That's "unamerican"

[Fatalis67]

I was listening to radio in the car today, and I heard on the political news segment (I dread politics, but I was too busy driving to turn it off) play a speech from some senator that was calling taxes, opponents, laws, etc. "Un-American". It made me wonder, does something similar happen in other countries? I find it hard to imagine a member of the British parliament calling a law "un-British". So for those of you in other countries or who follow foreign politics, is there a similar accusation to being "Un-American" in other countries? Or is this a uniquely American phenomenon?

 

[manythings]

They might call it "Un-English". I don't know if anyone uses they're nationality as a term but for Americans the term American doesn't just mean living there, it means... you have super powers or something, I've never been too clear on that.

Un-democratic, Un-christian, but I haven't heard or said Un-Irish.

 

[Hungry Donner]

I follow more foreign politics than domestic politics (and I'm American) and I've heard phrases that have similar meanings: "that is an affront to XYZ," "you are insulting hard-working XYZs," and things like that. Off hand I suspect "un-XYZ" is less common but this could also be the product of translations.

 

[silversnake4133]

It's probably better if you don't listen to what politicians say. A good percentage of them only talk out of their asses anyway. Nevertheless, history will repeat itself, and we're going straight back to how it was during the Middle Ages where the rich kept getting richer and the poor kept getting poorer. But who's not to say we haven't been doing that ever since the United States was established? *shrugs*

 

[Littlee300]

It is probably phrased like
"This is a disgrace to the British people blah blah"

 

[Tiger Sora]

In Canada we just call it politics. Which we than mock on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. And our other Political satire shows

 

[fenderstrat]

yeah, i've been hearing "un-australian" around here too. i just hope that we dont end like the US. but then again, our politicians have been flinging s#it to each other since the begging of tume, so...

 

[Joccaren]

Never heard anything serious called UnAustralian here, except lamb. Not eating lamb is definately UnAustralian

 

[Ashcrexl]

one guy i knew once said he hated the beatles because they were "unAmerican." that's about the time i realized the term can be used for anything the speaker doesnt like. it's a synonym for "disagreeable."

 

[ScoopMeister]

It's probably better if you don't listen to what politicians say. A good percentage of them only talk out of their asses anyway. Nevertheless, history will repeat itself, and we're going straight back to how it was during the Middle Ages where the rich kept getting richer and the poor kept getting poorer.

This. Viva la revolution!

one guy i knew once said he hated the beatles because they were "unAmerican." that's about the time i realized the term can be used for anything the speaker doesnt like. it's a synonym for "disagreeable."

I'm confused by this. So this person dislikes an English band because they're not American? That's stupid. Besides, being English, I often consider 'um-American' to be a positive thing, so the term is not universal and does not necessarily mean 'disagreeable'.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I've only ever heard of Americans speaking about un-"my nationality".

 

[ShogunBarbarian]

ANYthing could be unamerican to someone

 

[captaincabbage]

Seriously, If I hear one more poli' talk about something being "Un-Australian" I'm going to slit my throat.

 

[Fatalis67]

I often consider 'um-American' to be a positive thing

You're not alone

 

[BabyRaptor]

Saying something is "unAmerican" appeals to the rightwingers who feel that only people/ideas who meet their standards are truly American.

 

[crimsonshrouds]

politicians say you must agree with them or you're against them

 

[Riddle78]

Politics. Let us break the word down into it's two base parts; "Polly",meaning "Many",and "Ticks",meaning "Tiny,bloodsucking insects".

That's my view on politics these days...(Is Canadian)

 

[FalloutJack]

I think there's an equivalent in Japan, but I'm not sure.

 

[ZeroMachine]

The term itself makes no sense.

America is supposed to (doesn't, but it's supposed to) represent ultimate freedom for everyone. In that regard, saying anything is unamerican makes NO sense.

Or, at least, that's what I'd say to anyone using that term left and right in order to get them to shut up. In all honesty, I don't give a damn. I hate politics.

EDIT:

Politics. Let us break the word down into it's two base parts; "Polly",meaning "Many",and "Ticks",meaning "Tiny,bloodsucking insects".

That's my view on politics these days...(Is Canadian)

 

[Kimarous]

Maybe this is just me, but as a Canadian, I don't call things "unCanadian" or "non-Canadian"; I just call them "American." =P