British manners

[alora <chrisnlorrie@yahoo.com>]

OKay, I don't want to open a can of worms here, far from it.  WHy is 
it that most British children have such good manners?  Is this 
something that they just absorb from their parents, or is it 
culture, or what?  I have four children that have to listen to me 
(at various times)  harp on manners.  I'm American and I have to say 
that I think most of us don't have very good manners - that's just 
my observation.  Three of my children are boys, so I have to 
hear, "Mom, who cares?  None of my friends have manners."  Talk 
about frustrating!!  Whenever I watch an interview with Dan, Emma or 
Rupert, they are so well spoken and say please and thank you.  Is it 
a put on?  I don't think so.  I went to England about 6 yrs ago and 
I saw the same thing there.  I have two friends that are British and 
they have all but said that, Yes, Americans (kids and grown ups) do 
not behave as well as Brits.  

My question is, so what do we do about it?  Do Americans need 
etiquette lessons?  Do the British think we are all arrogant ill 
mannered slobs? ;)

Alora, who can't be objective because she loves ALL things British, 
especially the "biscuits"