How well do we really know each other?

I was triggered to write this article by some one Else’s article [a young lady from America i shall leave her nameless] the young lady stated that she felt Britain was trying to take over America, starting by taking over your television! namely talent competitions such as American idol and other talent shows.  She particularly disliked Simon cowell on the judging panel of America’s got talent i believe.  She also stated that one news channel had a presenter with, I quote “A very strong English accent” now i found this a little offensive as we do share the same language America and Great Britain.

I didn’t leave any nasty comments as in my opinion that’s not what Triond is about, if i cant find anything constructive or praiseworthy to say about another writers work I don’t comment at all.  The view point stated by the young lady is, what as we say in Britain, pot and kettle or its like a pot calling a kettle black, same same and i started just off the top of my head to name some programmes we have had to put up with over the years such as, Kojak,Different strokes,Cheers,Friends,Magnum P.I.,Starsky and Hutch,T.J. Hooker,Soap,Happy days,Every body hates Chris,The wonder years,Bugs bunny,Roseanne,Hill street blues,Chips, i could go on all day I haven’t even looked one up yet.  If there is a cultural invasion I think Britain is a wee bit behind! anyway every one i meet day to day loves Americans no problem.

That article did get me thinking though, how well do we really know each other in this shrinking world of ours?  One of my work colleagues emigrated to America 2 years ago, he has his green card [work permit] and is happily working away and is Married to a nice American lady.  We stay in contact via emails and photographs, he passed his American driving test just recently and has brought a car [Where is he going with this your thinking?] well i emailed him to enquire what car he’s brought I said “A firebird, a Corvette stingray, a Cadillac, a Buick,a Mustang, he replied no a VW Rabbit [Golf over here] i was shocked and said, “I thought you would get a muscle car you know v8 6 litre rubber laying gas guzzler” he replied “Why Idrove a VW in Britain,  I like VWs” .

My point is most people cant afford to travel world wide especially these recession filled days.  So our views of other countries comes mainly through television.  I’m pretty sure most Americans don’t where cowboy hats and spurs! and don’t drive Corvettes.  I mean absolutely no offence but sometimes these stereotypes linger at the back of your mind and surface when your not expecting it. 

Famously recently Britney Spears did a tour of the U.K. one of her gigs was in Manchester [just on the north side of Britain if you don't know British cities] apparently she strode on stage to a huge reception of cheers and claps and said, “Hello London” she reportedly was a little taken aback that no one cheered! its probably due to the fact London is 200miles from Manchester! the press had a field day [don't they always] the 2 trains of thought were 1, does Brittany know that every city in the U.K. is not called London? or 2, does she think the U.K. is so small we only have 1 city?

I am a born and bread Londoner but live in Sheffield now, mention Londoners to some people an image of a guy dressed in black with shiny buttons all over his clothes and he must dance allot on street corners, say “Alright Governor” and talk in cockney riming slang and constantly eat fish and chips from newspaper and also love to eat Jellied eels!  The truth is I’m a stocky 45 year old who drives a Ford and my favourite food is Italian or Indian food.  So if there is a conclusion or point to this article its lets try to find out about other countries and cultures and not believe the T.V. people in Britain are not trying to con-core America or any other country we cant manage our own at the moment.  We had an empire once and lost it all and we certainly will never be in a position to have one again, oh and apologies for Simon cowell we have to put up with him too!.