No. Not With The Guns

Many times each day, I receive inquisitive comments triggered by my American accent.  'Luvin the yank accent,' 'You from the states?', (Increase your voice tone low at beginning to high at end of sentence), 'I hear an accent, which part of the states you from?' And the most interesting interactions follow. 

When I ask if they have been to the states, about half report to me, yes. Usually it's New York, Florida, California and/or Washington D.C. We continue talking about great parts of their visits and they enjoy hearing comments I report about their country.

But yesterday, I was drawing in Canterbury Cathedral with some Brit friends close to my age. We engage in the predictable questions and responses as I mention above. However, more recently, both in Paris and in Canterbury I see people at the same places more than one time. We recognize one another and become a bit more friendly. And so it is now more than predictable, proper responses, a bit more personable. So, I ask, have you been to the states?  "Oh no, not with the guns!" Or, "Oh, no. Not anymore with the guns." I heard this few times in Paris. But I hear these words a lot in UK and Canterbury.

I teach with a Brit professor, in his early 60's, Prof Watts. He has been part of the British Navy for many, many years. Retired, he is a well respected, Ph.D. in history and knows everything on WWII. Dr. Watts and I teach together 'Divided By A Common Language:  A Comparative Study of Contemporary Britian and USA.  We cover government, economy, social class, education and will discuss health care in today's class. In fact, the USA is significantly worse ( - actually THE worst) in comparison to UK, and European nations in meeting equity, access, equality, costs, mortality, infant mortality, life expectancy, healthiest lives and more.  See http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror

Dr. Watts promises to speak more to the class about USA and guns. In fact, when asked if he would ever live in the USA, he sputs and coughs before saying, "USA is a beacon for free speech, capitalism and much more. However, the USA has gone beyond the point of return with its guns." He promises the class to finish the course about guns in USA with a last lecture and why he will never live in USA.

Now, this idea got the 15 Missouri, USA students defensive, who clearly state they hold gun carrying FOID cards. One of the 'merican Missouri students, Sam, asks Prof Watts, "Have you, Prof Watts, ever held a gun?"  Prof Watts sputters and responds, "Of course! Being in the Royal Navy, at sea, I have seen and been in every ocean for thirty years, of course!" 

Sam follows up with, "Then you know how great the feeling is to hold a gun and shoot a gun." 

Prof Watts responds. "Young Man. Apparently, YOU have never had sex!"

Lecture hall responds with a hard, long, hard laugh.