Comments on: Expat Thoughts http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/ Seattle resident and Merida expat comments on politics, life, and the advent of December 21, 2012 Sun, 20 May 2012 19:15:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: SALLY WOOLLEY http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1715 SALLY WOOLLEY Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:50:33 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1715 very enjoyed your photos- I forgot to mention on my first comment. toilet seats are quite nice! Sally very enjoyed your photos-
I forgot to mention on my first comment.
toilet seats are quite nice!

Sally

]]> By: SALLY WOOLLEY http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 SALLY WOOLLEY Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:48:53 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1714 enjoyed your writing- having spent time in Japan and Merida myself (and a total of 38 countries) nan desuka? It always has been valuable to me to be able to maintain my viewpoint as an outsider to some extent in the U.S., especially during the idiotic Bush years. May they never be repeated. I encourage all to travel if you can, we all can benefit from the viewpoint. Sally a philosopher who should write a book enjoyed your writing-
having spent time in Japan and Merida myself (and a total of 38 countries)
nan desuka?
It always has been valuable to me to be able to maintain my viewpoint as
an outsider to some extent in the U.S., especially during the idiotic Bush years.
May they never be repeated.
I encourage all to travel if you can, we all can benefit from the viewpoint.

Sally

a philosopher who should write a book

]]> By: BG http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1143 BG Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:09:32 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1143 Jonna - Unfortunately, I think the motives are murkier than children in a sandbox throwing toys. I think it is simply a matter of money. So many Republican interests are so heavily invested in for instance, the war, that they are motivated to keep it going even though there is no moral or just reason to do so. This money bloc has become entrenched over the past years and getting them off of the profitable war machine will be difficult. So will changing the health care structure, for the same reason. I'm not saying it's just Republicans. I have a jaded view of most politicians and think even if they charge in with good intentions, they are forced to make so many compromises that they lose their identities. Money and power are practically irresistible. I guess. Truly, I feel sorry for Obama. And I fear for his safety. He is annoying the establishment, and that puts a target on his back. On the IQ thing, I didn't say Republicans have low IQs. Quite the contrary. I wish it were that simple. What I said was that no one with an IQ over 80 (yes, a generalization), <em>Republican or Democrat</em>, could see their way clear to voting for McCain and Palin, which is why Obama won. b Jonna – Unfortunately, I think the motives are murkier than children in a sandbox throwing toys. I think it is simply a matter of money. So many Republican interests are so heavily invested in for instance, the war, that they are motivated to keep it going even though there is no moral or just reason to do so. This money bloc has become entrenched over the past years and getting them off of the profitable war machine will be difficult. So will changing the health care structure, for the same reason.
I’m not saying it’s just Republicans. I have a jaded view of most politicians and think even if they charge in with good intentions, they are forced to make so many compromises that they lose their identities. Money and power are practically irresistible. I guess.
Truly, I feel sorry for Obama. And I fear for his safety. He is annoying the establishment, and that puts a target on his back.
On the IQ thing, I didn’t say Republicans have low IQs. Quite the contrary. I wish it were that simple. What I said was that no one with an IQ over 80 (yes, a generalization), Republican or Democrat, could see their way clear to voting for McCain and Palin, which is why Obama won.
b

]]> By: Jonna http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 Jonna Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:13:06 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1141 Bush was not the first time we had to be embarrassed about our citizenship, have you forgotten LBJ & Nixon? It's been a long run of arrogance. I do agree that it is nice and very different not to have to fend off the tacky cracks abroad, I found the French and the Canadians the most obnoxious about it, btw. I am proud that the US elected Obama and I fear greatly for him in that land of violence and hatred. I've never been very political however and the idea of leaving my country because of Bush or returning because of Obama just would never cross my mind. Block parties? OMG, that is so New York. I've always felt that people get the government that they deserve. I vote but I am not enthusiastic in most cases. I have voted for a Republican twice, both times the same guy. I happen to like the Governator but mainly I couldn't stomach his opponents. There's the rub, I can't actually remember voting for anyone other than Dianne Feinstein that I actually was voting FOR rather than voting against the opponent or just picking the lesser of two evils. The thing that most depresses me when I look at my homeland is the vicious divisiveness that colors everything. There is no civil debate, no compromise with honor, no respect for the other side. They are children in a sand box throwing tantrums and toys. Frankly, it puts me off so much that I rarely read anything political. We all have things that cause us to lower our appraisal of others IQ, I have them too and yes, I do tend to drop a few points for avowed Republicans and ardent believers in any religion. Like any generalization though, it's inaccurate and more importantly it is insulting and stifles communication so most of the time I keep that to myself. If we are to ever see a return to civil behavior, it has to start with each of us and that means we have to stop insulting those who disagree... at least publicly. Bush was not the first time we had to be embarrassed about our citizenship, have you forgotten LBJ & Nixon? It’s been a long run of arrogance. I do agree that it is nice and very different not to have to fend off the tacky cracks abroad, I found the French and the Canadians the most obnoxious about it, btw. I am proud that the US elected Obama and I fear greatly for him in that land of violence and hatred.

