Journey through the new Holy Land, The Zazzbot visits the USA.....Opinions and Observations

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I have been to the States many times.
Interestingly, ATS has profoundly altered my way of observing this weird and wonderful land. Firstly being a tall Aussie lass, I felt like I was a petite slender elf moving around the malls, the fatty boom sticks stand out...bless them, but it really STANDS out to a visitor...so I thank you America for making the Zazzbot feel like she was Elfin and Model-like even for just a deluded month...


How does the rest of the world view America? With partial envy, but mostly fury. Interestingly, Americans view themselves much the same. With a sense of pride from belonging to a nation that should represent freedom, justice and democracy. Its' own people feel they either are furious at their lot in life, or envious of those who have more. The sweet part is, no matter how much they complain or attack each other, should someone else attack them for the very thoughts and way of life they themselves object to, they will be met with a fury and abandon.


"By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
And fired the shot heard 'round the world."
Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Concord Hymn" (1837),

I visited the Concord and Lexington areas of Massachusetts,and meandered to the Old North Bridge where in April 19, 1775 the shot was fired that was heard around the world. I spent quite some time amongst the very descendants of the minute men who were the first in battle against the British. Their psyche and pride reflect a sense of timelessness, they speak of their fallen ancestors all those centuries ago with the same pride and loss had it been their own father, mother or sons. I sat and looked at the Bridge where America began, and reflected...what had this country become since that shot was heard. Has America become the vision these freedom fighters had for their children's children? What do Americans truly think Freedom is?

When someone fights for their independence they do not take it fore granted. In Australia, we gained ours quietly, and therefore we do not have the same passion for our 'freedoms'.
What I noticed was that many American communities replaced their British 'overlords' with another form of controls....Before the frothing of the mouth ensues from my American cousins allow me to elaborate

Nationalism and Religion

Pride and a sense of belonging to a clan or community is what Americans get from these two social controls.
Whilst I am more than happy for anyone to identify themselves with being from one group or another, I was left perplexed as to why only a small percentage of Americans question the very nature of the identity they were raised in.
After all....Is it natural to be a American? Is it natural to be a Christian, or Moslem, Or Buddhist etc...(lets face it with America I am really referring to Christians) What is a learned behavior? Why do people clutch so tightly to these identities....Is it because as Humans we don't want to feel alone....that if I have more people in my psyche set, then we must be right.......
I have traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and would it surprise my dear Americans that the fanaticism of being a American or a God fearing Christian, actually stands out far more than being a moslem....Ouch I know, but truly it does, they go about their day to day and don't really mention Islam to you. Where as In the States, being a American or a Christian is very much front of mind at all times. Who is being brainwashed? Who is more fanatical about that which they were raised in? Lets face it, you are born into a nation and a religion usually, and you are taught to be that identity from the get go.....The end result in the Middle East and Indonesia (largest Islamic country in the world) is that as a visitor, you really don't hear about it and have it forced on you.....I sadly could not say the same for the US.

GUNS.
The Gun culture is really odd also for me, where I view guns as things that kill people, sitting at the Concorde bridge, I understood why the right to bear arms was so important...250 odd years ago, so needed and now we need to consider; what had guns become for the Minute Mens descendants?
Do Americans carry guns because they are fighting off oppressors? Or fighting off each other? I have a police officer friend who is a captain, and she never took her weapons home...she has four boys, and said..."we Americans have been tricked somewhere along the line into believe these things protect us and represent freedom, really they just kill us" I thought it interesting. The gun debate is so vastly different, from Massachusetts where they love their leso marriages and political correctness, to Texans' who shoot the TV with one of their 11 guns, the opinion is so varied.
Why is it varied? Is it a matter of haves versus haves not ?
Why does one part of America feel disinclined to be around Guns, and another treat it like they are collecting treasure? A symbol of freedom.
I pondered that a bit, Why is a gun a symbol of freedom whenit takes a life? Truly, I need no gun or any symbol, to know my freedom is in my thoughts, and no one can change that. That is the only true freedom, when one unshackles that which they have been taught, and enjoys 'relearning' and formulating opinions and understandings that are not passed onto them from their parents, because their parents passed it down to them.


Education
Speaking of teaching our kids things.....There is a glaring disparity between areas of the US, I found it to have the best education in the world in some places, where teachers actually care for students, and in others, I had to teach a lad with only 4 teeth how to spell AC/DC...the Rock band from OZ
Surely Education (not censored and controlled education) should be for all? Is this a socialist view? when "socialism' is bandied as a insult, is it really people acting as a mouthpiece for others to prevent equality, for truly equality amongst people can only come from the power of learning. Especially from re-learning. If Americans could relearn their identity, and what makes them who they are....perhaps they would no longer separate themselves from other countries and use guns and religious rants on each other within their own house. I hope Americans can lead the way in realizing all people are born equal, fluke puts you on one rock compared to another, and because this sense of earned and fought freedom is so prevalent still in the US psyche, It would be wonderful for them to lead the way on freedom on a bigger scale than just themselves....and I don't mean by invading a country for no reason and pretending to make them free Perhaps we should all "relearn" what FREEDOM means, without money and power controls.

