This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“Racial disparity: Institutional Racism from Black Codes to the Present”
Tag Archives: Opinion
But That Was Then, This Is Now : Part 1 Introduction
Posted in Civil Rights, Housing, Jim Crow Era, Poverty, Racism
Tagged 14th Amendment, African Americans, Black Code, Civil Rights Act, Civil War, Discrimination, Jim Crow, Opinion, Racism, Reconstruction, Segregation, Slavery
Fascism in America 2: Exceptionalism
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“American Exceptionalism Is a Dangerously Naive Form of Nationalism”
Posted in American exceptionalism, Fascism, Government, Government US, History US, Migrate, Proportional Representation, Racist Groups, Society, Trump supporters, US Politics, Violence
Tagged American exceptionalism, constitution, Democracy, Fascism, fascism in America, Government, Indoctrination, kneeling NFL players, National Anthem, Nationalism, Opinion, politics, Trump
Fascism in America 1: Introduction
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
From Nationalism to Patriotism, Again
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“Charlottesville: From Patriotism to Nationalism to Malignant Nationalism”
Posted in Education, Government, History, Language, Media, Migrate, Psychology, Slavery, Society, US Politics, World War Two
Tagged Charlottesville, education, Fascism, group psychology, Indoctrination, Nationalism, Opinion, Patriotism, Pledge of Allegiance, politics, society, Trump, white supremacy, writing prompt education, writing prompts
Neither Racist Nor Responsible?
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“The Blurry Lines Between White Responsibility, White Privilege and Racism”
From Nationalism to Patriotism: A Girl Can Dream
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“Recognizing Fascism: Introducing History Education in Post-Trump America”
Posted in Education, Emigration / Immigration, Government, History, Language, Media, Psychology, Religion, Slavery, Society, US Politics, Violence, World War Two
Tagged Charlottesville, Civil War, Confederate statues, critical thinking, education, Fascism, history, KKK, Nationalism, neo-nazis, Opinion, Patriotism, Trump, white supremacists, World War Two
Whenever You’re Ready
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
Posted in Education, Government, High School, History, Migrate, Religion, Science, Slavery, Society, US Politics, World War Two
Tagged Charlottesville, critical thinking, culture, education, Fascism, geography, history, KKK, moral compass, Opinion, politics, re-education, religion, Trump, white supremacists
Open Letter To Livid Boy Scouts Parents
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“To Livid Boy Scouts Parents: Trump’s Speech at the 2017 National Jamboree”
Plenty of Reasons Why
Image: Netflix
I finished watching the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why this morning. High school in America is so vastly different from my high school experience in the Netherlands on every level, and it never ceases to shock me. Continue reading
Posted in High School, Movies, Psychology, Television
Tagged 13 Reasons Why, Opinion, rape, review, school bullying, spoiler alert, teen suicide
Get Real, America!
Image: cnn.com
This week White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer uttered what may be the most offensive garbage yet, claiming that Bashar al-Assad is worse than Hitler, because even Hitler didn’t use chemical weapons, at least not on his own people and not in their cities and villages. Continue reading
Belated Note to Self
(It’s April, so it’s National Poetry Writing Month. One prompt I saw this morning was to find a picture of your younger self and write a poem describing the mood and telling your younger self something about the future. I had just the thing already on my mind.) Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Society, Writing Prompt Responses
Tagged beauty standards, fat-shaming, napowrimo 2017, negative self-image, Opinion, poems, poetry, wellbeing
Breastfeeding My Babies
Breakfast in Central Park, May 1998
Yesterday I was reading something that reminded me how much I loved breastfeeding. I’ve been meaning to write about it for years, and I keep forgetting. It’s one of the best things–if not the best thing–I’ve ever done. Talk about having a purpose! My very body was keeping this brand-new little human alive and thriving. Continue reading
Posted in Eating out, Food, Society, Writing Prompt Responses
Tagged breastfeeding, motherhood, newborns, Opinion, society, writing prompt contoversy
How to Find a Balance
Image: amazon.com
Sometimes I think that I should take a break from the news, just turn the car radio to music and not read my Flipboard or Facebook feed for a few days, because it gets too stressful. But right after that I think, what a luxury to be able to contemplate turning it all off for a while because it’s too hard to hear, too much to read about. Continue reading
Posted in Government, Psychology, Society, US Politics, Violence
Tagged anxiety, centering, escapism, meditation, Opinion, politics, Racism, society, Trump, Violence, Xenophobia
Civil, Angry, Civilly Angry?
Image: snopes.com
My friend and neighbor had a dilemma two days ago. He wanted to “like” my post to support my family going to the march, but he himself has started holding meetings in Austin to discuss how we can bring back the civil discourse, and my last post wasn’t that civil. Continue reading
Posted in Language, Media, Psychology, Society, US Politics
Tagged civil discourse, misogyny, Opinion, politics, Presidential Election 2016, presidential inauguration 2017, Racism, society, Trump
Caught By Surprise
Once a week I have three hours to kill in East Austin. I kill them at Denny’s, because it’s close to where I need to pick up R when she’s done, and because they play 60s and 70s rock–my music. I usually take my laptop and sit at one of the two tables near an outlet, so I can write. Continue reading
Graceful I Am Not!
Today’s writing prompt is Graceful.
Ha-ha-ha!
