Gah.  And quoting John Donne wouldn’t have made any difference either, I’m sure.

But it might have made me feel better....

“...any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Gah, indeed.

I don’t suppose there would be much point in letting this guy know that his comparison is way off.  Annual traffic fatalities in the US total approximately 40,000.  And of course that’s in an entire year, not jsut a few hours.

No, probably not. Besides, I think that’s the line that Rush was spouting last week. Like anyone could dispute the golden words that flow from Rush’s mouth.

I don’t think it would have mattered, since I had the distinct impression that it wasn’t really about numbers anyway.

I’ve been reading your journal for a while and really like it - I live in the South and believe me there are plenty of people here who are concerned greatly about the recent horrible events in Thailand and beyond - please don’t label Southerners as ignorant louts because one is - thanks !

That’s the problem with stereotypes, isn’t it, Seanie? They are vast generalities. I think this post said as much about me as about this fellow. He came here full of Yankee stereotypes and, apparently, was ready to do blue state battle. He was pretty obnoxious about it. Having lived in the north all my life, I have been raised with a certain number of my own perceptions. And it is easy to fall back on them when someone is attempting to smack me around for my Yankee blue state liberalness. It wasn’t a pretty scene, I must say.

In the various times I’ve spent in the south, I have met any number of lovely and gracious people. And I have met a few jerks. So, no, I don’t label Southerners as ignorant louts. Some are, most aren’t. Same as everyplace else.

Which is why I say that I don’t like pegging people on stereotypes. But we do it on occasion and it’s good to be called on it when we do it.

We, too, have people here who not only think humanitarian aid to ‘other people’ is a waste of taxpayer money, but a waste of money in general. The scope of human suffering seems to be outside their ability to understand unless Americans are the ones suffering. And even then, that’s sometimes questionable.

This isn’t something that is restricted to any geographical location. It’s a mindset that I wish would crawl back into the woodwork. But in this new era of perceived American exceptionalism combined with an “I’ve got mine and you can’t have any of it” mentality, it’s an attitude that seems to be growing. It’s pretty distressing to meet it face to face.

Thanks - that’s one of the reasons I like your journal so much - obviously it is a reflection of you - and you seem to be very kind, creative and thoroughly likeable.

Why Seanie. You have no idea how nice it was to come back inside after a few hours of “thinkin’ about things” to find your very kind message. Thank you.  :smile: 

Maybe a should hold my tongue, but my first reaction was ... does he have antlers on the front of his vehicle, ... but that that’s kind of a nasty thing for ME to say .... so just pretend I didn’t say that , ... just “thought” it ...

Ya, but Lynn, those antlers could come from many places LOL. N S E or W!
He doesn’t sound like the kind of a person that I would give second thought to what he had to say anyway.Don’t let it bug you too much Kate. 

Yeah, those antlers can come from anywhere. In upstate New York, where I grew up, I got pretty used to seeing dead deer draped across the back end of cars with their tongues hanging out, during hunting season. Or strung up and gutted in front yards out in the country. And, of course, far too many of my friends’ parents thought having a deer head with antlers hanging on the wall was high art.

Shudder....