[PRCo] Re: THE UGLY AMERICAN

[John Swindler]

>Donald Galt replied:
>
>On 23 Jan 2003 at 14:08, Jim Holland wrote:
>
> > What Don pointed out earlier is those in the  *Other--Americas*  are
> > offended at being called  *American*  because of the word  *Ugly*
> > sometimes associated with it.
> >
>
>Um, not really. It's simply that, as you observe, "American" by usage means 
>US national. It means that whether the speaker admires or hates the US.
>
>Illogical, perhaps. But that's the way it is with names sometimes. An
historical oddity that a title originally intended for two continents is now 
conferred upon one nation upon those continents? No stranger than the name 
itself, honouring somebody who did nothing whatever to deserve it. Whose 
very existence, we are now told, is open to question.
>


Most of us referred to as "American" (remembering that John B. is also on 
this list) on two accounts:

1. The English colonies - with a some northern exceptions - were first to 
cease being colonies.

2. The English colonies merged - sort of - while the Spanish colonies 
didn't.  Thus they are still Chilians, etc, while we don't consider it all 
that significant to be referred to as Pennsylvanians.

Beyond that, there is a lot of "ugliness" to go around.  If anything, 
Americans collectively are probably more benign then most other "tribes".


>As to "Ugly American," anybody who reflects for a moment recognises that it 
>is nothing more than a cheap epithet with limited basis in reality.

As a colonel once told me:  "you'd be amazed how jealous other people can 
be".

John



>
>Okay, now I see my own posts coming and going. Enough.
>
>Don


I agree with Don.

JS



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