If there’s ever a word that describes what I am not most completely, it’s graceful. I’m the epitome of the proverbial bull in a china shop. More like a stumbling drunk bull in the British Museum’s Asia section. Watch out folks, here she comes. Hide your valuables! Continue reading
Posted in Emigration / Immigration, Language, Psychology, Society, Writing Prompt Responses
Tagged clothing, compliments, emigration, etiquette, grace, graceful, immigration, language, make-up, Opinion, psychology, society, writing prompt
Dear NBC, About that Episode of The Blacklist…
Image: nbc.com
Dear Blacklist producers,
I’ve been binge-watching season 3 on Netflix. Since you probably won’t actually be reading this and others will, allow me to set it up.
James Spader plays a larger than life, debonair master criminal who helps the FBI bag other master criminals, but really, the FBI is helping him in plans it has no knowledge of.
It’s an enjoyable enough series, but the end of episode 10 got my goat. Don’t worry, producers, I won’t spoil anything. Continue reading
Posted in Holland, Language, Open Letters, Television, Travel
Tagged letters, NBC, Netflix, Open Letters, Opinion, stereotypes, technology, television series, The Blacklist, The Netherlands
Fun Facts About Facts, Truth, and Reality
Image: addictinginfo.org
Donald Trump is worried that the mediator in the first presidential debate on Monday will fact-check his statements. That right there should tell you everything you need to know about what he plans to say, but only if you still know what facts are. So let’s explore the language around the issue for a bit. Continue reading
Posted in Language, Media, Society, US Politics
Tagged Donald Trump, facts, language, Opinion, politics, Presidential Election 2016, reality, truth
Land of the Free to Be Ignorant and Ridiculous
Image: aslkingpointsmemo.com
In the spirit of refueling, I downloaded an app with Dutch news from different media. And right away an article in Elsevier caught my eye.
It’s about a Muslim school in the town of Zaandam, that sued four parents of former students for slander and libel. Continue reading
Tagged America, conspiracies, defamation, Europe, Fethullah Gulen, libel, lies, media, Netherlands, Opinion, slander, terrorist schools, terroristenschool, Trump, Zaandam
Boycott Those Damn Mexican Taco Trucks!
Image: azcentral.com
A Trump surrogate recently stated that, without stricter immigration policies, we’ll soon see a taco truck on every street corner. Now, I’m almost per definition against anything coming from the Trump camp. I’m liberal, anti-bigotry, anti-fascism and all that. However, I’m not that easily pigeon-holed. Because I have to say, I agree that having a taco truck on every street corner would be a terrible scenario on every level.
Here’s why. Continue reading
Open Letter to Trump’s Deplorables
Image: talkingpointsmemo.com
Dear Trump supporters,
By now nobody can ignore that Trump’s an outright racist, misogynist, homophobe, islamophobe and xenophobe. The evidence in speeches, interviews and on Twitter is overwhelming. I agree with Hillary Clinton that most of the folks that still support him are also racists, homophobes, islamophobes and xenophobes, and that’s definitely deplorable. Continue reading
Immigration and Identity : Mourning My Losses 1
I’ve started reading Immigration and Identity by Salman Akhtar. He speaks about the loss of identity and the mourning process involved for emigrants. I had never thought about it in those terms, but yes, when you emigrate, your identity changes to a degree, and yes, there is definitely mourning involved. Continue reading
Posted in Emigration / Immigration, Psychology
Tagged career, emigration, family, friends, identity, identity loss, immigration, independence, loss of identity, mourning, Opinion, psychology, society
Narcissists and Power
Here’s a good article about narcissists, and why they should never be given as much power as Americans could give Trump in November.
Posted in US Politics
Tagged narcissism, narcissists, Opinion, politics, power, Trump, world leaders
How Separate Are We, Really?
image: nairaland.com
On July 14, a man ran his truck into crowds of people enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France, killing eighty-some and wounding so many others.
Bastille Day celebrates the birth of the French Republic, with its motto, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Fraternity means, among other things, communal support, friendship, brotherhood. Continue reading
Posted in Austin, Government, Police, Religion, Society, Travel, US Politics, Violence
Tagged Bastille Day attack, Baton Rouge, human connections, opinie, Opinion, peace, police shootings, Police Violence, politics, religion, six degrees of separation, society, terrorism
Will Trump Become Presidential?
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“2016 Presidential Election: Trump Is the Presumptive Republican Nominee“
Posted in Migrate, US Politics
Tagged dictator, fascist, GOP, Opinion, politics, Presidential Election 2016, Trump
Me, Forging Empires
A while ago I started playing Forge of Empires. It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten involved in any kind of digital game, at least not since getting addicted to Pong when I should have been studying, back in library school. Continue reading
Posted in Government, History, Recreation, Society, US Politics
Tagged empire, Forge of Empires, military, online games, Opinion, playful, Robin Hood, war, writing prompts
Harmony
This week’s photo challenge: Harmony.
Last summer we stayed a week in upstate New York with my wonderful brother and sister in law. They took us to visit their friends’ small farm. About thirty acres, if I remember correctly. A stream, a pond, wooded area, swamp, meadows. An open barn where the animals can come and go as they please. Continue reading
Posted in Consumption, Photography, Vacations
Tagged farming, food, harmony, mixed farming, natural farming, New York State, Opinion, photo challenge, photography
American Crossroads: Reagan, Trump and the Devil Down South
Image: ew.com
I posted this awesome article by Ben Fountain on the Resident Alien Facebook page, but that only has fifty readers. So here it is as well, my borrowed submission for yesterday’s writing prompt “Inevitable“. (And it’s never too late to like my page for more stuff that’s relevant to my blog posts.)
