That's a valuable perspective. I have more exposure to other cultures than most Americans, but I am also susceptible to getting caught up in American thinking (even as I try to dismantle it). I guess we need a guy on the inside and a guy on the outside who periodically checks in.

I often have people respond to my work with some variation of "Well, the radicals on the extreme right are going to hear that and say..." and I usually reply, "the radical right is going to have some dishonest misinterpretation of anything I say." So, I like to think I don't let them influence me... but the reality is that they do influence me and I don't like that.

I get the impression that folks in the UK don't generally share the disdain for intellect that is a hallmark of the US. How do we raise these children?

Thanks for the thoughtful comments!