ジェフリー・ライトのインスタグラム(jfreewright) - 7月18日 19時55分

Ismail

Not in Kansas anymore...and damn thankful. Galileo said centuries ago that America’s not the center of the universe, but we Americans tend to forget that. The oceans isolate us - we isolate ourselves. “America’s the greatest country in the world!”, we say...without ever having left America to see what else is out there. We’re PT Barnum selling ourselves on our own greatness. Weird shit. Some countries enjoy things that we do not and vice versa. Odd that that needs even to be said.
If we can, Americans should explore this planet more...without being close-minded but opened-mouthed assholes, as is our too often earned reputation. We should get away from the comfort zone of Walmart, flat screens and puffed-up insecurity...particularly now. We’ll appreciate the world’s vastness more, its beauty, challenges and many peoples…including, perhaps, ourselves. We’ll find many forms of ‘greatness’ out there. And we’ll find limitations.
America has often been a contrast against one of the biggest of those limitations. In America, you can stand up and say, “That’s bullshit, sir!” In many countries, ‘sir’ may then smack you down with his cane. Even in America, if you go too far in speaking truth to power, ‘they’ might tuck you away for a spell...or worse. At this very moment, the so-called President of the United States vilely tells some of his American political opponents "go back to your country.” But America isn’t, in the ideal, so egotistical as to reject criticism against itself. The 1st amendment is, well, 1st. Freedom of expression is one of our mothers of invention. President Zappa knew that.

An affinity does exist in the world for the banality of present-day America, the inclination, which defiles the founding principles of our country, toward authoritarian “tough” guy know-it-all-ism and nativism. People can fearfully cling to what they feel is their tribe. They can think with blinders on. They shrink sometimes, retreating into smallness. They separate themselves, as geography seems to justify and then may look to an exploitative, sociopathic narcissist they think can protect the tribe - protect them. But the true tribe is all of us. (cont’d)

[BIHAKUEN]UVシールド(UVShield)

ho.lt19 Very true. Our current administration here is a joke and in their minds they think they are doing a great job. A true leader controls their emotions and is not easily offended, even under duress and criticism. A true leader doesn't call people names when they disagree with them. A true leader allows you to speak your mind even when they might disagree. A true leader doesn't punish you either for speaking your mind. We are not free like we think, our minds are still in bondage to fear, mistrust, egotism, nacassism, hate, prejudices, money, selfishness, lack of compassion; and that goes for the rich and poor.

scottreiburn Beautifully stated and so damn true. If more Americans were able to “get out” and see some of the world, I do believe we would have a smarter, safer, sophisticated more tolerant union, no doubt. But there is also a genuine stupidity problem. I’m talking motherfuckers in red states, particularly, who are genuinely stupid. Not just ignorant, but stone-stupid. Even STILL, they should experience other cultures to learn about themselves. We all should. In this climate, we need to find the bonds and connections in this small world.

mitchtaylor007 I hear all of this, we have a president now that not everyone agrees with, traveling is amazing but you always come back here, would you be a movie star in another country 🤷🏼‍♂️ would you have a job you like🤷🏼‍♂️ only god knows!! There’s a saying DONT SHIT WHERE YOU EAT!! We have it pretty good here, and I do enjoy traveling to surf, Australia one of my favorite places but every government world wide does something to piss off there people!! Don’t be flag haters over a bad 4-8yr span

jason.blake_ “Some countries enjoy things that we do not...” True. Every other industrialized country provided universal healthcare for ALL of their respective citizens last century. Your health is your wealth so we are told. It pisses me off immensely to see the prognosticators and pundits (some of them highly educated) declaring America to be the “best country on the planet”. There are many easily verifiable metrics to elucidate that this simply is not the case.

duaneedmunds Well said Jeffrey! Am always amazed when traveling to see and feel expectations, prejudgements, melt and morph into something completely unforeseen. It is really an incredible planet, with more in-common than we’re led to believe. Like you can’t get enough of new spaces; love that ✌?

michallorraine Yes! As a non American, I’m often perplexed at the brazen “Greatest Country in the World” statements. Not by far guys. That’s why I love Michael Moore’s ‘Where to Invade Next’ doco.

>> 飲む日焼け止め！「UVシールド」を購入する