How the Republican party slowly but surely got Americans ripe for a …hm…man, person, specimen, angry goldfish like Trump. Also, I now know what “dog whistle politics” is.
Posted in Government, History, Migrate, Society, US Politics
Tagged Donald Trump, GOP, history, KKK, Ku Klux Klan, Opinion, Presidential Election 2016, Racism, Reagan, Republican Party, Tea Party, white supremacists
I Question Your OCD
Image: fanpop.com
Do you recognize a lot of yourself in Monk?
Are you detail-oriented in your cleaning?
Is your house in perfect order, everything in its place?
Do you feel the need to straighten crooked pictures?
Do you dislike getting dirty? Continue reading
Posted in Psychology
Tagged mental illness, misconceptions, Monk, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD, Opinion, psychiatry, psychology
No Pat On My Back
image: camstockphoto.com
Today’s writing challenge is to tell someone that I’m proud of how proud I am. Continue reading
Tagged humor, language, Opinion, Pat on the Back, poetry, pride, proud, rhyming, writing challenge
Call Me Crazy
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“Under a President Trump, Would Democracy Survive or Would Fascism Win?”
Posted in US Politics
Tagged Donald Trump, Fascism, Iowa caucus, militias, narcissism, Opinion, Presidential Election 2016, Trump residency, white supremacists
Hot Messes
image: theguardian.com
Like the Hot Mess Stephen Marche mentions below, this article feels like at least four separate articles all scrambled into one. But it’s worthwhile as an impression of America and its politics by a (Canadian) outsider.
Posted in Government, Migrate, Society, US Politics
Tagged America, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, election, Opinion, politics, race relations, white privilege
Table Manners
image: pinterest.com
How do you eat a salad? How do you cut your steak?
In Holland, I learned to eat with knife and fork, the European way. Holding your knife in your right hand, in a certain way, and your fork in your left hand, in a certain way. The cutting or folding of leaves happens just so and you keep your knife an fork in your hands the whole time you’re eating. Not just with salads, anything that isn’t finger food. Continue reading
Posted in Eating out, Emigration / Immigration, Food, Holland
Tagged America, culture, eating, etiquette, humor, immigrants, knife and fork, Opinion, table manners, The Netherlands
Who’s That Caroling From Muscle Memory?
Every year, on the first Saturday in December, John Aeilli–host of the KUTX program Eclecticos–and a few other public radio people lead the Christmas caroling on the steps of the Texas Capitol and my family and I always join in. Yes, I know, no separation between church and state, but I pick and choose which principles I stand for as much as the next person. So sue me. Continue reading
Posted in Austin, Music, Religion
Tagged caroling, Christmas, Christmas carols, humor, John Aeilli, KUTX, music, Opinion, religion, traditions, War on Christmas
Good Grief And Happy Holidays!
Source: Good Grief And Happy Holidays!
Great post about the War on Christmas by a blogger I follow.
Tagged Christmas, Holidays, humor, Opinion, War on Christmas
I Finally Get It!
image: themoderntog.com
Why Trump is bat-shit crazy? Why people love him? No.
Pinterest! Continue reading
Posted in Consumption, Food, Lists, Technology
Tagged consumer information, DIY, ideas, information sharing, Opinion, organization, Pinteerest, products, recipes, technology
So How About Thanksgiving?
A few years ago, when I wrote a series of posts arguing that Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) is racist, one of my readers asked, but how about Thanksgiving? Isn’t that racist as well? Continue reading
Tagged black pete, history, Mayflower, Native Americans, Opinion, pandemics, pilgrims, Racism, Sinterklaas, Thanksgiving, Zwarte Piet
What Passes for History Here
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“What Passes for American History Education is Pathetic, and Now I Know Why”
Where is Our Compassion?
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my new blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“American Islamophobia: Sixteen States Plan to Refuse Syrian Refugees”
Facing the Problem
image: abc7chicago.com
Terrorists have shot and blown up 132 people (at last count) in Paris. ISIS has claimed responsibility and says this is just the beginning of the wave. Continue reading
This Crazy Rollercoaster
image: huffingtonpost.com
I mention in my yellow sticky post on the homepage that I often seem disgusted and elated in quick succession. Well, I wasn’t kidding. Continue reading
Hot, Cold, or Clueless?
image: youtube.com
Okay, the problem with starting a series of posts on one incident is that in the meantime other stuff happens. Though I was intent on not going along with the “news cycle,” I’m going to cut my posts on the Spring Valley High School SRO assault on a female student short. The two remaining posts, about American football coach idolization and the lack of mental health support in this country will have to wait until another time.
A few days ago I came across an article about the state of the Cold War in 1983. Continue reading
And Now for Some Sweetness and Light
image from cadyluckleedy.com
Well, I have been focused on the extremes of religion lately, so now it’s time for something more upbeat. (Even I can get sick of my negativity after a while.) Continue reading
Posted in homeless, Religion, Society
Tagged atheism, catholicism, homeless Jesus, moderate Christians, Opinion
Pope Francis Goes to Washington
image: popefrancisnyc.org
So, the pope. CNN was wall-to-wall pope from the moment he set foot in Cuba to the moment he left America. It was hard not to get carried along in the enthusiasm oozing from the (Catholic) reporters. He was wonderful! Amazing! Best pope ever! Rock star Francis! It was like the Beatles were coming to town! Etc. Continue reading
Confederate-flag-racism
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“The Confederate Flag Will No Longer Fly at the South Carolina State Capitol”
My Ideology
Image: ato1952.com
I was recently accused of having a left-wing ideology by someone who commented on a post about the pledge of allegiance.
