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CHAT: Them Far'ners (was Re: Words)

From:Thomas R. Wier <artabanos@...>
Date:Friday, September 8, 2000, 3:13
DOUGLAS KOLLER wrote:

> <Side bar> That said, I don't see anyone demonstrating, boycotting, or > rioting over "Big Brother" or "Jerry Springer". In a democracy (and Japan is > a democracy), you have the right to make a complete boob of yourself. No one > physically compelled those foreigners to oink, waddle, or strut; they did it > of their own volition. Their reasons are their own -- cash? TV exposure? > What I find disturbing is that they willingly hit the air waves to > perpetuate stereotypes of foreigners which I find repugnant. But I imagine > this sort of thing has been going on since the beginning of time.</side bar>
Two summers ago, I had the pleasure of hosting a French exchange student, in a manner of speaking. He had come over as part of a group and stayed in my room with me, and trying to be nice, I tried to show him around town and such (you know, the normal stuff you do for guests). I was shocked, when he got annoyed and snooty at me for watching _The Simpsons_ one day. I asked him what was wrong, and he said something to the effect that why should I watch that when I can see it all the time around me? Don't I get that it's making fun of Americans? Duh, of course it is -- it's a satire of American society. He had apparently thought that they were in fact entirely true. ====================================== Tom Wier | "Cogito ergo sum, sed credo ergo ero." ======================================