Dr Peter Moore: It's not only the Atlantic that separates us

When I booked a river cruise in Portugal I expected to see the beautiful countryside and even try a little wine and port. I was not disappointed. What I had not expected was to gain some insight into modern America.
The river cruise was not originally booked for Portugal. We had booked for the Yangtze travelling to Wuhan in the autumn of 2020. For some reason that was cancelled.
The boat had 100 passengers with only about eight Brits. Nearly all the others were American. They were delightful and we made friends but I soon discovered some cultural differences.
When asked about my career I realised that doctors must have a much higher status in the US. “Hey, you’re a doctor” was often the amazed response. They must have wondered why we were in one of the cheaper cabins on the waterline, although cruise companies like euphemisms. It was not a cabin but a state room.
Evenings with live music and dancing were great and I was determined to show that not all us Brits are staid with a stiff upper lip. Not wishing to cause any jealousy I decided not to point out that most of the music was British, the Rolling Stones, Beatles and Elton John. Even Abba’s first hit is about a London railway station.
I am always cautious not to discuss religion or politics but inevitably the subjects came up. As an amateur journalist I was happy to listen and not comment.
When John Lennon’s Imagine was played one man said to me that it was a great song but terrible words. When I asked why he said, “‘imagine there’s no heaven’ is ridiculous. It’s in the Bible”. I tried to point out that, whatever his faith John Lennon was an atheist entitled to his views but I’m not sure I was very convincing.
Guns are another huge dividing line between America and Britain. “We all have guns and the US has never been invaded. That’s no coincidence,” I was told. I happily nodded and did not mention that England has not been successfully invaded since 1066 unless you include 1688 which is still a century before the USA was founded. I wondered whether Putin has decided not to send a nuclear missile to New York because the men in Texas carry guns.
I was cautious not to discuss Donald Trump but one woman did mention him. She would not like him in her house and thought he was probably not a pleasant person but was a great leader. The election was stolen and she knew that many votes were deliberately “lost”. All the legal cases he was facing were lies.
She was also interested in my career, especially the police work. When I mentioned the problems we faced with illegal drugs she asked me “Do you know how many drug addicts there are in China?” It was not a question I had been asked before and clearly had no idea. “None at all”. Here’s a woman who believed the mainstream media and courts were all lying about Donald Trump but the Chinese newspapers were completely accurate.
“Any drug addicts there are executed” she told me. “That will stop anyone taking drugs”. I thought it would stop anyone coming forward for treatment but I am not convinced it would stop illegal drugs, but then if the Communist Chinese Government say there are no drug addicts they must be right.
An American dentist and Trump supporter then asked me what I thought of the Covid vaccine.
I could tell from the way he asked the question that he probably was a vaccine sceptic, but I tried to be tactful. “I’ve had all the vaccines I’m entitled to and there is good evidence that it has saved lives”. There comes a time when I can no longer just smile and agree. He pulled a face and, luckily, changed the subject.
I had a great time and became very fond of many of the Americans but I came away thinking that it is not only the Atlantic Ocean that separates us.