Carrie or Peter Jacobson on fri 21 apr 00
Here's what I wonder: Instead of spending time trying to learn about, adopt
and become one with the relatively arcane rules of an ancient ceremony from
another culture, what if we invested that time and energy in developing a
comprehension of and respect for a similar American cultural strength?
I am not promoting a xenophobic or morally predominating stance here. I have
seen the world, or at least, big parts of it, and I have in my soul, my
heart, and my brain the ability to recognize and appreciate other cultures.
(Just by the by, want a little kick in the old straightened American teeth?
Watch Antiques Roadshow on the BBC. Cripes, they bring in unglazed
earthenware pots -- in perfect condition -- that were made long before
America's native people had to deal with white folks).
Still, we have, or more accurately, are building a culture here. I for one
would rather work to define it, and be a part of that definition, than
absent myself for the time it takes to learn what I never will truly learn,
the tea ceremony.
Now, I am not sure that I could define American culture at this point. I
know there is zest, speed and exuberance. Sound and color. Ours would be a
coffee culture. And, yes, ours would be a throw-away culture, but one that
is leaning toward being a recycling culture. It's individualism, freedom,
acceptance of change. Inclusiveness. A lack of rules.
I am not putting down anyone else here, or minimizing the value, the values,
the esthetics, the history or the people of any other country. All I am
saying is, I am an American, as much a mongrel half-breed amalgam as anyone.
I'll never be Japanese, I will never have the Japanese soul, and that's OK
with me.
Yee-ha! I'm riding' away fast while you all take aim.
Carrie
Bolster's Mills, Maine
America
Lee Love on sat 22 apr 00
----- Original Message -----
From: Carrie or Peter Jacobson
|
| I am not putting down anyone else here, or minimizing the value, the
values,
| the esthetics, the history or the people of any other country. All I am
| saying is, I am an American, as much a mongrel half-breed amalgam as
anyone.
| I'll never be Japanese, I will never have the Japanese soul, and that's OK
| with me. <...>
But Carrie, some of us Americans are Japanese too. The advantage in
being a "mongrel" nation (I'd prefer to use the term diverse) is that we
have many cultures to draw upon. Why should we exclude Japanese?
| Yee-ha! I'm riding' away fast while you all take aim.
Bye bye! :^) Ride here to see some family related photos;^) :
http://hachiko.com/bio.html
--
Lee Love
2858-2-2 , Nanai , Mashiko-machi ,Tochigi-ken 321-4106 JAPAN
Ikiru@kami.com Voice Mail and Faxes (a USA number): (303) 256-0374
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