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MAKING FRIENDS ONE
COUNTRY AT A TIME
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Someone had to do it. With our international reputation in
tatters thanks to the current administration, I flew off to Scotland last
week to try and mend the fences.
Why Scotland? Well, it happens to have some golf courses in
case I had some free time. I managed to get in a round or two, or seven,
while repairing the damage to the American mystique.
It really didn't matter where I went. Scotland was just the
beginning. As much as I despise traveling, I'll need to travel more and more
to let the world know that not all Americans are on board with the policies
of Mr. Trump.
"I'm not a Trumper," I cheerily said to the taxi
driver at the Edinburgh airport when I arrived. "I'm not a fan of
anything he's doing, and I hope you'll like me and come visit the United
States soon!"
Those weren't my exact words, but they were close. The taxi
driver responded that Trump was generally not well liked in Scotland. As I
had hoped, we bonded. The 30 minute drive to the hotel was filled with
discussion of Trump's shortcomings. We got along swimmingly. One down, six
billion people to go.
Next up was the hotel clerk at check-in, and then the servers
at dinner, then shop owners, caddies and all the patrons at the pubs.
Everywhere I went I was on my best behavior in a valiant attempt to charm
everyone into believing Americans are still the good guys.
The only problem was that I was traveling with seven friends,
and five of them were Trumpers. I was outnumbered and very worried that they
would ruin all the goodwill that I was spreading.
To my surprise, no one seemed to care. The Scots are a pretty
happy, gregarious group and they were very accepting of Trumpers and anti-Trumpers
alike. There seemed to be no animosity whatsoever.
"Where's all the anti-American sentiment?" I cried to
my two fellow anti-Trumpers after another lovefest dinner with the Scots.
"How am I supposed to mend the Ugly American image if they already love
us? This looks like a wasted trip to me."
It was true. The Scots we talked to were overwhelmingly
anti-Trump. But no one seemed to be anti-American. The Trumpers who were
with me would good-naturedly vow their allegiance to the President, and the
Scots would just good-naturedly disagree.
"It's because they're in the hospitality business, you
idiot," one of my fellow anti-Trumpers told me when I complained that
no one hated us. "They're happy to see us because we're their
livelihood."
Good point. But even the people on the street, or in the
elevator, or in the pubs seemed like we were long-lost friends. They weren't
looking for tips. Where was the animosity?
Then it dawned on me. Politics are politics, people are people.
There is a separation that can be enlightening when handled in the right
way. My Trumper friends happen to be as likable as my non-Trumper
friends. Although most Scots disagreed with their politics, they got
along just fine. As did I.
So it turns out there was no need for me to fly 10 hours to put
on a good face for Americans. Anyone could have done the same, whatever
their political persuasion. The only traits needed are politeness, civility
and a little bit of humility. Most of us can handle that.
Then again, maybe I'm being a little
shortsighted. Maybe, just maybe, Scotland was not the true
test. As noted, they're generally not fans of Trump's policies, but they're
happy to discuss it over a pint in the pub, or not discuss it at all.
While I left Scotland and came home thinking my job repairing
America's reputation was done, now I'm not so sure. Maybe I chose the wrong
country to do my work. Maybe I needed more of a challenge.
No problem. In early August I'll be departing again, and this
time it won't be so easy. I'll find out once and for all if my work is
needed. Yes, I'm going to the one place where we may indeed be hated.
Our potential 51st state---Canada.
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