I’ve never been very political however and the idea of leaving my country because of Bush or returning because of Obama just would never cross my mind. Block parties? OMG, that is so New York.

I’ve always felt that people get the government that they deserve. I vote but I am not enthusiastic in most cases. I have voted for a Republican twice, both times the same guy. I happen to like the Governator but mainly I couldn’t stomach his opponents. There’s the rub, I can’t actually remember voting for anyone other than Dianne Feinstein that I actually was voting FOR rather than voting against the opponent or just picking the lesser of two evils.

The thing that most depresses me when I look at my homeland is the vicious divisiveness that colors everything. There is no civil debate, no compromise with honor, no respect for the other side. They are children in a sand box throwing tantrums and toys. Frankly, it puts me off so much that I rarely read anything political.

We all have things that cause us to lower our appraisal of others IQ, I have them too and yes, I do tend to drop a few points for avowed Republicans and ardent believers in any religion. Like any generalization though, it’s inaccurate and more importantly it is insulting and stifles communication so most of the time I keep that to myself. If we are to ever see a return to civil behavior, it has to start with each of us and that means we have to stop insulting those who disagree… at least publicly.

]]> By: Sharee http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Sharee Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:19:52 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1133 It is indeed all so frustrating. We are considering a move to the Merida area, but have not accomplished it yet. Part of my family has already "gone south" and I look forward to the adventure. Appreciate your thoughts! It is indeed all so frustrating. We are considering a move to the Merida area, but have not accomplished it yet. Part of my family has already “gone south” and I look forward to the adventure. Appreciate your thoughts!

]]> By: BG http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1099 BG Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:58:48 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1099 Here's a great semi-related link sent in by Alinde. Thanks, Alinde. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/opinion/23iht-edcohen.html?em Here’s a great semi-related link sent in by Alinde. Thanks, Alinde.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/opinion/23iht-edcohen.html?em

]]> By: hammockmanpaul http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 hammockmanpaul Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:21:32 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1084 Well said. Thoughtfully said. Painfully said. Thanks. Well said. Thoughtfully said. Painfully said.

Thanks.

]]> By: Alinde http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Alinde Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:01:23 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1083 I have been wondering if one of the underlying variables to all this might be the growing lack of civility in the USA. AND I might add, this has been growing, and GROWING for years! I was once a public transit supervisor, and was actually unable to concentrate on my job for the rude screaming of the intending passengers! But one day, on vacation , while in a Mexico City subway's underground station, I witnessed the type of line delay with which I used to have to deal. And guess what--everyone did what the supervisor told them to do, NO one went up and screamed at the supe, and things got solved! The civility of my adopted country is still one of the things I like most about living here. I don't need to go too far to see what I left-- I just look at some of the internet forums, the name-calling and such is, well, like Fox News! I have been wondering if one of the underlying variables to all this might be the growing lack of civility in the USA. AND I might add, this has been growing, and GROWING for years!

I was once a public transit supervisor, and was actually unable to concentrate on my job for the rude screaming of the intending passengers! But one day, on vacation , while in a Mexico City subway’s underground station, I witnessed the type of line delay with which I used to have to deal. And guess what–everyone did what the supervisor told them to do, NO one went up and screamed at the supe, and things got solved!

The civility of my adopted country is still one of the things I like most about living here. I don’t need to go too far to see what I left– I just look at some of the internet forums, the name-calling and such is, well, like Fox News!

]]> By: lv http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 lv Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:08:12 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1082 Wow!!! That was an excellent article. Wow!!! That was an excellent article.

]]> By: BG http://gorbman.com/2010/02/18/expat-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-1079 BG Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:59:29 +0000 http://gorbman.com/?p=1415#comment-1079 See my article on the fabulous Jane C. from a few months ago at: http://gorbman.com/2009/10/28/my-friend-jane/ b See my article on the fabulous Jane C. from a few months ago at:
http://gorbman.com/2009/10/28/my-friend-jane/

b

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