User blog comment:Scrawland Scribblescratch/England vs America/@comment-4656717-20140110013028

I think this is fairly obviously going to divide us between Americans and Commonwealthers.

I mean, I like America, it's fine. But I don't like the increasing Americanisation of the world. And I don't just mean the loss of the "u" in colour. I have friends who are starting to say "sidewalk" instead of "footpath" and "flashlight" instead of "torch". What this Americanisation amounts to is the gradual loss of a distinct Australian culture. A lot of people recognise that, which leads to a teeny-tiny bit of resentment in the back of a lot of people's minds.

As well as that, the Commonwealth has much more shared history and culture with Britain than with the US. Take cricket for example. Americans (and Canadians too, I'll grant you) deride it as a stupid sport, but it's a real cultural thing which strengthens the bonds between cricket-playing Commonwealth nations. I mean look at the Ashes; although we soundly thrashed the English, leaving their once-great cricket team a quivering wreck, it does bring Englishmen and Australians together in a way.

And for God's sake, Australia has the Union Jack in the upper-left canton of the flag.