My Parents Hid Me from Reagan [View all]
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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