How different are Americans and Europeans?

[Woodbutcher]

The Pledge of Allegiance always seemed a bit odd to me - and I can't imagine anything similar happening in this country, unless the BNP got into power. Is it really said every morning in every school? Or is that just some nonsense I've picked up from TV?

It's a bonding exercise. Disparate groups need something in common to help them identify with the whole. In England, it's the Royals. In Canada it's . . . geese, I guess.

It's beer and beavers!

[PsychoSerenity]

Nah, in England we go through decade long phases of slagging off the royals, or slagging off the politicians, or both at the same time. At the moment we're in a politicians phase.

Oh and the weather.

If you didn't like them, they'd be gone. Simple.

How so?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Nah, in England we go through decade long phases of slagging off the royals, or slagging off the politicians, or both at the same time. At the moment we're in a politicians phase.

Oh and the weather.

If you didn't like them, they'd be gone. Simple.

How so?

The people could push the Royals out of the picture if they wanted to. They don't. It's "their thing".

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's a bonding exercise. Disparate groups need something in common to help them identify with the whole. In England, it's the Royals. In Canada it's . . . geese, I guess.

Oh my cloud in heaven have you no knowledge of ice hockey?!

Yeah, but there's physical proof for hockey, not so for the Divine Right of Kings.

[Feck]

It's a bonding exercise. Disparate groups need something in common to help them identify with the whole. In England, it's the Royals. In Canada it's . . . geese, I guess.

Oh my cloud in heaven have you no knowledge of ice hockey?!

Yeah, but there's physical proof for hockey, not so for the Divine Right of Kings.

I care about the Royals about as much as I do Hockey

[Twoflower]

It's a bonding exercise. Disparate groups need something in common to help them identify with the whole. In England, it's the Royals. In Canada it's . . . geese, I guess.

Oh my cloud in heaven have you no knowledge of ice hockey?!

Yeah, but there's physical proof for hockey, not so for the Divine Right of Kings.

I care about the Royals about as much as I do Hockey

Hockey is the one sport I care about.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

It's a bonding exercise. Disparate groups need something in common to help them identify with the whole. In England, it's the Royals. In Canada it's . . . geese, I guess.

Oh my cloud in heaven have you no knowledge of ice hockey?!

Yeah, but there's physical proof for hockey, not so for the Divine Right of Kings.

I care about the Royals about as much as I do Hockey

And you're a typical Brit, right?

[PsychoSerenity]

Nah, in England we go through decade long phases of slagging off the royals, or slagging off the politicians, or both at the same time. At the moment we're in a politicians phase.

Oh and the weather.

If you didn't like them, they'd be gone. Simple.

How so?

The people could push the Royals out of the picture if they wanted to. They don't. It's "their thing".

Well maybe it will happen when old Lizzy pops her clogs - but there's not much point because they don't do anything anyway. We tolerate them.

And it still wouldn't help us with politicians or the weather. I think it's just a different attitude towards 'the country'.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Well maybe it will happen when old Lizzy pops her clogs - but there's not much point because they don't do anything anyway. We tolerate them.

And it still wouldn't help us with politicians or the weather. I think it's just a different attitude towards 'the country'.

They do nothing except embarrass the UK, and yet they linger on. Because the people want them.

[Feck]

Well maybe it will happen when old Lizzy pops her clogs - but there's not much point because they don't do anything anyway. We tolerate them.

And it still wouldn't help us with politicians or the weather. I think it's just a different attitude towards 'the country'.

They do nothing except embarrass the UK, and yet they linger on. Because the people want them.

Meh at least we didn't vote for them

[Pappa]

Well maybe it will happen when old Lizzy pops her clogs - but there's not much point because they don't do anything anyway. We tolerate them.

And it still wouldn't help us with politicians or the weather. I think it's just a different attitude towards 'the country'.

They do nothing except embarrass the UK, and yet they linger on. Because the people want them.

I think that people in the UK just put up with any old crap and mostly do nothing about it except grumble a lot. That doesn't mean the majority of people actually want the royal family or stupid politicians.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Well maybe it will happen when old Lizzy pops her clogs - but there's not much point because they don't do anything anyway. We tolerate them.

And it still wouldn't help us with politicians or the weather. I think it's just a different attitude towards 'the country'.

They do nothing except embarrass the UK, and yet they linger on. Because the people want them.

I think that people in the UK just put up with any old crap and mostly do nothing about it except grumble a lot. That doesn't mean the majority of people actually want the royal family or stupid politicians.

When you really don't want them, they'll be gone.

[Tero]

The Pledge of Allegiance always seemed a bit odd to me - and I can't imagine anything similar happening in this country, unless the BNP got into power. Is it really said every morning in every school? Or is that just some nonsense I've picked up from TV?

Where I went to school it was said every morning and if you didn't at least stand you got in trouble. I would just stand and glare at the flag every morning.

Twoflower, I have not figured out, are you American born, or did you end up here later?

I was 12 when I got here. I always messed up the pledge or mumbled it:
one nation,Under Dog, invisible

Under Dog was a cartoon character back then.

About the Americans. They seem a bit lost and isolated, so we have this exchange student program in our high school, gives the kids some idea of the world. But they still barely learn one language and forget that. Adults are science illiterate.

[Twoflower]

I am American born but not happy about it.

[Svartalf]

Europeans aren't up in arms at the fact that their respective governments have reduced private weapon ownership to a ludicrously small faction of what it should be