Merriam-Webster defines ideology as: Continue reading
Posted in Psychology, Society
Tagged ideology, independent thinking, liberal ideology, Liberals, Opinion, wingnuts
If I Were Queen…
Image: usnews.nbc.com
I regularly come across the writing prompt “If you were king…” I usually don’t know where to begin. Or I think of the painfully boring and restrictive life Queen Elizabeth of Britain leads, and then I lose my appetite for being queen. And in any case, America doesn’t have kings or queens.
But wait, America does have tsars! Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Government, Technology
Tagged Government, Opinion, paperwork, student loans, technology, VA, veterans, Veterans' Affairs, volunteering
Speechless, But Trying: The Church Shooting in Charleston S.C.
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“White Man Kills Nine Black People in Church Shooting in Charleston S.C.”
Posted in Violence
Tagged America, Charleston, church shooting, church shooting charleston S.C., confederate flag, Gun Rights, Opinion, Racism, shootings, white supremacists
This Says it All
I found this video on a post about Zwarte Piet by Travelogues of an African Girl. Holland, it’s time to catch up.
Posted in Holland
Tagged black pete, opinie, Opinion, Racism, racisme, Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet
They’re All Druggies and Alcoholics
image: askusfortcollins.com
An argument you hear often for not helping the homeless is that if you give them money, they just spend it on drugs or alcohol.
First of all, there are plenty of people homeless who aren’t drug addicts or alcoholics. It’s often hard to tell the difference. Continue reading
Zwarte Piet and Ferguson
image: vrij-zinnig.nl
In a reply to a comment by Onno on one of my posts about Zwarte Piet, I mentioned that the Netherlands is still in the Stone Age when it comes to racial sensitivity. Onno responded by pointing to Ferguson. Continue reading
Posted in Holland, Police, Society
Tagged black pete, Ferguson, Netherlands, opinie, Opinion, police brutality, Racism, racisme, Zwarte Piet
Please DO Feed the Homeless
image: sleuthjournal.com
It’s that time of year again: people donate to food banks that feed the hungry and to organizations that provide meals for the homeless. Continue reading
Sinterklaas: Let’s Put This into Perspective, Again
image: sint-nicolaas.nl
Okay, one more repost, because I’ve had so many hits on the last one. Clearly there’s an interest and the post below is one that gets skipped a lot, it seems.
After this I’m stopping with the Zwarte Piet issue, at least for this year. I think.
Tagged black pete, discriminatie, Netherlands, opinie, Opinion, Piet moet blijven, Racism, racisme, Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet
Sinterklaas: Breaking Down Some Arguments, Again
Its that time of year again in the Netherlands: Sinterklaas is coming. From what I gather over here in Texas, for now, the people who want to keep Zwarte Piet black have won.
There’s no point to me saying everything I already said at length last year, but for those of you who missed it then, here’s one of the posts I wrote about the issue below. Or, if you want, you can start at the beginning. And if you’re one of those who say I have no right to say anything because I’m an outsider, I have dedicated my last post in the series especially to you.
So here goes:
————————————————————————————————–
Gender and Grammar and Growth, Oh My!
image: exchange.smarttech.com
My son B has been maturing by leaps and bounds the past couple of months. It’s like he’s having a massive mental growth spurt.
As a result, he is increasingly finding out what it means to be him, and learning how to be more assertive about the boundaries between himself and others. At the same time he’s also expanding his experience to include more and more of the world around him. All this seems to suddenly be happening at a faster pace than ever before. Continue reading
It’s the Honest Truth
A poem for NaPoWriMo.
The sun revolves around the earth,
Something’s wrong with Obama’s birth,
The dinosaurs missed Noah’s ark, Continue reading
Posted in Creative writing, Writing Prompt Responses
Tagged Creative writing, gedichten, humor, kennis, knowledge, lying rhyme, myth, NaPoWriMo, opinie, Opinion, poems, poetry, science, wetenschap
What a Difference a Name Makes
image: cafepress.com
I consider myself to be a relatively tolerant, open-minded person. A pacifist, even. Not always in thought, but definitely in actions. I don’t hate much. It’s a toxic attitude to have. Live and let live, I usually say. But nobody’s perfect, not even yours truly. Continue reading
Posted in Nature
Tagged angst voor spinnen, arachnaphobia, huisdieren, humor, nature, Opinion, pets, spiders, spinnen, tarantulas, vogelspinnen
What is Basic History Education?
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It has emigrated to my new blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism,
where it resides under the title:
“What Is Good History Education: Civil War Battles or Why They Were Fought?”
1000 Followers: Yay Me?
image: themirror.co.uk
Today I have 1000 followers.
