Last night at the caucus, I’m sitting near a young woman who was acting as the caucus secretary. After the caucus, she asks me (and my nurse) to have a drink with her. Okay, I say. When we get to the bar and sit down, one of the first things she said was:
“I hate this fucking country.”
She then lists, in detail, the many reasons the good ol’ U.S. of A. has earned her spite. Our president. Our prudishness. Our crass culture. I nod my head in agreement with many of these things. She then goes on to tell me about all the time she has spent in Europe. About how Europeans are enlightened and critical thinkers. About how she never felt homesick in Europe. About how she dreams of moving there permanently.
I mention that I have a German mother and I was born in Germany.
Her face lights up like Vegas. “Then you have EU citizenship! What in the hell are you doing here?!”
Um, because if I lived in Germany or most other parts of Europe, my crippled ass would be wasting away in a nursing home.
Of course, I’m polite and I don’t say that. And I don’t tell this story to disparage anyone. But her negativity really reminded me of something; I’m glad I live in the States. I have uncles in Germany and they can’t believe someone like me owns his own home and holds a job. They tell my mom that would never happen in Germany. In terms of accessibility and community integration, Europe lags behind the States by a good decade. And so while I may passionately disagree with most of the policies of the present administration, I’m obliged to recognize that living in America has presented me and my peers with opportunities that we never would have had elsewhere. Things certainly aren’t perfect here, but I wouldn’t be doing policy work if I didn’t believe that if there is one constant in America, it’s our capacity for change.
I think you should have told her your reasons for staying, it doesn’t have to be disparaging. I’ve had that same or similar conversation with numerous people and it just never occurred to them. There will be quicker change if you point it out sometimes. It’s sad and amusing when someone looks me in the eyes and complains about taxes paying for welfare and I just told them it’s the only health care I can get.
Sometimes you have to add two and two for them and point out the four.
That’s right – Stephen Hawkings’ crippled ass is wasting away in a nursing home. Idiot.
Take it from your sister who lives in Paris. I often look around for handicapped access and don’t find it. Mark, it’s a good thing you aren’t coming here, I don’t know how we would get around. I also appreciate the US a lot more now that I’m here. Sure, I hate some US policies, but the US will always be home….
The last time I paid for healthcare that wasn’t state sponsored it cost me $400 a month. That was almost 10 years ago. I can’t imagine what it would cost now, if I could even get it by some miracle.
That’s discouraging to hear about Europe. I thought that it was a little better over there than that.
Many times I think to myself it would be nice to live elsewhere, but this is really the best place for a gimp to be.
Someone called you an idiot on your blog! You’ve made the big time, Mark! No longer is your blog limited to simply family and friends. You’re well on your way, pal, and I hope you don’t forget all the little people you left behind once you get there.
On to the actual topic I’m responding to, I must acknowledge my surprise that no one has yet commented on the attitude of the caucus secretary. I would have merely told her that I wasn’t living in the EU because I’m not a callow self-loathing defeatist. Probably wouldn’t have scored any “score” points with her, but what the hell, we’re both over 30 now.
I really wonder how much of the country she has seen, how many different people she has spoken to, gotten to know, even if just a little. I wonder how much of a value she can actually place on something like the United States.
You aren’t going to Paris because of accessibility? London isn’t much better. Tell us after you visit Florida, the inconveniences, and accessibility problems.
You would be a success where ever you live, yo creo. If you were in Amsterdam, or the Nederlands, you could have some other needs met.
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