Why do Americans just group all of Europe together
Why do you keep saying 'we're going to Europe' when there's such a big difference between Paris and Dunblane lol
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ArishMell · 70-79, M
@RockerDad I've not seen much evidence of that in comments by Americans, but it could be factor. It does work the other way, with many Europeans perhaps not realising the size of some US states and the distances between major American cities.
Some of the perception might be due to most News and current affairs reporting quoting the "European Union" as if that is a nation. It does act as bit like it in some ways, but it is a bloc of nearly thirty very different countries; different even to the extent of most having languages very different from their neighbours'.
Some of the perception might be due to most News and current affairs reporting quoting the "European Union" as if that is a nation. It does act as bit like it in some ways, but it is a bloc of nearly thirty very different countries; different even to the extent of most having languages very different from their neighbours'.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
@ArishMell Our states are very different as well. Not as much as in the early days when good numbers started out French or Spanish as well as different segments of English culture. But we are far from homogenized, and some of the English dialects are difficult do decipher for those from other areas of the country. And while we do not have official bi-lingualness as Canada does, we have areas where various forms of Spanish and other languages are nearly as common as English. Most Americans, imo, tend to assume that the EU is a Federation of European states much like ours, rather than primarily an economic and security bloc, much as we started out and States' Rights conservatives would still like us to be.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@dancingtongue Thankyou for the explanation.
Oh, I know there are bid differences across the USA, by geography and culture. Isn't there also a strong German influence in parts of the South?
Some of the EU's leaders would like it to become a federation, thinly disguised by their own phrase "even-closer union", but linguistically and culturally the various countries are very different indeed.
Oh, I know there are bid differences across the USA, by geography and culture. Isn't there also a strong German influence in parts of the South?
Some of the EU's leaders would like it to become a federation, thinly disguised by their own phrase "even-closer union", but linguistically and culturally the various countries are very different indeed.
@ArishMell I’m not aware of a German influence in the south, but I don’t live there. Areas of Louisiana have a strong French influence, though , as it was originally settled by the French. I believe in the current political climate, banding together as the EU, is wise, because helps protect the countries that make up the EU from certain economic bullies, partially ones with noticeably orange colored skin.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@RockerDad I don't think the German influence was ever very large there but I recall hearing about it in a radio programme about certain traditional musical styles from the region.
"bullies... with orange skin"... Indeed! Yes, the EU does have considerable diplomatic power even though primarily an economic organisation.
"bullies... with orange skin"... Indeed! Yes, the EU does have considerable diplomatic power even though primarily an economic organisation.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
@ArishMell [@rocketdad] The German influence is much more pronounced in the northern Midwest urban areas, and to a lesser extent in the New Jersey/Delaware area. The latter was due to Alexander Hamilton's efforts to import the industrial revolution as Secretary of the Treasury in the early days. The former a later product of the early-1800's when the Western Expansion required industrial skills and the unsettling political situation in what became Germany drove a lot of young men to emigrate.
Including my Great-Grandfather. He was a skilled woodworker, was fleeing conscription into one or the other armies in the Franco-Prussian War. Baden was an open international city at the time, much like Casablanca in WWII, and the U.S. actually operated an Immigration Office there promoting immigration to the U.S. (don't tell the orange skinned guy; oh, that's right. They were white, so OK). He married my Great-Grandmother, both teenagers at the time, in Baden and then immediately left for the U.S. saying he would send for her. Talk about trust! But he settled in Chicago where there was a large German community in the furniture building industry serving the entire West, which was mostly territories rather than states at the time. And in a year, he did send for her!
They had a good life going in the German section of Chicago, but it got wiped out in the Great Chicago Fire. So they packed up what they were able to salvage, including my four-year-old grandmother, hopped on the new transcontinental railroad and took it to the end of the line at that time, which was Bakersfield, California. Where he inexplicably changed careers and opened a brewery/biergarten (what we Yanks would call a brewpub these days).
Including my Great-Grandfather. He was a skilled woodworker, was fleeing conscription into one or the other armies in the Franco-Prussian War. Baden was an open international city at the time, much like Casablanca in WWII, and the U.S. actually operated an Immigration Office there promoting immigration to the U.S. (don't tell the orange skinned guy; oh, that's right. They were white, so OK). He married my Great-Grandmother, both teenagers at the time, in Baden and then immediately left for the U.S. saying he would send for her. Talk about trust! But he settled in Chicago where there was a large German community in the furniture building industry serving the entire West, which was mostly territories rather than states at the time. And in a year, he did send for her!
They had a good life going in the German section of Chicago, but it got wiped out in the Great Chicago Fire. So they packed up what they were able to salvage, including my four-year-old grandmother, hopped on the new transcontinental railroad and took it to the end of the line at that time, which was Bakersfield, California. Where he inexplicably changed careers and opened a brewery/biergarten (what we Yanks would call a brewpub these days).
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@dancingtongue Interesting family history!
Perhaps your great-grandfather saw better prospects in brewing. There may have already been plenty of furniture-makers in Bakersfield by the time he arrived. Or maybe he'd become bored with essentially making the same things every day - though I'd think brewing beer even more repetitive!
Perhaps your great-grandfather saw better prospects in brewing. There may have already been plenty of furniture-makers in Bakersfield by the time he arrived. Or maybe he'd become bored with essentially making the same things every day - though I'd think brewing beer even more repetitive!
@dancingtongue good to know