Sidney Smith Americans mostly don't read. In fact 1/5 can't read. We're a 2nd world country. 3rd world in spots.
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Serge Ferrier It's partly because you're such great writers and just have so much home reading. Add advertising, TV etc. Being an American seems to require being ready to state your democratic opinion. It's only now I remember a classic by Graham Greene - The Quiet American.
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Sidney Smith "...being ready to state your democratic opinion." Yes truly at all times to everyone if you want to or not. They want to know I want to know we want to know. Our sort of democracy is one the requires constant involvement. Even amongst those who as I say cannot read nor have any interest in learning. They too insist on hearing knowing telling.
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Serge Ferrier There's this story that you guys considered having German as your 1st language. They also are famed for their forthrightness whereas us little Englanders value understatement. You guys might see this in the more gently spoken Canadians. I think it starts in your schools - you're encouraged to be forthright. How else can such a melting pot work.
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Sidney Smith We have a multi-valued personality. Just having this many people from all over the world on the brink of assaulting each other yet defending each other. On 9/11 I witnessed this. All of the issues that now viciously divide us vanished in a moment. We are a family. We are literally related. My Civil War ancestor my great great grandfather was a white officer in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Such is America such is the place I love, and am love to no matter our hard troubles..Sidney Smith We also considered Latin, and Hebrew as our national language.Serge Ferrier Oye vey ! Amo te.
2 comments:
There you are, Uncle Sid.
I do hope you are well.
A belated happy new year.
Thanks!
Still breathing no matter what they do!
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