Letter: The truth about English tourists
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: As someone who spends every summer working in a craft gallery and a souvenir shop in the New Forest and who therefore has as much reason as Melissa Rapp to loathe the roving Brit, let me give her some advice. Speak your mind. Return his rudeness.
I readily confess I have a foul temper, and it works wonders. The whining Brit backs down very readily when he realises you won't put up with his pedantry and boredom and miserliness. And after a little bit of a rumpus, he usually turns out to be not quite as awful as he had initially promised. Shout back in his face. Don't just smile and then write letters to foreign newspapers. As a nation that voted itself its present shambles of a government, we have no right to demand any respect from anyone.
However, American tourists are a bit of a problem, I find. Behind their charm and politeness and geniality and those wonderfully orthodontic smiles, I sometimes wonder whether they can really be quite so sincere about our tacky little country. Trouble is, it is impossible to be rude to them.
Yours faithfully,
SIMON HERBERTSON
Lyndhurst,
Hampshire
17 January
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments