This one I even passed along to a group of my friends.  Thanks.... er...
I mean, Danke.

Carrol Cox wrote:

>State Department Warns Americans Not To Act Like Americans
>By R.O. Whatley (Washington, D.C.)
>
>In what is believed to be its strongest travel advisory ever, the U.S.
>State Department warned Americans abroad not to act like Americans. The
>advisory was issued simultaneously in Washington by State Department
>spokesman Richard Boucher and in The Hague by a man who, in halting
>Dutch, denied he was U.S. Ambassador Clifford Sobel.  Unlike previous
>alerts, which have warned Americans to keep a low profile or avoid
>certain destinations, the new advisory notes that it is now unwise to
>come across as American at all.  As a result, the State Department
>cautions U.S. citizens to avoid behavior that could cause them to be
>singled out as obviously American.
>
>This includes:
>- the wearing of white socks and tennis shoes.
>- complaining if asked to share a bathroom.
>- threatening to sue over bad service, television reception,
>  or weather
>
>In addition, U.S. citizens attempting to speak a foreign language are
>urged to curb their Americanisms.
>
>For example:
>Correct  : Est-ce que vous l'avez aux autres couleurs?
>Incorrect: Est-ce que vous, like, l'avez aux, like, autres
>           couleurs?
>
>The advisory immediately created turmoil overseas, particularly for U.S.
>military personnel, who pretended to
>be French and were forced to surrender.
>
>In an apparent response to heightened fears of terrorist attacks by
>Islamic militants, the U.S. embassies in
>Islamabad, Jakarta, Manila, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Bangkok, Saana and
>Jordan were all proudly displaying the red, white and blue flag of
>France.
>
>The alert also caused confusion at home, as it seems to contradict the
>U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has warned Americans not to
>act un-American.  In a press briefing this afternoon, White House
>spokesman Ari Fleischer attempted to unravel the paradox.  "What we are
>saying is, when you are in America, you need to behave like an American,
>particularly if you are not American...or are Colin Powell.  But when
>you are outside America, you should not behave like an American, unless
>you are not American, in which case we urge you to act American.  Here I
>refer specifically to the NATO representatives from Germany, France, and
>Belgium."
>
>The advisory," Fleischer added, "applies to all Americans, including
>President Bush.  When the President is traveling abroad, he will only
>act American while aboard Air Force One or in the company of U.S.
>media.  At all other times, he will attempt to come across as Kosovian
>or Grecian."
>
>Reached for comment in Brussels, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns
>said, "Qing wen, ren min gong yuan zai na li?"
>
>
>