Posted on 03/17/2008 1:59:14 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
A FEW years ago I joined some colleagues on an academic conference jaunt to a large private university in the American northeast. The approved conference itinerary was to take us directly from our swish Chicago hotel to the campus gates, in the hygienic manner of the modern business traveller.
For reasons too complicated to retell, on the return trip we found ourselves becalmed in a village in the backwaters of rural Indiana, in the old American heartland. The streets we strolled down were lined with wooden bungalows, and there was a flagstaff with the Stars and Stripes in every other front yard. We ate in rural diners by the highway with orange-tinted windows, stained wooden cubicles and waitresses with chequered aprons.
Much like Columbus, we had voyaged in search of streets paved with gold, and instead we had accidentally discovered America.
It's a pity more Australian observers don't discover heartland America in this fashion, especially in this historic election year. Because we have more to learn from the rambunctious drama of American democracy than we are prepared to admit.
Many Australians believe they know all about America. On business trips they sidle through the galleries of New York, or amble down the boulevards of Los Angeles, and imagine that they have gained some essential insight into the American character. Back home they watch American TV and movies, and teach themselves that American society is gaudy, individualistic and lacking in decorum.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...
but according to free republic the US is going to burn in flames, we don’t manufacture anything apparently our borders are swarming with illegal immigrants our currency is worthless our judges are corrupt and we won’t exist in ten years if a democrat is elected president because our republic is so frail and poorly designed it can’t stand an idiot in power for four years.
flee while you can!!
He quoted de Tocqueville - that’s a rarity these days and a hallmark of someone who gets it.
I think you must be reading the other free republic, that is not the genral consensus on this site, I have been reading and commenting on many post and your views are far from accurate.
I have not seen this trend in Free Republic postings. We, here, are worried about the future of our nation and discuss many issues.
We have also learned to use punctuation......
I’m just trying to satirize some of the doom and gloom on the economic threads. Besides I’m too hip for punctuation.
I see.....
We could do much worse than to institutionalise our political parties, as the Americans have done. Give every citizen a voice in the selection of candidates, so long as they're willing to register in the name of one of the parties for the purpose.
It's an abomination that the political system is so dominated by two hide-bound parties. This guy thinks it would be a great leap forward to have to register for party membership. Lead forward towards the barricades comrades!
Some of us even use the shift key for our handles.
The original illiac has no capital letters and was a work effort in a prior career.
We’re not a democracy. We are a democratic Republic. Man I hate it when these writers play fast and loose with words. I shouldn’t be surprised as they probably don’t know the difference.
Just like the Democrats are the DEMOCRAT party, NOT the DemocratIC party.
Rush always makes that distinction.
Foreign students I've met over the last few years, from a Muslim nation, are surprised to meet Americans who love God and their families. Hollywood conveys exactly the opposite impression.
Yup. He’s right to do so. Democracy’s are a step down to mob rule. It’s why we hate politicians who don’t have an opinion until they get the poll results in.
Think Pink Floyd’s “Brick in the Wall”:
We don’t need no Pontius Pilate,
We don’t need no exit poll,
Just see which way the wind is blowing,
Opinions made by mob control,
Hey, “Leader”,
Leave your brain at home!
All in all we find there’s just no leader at all.
"Flyover country" is the real America ... God bless it!
No, it’s all “the real America.” And God bless all of it.
True. Any judicial activism/prayer in school atheist thread.
we don’t manufacture anything
Yep. Any thread about China or economics brings out these statistic-averse posters.
apparently our borders are swarming with illegal immigrants
EVERY SINGLE THREAD ON FR IS JUST WAITING TO BE TURNED INTO AN IMMIGRATION THREAD!!!!
our currency is worthless our judges are corrupt and we won’t exist in ten years if a democrat is elected president because our republic is so frail and poorly designed it can’t stand an idiot in power for four years.
Etc, etc. Yes, I think uther paints FR pretty well. Granted it's a reflection of the MSM stories/content, but FR is NOT a place to come if you want to hear mostly positive things about the state of the nation.
Many of he posters on FR are suffering tough economic times, which colors their perspective to a very large degree.
Similarly, many see the availability of unwholesome entertainment as a very large trend and not part of the continued fragmentation of media.
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