It seems that for the last three years, but in particular, the last four months, U.S. citizens have gotten meaner. We are incredibly self-serving and often a vile bunch of people. But why now? Or has it been this way, and I’ve become too Americanized over the years to see it? As I researched America in 2020 and thought about it, I have come to the conclusion that it is both. We’ve always been conceited and lacking in manners, but it has definitely gotten worse.
When I was a senior in college (a million and a half years ago), I studied over seas, most particularly in England. I learned many lessons while there. I learned about living (really living) on my own, living in the same domicile with 18 others, getting used to non-American cuisine (NO PIZZA? What ?!), shopping, people, ways of life and all sorts of things. And for the first time, I learned that Americans aren’t always well-liked. Now, that’s not to say that anyone in the U.K. or on the continent was overtly mean (aside from Munich and Paris, but I blame this partly on me being young, being at the wrong place at the wrong time and being female), but there were snickers, side comments and a definite attitude towards Americans. Being a theater major, I could mimic voices pretty well, so after two months I went into a dialect whenever I could. I imagine many people weren’t exactly sure what my regional accent was (neither did it), but it saved me a lot of questions. Because if you are American, everyone thinks it is your fault that the current administration exists. It was easier just to say, “Yeah, I look American because me Dad is a Yank from Chicago (yep once home to Al Capone—bang, bang, yeah funny; that’s a new one . . . ) and me Mum is from Ireland, but I was raised in and around Cambridge and London. How about you, mate?” (It seemed to suffice).
And Americans DO look a certain way. I had an OP (Ocean Pacific—trust me, I was cool if not bitchin’ back in the day), and at the time, no one in the U.K. really wore brands (unless they were supporting their favorite football/soccer team. I was and still am a Manchester United girl). So yes, we do stick out. We try to blend in by having Earl Grey tea, biscuits and scones with jam, buying digestive biscuits, walking or riding bikes everywhere and mostly wearing sweaters from Scotland, but aren’t hard to lose “the look.”
I bring up my travels because I am reminded about the disdain others have for us when I see our president’s handling of Covid. (which has been virtually nonexistent). I had pink eye once and got weekly allergy shots, and it all cost me whatever was the cost to be covered under the U.K.’s health care for a semester (I think it was maybe 30-50 dollars for the semester? I can’t swear to it, but I think so. We had a medical card that said we were temporary citizens of the U.K.). In other words, I really had no medical worries. There were members in our group who were even hospitalized, but never fretted about their finances. And the doctors and nurses were very nice. I never felt concerned about my care. Ever.
But back to the disdain. The longer I was there, I started to see what the Brits, the Scots, the Irish and the Europeans saw. We have ‘tude. We act like the popular quarterback of the football team who assumes he (or she) will be on the Homecoming Court because, well, that’s how it’s done. But then come to realize that actually kids prefer the Mathlete and Quiz Bowl member or the jazz band saxophonist. This was truly a wake-up call for me. In my naivete, I assumed the world loved Americans, so they would love me. As I was doing my research for this blog, many authors suggest that the world isn’t important to us. We think we are THE BEST, so why learn about Emmanuel Macron? Who cares? Similarly, we are truly ignorant of the world. Our own president thinks Finland is part of Russia (like Alaska, Russians can see Finland from their houses, but nope. Two separate countries SAT cheater). Why concern ourselves with Hindu or Muslim culture? They’re the same, right? The guys wear the turbans?
So, it hasn’t surprised me that Angela Merkel, Jacinda Ardern and Justin Trudeau (sigh) just to name a few, look rather askance when trump’s name is mentioned or when he says something bat shit crazy and off-the-charts in front of them. Merkel doesn’t even try to hide her contempt anymore, and God bless her (she IS someone I’d want to go have a beer with). Germany knows from evil dictators, so I trust this gal. To give them their props, they’ve tried, but being with trump is like being stuck doing a semester World History project in high school with the four kids who need at least a C on this assignment to pass, but have done nothing to help. But they aren’t worried because “Mrs. Conrad put us all together, and you’re really smart right Laura (it’s Lizzy). Right? Bobby did you just fart? “You idiot!”
Because we have this train wreck of a POTUS who is the last one to realize he is a train wreck, (does anyone recall covfefe or hamburder?!!) we have had to endure three years of Bubba taking JD shots and acting the fool. I know trump doesn’t drink, but doesn’t he live on McDonald’s and Adderall? So isn’t that basically the same thing? He seems to be existing on his ADHD brother’s meds, so he can complete any and all assignments ten minutes before they are due, unless he can get his sorority girlfriend to do it (I was in a sorority, and my daughter is in one, but there are sorority girls and there are sorority girls. I did not drive an Audi or vacation in the Hamptons or in Alcapulco. And my OP jacket was about as designer as I got). His Bubba friends think he’s hilarious. They’re the kind you see in your general math class freshman year in college. They recognize you with a head raise “Hey,” but nothing more. However, when you are walking down frat row, you all of a sudden become catcall fodder (Glenn, we’re in the same math class you twit! Hell, we went to high school together, so NO I do not want to “get a piece of that.” Thanks just the same. Go back to your Confederate bong).
President wee hands has encouraged Americans to fear Blacks and Hispanics, and we are to assume, they are coming for our us, our wives, daughters and jobs. He has repeatedly reminded Americans that WE ARE THE BEST, so we act entitled. More than we ever have, I think. Or at least it has become more socially acceptable to do so. How dare anyone think Black Lives Matter? All Lives Matter (yes they do, but my father never had to teach my brother how to act if he was ever pulled over. We have never had to teach our son. Face it, we are treated differently. It is true that as a woman, I have been harassed by police officers. Not often, but it was scary because I was alone and in a car, but I digress). We have to say Black Lives Matter because not everyone believes that. Certainly brown lives don’t seem to matter at the border. And George Floyd’s life or Elijah McClain’s life didn’t seem to matter. In fact, officers mocked their deaths.
And wearing a mask (which every other country does without thought or complaint because it’s the right thing to do) is seen as weak here in the U.S. of A. This week (after most Americans decided to forego social distancing for Independence Day activities—no one actually wanted to be independent on the 4th, ironically), many governors have mandated that the wearing of masks is obligatory. It’ll be interesting if it is enforceable, but we have sure seen a lot of 35-80 year old white folks complaining about rights and privileges and mask wearing. Some conspiracy theories suggest that mask wearing will give us CO2 poisoning (Are our surgeons just invincible? How are they not dropping like flies?). Some just don’t think it’s fair. It interrupts their freedoms. If they are afraid of looking dumb, try taking that MAGA hat off first, and buy a shirt from this decade that fits. And remove those wishful thinking ginormous balls hanging off the back of that rusty truck (did anyone else have to look at those for about ten minutes to figure out what those were? No? Okay. As stated, I am often naive). So how about this--try doing something nice? Sadly, Americans have trouble being nice. We get mighty pissed off if others aren’t nice to us, but hey, it ain’t our job to be pleasant or kind. Now, pass me the bacon.
Therefore, I suggest, for the rest of this summer, let’s wear the masks. And if a store demands that you wear one and you really don’t like them, don’t go ballistic and tear up your local Target. Don’t sit in the middle of the aisle because you want to make a statement (someone is going to have to help you back up again, brainiac). If you want, make it fashionable. Make a statement. It you hate kale eaters, put that on your mask! If Caribou is better than Starbucks, share that opinion with the world. If you’d like to send your kids back to school in a month and follow that with a pub crawl, or your monthly book club/a reason to drink wine and gossip club, wear your mask. You’ll thank me.