Quote by Christopher Hitchens
Americans. They came right out with things. Hitchens family lore related the tale of how once, when I was but a toddler, my parents were passing with me through an airport and ran into some Yanks. 'Real cute kid,' said these big and brash people without troubling to make a formal introduction. They insisted on photographing me and, before breaking off to resume their American lives, pressed into my dimpled fist a signed dollar bill in token of my cuteness. This story was often told (I expect that Yvonne and the Commander had been to an airport together perhaps three times in their lives) and always with a note of condescension. That was Americans for you: wanting to be friendly all right, but so loud, and inclined to flash the cash.
Summary
The quote highlights a personal anecdote involving Americans and their perceived behavior. The speaker's family recalls an encounter at an airport where unknown Americans casually praised a young child's cuteness without any formal introduction. The Americans then proceeded to take a photograph and gave the child a signed dollar bill. The anecdote is often shared with a tone of condescension, portraying Americans as overly friendly but also loud and prone to showing off their wealth. It conveys a stereotypical view of American behavior and mannerisms.
Topics
Americans
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