.......Relearning can only benefit the American Adult. They cannot blame a god or a devil, for that which they purely control themselves. The outcomes of our lives, are a direct result of our own intents and actions. If our intent is to teach all, and provide for all, then America would indeed become the great country its minute men fought and died for.

Homo- Leso versus Hetro ac, Pro Life/Pro Choice, Women v men, White v Black.....

YAWN and the list goes on...
All the yelling on these social issues...It made my white arse twitch.... everywhere you go, in the newspapers, cafes, bars, someone has a opinion on these divisive social topics. Why do they come up at all? Who are you a marionette for as you sit and scream on these issues? Why does one skin colour, religion, gender, sexuality have any impact on you, other than if you fear it for some reason?
These Social issues are by no means limited to the USA, but for some reason, I just hear it more there anywhere.
Why is this? It is because of a sense of freedom of speech that Americans spout their opinion whether its asked for or not? Hmmm, Really what one does with their Uterus, God or Girly/Boy Bits is really none of my business, its quite boring to think I care....Why do you all care to yell so loudly about it....

All countries have peoples enslaved to a sense of nationalism...whilst it brings protection and pride, it causes great grief around the world, America is not alone in this, in fact we all stand pretty much shoulder to shoulder exposing our pride of origins.....I wander when someone will stop and start asking;
'Umm isnt being a "type" or culture just all made up to make us all feel better about not being alone? A excuse to gain power over another. It gives us a sense of entitlement'

"I am right...you are wrong, you do not belong"....As we all chant this in one way or another via bibles, koran's etc from our countries and our religions, I hope that a country as great as America takes the lead to start to question what it means being human, rather than just what it means to be an American.

That all said Mr Zazz is a Yank...so you produce wonderful as much as anything else .sigh~.......
A big thank you to the ATS ers on all sides of the nation that met up with the Zazzbot and showed her round. Truly your hospitality and friendliness goes beyond measure....
There were Dego Americans ATSers, African American ATSers, Muslims and Jews, and all other sorts of multi cultural wonderfulness. They came together as Americans showing a Aussie BOT a great time.

This is not the new holy land,
glad you had a good time, I hope that the proud knuckle dragging gun totting uneducated fanatics make sure it's here for you to visit and write opinions on for a very long time.

Sounds like you had a great time

Hope to get over there myself someday and compare the differences in our cultures

Originally posted by zazzafrazz
The sweet part is, no matter how much they complain or attack each other, should someone else attack them for the very thoughts and way of life they themselves object to, they will be met with a fury and abandon.

Mostly because we're just one big dysfunctional family. I might think my sister's an idiot and my brother is a tool, but that doesn't mean you get to say they are. Doesn't mean we all get along, because we don't, but when it comes to the really important things we can at least cooperate. Not that much unlike other countries I would imagine.

The end result in the Middle East and Indonesia (largest Islamic country in the world) is that as a visitor, you really don't hear about it and have it forced on you.....I sadly could not say the same for the US.

I have to wonder where you went that people were constantly telling you "I'm an American. I'm a Christian.", were trying to force you to become an American and a Christian, or were unable to talk about anything but being an American and a Christian. Doesn't sound like any place in the country I've ever been to. Only place that comes even close to that is a church, but it's rather obvious that you'll have religion in your face if you go to one.

Why does one part of America feel disinclined to be around Guns, and another treat it like they are collecting treasure?

Why does one part of America feel disinclined to be around or drink beer, and another go so far as to collect empty bottles of various alcohols? Because of individual preferences. Doesn't make one part crazy and the other right. It just makes them two sides of the same coin.

If Americans could relearn their identity, and what makes them who they are....perhaps they would no longer separate themselves from other countries and use guns and religious rants on each other within their own house.

I agree with you on education, but I have to wonder what that has to do with relearning our national identity. We don't need to relearn who we are just because someone doesn't like us.

Why is this? It is because of a sense of freedom of speech that Americans spout their opinion whether its asked for or not? Hmmm, Really what one does with their Uterus, God or Girly/Boy Bits is really none of my business, its quite boring to think I care....Why do you all care to yell so loudly about it....

For the same reason that people in other countries give us their opinion whether it's asked for or not. For the same reason people in other countries yell so loudly about it. Because we can. I agree with you that none of those things really matter, but some people think they do and they have the right to their opinion and the right to voice it whether I like it or not.

oh zazza
thanks for sharing your experiences

sounds like an awsome trip

Originally posted by HappilyEverAfter
This is not the new holy land,

appears I should have mentioned sarcasm detection is not always a strong point......

Originally posted by OzWeatherman


Hope to get over there myself someday and compare the differences in our cultures

I'd rather you not. All that bottled up hatred...and, besides, we all know about you're disinformationist agenda.

Originally posted by zazzafrazz

Originally posted by HappilyEverAfter
This is not the new holy land,

appears I should have mentioned sarcasm detection is not always a strong point......

I'm not so much into passing judgement and labeling, I'm sure you have a fine country full of various types down there, I dont think I'll ever have the chance to visit them all to come to an all encompassing opinion,
I've found that people are people wherever you go,
it's governments and agencies that cover a populace with ugly colors.
Here's an open invitation,if you ever return, to be a guest, I can introduce you to washed, educated, caring, but still proud and gun totting specimens.
And your sarcasm was far from undetected,
Thank you very much.