Author Topic: And this is who runs our country...  (Read 17103 times)

Offline David In Indy

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #30 on: July 22, 2006, 01:33:41 pm »
Hiya Aussie,

You know, I say that to foreign tourists when I meet them here in the U.S.

I guess I ask because aside from a few touristy things and a whole lot of gorgeous open country and parks, there isn't a whole lot to see here in the U.S.  We'd wonder why anyone from Europe/Asia etc., places with thousands of years of history, places to go, things to see would want to come to the U.S. where aside from a few ancient native sites almost everything human-made is less than 300 years old.  A friend of mine is Zimbabwean (sp?), who moved to and studied law in South Africa and now lives in London longs to come to the U.S. and the southwest.  I also questioned him on why and he replied to see the 'great openness of the country'.  And this guy was born and raised in Africa.  [shrugs]  Grass is always greener I suppose.

Delalluvia -

Your post made me think of the time a few close friends of mine from Great Britain came to the U.S. to visit me.

While they were here, another friend of mine proudly told my British friends that his house here in Indianapolis was over 150 years old. My English friend turned and gave him a confused look and then said "Your house is 150 years old? In England, even our new houses are older than that".    :)

And you're right Delalluvia. Other than some man made junk, there is very little to see or do in this country of ours. My British friends are coming back to the U.S. again next year. But they are not coming to see the U.S., they are coming to see me and my boyfriend. They were NOT impressed with this country.

They really did screw up though. Nobody should come to Indiana when they visit the U.S. The U.S. may offer little to see or do, but Indiana is the place where fun goes to die.  :(
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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #31 on: July 22, 2006, 01:39:59 pm »
I disagree David. I had a great time at a Cal-Purdue game once. Ate some great sausage and cheese. And isn't that where Bucky Fuller used to hang out?? He was a lot of fun, especially with Tinkertoys.
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Offline David In Indy

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #32 on: July 22, 2006, 03:06:30 pm »
And isn't that where Bucky Fuller used to hang out?? He was a lot of fun, especially with Tinkertoys.

Buckminster Fuller? Wasn't he the one who talked about "Spaceship Earth", geodesic domes, ephemeralization, synergetics and tetrahedra arrays?

I think he was from Massachusetts and spent much of his later life teaching in Carbondale, Illinois. I doubt he spent any time in Indiana.   ;)

I disagree David. I had a great time at a Cal-Purdue game once. Ate some great sausage and cheese.

You spent your time in Indiana eating sausage and cheese?

My point exactly!  :(
« Last Edit: July 22, 2006, 03:08:51 pm by David925 »
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Offline Front-Ranger

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #33 on: July 22, 2006, 04:01:01 pm »
Indiana, Illinois...one of those I states!! As for the sausage and cheese, the sight of all those hogs and cows made me hungry!! I had to go grab some fish tacos soon as I got home tho.
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Offline delalluvia

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #34 on: July 22, 2006, 06:58:37 pm »
Your post made me think of the time a few close friends of mine from Great Britain came to the U.S. to visit me.

They really did screw up though. Nobody should come to Indiana when they visit the U.S. The U.S. may offer little to see or do, but Indiana is the place where fun goes to die.  :(

Ah, Indiana, that tourist capital of the world.  ;)

Yeah, I guess if I had to recommend to outsiders where to go in the U.S. it would be Washington DC and Boston/New York for all the historical buildings/museums/artsy things and California for some great country, the seaside and all the cheesy 'touristy' things anyone might want to do.

Offline David In Indy

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #35 on: July 22, 2006, 10:38:40 pm »
Indiana, Illinois...one of those I states!! As for the sausage and cheese, the sight of all those hogs and cows made me hungry!! I had to go grab some fish tacos soon as I got home tho.

Fish tacos!   :D

You probably had a difficult time finding fish tacos here in Indiana.

While you were in Indiana, did you try a brain sandwich? I know it sounds disgusting, but they are quite good. Normally they are pig brains (I have had cow brains too). They are deep fried and served on a bun with lettuce and tomato. Most people will also add either mustard or mayonaisse. They look and taste like a tenderloin. You haven't been to Indiana unless you tried a brain sandwich!

Up in Northern Indiana, around Lake Wawasee, they serve deep fried frog's legs. Kosciuscko County is famous for them. You can also find them in Lagrange and Napanee Indiana.

Of course roasted corn on the cob (in the husk) is also popular throughout the state. Slabs of butter are added to the corn, the husks are pulled back up over the corn and it is roasted on a grill. When eaten, the husks are pulled back and the corn is piping hot and dripping with melted butter.

We have our oddities here in Indiana, but no fish tacos, I'm afraid.  ;)
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Giancarlo

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #36 on: July 22, 2006, 11:20:48 pm »
Hey there Giancarlo.  Can you help me out with this libertarian biz?  Actually when I started reading your post I misread it as librarian and I thought, hey, so librarians are political over there.  But why not, librarians are well read after all!  Anyway, I understand what you've said here but I don't understand the practical application.  Is it a form of idealism where it is assumed that everyone is nice to each other, and no one takes advantage of anyone else?

