Our British Friends

[bungo]

One episode from Denver: I took the bus from The Mall back to 16th Street. As it pulled up, I didn't have time to check the route against the various maps and timetables plastered on the bus shelter, so I asked the driver "Does this bus go to 16th Street". Yes it did, I fumbled with change to buy a ticket, sat down, and thought no more of it

Comments

[littleamerica]

I count myself as a friend of America, for the most part, however much the current government may test that. I wonder how many Americans know or care about Australia's significant involvement in their wars. What an odd turn of events, that they find themselves feeling so isolated in the world.I would guess "very few to none." I didn't know much of anything about our relationship with Australia until I went there for a couple of weeks last year. I was amazed to hear people on radio and television talking openly about their support of United States foreign policy; nobody I know (under the age of about sixty) here in the States does that

[bungo]

They're shocked the rest of the world isn't more grateful.

Yes, that could be it. Ignorance, I can understand. America is a big complicated place with problems of its own. It's the sensitivity at being isolated that's different, maybe.

[hnpcc]

I wonder how many Americans know or care about Australia's significant involvement in their wars.

It varies I think. Interestingly some of the most "right-wing" (in some areas, I find people to generally be all over the place with these things) Americans I know know more about Australia's - and other nations - involvement in Iraq than I do (I had no idea Poland was in it too, for example.) But the general population probably know as much about who else is there as Australians do about who else fought with us at Gallipoli.

And quick sidenote: I did find it really disconcerting that all the dates at Arlington were 'wrong'. WW1 did not start in 1917...

[bungo]

To be fair, for the Americans, it did. http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/usawardeclaration.htm

The present German submarine warfare against commerce is a warfare against mankind...

But armed neutrality, it now appears, is impracticable...

...we will not choose the path of submission.

With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking... I advise that the Congress... formally accept the status of belligerent... and end the war.

Congress declared war on 6 April 1917.

[hnpcc]

To be fair, for the Americans, it did.

Oh, I know. But it still felt totally wrong wandering around halls with dates like: World War One 1917-1918 and World War Two 1942-1945. Even the Vietnam dates were different, which I should have realised but hadn't fully.

I think the WW1 dates got to me the most because they're the ones on every tiny memorial in every tiny town.

[bungo]

I think the WW1 dates got to me the most because they're the ones on every tiny memorial in every tiny town.

These memorials are some of the touching things about tiny towns everywhere. I should look around more carefully here. I've seen war cemeteries around here with many deaths in May 1945. I don't recall seeing if their "business" extends to VJ Day. Somehow, I doubt it.

[zaitcev]

Many people wish that John Howard was the president. One might be forgiven not knowing that if he revolves in academic circles. Bush is a weasel. He collected his wits for five years before he named the islamofascists by name instead of calling them "terrorists

[bungo]

Many people wish that John Howard was the president.

*blink*

Wow, that's a new one. I'm surprised many people in the US have even heard of Little Johnnie Howard. Oh, wait, he was the one crying crocodile tears at the Irwin funeral, right?