American bigotry
Some of you may know I spent several months in the US a couple of years ago. I went there to be with someone and killed two birds with the same stone by using the time to write my graduation thesis and make my graduation radio documentary. A hot summer, an icy winter and a stormy spring in Oklahoma City taught me a a great deal of things. Most importantly, I learned to love the Americans again. Ever since I visited Florida as a kid (read: spent two weeks on roller coasters in every amusement park we could find) I thought the US was the best country in the world. My mother frowned upon my enthusiasm and told me, many many times, that the US I saw was not the real United States of America. She was right, of course.
I was starting to be more aware of what was happening in the world and had to face a whole different USA. My disappointment soon turned into disgust after George Bush became president. I started to distrust and criticize every thing America and its people stood for. If you were not Oprah (or Audrey, the very nice American wife of one of my teachers) I basically thought you were awful until proven otherwise. Yes, I grew cocky towards anyone from the land of the stars and stripes. The more I knew about the US and George Bush, the more my anger and disgust grew.
And then I met someone on a chat room that was so interesting, but still American, that I wanted to listen again. Now, remember, I was this young idealistic America hater by now. I hated the US having the death penalty, the religious extremists, the gay bashers, the redneck hunters,...You name it, I hated it. So this person comes along and she's pro death penalty, living in the center of the Bible belt and a member of a redneck farmer family. Instead of running as hard as I could, I was mesmerized. We talked, discussed, fought for hours and hours (probably weeks in total) and in the end we agreed on meeting each other and showing each other our ways of life. So that's how I ended up in Oklahoma city,exploring the American life you don't see in Hollywood movies.
At first I was appalled by all the religious rants that were everywhere: in the news paper, on the news, on the streets, in my mail,...Then I was shocked by how poor Americans can be. How hard they had to fight to get things I take for granted. A lot of people had no easy life in Oklahoma and my eyes were opening. After months of talking, researching, thinking, writing and listening, I decided Americans can be amazing people when you talk to them in person. Even the ones I thought were just too 'darn' religious , are usually kind and generous towards you. I spent some days and some very intense moments with a very religious family and I never ever felt unwelcome, disrespected or frowned upon. They didn't agree with my ways of life, and they prayed to Jesus for me to the find the way, but they did welcome me into their homes with open arms.
One of the last interviews I had in Oklahoma (for my documentary) was with an incredible history teacher. This man had spent his life telling the tales of the past and trying to pass on the lessons to the youth of America. But he was heartbroken by the direction his USA had taken these last years. He was a man of the land, the son of a cowboy, he loved the dust of the Oklahoman red dirt and every single star and stripe on the flag. But there were no more real cowboys, he said. The American people had lost its love for the land and focused on other things, far away from home. The history teacher was convinced Americans were a good people, but they were like a enthusiastic kid in a china shop, he said, "we're breaking a lot of things while trying to do good".
It was through his tears during our interview that I fell in love with the US again. But it was more of an adult love, a 'a relationship is hard work' love. I learned to see through the loud bigots and religious extremists and to appreciate the beautiful things again. But now, after being back in Europe for a couple of years, I find it harder to remember all the things I learned. I wonder why Americans allow bigotry to be their biggest export product. Why do I keep hearing Americans say gay people do not have the right to marry every single day, while our Pope says the same but is practically ignored (and he lives a lot closer to my doorstep so you'd think I hear him more). Why did Sarah Palin have an actual shot at the presidency and plans on having another one? Why do I hear insane people like Pat Robertson blame the people of Haiti for the earthquake that hit them so badly? I mean...Really? Why?
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