FOUNDING FATHERS WERE BRITS

TEHUANTEPEC, MEXICO: FEBRUARY 19
This journey has taken me through every Latin American country other than Paraguay and El Salvador. Texas is the next frontier. I am nearing the end. Riding through Mexico, I must write my conclusions. Boris Corredor's criticism of the BBC kept me awake a while last night. I have been visiting Hispanic America fo thirty years. Hispanic Americans were accustomed to visitors from the US. Brits were viewed as different. We were quieter, less arrogant, better informed, more polite. I write in generalizations. An individual North American might be treasured. A Brit could be a real pain in the arse.
A change has taken place. We have become indivisible. Any attempt at stressing the difference is countered by a reminder that the Founding Fathers were Brits and racists.
There is a sameness.
Our cultural view of Latin America draws on the same sources.
We speak the same language, watch the same movies, read the same books, dance to the same Latin American rhythms.
There is more, of course: US support for Britain in the Falklands/Malvinas war. Britain's support of the US in the invasion of Iraq.
Our present alliance in Afghanistan.
President George W Bush is held in contempt through out Latin America. We Brits share in the opprobrium.