Hat tip: little green footballs.

Please. Read the entire article linked below before reading my commentary.

FrontPage magazine.com :: An American in London by Carol Gould

A few weeks before, I had attended a  party at which I was lambasted, intimidated and mocked by a group of people I had known for some twenty-odd years. It reminded me of a comment made to me by an American expatriate shortly after 9/11: ‘Now I know what the Jews felt like in pre-war Germany.’

I try my best to judge the individual rather than any affiliated group to which an individual may belong. I do my best to avoid “guilt by association” where religions and nations are involved. For example, I do not believe that all muslims are thirsting for my blood, nor do I believe that all Brits are rabid America Haters or Jew Haters, as this poor woman has seemingly discovered. The unfortunate circumstances she’s been in have left her with no alternative to believe in, however. No one leapt to her defence. No one leapt to the defence of the elderly woman on the bus. Yet the Brits elected Tony Blair, who is stolidly with the US in Iraq. Where are the Brits who elected Blair? Are they involved in these merciless tirades this woman has been harassed by on a constant basis? I can’t believe that the whole country has become so hateful of Americans and Jews.

I can certainly understand differences of opinion on U.S. foreign policy and other political matters. We have those within our own borders by the bushel. I can even understand rash behavior as evidenced by the outbursts of rage and passion described in the article. What I can’t reconcile is the summary judgement of a person’s character based solely on their nationality or ethnicity. Not all Germans agreed with Hitler. Not all antebellum Americans were slave owners. Not all Muslims want to kill Americans. Not all French are “cheese-eating surrender monkeys.” The horrors of a world in which labels are all that we see in our fellow man are both infathomable and indescribable in my limited vocabulary and stunted oratorial prowess. Nevertheless, painting all Americans and Jews with the enormously broad brush wielded by seemingly everyone the woman either knew or met is horribly wrong and intellectually dishonest. That the mere presence of an American accent would be the flame to the powder keg is beyond the pale. Are there no more stiff upper lips in Britain any longer? Have the younger generations forgotten the young soldiers and pilots who came to their nation’s defence in WWII, readily, some even volunteering?

I know you’re out there somewhere. Please speak up. People like Carol and myself would be relieved to hear from you and know that you are still there.