(no subject)
On Friday, I was talking to a patient about being a foreigner in this country and his experience in visiting and living in another land. He is all American White, his wife is American born Indian.
One of the things I had been saying over the years is that it is a disadvantage for this country to be as big as it is. Most citizens have no idea of the realities of life beyond our borders. Going somewhere for 2/3 weeks does not give anybody any insight into the culture of another people. He actually agreed somewhat. He's lived in Denmark, Saudi Arabia, and Germany for 2 years each, and knows he hasn't even scratched the surface.
Today, I started thinking some more about this. Over here, were being feed a steady diet of propaganda that says that everybody has a chance to make it if they just apply themselves and work hard. Tell that to the single mothers working 2 jobs just to short their families, or to any other care taker of a family.
We're Also being told that this is the greatest country in the world and that everybody wants to come here. Tell that to the 93% in the rest of the world who have no intention of ever leaving their home.
All this propaganda reminds me so much of my experiences in Marin County. More than any other place I've seen, there in that small county, there seems to be the prevailing idea that everybody is jealous of their money and out to take advantage of them. Like the country at large they flaunt their wealth. And like the country they are paranoid that somebody will come and take it all away from them, or that they are only loved for what they have not for who they are.
And I find the parallels, as I perceive them, quite striking.
Any thoughts on this?