it’s been a long time coming
in speaking about the inauguration today, my colleague turned to me and said, “so how long until he gets assassinated?”
it made me really angry, actually. because if there’s one thing this election has taught me about stereotypes, it’s this: that many brits, who’ve never so much as set foot in the country, or known another American personally, are perfectly eager to believe that the entire United States of America is overrun with gun-toting, rabid racists, who’d more likely shoot a black man than vote for him.
i can’t begin to enumerate the times that someone i considered otherwise intelligent told *me*, as someone who spent nearly thirty years there, that America would never elect a black man as President. in all seriousness – even when the polls were showing otherwise, even as Obamamania was sweeping much of the country.
Brits often like to fancy themselves more enlightened on the issue of race – they see our nation’s ongoing open dialogue about race relations, our continual acknowledgement of the history of slavery, our attempts to identify ourselves in a way which is inclusive of our individual heritages, as evidence that America *must* be more racist. look how much we talk about it! look at the news stories! i’ve heard time and again from the media here that they don’t want to face the same problems that America does.
of course, the UK has more than its own fair share of racism – overt, covert, and ingrained- and as i’ve pointed out here before, things are far from all jolly and equal here. they simply deal with it differently, and have a different historical framework.
but i can honestly say, that i never would have believed so many of them would willingly subscribe to such a facile and shallow portrayal of a country they only know from television. and that in a subtle but undeniable way, so many would have wanted to see the US fail to elect a black man, because it would justify their belief in their superiority to the Americans. so many who honestly wanted to be able to say to me, “i told you so.”
so the comment about assassination pissed me off, because it speaks to the gross and crude stereotype about America that so many Brits want to believe.
of course we have problems. but we also have many kind, good, generous people. we are a nation of so many, with so much. so many people who believe that the one thing which *does* describe our country as a whole, is our collective power to constantly evolve into brighter and better versions of ourselves. a society which can always do better and be better than it was yesterday.
but of all days, today is a day for hope and change. what could i do? i smiled and let it go.
i know my america is bigger and better than any narrow stereotype. i know my america is wider and more encompassing than just its history. the proof is on my telly right now.
history speaks for itself.
otis redding – a change is gonna come
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Comment by Amity
20.01.2009 @ 17:57 pm
Amen!
Comment by Strawberry
21.01.2009 @ 00:44 am
every. word. spot. on.
Comment by Katt
21.01.2009 @ 02:09 am
As your fellow American, and someone who appreciates your writing, you’ve expressed exactly what I’ve been feeling
Comment by Tabitha
21.01.2009 @ 02:31 am
So true. You said it perfectly. It’s exactly how I feel too.
Comment by t.tara
21.01.2009 @ 14:15 pm
love your writing! i agree with everything you say and i’d love to point out that the uk is one of the america’s parents so to speak so it would make sense that we’ve had to come along way to combat some of those attitudes on this soil. keep on sharing!
Comment by Jen
21.01.2009 @ 17:31 pm
thanks guys!
Comment by Colm
21.01.2009 @ 23:15 pm
For the life of me, I can’t understand why you live in Britain. If you hate it so much, why don’t you try and move away?
Comment by Thomas Foolery
22.01.2009 @ 01:32 am
@colm: perhaps jen can dislike the things that some people in britain say about america, without being accused of “hating it so much” being obliged to move away? Saying “like it or leave it” is pretty intellectually lazy.
Pingback by A Reminder from One Still in the Trenches « Potential and Expectations
22.01.2009 @ 03:37 am
[...] January 22, 2009 by Strawberry And yet, there really are so many things about Britain that drive me absolutely nuts. Jen has nailed this one right on the head… [...]
Comment by Jen
22.01.2009 @ 06:49 am
@colm:
i live here voluntarily. i have spent considerable time, money, and effort to do so. i don’t have to prove my loyalty to anyone, but if you wish to sate your curiosity, i’ve written plenty about “why” elsewhere here on the site.
this is my home.
i can only say that if you don’t understand what it means to love where you live, to love your *home*, yet still know that it can be better, still hope that it continues to challenge itself to grow and improve, without resting on its laurels or becoming complacent…well then you will never understand what i write here. i critique both america and the u.k. in that way because i truly believe that from those to whom much is given, much should be expected.
plus, my colleague was just being a wanker.
Comment by Colm
22.01.2009 @ 11:57 am
@Thomas Foolery
Wow! Nice ad hominem attack. I didn’t say “like it or leave it”. You incorrectly inferred that. Big difference saying “leave” and “why would you continue to persist without something you clearly don’t like?” Nobody is saying she is ‘obliged’ to move away. You’re problem is that you want me to say this.
@Jen Not asking you to prove your loyalty. Nobody said any such thing.
For me, if I don’t like something, I don’t pursue it. Having clicked on the ‘londonlife’ tag above, I’m guessing that 50% of your posts would have an negative tone overall.
Regarding the assassination remark – was it so far off the mark? The US has a long tradition of attempts at policital assassination. Truman, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and JFK (obviously) had assassination attmempts on their lives. There’s a pretty long list of other political figures too. So probably not unreasonable to be concerned that Obama might be targeted.
Comment by Stephanie
22.01.2009 @ 13:24 pm
Well said, Jen. I have to say that I have been dealing with that exact same comment at least once a week from one of my colleagues for about 4 months now. And before that it was the comments about how American would never elect him.
*sigh*
I’ve moved past the smile and let it go stage to the discuss and disprove stage. There’s only so many times I can grin and bear it!!
Comment by Thomas Foolery
22.01.2009 @ 15:05 pm
@colm: Yes, I paraphrased your apparent message, and your ‘clarification’ makes me smile, but I’m not laughing with you. For your future reference, you can find an explanation of the phrase “ad hominem” here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem
Comment by Jen
22.01.2009 @ 19:13 pm
@colm – yes, the presidency is a very dangerous job. and no less so for obama.
no more so for obama either. i reckon if bush made it out with all limbs intact, after all the ire he courted worldwide, then anyone else can only have better odds.
that wasn’t, however, the spirit in which the comment was made. you’ll have to trust me on that. and he wasn’t the only one who’s made such a comment – far from it.
as for 50% of my posts about london being negative… well, you should have heard me bitch when i lived in new york. i say “snarky” in my tagline, and i try my best to live up to that. large cities bring out the worst in people, me included. but if you think that means i hate it here, well, i can only say you misinterpret.
“For me, if I don’t like something, I don’t pursue it.”
in which case, i’d recommend that if for some reason my criticisms bother you, you not read them.
again, this is my home. i dislike some bits, and i love others – like anyplace i’ve lived. and i won’t be made to feel i have to defend what i say about it on my own site.
and with that, i’m closing comments.
Comment by nikoline
31.01.2009 @ 19:29 pm
you are unshakeable, Jen. And clear. And true. And unafraid. I so admire that.