Posted by Petra on October 06, 1999 at 07:00:48:
In Reply to: Re: DAR posted by Pat on October 06, 1999 at 00:05:22:
:
: : Dana,
: : thanks for the link! I just took a look there. Sounds like some sort of would be aristocracy with an overdosis of patriotism. Education on history is a fine thing, but to have a club membership depending on ancestry, how ridiculous. I can well imagine that those people might have a hard time admitting the darker sides of American history, or answering the question whether mass immigration is a good thing in a way where the evaluation of this century and of former centuries is consistent.
: : Petra
: Petra,
: You're conclustion astounds me. You are too ready to condem and find fault. I think you swallow stereotypes hook, line and sinker. You couldn't be farther from the truth.
: Pat
Pat,
swalloing stereotypes? Hmmm, I don't know... Well, let's see: My conclusions were that it sounds like some sort of aristocracy (if it's just about educating others about history, then why stay among descendants of certain people) and that there seems to be an overdose of patriotism, judging by the website. Now, I know you guys here in America take a different look at patriotism than some of us Europeans (history), so maybe I'm just a little too sensitive insofar. For example, it almost made me throw up a few weeks ago when I went to a conference on tax-law here in AZ and they actually started out with some emotional talk about pioneers, boyscouts carrying in the flag, and everyone reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. But everyone else seemed to regard that as totally normal. I couldn't believe it. Oh, yes, they actually had a pastor say a prayer too. I thought I had lost my way into some patriotic club, but I was at a state organized conference at some nice ressort. Different views, obviously. I also don't like it that the kids do the Pledge thingy in school while other parents don't care a bit. Different sensitivities. That just to explain that what is happy patriotism to some is an overdose to others. I personally keep my distance to anyone who is big into patriotism.
As for what i said I could see / imagine about those people, yes, sure I could imagine that. Here in our area, you'll find tons of people who are very proud that their family came here as pioneers, as opposed to all the recent movers, and of course they'd like to celebrate some harmonious Arizona history. But hey, there was no harmonious history, it was all about war and suppression, and those who insist on being proud very often believe in their own version of history. So, that's why I can easily see the difficulties Roy mentioned. Of course it may not be like that in every club chapter, I just said I could imagine it. So, what do you guys do in your area then?
Petra