An American scapegoat in London....I fear for my safety

[JoFerret]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1328663,00.html

In Britain, America-bashing is so bad that I fear for my safety.

Something remarkable has been happening to me in the past 19 days. Wherever I go, no one launches abuse at me. When I open my mouth to speak, I am received with civility and the occasional "Have a good one". I am not attacked or intimidated. Where have I been visiting for the past two and a half weeks? Philadelphia. And where do I live? London.

Here is a scenario from my adopted hometown: a month ago, I was travelling on a double-decker bus. A well-dressed woman boarded with her son, respectable in his school uniform. Ahead of her was an elderly American woman, who said, "I beg your pardon, I didn't mean to bang into you." This prompted a tirade from the Englishwoman - let's call her Lady E. "I rejoice every time I hear of another American soldier dying! You people are destroying the world".

The American - let's call her Mrs A - fought back: "I personally am not destroying the world." This only provoked Lady E more, and she screamed into the American's face: "I wish every one of you would leave this country and not set foot in it ever again." Mrs A began crying. "Thank you for ruining my trip." Lady E lunged at the American and began to shake her. I jumped up and shouted for the driver to stop and for her to leave the woman alone, prompting Lady E to come over and grab me. "Another bloody American! You are scum." Thankfully, the woman next to me pushed her away. I left the bus. Mrs A sat sobbing.

Did I imagine this? No. Was the Englishwoman a crazy? No.

I don't like what is happening in Britain, and am dismayed at the level at which anti-Americanism has peaked in recent months. Does anyone say "George Bush" or "Donald Rumsfeld" or "Dick Cheney" when they fly into these tirades? No. In fact, the visceral, in-your-face America-hatred goes back long before the days of the Bush regime.

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[Journeyman]

1. First, JoFerret, not late breaking news. . .

clearly labeled on website as commentary. Second, it's a dupe. Third, it's been debunked (resoundingly so) by a host of DUers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x79232

[Old and In the Way]

2. BS

I know how well we were treated in the 90s.....I know the change since the boy-king was installed. Cheerleaders for Bush ought to open their closed little minds and see just how their arrogance is destroying 250 years of American goodwill in this world.

[liberalmuse]

3. Hmmm...

It may have happened in Freeperville, USA, but the British are more intelligent and civil than that.

[Downtown Hound]

4. Although I can understand the anger that the rest of the world feels,

and share it myself, anyone who beats up someone for being a citizen of a foreign country is a weak minded fool. They are no different than the Americans who attack Muslims in this country for being from the Middle East.

That being said, this is reason number 10 million to hate Bush.

[no one in particular]

5. A stupid coward.

Not only did she assault an elderly woman for no reason, the idiot doesn't seem to realize her country is doing the same thing.

Yes, the Englishwoman is most definitely a crazy.

[pretzel4gore]

7. hey!

someone in the usa supports geeb (brother of geb, floridiot's govner) and it's a damn shame.....the british lady was using typical british understatement in her attack on the bushevik, imho.....
as far a blair; does anyone remember 10 million brits marched against the war?

[Seabiscuit]

6. Imagine what your life would be like in the Gaza Strip

or anywhere in the Muslim world for that matter....

The neo-cons have truly turned the world against us. A world that was with us all the way just three short years ago.

It's the single most horrifying thing about this criminal cabal which stole our country from us 4 years ago.

[Moderator]

8. locking

not LBN.