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The Salem Witch

Having moved to the USA several years ago with her husband, a fluent Spanish speaker,  this ‘ex-pat’ has developed some interesting views on things American, British, Hispanic and about the world in general. Sometimes caustic, sometimes funny but always honest. She writes to us here in Spain about the American point of view and how things are perceived across the pond.

From the Rocky Shores of New England, the Salem Witch Reports:

Articles by The Salem Witch

Big Oil, Big Muck-Up

Greetings to all you British expats in lovely Spain! There are many of us over here too, as job exiles, or fame and fortune seekers, but not very many retired people. Well, the arcane and lunatic health system over here would eliminate anyone just seeking a retirement life here. Usually being British opens a lot of doors, Americans mostly fall down in the face of a British voice, and almost doff their baseball caps in deference. But, thanks to our Big Oil, Big Muck-Up, British Petroleum brothers, we are being looked at with a different eye. The unqualified horror and catastrophe of the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which has only become worse and worse over the past many weeks, is very hard to get around and unfortunately everyone knows it is BRITISH Petroleum. It is shameful to confess that the greed of BP, which lead to short cuts and laissez faire in the safety and prevention of accidents department, is very bad image for our country. The American government also is to blame of course, for allowing the safety regulations to wither away in the favour of profit over many years.
Also, the bleating image on the telly of BP's youthful CEO (where did they get HIM from??) does not help the image of Britain over here.

But, there is one slight bonus to this awful affair, and that is the silencing of the Sarah Palin mob with their "Drill, baby, drill" chanting. It is a bit less welcome now as an idea, although the wildlife and lives of humans in the Gulf have paid too high a price for this hope of a rethinking of Big Oil in our lives.

As I take off again on my broomstick to go to the supermarket, I only hope I will not be pelted with mire by the locals. Cheers, one and all, and Saludos!

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