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01.02.2017, 17:28
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Democratic Republic Kenistan
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | I had just one goal - to annoy Dodgyken ever so slightly.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED | | | | | Bless - you think that annoyed me. You are confusing "annoyed" with "bemused".
I do enjoy Americans reminding the RoW why they are so loved.  | 
01.02.2017, 17:28
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
Pretty sure this wins the award for most ridiculous thread of the week.
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01.02.2017, 17:30
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | Pretty sure this wins the award for most ridiculous thread of the week. | | | | | YAY, I get an award... Is there cake and a party? Do I get a trophy or a shiny badge?
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01.02.2017, 17:33
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Democratic Republic Kenistan
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | Pretty sure this wins the award for most ridiculous thread of the week. | | | | | FAIL!!
Entries don't open until 9pm* on Thursday
(Zurich time - and not EST)
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01.02.2017, 17:40
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | FAIL!!
Entries don't open until 9pm* on Thursday
(Zurich time - and not EST) | | | | |
Hmm, I am starting to wonder if you go to children's birthday parties in your spare time just to pop the ballons....
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01.02.2017, 17:43
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | How should I handle this? | | | | | I solved this issue just by being my naturally charming, absolutely fabulous self.
Humor aside, yes, there will be people around the world who are very quick to jump at the stereotypes and to lump "Americans" in one big bucket. However, calmly pointing out that you are not the designated spokesperson of your country, and may just as well be as shocked/dismayed/perplexed as they are about current events, might lead to a very different kind of conversation.
I tend not to be excessively concerned about "what could happen" until it actually happens, but like to exercise caution nonetheless - which is sound advice regardless of who the president is. I would not be too concerned about the likelihood of being attacked. If anything, just annoyed at the over-zealousness of some people who provide unsolicited opinions.
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01.02.2017, 17:51
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Democratic Republic Kenistan
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | ......and may just as well be as shocked/dismayed/perplexed as they are about current events, ....... | | | | | Whatever you do - don't do that - they'll think you voted for Trump
Explain politely that you handed your Banjo back 8 years ago, you've not had sex with a cousin since 2002 and haven't chewed tobacco since 2013.
In the meantime you might want to stop ordering Miller Draft in bars, pulled pork/brisket in restaurant, calling a pavement a sidewalk and pronouncing the I on the end of a word as eye.
You should also cancel your Nascar Fan Club membership, your Rifle Lovers magazine subscription and your monthly order of bacon flavoured cheese in a can.
__________________
"Don't believe everything you read on the internet" Abraham Lincoln
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01.02.2017, 18:16
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
Try and pass yourself off as a Canadian,
fly a Canadian flag on your allotment, outside your house,
get some clothes with a Canadian maple leaf decoration,
get some I love Canada decals and put them on your car and suitcases.
that should cover it. (most people won't be able to tell the difference in your accent unless you are a strong southern or ny accent)
Failing that look on ancestry.com find some nationality a few generations back and adopt that as your own.. though to be fair this might be a giveaway that you are American
or
Get some anti trump stickers, not my president?, just don't put it on anything you love in case you piss off those violent republicans.
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01.02.2017, 18:19
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | So, let me take a wild guess here, you're either from Cali, namely SanFran or the East Coast, NYC or Connecticut. | | | | | I'm from CT!
Tom
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01.02.2017, 18:19
| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
I don't understand OP. You had a problem recently at a US airport or, because of your birth country, you are anticipating future issues? Or are you proudly born and bred in the USA and are now as disgruntled as everyone else?
Should this be on the FWP thread?
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01.02.2017, 18:21
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | ... but the vociferous desperation makes me think of NYC. | | | | | Yup. That's what I think when I hear Trump speak too. | 
01.02.2017, 18:23
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Lugano
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | Humor aside, yes, there will be people around the world who are very quick to jump at the stereotypes and to lump "Americans" in one big bucket. However, calmly pointing out that you are not the designated spokesperson of your country, and may just as well be as shocked/dismayed/perplexed as they are about current events, might lead to a very different kind of conversation. | | | | | Most Europeans that I know, especially Italians, are pro-Trump.
Tom
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01.02.2017, 18:24
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | 2. Resist the urge to play 'Sweet Home Alabama' loudly after 10pm. | | | | |  But I love Skynyrd!
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01.02.2017, 19:03
|  | Forum Veteran | | Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: thun
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
I can't see why Trump's handling of immigrants has suddenly caused such flood of negative reactions towards the US. Try overstaying a visa or opening a bank account here to see how this is not a uniquely US situation.
The appropriate time for the negative reactions (or what appears to be an act of atonement in the OP's case) was when it [the US] was arbitrarily invading or otherwise destabilising countries, bombing wedding parties, assassinating or torturing political enemies, meddling on a scale orders of magnitude greater that the meddling it claims to be a victim of [vis Election influence], and generally behaving in a way contrary to all decent norms of behaviour and all aided and abetted by a compliant media.
