Whenever I travel outside of the United States, I embark on an informal fact-finding mission, trying to answer the unanswerable question: How are Americans perceived by non-Americans? The news is generally not fun to hear.
Usually, my wife and I organically meet people – sitting at the beach, waiting for a cocktail, or both at the same time. The conversations are almost always fascinating, ranging from “WTF is football?” or “How in the world can my son be a Tottenham fan?” to “Why are there so many people from Texas at this resort?”
That’s easy. It’s been over 100 degrees all summer.
The interesting part of meeting people from other countries is that my mission is so subtle and not because my clandestine skills are so good. It’s simply that I don’t even need to ask many questions.
People just offer their opinions about us.
“Why are you people so loud?”
“What’s up with all the vaping?”
“Why do you eat so much?”
“What is it about you people and guns?”
The other ones come up all the time, but the last one actually came up just on this most recent trip to Jamaica, where our resort consisted mainly of British, Canadians, and Texans.
I am not here to make a pro- or anti-gun argument because this is not the place for that. And honestly, during this holiday week, I just want to share.
When asked by a lovely London couple while we floated on the 90-degree water, I answered a question with a question.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because American shootings seem to be the only thing we get on the news.”
This morphed into a conversation about how London has so few guns but still plenty of murders and how the gun conversation is so touchy in the United States.
I would not push this issue with the Texans, I cautiously let them know.
Without delving into the Brit’s role in all of it, as well as that century-plus attempt to traipse a dangerous and huge stretch of land, they only got more confused.
They just don’t have those kinds of weapons and never grew up where the right to have them was so intensely debated.
So, instead of doing a deep dive on the 2nd Amendment, a topic I am in no position to represent my country in discussions, I just switched the conversation to Ryan Reynolds. Between Wrexham FC, his good looks, and Canadian pacifism, I figured since everyone loves the Canadian Hollywood heartthrob, it was a good exit strategy.
We went from Reynolds to Blake Lively to Ted Lasso, and then it was time to refill my piña colada.
We left it there.
What was my takeaway?
Beyond the fact that back tattoos rarely age well – oops, different conversation thread — it’s that average people and their relationship to guns really is a uniquely American issue. People from other countries can’t understand it. We can’t explain it, and further, we can’t solve it.
Back stateside, I sit on my back patio during this even-more-American holiday, and everyone around me is celebrating our nation’s birthday. I see a lot of kindness.
“Come over to our place and have a burger.”
“I went clamming this morning. We have way too many, so here’s two dozen.”
“Wanna come out on our boat?”
“Karaoke later?” (No thanks).
“Beer?”
Sometimes, I wish our front-page problems were more like other places. Government corruption (sorry, we have that, too), affairs between household names, labor strikes, and soccer fiascos.
Ok, the latter will never really be a front-page story here, but the point is that our unique issue is kind of embarrassing. I am not saying get rid of them or anything like that. It’s just embarrassing to even try to explain it, and for those who try and justify it, people from other countries just get more befuddled.
I’ve seen it.
Do I have a solution? No. I just thought I’d let you know what I learned on Leg #39 of my mission.
No. 40, no doubt, will heavily involve old politicians and explaining the electoral college, so it won’t get any easier.
Brian Shactman is a weekly columnist for Barrett News Radio. In addition to writing for BNM, Brian can be heard weekday mornings in Hartford, CT on 1080 WTIC hosting the popular morning program ‘Brian & Company’. During his career, Brian has worked for ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, and local TV channels in Connecticut and Massachusetts. You can find him on Twitter @bshactman.
