Posted on 11/05/2008 1:35:08 PM PST by pissant
VIENNA, Austria -- She was a stranger, and she kissed me. Just for being an American.
It happened on the bus on my way to work Wednesday morning, a few hours after compatriots clamoring for change swept Barack Obama to his historic victory. I was on the phone, and the 20-something Austrian woman seated in front of me overheard me speaking English.
Without a word, she turned, pecked me on the cheek and stepped off at the next stop.
Nothing was said, but the message was clear: Today, we are all Americans.
For longtime U.S. expatriates like me - someone far more accustomed to being targeted over unpopular policies, for having my very Americanness publicly assailed - it feels like an extraordinary turnabout.
Like a long journey over a very bumpy road has abruptly come to an end.
And it's not just me.
An American colleague in Egypt says several people came up to her on the streets of Cairo and said: "America, hooray!" Others, including strangers, expressed congratulations with a smile and a hand over their hearts.
Another colleague, in Amman, says Jordanians stopped her on the street and that several women described how they wept with joy.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
My driver, a Muslim, was indignant. "You are American, yes?" he asked in that accusatory tone so familiar to many expats.
"Uh, no, Canadian," I said.
And it wasn't the first time I fudged where I was from. I speak three foreign languages, so I have a bit of flexibility when it comes to faking. At various times, I've been a German in Serbia, a Frenchman in Turkey, a Dutchman in Austria.
Seriously, what an effin' embarrassment to the United States this chooch is! I wish he'd come home and go live in Boston where he belongs, so he can't make us look like such pussies out there in the world.
My brother lives in Hong Kong. Occasionally, some hump will give him some anti-American crap and he tells the to shut the f*ck up before he gets all American on their ass. And if they don't, he gets all American on their ass.
I was in Hong Kong with him and got crap from some giant fat doughy Scotsman. He told me "Americans need to learn some humility."
I told him I don't need any freaking advice from somebody whose country has been England's bitch for 500 years! He fumed, but he shut up.
No matter where you are in the world, if you're American, never forget that everybody else is dumb foreigner. Humility is for them.
I know its thrilling for the arabs to see the first Muslim elected president of the USA. I would love to have heard the Al Jazira reporting on this. I’m sure they probably called him a Muslim too.
"They like me, they really, really like me...(swoon)"
LOL!
I have to say, much as I was rooting for McCain in this election, the hysterical and bitter reactions of Obama’s more vociferous and loathesome opponents on here has made it almost worthwhile... Almost, but not quite. It’s a great consolation prize nevertheless....
ROFLMAO!
Yet, the world, including the foreigners, would be safer. Go figure.
Since when is "cool" considered as a trait to be President?
When all the European countries cheered loudly after hearing Obama's victory, I saw that as an omen.
>3) Sharia law is passed in civil courts, like the UK
Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of... ah screw it, if that were to happen, it would be time for us to “ethnically cleans” the politicians, including judges, from government.
I don't know why you thought anyone would link 500 years of Scottish history to some Chicago politician.
But I'm glad you enjoyed the anecdote nonetheless.
Iran will have their nukes.
Israel is on her own.
Eastern Europe is Russia's B****.
All of this will be ignored by the American people who will be told by media, academia, and popular culture that everything is fine now.
“Without a word, she turned, pecked me on the cheek and stepped off at the next stop.”
Then he noticed at the next stop that she had lifted his billfold.
I’d rather be proud than cool anyday.
It wasn’t just addressed to you, you were just the last post I saw. Anyway, your anecdote was wrong on several counts. It was 400 years since the King of Scotland took over the throne of England on the death of his cousin Elizabeth I, and 300 years since Scotland agreed voluntarily to enter into a Union with England. Scotland was never conquered, and is only in the Union because it wishes to be, and considering how it was a Scottish monarch that originally took over the English crown (the Royal Family of which are more at home in Balmoral than they are in Buckingham Palace), and with devolution and the West Lothian settlement which currently exists in the UK today, it’s more like the English are Scotland’s bitch, rather than the other way around...
It's always been cool to be a Texan, and I speak from experience.
Europeans love Texans, except for those named Bush.
These folks are such a$$holes! They are perfectly willing and able to give up everything to some empty suit that promises them the world (think Hitler).
I see, nothing changes but as long as a Democrat is in office they love this place but not if a Republican is in office. Sounds like fair weather friends to me, not people to ever be trusted.
Perhaps we Americans should start pointing some fingers at the leaders and citizens of foreign countries....point our their own racist attitudes. When's the last time the Cubans elected a Irishman or Scottswoman as their presidente'? When's the last time a Jew served in any official capacity in Iran or Saudi Arabia.
People of the USA should be proud in their acceptance of "minority" participation in our government...hispanics, japanese, blacks, indians, women, gays, lesbians, communist,socialist, muslims, jews, christians, not-so-christians....you get the idea.
Name one country in this world that has a more diverse make-up in politics and government?
Oh, it will happen: even Obama has to say ‘the’ once in a while...
I WILL NOT SUBMIT!!!!
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