State Department Warns Americans Not To Act Like Americans
By R.O. Whatley (Washington, D.C.)
In what is believed to be its strongest travel advisory ever, the U.S. State Department warned Americans abroad not to act like Americans. The
advisory was issued simultaneously in Washington by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher and in The Hague by a man who, in halting Dutch,
denied he was U.S. Ambassador Clifford Sobel. Unlike previous alerts, which have warned Americans to keep a low profile or avoid certain destinations, the new advisory notes that it is now unwise to come across as American at all. As a result, the State Department cautions U.S. citizens to avoid behaviour that could cause them to be singled out as obviously American.
This includes:
- the wearing of white socks and tennis shoes.
- complaining if asked to share a bathroom.
- threatening to sue over bad service, television reception, or weather.
In addition, U.S. citizens attempting to speak a foreign language are urged to curb their Americanisms. For example:
Correct: Est-ce que vous l'avez aux autres couleurs?
Incorrect: Est-ce que vous, like, l'avez aux, like, autres couleurs?
The advisory immediately created turmoil overseas, particularlty for U.S.military personnel, who pretended to be French , looking for somebody to surrender to.
In an apparent response to heightened fears of terrorist attacks by Islamic militants, the U.S. embassies in Islamabad, Jakarta, Manila, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Bangkok, Saana and Jordan were all proudly displaying the flag of France, which naturally contains all the colours of the U.S. flag.
The alert also caused confusion at home, as it seems to contradict the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has warned Americans not to act un-American. In a press briefing this afternoon, White House spokesman Harry Flasher attempted to unravel the paradox. "What we are saying is, when you are in America, you need to behave like an American, particularly if
you are not American... But when you are outside America, you should not behave like an American, unless you are not American, in which case we urge you to act American. Here I refer specifically to the NATO representatives from Germany, France, and Belgium."
The advisory," Flasher added, "applies to all Americans, including President Bush. When the President is traveling abroad, he will only act American while aboard Air Force One or in the company of U.S. media.
Reached for comment in Brussels, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns said, "Qingwen, renmin gong yuan zai na li?"
all i can say is that i went i europe last summer with my parents and if you act american you get the royal treatment, because all the europeans see in you is $$$$$
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Originally posted by Z06wish I'm going to Alabama in a couple weeks. Should I buy a confederate flag and some overalls?
SOME of us southerners don't think that is funny.
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Sorry if that offends you, but I know most southerners are nice enjoyable people but... my cousins boyfriend is black. We went to Gulf Shores on vacation with them . There are a few of them that are not big fans of interracial dating and openly told us that "******ers should know where they belong." I enjoy the south but I don't know what I would do if I were a minority.
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Originally posted by Z06wish I'm going to Alabama in a couple weeks. Should I buy a confederate flag and some overalls?
If you really want to make an impression down here, drive a pick-up (brand doesn't matter much) and keep a good supply of road kill in a cooler along with some Budweisers. You'll get along just fine.
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Originally posted by Z06wish
Sorry if that offends you, but I know most southerners are nice enjoyable people but... my cousins boyfriend is black. We went to Gulf Shores on vacation with them . There are a few of them that are not big fans of interracial dating and openly told us that "******ers should know where they belong." I enjoy the south but I don't know what I would do if I were a minority.
I don't want you to think that I'm being a jerk. You just struck a chord when you said that.
BTW,
MOST of us southerners don't give a frogs fat ass what color you are as long as you use good manners.
Last edited by azzkiknZO6 : 06-25-2003 at 08:18 AM.
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