It was just after the end of the second world war and a US Marine was traveling across France by train to board his ship for home.

The train was quite crowded and the Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well-dressed, middle-aged, French woman's poodle.

The war-weary Marine asked "Ma'am, may I have that seat?"

The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular. "Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat".

The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog.

"Please Ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired". She snorted "Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!"

This time the Marine didn't say a word. He just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down.

The woman shrieked "Someone must defend my honour! This American should be put in his place!"

An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up "Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road. And now, Sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bit#h out of the window".