tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post444279406629334459..comments2023-11-12T14:12:54.120+00:00Comments on the rain in my purse: The Mob is my ShepherdSarahJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02497062670296130228noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-47662525814590385852010-10-04T23:45:02.840+00:002010-10-04T23:45:02.840+00:00Sarah, you have had a perspective that very few of...Sarah, you have had a perspective that very few of us will ever have. You have lived in places outside the U.S. that have given you a sense of comparison, whether good or bad. So you see the importance of things that we just take for granted. <br />And I don't think you failed the Germans. On the contrary, I think any German would be proud to have you as a citizen.ron hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237321662603263344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-27318596501906656272010-10-04T17:22:03.920+00:002010-10-04T17:22:03.920+00:00Yeah, it's good and natural to love your count...Yeah, it's good and natural to love your country, and no need to pretend that everything about it is THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO PEOPLE ON EARTH.SarahJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497062670296130228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-37208987967748946802010-10-04T13:07:06.374+00:002010-10-04T13:07:06.374+00:00I guess what is exhausting me is the defensiveness...I guess what is exhausting me is the defensiveness itself. I'd like to wake up in the morning and enjoy what I have w/o having to sing the rah rah song! Mine is a quiet patriotism, to be sure.Charmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022195322111249963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-31670171206418700272010-10-04T12:10:13.099+00:002010-10-04T12:10:13.099+00:00I've always felt defensive, too, mostly becaus...I've always felt defensive, too, mostly because the media makes the rest of the world think there's nothing but foaming at the mouth, drive-by shootings, office and school and church shootings, rampant consumerism and ultra-rich sickos, and leaders who somehow left school at 4th grade.<br /><br />oh well!<br /><br />but honestly, i love america. it is to me the most beautiful country in the world and i'm always delighted to be there because people are so much friendlier. I was waiting for the bus one morning, and every person who went by (5-7 people in 20 minutes, say) said "hello" or "good morning" and smiled. Hardly unusual, but it is if you live in Germany or other places in Europe, where "it's just not done."<br /><br /><br />I read such a good aphorism that reminded me of this recently, but I don't have the book at hand. Will look up later...SarahJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497062670296130228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-14001482108514948172010-10-04T11:44:26.483+00:002010-10-04T11:44:26.483+00:00Many Americans are feeling very defensive, I think...Many Americans are feeling very defensive, I think, and react poorly. It's a shame and it wears everyone out. I'm exhausted living in America.Charmihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022195322111249963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-39618257829238936802010-10-04T08:31:54.770+00:002010-10-04T08:31:54.770+00:00Of course I saw many normal, moderate people who u...Of course I saw many normal, moderate people who use big vocabulary words correctly, too! The weird part about the experience was feeling called upon to stand up for the Germans. I failed.SarahJanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02497062670296130228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-15954655121811418552010-10-04T03:07:05.558+00:002010-10-04T03:07:05.558+00:00Sarah,
I have visited your blog over the years an...Sarah,<br /><br />I have visited your blog over the years and love your poetry. I do not know who you chose to hand around with in America, but I can tell you that I can't think of anyone I would chose to be with who would say the things you heard or have found your statements absurd (too much food on the plate!). I am sorry that happened to you. <br /><br />Far too much food on plates here, and the past is the past. I have German, Scottish, Irish, Native American blood in my veins. I am pissed at what my (white) ancestors did to my Native American family, and I am sorry, oh so sorry for what Hitler did to the 60 million and more, but you did not do that. And you did not take the land away from my tribal ancestors. <br /><br />I am just trying to assure you that the people I am with do not share the negative feelings of those you spent time with on your trip. I hope you realize there are many in this country who would not say such things and who do not believe them either. So sorry for your experience!<br /><br />Come to the Bible Belt and hang with those of us who can't take the lies any longer. I love this country, but I will not cover up its lies. I am smack dab in the middle of some of the radicals with guns and lighters ready, but I don't espouse that, and neither do the friends I know. Believe me, we are here. The ones who know all the wrongs and are not afraid to admit them about this country. I am ashamed that these attitudes re: race, culture, sexual preference still exist in this country. But they do. <br /><br />Let the good folks of all countries continue to do the hard work of trying to come together in peace and understanding.Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02820421247467536455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-62041362223942221962010-10-04T00:29:18.516+00:002010-10-04T00:29:18.516+00:00I have made that observation about restaurants on ...I have made that observation about restaurants on several occasions Sarah. Especially the chains. More food, higher prices. Like it or not. Maybe you have heard of this rather obscene tv show called Man vs Food. I say obscene in the face of hunger in the world today.<br /> The thing that scares me today here is what scares Noam Chomsky. He said recently that he remembers the atmosphere in Germany around the time the Nazi Party came to power. And he sees that same atmosphere growing here. A lot of faulty thinking people jockeying for position are being heard and believed. All the ingredients are there. <br />The last kid to defend the bridges on the Rhine is probably in his 80's now. Soon no one will be alive who fought the great wars. Only the sins of our fathers.ron hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237321662603263344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-75898981784784840542010-10-03T15:47:56.161+00:002010-10-03T15:47:56.161+00:00Conversation is abused sometimes, it is ideally an...Conversation is abused sometimes, it is ideally an attempt to communicate, a mutual experience, rather than an opportunity to parade one's (self-assigned) moral superiority.ArtSparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04875996639432864367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19630688.post-34790290008966540542010-10-03T13:06:26.252+00:002010-10-03T13:06:26.252+00:00Sigh.... And how interesting that Germans have &q...Sigh.... And how interesting that Germans have "doch," and Americans now have "d'oh," thanks to Homer Simpson.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06559881249054540947noreply@blogger.com