I am an American who has lived in Britain for 25 years.  I have been on the receiving end of British injustice and prejudice which has destroyed my reputation and my career, so I know what it is like to be thousands of miles from home surrounded by people who want to tell me how bad I am.  Like Chantal my father committed suicide, and like Chantal I had led my life believing I was right to be a  loyal, trusting and giving person.  I too was married for ten years to a (British) man who betrayed me quite brutally.  I have been trying for years to put the pieces back together and I have not succeeded.

When I saw Chantal's mother on Trisha I thought, 'There's someone in an even bigger mess than I am in.'  I would like to do what I can to help Chantal get out, and I would like to respectfully suggest that I don't think lumping all Americans together in the same boat is a positive way of going forward.  The British are universally famous for thinking they are better than the rest of us (see report, The British Council), and if that is the attitude you project I don't think that will help Chantal's cause.  I am not saying this to be nasty, but people are not going to want to help if you open with insults. Injustice is a worldwide phenomenon.  America is a big place and there are lots of very good people there.

Kate Powell