(Untitled)

[blindness]

i'm relieved that no one here at the institute (i am an american graduate student in germany), except one, has said anything about the election. i assume it's out of respect, like a funeral. i had a long talk with my austrian boyfriend this morning about my frustration of living here, often the subject of disrespectful comments pertaining to my

Comments

[strayparisian]

so true....

but America is def. on the dumber (er) end.

Europe is racist. Europe has its own issues issues. But as far as I know, Europe does not have a terrifying moral supremacy complex.

(cultural supremacy...especially in the case of the French...perhaps)

[blindness]

i would agree, the moral supremacy complex is a real bite in the ass. i think it's one of the biggest problems for sure.

i wouldn't agree with the dumber bit though, but i respect your opinion.

[pyota]

you seem to be making the same sort of blanket stereotype about europeans that you are complaining about. i'm against such stereotypes in principle, even when they are based on some kernel of truth, but i'm tending toward the european camp on this one .. i think the fact that this election was so close speaks volumes about the how wide the right wing mentality extends. as for immigration, there is certainly a xenophobia problem here in europe but at least they're not fingerprinting and photographing me everytime i pass thru the airport.

just my 2 rappen.

[blindness]

i'm only expressing my personal experience. i'm sorry you have to be fingerprinted.

[pyota]

i mean ALL foreigners visiting the USA now must be photographed and fingerprinted.

[blindness]

uh, yes, that is correct ;) i am aware of that.

[entropica]

While abroad for the election, the most intriguing and difficult question (or sometimes accusation) I've repeatedly encountered is being asked to explain what is wrong with the US and why anyone would vote for Bush. I'm from the northeast, and not just every state, but every town I've lived in has gone to Kerry. It sounds like it should be a simple question and answer, but its surprisingly difficult to explain that sometimes you just don't understand all of your country or the way it votes either. I can give a bullet point list of rationales you could find in a newspaper, but I can offer no insight into the psyche of regions that have never lived in that have much different political climates... no matter how much anyone would wish me to be able to.

[blindness]

i think it's the same for me. i must have been pretty sheltered living in massachusetts, my dad is a staunch democrat, most of my friends are as well. i really thought that there was a good chance kerry would win because almost everyone i know voted for him. i suppose you could call me ignorant of the real situation in the usa, because i'm still in shock. coming up with answers to "why" and "how" are as speculative for me as they are for the people asking me. although it's daunting to think about all those right-leaning people in the usa, i still feel hope that things can change, like when clinton was elected after several terms of republican presidents before him (not that clinton was a saint, but still)

[nellwyn]

''america and europe. dumb and dumber.''

Thank you for the good laugh... and I second the motion.

[miromi]

hear hear! you said it, sister.

but i cried all day today!

[blindness]

*hugs*