I'm not trying to be a smart-arse here, I'm actually very interested.  Growing up as a child I was enamoured by American culture and Americans in general.  I may be an insufferable romantic, but I like being romantic.  One of the greatest shocks of my life was when I travelled to the U.S. in 1993 and did the whole west cost thing, and while standing in a line at Disneyland a young man overhearing my accent asked me why I would want to come "here", and in his tone it was clear he meant "loser country".

I mean no offense or anything, but what are you talking about? I'm a bit lost. I haven't provided a reply because I don't know what you're asking me. I pretty much explained what libertarians are (and what they believe in, though there are different kinds of libertarians).

Offline stevenedel

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #37 on: July 23, 2006, 07:11:47 am »
Delalluvia -

Your post made me think of the time a few close friends of mine from Great Britain came to the U.S. to visit me.

While they were here, another friend of mine proudly told my British friends that his house here in Indianapolis was over 150 years old. My English friend turned and gave him a confused look and then said "Your house is 150 years old? In England, even our new houses are older than that".    :)

 ;D I remember staying in Pasadena some years ago, with a family with whom my travel companion had lived as an au pair many years earlier. As a present we gave them a photobook about the Netherlands that they didn't even care to open; but we were given an extensive tour of Pasadena by the lady of the house, who was a member of the Pasadena Historical Society (that sounded slightly oxymoronic right away). The tour climaxed in a visit to a grubby back alley, where we were kindly invited to admire a brick wall that dated back all the way to... 1867. My! Half the houses in my street are older.

I was struck both by the lack of any wider historical consciousness as well as the complete disinterest in anything non-American. Which, to get back on topic, appears to be the main handicap of the present US president. But given the freak show that passes for a government over here, I will wisely refrain from any further comments...

(And, to move OT again, for somebody like me, who is from a busy, crowded little country, traveling through the States does make for a terrific holiday. The sense of space and freedom, the combination of great facilities and endless unspoilt natural beauty, are rare even in Europe as a whole. I'm looking forward to my next visit, though that will be limited to Chicago, and mostly work-filled - if they'll let me in, that is... I have an Iranian visa in my passport  :-\)
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Offline Aussie Chris

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #38 on: July 23, 2006, 08:03:08 am »
I mean no offense or anything, but what are you talking about? I'm a bit lost. I haven't provided a reply because I don't know what you're asking me. I pretty much explained what libertarians are (and what they believe in, though there are different kinds of libertarians).

Fair enough, no offence taken, but if you'll forgive me I don't think what you've described as libertarian is either self-explanatory or self-evident, and to say that you are at odds with the traditional political parties is like saying that you're against bigotry.  In short, and to be blunt, so what and who isn't?  So maybe I wasn't clear in my question.  I apologise.  I'll have another go at it.

You have said that libertarians are for open markets and minimal government policies.  Well what is that exactly?  If there was a new political party that came into existence that called itself libertarian, how would these policies be different than the others?  Would it somehow fall between the two extremes of socialism and capitalism?  If so, isn't this naive since all politicians would describe themselves in this way?  The disgust that have in both the republicans and democrats, is that because they are republicans and democrats or because the current batch of politicians are corrupt and it has nothing to do with the policies they are supposed to promote?  I welcome your challenge to me, as I hope you do too, and I hope that I have successfully worded this without offence.  I also often find myself at odds with friends, family, and colleagues with regard to politics.  My question to them is always rather simple: are you just complaining or do you have a practical alternative in mind?  Unfortunately that tends to end the debate rather quickly.  For university students, being an activist too easily becomes the point of activism.  I've often wondered why all those university students from the 70's and 80's who are now the world's leaders now seem (presumably) so in favour of conservatism (read: anti-progressiveness).  So my question to you is what makes you and your ideas so different?
Nothing is as common as the wish to be remarkable - William Shakespeare

Offline Aussie Chris

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Re: And this is who runs our country...
« Reply #39 on: July 23, 2006, 08:46:49 am »
I guess I ask because aside from a few touristy things and a whole lot of gorgeous open country and parks, there isn't a whole lot to see here in the U.S.  We'd wonder why anyone from Europe/Asia etc., places with thousands of years of history, places to go, things to see would want to come to the U.S. where aside from a few ancient native sites almost everything human-made is less than 300 years old.  A friend of mine is Zimbabwean (sp?), who moved to and studied law in South Africa and now lives in London longs to come to the U.S. and the southwest.  I also questioned him on why and he replied to see the 'great openness of the country'.  And this guy was born and raised in Africa.  [shrugs]  Grass is always greener I suppose.

Goodness gracious delalluvia & David.  What do I say to this?  Yes of course your country is spectacular, so is mine, so is every country I've ever been to.  That's the coolest thing I learnt whilst travelling, everywhere in the world is interesting and worthwhile if you just take the time to learn a bit about it first, and the most interesting thing about a country is its people.

IMHO, one of the most interesting things that is happening in your country is that you are starting to question the bullshit that you are being fed by your leaders.  More and more people are realising that it is entirely possible to live a life with honesty and integrity, and you're demanding it from your leaders and even your celebrities.  This is not supposed to be patronising or some kind of pep-talk, I hope it doesn't come across that way.

One thing I'm not so keen on though: your diets leave a lot to be desired.  Give me fresh, raw, and slow-food any day.  And Front-ranger: brain sandwiches???  You can keep those to yourself.
Nothing is as common as the wish to be remarkable - William Shakespeare