masks out to children who behave well as rewards at playtime.  They will have assemblies where they will teach the children to play fighting games without making contact.  I find this to be absurd.  The problem has gone on to long and I doubt they will be able to teach little children to change their games when they have sixty other children to look after o…
9 comments
Read more

Feeling the rain

After I worked out today, I went into the kitchen for a bottle of water and saw the pouring rain out my patio door.  There are few times I can think of wanting to feel the rain more. Without a thought, I went out and stood in the rain.  English rain is cold, but today it felt incredible.  I live in a very public place, but in that kind of weather there was wasn't a soul in sight.  I thought about twirling, but the grown up in me squashed the notion. What I did do though was close my eyes and raise my chin toward the sky to let the rain fall on my face.  In my mind I slowed it all down and took it in.  I swear in those few moments I felt every drop. I've always loved the rain.  I  love the sound of it and like to open the windows and listen to it while drifting off to sleep on stormy nights.  Even as a child I would love to go out and play in. When I got older, I found it sensual and and dreamed of romantic moments that would play out under dark clouds, surrounded by grey tone…
4 comments
Read more