American Politics totally confuses me.

[logansrogue]

So, I've been reading this school book about American History. It very basically covers the Civil War and the Empancipation of the slave population. But I was really fucking mixed up because the Republicans were the pushy Northerners that wanted to free the black people (a decidedly progressive thing to do), and the Democrats were the Southerners that wanted to keep things just the way they were and keep a hold of all their cheap labour.

...

When the hell did it flip around? I mean, I know not all people from these geographic zones fit into the stereotypes, (some of my best friends are from Texas!) but really... what?! What a difference a couple of hundred years make.

Anyway, it's really interesting reading about how people fought for freedom, I've never really looked into it before. Usually too busy reading my own country's history at school. I'm so fascinated by it all, and I also feel a lot of concern and compassion for those that still suffer racism and prejudice today because of all of that. I want to know the culture of those people. I mean, I know that sounds stupid but believe it or not, most Americans (regardless of race) are intriguing to me on a cultural level because in a lot of ways, you're very very different from what I know (I being an Australian - bad Yoda grammar!) I mean, when I visited America, I had serious culture shock because it was so different. The way I behaved there was actually quite foreign. I talked to cashiers, and smiled at people I passed in the street, quite happily spoke to strangers and cleaned up after myself in restaurants. (I'm not saying Americans are assholes that don't do this, I'm just saying that I got a lot of funny looks for behaving that way). I kept getting into the wrong side of the car and the food tasted totally weird to me. And I was given so MUCH of it if I paid for a meal! It was awesome and interesting and wonderful and I'm sad that I went to America but I never got to go to New Orleans or Chicago, because jazz and soul music is almost a spiritual experience for me and I'd love to know where it started, know the people that created it in the first place. And I'd love to go see a proper gospel choir, that would fucking rock. But hell, I'd love to visit a lot of different places in America. Like Boston, I'd *love* to visit Boston, it seems like an awesome place and the photos Sandy have sent me have sold me on the place cause GOSH - so beautiful.

I know America gets a lot of hate sometimes, but I have to say, I really love the place, and if I had money to piss down my leg, I'd go back there in a heartbeat and just try to meet as many different, wonderful people as possible. Americans are a people that believe they can do anything, they have a tenacity that I find both inspiring and hugely likable. Here in Australia, there's a lot of Tall-Poppy crap and apathy the moment anyone gets a little ambitious. That doesn't seem to be the case quite in the same way in the States.

Anyway, I've rambled enough and probably said things that have pissed people off, mainly because I've made generalisations for the sake of a quick conversation rather than a hugely detailed essay on what I think of the gamut of American Culture.

Fuck it, I just woke up. I love you guys, okay? That's all I'm trying to say. And I want to know more about you.

Comments

[sir-devans.livejournal.com]

When the hell did it flip around?
The labour party started about a hundred years ago just after federation and was formed from unions (largely shearers I think) and now the ALP does its best to seperate itself from union involvment. Currently its a joke because half the elected members are former unionists, but in 100 more years?

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

I was going to say that that was a different ALP than the one I'm a member of (where union support is crucial to pretty much any decision), but given how big a factor industrial relations was in the last election, I think that is might actually be a different Australia entirely.

The ALP does its best to not actually be completely union controlled.

[sakurakiss.livejournal.com]

New Orleans is AMAZING. <3 the French Quarter. It just radiates culture and history. I wish I was home to go their for Halloween tomorrow. T-T

[azinazelle.livejournal.com]

I'm not a scholar on American history but the Republican party has gotten significantly worse since it's been hijacked by extreme right Christian fundamentalists who see the country in very black and white terms. Sarah Palin and George W. Bush are good examples of this at its worst.

And sweety I'd love for you to visit Chicago. Know that I'm always here to take you on a tour and show you the sights. :)

When my friend from Germany visited here she was really shocked at the portion distortion on the food and could only eat about a quarter of the meal usually served. We American do like our food and lots of it - hence our expanding waste lines and health problems.

I think in general we're taught at a young age not to be very friendly, especially people you don't know. Yeah, there are some bad people out there but I think there's a general paranoia that comes with it and sometimes a culture of apathy. They did a study once where a man pretended to be passed out on a city street. Quite a few people walked around the passed out man or ignored him whereas in the suburban/rural areas the man was tended to more quickly by people concerned about him. I have to say when I'm in the city I tend to be more cautious and careful about who I chat with. I did get approached once by a man high as a kite who was fascinated with me because I "glowed." Very freaky.

That said, I do love the culture, museum and yes, the food in Chicago and wish I had more money to piss down my leg to enjoy it more. ;)

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

It is complicated (obviously), but to a large extent you have to understand that the parties, historcally, have been much more like loose alliances of state based parties, with historically the southern Democrats (the 'Dixiecrats') being quite different to the Northern yankee version. In particular, there was a very big shift since Nixon in strategy, coming to full force in the Reagan years, of the Republicans to target the southern Democrats, and effectively supplant them as the party of privilege in the South. Basically, before TV, campaigns were fought much more on a state by state basis -- and the change since TV has made the parties much more uniform than they were before, which generally has hurt the Southern Democrats.

There is plenty about it here

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

I tend to buck the bad manners trend, too, Nacey, 'cause I'm as American as they come (you know, you met me right here in Cali ;) ), but I always talk to cashiers, smile at everyone and clean up after myself. :) I think a lot of it is because of culture...I grew up in a working-class neighborhood of mostly Hispanics (even though I'm white), and the culture around here is really warm, friendly and loving. The upper and middle-class people where you probably were can be quite different. I found that out when I went to an Orange County university. :-P

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Well, I felt right at home when I was staying with Misty's family in 2001! Just like my big family at home! :D Yeah, it was when I was in the suburbs that I noticed the difference in manners. When I was staying with Misty, I didn't have any culture shock at all.

[xedra.livejournal.com]

I'm always fascinated by one's impression of America when they're from outside the country (I don't like to use the word "foreigner" - it sounds rude somehow).
If I had enough money I'd do a lot of traveling, too. I would go everywhere and soak it all in. Ireland first, of course. But only if someone else drove me around. I don't trust myself to drive on the other side of the road without causing a mess. LOL
*hug*

[findle.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Just note one thing that a lot of people seem to not bother noticing- Americans, with few exceptions, tend to separate Social issues from Main Issues. In that, while there are extremist right wing republicans (the religious right), in fact there are HUGE amount of democrats who are very set against things like state allowed gay marriage. In fact, two groups that vote very high percentage against gay rights are african-american (esp the Methodist) and the hispanic populations. Both groups have histoically voted democrat.

The thing is, I firmly believe that between the two extremes (both the far right republicans and the faith-based historically democrats, the vast majority of the country does not care about those issues. At the very least they don't feel the need to enact legislation against those things. Exceptions are always there, of course. But that's why I've always felt, politicizing social issues, esp in this country, just won't get the results you want. There's too many votes in both parties you NEED to get, because there are votes in BOTH parties you also need to negate.

[apolla.livejournal.com]

If I recall, the first time blacks started voting democrat in numbers was for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I think the 'typical' divide between Republicans and Democrats can be seen from then onwards.