I was reading this slideshow about 8 Outrageous Burgers! . Basically it is pics and descriptions about outrageously loaded, greasy, flavorful big burgers. Of course, wouldn’t you know it. In the comments sections, instead of just talking about good delicious food and eating it in moderation, the haters are talking about how fat Americans are especially the Wally World shoppers. And as always, Europeans are oh so svelt and classy. No fatties over there. It’s only in America.
Of course in the whole spectrum, the burger and weight issue is just small taters. But as one of the burger defending commentors stated, Europeans seem to be rather jealous of Americans. Thus, they make mountains out of mole hills. Such as with the fatty issues. I admit there are overweight people. But just let people be themselves. What is the average height of Americans compared to Europeans? If average Europeans are shorter than Americans, than yeah Americans will be bigger than Europeans.
Everytime I here of Europeans, and people from other countries bashing the U.S., I wonder where it is all coming from. Could they perhaps be jealous that their ancestors didn’t have a chance to get on the boat? As I was having that thought, as I do many times, a song for Rockabilly after Midnite popped in my head. That song is Neil Diamond’s “America.”
America truly is, or at least once was a melting pot. The early immigrants to this country brought with them, the fatty and greasy, and the light alfresco recipes along with the customs and cultures of the old countries with them to share with the future generations they and their offspring would raise.
Yet they knew that while they would be passing down the cultures and foods that kept them grounded to the old countries, they knew that in order to communicate and get along with other new immigrants of other places, they would need to learn English and assimilate to the new American cultures that were being formed. They knew that future generations would have better lives than they and their ancestors would have. They also knew that there would be no one at the port of entry, or even town of settling, giving them handouts. It would take hard work, maybe that new generation or the next would not see the fruits of their labors, but in the end for their descendants it would happen. That is what makes this country great.
Most of our modern reipes have basis in the old countries of our ancestors’. Some of them are true authentic foods. Some of them are fusions of different ethnic foods. Some of them are creative creations that seem like something one could eat in a certain place. Some of them are just pure old fashioned American creations.
Another thing that makes America so great, is our creativity. Whether it be inventing new foods or technology to make our lives better that is the people, our ancestors who made this country great. The Thomas Edisons and REO Olds didn’t make our lives better through gubmint intervention. No, they made our lives better through pure know how and did what they needed to do.
Well enough babbling, here’s the vid.
Every time I hear this song, I think of my ancestors. What was going through their minds? Were they thinking about me in the future? Maybe not exactly me, me. But the multiple greats in the grandchildren department. What was it like for one of my great-great grandfathers who got seperated from his brother in New York? What was it like for my great-great-great grandmother who gave birth on a boat en route from Bohemia (region of modern day Czech Republic)? What was she feeling as she was holding her still born or dying baby girl, before arriving in the New Country? What was it like for my German grandmother, as a young sixteen year old girl/woman, all alone with an American husband waiting for her?
I ask all the rest of you to re-play the vid and ask those questions, regarding your ancestors, to yourself.
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