I have seen too many incidents, particularly in feminist networks, of non-Americans being shouted down or sidelined
That's something a bit different, though -- the American attitude of: "Anyone who doesn't live here doesn't really understand what's happening where it's all at." The attitude's a pain in the rear, although it's in many ways understandable (why should outsiders tell us where it's at?) and anyway probably common to other cultures as well (think of the French), only most other cultures don't bray it as loudly or obnoxiously as some Americans do.
That said, the insularity here is truly astonishing. Not long after I'd arrived, some friends of Pam's told us quite soberly that they fully understood how most Europeans spent most of their time being jealous of the American quality of life. They were genuinely baffled when Pam and I fell around laughing. And these were Americans who'd actually been to Europe.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2011-04-19 12:07 am (UTC)I have seen too many incidents, particularly in feminist networks, of non-Americans being shouted down or sidelined
That's something a bit different, though -- the American attitude of: "Anyone who doesn't live here doesn't really understand what's happening where it's all at." The attitude's a pain in the rear, although it's in many ways understandable (why should outsiders tell us where it's at?) and anyway probably common to other cultures as well (think of the French), only most other cultures don't bray it as loudly or obnoxiously as some Americans do.
That said, the insularity here is truly astonishing. Not long after I'd arrived, some friends of Pam's told us quite soberly that they fully understood how most Europeans spent most of their time being jealous of the American quality of life. They were genuinely baffled when Pam and I fell around laughing. And these were Americans who'd actually been to Europe.