Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I am sure that the term Anglo-Saxon is not accurate in an ethnic sense, but for better or worse, it is commonly used in continental Europe (especially in the context of discussing business and economics) to refer to the USA and UK especially, but sometimes also including the other main English-speaking countries, i.e. Australia, NZ and Canada. When people talk about "Anglo-Saxon capitalism", for example, they refer to an economic system with a light regulatory touch, limited role for the state, limited worker protection, a high degree of competition and a higher degree of inequality, just to name a few of its features--not all of which are negative, since it is also acknowledged that those countries are more dynamic and inventive then the Continent. I used the term in that sense. And whether you like it or not, Europeans usually do not make distinctions between the different kind of Americans. You are just Americans and that's that. In a similar vein, most people on the Continent simply call inhabitants of Britain "British" and do not give a hoot whether someone is English, Scottish or Welsh or from Northern Ireland. Cheers, Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.nathanfoto.com Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0 PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog On Sep 17, 2008, at 8:46 PM, PHC wrote: > This isn't meant as a criticism Nathan, but why "Anglo-Saxon"? A > curious term that relates to southern British culture immediately > prior to the Norman invasion almost a thousand years ago. It's used > increasingly by French pundits, I notice, when referring in a > negative manner to British, or more likely American, influence and > culture. And yet American culture has, not to put too fine a point > on it, zip to do with the "Anglo-Saxons". > > Cheers, P. > > ******* > Paul Hardy Carter > +44 (0)20 3239 9573 > www.paulhardycarter.com > www.lightstalkers.org/phc > Skype: paulhardycarter > ******* > > > > On 17 Sep 2008, at 18:54, Nathan Wajsman wrote: > >> Well, yes, by using the term Anglo-Saxon I simply referred to the >> US/UK business culture, of which clearly Mr. Lee was an exponent. >> His ethnic background is completely irrelevant. >> >> Cheers, >> Nathan > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information