IJMC The Difference Between American's and English?

          IJMC - The Difference Between American's and English?

As of this post, I'm only behind 13 emails for the year...so basically by 
the end of next week, I'll be back to one email a day. Whew, that should 
make coming up with something to say here so much easier...sounds good in 
theory at least.                                                    -dave







An American soldier, serving in World War II, had just returned from
 several weeks of intense action on the Italian front lines.  He had
 finally been granted R&R and had made it to Southhampton, England,
 there to board a train bound for a few days in London.
 
The train was very crowded, so the soldier walked the length of the
 train, looking for an empty seat.  The only seat unoccupied was
 directly across from a well dressed middle aged lady and was being
 used by her little dog.

The war weary soldier asked, "Please, ma'am, may I sit in that seat?"

The English woman looked down her nose at the soldier, sniffed  and
 said, "You Americans.  You are such a rude class of people.  Can't
 you see my little Fifi is using that seat?"

The soldier walked away, determined to find a place to rest, but
 after another trip down to the end of the train, found himself again
 facing the woman with the dog in the opposite seat.

Again he asked, "Please, lady.  Can I sit there?  I'm very tired."

The English woman wrinkled her nose and snorted, "You Americans!
 Not only are you rude, you are also quite arrogant.  Imagine!"

The soldier leaned against the swaying wall of the train and
 again asked if he could please sit down.  The lady said, "Not only
 are you Americans rude and arrogant, you're also very inconsiderate."


The soldier didn't say anything else; he leaned over, picked up
 the little dog and tossed it out the window of the train and sat down
 in the empty seat.

An English gentleman, sitting across the aisle said, "You know,
 sir, you Americans do seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong
 thing.  You eat holding the fork in the wrong hand.  You drive your
 autos on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you've thrown the
 wrong bitch out of the window." 


IJMC August 1998 Archives