Anti-British Sentiment
Mar 29th 2007, 4:30 am
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Mar 29th 2007, 4:32 am
#2
Greatly Missed. RIP
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Middle of the Mountains
Posts: 3,521
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Mar 29th 2007, 5:02 am
#3
Payed up premium member
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: The desert
Posts: 2,327
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Welcome to the site.
alan
Last edited by evoal2003; Mar 29th 2007 at 5:03 am. Reason: just to add
Mar 29th 2007, 5:21 am
#4
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
17-year-old "educating" the natives - yes, I can see that would go down well... 
Mar 29th 2007, 5:58 am
#5
who turned out the light?
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 7,997
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
I lived outside D.C I loved it so am jealous!Maybe it's because these are your peers and you are different so you are an easy target to them?
I have never experienced that quite the opposite, once I get to know someone sometimes they take the mickey slightly around 4th July but it has always been good humored.
Mar 29th 2007, 2:56 pm
#6
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
I find that I always fit in well after so much moving around. Last time round was 3 years ago in Virginia and the most I heard was Americans desperate to hear me pronounce words like "straw" etc hah. When the 4th of July became nearly as big as Christmas for me, I knew I had settled in pretty well.
Not sure what changed this time moving to DC. From what i've heard here it seems like its just my school. Everything seems completely different when I go down south or north to Boston/Mass. America is such a huge country just moving states has alot of changes in itself.
Not sure what changed this time moving to DC. From what i've heard here it seems like its just my school. Everything seems completely different when I go down south or north to Boston/Mass. America is such a huge country just moving states has alot of changes in itself.
Mar 29th 2007, 3:10 pm
#7
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,390
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
I find that I always fit in well after so much moving around. Last time round was 3 years ago in Virginia and the most I heard was Americans desperate to hear me pronounce words like "straw" etc hah. When the 4th of July became nearly as big as Christmas for me, I knew I had settled in pretty well.
Not sure what changed this time moving to DC. From what i've heard here it seems like its just my school. Everything seems completely different when I go down south or north to Boston/Mass. America is such a huge country just moving states has alot of changes in itself.
Not sure what changed this time moving to DC. From what i've heard here it seems like its just my school. Everything seems completely different when I go down south or north to Boston/Mass. America is such a huge country just moving states has alot of changes in itself.
At such a tender age, perhaps you might find the teen forum more to your liking. There at least you can share your school stories with your contemporaries and see if they encounter the same difficulties.
Mar 29th 2007, 3:19 pm
#8
Not here much
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Highland Park, NJ
Posts: 2,452
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
My wife was taught about how evil the British are and mentioned that her education included many of the things you talk about, she's in her early 30's and went to school in a suburb of Chicago so it's been around a while and probably depends on the school district and the books they use etc. Despite all this she still married me.
Mar 29th 2007, 3:28 pm
#9
Account Closed
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,812
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Mar 29th 2007, 3:35 pm
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Welcome to BE I lived outside D.C I loved it so am jealous!
Maybe it's because these are your peers and you are different so you are an easy target to them?
I have never experienced that quite the opposite, once I get to know someone sometimes they take the mickey slightly around 4th July but it has always been good humored.
I lived outside D.C I loved it so am jealous!Maybe it's because these are your peers and you are different so you are an easy target to them?
I have never experienced that quite the opposite, once I get to know someone sometimes they take the mickey slightly around 4th July but it has always been good humored.
However, I actually think your school mates have a point as we English/British have a lot to answer for in our colonial past, and for our support of the US colonial present.....I'll wait for the flames
FYI the US abolished its international trade in slaves just one year after the UK, in 1808, however the trade continued illegally for several decades, as it did in UK colonies. Slavery was not made illegal in the British Empire until 1833, and the exploitation and killing of millions of "third world" peoples continued into the 20th Century. Some might argure that the exploitation still continues.
Mar 29th 2007, 3:44 pm
#11
who turned out the light?
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: WA
Posts: 7,997
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
I tend to agree that your school mates are picking of you becasue you are different, and not necessarily because of your englishness. I often have arguments with US friends and their response is to say "you can go back to the UK anytimeid the US sucks".
However, I actually think your school mates have a point as we English/British have a lot to answer for in our colonial past, and for our support of the US colonial present.....I'll wait for the flames
FYI the US abolished its international trade in slaves just one year after the UK, in 1808, however the trade continued illegally for several decades, as it did in UK colonies. Slavery was not made illegal in the British Empire until 1833, and the exploitation and killing of millions of "third world" peoples continued into the 20th Century. Some might argure that the exploitation still continues.
However, I actually think your school mates have a point as we English/British have a lot to answer for in our colonial past, and for our support of the US colonial present.....I'll wait for the flames
FYI the US abolished its international trade in slaves just one year after the UK, in 1808, however the trade continued illegally for several decades, as it did in UK colonies. Slavery was not made illegal in the British Empire until 1833, and the exploitation and killing of millions of "third world" peoples continued into the 20th Century. Some might argure that the exploitation still continues.
Think it is the OP who has the school friends etc but thanks for the compliment you make me feel young
Mar 29th 2007, 4:24 pm
#12
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Yeah yeah, its not actually my mates who are "picking" on me as such, they wouldn't be very good mates for that But its the general anti-British feeling that seems to be the new in-thing for teachers, textbooks etc.
