[Culturechat] What does Jim Kunstler know?
Virginia Knueppel
ginik@mindspring.com
Wed, 22 Dec 2004 18:24:36 -0500
Dear Barbara,
Thanks for all your comments. I think the major problem with Kuntstler's
reasoning is the unfortunate human tendency to judge others in terms of
stereotypes -- which often creates great harm and encourages only others
who are similarly biased. At this holy time of year, and in the coming new
year, I pray that all of us will resist the impulse to make such broad
comments and focus instead on the miracle of every individual's life and
the fascinating diversity of human cultures and traditions.
Wishing you and yours a joyous and blessed holiday season,
Gini in Atlanta
Virginia Knueppel
ginik@mindspring.com
Why Wait? Move to EarthLink.
> [Original Message]
> From: Barbara Roy <broy@dplanet.ch>
> To: Idyll Untours Culture Chat <culturechat@untours.com>
> Date: 12/22/2004 7:10:49 PM
> Subject: [Culturechat] What does Jim Kunstler know?
>
> Since it's the Christmas season, I thought I could hold off
> responding to Kunstler's recent: "Thoughts upon returning from Europe,"
> wherein he stereotyped Americans as pathological and pervasively fat,
> miserable, impoverished, alienated, depressed, demoralized, conspicuous
> consuming TV addicts, etc., etc. I can't wait, however! My hope is
> that no one will have time to read this, because it is not my intention
> to give him any more attention. However, as an American who lives and
> works in Europe, I felt I must respond. How any presumably intelligent
> human being can compare what he "observed, "as a mid- December tourist,
> in Paris and Amsterdam, to the complexities of American people and
> culture is absolutely beyond me. C'mon!! If we are going to make such
> stupid simplistic comparisons, let's do apples with apples and oranges
> with oranges! If that is even possible or necessary.
> It is true that we Americans are on average "fatter" than Europeans,
> even though on a per capita basis, we eat less chocolate and consume
> less beer. That is the only one of Kunstler's "observations" with
> which I can agree. However, I am sure the reasons for the differences
> are more complex than reducing us to lonely lumps eating our cheez
> doodles and frozen pizza, waddling through the aisles of warehouse
> depots, having just dropped off our children at local movie theaters to
> be entertained. Unbelievable, that anyone could write such a thing. My
> only thought is that Mr. Kunstler must like to stir the pot and get
> people's attention anyway he can. He got mine.
> Having just returned from a day of shopping in Zürich, I have some
> of my own "observations," and a few facts to add as well. Here are just
> a few of them.
> The department stores, shops and restaurants were all mobbed.
> Standing rooms only. The more upscale gourmet markets and designer
> stores were the most crowded. People were consuming in every sense of
> the word. Shopping. Having gifts wrapped. Eating. Drinking. Buying
> DVDS and CDS for "at home" (?couch potato) enjoyment. Spending money.
> Christmas is very big here as it throughout Europe. Decorations have
> been up for almost a month now.
> People weren't dressed up or even well dressed. For every hundred
> people I passed, I saw maybe 1 or 2 who could "pass" as business types
> in major US cities. I saw a few women in mink coats. They looked out
> of place. Jeans, sweatshirts, baggy sweaters, scarves, parkas, etc.
> That's what I saw.
> There were huge traffic jams. Believe it or not, not everyone rides
> the trains.
> We passed three Starbucks coffeehouses within a half mile radius.
> They were jammed packed. Caramel macchiatos are as popular here as in
> the US. They are as expensive too. Trendy? Yes.
> People smoke. Alot. Men, women, young teens and pregnant women.
> They have no qualms about blowing smoke in your face either. It is
> hard to find "non-smoking" areas anyplace. And to think, that in good
> old New York city, people don't have to suffer from second hand smoke
> anymore.
> People drink. Alot. Even in the middle of the day. Beer, wine,
> schnapps, etc. American wines are in and much more of a status symbol
> than French or even Australian wines.
> Guess what too? We saw a decorated department store - sponsored
> trolley, being driven down a main street by a Santa, filled with young
> children whose parents were presumably shopping elsewhere. Abandoned
> children? I don't think so. Smart marketing? Yes.
> The conversations I overhead (and believe me, I love to listen to
> others) didn't seem any more or less "meaningful" or significant than
> anywhere else in the world. I don't have anything solid to base this on
> however, just observations. From general appearances, some people
> seemed happy, but more seemed stressed, tired, and caught up in the
> holiday bustle.
> Oh well, nevertheless, it was a great day, but no more fun than it
> would have been in any other capital US city.
> Now for a few facts. People in Europe take antidepressants too.
> They have plenty of stress and problems of all sorts. Does Mr. Kunstler
> have any idea how many medications the average French person takes on a
> regular basis? Check it out. Divorce is prevalent. The divorce rate
> in Switzerland is as high as in the US. Domestic violence is growing.
> Folks have huge TV's and entertainment centers. Most homes have
> computers. Mobile phones for teenagers are de rigeur. Frozen pizza and
> other fast foods are popular. Take-out meals are on the upswing. Casual
> dress is the norm. Get my point?
> Isn't it possible that in the end, people are people, wherever we
> live? Aren't we all more alike than different? I think so. I believe
> most of us want to live and work and love the best we can. It's our
> friends and loved ones who matter most. We try to do the best we can
> with what we've got.
> I live and work here most of the year, but I am and will always be
> an American and proud of it.
> So let's stop now with these silly cultural comparisons. We're just all
> people, connected in more ways than not.
> Happy holidays to anyone who has the time to read this.
>
> Barbara Crowell Roy
> Sachseln, Switzerland
> December 22, 2004
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