Under the Maple Leaves
The English Stock.
There are many different ways to define the England-USA relationships. One might say: “United by language, divided by lifestyle”, meaning that the daily pace in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham or even London itself is much less hectic than in Chicago, Boston or Detroit (let alone New-York). It’s possible to single out the “love” versus “hatred” aspect of the same problem- the two countries have indeed in the course of history been closest allies as well as bitter enemies. I personally prefer another definition given by a journalist whose name I can’t even remember:
“Americans appreciate professionalism and strive to be the best possible professionals in everything they do. Englishmen would rather stay amateurs”!
A really great idea, if one comes to think about it- many English ladies have engaged themselves in painting or playing a musical instrument. A game of cricket or lawn tennis has been considered a pastime as sacred for a nobleman as a five-o’clock-tea. Both genders would enjoy performing on an amateur home stage, and many of these performers might display a lot of artistic skills, too. Yet, doing any of it for money could for centuries mean nothing but an appallingly low standard. Professional painters were mostly regarded as service people, professional athletes wouldn’t dream of being accepted into a high society, while- several centuries earlier- professional actors were officially compared to vagabonds and could face prosecution if they were not protected by a noble patron. The roots of this attitude are pretty clear: the founders of the noble families got their titles together with land, and it was land that provided them with an income and influence. Gradually, these families accumulated enough wealth to turn into decision-makers and rulers (in the modern times that very wealth brought their descendants political successes and managerial positions in business). Aristocracy has never been in any need to entertain someone to make a living- that’s why its representatives felt it was necessary to draw a line between themselves and their less fortunate fellow human-beings. American pioneers, on the other hand, had first and foremost to survive. An ability to accumulate property and/or earn money in any possible way (to be politically correct, I should probably specify: ”any LEGAL way”) became therefore the primary virtue. To do that, one had to create a quality product, while doing it quicker and selling it cheaper than any possible competitor (the only alternative was probably to become an excellent farmer). All that required
knowledge, devotion and perseverance- and the combination of the three signify nothing else but “ultimate professionalism” (amateurs can usually do with much less commitment).
Being the USA’s close ally and geographical neighbour, Canada must have seemingly chosen the American way. Yet, the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Canada and England have always been pretty strong as well: Canada is a part of the Commonwealth, and the Queen of England is the official Head of State in Canada. Canadians sided with British troops during the English-American War of 1812-14. Taking all that into consideration, there is no wonder that the country has, as these notes clearly show, stuck to the British model. There is but one exception to this rule, and isn’t it ironic that this outstanding exception was introduced to Canada by nobody else but Englishmen?! To be precise, it was done by a group of English soldiers who, bored to death with an endless Canadian winter, came up with a new game to amuse themselves. Thus Canada took possession of THE GAME - ice-hockey was successfully born.
There are many different ways to define the England-USA relationships. One might say: “United by language, divided by lifestyle”, meaning that the daily pace in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham or even London itself is much less hectic than in Chicago, Boston or Detroit (let alone New-York). It’s possible to single out the “love” versus “hatred” aspect of the same problem- the two countries have indeed in the course of history been closest allies as well as bitter enemies. I personally prefer another definition given by a journalist whose name I can’t even remember:
“Americans appreciate professionalism and strive to be the best possible professionals in everything they do. Englishmen would rather stay amateurs”!
A really great idea, if one comes to think about it- many English ladies have engaged themselves in painting or playing a musical instrument. A game of cricket or lawn tennis has been considered a pastime as sacred for a nobleman as a five-o’clock-tea. Both genders would enjoy performing on an amateur home stage, and many of these performers might display a lot of artistic skills, too. Yet, doing any of it for money could for centuries mean nothing but an appallingly low standard. Professional painters were mostly regarded as service people, professional athletes wouldn’t dream of being accepted into a high society, while- several centuries earlier- professional actors were officially compared to vagabonds and could face prosecution if they were not protected by a noble patron. The roots of this attitude are pretty clear: the founders of the noble families got their titles together with land, and it was land that provided them with an income and influence. Gradually, these families accumulated enough wealth to turn into decision-makers and rulers (in the modern times that very wealth brought their descendants political successes and managerial positions in business). Aristocracy has never been in any need to entertain someone to make a living- that’s why its representatives felt it was necessary to draw a line between themselves and their less fortunate fellow human-beings. American pioneers, on the other hand, had first and foremost to survive. An ability to accumulate property and/or earn money in any possible way (to be politically correct, I should probably specify: ”any LEGAL way”) became therefore the primary virtue. To do that, one had to create a quality product, while doing it quicker and selling it cheaper than any possible competitor (the only alternative was probably to become an excellent farmer). All that required
knowledge, devotion and perseverance- and the combination of the three signify nothing else but “ultimate professionalism” (amateurs can usually do with much less commitment).
Being the USA’s close ally and geographical neighbour, Canada must have seemingly chosen the American way. Yet, the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Canada and England have always been pretty strong as well: Canada is a part of the Commonwealth, and the Queen of England is the official Head of State in Canada. Canadians sided with British troops during the English-American War of 1812-14. Taking all that into consideration, there is no wonder that the country has, as these notes clearly show, stuck to the British model. There is but one exception to this rule, and isn’t it ironic that this outstanding exception was introduced to Canada by nobody else but Englishmen?! To be precise, it was done by a group of English soldiers who, bored to death with an endless Canadian winter, came up with a new game to amuse themselves. Thus Canada took possession of THE GAME - ice-hockey was successfully born.