Things People Don't Understand About America
Claire Berlinski, Ed. ·
February 6, 2012 at 5:41pm
It's really hard to have a feel for places you've never visited, so I can't at all fault the anguished author of this comment on Twitter. (I reproduce it from memory because for some reason I can't find it now, but I'm pretty sure it was to this effect.)
Oh, no! Is America slipping into sectarian strife?
How does one even begin to explain that this isn't quite the right way to understand that news?
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Comments:
Oct '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Our sectarian strife is conducted via mass media and ballot boxes.
Oct '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
A "focus group"? Oh, I see - another way to avoid reporting on issues.
Apr '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
We're the only country in the world with freedom of religion and free speech. At the time of the Revolution no one believed that was possible. Most of the world still doesn't believe it.
Dec '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Claire Berlinski, Ed. whenever you make post like these it just reminds me of how much we Americans take a non-violent political process for granted.
Nov '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Just a pedant's observation. Sectarian strife would connote religious wars and those among the sects of a particular religion as in Baptists warring against Episcopalians. The stereotypes suggest, per Eric Metaxas, that the Episcopalians are not committed enough so it's not a likely fight.
It would be better, perhaps, to define the war as St Paul defines it: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12.
I heard about an interesting bumper sticker applied to Barak Obama: "Let his days be few; Let another take his office." Ps 109:8
;-)
Edited on February 6, 2012 at 6:36pmFeb '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Political Correctness would be hard to translate...
Apr '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Actually, something similar was brought to my attention years ago, back when the recount effort was in full swing in Florida, 2000. Someone noted that rather than showing the weakness of the system, as several people were prone to do, it demonstrated its strength. In many other nations, such a situation would have led to out and out armed conflict. We groused, complained, got angry and upset, and then carried on with our lives once the dust settled.
Aug '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
I'd begin with "No." I'd continue with "Americans don't enjoy anger." Let 'im think about that one!
It is encouraging that this person phrased his wonder as a question, not an assertion. Assertions...reveal much. I've met several Turks who said - not asked, said - that America's language is German. They took my correction well, though; they didn't need to believe this idea. More disturbing was the Slovene columnist who, unsupported by any contact with the U.S.A., said that not only was our health system in ruins but that Ronald Reagan - otherwise unmentioned in the piece - had ruined it. In the 1980's Yugoslavia made every bad move it could possibly make; maybe it was a consolation to this writer to imagine the rest of the world doing as comprehensively poorly in the same decade.
Mar '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
I have heard that some College educated Africans think Americans just have a room in their house were they go and get Coke when ever they want it. Oh that and they always think your made of money.
Although to be honest I think we are actually a lot closer to some type of violent uprising/civil war than most Americans care to admit. However, it is not going to happen in the next few years. When the left starts to intervene wholesale with the conservatives kids and practice of religion, that is when the guns will come out pretty fast if elections do not quickly reverse the interference.
Dec '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
I think its slipping into the powderkeg more than actually slipping into strife.
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Me too. I mean, whenever I hear things like this.
Jul '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
I am trying to develop a course for leaders in a multi-ethnic community in San Diego where our foundation works. We did several sessions on race, where I was the only white guy in the room, seeing movies of the we-suck variety, and I was astounded at the intensity of feelings that there was so much racism exhibited by 'us guys'. This from 20-year olds who I suspect have never seen what we would characterize as the racism we saw in the middle part of the 20th Cen. I believe it is a testament to the power if the courses in racism and African studies that we have been subsidizing all these years. There is a large group of educators who are so invested in this that I fear there will never be an end as there are too many benefits to continuing. The idea of a 'hard dialogue' is for them to dump over us 'rulers' and for us to submit meekly.
On another note Ms. Berlinski, your attempt to explain embedding made the mistake of not preparing and explaining your subject so a complete novice would understand it. Where can I go to get info?
May '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Hey, go easy on the Africans. If it weren't for some Nigerian general, I'd be in financial trouble.
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Norm Hapke Jr.:
On another note Ms. Berlinski, your attempt to explain embedding made the mistake of not preparing and explaining your subject so a complete novice would understand it. Where can I go to get info? · 5 hours ago
Do you mean, "How to embed a link?"
Don't make this more complicated for yourself than it is. I promise you that it's really simple. Can you highlight a word? Just click on the word twice--until it changes color?
Okay? Now click on the little button that looks like a paper clip.
QED.
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Norm: I apologize for my last comment. I need to find a better way to explain this than to say, "It's simple!" If it was, no one would be confused. The problem isn't that you're not understanding it, it's that I'm not explaining it well. I'll leave my comment up as an example of how not to answer a question helpfully.
Now let me think about how to explain it helpfully. Can you tell me where my explanation didn't make sense? It's up to me to figure out a good way to explain it, but you can help--and I'd appreciate it--by telling me, "That's the step where I got lost."
Mar '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Norm Hapke Jr.:
On another note Ms. Berlinski, your attempt to explain embedding made the mistake of not preparing and explaining your subject so a complete novice would understand it. Where can I go to get info? · 5 hours ago
Do you mean, "How to embed a link?"
Don't make this more complicated for yourself than it is. I promise you that it's really simple. Can you highlight a word? Just click on the word twice--until it changes color?
Okay? Now click on the little button that looks like a paper clip.
QED. · 46 minutes ago
It also might help a novice to know that you first need to highlight in your browser's address window the address (URL) to which you wish to link. Right-click the highlighted link and select copy from the menu. Then, return to Ricochet. Highlight the word or phrase you want people to click on to follow your link. Click on the insert/edit link (paper clip) button. Place your cursor in the address field that appears, backspace or delete until the field is empty, and then right-click and paste the address you copied earlier.
Oct '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Basil Fawlty
... Click on the insert/edit link (paper clip) button.
If you are confused by all this talk of a paper-clip, it's because the icon (for us, if not for Claire) is three links of a chain. (The one between the open double quotes and the tree.)
Mar '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
genferei
Basil Fawlty
... Click on the insert/edit link (paper clip) button.
If you are confused by all this talk of a paper-clip, it's because the icon (for us, if not for Claire) is three links of a chain. (The one between the open double quotes and the tree.) · 0 minutes ago
Thank you, genferei. I didn't think it looked much like a paper clip but I didn't want to get into trouble.
Feb '11
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Basil Fawlty
Claire Berlinski, Ed.
Norm Hapke Jr.:
It also might help a novice to know that you first need to highlight in your browser's address window the address (URL) to which you wish to link. Right-click the highlighted link and select copy from the menu. Then, return to Ricochet. Highlight the word or phrase you want people to click on to follow your link. Click on the insert/edit link (paper clip) button. Place your cursor in the address field that appears, backspace or delete until the field is empty, and then right-click and paste the address you copied earlier. · 23 minutes ago
You can also use "Control-C" to copy and "Control-V" to paste the browser link instead of right-click, after you have backspaced or deleted the "http://" that otherwise appears. (Hey, Overlords, maybe we could remove that "http://" thing that appears as a default in the link pasting window, since it only seems to trip people up?)
Jul '10
Re: Things People Don't Understand About America
Thank you all. Ms Berlinski, I did not take umbrage at your attempt. What we had was a failure to communicate, a la "Cool Hand Luke." If you will look at Mr. Cleese's, er Basil's post you will see that he went to the beginning step, where I needed to start. The rest was a good example of what we call the 'process essay'. (Thank you very much Basil) I needed to know where you started, Ms. B. I very much appreciate your help and the help of the rest. This, my first post, was a success and one more reason I'm pleased to be a member.