news, america and mental health

[amw]

Last night i barely slept due to the news of the weekend and kept checking my phone, expecting another shoe to drop. I keep hoping America will wake up and revolt. Dump the entire regime

Comments

[sweetmeow]

This post brings out something I've been meaning to say over the course of many of your entries.

In college I was a history major. Once I became a senior, I changed it to the interdisciplinary concentration of American Studies (which included courses in history, religion, English). My desire to do so was based in wanting to know my own culture, not in a vacuum, but as it contrasted to other world cultures. In essence - this goal was not realized.

In ALL four years of college, I took no Asian or mideast courses, nor did they offer any. Even Russia was not mentioned except as it had to do with the 1917 Communist Revolution and the Cold War. It's like they didn't exist prior. Bottom line: I know next to NOTHING about these regions of the world. I know little of their culture, people and history. Clearly my courses were US / Euro-centric - showing the bias of which you allude. I took World History, which had precious little mention of Asia -- and also European History, which was only a little more in depth study of World History. My knowledge is incomplete because a huge percentage of the world was pretty much ignored, except as it had to do with relations with the US and less so, Europe.

Granted - this was back in the late 1960s / early 1970s, but I don't know if much has changed. But -- is it any wonder that we - as a country - cannot see past our nose?

I am literally devouring your entries in order to get a sense of this culture.

"American Exceptionalism" was -- *and still is* -- an actual belief system that our (white) culture is what all other cultures must compare and identify themselves. But - we don't bother to do any of this comparison because we covertly think it's not necessary because we "just are" and it "just is". I remember learning about this concept, and it was explained in such a manner to make us feel pride, not as if there is something askew. I was taught (and raised) with the "American Exceptionalism" mindset. It is also the root of the Neo Nazis, KKK, Alt Right, and white supremacy movements - at least those which have roots in the USA.

This is one essence (imo) of the Black Lives Matter premise. White privilege which we don't acknowledge or recognize. You can't tame what you can't name. And, I admit that I didn't even SEE this until BLM came onto the scene.

Trump is in office, and this comment is getting long. I could go on -- but whenever Trump comes into my consciousness, my mind - and words - swirls around in overwhelm, fear, confusion, and anger. Trump's rise is all related to this (and so much more), and I want to collect my words, but they are a moving target. I don't know how or if we can withstand this and what it will look like on the other side. The United States IS on the edge of a cliff, and Charlottesville has pushed us even closer. Sorry for the ramble...

[amw]

This is such a great comment, and i have wanting to reply more substantially for a while. Today i am too tired (same old same old). In any case, thank you very much for sharing.