Well Vika, as a Scot, you might appreciate the following. In 1990 I visited England and Scotland. Throughout my travels I was often mistaken for a German, and it came in handy when being confronted by panhandlers, as I would stare blankly at them as if I didn't understand English. But on more than one occasion in Scottish pubs, I was confronted by older men who I supposed were WWII veterans. They would glare at me and demand, "Are ya a German, lad?" One got the distinct impression that Germans weren't entirely welcome. When I replied, "No, sir, I'm an American," I got a smile, a hearty slap on the back and heard the exclamation, "Ah! You're a Yank are ye!"

Now the original etymology of "yank" is probably not only unfavorable but also obscene, but I felt warmly welcomed to hear it in that context. And damn, that beer was good!