The Scots stand out.

[Liam]

In various forms, this has circulated the 'Net for several years. IIRC it has been posted at XMarks at least once in the past with similar discussion following. BTW it was not penned by John Cleese (see Snopes and, according to them, Cleese's own website).

Things to remember:

Humor is a very personal matter, difficult to convey in the ether.

This is an international forum with members from each of the many nations mentioned.

How would you react to an "ugly American" version of this material?

Political satire is just that - satire (regardless of who wrote it as I see from the link you posted.) As far as being offended by the "ugly American" version, I'd leave it up the the "Americans" to determine if they were offended. Now if it was the "crazy Canuck" version - watch out!

[MacMillans son]

... If you are offended, perhaps thicker skin is in order....

Honestly Liam, if you inserted Canadian in place of French in the "joke" would you feel the same? Not that it would make disparaging remarks about a whole nation acceptable if you personally were not offended, but the exercise may give you a different perspective.

[Hawk]

I, for one, enjoyed it. It made me chuckle and I did need that today. I have compared the "Scots" part of it to many native tribal people here, as many times "we" were asked to be at the forefront of conflicts between the Colonists and the Brits on occasion.....

Thank you for posting it.......

Hawk

[Manxstralian]

Australia, meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be right, Mate." Two more escalation levels remain: "Crikey! I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend!" and "The barbie is cancelled." So far no situation has ever warranted use of the last final escalation level.

And no situation ever will. The barbie must go on!

[Grizzled Ian]

And no situation ever will. The barbie must go on!

Good thing Pup Clarke managed to avoid losing that final Test though.

[fluter]

How would you react to an "ugly American" version of this material?

Perhaps in this literate and collegial community, we could learn and remember one thing: the "ugly American" was the hero (in a pretty depressing narrative).

And now you know what frosts my gourd: Americans' using "ugly American" as a pejorative---even though I know (usually) precisely what they mean by it.

After the book had gained wide readership, the term "Ugly American" came to be used to refer to the "loud and ostentatious" type of visitor in another country, rather than the "plain looking folks, who are not afraid to 'get their hands dirty' like Homer Atkins" to whom the book itself referred.

[Liam]

Honestly Liam, if you inserted Canadian in place of French in the "joke" would you feel the same? Not that it would make disparaging remarks about a whole nation acceptable if you personally were not offended, but the exercise may give you a different perspective.

Perhaps, I should take offense that "Canadians" were not even considered worthy of poking fun at!

[Father Bill]

Guys, it's getting a bit "warm" in here. I tried to hint earlier that I wasn't impressed, but perhaps you'd consider this a gentle shot across the bow lest the temperature rise and the quality slide downhill. I was not comfortable with the first post, but let's leave nationalities and national stereotypes out of this forum.

Thanks.

Father Bill
...this time, for the Mods.

[Downunder Kilt]

And no situation ever will. The barbie must go on!

Bloody oath me old china.

[Grizzly]

Well said Father, for a minute there I thought I would have to put my tea cup down, and raise my status to nearly getting my dander up. We are now back at the level of "another gin ol' boy? Followed by time for tiffin"