Time and Distance Overcome

[Strike For The South]

Well, first thing is first. I have had a bit to drink, so please excuse the loose tongue.

In 1804 Napoleaon marches through the bradenburg gate. In 1940 Hitler marches (well drives....well rides) under the Arch Of Triumph. Europeans have long memories. In America at the same time the founding fathers seem like distant memories.

The distance between London and Glasgow is roughly the same as the distance between my house and my university*in the same state.). Europeans don't like distance.

This colors both of our perceptions (Note, when I use the term Europe I speak about only the countries that matter IE UK, France, Germany, Low countries. Yes, everyone is very happy that the Poles shook the shackles of Uncle Joe but they still don't matter.)

The problem is America venerates people whom Europeans still hold grudges against.Washington may as well be Ceaser, through American eyes. This causes a rather rediculously skewed veiw of history.

While Europeans tend to be rather insular, I guess. I'm sure there's a point there, I'm just to drunk to find it. Something about distance

The title is shamelessly stolen from a short story.

[Raz]

I think this phenomenon manifests even stronger in Australia.

Compared to the US, we have even larger states and an even shorter history as a nation. The filthy Europeans landing here might as well have been millennia ago.
And just as your mentioning of distance, people will happily fly across the nation (we're talking 3000+ km) to attend a conference for work, then fly back again post-haste to be back at their usual office within 48 hours.
Music enthusiasts do just the same to see a band they like if they're not hitting up their hometown - from what I hear, it's a rarity for a Brit to travel out of town for anything like that.

And don't even get me started on fly-in/fly-out employment - and you think your commute to work was toilsome!

However, just how interesting this phenomenon is to the sober, well.....

[HoreTore]

Oh look, it's one of those colonials demanding attention again.

[Hax]

Well, there's the issue of language of course. You can't just travel from Norway to southern France and expect to be able to speak the same language all along the way. I guess that sorta contributes to insularity as well.

Cf. The medieval Arab world.

[Idaho]

Europeans are insular? Last I heard it was 90% of Americans that didn't have a passport. Every book I read that was written in America quotes stats entirely based on America. Most Americans think that the rest of the world is either stupid or evil.

[johnhughthom]

Europeans are insular? Last I heard it was 90% of Americans that didn't have a passport. Every book I read that was written in America quotes stats entirely based on America. Most Americans think that the rest of the world is either stupid or evil.

Most Americans realise there is a 'rest of the world'?

[Greyblades]

Most Americans think that the rest of the world is either stupid or evil.

...And we don't?

[The Lurker Below]

Oh look, it's one of those colonials demanding attention again.

How quickly the English ingrates forgot that when America through off the shackles of King George, it motivated their own government to do the same.

[Sir Moody]

How quickly the English ingrates forgot that when America through off the shackles of King George, it motivated their own government to do the same.

you do realise Horetore is Norwegian right?

Also "How quickly the English ingrates forgot that when America threw off the shackles of King George, it motivated their own government to do the same."

Through would give it a entirely different meaning... its the Queens English you know, we have to make sure you colonials get it right

[Montmorency]

"America through off the shackles" has no meaning, as "through" is usually a preposition but never a verb.

Anyway, Europeans are anything but insular. Though perhaps the contemporary credit squeeze, unemployment, and reaction against globalization may be contributing to a less-open phase...

And Poland is more significant to modern Europe than Strike thinks...

At least count Russia among the "countries that matter", you Western-biased chuckler!

[a completely inoffensive name]

It's a false generalization to say that Europeans have long memories and Americans have short ones.

Americans have no memories and make them up along the way.

[Noncommunist]

That said, America is a lot older than many European states and most if not all European governments have changed significantly since 1787 while the US has maintained the same constitution over that span of time.

[HopAlongBunny]

I'm just grateful the Americans don't hold grudges; been a long time since we burned down the Whitehouse; water under the bridge :)

[Husar]

That said, America is a lot older than many European states and most if not all European governments have changed significantly since 1787 while the US has maintained the same constitution over that span of time.

That's why America is so backwards in many areas while Europeans keep reinventing themselves. Having constitutions that can actually be changed makes us more flexible. The only flexibility Americans know is adjusting in a way that gets them more money.

[Ja'chyra]

Oh look, it's one of those colonials demanding attention again.

Dammit, I hate when I find myself agreeing with you :P

[Papewaio]

Oh look, it's one of those colonials demanding attention again.

Aren't Norwegians just Swedish colonials...

[HoreTore]

Aren't Norwegians just Swedish colonials...

Danish.

[Kadagar_AV]

The historical relationship between Sweden and Norway much reminds me of the Pulp Fiction basement scene.

[Papewaio]

Danish.

So a pastry rather then a vegetable... ;)