Aye, I know. Some of us Europeans tend to think of America as one big whole. When of course America is huge and diverse. We also forget that 51% of the Americans voted for the other guy, the first time round.
I know what you mean. I got another anti-American comment at dinner tonight. I pulled my usual, stone-faced "I'm half-American". It's kind of funny to watch people backtrack - but it's also kind of sad. Like I sort of said to Frankie, so many people don't realise that America is full of brilliant, passionate men and women who fight for the America that they believe in and should be rightly proud of.
In recent years America has infuriated and frustrated me within its borders, too. (And no, Republicans, that does NOT mean I'm not "a real American.") I'll be doing everything I can on this end...
What I find interesting about that article is that it sounds a note of caution. Not meaning to be a downer, because I thoroughly appreciate all that Obama's election would symbolise and the resurgence of optimism about America that he's inspiring is a wonderful thing - it's hard not to root for him just for that. But - if he is elected, there will be an awful lot riding on him as a result and with this level of expectation, it seems to me as if a certain amount of disappointment will be inevitable. At the end of the day, as President he will have to juggle the same old competing interests and make the same extremely difficult decisions - decisions where it really is a case of choosing between the lesser of two evils - and even with the best will in the world, with all the "proper thought" you could wish for, you really can't please everybody all of the time
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Notes of caution are important. But I'm one of those people who gets excited about the small changes, the little hopes. You're right that "proper thought" doesn't please everybody. Normally it doesn't even please the majority. But everyone does change the world, everyone can make a difference - even American Presidents.
I certainly understand that, and I don't deny that he could make a difference. I just don't know how much of one and think that when it comes to politics optimism is best kept on a leash. It is so easy to talk in abstractions (like "proper thought", "excels at diplomacy") and one hears so much of it from both politicians and commentators, but formulating realistic policy and implementing it effectively is another matter. (And I do realise I'm talking in abstractions myself here)
You're right that "proper thought" doesn't please everybody.You probably meant the same, but just to be clear, I meant the decisions arrived at after "proper thought". I'm sure everyone would hope for things to be properly thought through! It's just that this *can* happen and still not produce a decision you agree with, is what I wanted to say
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I'm keeping my fingers crossed as well. . . it's so close I can taste it, but I felt the same in 2004. Eeesh.
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I'll be working getting people to the polls on Election Day. It would be nice to be proud of being an American.
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I know what you mean. I got another anti-American comment at dinner tonight. I pulled my usual, stone-faced "I'm half-American". It's kind of funny to watch people backtrack - but it's also kind of sad. Like I sort of said to Frankie, so many people don't realise that America is full of brilliant, passionate men and women who fight for the America that they believe in and should be rightly proud of.
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Good luck. :)
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I'm an incremental idealist, you see. :p
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You're right that "proper thought" doesn't please everybody.You probably meant the same, but just to be clear, I meant the decisions arrived at after "proper thought". I'm sure everyone would hope for things to be properly thought through! It's just that this *can* happen and still not produce a decision you agree with, is what I wanted to say ( ... )
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