Why do Americans always say that Britain is their Best Friend???

Question

I think if many Yanks visited Britain they would leave with a very different feeling towards us.

Tony Blair may like Americans, but it seems most of the rest of the UK thinks the USA is full of rude, loud, obnoxious people. Not trying to sound rude myself, but I'm just pointing this out as a fact. I'd say most Britons feel much more affinity with Australians, Kiwis, Canadians, etc., then we do with Americans, because we share more in common with those countries culturally.

Answer 1

I don't think Americans ALWAYS say that.
In fact I don't know of ANY who do. If I was going by the posts by Brits in this thread I'd think you all seem a little jerky.

The only thing I ever hear Americans saying about Britain is that they have poor dental hygiene. It's not very smart to make gross generalizations about ANY nationality.

Here I thought America was the most racist country. It seems like Britain could take that over. You sure do fall pray to a lot of misguided prejudice against USA.

Maybe if you took sometime to know Americans instead of hopping on that stereotype bandwagon, you'd have a very different feeling towards us.

Answer 2

well just because we are allies never ment we were best friends as far as i can tell most the time people like americans is if they want something from them talk about a crappy deal and yes america has its few bad apples too though most people are nice u still have brits hating americans and americans hating brits. and i must say there are some rude brits out there. dont get me wrong tho there are some nice brits as well and dont doubt that some americans are rude to brits too. i guess some people dont realize they represent more then themselves. and as far as cold i dont think england gets any where near as cold as some parts of the US

actually i think americans like canadians and aussies better anyways but as far as bestfriends um america seems to be alone in that department

all in all i would preffer if we wereint rude to each other considering both countries have many great places to visit and all

Answer 3

You make a very good point here.

I have worked in tourism in Scotland - I can hand on heart say that the majority of those who have complained about things related to the UK (usually things we have no control over, like the weather and the fact we drive on the other side of the road) have been Americans. It seems in their eyes, everything is too small, too boring, too expensive, too cold... and they can be so rude. (I know this doesn't apply to EVERY American, I have met some lovely people from the USA as well.)

By contrast - as you say, other nationalities are far nicer and easier to deal with. In my experience, Canadians are such easy-going people and have huge respect for the UK.

Apologies to all Americans reading this - but you need to change you attitude and realise bigger doesn't always mean better.

Answer 4

Where I live I can honestly say that I have never ever noticed or experienced any negativity. Most people smile when they hear an American accent and always seem very friendly. I guess it could be different in some other places - but it certainly isn't a problem all over the UK. :-)

Answer 5

I am an American and I know exactly what you are saying. I am sorry to say that there are a number of Americans that are "that way". This is not rue of all Americans, but a number of them are "just so". I believe that MANY Americans feel a great affinity to Britain because of our close ties in former wars and battles. We have a common heritage in many ways. Our founding fathers were from Britain and used the documents from your country to design our own. This brings US closer to you then to any other nation in this world! Because of this, we trust Britain more that we will EVER TRUST OTHERS!! I hope that this makes sense to you, as it does to me. Have a GrEaT WeeK.
Eds

Answer 6

i've never heard anyone say that but i see your point. i think that, because many of us came from Europe, however many generations ago, we feel there some connection there. i would say we're more cousins than friends.

i see the point with australia, since they're decedants of all criminals you left behind there as sort of a casting out from your own society. surely we are as much related as they? canadians i thought were generally french decendants and i admit i don't know what a kiwi is...

i think i always suspected the british still have a chip on their shoulder...the whole "revolution" thing...i'll make a note never to call us friends? is that what you're hoping for?

Answer 7

Because we helped you during WW1, WW2, and the Faulklands and you helped us during Korea, Vietnam, and the first and second Gulf Wars when no other countries wanted to help us in those situations.

Sure, we think your men are fruity and frail, your sports suck, and your food is bland. And we know that you think we're socially isolated and we weigh too much, but we totally respect the Brits because the UK doesn't put up with any crap. Even if we mistakenly call all of your country "England".

Answer 8

Just as a dog is mans best friend, since WWII the UK through succesive PMs has been the US best friend. Tony Blair has just taken that to a new level.

Answer 9

most of the yanks are ok ive worked all over the usa for the last 7 yrs, its just the ones that travel can be a pain. and in the end they cant help it if they recieve a poor education and they are indoctrinated by there goverment, ive also found that they have a little more of a mind on the east coast and then again on the west, most of the middle and south are just stupid.
And why cant they understand irony?? you can always tell a yank on here unfortunately you cant tell them a lot.

Answer 10

the old "special relationship" stuff is only trotted out when the US needs a partner to give their foreign policy a sheen of international legitimacy prior to invading somewhere. normally we dont appear on the US radar.