Status Anxiety

23 August 2008

New York’s Eurotrash exude a preening self- regard that makes me sick to my stomach

In support of their campaign, Linton and Newton have dug up a supercilious New York Times article about the ‘British Quarter’ written in 1902. Referring to exactly the same area in Greenwich Village, the reporter complains about ‘young fellows with bristly brown moustaches and an air of innocent simplicity [who] betray by their broad accent how short a time they have been separated from the mother country’. He goes on to describe them as ‘ruddy, grizzled, thick-necked, opinionated and slangy’ and notes their fondness for gambling. As Newton pointed out when he showed me this article, it could have been written today.

I have some affection for Linton and Newton’s campaign. It was originally conceived of as a way to increase the revenues of Tea and Sympathy, a wonderful British greasy spoon located in the centre of Greenwich Avenue, and anything that helps that place survive gets my vote. Tea and Sympathy accepts pounds, but it most emphatically does not accept euros.

There is also the trash factor. The last thing any of us want — whether in New York or back home — is to be lumped together with a bunch of oily Continentals. When you see the Eurotrash in full cry, exchanging endless kisses in some fancy restaurant on the Upper East Side, you certainly don’t want to be associated with them. They exude an air of preening self-regard that makes any true blue Brit sick to his stomach.

But I am not sure that naming Greenwich Avenue ‘Little Britain’ is the answer. Quite apart from the association with the television show, it would reduce the status of the expat community in New York to just another immigrant group. I can understand why the Pakistanis, say, would want to name a street in the East Village ‘Little Pakistan’, but has the cultural influence of the Brits reached such a low ebb that we need to assert ourselves in this way? Whatever happened to the special relationship? In a sense, isn’t the whole of America ‘Little Britain’?

My fear is that designating Greenwich Avenue as the modern-day equivalent of the ‘British Quarter’ would do little to preserve our unique status in the eyes of New Yorkers and, instead, simply underline the fact that there is nothing very special about us. As things stand, we still have the ability to induce a sense of inferiority in the natives just by opening our mouths. That is not a gift we should give up lightly, even if our accents are sometimes described as ‘European’ rather than ‘British’.

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Walter Ellis

August 21st, 2008 9:24pm Report this comment

What is WRONG with Toby Young? He excoriated Americans when he lived in New York. Now he seems to want them to know that he's sorry and that "Europeans" are the true vulgarians. Why can't he just enjoy the success his modest talents have brought him and stop explaining the failings of those who aren't lucky enough to be him?

Heather Duke

August 22nd, 2008 5:17pm Report this comment

Give it up, Toby. Maybe 20 years ago someone in New York City still thought you people were classy. Times change and we've all learned about chavs over here. Lumped in with the Eurotrash, at least some people may think you know how to accessorize.

David Preiser

August 26th, 2008 1:48am Report this comment

I buy my tea at Tea & Sympathy. I hope it stays in business for a long time. And you forgot to mention the fish & chip shop next door, "A Salt and Battery". But don't worry, Toby, we foolish United Statesians can easily distinguish the Eurotrash from your lot: they're the ones who aren't roaring drunk and fighting in the beer bars downtown.

An Italian American

October 9th, 2008 10:32pm Report this comment

No, the whole of America is not "little Britian." You might be surprised to learn that a large part of America's greatness is due to the contributions of "oily" Eurotrash. Its laughable that you, as an Englishman, wish to hold some special status in America. Such aristocratic and imperialistic ideals are part of the reason that America exists in the first place. The Britains are not "first among equals," but merely equals in our great society. So if you don't like it, shove it up your arse!