It looks good, but I wonder about most of them. On average I get about 50 hits a day and anywhere from five to thirty likes per post, most of them from the same loyal readers. So who are these 1000 followers? Continue reading
American Railroads and the Environment
It’s high time for another one of my pet peeves. This commercial by CSX, one of the big railroad companies, annoys me no end: Continue reading
To Hell and Back: 24 Hours in Las Vegas
In October I saw that there was going to be a New Media Expo (NMX) in the beginning of January and I decided to go. It was in Las Vegas. I hate superficiality, I hate the idea that bigger is always better, I hate unbridled greed and I hate sexual objectification of women.
What could possibly go wrong? Continue reading
Posted in Consumption, Media, Travel, Vacations
Tagged horrible trips, Las Vegas, New Media Expo, NMX, Opinion
Conversation over Breakfast
I treated my homeless friend Steve to a meal of chicken fajitas at Magnolia Cafe the other day. Talking to him for a while is often overwhelming. So much information. So much of it shocking. Continue reading
Tagged Austin, community, daklozen, health care, homeless, homeless camps, no camping ordinance, Opinion, society, United Way
A Little Reminder
image: abcnews.go.com
Judging by the news coverage, you’d think that the biggest worries related to the freezing winds this Thanksgiving are the flight delays and the possible lack of giant balloons at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Continue reading
Open Letter to Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo
Dear Police Chief Acevedo,
I’m an Austin resident. I drive my kids downtown to school every morning and back every afternoon. Since I’ve been driving the same route twice a day for five years, I’ve befriended some of the homeless who stand on corners I almost always stop at. These guys sleep mostly under bridges and overpasses. Continue reading
Posted in Austin, homeless, Police
Tagged Austin, camping, harassment, homeless, letters, no camping ordinance, open letter, Opinion, Police, police chief Art Acevedo, society
What Would Jesus Do?
This Ruthless World is one of my favorite blogs. And her newest post is hilarious. A Tea Party guy reinvents Jesus to fit his personal ideas of what a man should be. And the blogger responds so thoroughly that there is nothing left to add.
Except to ask:
What would Jesus do according to this guy? Well, on Sabbath evening he would probably be whooping hippies’ asses and raising hell!
Tagged bible revision, history, humor, jesus, opinie, Opinion, politics, Ray Wylie Hubbard, rwh, Tea Party, Up Against the Wall, what would jesus do, wwjd
Whatever You Do, Don’t Read This!
I discovered this blog, Conservative Newswire, only last week. I immediately became a follower, because I felt sorry for them. Such inexperienced boys, they were obviously never going to make it without the benefit of my help. Continue reading
Posted in Society
Tagged Conservative Newswire, featured blog, humor, interviews, Opinion, parody, satire, society
Scenic Route
Well, I suppose this NaBloPoMo is a good opportunity to publish a few a-propos-of-nothing posts.
For instance, I’d like to draw your attention to one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Continue reading
Sinterklaas: The Zwarte Piet Issue from the Outside
Several people have pointed out–in a somewhat accusatory tone–that I’m looking at the issue of Zwarte Piet being racist from the outside. To a large degree it’s true. But first let me point out to what degree it’s not. Continue reading
Posted in Education, Holland, Society
Tagged American education, American nationalism, black pete, black peter, Dutch holidays, opinie, Opinion, Pledge of Allegiance, Racism, racisme, Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet
Sinterklaas: Zwarte Piet and a Horse Analogy — Yeah, I’m Really Doing That
Tagged black pete, black peter, Dutch holidays, Netherlands, opinie, Opinion, Racism, racisme, Sinterklaas, Zwarte Piet
Sinterklaas: Breaking Down Some Arguments
Sinterklaas: Let’s Put This into Perspective
image: sint-nicolaas.nl
Sinterklaas: Now I’m Getting to the Point
image: e-carnavalskleding.nl
In yesterday’s post I described the way Sinterklaas is celebrated in the Netherlands. Except I left something out. It’s kind of a biggie.
Sinterklaas has helpers. Originally there was just one helper, but soon there were at least two of them, and when Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands or in a town, there are lots of them. They are called Zwarte Piet–Black Pete or Black Peter.
These Zwarte Pieten are white people with black faces, bright red lips, afro wigs and big gold earrings, who wear Renaissance-style clown costumes.
I Pledge Allegiance — No, This Is Not the Same Post
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“I Pledge Allegiance — No, This Is Not the Same Post: What is Patriotism?”
Posted in US Politics
Tagged DPchallenge, Nationalism, nationality, Opinion, Patriotism, Pledge of Allegiance
I Pledge Allegiance to . . .
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism,
where it resides under the title:
“Battling Nationalism for Maria Montessori: I Pledge Allegiance to the Earth”.
Resident Alien on Facebook!
I know I promised in my last post that I would continue with a post about my gear, but I walked into the garage to find my lightweight camping stuff and two steps into it I changed my mind. First our garage will have to be straightened out. Ugh!
Posted in Writing
Tagged being Dutch in America, blogging, education, Facebook page, Gun Violence, healthcare, humor, Opinion, photography, politics, religion, resident alien, Social media, society, Writing
The Second Middle Ages?
image from googleplussuomi.com
I’ve written before about the influence religion has in American society, and how it sticks its nose in places it doesn’t belong, like the justice system, politics, government, public education and science.
