Comments on: Category of one

By: Snake Eater

Snake Eater — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:55:46 +0000

Mike, Thanks for the support.

Kris, Beware… words especially sweeping generalizations like “your ancestors fed everyone else who came here” are grist for the Snark-Meisters mill… a jucy target of opportunity presented itself and I struck…I did mean what I said… and thanks again to your ancestors for feeding my Grandparents. Best

By: Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:54:36 +0000

PS, We help others because we can, because it’s expected and as Americans we demand it of ourselves…if gratitude follows all the better… to expect or demand it is naive.

Snake – since that is a “PS”, I presume it’s directed at me for previous comments. I never insinuated that I expected gratitude. Quite the contrary. If you would reference my original comment #9, you will see I don’t particularly care if the world likes us – or not. When it comes to offering help, it is the right thing to do. I never said otherwise.

As for the rest of your comment – I’ll presume that you knew what I meant and are just being your snarky-self.

Best…

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:57:26 +0000

Snake Eater makes a good point. It doesn’t matter if those receiving our aid show gratitude, and I’m embarrassed when some of my fellow Americans seem to demand it at times (naive, yes, and immature). We should do it because it’s the right thing to do, and because we can. We should simply ignore our critics. Except when they berate us at an international conference, in which case we should walk out. Enough is enough, after all.

By: Snake Eater

Snake Eater — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:29:09 +0000

Kris, Let me take this opportunity to correct the record and to thank you and your fellow tribesmen/women ( you sure don’t look Indian) for feeding my grandparents( both sides) when they first arrived here in the late 19th century… they never did mention it …the ingrates. Best

PS, We help others because we can, because it’s expected and as Americans we demand it of ourselves…if gratitude follows all the better… to expect or demand it is naive.

PPS, Kris…think Asian land bridge in the way way way back between what is now Alaska and Siberia…ring any bells?

By: Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:05:41 +0000

Michelle – I got it. And thank you.

I’m proud of my country and what she stands for. We always stand up first, always. That’s the point I was trying to make.

When someone else stands up first, I’ll take back what I said.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:34:53 +0000

A bit of a moot point, I think, Kris.

What’s that quote … mangling it badly I know, but something to the effect from those given great gifts, great things are expected. I think that’s kind of apt here. The sad part comes, I think, in a situation like this when American generosity isn’t appreciated, resulting in hurt feelings sometimes leading to comments that might be misinterpreted by some and deliberately seized upon and twisted by others (the jerks of the world). A vicious circle kind of thing.

Not sure if that was very clear. What I’m trying to say is that there are some in the world who might misinterpret a comment like Kris’ as snobbery and others who would intentionally twist it and use it further their own agenda. That being that America is a bad guy, of course.

Okay, I think maybe I will shut up now.