According to Norm, The University of Leiden in the Netherlands uses an extract from Michael Moore’s Stupid White Men in its English grammar test, in which Mr Moore rants about the stupidity of most of his countrymen.
Norm thinks this is outrageous. I think it’s funny.
We mock the Americans for being fat, stupid inbred rednecks. We mock the French for being arrogant, lazy and malodourous; we mock the Germans for being officious and boring; we mock the Scots for being drunk, violent and on the dole. We’re aware it has only a limited basis in reality, but it annoys the relevant group and therefore is worthwhile.
Norm is right to say that there would have been more of a fuss had the university chosen a text that focused on any other nation or group. However, he draws the wrong conclusion from this. Rather than trying to excise anti-Americanism, we should aim to treat people of all nationalities the way we treat the Septics.
Am I the only person sad enough to recall that one of the University of Leiden’s most distinguished alumni is Paul Verhoeven, director of the delightfully anti-American Starship Troopers?
Anti-American? Why, over here, we found it delightfully patriotic. I think some sectors of the Right took it too literally, as they now believe America is repelling an invasion of giant insects.
Equally, some sectors of the left welcome our new insect overlords.
It’s high time Derek and Clive were put on the syllabus.
"We’re aware it has only a limited basis in reality, but it annoys the relevant group and therefore is worthwhile"
Spot on. Thank you.