‘Snide Remarks’ Classic: ‘The Royal Treatment’
Happy Independence Day! I hope my American readers are celebrating the occasion by grilling the flesh of animals and drinking cool, refreshing beverages beneath the scorching sun. And I hope my non-American readers are spending the day weeping bitterly over their sad misfortune of not being Americans.
But today isn’t just the Fourth of July! Today is also Wednesday, which means it’s time for a “Snide Remarks” Classic column. We’re doing this every Wednesday this year in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of “Snide Remarks.” Today’s blast from the past is called “The Royal Treatment,” and it was originally published July 12, 2002. It’s about the Queen of England visiting a chat room. The comedy, it writes itself.
July 4th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
That comment about non-americans weeping over not being americans cracked me up. I have met soooo many people who actually think this is true!!! They think every non-american out there spends their lives trying to figure out ways to become american, or are simply bitter that they cannot. The arrogance… and the ignorance… of it is hilarious.
July 4th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Sara, when I was at school, we had an exchange programme with the University of Michigan. A student from there would spend 6 months with us, and vice versa. One year we had a chap who I think originally hailed from Tennessee. The look of surprise on his face when he found out we did nothing on 4th July is something I’ll never forget. I think he expected it to be a national day of mourning or something.
And the Queen doesn’t use chat rooms, although I’m told she’s quite partial to MSM
July 5th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Shouldn’t The Queen be referring to herself as We, not I?
July 5th, 2007 at 8:06 am
I was in Germany in the summer of 1990 and knew some Americans who were convinced that the fireworks and partying on July 4 that year were the Germans celebrating our Independence Day. These folks had failed to catch on to the fact that the World Cup was going on (um, duh?!) and on July 4, Germany was playing and beat England (on penalty kicks no less) to move on to the finals.
Please our little pea-pickin’ hearts, we do sometimes have an inflated sense of our own importance—occasionally to the point of ignorance unfortunately.
July 5th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
But Lonestar said it was a world holiday.
July 5th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
David, Your reply made me laugh so hard! I grew up in England, and I have had some very similar reactions from my extended American family! I’m glad I’m not the only one out there who can chuckle at this…