Dear Simon,
OK, now I am not the person to prattle on about defending the American
"general" image, but you have been a little to kind to the Brits.
It seems to me that the Brits are not such the quiet lot that they claim -
just perhaps quieter since the sun set on their fallen empire.
I am sure when they were roaming the seas conquering peoples, stealing, slave
trading, opium trading, colonizing they were perhaps a bit obnoxious.
I have a firm connection with the Brits and their manner, and you and I both
know that they are arrogrant, self-centered and obnoxious - and they felt
that THEY were IT. Manifest Destiny type stuff. You know, the sun never
sets on the British empire...
but, this is tempered by the fact that they don't really DO anything, have
anything, anymore. Except cry over fallen princesses.
That is why they cling to their monarchy - makes them feel special.
They were once a loud and boisterous people - but let me stress, they have
not much to shout about. Perhaps soccer? oh no, not even.
Cricket? nope, their former colonies have long since mastered that game.
Monotonous country? Here? Oh no, you are in England, and you talk about
monotonous??
You are making me smile.
Nicole