Ian Smith wrote (in the newsgroup uk.religion.christian):
> In article <  37B9A040>,
Steve Cleary wrote:
> >Charles Levy wrote:
> >> However, while appreciating your (forgive me) somewhat chauvinistic wish
> >> to protect your national identity,
> > It is not chauvinism, but, in my case at least, a desire to make it
> > clear that we are *NOT* the USA.
> ...
> > the two countries are not and never shall be the same.
> 
> I'd say that's chauvinism - you seem fairly enthusiastically devoted to
> your cause, and I'd include that in the definition of chauvinism. It's
> not necesarily an entirely derogatory label, is it?

I think our task here is not to weep or laugh but to understand. We in
Oz share your discomfort at the McDonaldization of our world. When I
lived in Canada, and visited NZ, I heard similar 'plaints ('When
sleeping with an elephant' etc.)

However, I've been to the U.K. a dozen times and tot he U.S. about 15
times and taught at clergy conferences/seminaries in both places. My
(outsider's) view is that we have a legitimate role in preserving our
identity in the context of cultural take-overs, but on the other hand we
should be open to helpful learnings from other cultures. Neither you
Brits, nor the Americans, are good at the latter, in my view.

For example, in my area - Practical Theology - I've been astounded that
clergy on your side of the Atlantic have never (or hardly ever) heard of
the two best preaching writers: who happen to be a couple of American
Episcopalians (Barbara Brown Taylor and John Claypool)... or Walter
Brueggemann, the English-speaking world's most-compelling writing
scholar on the Old Testament, or... or... or...

There are probably some vice versa examples, but they don't come to
mind: the Yanks have a fascination with English scholarship and culture,
by and large...

(Soon-to-be-ex-colonial ducks for cover... :-)