You know what the difference is between a 'C' grade at a state school and a 'C' at Yale? Answer: At the state school you have to WORK for a 'C'. Yale, Harvard - all bullshit. Sure, they have some excellent professors, but they hardly teach, and regardless, where do they come from? Yale and Harvard give you contacts. That's what it is all about, Tim. Sad. True. They ain't no better than me and you. They are only better connected.
I'm hurting too, so let's quit the bullshit.
I hear you. In our best moments, we Americans are humble. When we lose that humility, we lose everything. There is no greater evil than unbridled, overfinanced, uncritical egoistic warriorism, except maybe at a Packers game. :)
But we are rarely humble. Self included.
Okay, back to the literacy question. At one time in what became the United States, the people were largely literate. One reason was that the only way news traveled with any authority (for better or worse) was through papers
- posters, leaflets, newspapers. The printing press ruled. Americans were hot on politics. Hell, they were citizens of a brand new country! Everything was politics! So the peoples' discourse was hugely literate. Political speeches tended to be very long, very complicated, highly sophisticated (or not if they were pre-Sophist rhetoric which is entertaining). The people hung on _words_, wrote and read those words. Underneath all that, however, was the very fact that so very many early Americans were _required_ by faimily custom to be able to read the Bible. There ya go. The heart of the matter. Literacy! If you ever find the sources (which I will find in the library if you don't find authoritative sources on the 'net) then you might enjoy what people said of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. It was popularly _roasted_ in a manner you would expect of a usenet flame war! (See how Usenet reveals our penchant for discourse?) Why? One of the oft criticisms was, "It was so short! What's that all about? An insult to shortchange us with ...." (With beautiful, concise thought, damned near poetry, IMHO.)
Off the soapbox. Now somebody tell me something I need to learn: anything about ACVWS!
-- jjs the ACVW idiot
.............agreed.
On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 18:50:17 -0600, snipped-for-privacy@xyzzy.stafford.net (jjs) scribbled this interesting note:
I admire the fact that you have lived in diverse places, both in the U.S. and abroad. All I know is that the differences between various places I've been to and seen and spent time at here in the U.S. is also profound. That is all. Europe does not have a strangle hold on difficult wars that have left their mark on the societies. Europe does not have a strangle hold on bickering principalities and squabbling merchants that have caused problems throughout history. BTW, the closest I've come to Europe is London, with a side trip to visit other friends in Northern Ireland.
When did you get more cynical than me John? Yes you are right about the attitudes of many citizens of the U.S. But I also know that I'm only (on one side of the family) three generations removed from a region of Europe that has swapped hands so many times it is absurd (currently French, formerly German.) My understanding of cultural and historical time lines is far longer than what I had for lunch a week ago tomorrow!:~)
-- John Willis (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)
I'm merely older than you, JW.
So you understand how living in a country that has new fronteers of hope and opportunity can encourage new generations to forget. We have forgotten how to remember.
Now, about that Yosemitie caldera.... how 'bout them global-effective explosions, eh?
Tired. Going to bed.
Peace jjs
Point taken....
Jan
LOL... does your head hurt? ;)
Jan
Ask just about any american, what place on earth he or she thinks is the best place to live, the one they love most, the one they are loyal to. I bet they would say "USA". I thinks I've seen indications toward that in this discussion alone. Very patriotic. Nothing wrong with that.
Now, ask the same question from "the europeans". You won't hear them say "Europe". You'll hear each (most, anyway) of them name their own country. (Or Finland ;)
Jan
You live in Germany?
:)
Jan
Sounds like this subject has flopped from one tired, old, non-productive boob to another several times. I feel right at home in this group. Dennis
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I should aplogize, but there is a of pain here and I launched and said what I thought, what I believe. I should just stuff it and go away.
Well ... don't go away... ;-)
Max
Always say what you think. Period.
Randy
John, I posted the "boob" observation in jest and fun and maybe a little sarcasm from my type of humor. I did not aim it at anyone and if I would have, I never would have meant any disrespect to you cause I enjoy your attitude and sharp wit.. Dennis
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I'm Proud to be A TEXAN.....................that is first, then we'll talk about that American thang.................LOL
We should all remain light hearted and enjoy one another even though we disagree,.......................I don't care if we're from different countries or planets, as long as we're civil.
Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply MUADIB®
I'm glad you are a Texan, too, Scott. :)
What has this popular bull got to do with anything?
David V.N snipped-for-privacy@NOSPAMtwcny.rr.com Remove NOSPAM to reply
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