If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot?
I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
zzyyxx wrote:
Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. Have you ever considered that they might be proud to be Australian, New Zealanders, etc.? In the past my wife and I traveled in Europe with American flags on our backpacks, and nobody accused us of trying to prove we weren't Canadian. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
No, it's the distinction from the American thing.
If your personal experience doesn't bear it out, consider yourself fortunate. You do read the news, right? "Cyril & Sandy Alberga" wrote in message ... zzyyxx wrote: Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. Have you ever considered that they might be proud to be Australian, New Zealanders, etc.? In the past my wife and I traveled in Europe with American flags on our backpacks, and nobody accused us of trying to prove we weren't Canadian. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and
whatnot? Are you implying that only Americans can be patriotic? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! I assure you that almost no European will be able to distinguish between the accents of Canadians & Americans. Lots of Canadians sound just like Midwestern Americans except for the occasional difference in "out" ("oot") as in "about." Pete |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
No, it's the distinction from the American thing.
Really? Have you interviewed a significant number of them to verify your claim? Australians do not need a flag to separate themselves from Americans as their accent is quite different. Pete |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
Kindly do not feed the troll, we are trying to get him slim for the
summer. zzyyxx mumbled: Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. -- Bozone(n.) -- The invisible substance surrounding stupid people that prevents smart ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 04:42:20 GMT, "Pete"
wrote: Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? Are you implying that only Americans can be patriotic? Americans *rarely* display a flag on their backpack or whatnot. It is much more common for Canadians to do so, and even some Kiwis and Aussies. Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! I assure you that almost no European will be able to distinguish between the accents of Canadians & Americans. Lots of Canadians sound just like Midwestern Americans except for the occasional difference in "out" ("oot") as in "about." True. But they should be able to distinguish between American and Kiwi/Aussie. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
zzyyxx wrote in message ... Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. How does one spell paranoia?? |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
"Pete" wrote in message link.net... Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and I assure you that almost no European will be able to distinguish between the accents of Canadians & Americans. Lots of Canadians sound just like Midwestern Americans except for the occasional difference in "out" ("oot") as in "about." ?? That vowel sound is nothing like that! |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Canadians, Kiwis, Aussies and their flags
On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 22:35:07 -0400, zzyyxx wrote:
Why do they insist on putting their flags onto their backpacks and whatnot? I'm an American who's done quite a bit of traveling in Europe in the last couple years and haven't experienced any problems with people disliking or being rude to me. So why do they feel the need to proclaim that they're not American? Like you wouldn't be able to tell from their accents! It's kind of insulting to me too, because they don't want to be mistaken for an American, like there's something wrong with being American. This will probably surprise you, but the rest of the world has ways of defining their nations other than as "non-American". Just maybe they're proclaiming a country they're proud of? Rather than defining which one they aren't from. My green-and-gold cap with the kangaroo-and-emu coat of arms started lots of conversations last year; all were about Australia, the US wasn't mentioned. That was at the height of the Iraq war. Most of the Europeans knew we were in it and weren't interested in discussing that. Incidentally, very few of the Americans, when we travelled there last March, were even aware we were in Iraq, but then most of them were confused as to our location; a few complimented us on our english and asked what it was like to live between Hungary and Germany. I wore my cap there too:-) Cheers, Alan -- |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|