> S "By the way, if you're wondering why Britain has a fatally damaged tourist trade, well, the answer probably isn't hiding so very far away." am

Am interesting question, Sam and one I feel I must answer. Quite aside from all the jokes and wisecracks about Americans that do the rounds here, there is not really any more anti-American feeling in the UK psyche than I imagine may exist about Brits in the US psyche. Brits as a whole unfortunately suffer from a definite sense of superiority. This is especially true towards countries we had a hand in creating or at least shaping them into their current forms. It is undeniable that quite often we did a terrible job, but we were there nonetheless. Go back to the 15th century and further, all your ancestors are ours too.

Brits like to make fun of those they are closest to. It is not unusual for Brits to routinely insult each other as a form of greeting. Bizarre maybe, but true. There are two RAF pilots in the US stealth plane program who have completely baffled their US colleagues by doing just that. America and Britain share a more common bond than most, sharing as we do the most fundamental device to humanity, language. I remember a US exchange student at my university who couldn't understand why we weren't slapping each other for some of the things that were said.

We, as a nation, on the whole, love the US. Its freedoms, good weather down South, hell, you guys have Disneyland! We like to make jokes, we like to laugh when you get it wrong, but you're still the best friends we have.

There are always those who do say malicious things and mean them, but I for one hope they remain a minority.

Bea"But please tell me U571 isn't being taken as Gospel, huh, please?"sty