election results
so the republicans have taken over. woo fucking hoo. i have to admit though that i feel quite ambivalent in that, "well, what else is new" sort of way. i've only been out of the country for little more than three months; shouldn't i at least feel a twinge of anger, or perhaps a slight fear for the future? in one sense, i am so glad that dave and i got out of there before the fit really hit the shan, as it seems to be at the moment. then there is the other part of me, the part that is angry, the part that is depressed with what is happening in the country of my birth, the part that wants to take action, and then i start to feel a bit guilty that perhaps i gave in without a fight.
i am grateful, however, for what germany has given me: the kind of life that is possible with a competent government - it's hard to believe how quickly i've grown accustomed to it. everyone from the governor to the town drunk is afforded those basic necessities that every human being deserves - a place to live, food on the table, health care. people here actually care about the environment - recycling is as intuitive as waking up in the morning! and i can still scarcely believe it, but for the first time in my life i am not afraid. i am not afraid of what the government is doing and not telling us; i am not afraid of the police (my first impulse upon seeing them is a friendly greeting, not an immediate mental scan for anything illegal i might have or be doing); i am not afraid to walk alone at night. probably the only thing that gets a rise out of me is skinheads, and i have yet to have an encounter with one.
my old life in austin seems so far away. i still try to keep up with friends, read the news daily and try to keep abreast of the current political climate, but i do so from a certain distance now. it's pretty weird to read everyone's depressing posts about the elections and not feel the same thing myself.
damn that separation anxiety.........
i am grateful, however, for what germany has given me: the kind of life that is possible with a competent government - it's hard to believe how quickly i've grown accustomed to it. everyone from the governor to the town drunk is afforded those basic necessities that every human being deserves - a place to live, food on the table, health care. people here actually care about the environment - recycling is as intuitive as waking up in the morning! and i can still scarcely believe it, but for the first time in my life i am not afraid. i am not afraid of what the government is doing and not telling us; i am not afraid of the police (my first impulse upon seeing them is a friendly greeting, not an immediate mental scan for anything illegal i might have or be doing); i am not afraid to walk alone at night. probably the only thing that gets a rise out of me is skinheads, and i have yet to have an encounter with one.
my old life in austin seems so far away. i still try to keep up with friends, read the news daily and try to keep abreast of the current political climate, but i do so from a certain distance now. it's pretty weird to read everyone's depressing posts about the elections and not feel the same thing myself.
damn that separation anxiety.........