Comments on: Walk a Mile in My Shoes http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes/ Toujours Le Meme Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:46:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Wolfie http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes/#comment-2531 Wolfie Tue, 18 Apr 2006 09:37:17 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/217/#comment-2531 It is unfair that the international traveller should be held accountable for the foreign policy of their homeland but in all honesty I think one has to face the fact that it is inevitable sooner or later and how you deal with this challenge is a measure of your own diplomatic skill. The easy route is simply to say you don't like your leader/government either but if you gauge the company you are in as reasonable there is always the even-handed hate this/like that rhetoric. As you say, a recognition of local culture and achievements balanced with some humility will get you a long way in cementing positive relations and national pride if not at the expense of others is often respected. It is unfair that the international traveller should be held accountable for the foreign policy of their homeland but in all honesty I think one has to face the fact that it is inevitable sooner or later and how you deal with this challenge is a measure of your own diplomatic skill. The easy route is simply to say you don’t like your leader/government either but if you gauge the company you are in as reasonable there is always the even-handed hate this/like that rhetoric. As you say, a recognition of local culture and achievements balanced with some humility will get you a long way in cementing positive relations and national pride if not at the expense of others is often respected.

]]> By: Carl http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes/#comment-2530 Carl Tue, 18 Apr 2006 06:25:49 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/217/#comment-2530 I agree; one's personality influences the likelihood of receiving abuse. I don't announce where I'm from and I am generally a quiet talker by nature. I am a US citizen and have spent time in England, France, Andorra, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, Fiji, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, New Guinea and Australia and only received abuse for being American once: a young gentleman in American Samoa made some unkind gestures and comments as I drove past him in a poorly-maintained rental car. I certainly didn't take it personally. It is no surprise to me when non-Americans say they hate Americans if all they notice are the annoying, brash, bellowing, clueless American tourists in T-shirts and shorts. I have the “privilege” of being embarrassed by them as well. To those who abuse any American due to the current US political situation, I wish to point out that (a) an actual minority of Americans voted for Bush, and (b) if it is unfair to hate a person for the actions of a relative, how can it be fair to hate a person for the actions of an idiot politician? I agree; one’s personality influences the likelihood of receiving abuse. I don’t announce where I’m from and I am generally a quiet talker by nature. I am a US citizen and have spent time in England, France, Andorra, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, Fiji, Western Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, New Guinea and Australia and only received abuse for being American once: a young gentleman in American Samoa made some unkind gestures and comments as I drove past him in a poorly-maintained rental car. I certainly didn’t take it personally.

It is no surprise to me when non-Americans say they hate Americans if all they notice are the annoying, brash, bellowing, clueless American tourists in T-shirts and shorts. I have the “privilege” of being embarrassed by them as well.
To those who abuse any American due to the current US political situation, I wish to point out that (a) an actual minority of Americans voted for Bush, and (b) if it is unfair to hate a person for the actions of a relative, how can it be fair to hate a person for the actions of an idiot politician?

]]> By: xoggoth http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/walk-a-mile-in-my-shoes/#comment-2528 xoggoth Sun, 16 Apr 2006 22:11:21 +0000 http://blog.twowolves.co.uk/2006/04/16/217/#comment-2528 I do sometime wonder whether those who report such abuse have something in their own attitudes that annoys or maybe they just take ribbing too seriously? There is an English bloke in the replies with the common complaint about hostility to the English in Scotland. I lived there for two years and never encountered any. I do sometime wonder whether those who report such abuse have something in their own attitudes that annoys or maybe they just take ribbing too seriously? There is an English bloke in the replies with the common complaint about hostility to the English in Scotland. I lived there for two years and never encountered any.

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