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ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 01:44 AM Jan 2017

My Parents Hid Me from Reagan

During Reagan's term in office, my parents and I lived overseas. We had nothing to fear when we were at home on an American compound, but we frequently took trips to other countries. As a precursor to one of these trips, my parents warned me not to let anyone know I was American because they were worried the rest of the world viewed Reagan (and all Americans by extension) as arrogant bullies. They made me promise that if anyone asked where we were from, I would tell them we were Canadian. That was playing it safe.

This memory just popped into my mind a couple of days ago. I think it puts being American in perspective when a person is traveling or living abroad. I know that the rest of the world joined the protests on Saturday, but you still have to wonder what the average person in a foreign country really thinks about us.

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My Parents Hid Me from Reagan (Original Post) ProudLib72 Jan 2017 OP
I remember that, actually. Ellen Forradalom Jan 2017 #1
In March of 2001 we took a family trip to Australia. PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2017 #2
I went to England 2 years ago. Initech Jan 2017 #7
I recall that era, however I did not travel overseas during those years Sherman A1 Jan 2017 #3
I lived in Korea for part of GW's term Qanisqineq Jan 2017 #4
One other piece of the puzzle ProudLib72 Jan 2017 #5
Trump voters might claim to be Canadian too. Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2017 #6

Ellen Forradalom

(16,159 posts)
1. I remember that, actually.
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 01:51 AM
Jan 2017

I too travelled a lot during the Reagan years and remember the embarrassment when the US commit some particularly heinous act. "I'm Canadian" was a pretty common sidestep.

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,750 posts)
2. In March of 2001 we took a family trip to Australia.
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 03:27 AM
Jan 2017

Australians would ask us what we thought of the new President, and we were at pains to tell them we did NOT vote for him.

I'm sure it's going to be vastly worse for Americans abroad in the foreseeable future.

Initech

(99,915 posts)
7. I went to England 2 years ago.
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 03:07 PM
Jan 2017

And my British friends were asking me what we thought of Trump then. And that was back when his campaign was first starting. I told them I would think there's absolutely no chance in hell that he could get elected and that most people thought of him as a joke. I think if I go back, it will be much different to explain now.

Sherman A1

(38,958 posts)
3. I recall that era, however I did not travel overseas during those years
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 08:45 AM
Jan 2017

actually didn't travel too much at all. I recall a wage freeze and a wage roll back in those years so the money was a bit tight.

Qanisqineq

(4,826 posts)
4. I lived in Korea for part of GW's term
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 08:59 AM
Jan 2017

I said I was Canadian if I was asked. This was after getting rude comments to being American. I traveled to Italy during that time and people kept assuming I was German even though I don't speak a word of German. I didn't correct them.

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
5. One other piece of the puzzle
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 01:13 PM
Jan 2017

that I remembered after the initial post is that I witnessed Reagan transferring arms to Saddam. We lived in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in the mid 80s. One day my dad and I were driving along the coast road and got passed by a deuce and a half with a tarp covering the rear section. When the tarp moved, it exposed a full load of missiles. U.S. army truck heading north to Kuwait + bed full of missiles = not difficult to determine what was going on.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,848 posts)
6. Trump voters might claim to be Canadian too.
Tue Jan 24, 2017, 01:39 PM
Jan 2017

If "Trailer Park Boys" is any indication, they might get away with it!

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