"America and Britain have often argued, but we have also shown the world that former adversaries can become allies without pretending the past never happened
Dr. Andrew J. Fox › American Greatness
"Two countries. One remarkable friendship. Happy 250th, America. No hard feelings. And if anyone would like to celebrate with a proper cup of tea, I will even bring the kettle. Please, however, do not microwave the water. Some wounds take longer than 250 years to heal."
"Few experiences are quite as surreal as being a Brit living in America while the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of declaring independence from—well. . . us.
"It is a little like being invited to your ex’s golden wedding anniversary. You are genuinely pleased they’ve done well, but every now and then someone stands up, raises a glass, and reminds the room why they left.
"Every Fourth of July, I find myself in a curious position. My neighbors set off fireworks with the enthusiasm of medieval artillery officers. Children wave stars and stripes. Someone is inevitably grilling enough meat to feed a small European nation. Then comes the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a magnificent piece of political writing, even if, from my side of the Atlantic, it still sounds like a rather strongly worded letter.
'"As an Englishman, I have learned not to take it personally. Truly, I have.
"Britain has had 250 years to recover. We have moved on. Mostly. We even stopped referring to the colonies as that little misunderstanding across the Atlantic, much like Benjamin Franklin’s sarcasm in pretending to advise Britain on how to lose its American colonies.
"Besides, every nation needs an origin story, and America’s is unusually clear: a date, a document, and a collection of determined gentlemen who decided that taxation without representation had become intolerable.
"Britain’s story is somewhat less tidy. We began somewhere in the fog of Roman roads, Saxon villages, Viking raids, Norman castles, civil wars, royal family drama, and enough constitutional improvisation to keep historians employed forever. America, by contrast, tells its story with fireworks, flags, speeches, and parades. It is loud, sincere, sentimental, and occasionally covered in barbecue sauce. In other words, it is gloriously American.
"Speaking of cultural differences, I have discovered that no divide is quite as profound as watching an American microwave water for tea and then drink it from a foam cup. There are moments when my British instincts feel less patriotic than missionary. Even George Orwell agrees with me. I have tried to explain that tea is not merely a beverage. It is a civilization. Still, America has forgiven Britain for King George III, so I suppose I can forgive America for the microwave." . . . More...
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