I’ve also reposted this blog post by a woman who grew up in Russia. She points out the ironic similarities between the American Tea Party and Soviet Union ideologies. Continue reading
Posted in Science
Tagged education, Lysenko, Lysenkoism, onderwijs Amerika, opinie, Opinion, politics, Religious right, science, science education, wetenschap Amerika
Antoinette Tuff: Using Her Words
image from beforeitsnews.com
Wow, a few hundred kids and teachers weren’t shot by a guy with an AK47 yesterday. No doubt because another guy one-upped him with an even bigger gun, and shot him full of holes while hysterically screaming “Fuuuuuck you, cocksucker!” and then… What? What’s that? Those kids and teachers weren’t saved by a manly-man with a big gun and a bigger mouth? Oh. They were saved by an unarmed, level-headed woman? Who TALKED THE GUNMAN DOWN? Well shucks, imagine that!
Posted in Society
Tagged Antoinette Tuff, de-escalation skills, Gun Violence, Opinion, School Shootings, society, vuurwapengeweld
The Real America or the Real Issues
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism,
where it resides under the title:
“Hey, Real Americans Out There In Real America, What About the Real Issues?”
Political Correctness or Social Evolution?
image from blogs.scientificamerican.com
Daily Prompt: Is political correctness a useful concept, or does it stifle honest discussion?
Definition of politically correct:
1. Of, relating to, or supporting broad social, political, and educational change, especially to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation.
2. Being or perceived as being overly concerned with such change, often to the exclusion of other matters.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/political+correctness)
Where do I stand?
Gilberton, PA: Too Small to Succeed?
image from city-data.com
The smaller the town, the bigger the chance that your police “chief” and mayor are below par. A small town simply doesn’t have the tax base needed to attract qualified people and there are too few qualified people in the borough itself.
Gilberton ranks way below the Pennsylvania average in pretty much everything, like income, house values and education. It definitely has a very low tax base. And how big is the pool Gilberton has to fish in for its government employees?
Thugs in the Spotlight
image from tumblr.com
Right around the time I wrote my post about Gilberton, PA Police Chief Mark Kessler, there was also a meme going around Facebook asking not to make stupid people famous. So I wondered if I–with many others–was guilty of giving this guy the spotlight, or if I was doing the right thing in drawing attention–again, along with many others–to a disconcerting phenomenon. Continue reading
Open Letter to Mark Kessler, Police Chief of Gilberton, PA
Dear Mr. Police Chief Mark Kessler of Gilberton, Pennsylvania, Continue reading
Posted in Media, Police, US Politics
Tagged America, DPchallenge, freedom of speech, George Zimmerman, Gilberton PA, god and guns, Gun Rights, gun sense, Gun Violence, humor, letters, obscenity, Open Letters, Opinion, police brutality, police chief Mark Kessler, police intimidation, politie Amerika, religion in America, society, Tea Party, Trayvon Martin, vuurwapens
Left Is Scary and Other Hilarious Moments
image from buzzfeed.com
One of the things that remind me regularly that I’m still an alien here is what makes me laugh. Continue reading
Posted in Emigration / Immigration, Society
Tagged daily prompt, emigration, From the Gut, Grumpy Old Men, Heat the movie, humor, immigrants, laughter, Opinion, society
The Long 1950’s … Behind the Iron Curtain
In light of the restrictive abortion law the Texas Republicans are going to get passed, and considering the reckless manner in which many conservatives throw around terms like “communist” and “socialist”, this post by someone from Russia is a must-read. The number of times she uses the word “stupid” n the first few paragraphs may be off-putting, but she gets it out of her system and gets going with the real meat!
As someone who grew up in a totalitarian Communist state, nothing infuriates me more than the incessant conservative droning-on about progressives being “communist”, “socialist” and “Stalinist”. People who say these things use such words as mere slurs, not much different than calling someone an asswipe, and of course, they betray both a profound ignorance of history and a great deal of contempt for it. But more than that, they’ve got it completely backwards. Truth is, American conservatives have remarkably a lot in common with Russian communists: the same obsession with ideological purity, the same irrational intolerance towards loyal dissent, the same prioritizing of ideology over practicality, the same preparedness to sacrifice liberties, human dignity and lives for the sake of ideological totems, the same clash-of-civilizations thinking, the same pretensions at worldwide cultural and political hegemony. And of course, the modern American conservative and the Russian communist of the bygone era…
View original post 2,404 more words
Posted in Healthcare, Society, US Politics
Tagged Abortion, history, ideology, Opinion, sex education, society, Soviet Union, Tea Party
Yellowstone Do-Over Part 8: Messy Miscellaneous
This is what I get from trying to do these vacation posts by theme. I end up with leftovers–pictures that don’t fit in any theme, or I don’t have enough pictures on a topic to merit a whole themed post. Yet I feel like showing them. So this last post about our Yellowstone do-over is pretty unorganized. Hard to accept for a former librarian, but there it is. Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Photography, Vacations
Tagged Chinese tourists, nature, Opinion, photography, travel, trees, vacations, Yellowstone National Park
Simmering Down Now
Yesterday I just accepted all comments without replying to each one. I was venting, not looking for a conversation with people who have never been emigrants themselves. I thought I’d leave that for after I’d calmed down a bit.
Five Things I Can’t Stand
I’ve been feeling kind of truculent lately, so let’s see if a list of five things I can’t stand will get it out of my system.
Let me begin with drivers behind me–when I’m up front at a stoplight, waiting to turn left at an unprotected left turn–honking for me to go ahead and make the turn already. Continue reading
Brigham Young and Infamous Legacies in General
Brigham Young
(image from biography.com)
Well, I’ll probably be banned from ever entering Utah for this, but here goes.