The war in Iraq hasn't come up too much for me, that has turned really sour recently with everyone.
Sure the British empire had mixed impacts on the world, just like the Roman empire, and also the American Empire when people look back on in 100 years. Though I think the establishment of British education in developing nations was a far better contribution than the Americans building Mcdonalds and Burger kings in Iraq
But its the general anti-British feeling that seems to be the new in-thing for teachers, textbooks etc. The war in Iraq hasn't come up too much for me, that has turned really sour recently with everyone.
Sure the British empire had mixed impacts on the world, just like the Roman empire, and also the American Empire when people look back on in 100 years. Though I think the establishment of British education in developing nations was a far better contribution than the Americans building Mcdonalds and Burger kings in Iraq
Mar 29th 2007, 4:28 pm
#13
Boomshacalaca!!
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: South of the North Pole.......Colorado
Posts: 5,066
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Hey, first time here - great to find a group of expats at last! I'm 17, moved between England and the USA about...8 times now - crazy right?! Currently I have ended up just outside of Washington DC, pretty nice place. And, of course, I suffer from being neither here nor there. hah!
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
Anyway onto my main topic. I have noticed quite a lot of anti-British sentiment within my school/area and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing some degree of discrimination? Usually I dont really pick up on these sorts of things because I'm used to "being the outsider" before finally settling in.
But recently I have found myself educating people that British people generally do not own slaves, have plantations in their yard/garden, or continue to colonize Africa as a hobby. Once I 'educate' people that England actually abolished Slavery before America and did so without a civil war, their views change completely. The idea that Britain is the root of all the world's problems seems to be preached from textbooks, lecturers and teachers in general. Maybe this is just the school I'm in (very liberal), but this new body of thought just seems incredibly extreme and ends up closing doors for me.
Anyone else experiencing this sort of thing?
The school system isn't perfect over here.... often underfunded, apathetic teachers due to lack of respect and not enough pay, "no child left behind" and all, questionable grammar so I'm afraid that patience will have to be one of your allies.
When I would look at the US with outside eyes, it was apparent to me that much of the problem was due that people tend to be egocentric by nature. It wasn't something I was used to. However, the US is bombarded by messages, imagery and teachings which reenforces that concept. All is not lost though, through dyslexia, one is becoming more ecocentric. Bless the school system! In time, Plato's cave analogy will be read more and more. Overall, what we don't know, we fear... so that is element as to how you are treated per se. However, can't throw the baby out with the bath water because there are a lot of people who have a genuine sense of curiosity about things and are willing to step outside the boundaries and attempt to break the ice with opening silly questions; merely because they are none the wiser.
Give it time and you will win over people as they say. The hardest thing about anything is adjustment...and that goes both ways I'm afraid. Welcome again to BE and the ST8s...pull up a chair!!
Mar 29th 2007, 4:33 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 1,275
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Several years ago, when the movie 'Armistad' came out,I was with my husband when we bumped into an African/American guy he worked while we were shopping,he was nice enough,at first....then I said something and he realised I was English,he suddenly changed and said he'd seen the movie the day before,and he asked me what I thought about the slave trade....I just said it was something that should never have happened and it was awful,but I didn't have anything to do with it.......he was quite 'put out' and thought I should feel guilty because of what my ancestors did........it turned out he'd never heard of the terrible ways the slaves were treated.......but my thought was,why didn't he know before he saw the movie,surely he must've wondered about his history at some point before,maybe they just didn't teach it at school when he went school but there's plenty of books in libraries,I wonder if he even knew about Martin Luther King jr.........Yes it was a very terrible thing to do to other human beings,but it was also many generations ago,we are not responsible for what happened then,I wasn't there.....and neither was he........my husband dragged me away before I got in too deep!....Sophia
Mar 29th 2007, 4:49 pm
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,754
Re: Anti-British Sentiment
Yeah yeah, its not actually my mates who are "picking" on me as such, they wouldn't be very good mates for that But its the general anti-British feeling that seems to be the new in-thing for teachers, textbooks etc.
The war in Iraq hasn't come up too much for me, that has turned really sour recently with everyone.
Sure the British empire had mixed impacts on the world, just like the Roman empire, and also the American Empire when people look back on in 100 years. Though I think the establishment of British education in developing nations was a far better contribution than the Americans building Mcdonalds and Burger kings in Iraq
But its the general anti-British feeling that seems to be the new in-thing for teachers, textbooks etc. The war in Iraq hasn't come up too much for me, that has turned really sour recently with everyone.
Sure the British empire had mixed impacts on the world, just like the Roman empire, and also the American Empire when people look back on in 100 years. Though I think the establishment of British education in developing nations was a far better contribution than the Americans building Mcdonalds and Burger kings in Iraq
I agree that the BE was not entirely bad, but the apologist who saysthat the BE brought, Parliment and Plumbing to uncivilized nations never mentions the horrors that the Empire perpetrated. Its exceptionalism that justified the BE,exceptionalism that justifies the US actions today,and exceptionalism that you hear in your schoolmates and text books.
Last edited by nun; Mar 29th 2007 at 4:53 pm.