diana - b
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Interesting query. Our prime minister, Winston Churchill, and your President Roosevelt had a few things in common. Roosevelt was born in New York. Churchills grandfather (Leonard Jerome) was also born there.
They shared some aspirations for the future of their countries, and they both played a substantial role in the creation of the welfare state that has become the nanny state. I hasten to add I can only comment on the british benefits system regarding the nanny state.
Winston Churchill procrastinated a great deal whereas Roosevelt was a little more concise and to the point. Take these two quotes for example -
Churchill: 'Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end ofthe journey. But this, sofar from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb'
Roosevelt: 'It is common sense to take a method and try it: if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.
And -
Churchill: It's not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what's required.
Roosevelt: Be sincere; be brief; be seated.
I have digressed from your question however. On the whole I don'r agree with Churchill's statement, at least not if it is applied to today's society. It nay have been more fitting during the war when America was drawn closer (perhaps reluctantly) to Europe and a certain comradeship was a way of life. Sometimes a little more than comradeship between the G.I's and our land girls!!
I feel that the main difference between our homelands is our pride in our respective coumtries and the reasons for it.
I don't feel proud to be british any more. The days of 'pulling together' are long gone. It's 'all for one and one for all' nowadays. There has been a mass migration going on in the UK for a few years. Anyone that is selling a property is moving out to France, Spain, etc. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. There are people being murdered in villages for a few pence from their purses. Yob culture rules and teenagers with hoods are to be avoided. Sure, this kind of behaviour has always gone on, but mainly prevalent in big towns in the past.
Our taxes are crippling. People who've worked hard all their lives are living well below the poverty line. They have saved for their pension only to be told that it doesn't exist. And as I mentioned earlier, too many citizens sit back and accept the ample hand-outs the government provides in exchange for votes.
Britain has also lost it's sense of humour.To quote Roosevelt again -
'I sometimes think that the saving grace of America lies in the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans are possessed of two great qualities - a sense of humour and a sense of proportion'
I cannot comment on the differences in the American way of life as I've not lived there but I get the feeling you're all still proud of your origins and wouldn't swap your nationality for all the tea in China. I'd like to hear your views on that.
When I joined the march in London against the war I saw an amusing placard being held up by a young girl proclaiming 'The only Bush I trust is my own. That tickled me but also reminded we're probably not the only country with a corrupt government.
I feel there will always be a bond between the States and the United Kingdom - I hope so. But I also feel that America looks after it's countrymenin a more constructive way than our government. You are encouraged to study, work, and save towqrds a better future. And if you live your life that way you get results. We don't.
That said, I will finish on a quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt in a letter to Winston Churchill.
'It is fun to be in the same decade with you'
Ah. comradeship!
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Separated By A Common Language
curioustom
I am an Indian so you will be getting an unbiased opinion from me here. I somewhere agree Mr. Winston Churchill. To people from other countries Americans and British are really teh same except for the difference in the english language.
lord sesshomaru
No. Winston Churchill is wrong. American and British are separated more than only a common language but the whole culture. Go visit London and then Visit New York City. American and British couldn't be further apart.
gailforce_wind
I tend to agree, the cultural difference aren't as ghastly as some are saying. Move about the U.S. and you will find major differences in culture and society. There is a persistent petty envy by many English people of American success and what they consider extravagance and arrogance. On the other hand a lot of Americans find English people just as arrogant and conceited, usually because they have an older society and a much deeper history than the young American one.
Churchill made those comments before the wonb to tomb welfare state was created in the UK and then there prevailed less liberal political climate. Much like that if the U.S. today.