Who wrote this story? What’s his job? Where does he work?

Art Buchwald, a journalist who works for the Washington Post.

When did it happen?

The event / anecdote happened / occurred in 1983.

How many characters can you spot in the story Art Buchwald relates?

There are many people mentioned: Art Buchwald, the salesman, the floor manager, (the store detective is mentioned but is not present), the crowd, the president of the store.

4. What is Art Buchwald’s confession about?

He confesses / admits he doesn’t drive, he doesn’t have a driver’s license.

5. What portrait does he make of Americans in general?

He explains how extreme American people can be: they don’t care about alcoholic people, drug addicts, violent people, even journalists (this is humour)

6. The thing he confesses about: how does it influence his relationship to other?

The fact he doesn’t drive is an embarrassment to him, he doesn’t speak about it, even his friends look at him in a strange way, they suspect him of something wrong…

7. Where does the story take place? Where did he go? Why?

The story takes place in a store /a shop / a discount house in a large shopping center in Maryland (East coast) where he went to buy a typewriter.

8. What problem does he come across?

When he wants to pay, the salesman asks him for his identity. The only way to prove your identity in America is with your driver’s license (or your passport) but he doesn’t have a driver’s license.

9. How does he try to solve this problem?

He tries to give the salesman other papers which prove his identity: other credit cards and also his pass to the White House.

10. What does the salesman want from him? Why?

He only wants to see his driver’s license because it’s a common paper you use in America to prove your identity.

11. What is the salesman’s reaction?

The salesman calls for his superior, he becomes impolite and wants to call the security agent.

12. How does the manager react when he meets Art Buchwald?

The manager is ready to talk to him to try to find a solution.

13. What does the manager wonder about?

He wonders why he tries to buy something and he cannot prove his identity when he buys it.

14. What is Art Buchwald’s answer?

For him, not having a driver’s license is not a problem as he has other cards to prove his identity and especially his pass to the White House.

15. How do people around (= the crowd) react?

People around them become verbally violent, they don’t understand. They ask for Art Buchwald to be lynched, tarred and feathered.

16. What is so American about their reactions? Explain.

They react as racist people of the KKK would have. This is the typical reaction of narrow-minded people who don’t accept other people who are different.

17. Why do they call / label Art Buchwald “un-American”?

Because he doesn’t behave as everybody does, he doesn’t drive as everybody in America does.

18. What decision does Art Buchwald take then?

He decides to leave the store without buying the typewriter.

19. Describe the President of the store’s reaction?

The president recognizes Art Buchwald (who was famous), he is embarrassed about the way he was treated and he accepts his check.

20. How does all this story end?

To apologize, the president of the store offers Art Buchwald a drink but he doesn’t drink either so the president gets angry and throws him out.

21. Can you explain the title of Art Buchwald’s paper?

The title means “How absolutely un-American” you can become.

22. Do you spot any humour in this paper? Any sarcastic touch?

 

To be handed back on April 24th 2019:

 

You send your opinion to The Washington Post, expressing a European point of view on the situation Art Buchwald described. Use between 100 and 150 words.