[Limey]

As a British female living in the New York area for six years, I feel I am qualified to comment on British attitudes compared to American attitudes in regard to humor, ‘foreigners’ and racism. British humor is cutting and sarcastic, but more often than not, British people themselves are the subject of such scrutiny (i.e. Black Adder, Young Ones, Eddie Izzard, Lennie Henry…). The reason you may view the humor as more ‘stereotypical’ than American humor is that Americans are so careful to maintain their ‘political correctness’ that they have forgotten about humor, and about the strange and funny differences between people (remember, humor IS sarcastic by nature). You may be referring to white comedians mocking what Americans would call ‘racial minorities,’ but in England these ‘minorities’ are merely neighbors, friends, etc. and considered just as much a part of British society as whites, and therefore do not need to be treated with any special ‘sensitivity.’

You are probably used to American white comedians tiptoeing around racial issues through fear of being labeled ‘racist,’ but black and Latino comedians (i.e. Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence) stereotyping (hatefully so) white people – hence it appears more shocking to you when a white Brit does it. American jokes about someone of a different race become ‘them and us’ jokes, but British jokes about another race are merely ‘people’ jokes.

On the issue of xenophobia, as a child, I did not – from my parents, school or television – ‘get the impression’ that the British felt themselves superior to people of other countries. I can’t imagine where you would get such a notion. In fact, when I came to the United States, I found that I could relate more to non-European/Western people than their fellow Americans – probably in part because the British school system is more inclusive in its teaching, incorporating worldwide issues as well as British history, and hence allowing me to be more in tune to the very ways you wrongly assume us (Brits) to despise.

Finally, I am amazed that you could live in New York and think the British to be racist. New York is extremely racist, with open hostility toward every group from every group, and a tendency to associate only with those of the same color.

Regina, I think your British ‘sources’ are not an entirely accurate reflection of ‘real’ British people and attitudes.

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Name : Limey, Gender : F, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, 

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