Fighting myself for the American Dream
I don't really know what happened in the last 24 hours, but I think that I am officially in a languid frame of mind.
Maybe it was the episodes of the television show: Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe it was the sensation that I am in a sanguine ice floe of spiritual tundra. Humphrey Bogart and Marlena Deitrich are doing a tango in my heart. Seductive, curling whisps of malaise are unfolding about me in the cafe of my soul. I am adrift in the luxurious fin de siecle apholstery that enfolds me in this part of my psyche. This is the retirement community of my heart.
This is the Fort Lauderdale of my spiritual landscape.
On a more positive note, I interviewed a person in Spanish today. I can gladly report that I understood a fair amount of what he had to say. He was a nice fellow. And he was very patient with me.
I can state without a shadow of a doubt that speaking Spanish in today's USA is important. It's not just important: those who don't speak Spanish are missing out on the most vibrant part of American culture.
Let me ask you this (in light of the liklihood of no one responding to this post, I will answer this question myself.): What group of Americans has really gotten together and said "hey, you guys, stop being jerks!" The Spanish speaking Americans. Who has marched through the streets saying it? The Spanish speaking Americans.
Who has elected presidents who are saying it? The Spanish speaking Americans*
Who has started really effectively using alternative energy and eco-tourism? The Spanish speaking Americans**
* "Americans" used with its more reasonable intercontinental referent.
** For the sake of brevity, "Spanish speaking Americans" is used to refer to Spanish and Portuguese speaking Americans.
There is a lot to be said in this culture of amazingness about the people who say: "Hey, could you please live up to your name?"
I was proud to be an American walking down the street in NYC, surrounded by people waving various flags and chanting that soccer chant. I truly was, because the truth is, these people are the ones who express our communal love of this country.
They really want to be here.
I, for one, am proud to be part of a country that people are passionate about.
The people in this country who are fighting for the rights of immigrants are fighting for the American dream. Meanwhile, our money is being ciphoned into tropical banks (as well as that hole in the middle of the EU where all the money goes.) Let me say this: I am not into war. I will not take sides. But will Carl Icahn bank with me? Not in this lifetime, buster.
My advice to super rich people: calculate the amount of money you will need to make you and your family comfortable and happy for the next 200 years and then donate the rest of it in local infrastructure in the United States (re: TAX DEDUCTION). I am telling you, with a 200 year nest egg, you will still have plenty to give Los Angeles a great subway that will take many cars off the road, you will give enough to pave all the streets in San Antonio. You will give enough to make sure that what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas (please, for the love of God), but most importantly, you will give enough so that Americans can really get some skills taught in the schools.
By the way:
Someone has taken sick.com, and it is neither a comedy nor a fetish/death metal page. We are living in scary times.
On a sidenote, I am proud to declare my funk lifted.
Best to you all!
Maybe it was the episodes of the television show: Curb Your Enthusiasm. Maybe it was the sensation that I am in a sanguine ice floe of spiritual tundra. Humphrey Bogart and Marlena Deitrich are doing a tango in my heart. Seductive, curling whisps of malaise are unfolding about me in the cafe of my soul. I am adrift in the luxurious fin de siecle apholstery that enfolds me in this part of my psyche. This is the retirement community of my heart.
This is the Fort Lauderdale of my spiritual landscape.
On a more positive note, I interviewed a person in Spanish today. I can gladly report that I understood a fair amount of what he had to say. He was a nice fellow. And he was very patient with me.
I can state without a shadow of a doubt that speaking Spanish in today's USA is important. It's not just important: those who don't speak Spanish are missing out on the most vibrant part of American culture.
Let me ask you this (in light of the liklihood of no one responding to this post, I will answer this question myself.): What group of Americans has really gotten together and said "hey, you guys, stop being jerks!" The Spanish speaking Americans. Who has marched through the streets saying it? The Spanish speaking Americans.
Who has elected presidents who are saying it? The Spanish speaking Americans*
Who has started really effectively using alternative energy and eco-tourism? The Spanish speaking Americans**
* "Americans" used with its more reasonable intercontinental referent.
** For the sake of brevity, "Spanish speaking Americans" is used to refer to Spanish and Portuguese speaking Americans.
There is a lot to be said in this culture of amazingness about the people who say: "Hey, could you please live up to your name?"
I was proud to be an American walking down the street in NYC, surrounded by people waving various flags and chanting that soccer chant. I truly was, because the truth is, these people are the ones who express our communal love of this country.
They really want to be here.
I, for one, am proud to be part of a country that people are passionate about.
The people in this country who are fighting for the rights of immigrants are fighting for the American dream. Meanwhile, our money is being ciphoned into tropical banks (as well as that hole in the middle of the EU where all the money goes.) Let me say this: I am not into war. I will not take sides. But will Carl Icahn bank with me? Not in this lifetime, buster.
My advice to super rich people: calculate the amount of money you will need to make you and your family comfortable and happy for the next 200 years and then donate the rest of it in local infrastructure in the United States (re: TAX DEDUCTION). I am telling you, with a 200 year nest egg, you will still have plenty to give Los Angeles a great subway that will take many cars off the road, you will give enough to pave all the streets in San Antonio. You will give enough to make sure that what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas (please, for the love of God), but most importantly, you will give enough so that Americans can really get some skills taught in the schools.
By the way:
Someone has taken sick.com, and it is neither a comedy nor a fetish/death metal page. We are living in scary times.
On a sidenote, I am proud to declare my funk lifted.
Best to you all!
posted by J. Benjamin Franklin | 12:16 AM
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