One of the experiences on the cruise that I'm remembering now has me not knowing what to say.
We were seated at one of those chairs waiting for our excursion to be called when a Caucasian couple sat next to us. It turned out that they were from South Africa.
It was fun talking to them and telling them how we'd met quite a number of wonderful people from South Africa on our travels who we enjoyed getting to know.
We exchanged a lot of travel stories and then I mentioned how we enjoyed watching Trevor Noah of the Daily Show who is from South Africa.
In reply to their expression and conversation I laughingly said, "We do not take blame for Trump being in office. We didn't vote for him."
I also said, "We're rather embarrassed about having him for president."
To this, they said, "We're embarrassed for you."
I think about this comment from a couple whose country struggled with apartheid for nearly 70 years and realize how far we as a country must have fallen in the eyes of the world.
The sad thing is that when you meet people from other countries, they often have a better knowledge of what is going on in our country than Americans themselves. It's pretty sad.
We were seated at one of those chairs waiting for our excursion to be called when a Caucasian couple sat next to us. It turned out that they were from South Africa.
It was fun talking to them and telling them how we'd met quite a number of wonderful people from South Africa on our travels who we enjoyed getting to know.
We exchanged a lot of travel stories and then I mentioned how we enjoyed watching Trevor Noah of the Daily Show who is from South Africa.
In reply to their expression and conversation I laughingly said, "We do not take blame for Trump being in office. We didn't vote for him."
I also said, "We're rather embarrassed about having him for president."
To this, they said, "We're embarrassed for you."
I think about this comment from a couple whose country struggled with apartheid for nearly 70 years and realize how far we as a country must have fallen in the eyes of the world.
The sad thing is that when you meet people from other countries, they often have a better knowledge of what is going on in our country than Americans themselves. It's pretty sad.
I think the whole world keeps an eye on the USA, and there is much head-shaking going on. The US had the chance to be the greatest country but blew it badly.
ReplyDeleteoh boy, we are a global world now aren't we. I remember when we were in Hawaii and a server in the restaurant made a comment on a then (controversial) Canadian politician Rob Ford who was making the news at the time. It was surprising.
ReplyDeleteThey were very kind. The comments of some our friends in other countries hurt and leave us not knowing what to say. We are as appalled as they are, and have always done what we can to be good visitors in other countries. We certainly didn’t vote for or condone any of the despicable actions of too many people. I so wish we could do more to change things.
ReplyDeletei make a point to tell everyone how i feel about that idiot and tell them not only did i not vote for him, i will never acknowledge him as a president. people that support him have a twisted idea of what patriotism is.
ReplyDeleteI had the same thing happen in Toronto one year where the Canadian man felt sorry for us for having Bush W in office.
ReplyDeleteeach country has its struggles and weaknesses...
ReplyDeleteIt's embarrassing to say the least. I try to read the overseas online papers for some perspective. It's discouraging.
ReplyDeleteWhat a revealing conversation. Yes, it is all discouraging.
ReplyDeleteYet Republians think he's God and could do no wrong.
ReplyDeleteI'm just glad many others from other countries realize he's not the typical U.S. President, and that most smart folks world-wide realize what a jerk and embarrassment he is, much less law-breaking on many counts. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI believe we went downhill from the Bushes. Not sure what will bring us back.
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to fly to Japan on a weekly basis, my step father would ask me to bring back a Japanese newspaper written in English - I think it was called Japan Times. It was a great compact newspaper that had a global perspective that differed greatly from our American newspapers and magazines, and had far less advertisements.
Yes, we have to watch what we are saying. I think that damage done by Trump will continue long after he's gone.
ReplyDeleteAh and we used to be such a proud country. We have to be a scary joke to other countries.
ReplyDeleteI doubt the world will ever be as it was. But this country is severely diminished.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend in Scotland who says Brexit will have a greatly negative impact on them, and doesn't know anyone who voted for it. And Canadians who aren't happy with Trudeau but think they could do worse.
ReplyDeleteI am a registered Republican but only because I am from a Republican state and want to be able to vote in the primaries. I study the issues and vote for the one I think has the most common sense. Under no circumstances would I have voted for the one we have as president now. He is a terrible embarrassment to any thinking person. I was appalled when after that embarrassing video he was in when he told the commentator if you were a celebrity you could grab anything you wanted to the woman you met. I was mortified when his followers voted him in anyhow. I really think they were voting "against' Hillary and he was their only alternative.
ReplyDeleteI had a similar conversation in Sweden when G W Bush was president. Trump is so much worse.
ReplyDeleteI never thought I would think back on Bush as being a moderate president. I am afraid for my country, and for the world. :-(
ReplyDeleteIt really is sad, watching from this side of the border. Our Ontario Premier is dubbed 'Trump Light', as he entered the election without a platform, and his people are cutting all sorts of great programs for the poor, autism programming, healthcare.
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