Indeed! This is a piece of sardonic parody meant to underscore the
stupidity of such behavior.
Jim
Nat Hager III wrote:
>
> John,
>
> It *IS* humourous, as everything Click and Clack say on their radio show is
> good-natured tounge-n'-cheek. You'll have to listen sometime (Cartalk)
> since it really misses something without the constant laughter and
> outrageous Haah-vahd accents.
>
> In our area it's on Saturday morning at 10.00.
>
> Nat
>
> > 2000-12-10
> >
> > This article appeared today in the automobile section of the
> > Cleveland Plain
> > Dealer. If you don't think it is humorous as I don't, or shows poor taste
> > and judgement as I do, I suggest you write to the Plain Dealer. They only
> > show a postal address, but if you write to the "letters to the Editor"
> > column ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), you will let your feelings known to
> > the editor.
> > I don't know if this is a syndicated column or not, and if it is, and it
> > appears in your local paper, write them too.
> >
> > This is another example of American Arrogance that I wrote about
> > a few weeks
> > ago. Can you imagine what David must think if he sees that type of
> > response? Could you imagine the response David would get if he asked why
> > Americans don't use SI?
> >
> > CLICK & CLACK
> >
> > European wonders: Why do Americans trash rental cars?
> >
> > By TOM and RAY MAGLIOZZI
> >
> > Dear Tom and Ray: I work for a rental car company in Mons,
> > Belgium, and most
> > of my customers are Americans. Here's my question: Why do so many
> > Americans
> > feel obliged to clear all the garbage out of their homes and dump it into
> > their rental cars before they return them to us? In some cases, we could
> > change the engine in less time than it takes clean the interior
> > of the car.
> > Another thing, the ashtray is always clean, but the carpet is
> > covered in ash
> > and candy wrappers. What do Americans think the ashtray is for?
> > Finally, is
> > it an American custom to hide empty cans and take-away food boxes
> > the under
> > the seats? Maybe if I understood "the American way" it would make it more
> > acceptable for me. Any comment? -- David
> >
> > Tom: Yes, David. I could see how, from a foreign perspective, this looks
> > like sloppy and even inconsiderate behaviour. But it is actually
> > yet another
> > example of good old American ingenuity.
> >
> > Ray: It's part of America's job creation program abroad. You might have
> > noticed that the United States always has among the lowest rates of
> > unemployment in the civilised world. And why, you might ask? Because we
> > Americans know how to make Americans know how to make work.
> >
> > Tom: The Americans who rent your cars are just worried about the poor
> > Belgians who live in your country. What if they have no work to do? How
> > will they feed their families?
> >
> > Ray: So, when driving a rental car, the thoughtful American is likely to
> > take the extra time to place an empty pizza box securely under
> > the passenger
> > seat. He knows that your company will have to assign, and pay,
> > somebody to
> > clean out the car and retrieve the garbage. And if lots of people place
> > pizza boxes under seats, the company will eventually have to hire a person
> > whose sole job it is to fish out empty pizza boxes.
> >
> > Tom: But the American, being even more thoughtful, does not stop
> > there. To
> > ensure work for more of your Belgian countrymen, he has his wife throw a
> > half empty yoghurt container on the floor in the back, providing
> > work for a
> > carpet cleaner. Then he has his kids eat some candy bars and wipe their
> > hands on the seats. Voila! A Belgian upholstery cleaner can also
> > put dinner
> > on the table.
> >
> > Ray: And, of course, you can see how the thoughtful American -
> > looking at it
> > this way - sees the use of the ashtray as taking food out of some poor
> > labourer's mouth. So the thoughtful American intentionally closes the
> > ashtray and takes the time and trouble to scatter his ashes over various
> > parts of the car.
> >
> > Tom: As you say, you can often replace an engine in less time
> > than it takes
> > to clean out car driven by an American. So we have succeeded masterfully!
> >
> > Ray: And now that you understand the true nature of this international
> > humanitarian effort, David, I'm sure you would want me to extend
> > my sincere
> > gratitude to the American people on your behalf. Consider it done, David!
> >
> >
> >
> > Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clack Talk Cars in care of
> > The Plain Dealer, 1801 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio, 44114. We can't
> > answer your letters personally, but we the best in the column.
> >
> >
> >
> > John
> >
> > Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der sich irrt�mlich
> > glaubt frei zu sein.
> >
> > There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely
> > believe they
> > are free!
> >
> > Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
> >
> >
> >
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone/FAX: 843.225.6789
