Working in downtown Detroit I see demonstrations on a regular basis, for myriad causes by diverse groups. This summer I saw a birka or two in the group and wondered about that! Because the central park in Detroit is on the river with Canada across and just beyond is the tunnel under the river that provides the road to Canada, occasional groups even demonstrate about what is happening in Canada (baby seals, politics etc,.) Walking into the heart of these demonstrations is courageous, Chris, and I look forward to seeing the results. I would say that democracy allows them, but have seen video from all over the world lately about thousands of people coming together in countries that don't allow it. It seems bigger to me, but I won't presume to know any reason to it.
We do drive alot in the US, especially in the Motor City where most folks have a Detroit muscle car that they have been working on for many years (men and women) and they bring them out and cruise the streets in the summer, waving at our friends. Now, that's American! I contract with many local and industry free lancers for creative input at the convention center. They are essential to my job. They are also a big driving force in the city, not only of creativity but optimism and enthusiasm (that can run short in a worn down city.) I admire what you do. On Oct 4, 4:39 pm, Chris Jenkins <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't think further bleakness is really what I need. > > We've lost much of our hubris here, and perhaps for the better. Now that I'm > out in the freelance world, I find clients paying later and later, new > opportunities hotly contested, and many falling off the edge every day. I'm > reminded of Floyd's video for ABITW Pt II, where the children simply topple > off the edge of the walkway into the meat grinder. It's difficult to > maintain minimal optimism under these circumstances, moreso arrogance. > > > > > > > > On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 4:30 PM, archytas <[email protected]> wrote: > > On the bleak side Chris there's William Blum's 'Killing Hope' - > >http://sandiego.indymedia.org/media/2007/02/125025.pdf- one can find > > similar on the British Empire too. Blum wrote of a Holocaust denier > > asking if she also denied the US one, and we are all hiding such > > skeletons. I suppose another method might be how many hectares of > > planet space needed to support an individual in the US lifestyle. > > Apart from the hair-shirt stuff I always think of generosity and a lot > > of diversity. Your academics are less smug and more Bolshie than ours > > and I once thought you thumbed noses at authority better than most. > > > On Oct 4, 4:59 pm, Allan H <[email protected]> wrote: > > > LOL I may not be able to drive for medical reasons,, ( I still am > > > perfectly able to drive, the law asks me not to and the reasons are > > valid.. > > > and actually after over 3,000,000+ miles of driving.. and far to many > > > driving courses I just prefer not to drive .. and this is actually a > > great > > > excuse.. > > > > Truth is growing up I actually admired the USA for good reason,, but > > since > > > the beginning of the Reagan era onward the nation as a whole has > > > degenerated,, becoming uncaring that is not saying the people but it > > lies > > > in the leadership.. Just where their values are I do not know. Many or > > most > > > claim to be christian, but I think we read same but a different book one > > > with changing words depending on who is reading it.. > > > > My grandchildren and children still live there,, I would rather bring > > them > > > here as it would be a memory for a life time as they would have the > > chance > > > to see a different way of life. besides I already know what is there, but > > > they do not know what is here. > > > > The economic and political leadership on all levels is sorely lacking.. > > not > > > only there but here also. > > > Allan > > > > On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 5:01 PM, Chris Jenkins < > > [email protected]>wrote: > > > > > When I hear that phrase, I'm reminded of McCarthy, determining from > > > > congressional committee whether or not someone was properly American. > > > > Apparently, being an artist, musician, philosopher, or wanting to > > implement > > > > social platforms to help the less fortunate were all considered such. > > > > > Allan said that he had become un-American due to losing his ability to > > > > drive. I'd like to hear you flesh that out some more, Allan, and then > > I'd > > > > like to get some feedback from everyone what they think it means to be > > > > American, or UN as the case may be. > > > > -- > > > ( > > > ) > > > |_D Allan > > > > If your life is not going right, try making a left turn > > > > life is for moral, ethical and truthful living.