I just read The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. It tells the somewhat parallel stories of two nineteenth wives: Ann Eliza Webb, wife of Brigham Young, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints’ second leader in the 1870s, Continue reading
Posted in Books, History, Religion, Slavery, Society, University
Tagged Ann Eliza Webb, Ann Eliza Young, boeken, books, Brigham Young, Briham Young University, Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, David Ebershoff, godsdienst, Joseph Smith, LDS church, Mormonen, Mormons, opinie, Opinion, polygamy, religie, religion, The 19th Wife
the Earth – something to think about
This poem was posted by I Used to Be Indecisive.
I came across this poem by Joe Miller. It certainly is something to think about.
The Grand American Canyon
(Image from sodahead.com)
It never ceases to amaze me how so many people in America can live in what has been called a “parallel universe”. A universe Fox News not only helps to create, but apparently believes in itself, as witnessed on election night, when its pundits were taken completely off guard by Obama’s victory.
Posted in Holland, Media, Society, Television, US Politics
Tagged Amerika, blogging, community, conspiracy theories, information, Newtown shooting, Opinion, politics, politiek, Social media, televisie, television, The Netherlands, vuurwapens
Point in Case
This post doesn’t live here anymore. It migrated to my other blog:
The Big No-No: An Outsider on American Fascism, where it resides under the title:
“There Should Be Gun Restrictions For People With Mental Health Issues”.
Tagged gun control, Mass Shootings, media, mentally ill, Opinion, Piers Morgan, Second Amendment, society
Martin Chuzzlewit in the U-nited States
(Image: charlesdickenspage.com}
Since I’ve been blogging about Victor Hugo’s stories, let me jump over to England and Charles Dickens.
This winter break I had the bad luck to get the flu. For days I could barely get out of bed. But every cloud has a silver lining, and this cloud’s lining was that I got to read Martin Chuzzlewit in a few days. Continue reading
Posted in Books, Education, History, Society, Travel, US Politics
Tagged 19e eeuw, 19th century, America, American, Amerika, Amerikaans, books, Charles Dickens, Engelse literatuur, English literature, maatschappij, Martin Chuzzlewit, Opinion, society
Load up, Boys, It’s the Asian Menace Again!
image from breitbart.com
Okay, finally I’m getting around to the post about Red Dawn.I think it’s no coincidence that it was remade around this time. Continue reading
All Heil to the Good Guys
In my last post, I addressed the idea of giving teachers guns in the classroom. But the NRA wants more than that. They want everyone to have a gun, because, as they say, “The only thing more dangerous than a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”. Or something like that. Continue reading
Dear Pro-Gun Folks
That signs like this are necessary outside schools is already ridiculous enough.
So you would like to see teachers walking around with assault weapons slung over their shoulders. Your focus is on the idea that those teachers would shoot the killer.
You’re overlooking several aspects of the issue. Continue reading
Posted in Education, Society, US Politics
Tagged community, education, firearms, guns in schools, letters, Newtown shooting, Open Letters, Opinion, politics, School Shootings, teachers, vuurwapens in school
Anything Helps 4: Mustache Man
(Image from:
members.virtualtourist.com
Sometimes a homeless man with a huge horseshoe mustache panhandles at one of the intersections in southwest Austin. I don’t talk with him much, because the timing is rarely right. He’s accompanied by a black Labrador, who usually sits under an umbrella stuck in the ground, a water bowl within reach. Continue reading
Thanksgiving 3: Friends all Over
‘s up?
I am thankful for my friends. From my best friend since we were almost fifteen and my other Dutch friends, to my friends right next door here in Austin, and everyone in between. I don’t need to blog about my appreciation of them, because I connect with them in other ways. (But if you’re reading this: Hi. I love you.)
Here, I want to give thanks to the blogging friends I’ve made. Continue reading
Tagged blogging, community, friendship, Opinion, religion, Thanksgiving
Anything Helps 3: There But for Luck Goes Your Child
(Image from tonic.com)
Disclaimer: I know most of my readers are compassionate people. So this is directed toward–well, you’ll know who you are.
Posted in Austin, Food, homeless
Tagged America, Amerika, Austin, daklozen, DPchallenge, giving money to the homeless, handouts, homeless, Opinion, society, there but for, thuislozen
Anything Helps 2: A Woman With a Dog
(Image from andilit.com)
I know this is a man, but it’s a good picture, isn’t it?
In an earlier post I wrote about Steve, a homeless guy I see almost every day after dropping off the kids at school.
Just Say No to Life Jackets
Okay, I’m shamelessly Facebooking on my blog with this, but concerning the whole contraceptives, rape and abortion controversy, this says it all!
