Why do Americans always say "England" is their "best friend"?

Question

Firstly, our country is not called "England" it's called the United Kingdom. Secondly, I think most Americans would be shocked at how they are viewed by us "English." It is not favourable for the most part. And we have felt this was long before George W Bush became your president.

Answer 1

It all started with a country western song by Roger Miller in the early '60s. But we ain't been playin' it lately.


England swings like a pendulum do,
Bobbies on bicycles, two by two,
Westminster Abbey the tower of Big Ben,
The rosy red cheeks of the little children.

Now, if you huff and puff and you fina'lly save enough
Money up to take your family on a trip across the sea,
Take a tip before you take your trip; let me tell you where to go,
Go to Engeland, Oh;

Mama's old pajamas and your papa's mustache,
Falling out the window sill, frolic in the grass,
Tryin' to mock the way they talk fun but all in vain,
Gaping at the dapper men with derby hats and canes

Answer 2

A lot of the time we are not really madly in love with you, either.
We have George Bush; you had a certifiable crazy called George the Third ( and a few other names)
Your industries traded with Viet Nam all through the war. Where was your friendship then?
Your people traded with Cuba in 1961 and 1962 when the Soviets were bring nuke missiles into Cuba. Where was your friendship then.
And don't say that isn't true....I was in our Navy and saw far too many limey merchant ships in Viet Nam and in Cuba.
The USA bailed you out of two world wars that you were losing.
Oh, yes, you were really our pals then!

Funny thing happened.....I was a small child during WWII.
My family attended a church where most of the people were from the UK---it was called England then. They talked about almost nothing but how great England was. I could hardly wait for the war to end so that they could all go back to merry old England. Well, surprise, surprise, not a single one of them did.

Are you aware that the largest immigrant group in the USA came from ENGLAND?

Answer 3

it isn't correct, Australia is we fort with the Americans in the siege of Peking WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam ,Bush the elders war, bush the younger war , Afghanistan.
Americana's are very very weak in geography. The dont under stand there are three countries In the UK plus nth Ireland, mind you most British dont know the Isle of man isn't part of the UK.

The UK is a sizable second rate power who has the same general aims as the USA and understands that the UK does favours for the USA (such as Iraq ) and the USA will do the same for the UK (Falklands). Australia in in Iraq and Afghanistan now doing a favoure for the Americans. When we invaded the worlds biggest Muslim power and took a bit of their territory the USA had a 5000 man marine troop transport sitting off Dili as a warning that the USA support Australia.
It is all part of the international system.

England Scotland and wales are different countries under one monarch, which is why the monarch is so important. Often they will send different sporting teams (such as rugby union ) to international events. Nth Ireland, Isle of Man, the channel islands are not countries but are under the British crown dominion.

Answer 4

Ah, don't be too harsh!

Many Americans are unaware that Great Britain/United Kingdom/England even exists. And many people in the UK make the same error as well, referring to mainland Britain as "England".

Also, you make a similar error. "Americans" - what, you mean people from Argentina? Costa Rica? Canada?

And US citizens do not give a rats a** what any other country thinks of them. Sad but true.

Signed - a fellow Brit.

Answer 5

Are you English or UKish? Our country is called America, US, USA or full name United States of America - United States. That's why Americans sometimes say England, as opposed to the UK. Simple as that.

I visit your country frequently, and have never met anyone that was disrespectful to me or my government. I'm sure that there are many people in your country who are not as pleasant towards the USA, as those that I've had the pleasure of meeting. That's okay. There are Americans, I'm sure, that do not always say your "country is their best friend". That's just life.

Personally, I admire your country, it's laws and it's people. I have yet to meet anyone in your military, that is not ever so proud, just to be a part of it. And, they should be proud.

I'm sure I'll meet someone someday that feels the way you do - but, so far - "England" is my "best friend"!

Answer 6

That is not true. When America was attacked during 9/11 and during past hurricanes and floods and other natural disasters, the ONLY nation that came to our aid was Canada, our friends and neighbors! Not the UK. Yes, some of us know the differences with England, UK and "British" but, just the same, many in the UK or England in particular, still refer to Americans as a single group and we get blamed for what the government does... there are many sub-cultures and nationalities here. We AIN'T all George "Dubya" Bush, you know, and we don't all trip over a wireless telephone as he would do or over our own shadow as he is accustomed to doing.

One thing that you should know, here in America we treat OUR mentally challenged individuals better than you do in the UK; we even elected one as President! You address your Queen as "Your Royal Highness," and the queens here are addressed as "Your royal hiney" or "You damned f a g!" (just a joke, not a put down). You call cigarettes "f a g s" but that's a derogatory term for a gay male here.

Answer 7

I have never said England is my best friend, nor have I said Great Britain, the United Kingdom etc. etc. Frankly I believe our two countries are in a strained relationship. I may not like Dubya, but I could care less what you think.

Answer 8

I have family in Europe. Iam not under the impression that any European nation liked us on anything more than a political level.

Iam sure there is quite a rawr of laughter and joking amongst the remaining when our Representatives leave the UN meetings.

Answer 9

And how could you possibly know how the "English" feel or think,"for the most part"?Just because you profess to be a citizen of the UK does not enable you to know what most English people think. For all we know you could be an enemy of both countries trying to cause a division by lying. You could be a lying, liberal coward. Come to think of it, you probably are.

Answer 10

Yea.. we know that there are a bunch of leftist pansies over there as well as the ones we have to put up with here. But by and large the UK is a better ally than most of the rest of the world. And I guess that you leftist would rather partner with France... they're more your kind. Go for it dude.