If Only They Didn't Speak English: Notes From Trump's America

Product Information

Sopel does have positive comments about US. He doesn't dismiss Trump voters as "learning disabled" but suggests some rationale for their enthusiasm. It is the reporting job of a lifetime. There’s no way I could have imagined this four years ago. On air, I’ve talked about grabbing pussy, shithole countries, and being spanked with a rolled-up magazine. I want to do it a while yet, but it is exhausting as well as exhilarating. It’s both my privilege and my curse.

The book itself? An easy read for non Americans wanting to absorb the BBC 24 news bulletins in a more thematic and considered perspective. To me, as a very infrequent visitor to America, the reality, for example, of the “open carry” gun rules, was a new insight. In nine chapters the reader arguably has a crash course in American current affairs, and how America’s deep-rooted issues and its often-bizarre culture is the product of own its history. To begin with, take Sopel’s run-down in chapter one of American “Anger”. He writes that the popularity of both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in the political mainstream was evidence of years, perhaps even centuries of inequality in the country, as well as the failure of the American Dream. It is all somewhat incomprehensible to Europeans but who are they to cast stones? It is, after all, apparently the way Americans like it. Or do they? Sopel suggests that the deeply entrenched racism is a problem, as is a violent police force in a fairly violent country that has more than one gun per inhabitant. The massive amounts of self-medication also hint at a populace that is less than happy. You said in a recent podcast, that “They detest him, they loathe him. There is no attempt at giving impartial news.” [1]This reminds me on an old Norm Macdonald joke: “Earlier this week, Marlon Brando met with Jewish leaders to apologize for comments he made on Larry King Live, among them that “Hollywood is run by Jews.” The Jewish leaders accepted the actor’s apology and announced that Brando is now free to work again.” This book was educational, I think I understand the TV news networks a bit better. They are obviously pro-Democrat (except Fox), but the corporate donors are running the show. Jon Sopel tries to explain the madness of Trump's America with an elegant sense of stoic bewilderment. Brilliant Emma Kennedy, Actress, Writer and Broadcaster PDF / EPUB File Name: If_Only_They_Didnt_Speak_English__Notes_F_-_Jon_Sopel.pdf, If_Only_They_Didnt_Speak_English__Notes_F_-_Jon_Sopel.epub The death of the US ambassador in Benghazi was awful, but was Hillary Clinton really culpable; had she truly been negligent?" - Chapter 1, Anger

It was obviously incredibly uncomfortable. I’m much happier reporting the news than making it. I found the whole thing ghastly on a personal level. I was quietly minding my own business – I had no idea what other people earned – and then suddenly I was in the spotlight. I hated it. I haven’t said a word about any of this before. So far as Carrie went, I thought: her fight is with the BBC, not me; I’ll leave her to fight it, which she did effectively. The conversation with John Humphrys was nuts. John is a big figure. I’m quite a senior journalist, but [when you’re with him], you are in the court of King John. If you listen, you can hear that I’m trying to shut it down. I’m thinking: stop it, stop it. I was in Washington at 11.30 at night, about to go to bed, and suddenly I was thrown a curve ball.IMO, our mindset as humans is much governed by our early education- Australians in UK will find chasms of unexpected misunderstanding, as Scots in England & vice versa) Of course, as Sopel highlights, the fundamental difference between European and American thinking is this individualistic sense of opportunity in the States, which has caused a stark divide up to this century. The USA as a whole hardly knows UK exists, but Westminster politicians have talked up the "special relationship" for decades. Sopel explains some interesting history about the antisemitic America First Committee (AFC), which I didn't know about. He describes the idea that Jews have a "large influence and ownership and influence in our motion pictures", as a Zionist conspiracy-theory. Anyone who says otherwise is a racist, except for the BBC producers who make shows like The Last Whites of the East End. [9]

Really enjoyed this book, Jon Sopel gives a brilliant and simple look at the differences between ourselves in the UK (or should I say us here in Europe) and the good ol' US of A! Whilst I say simple, I don't mean in a 'Janet and John' way, the book is full of interesting facts (none of which appear to be alternative facts either) and statistics that make it easy to see how really quite different our cultures are. If you've been fortunate enough to have spent anytime in the US, somethings that Jon talks about will be instantly recognisable. There are reflections on guns – the fact that America have lots of them and the U.K. very few – though there's little new insight here. Aside, that is, from some of the statistics used, which are truly scary! Then there’s the so called special relationship between America and the U.K., which he largely dismisses as diplomatic claptrap. But one of the most interesting sections is on religion. The author goes to some lengths to demonstrate how much more religious Americans are than any other Western country. It seems that more than half the population consider themselves ‘seriously religious’ and it’s virtually inconceivable that an atheist candidate could – at this time, at least – find his or her way to the White House.

Sign up to The JC newsletter

Jon Sopel may be the sanest man in America. He is certainly one of the most insightful ... Immensely enjoyable * Bill Bryson * journalist integrity. They are not in the job of opposing Trump, and it should not be necessary for the journalist corps to have police protection. This session was both the busiest, and the most febrile (to use again a Trumpian context). I’ve never attended a literary event where the raising of hands from the audience was so immediate, so sustained. Every single question was about Donald Trump. In the book Trump constitutes maybe 10% of the content- and this was a late add on which tops and tails the main body. Jon's narrative is excellent and it's like listening to a much extended news cast (and I mean that in the best possible way). It's clear, concise with the odd turn of humour that makes it not only very easy to listen to, but also very easy to digest and understand.

Jon Sopel is a respected (and as anyone paying attention to the recent gender pay debates will know, very well paid) journalist who works for the BBC. As North American Editor, he’s lived in Washington DC since 2014. One amusing recollection I have is of Donald Trump’s reaction to Sopel at a heated White House press conference, shortly after taking office. Trump was clearly agitated by the fact that he was about to be asked a question by a reporter from the BBC, stating ‘here’s another beauty’ and then later, after Sopel had asked his question, chillingly ‘I know who you are’. This anecdote is covered in the opening Section of this book which goes on to reflect on Sopel’s time in America and his thoughts on Trump and the country he now leads. They only lean towards the left-wing causes, which don't adversely affect the corporations e.g. LGBT, Racism, Feminism. Forget about left-wing causes which aren't profitable, like workers rights, healthcare for the poor & anti-war movements.Through music, film, literature, TV and even through the food we eat and the clothes that we wear we all have a highly developed sense of what America is and through our shared, tangled history we claim a special relationship. But America today feels about as alien a country as you could imagine. It is fearful, angry and impatient for change. I personally think the US is a fantastic country, and still do, but this book made me realise that we here in the UK have much more in our common with our cousins on the continent, than we do with our cousins on the other side of the pond. A dangerous chapter to comment on, but it amuses me that he doesn't understand the term person of colour. Here's a clue Jon, it includes people from Mexico e.g. the Oscar winner for Best Director, 2015.