Today is September 11, the fourth anniversary of the unfortunate US twin towers bombings. Just earlier this month, there was the hurricane Katrina that twirled around the mid-southern states of the US, literally blowing things out of proportion.
There was an interesting article in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Times today, by my favourite journalist Sumiko Tan. She stated that the US is a complex country, but one set to dominate the world for some time to come. US is a country of "loud" people (general stereotyping), patriotic but yet political bitter and inter-state snobbery. Of course, US is such a big country that the standards of living and class of people differ from state to state. If you live in Los Angeles or San Francisco or Beverly Hills, you will be of a higher-class breed. If you live in New York City, you will be the glamourous and sophisticated breed. But many states of the US are just simple, homely and wholesome folk, much like our heartlanders living in the HDB estates.
In fact, I may be more "American" than my American peers. My godbrother has been to the US for almost six years, and he does not know the latest American Idol or cool shows like "CSI" or "Chronicles", or the latest movies on screens, or latest dramas like "Desperate Housewives". He hates all fast food and western food and still prefers local fare and Chinese food. I have been following the American way of life and tradition for quite some time, having grown up on American books and shows and "Archie" comics. I like American food like burgers and fries, macaroni and cheese, barbecued ribs, iced tea, Buffalo wings and mashed potatoes. Besides, I researched on the lifestyles years back when I was so sure I would be going to the US to study. And I am all for the American (or Western) culture where parents and children are great friends and can discuss things as friends, instead of parents expecting the children to do everything they say. I also agree with the culture where the children move out when they reach college or adulthood and live independent lives of their own, instead of still being sheltered at the parents' place even when one is approaching middle age.
But the 911 and the Katrina incident do convey a few lessons. They show the world that no country or place is indestructible, even a super power and advanced developed nation like the US. All it takes is for someone to secretly hijack a plane and drop a bomb, or for natural disasters to strike. So it is up to the people to protect their own homes and lands and countries instead of taking things for granted and relying on the government to do all the work.
Meanwhile, let us keep the US in prayers and hope they will survive through this ordeal soon.
There was an interesting article in the Lifestyle section of The Sunday Times today, by my favourite journalist Sumiko Tan. She stated that the US is a complex country, but one set to dominate the world for some time to come. US is a country of "loud" people (general stereotyping), patriotic but yet political bitter and inter-state snobbery. Of course, US is such a big country that the standards of living and class of people differ from state to state. If you live in Los Angeles or San Francisco or Beverly Hills, you will be of a higher-class breed. If you live in New York City, you will be the glamourous and sophisticated breed. But many states of the US are just simple, homely and wholesome folk, much like our heartlanders living in the HDB estates.
In fact, I may be more "American" than my American peers. My godbrother has been to the US for almost six years, and he does not know the latest American Idol or cool shows like "CSI" or "Chronicles", or the latest movies on screens, or latest dramas like "Desperate Housewives". He hates all fast food and western food and still prefers local fare and Chinese food. I have been following the American way of life and tradition for quite some time, having grown up on American books and shows and "Archie" comics. I like American food like burgers and fries, macaroni and cheese, barbecued ribs, iced tea, Buffalo wings and mashed potatoes. Besides, I researched on the lifestyles years back when I was so sure I would be going to the US to study. And I am all for the American (or Western) culture where parents and children are great friends and can discuss things as friends, instead of parents expecting the children to do everything they say. I also agree with the culture where the children move out when they reach college or adulthood and live independent lives of their own, instead of still being sheltered at the parents' place even when one is approaching middle age.
But the 911 and the Katrina incident do convey a few lessons. They show the world that no country or place is indestructible, even a super power and advanced developed nation like the US. All it takes is for someone to secretly hijack a plane and drop a bomb, or for natural disasters to strike. So it is up to the people to protect their own homes and lands and countries instead of taking things for granted and relying on the government to do all the work.
Meanwhile, let us keep the US in prayers and hope they will survive through this ordeal soon.
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