I suspect mileage may vary. We have pockets of exceedingly conservative people who haven't bothered to realize that there's a whole world out there and pockets of people completely fascinated by the outside world's culture.
The media doesn't help. It so often presents the very worst of our national character. Our bombastic personalities, our selfishness and our bigotry. It embraces stupidity as a way of life and degrades anyone outside the norm as the designated butt, there only to be laughed at. Even when it attempts to be cool and 'with it' as far as basic human rights are concerned it can't help but be self-concious and lacking in believability. I could go on about that subject for hours, though.
I note too that I would rather not be blamed for the current so-called government. I voted, but not for them. Unfortunately, I also live in a state that was under control of his party and, worse, had its elections rules set up by someone who was also a member of that government.
Yet, I take heart to some extent. In maps of the country that shade each county by its voting record, America is not red and it is not blue. It's purple. In some places a little redder than blue, with pockets of greens and yellows here and there. We have not, entirely, fallen over onto our right sides, lain down and allowed our rights to be walked over. You might remind the questioners that 52% doesn't really represent a majority and that - honestly - we're not all like that.
Aside from that, don't be ashamed of being American either. Be proud of the fact that you were able to - despite the media and the folk who would rather hide their heads in the sand - grow up cosmpolitan and interested in more than what lies beyond our borders.
And no, I don't know why they call it the World cup either.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2006-07-17 12:39 pm (UTC)The media doesn't help. It so often presents the very worst of our national character. Our bombastic personalities, our selfishness and our bigotry. It embraces stupidity as a way of life and degrades anyone outside the norm as the designated butt, there only to be laughed at. Even when it attempts to be cool and 'with it' as far as basic human rights are concerned it can't help but be self-concious and lacking in believability. I could go on about that subject for hours, though.
I note too that I would rather not be blamed for the current so-called government. I voted, but not for them. Unfortunately, I also live in a state that was under control of his party and, worse, had its elections rules set up by someone who was also a member of that government.
Yet, I take heart to some extent. In maps of the country that shade each county by its voting record, America is not red and it is not blue. It's purple. In some places a little redder than blue, with pockets of greens and yellows here and there. We have not, entirely, fallen over onto our right sides, lain down and allowed our rights to be walked over. You might remind the questioners that 52% doesn't really represent a majority and that - honestly - we're not all like that.
Aside from that, don't be ashamed of being American either. Be proud of the fact that you were able to - despite the media and the folk who would rather hide their heads in the sand - grow up cosmpolitan and interested in more than what lies beyond our borders.
And no, I don't know why they call it the World cup either.