Another American poised to win the Tour de France and even the French are cheering - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #16 07-24-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I pretty much agree with that. My original point about WASPs is that I'm not comfortable with the high opinion we too often have about America and Americans. We're good and we're bad. Just like most other peoples.

I think it is a case of "I prefer to deal with WASPs since I know what to expect." when it comes to that. After all, European caucasians have a different take than US caucasians and German caucasians, etc, etc. As such we tend to classify them as "better".

cmac2012 · #17 07-24-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

It's difficult to talk with one's tongue in one's cheek but sometimes necessary to get the joy from seeing people walk with one knee-jerking.

I've lived and worked in foreign countries but never took a foreign vacation. I have relatives living in Europe and South American and one who is a cultural attache recently returned from a prominent Pacific Rim country.

I don't own any mongolian throat-singing music.

We're all of us rubes next to you.

You want to hear some wild throat singing, check out David Hykes, an American who studied with various throat singing cultures. I heard the guy live in concert once in Seattle. What a trip, high harmonics following his melody line/

Dee8go · #18 07-24-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

It's difficult to talk with one's tongue in one's cheek but sometimes necessary to get the joy from seeing people walk with one knee-jerking.

I've lived and worked in foreign countries but never took a foreign vacation. I have relatives living in Europe and South American and one who is a cultural attache recently returned from a prominent Pacific Rim country.

I don't own any mongolian throat-singing music.

It's so much fun to watch Americans kick the butts of the French in their own country, at their own sport, when they take such delight is looking down on America and Americans so much of the time.

BTW, Bot, since you've noted that you don't have any throat-singing in your collection, do you have the magic or Zamfir and the pan flute?

Botnst · #19 07-24-2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

We're all of us rubes next to you.

You want to hear some wild throat singing, check out David Hykes, an American who studied with various throat singing cultures. I heard the guy live in concert once in Seattle. What a trip, high harmonics following his melody line/

I don't think so. the knowledge that they are out there is all I need.

Also, I live in a Zamfir-free zone. No Boxcar Willy, either,....

B

aklim · #20 07-24-2006, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

It's so much fun to watch Americans kick the butts of the French in their own country, at their own sport, when they take such delight is looking down on America and Americans so much of the time.

BTW, Bot, since you've noted that you don't have any throat-singing in your collection, do you have the magic or Zamfir and the pan flute?

Having met a few french people, they look down on others too. It isn't just USA or Germany or whatever.

cmac2012 · #21 07-25-2006, 05:27 AM

I am so happy that we in America never look down on other peoples or cultures. Truly, we are the best in the world.

Jim B. · #22 07-25-2006, 01:14 PM

I agree with the SF Chronicle columnist (Jon Carroll) who said thos bicycle racers "dress like aliens from an underfunded planet"

Zeus · #23 07-25-2006, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botnst

Also, I live in a Zamfir-free zone. No Boxcar Willy, either,....

B

Saw Zamfir in concert as a kid. He blew.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Botnst · #24 07-25-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I agree with the SF Chronicle columnist (Jon Carroll) who said thos bicycle racers "dress like aliens from an underfunded planet"

Especially the French ones who live in Berkeley. Or vice-versa.

B

BENZ-LGB · #25 07-25-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dee8go

It's so much fun to watch Americans kick the butts of the French in their own country, at their own sport, when they take such delight is looking down on America and Americans so much of the time.

BTW, Bot, since you've noted that you don't have any throat-singing in your collection, do you have the magic or Zamfir and the pan flute?

In the past it was the American uni-baller beating the French. Now it is the American with the crummy hips beating the French.

What next? A one-legged, one-armed American beating them next year?

I was born in Cuba, I like Americans, they are good people. Americans generally go out of their way to help others and do not really expect a return on their "investment" in kindness. No Latin American (or Spanish speaking country) helped Cubans escaping from Communism. Only the US did. I felt at home right from the very first first day. Is it any wonder then that myself (and most immigrants from Cuba) are so pro-USA?

VIVA EL TIO SAM!!!

I worry about the few ones in the South, and elsewhere, who burn crosses in people's front lawns...but they are an ignorant minority and so I generally stay away form their turf.

cmac2012 · #26 07-26-2006, 02:06 AM

I guess some people are simply not complete w/o having a whipping boy always near the forefront of their brain. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins for good reason. Pride wiil lead you to stubbornly hold onto the delusion of superiority even while circumstances entreat you to abandon that pretense. Further, secure in the comfort of that self-congratulation, one becomes less attentive to new information valiantly struggling to reach one's awareness, and misses valuable connections that one's adversaries often will not.

aklim · #27 07-26-2006, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

I guess some people are simply not complete w/o having a whipping boy always near the forefront of their brain. Pride is one of the seven deadly sins for good reason. Pride wiil lead you to stubbornly hold onto the delusion of superiority even while circumstances entreat you to abandon that pretense. Further, secure in the comfort of that self-congratulation, one becomes less attentive to new information valiantly struggling to reach one's awareness, and misses valuable connections that one's adversaries often will not.

You need to be more specific. You have just described 99% of the world.

cmac2012 · #28 07-26-2006, 02:48 AM

Perhaps. And that is why I am not impressed, that word is NOT impressed by knee jerk French/Liberal/Berkeley bashing of the sort that reminds me of an old man drooling. The whipping boy urge is an unproductive one, methinks.

BENZ-LGB · #29 07-26-2006, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You need to be more specific. You have just described 99% of the world.

AKLIM, you hit the nail right on the head.

Of course the other 1% happily resides here where they freely dispense advice on a whole gamut of issues.

We are blessed indeed.

Botnst · #30 07-26-2006, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmac2012

Perhaps. And that is why I am not impressed, that word is NOT impressed by knee jerk French/Liberal/Berkeley bashing of the sort that reminds me of an old man drooling. The whipping boy urge is an unproductive one, methinks.

That's what youthinks.

It's kind of like blowing gently in a dog's ear.