*Illegal Pete's Big Fish Burritos*The Grand Canyon
*Baseball
*The Russian River Brewing Company
*Christopher Hitchens
*The First Amendment
*The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad
*The fact that you don't have to be a descendant of George III to become head of state
*Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Mass
*Etta James
*The Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
*The Fourth Amendment
*Coyotes
*Harlem
*Gore Vidal
*The late CBGBs
*The Onion
*Raccoons
*Zabars
*A Prairie Home Companion
*David Lynch
*Graceland
*Interstate 70
*Chili dogs
*Corn dogs
*Jay Z
*Bourbon Street
*Camille Paglia
*The FDNY
*Po'boys
*Weird Al Yankovic
*Plum Island, Massachusetts
*The Second Amendment
*Christmas In New York
*Howard Stern
*The Golden Gate Bridge
*The Sixth Amendment
15 comments:
I'd have thought that last winter would have put you off the Christmas in New York idea.
Great list, though I'm afraid you and I are among a dwindling number who would place the Fourth and Sixth Amendments among our favo(u)rites.
What do I like about America? It has a set of Founding Fathers so revered that they can be enlisted to prove almost any point that polemicists of any side wish to prove.
Seana
Well as long as you're not trying to leave town or get to the airport its fine.
Dana
Well I've never lived in a country that doesnt have trial by jury (actually I dont know what the judicial system is in Israel) but for the last three years I have lived in a country where the police can stop you at any time for any reason and ask you a bunch of questions which you are obliged to answer. Its not cool.
Peter
I'll take worship of a flawed constitution over worship of an inbred European aristocracy anytime.
And in California in a few days time, we'll be lucky enough to be able to worship both.
I'm surprised about Australia, though. All the Australians I've met have seemed pretty laid back.
Seana
Its a very laid back place with a lot of oppressive laws. Victoria just introduced a new law on public swearing last month. If I say shit in the presence of a police officer I can get a 250 dollar on the spot fine.
That surprises me too, as I've always heard that the Aussies were famously salty in their language. Maybe the government have come up with a lucrative way to line their coffers. God knows we could use something of the sort here.
I remember that that kind of law was put into effect in some European or former Soviet Union country. Oh, I just found it--it was here. Don't know how it all turned out, though.
Adrian, I was not being sarcastic in the least. Jefferson and Madison, especially, seem to be amenable to appropriation by both sides in any contemporary American debate. That's because they were so eloquent that everyone wants to appropriate them. I'm surprised I have read Madison's statements in favor of immigration quoted recently.
Well, no, I'm not, bus some brave person could quote him.
Peter
I get depressed when so many people mix up the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It happens ALL the time, even amongst "educated" commentators on TV.
I also wonder how many people who blather on about the Constitution have read, say, the Federalist papers...
Don't get depressed. People generally only learn what they think they really need to know to get by. It's a luxury not to know what the basis of your freedom is, I know, but it probably means that on balance people in the U.S. aren't feeling too oppressed. It's maddening to people who have reason to understand it all hangs by a thread, of course.
Like many immigrants.
I've been thinking about doing that Route 66 drive out west, Adrian. Maybe take Interstate 70 back east?
Matt
Ilove the I 70. Its just beautiful through Utah and Colorado and even (at the right time of year) through Kansas.
Ya forgot pronto pups.
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