![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vaneramosResponding to a post by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
manhattan
It's unnerving when a social segment of the biggest military power on the planet becomes so paranoid.
In 1971 my brother went to Germany and spent six months backpacking through Europe. The fact that he was Canadian (and carried a Canadian flag patch) won him warm hospitality where Americans would be eschewed.
When I worked for World Vision Canada in the early 90s, many of my travelling colleagues encountered similar attitudes in Third World countries. Hotel staff in Nairobi, for example, would be especially helpful to Canadians. The same employees would provide the minimum service required to American guests. One of my co-workers remarked about this, and a hotel worker explained they were used to being treated like servants by Americans.
Friends of mine touring Indonesia several years ago made the same observations and had the same conversations with their hosts.
People around the world like Canadians because, although we're relatively affluent and take pride in our country, we're inclined to show respect for others. The fact that some people don't get that says more about them than it does about us.
manhattanIt's unnerving when a social segment of the biggest military power on the planet becomes so paranoid.
In 1971 my brother went to Germany and spent six months backpacking through Europe. The fact that he was Canadian (and carried a Canadian flag patch) won him warm hospitality where Americans would be eschewed.
When I worked for World Vision Canada in the early 90s, many of my travelling colleagues encountered similar attitudes in Third World countries. Hotel staff in Nairobi, for example, would be especially helpful to Canadians. The same employees would provide the minimum service required to American guests. One of my co-workers remarked about this, and a hotel worker explained they were used to being treated like servants by Americans.
Friends of mine touring Indonesia several years ago made the same observations and had the same conversations with their hosts.
People around the world like Canadians because, although we're relatively affluent and take pride in our country, we're inclined to show respect for others. The fact that some people don't get that says more about them than it does about us.
