Arizona Memorial service, Obama...

[trt]

I know its sad of the shooting of innocent people but, why does the president and the audience be so dramatic.

Every sentence he said they applauded and as for the music they played before he spoke was so OTT, like something out of star wars.

[Buenchico]

I've answered over 20,000 questions in the 'serious' sections of AB (i.e. outside of Chatterbank) but I reckon that this one must be impossible to answer!

That's because it calls for us Brits to understand American culture. We might admire Americans or despise them. We might love them or loathe them. But, I suspect, it's totally impossible for us 'reserved' Brits to actually understand them!

American culture has many influences, with many of the contributing cultures being far more 'demonstrative' than we're used to. For example, if you attend a funeral in the UK it's probably quite unusual to see anyone actually weeping. If anyone does sheds some tears they'll probably try to hide their emotions from others but, if you go to some Mediterranean or Middle Eastern countries you'll encounter people at funerals openly screaming, wailing and throwing themselves onto the coffin. America, through immigration from those countries, has a more demonstrative way of grieving.

Similarly Brits salute a sporting victory (e.g in county cricket) with polite applause, whereas people in other countries (e.g.Italy or Brazil) party on the streets all night long. Again, America seems to have absorbed such influences, with (from a British perspective) an 'OTT' way of celebrating victories, or even of simply greeting a musician coming on stage.

Like you, I see the American way of doing things as 'OTT' but perhaps that's because WE'RE out of step with most of the world in expressing our emotions.

Chris

[cc1]

Whilst not disagreeing with the cultural differences regarding grieving etc, I think that Obama's growing unpopularity in the US may have a bearing on his public behaviour on this occasion.

[Buenchico]

A valid point Cc1.

Any politician who wishes to survive has to spend a great deal of time 'playing to the crowds'. Hitler was brilliant at it. Churchill knew that carefully rehearsed speeches (even if delivered by an actor imitating his voice!) were the way that he could 'keep people onside'. In more recent times it's become known as 'spin' (but it's certainly not new; some Roman orators were masters at it). The 'trick' as any stage performer knows, is to 'play to your audience'.

That's not cynicism; it's simply political reality.

Chris

[tamborine]

The shot woman Gabrielle Giffords is a member of Congress. Similar respect would be afforded to a member of our Gov political party, they are work 'colleagues'.

[ludwig]

My answer was going to be 'That's just how americans do stuff'. But I see Chris has already provided the expanded version of that.

[ummmm]

Americans, in my opinion, seem to have learnt how to behave by watching adverts.

[youngmafbog]

Its simply because the septics always go over the top on everything. Just the way they are.

[VHG]

They are much more openly "family" orientated than we are in the UK, they wear their heart on their sleeve.

I have been over to the USA quite a few times on business and when I go to people's work place their desks are COVERED with pictures of their family.

Wedding pictures, husband/wife pictures, children pictures, family pictures etc

This is very uncommon in the UK (some people may have one or two pictures on their desk but thats it, many in the UK have NO family pictures on their desk).

I think they also like the chance to gather together for an "event" (any type of event).

Attending a sporting activity like an NFL match is much more of an "event" than a normal football match over here. They have cheerleaders, fireworks, marching bands and so on.

Also think about the razamataz when they elect a president. It takes them 2 years and they have huge rallies with flag waving and balloons.

I guess they are just more demonstrative than us, though at times it can seem very false to those of us who dont live there.

[ummmm]

Very false...like an advert..!

[jake-the-peg]

You do get that sort of behaviour in the UK but it's a lot rarer.

Princess Di's death springs to mind.

You had people thousands of people who only knew her through media reports wailing and getting quite hysterical

[R1Geezer]

Churchill's speeches delivered by an actor Chris? Links please!

[jake-the-peg]

Winston Churchill/Norman Shelley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_decoy

[R1Geezer]

well according to that jake, it's "best classified as urban legend". So BS then, Chris any more substantial evidence for this claim of yours?

[jake-the-peg]

A bit like your claim about Pattern's quote about the French eh Geezer?

[R1Geezer]

No, I know that's bollux but it always has an effect!

[jake-the-peg]

I'm sure Chis feels likewise :c)

[R1Geezer]

well normmly I'd agree but I never had Chris down as a lefty particularly.

[modeller]

trt // why does the president and the audience be so dramatic. //
It's politics . Every event can be used to show how caring , how strong on crime and especially in America how religious you are. Whatever the subject they sprinkle it with the words like prayers and God. The A

[LoftyLottie]

It's one reason why I could never live in the States. Personally, I don't think they are any more emotional than we Brits. They just like to make a lot of show about everything. I don't think they care any more about their families than we do. We are not as shallow and don't need to advertise our 'caring'.