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Sometimes, I Pretend I Am Canadian (How Americns living in England cope with the hate)
The Telegraph ^ | November 13, 2004 | Helen Kirwan-Taylor

Posted on 11/12/2004 6:34:35 PM PST by quidnunc

Sneering, insults, condescension – it's not so much fun being an American in London since the election

There was a moment when we Americans living in Britain, all 200,000 or so of us, thought we were home free. The years of being mocked and antagonised for our country's leader were coming to an end. "Actually, I'm voting for Kerry" was the simplest way of getting out of a difficult conversation. The truth is that many Americans in Britain probably voted for Bush, but have kept it to themselves. It's about as fashionable as admitting to having the clap.

"Every meeting I go to, every social occasion, even when I'm out shopping, someone hears my accent and challenges me to a debate," says Annie Ouroussof Jordan, an executive headhunter who, though American, spent years in France and the Middle East before moving to Britain 15 years ago. She did not vote.

"There wasn't a proper candidate as far as I'm concerned and I wasn't going to vote for Kerry just not to vote for Bush. The truth is that I would have voted for Bush if I had to make a choice. Many of us Americans feel this way because we don't know what Kerry believes in. He stands for nothing. I have gotten flak for it but part of being an American is speaking up. I am often provoked in social situations and have taken to avoiding the subject altogether." Still, this is nothing compared with French anti-Americanism. "It's pure hatred there," she says.

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: antiamericanism; britain; england; eurotwits; greatbritain; kerrydefeat; scotland; uk; unitedkingdom; wales
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To: quidnunc

Coward.


121 posted on 11/12/2004 9:02:28 PM PST by BlessedBeGod (George W. Bush -- The Terror of the Terrorists)
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To: nopardons

Perhaps I misread both the article and your post.
Relax.


122 posted on 11/12/2004 9:05:39 PM PST by willyboyishere
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

the funny thing is they're the ones talking secession and civil war. How very Southern and Democrat. The South has abandoned them. Let the Democrats appeal to Yasser's successors


123 posted on 11/12/2004 9:12:37 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (MPLS Star-Tribune;America's Most Ridiculed Newspaper(NYT,1995))
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To: TFine80

I beg your pardon but my sister lives in Edinburgh and travels to London weekly and has actually been spat upon by a woman. She gets crap all the time. It's not a lie.


124 posted on 11/12/2004 9:15:57 PM PST by itslex71 (southern by birth, republican by the grace of my dad)
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To: politicalmerc

I attended the final stage of the Tour de France last year. Wore my Bush for president t-shirt. Boy did I get some dirty looks. Loved it.

Only went at the last minute when I was sure that Lance Armstrong, an American & a Texan, would win.


125 posted on 11/12/2004 9:20:00 PM PST by YankeeFan
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To: BloodScarletMinnesota

I'm thinking of seceding from the Northeast myself, back to Arizona.


126 posted on 11/12/2004 9:21:05 PM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

I actually mean the English think Scottish people guard their money so much to the point of being stingy. It is all over in their jokes on Scots.


127 posted on 11/12/2004 9:21:29 PM PST by NZerFromHK ("US libs...hypocritical, naive, pompous...if US falls it will be because of these" - Tao Kit (HK))
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To: YankeeFan

How about a 'I love Halliburton' tee shirt? They'll be on sale soon...


128 posted on 11/12/2004 9:21:51 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (MPLS Star-Tribune;America's Most Ridiculed Newspaper(NYT,1995))
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To: pillbox_girl

I LOVE THAT!


129 posted on 11/12/2004 9:28:08 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (MPLS Star-Tribune;America's Most Ridiculed Newspaper(NYT,1995))
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To: itslex71

I have always thought it ironic a nation that brought forth an empire in which the sun never sets will today decry peudo-imperialism on a country that hasn't obtained new colonies for more than 50 years, and the country was even that nation's former colonies no less.


130 posted on 11/12/2004 9:30:08 PM PST by NZerFromHK ("US libs...hypocritical, naive, pompous...if US falls it will be because of these" - Tao Kit (HK))
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To: TFine80

"This is a total lie... I was just in London and had no problem at all. There are so many Americans there and Britain is as much involved in what is controversial as we are... "

Perhaps not if she was hanging out in a mosque...


131 posted on 11/12/2004 9:32:34 PM PST by Pikachu_Dad
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To: NZerFromHK

Sorry to all, had to go away as it is dinner time here. Thanks for that. I didn't know there was such a weblog here.


132 posted on 11/12/2004 9:36:39 PM PST by loyalfandownunder
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To: willyboyishere

Perhaps.


133 posted on 11/12/2004 9:38:12 PM PST by nopardons
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To: Boiler Plate

You are right. I have heard about the strong union in Australia. Overall, they are great people.


134 posted on 11/12/2004 9:39:15 PM PST by loyalfandownunder
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To: HawaiianGecko

The over-riding point is that Europeans care only about MONEY! I thought that after they murdered all the Jews they'd be over the money thing... how it's still the same, except worse. Vichy France ministered to Yasshole Terrorat, and yet all of Europe Hates America. As an American, I feel very proud of that. Look at the nature of those who HATE us! It says much more about them and their contemptible and envious cowardice than it says about the true nature of actual Americans...


135 posted on 11/12/2004 9:39:39 PM PST by BloodScarletMinnesota (MPLS Star-Tribune;America's Most Ridiculed Newspaper(NYT,1995))
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To: Rate_Determining_Step

Yeah, there are some good people. We have some very good friends who are absolutely like minded people. My older son though, a red blooded American, does take a hard time at school. But all the bashing just make him prouder for being an American. But he has a few good friends who totally stand by him and defends America any time anyone attacks him for being an American.


136 posted on 11/12/2004 9:48:28 PM PST by loyalfandownunder
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To: peyton randolph

"Hyphenated name. Wow. A woman proving she is just as good as a man by retaining her father's surname."

Presume much?


137 posted on 11/12/2004 9:58:19 PM PST by MonaMars
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To: GoLightly

I worked extremely well. Funny thing was I kept smirking while saying it.


138 posted on 11/12/2004 10:00:06 PM PST by Boiler Plate
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To: FierceDraka

I would leave EASTERN Europe out of that equation.

If I go to Europe, there would be my destination. I hope my fellow Freepers would agree. Keep our $$$ out of Western Europe. (france, Germany, Belgium) Except for the UK and Italy. They're still standing with us.


139 posted on 11/12/2004 10:09:06 PM PST by vrwcagent0498 (Mark Levin and Ann Coulter are my patron saints.)
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To: rpgdfmx

"Ah yes, how to win friends and influence people."

The wise man seeks not the good opinion of fools.

No American should have to apologize for being proud of his country, nor should he have to silently suck up the contempt of a bunch of hate-filled twits. Translation: If you want to bend over, that's your business, but some of us would rather stand.


140 posted on 11/12/2004 10:10:13 PM PST by MonaMars
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