Actually paul you are totally right...
I have a funny story to tell you.. while going through this thread
over the last two weeks I have talked with many people I know who are
from England, Germany, and Greece about some of the arguments I was
going to make before I posted them to the list.. One of my questions
was to my friend Hakarl. Hakarl is from Germany and he and I ofter
talk about my obsession with living in Germany.. I am German by
heritage.. and I have always wanted to move back for various reasons
and just a weird hatred for America I have.. While he is from Berlin
and hates Germany and loves America
I asked him.. "Hakarl, you know how Americans sometimes try and
assimulate into another culture.. like anglophiles and such.. Is
there anyone in Europe who is trying to be American."
His answer.. 'We are all trying to be american. But not in the same
way that you try to become English or German. Your culture is
everyones culture but mixed up.. and you will always have these weird
identity problems. Even if we say we aren't. We eat McDonalds, we
wear Baseball caps, we watch your tv, we pay to see your movies, we
always want to visit.. we take part in the American culture everyday,
but we always have our own culture."
Good point.. I thought.. not to start the America vs the world
again.. but I think a little understanding of the American situation
and not assuming things you don't know would justify our odd
actions.. perhaps you would maybe realize its not out of harm.. Its
just out of finding our own identity.. when our country exports its
own to the world.
Thats it
John
>Now look here...
>I can't help feeling a bit - you know - kind of 'annoyed' with these -
>I'll call them 'mod hobbyists'.
>
>People for whom 'mod' is a hobby. Like trainspotting (got yer anorak?)
>
>ONLY because it gets muddled up with us modernists though - maybe moreso
>than the ol scooter beer-belly boys(?)
>
>I mean I don't go on about aggravating ol train spotters of course do
>I?! (cos they're not on this list!!!!!)
>
>THAT (you see) is what has struck me about a lot of the American
>modslisters.
>
>It's not that I dislike Americans at all. Americans can be modernists
>too. I'm not stupid - though I'll admit some of my posts to this list
>have sounded so from time to time - or could be interpreted that way
>I'll allow...
>
>But America DOES have a big 'nerdy - hobbyist' sort of culture don't
>it?! In general I mean....... Are there really people who kind of
>'worship' Britain??! What are they called 'anglophiles'? - call me
>ignorant - but I just would never have thought it!
>
>I mean the Internet and all that cal.
>
>I mean you can't just be a mod cos your like on a mailinglist or like
>use brit-pop chat rooms or whatever..........
>It's not something so much to learn - as to live - to CREATE
>You can't argue it this way and that - don't all these stupid 'threads'
>get started by Americans on the list - though perfectly sensible ones
>are begun by other Americans too of course?
>
>Now I stress again that I think Americans are as human as you or I (that
>is a sarcastic tongue in cheek ol comment dudes) - but I just seem to
>end up conosc-ing these 'belle and sebastion and we don't get around
>much anymore I've got SUCH a huge record collection but I've not been
>out for 2 years' types.......
>
>(and they call ***ME*** a troll..??!?...?!.?.!!! it'll take years to get
>over that comment by the way - oh it's scarred me for life - oh it
>has.....)
>
>Now - I think I'm losing the plot again here - so I'll stop - but Joanna
>(I know your not reading this) - you're truly inspirational!
>
>Paul
>
>---
>PLEASE FORGIVE ME THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE READING THIS (JUST TAKE IT
>POSSIBLY WITHOUT MALICE - AS A KIND OF EXPLANATION AS TO MY
>'PREJUDICES') - I know most of you won't dig all this - just like I'm
>saying I don't dig all yours.
>
>But listen - I'll give all this a miss now - just don't think I - you
>know - hold ill omens against anyone or nothing.
>
>I love you all - we are one after all in a sense.
>
>Yours truly - very truly -
>
>Paolo Secolare
>_________________________________________________________
>Enlighten your in-box. http://www.topica.com/t/15
_________________________________________________________
Enlighten your in-box. http://www.topica.com/t/15
