Having enjoyed stormwreath 's presentation of British history, I thought it would be fun to write up the American version. As it happens, I need to give two versions.
The thought occurs to me that one big difference between the British and the Americans is that you either think your ancestors were magnificent, or you think they were bastards; while we think all our ancestors were Magnificent Bastards. It explain a lot...
we beat them again.
I gather than the popular history of Canada goes something like this:
French fur traders set up outposts. The British come along and capture them. Lots of refugees come here from America after the revolution. 1812 WE BURN DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE! HA HA! TAKE THAT, YANKS!!! We gain independence from Britain peacefully, more or less. Nothing much happens after that.
I have a friend who is exactly like this. Do not ever, ever bring up Vimy Ridge to him if you want to talk about anything else for the next three hours. Most Canadians don't really think that.
Your Canadian history runs six lines longer than anything I've ever learned anywhere about Canadian history. But we do know that Canadians say 'eh' a lot and mispronounce about. Also, it's cold there and they like maple leaves.
The two versions of American history both have the essential American theme: love us or hate us, we are The Protagonist. We will either save the world or destroy it. I think that's why I tend to be anti-protagonist.
Oh man, that line about beating Hitler made me crack up. I remember studying in the US and my classmates being convinced that WWII did not begin until 1941 when America joined in xD
Huh. Texas high schools very much downplay the massive racism, the genocide of the Native Americans, and the importance of slavery in the Civil War (really. It was all about "states' rights" to own slaves).
The Mexicans surrounded a bunch of us at the Alamo and killed everybody and we are never going to forget this, though nobody really knows what any of that was about.
Hey! The battle at the Alamo was about the persevering Texan spirit! ...or something...
...Santa Ana doesn't come from the North Pole. Thanks, I'll be here all night.
Hell, I've been to the Alamo multiple times, and I still can't remember what the damn thing was about. All I know is I resented having to watch some stupid John Wayne movie about it in junior high. Oh, and Bowie had a bad-ass knife of some sort. And Davy Crockett was some Gary Stu. Actually, I think all the Alamo dudes were Gary Stus. Maybe that's why I lost interest.
Though I didn't know they taught about the Alamo outside of Texas. As I recall, the events went down before Texas became a state, so...
They don't *teach* about it in Britain, but the John Wayne film was shown here. (And I was quoting a line from a Donovan song.)
'Remember the Alamo', the Gunfight at the OK Corrall, General Custer, High Noon, stagecoaches, steam trains with cow-catchers on the front, cowboys and Indians, Clint Eastwood in a poncho, deserts and cacti, and "We'll head them off at the pass!" all blend together in a big dusty bundle called "American history in the 19th century" for us.
Comments 38
The thought occurs to me that one big difference between the British and the Americans is that you either think your ancestors were magnificent, or you think they were bastards; while we think all our ancestors were Magnificent Bastards. It explain a lot...
we beat them again.
I gather than the popular history of Canada goes something like this:
French fur traders set up outposts.
The British come along and capture them.
Lots of refugees come here from America after the revolution.
1812 WE BURN DOWN THE WHITE HOUSE! HA HA! TAKE THAT, YANKS!!!
We gain independence from Britain peacefully, more or less.
Nothing much happens after that.
Reply
Reply
Reply
The two versions of American history both have the essential American theme: love us or hate us, we are The Protagonist. We will either save the world or destroy it. I think that's why I tend to be anti-protagonist.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Things only matter if we have our hat in the ring....
Reply
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw_FXIdUMqM
Reply
Reply
The Mexicans surrounded a bunch of us at the Alamo and killed everybody and we are never going to forget this, though nobody really knows what any of that was about.
Hey! The battle at the Alamo was about the persevering Texan spirit! ...or something...
...Santa Ana doesn't come from the North Pole. Thanks, I'll be here all night.
Reply
Almost all I know about the Alamo is that Travis drew a line in the sand, and over the line crossed a hundred and seventy-nine. :-)
Reply
Though I didn't know they taught about the Alamo outside of Texas. As I recall, the events went down before Texas became a state, so...
Reply
'Remember the Alamo', the Gunfight at the OK Corrall, General Custer, High Noon, stagecoaches, steam trains with cow-catchers on the front, cowboys and Indians, Clint Eastwood in a poncho, deserts and cacti, and "We'll head them off at the pass!" all blend together in a big dusty bundle called "American history in the 19th century" for us.
Reply
Leave a comment