The Subtle Differences – USA (Patriotic) vs. UK (Proud)
I wish I had started writing this series of blogs called ‘The Subtle Differences‘ soon after I first landed on these shores almost three years ago, before I learnt all that I know now and became accustomed to American life.
One would think that the UK and the USA are very similar: after all, we speak the same language, we’re both influenced by the same cultural icons, references, films and shows and we’ve both been world leaders in recent history. Yet, you really have to live in both places to realise that the UK and the USA really are two very different places, with very different citizens, societies, governments and cultures.
In this post, I’m going to discuss my views on the differences in patriotism between the UK and the USA.
You don’t need to come to the States to realise how patriotic Americans are. They love their country, they love themselves and think they’re doing a world of good, both at home and abroad. The patriotism centres on defeating the British a couple of hundred years ago and establishing themselves as the world’s superpower last century.
To Americans, they are on top of the world, untouchable and the best at everything they do. There’s a certain arrogance that they’ll refuse to accept anything negative directed at them, either individually, or as a nation, and I expect that if this post reaches a few of them, there may be a few comments showing exactly that. The problem as I see it lies in their closed minds and the brainwashing that they receive in their schooling from the day they first walk into school.
When you try to reason with an American or put across a point of view, they all too often have their own views and are unwilling to back down. Ever. They’ve made up their mind, that’s the way it is and there’s no chance that they’re wrong.
As such, when their pro-American propaganda is repeated to them as they grow up, by the time they reach adulthood, they’re already so certain that they’re the best thing since sliced bread that they’ll not be shaken from this point of view. And this for me is where their word “patriotism” comes in.
For me, patriotism exists only in America. It’s an American invention that demonstrates how committed they are to protecting their national identity, which can of course be used for good. It’s good that they know who they are and what they stand for, whether I agree with it or not. But to stand by that no matter what is pretty sad. If they go through life never questioning a single thing that the government they elected do and continue to insist that their nation is the best on Earth, then I see it as both arrogant and obtuse.
I’m from Britain. I’m proud of where I come from. I like the people that live there, for the most part, but there’s still plenty of idiots. I enjoy the culture that we have produced, but there’s still plenty wrong with the country and with society. I’d be the first to admit that the UK is far from the best country in the world and after all, the only thing that makes me a citizen of my nation is that I happened to be born there, which really is just a question of where my parents happened to be 9 months after they had sex one day. So why be so passionate and arrogant over such a trivial fact?
Bonus: The Subtle Language Differences
How did the English language get warped into a new language called American in less than 300 years?
Truck (Lorry)
Restroom/ bathroom (toilet)
Tuna (too-na vs. t-yoon-a)
You may also like: