I don't understand why that racist rant against americans is ok?

[Curmudgeonlett]

I truly don't get why people 'discuss it' calmly

put any other race, creed, nationality in the box and there'd be a big ol' hoohah

quietly disgusted of london

it helped me, harpsy, I don't know who's who right now (not that it matters, but anyway...)

I hate all Northerns actually, they are soooo common. Talk about grim and grey! If they lightened up a bit mebbe life wouldn't be so grim and grey! They are miserable, they live in a miserable part of the country, everything about them is soooo MISERABLE!

Not sure which thread you are referring to ( will look) but do Americans count as a race?

Hmmmm i think its all a bit PC gone mad

Personally i have grown up with what i would call a healthy banter between australians and New Zealanders. Jokes are said and the pee taken on both sides. But it isnt seen as 'racist'.

i feel that its all in the way it is said ....which i suppose is very hard to work out when on the WWW but i really dont think the american thread was racist....it was admitted by the original poster that it really was about Bush and politics rather than about American people

ok had a look and agree with nzshar & pruni. Stereotypes/generalisations yes, racist I don't think so. There is definately a difference.

Peachyplumfairy - wouldn't have happened to have been in Street, in Somerset, would it?

It isn't "as bad" because the Americans are the world's superpower, and often take the position of oppressor.

It is totally different to talking about those who are oppressed/the underdogs, because in doing so you are reinforcing their position.

"I rarely mind the English slagging off other cultures because they are always most venomous about themselves."

Oh this is something I love about being British. I really do. I would like to be less cynical but I would have to hang onto this.

I remember in Japan (keep banging on about this- but because I was working in an American dominated scheme with a lot of Americans- liked a lot of them as well obviously) participants from the diiferent countries had to get together and introduce a kind of cultural welcome in the form of a presentation. The UK offering was horribly rude about the Americans, but equally rude about ourselves. I think the Oz contingent were rude about both

It's not racist. 'American' isn't a race, it's a nationality.

And morningpaper's spot on. Criticising those in power is entirely legitimate. Although personally I don't have a problem with individual American people (or American people in general). I don't see that the Americans as a nation require special pleading, or protection against criticism.

I was given a right going over when I posted a thread entitled something like "What's this about the CAP and the UK's rebate and the bloody french" - all hell was let loose at that slip of the tongue ("bloody french")...so I think Stitch got off quite lightly comparatively, and it's interesting why this might be (is it some how okay to criticise Americans?)

I expected far more of a public mauling - but quite relieved that this didn't happen as I don't relish mnet wars.

i asked at an equality and diversity course - that same question about country and racism. and it is the same. i thought it was. i had it confirmed because of a long running argument similar on mumsnet at the time. i had always thought one could be racist against other nationalities.

i think its good that there is reasoned discussion.

i think if colour were mentioned the discussion would not be so reasonable - i dont know what this means exactly.

maybe critisism about policy - they way one may criticise another countries policies - but to tar a whole nation with a generalisation is not right whether they are opressor or opressed imvvvho

Agree about criticising policy.

I have no problem with people making generalisations about a country if it's about their political structures/ society. Because society is a generalisation in itself. It's the average of a whole lot of individuals.

I do have a problem when people take a comment about a society and then apply it to an individual, because it isn't a logical step and that is the essence of racism.

imo.

well as long as they don't bag all the sunbeds they're ok by me

So - here is my "coming out" post!

I am American (living in the UK), and have made a conscious effort to downplay it (even obscure it) online due to the general negativity toward the country/it's citizens. Obviously, that's impossible to do in person because I only have to open my mouth to speak, and my nationality is obvious!

The two threads running currently address that negativity directly. The other threads I can recall that implied strong anti-Americanism (and not just bad feelings toward the politicians) were the Hurricane Katrina threads, specifically the ones about the world's humanitarian response to the hurricane vs. the Tsunami response, and the "why should we give money to the victims of the hurricane" threads. TBH, I was shocked by the vitriol and lack of sympathy in some of those posts, but suppose it is valuable to know what people think when they are not censoring themselves, or striving to be politically correct.

I think part of the reason there is not more of a public reaction/slanging match here is because the American mumsnetters are not reacting in a defensive/angry manner. Those of us who live outside the US are generally a pretty enlightened bunch (and you'll even find some of that rare breed within the borders of the US too), who are only too aware of the uselessness of being offended by sweeping statements. I think in some ways we see it as our unofficial duty to show that there are quite a few of us who are different to the stereotypes.

Just on Radio 4. 195 American Mayors have pledged to meet the Kyoto agreement targets on Greenhouse emmisions Seatle has already met it, and thse are politicians!
Bush does not equal America in toto

Custy is right, racism includes nationality based discrimination - below is the UN definition of racism.

The United Nations uses a definition of racist discrimination laid out in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and adopted in 1965:

...any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. [1] (www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_icerd.htm)

Sorry not read all the thread, it's too early...
IMO people are always going to have a dig at anyone who is different from themselves in anyway, mostly it's tongue in cheek (Anne Robinson and Wales) but there are people who take it too far and start wars whether personal or world then it's ok to step up to the mark and help to stop it. Words are just words, as long as we all know in ourselves that we are good, decent human beings those words should not hurt so much.
Wherever I've been people have seemed to slag the English - which I am. I'm not European or British, I'm English. This does not mean I don't like the other countries in the UK, but how many Scot's say they are British? IME none. I go to Scottyland every couple of years for a holiday/to visit friends, been to Ireland, Wales, most European countries, and some African. The only place I've not heard any unpleasant comments about the English is Gambia and that's probably because they were too busy trying to convince us to give them money to go to the supermarket for us!!!

People are different - if you don't think it's ok to pass comment on race and religion then you shouldn't make such sweeping remarks about 'chavs' or travellers etc.

If people weren't allowed their views or opinions then it'd make a very dull world, look how much this has given us to talk about,appreciate the diversity of the people in the world - and accept their rights as human beings to think differently to you it's not always a bad thing.

and before anyone starts jumping up and down accusing me of being racist etc, I'm not. I personnally do not discriminate against anyone who is not exactly the same as myself. I try my hardest not to judge people on lifestyle choices etc and even when I can't help it I do not make the comments as it's unfair to do so.

I think ALL discrimination is wrong not just selective discrimination to suit yourselves.

What rant?