On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 6:13 AM, Steve Cottrell <co...@seeingeye.tv> wrote: > Okay, it's obviously a perception you and/or others have. I'm genuinely > just curious as to where/how you (possibly) acquired it?
It is something that all Americans and Europeans have been told for many decades. I don't know how it got started, or when, but the public image and reputation are undeniable. As I said, although I often heard it, I never actually believe it to be more than a legend or an attempt at humor. I had always been educated to keep an open mind. Before my first trip to Europe, I had always heard that Germans were disciplined, regimented, militaristic and jingoistic, while the Swiss were independent, individualistic, health conscious and politically neutral. In my first border crossings (back in those days we had to stop and show our passports), the German border guards were extremely casual, and had shed much of their uniforms in the summer warmth. They saw the color of our passport covers, saw we were Americans, and waved us through with a cigarette in hand. Almost no German flags were evident anywhere. The Swiss border guards, however, behaved with military precision, carefully examined our passports page by page, and questioned us about our purpose and intentions. Swiss patriotism was always on display with the Swiss, Cantonal and City flags flying on every structure. Expecting muesli for breakfast every morning, I was greeted with a huge selection of cold cuts, cheeses, breads, jams and butter, with as many calories as the notorious "full Irish breakfast." All nationalities promote stereotypes of other peoples; It is easier than thinking. Dan Dan Matyola http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