Image: http://www.neatorama.com
Let me explain this for Dutch readers who may not have been following the whole debate about all this closely. Continue reading
The Great Divide: A Question of Color
Photo: redandwhitekop.com
For many years now, there has been a huge rift within our family, caused by traffic lights. T and I are in permanent disagreement and our son B is pretty firmly on my side. R is undecided, but I’m convinced she will see the light (I couldn’t resist) in due time. Continue reading
Posted in Technology, Transportation
Tagged color perception, emigration, family arguments, humor, immigration, Opinion, orange traffic light, traffic, yellow traffic light
The Horror, the Horror! Really, I’m Serious
Photo: paulcurtis.livejournal.com
Ah! Only seven days and one to go to Halloween, my ravenous readers, so I feel compelled to warn you. I move as though invisible through the streets and alleys and I observe the good citizens of my subdivision decorating their trees and lawns with whimsically carved calabashes and synthetic spiderwebs, comfortably convinced that ghouls are merely a myth, a myth upheld for no other reason that to have a costume party. Continue reading
Posted in Media, Religion, Society, Television, US Politics
Tagged America, American, education, extremism, Halloween, horror, KKK, media, Obama, Opinion, politics, Racism, talk radio, Tea Party, zombies. Amerikaans
Freedom vs Safety (No, This Is Not About the War on Terror)
Photo: tellurideinside.com
Every now and then I make myself unpopular with many of my neighbors. We have a Yahoo group, which is great, because with lightning speed we can get the word out about a lost dog or a scam artist in the neighborhood. But sometimes it can get contentious, and when it does, it seems that I’m often right in the middle of it. I have no idea why, because I’m just mild, non-confrontational, li’l ole me, right readers? Continue reading
Posted in Housing, Transportation
Tagged children, DPchallenge, humor, kids in the street, kinderen op straat, Opinion, safety, traffic, veiligheid, verkeer
Your Friendly Neighborhood Politicians: Attack Ads in American and Dutch Elections
Posted in US Politics
Tagged America, American, Amerika, Amerikaans, attack ads, Elections, media, Opinion, parlementary politics, politics, politiek, presidential election 2012, reclame, two-party politics, verkiezingen
Party Platforms: Promises, Promises!
Photo: Harderwiek
Posted in US Politics
Tagged America, American, Amerika, Amerikaans, Dutch, election, Nederland, Opinion, party platforms, politics, politiek, presidential election 2012, United States, Verenigde Staten, verkiezingen
Can Politicians Compromise?
Photo: willysford.com
Should the wing nuts (that’s right-wing nuts and left-wing nuts for you, Dutch readers) have less say in the elections? Or More? How does that work in the Dutch parliamentary system?
Who Can Represent the Whole Country?
Photo: jetmade
My American Dream
This is what I dreamed last night.
I was in a school gym, remembering how we would be made to run laps around a gym just like that in high school in the Netherlands. And I remembered that I could. I’d be tired, and I’d be protesting loudly like any self-respecting un-sporty teenage girl should, but that’s all. And I resented–in this dream–that I can’t run for two minutes now without having a gimpy knee for the next two weeks (this is real; I ran for two minutes last weekend, and now it hurts when I walk down steps). Continue reading
Posted in Dreams, Education, Emigration / Immigration, Healthcare, Holland, Society, Sports, US Politics
Tagged America, American dream, conservatism, construction, dreams, Dutch, education, emigration, health, humor, immigration, Opinion, politics, prudishness, sports
Aasif Mandvi and the Truth
Photo: asiansinthemedia.wordpress.com
I wrote a post about the anti-science attitude of many Republicans two days ago. This Daily Show video is going around Facebook, but it illustrates the ridiculousness of the anti-science folks so beautifully that I just have to share it here as well.
Posted in Religion, Science, US Politics
Tagged Aasif Mandvi, creationism, education America, Evolution, humor, Opinion, politics, Religion vs science, science funding, The Daily Show
Religion vs Science
Photo: csmonitor.com
I have always respected most religious beliefs. Sure, I put my foot in my mouth occasionally, but I have no problem with religion in itself. I can see how there’s a human need for spirituality of one kind or another, and that some of us have a bigger need for it than others. However, there’s supposed to be a separation between church and state in this country, and when that idea is so blatantly trampled, when religion interferes with science, education, politics and human rights to the degree it does here, then the respect is clearly not mutual, and I don’t feel as obligated to be religiously correct. Continue reading
Posted in Religion, Science, Society
Tagged America, creationism, education, gays, Global Warming, homoseksualiteit, homosexuals, House Science Committee, Netherlands, onderwijs, Opinion, religion, science, statistics, United States
Entitled
image: OccupyEducated.org
One of the definitions of “entitled” is having the right to something. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney uses the terms “entitled” and “entitlement” as dirty words. It’s clear from his speech at a fundraiser dinner that he feels people should not be entitled to food, health care or housing. Meaning that if people don’t have the money to pay for food, shelter or the doctor, they can’t expect the government to help them. To Europeans, that is pretty shocking. In Europe we call entitlement programs parts of the social safety net.
The terminology illustrates the fundamental difference in attitudes toward people who need help. Continue reading
Hey, It Wasn’t Me
For those of you who think I’m just a disgruntled anti-americanDutch immigrant who makes stuff up, click here for a great post by a fellow countryman.
Posted in Emigration / Immigration, Healthcare
Tagged emigration, Europe, health, healthcare, immigration, Opinion, politics, social
A Little Rant About Bikes
There’s nothing quite as aggravating as buying a bike in this country when you’re Dutch. The kids needed new bikes and I kind of wanted a bike, too. I had bought one at Goodwill a few years ago, but it didn’t feel right. Continue reading
The Kids on the Bus
It’s summer vacation again. Schools are closed for about three months. A quarter of the year. No, this is not a post about the ridiculous length of American school vacations. Continue reading
Someone Get This Woman a “Stupid” T-Shirt
Photo: spreadshirt.com
I have no patience with stupidity.
Ignorance I can tolerate to a certain degree. It comes from lack of education, and it doesn’t tend to occur to uneducated