"Only in America!"

If you don't know (which you may not), Stephen Fry went to the US for a road trip that he narrated over video footage of himself doing things that he seemed to think we typical American things and going to typical American places in each of the 50 states. The key phrase is "he seemed to think" because there were a few things that did not well represent the states they were from. He intended to show Great Britain a realistic picture of life in the United States, but he still was somewhat biased and not necessarily well informed. For one thing, the only activity he took part in, in NJ was gambling in Atlantic City. Come on New Jerseyans, you know there is so much more to NJ than Atlantic City. I bet lots of you haven't even bothered to go because you are too busy on the beach, the boardwalk and at diners to bother gambling away your hard earned money!

Well aside from that and some other not-so-realistic representations, Stephen Fry did find a rather amusing difference between the Brits and the Americans that can be discussed with reference to this little phrase, "Only in America!" Now, think, when would you say that? Would you say it to mean that America is crazy and nothing goes right or that America is great and anything can happen? You choose. Quick because I am going to tell you the answer. 1 more second....time's up! Ok, it is usually used to refer to how great things are in America because of a cool thing that happens i.e. (this one's for New Jerseyans) You get to a diner very late at night and you know for sure you can still order your favorite chocolate chip pancakes which will just about hit the spot after a long hard drive through traffic on the parkway, and as you bite into the first mouthful, you thankfully and simultaneously exclaim (with a mouth full of pancake), "Ah, Only in America!" For those of you from different states, insert your own pleasurable American custom followed by the exclamation. You get my meaning right! It's like oh, yeah this is what is great about living in America, no where else can you get this feeling, opportunity etc.

Well, guess what! They have a similar phrase on the other side of the pond that goes like this, "Only in Britain!" Do you know how they use it? Right now you are wracking your brain trying to think of major benefits to living in the UK that compare to chocolate chip pancakes, I know, but here is an example. You are on vacation; you are headed to the beach, it is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and it is August, the weather forecast is good; you get to your spot, lay down your blanket, run into the ocean for a quick icy dip, run back, pop open your picnic basket just as it starts to rain, and you say to yourself as you open your umbrella, determined to enjoy your sandwich, "Ugh Only in Britain!" Yes, you see, it is a much different sentiment for the people of Great Britain. Yes, they like some things about their country, but honestly they do seem to think too much about the US. They watch all our movies and shows for goodness sake. They know the grass is often greener in the US. Ok well maybe not the grass everywhere in the US, but you have to remember it rains pretty much every day in Britain so they are bound to have greener grass!

The moral of the story to all you Americans reading this is, be happy that in your country you can say, "Only in America" with a smile and pride because of your land of opportunity, whilst over in Britain, there are loads of wet Britainians grumbling about the weather over a pint in a dark, smelly pub sighing, "Only in Britain!"

Incidentally the picture of Stephen Fry here is of him in the beautiful desert of Arizona or New Mexico or something but the thing is this is one of those defining images and it happens, "Only in America!"