__________________ If you have difficulties with a post which contains a link to a site in one of the Swiss languages, use Google Translate or your own favourite translating browser. | The following 3 users would like to thank me.anon for this useful post: | | 
01.02.2017, 19:27
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | Most Europeans that I know, especially Italians, are pro-Trump. 
Tom | | | | | Opposite experience for me - most people I know in Europe and Middle East are entirely against Trump. Two notable exceptions: a very good friend in Israel (no surprise there) and a very good friend I've known since high school who also likes Salvini & Co. (again, no surprise there).
However, regardless of being pro- or against-, it is kind of sad to assume that just because you come from or are associated with a certain country, you necessarily voted for and/or agree 100% with all the government does.
Case in point: proud Italian, never voted for Berlusconi. Proud friend of Israel, absolutely despise Bibi Netanyahu.
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01.02.2017, 19:38
| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | The appropriate time for the negative reactions (or what appears to be an act of atonement in the OP's case) was when it [the US] was arbitrarily invading or otherwise destabilising countries, bombing wedding parties, assassinating or torturing political enemies, meddling on a scale orders of magnitude greater that the meddling it claims to be a victim of [vis Election influence], and generally behaving in a way contrary to all decent norms of behaviour and all aided and abetted by a compliant media. | | | | | There's a meme for that | The following 8 users would like to thank for this useful post: | | 
01.02.2017, 19:58
|  | Forum Legend | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: canton ZH
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | I think you're trying to create a situation that will rarely arise, if at all, to be honest.
I'm originally from the UK, and not one person has given me a hard time because of the Brexit vote. | | | | | You compare Brexit to Trump? | Quote: | |  | | | Try and pass yourself off as a Canadian,
fly a Canadian flag on your allotment, outside your house,
get some clothes with a Canadian maple leaf decoration,
get some I love Canada decals and put them on your car and suitcases.
that should cover it. (most people won't be able to tell the difference in your accent unless you are a strong southern or ny accent)
Failing that look on ancestry.com find some nationality a few generations back and adopt that as your own.. though to be fair this might be a giveaway that you are American  | | | | | US doesn't let them in anymore easily either | Quote: | |  | | | Most Europeans that I know, especially Italians, are pro-Trump. 
Tom | | | | | What do you expect after all these years with Berlusconi?
OP, demand asylum in Switzerland and create a precedent.
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01.02.2017, 20:00
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
Nothing easier than this.
Tell them Trump's narcissist (also a German word) and you're very angry. That's it.
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01.02.2017, 20:48
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU
Thanks for the advice kind people. I suppose common sense and avoiding, where possible, doing stupid American things in public (as I have been working towards since I arrived here) should probably cover 99.99% of situations. Worrying about silly things happening is a waste of time. Some people have pointed out that the USA has been warmongering obnoxious jerks for some time, which I do not disagree with. Somehow, it seems they are turning up the volume on being awful since the election.
I appreciate the discourse. Life goes on.
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01.02.2017, 20:54
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| | Re: A dismayed American wondering how to process the embarrassing actions of the POTU | Quote: | |  | | | I have been a legal and productive professional who has been a swiss immigrant for the past 8 years. I travel globally for my work, and the recent executive order to detain persons with a valid work visa at airports who were returning to their families and homes struck a chord. Details like country of origin and country of residence aside, I am just like many of the people held without access to legal council, water, food, or explanation in the US airports this past week. There is no rational justification for treating people that way without reasonable suspicion that person was up to no good.
Without going into a rant on the topic, which disturbs me on a very deep level because of the family and friends I have back in the States who are affected by the current state of affairs, I am concerned about reciprical attitudes or treatment as I travel internationally for work. I am concerned that my blue passport with the eagle on it will further impact people's first impression of me through no fault of my own, since I did not choose what country to be born in. I am pretty sure I do not want to get into heated political debates with people, and I am pretty sure I need to continue to travel around airports and continents to be effective at my job. At 49, it would not be an ideal time to seek a new line of work.
Does anyone have any suggestions or pointers on how to avoid confrontations and difficult situations which may arise if the trend of irrational actions that annoy/anger/provoke other nations by my government at home? It has already been difficult to sort out a lack of access to much of the swiss financial consultants and banks, as many do not want the business of American clients because of our Government's heavy handed behaviors with the FACTA laws. I see the current actions as highly likely to exacerbate the situation.
I do not expect everyone on the planet to welcome me with open arms, and I would not fault others for having a diminished opinion of Americans. I am more than willing to be pleasantly surprised, but barring that, does anyone have any pointers on how I can avoid/deal with any situations driven by current political events? I know many people in the cities of Switzerland are from all over the world, and some may be from countries who have done stupid and embarassing things, even if not on the grand scale my country of origin is presently pushing out there. How should I handle this? | | | | | make sure you don't look like an American:
- only whisper when you talk. this is how loud the rest of the world talks
- don't wear Dockers
- don't use cell phone holsters
- in general, wear clothes in the right size
- if you want coffee, order espresso and not "LETTEEEE"
- practise to park your car in a slot for 1 car
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