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A good day to be in America.
This entry was posted in Americas, USA and tagged Andersonville, Bronski Beat, Chicago, Coffee, CPD, Electric Six, Gay, Gay Pride, Great Lake, Hate, Homophobia, Inclusion, Lake, Lincoln Park, Music, Navy Pier, North Chicago, Parade, Pride, Religion, Skyline, Straight, Sun, Sweden, Urban. Bookmark the permalink.
This is such a heartwarming read, Fabrizio! While the world is constantly worried about what Trump has to say, or tweet, an article on the New York Times that I read a few months ago suggested that many corners of the country are actually experiencing some sort of a renaissance, and I won’t be surprised if Andersonville is in fact one of them. According to the same article, average Americans, while frustrated by their federal government, are actually taking actions to improve their local communities.
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Well, it sure felt that Andersonville was one such place! It was really nice to be out there, not just for the openness of views and the happiness, but just because it felt… different from other places in America I’d been to.
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I love that you had a great day in Chicago, my very longtime home, but I feel sad that you usually think it’s a bad day to be in America. I try not to conflate governments with people when I travel, and I wish others would do the same, even though we really suck in a lot of ways right now in the world’s view (and even in our own). We still have many, many friendly, accepting neighborhoods like Andersonville and many, many goodhearted, caring, generous people. I bash some aspects of the U.S. myself on many an occasion lately, but your final sentence just punched me in the gut.
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Hi Lexi! Don’t get me wrong, I try not to paint people and governments with the same brush. The thing is, normally my visits to the USA aren’t as enjoyable: I don’t find cities there to be too interesting, and I’m in general very depressed by the sight of so many homeless, many of them with rather conspicuous mental illnesses. It wasn’t as bad in Chicago, but after a recent work trip to NY I was actually glad to be flying back (and straight in the office).
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Hey, thanks for the mention! I’m so pleased you had such an enjoyable time in Andersonville. I only know it as the place where one of my best friends lives, so it was interesting to see your take on it. Looks like it was a beautiful day out and what synchronicity that you were there during Pride.
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Indeed, it was quite a lucky occasion! Thanks a lot for the tip, and for reading 🙂
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You’re welcome. I forgot to ask if you saw any Pure Michigan license plates. 🙂
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Yes I did! Quite a few in fact, with a bridge (which I confused with Golden Gate for starters…)
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This is a great counter-attack. Well done, European! 😉 Also for sneaking in Slavonski Brod where my grandfather was born. (How did you know that?)
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I somehow knew it! 🙂 In fact, I’ve been to Slavonski Brod on a night bus from Sarajevo to Zagreb, thinking about Bronski beat, and then whilst listening to Bronski Beat I thought about Slavonski Brod. Makes sense right?
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I loved taking this jaunt with you. Especially these days, how wonderful to hear of a good day here!
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Hi Tricia, thanks for coming along! It was indeed a very good one.
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Fan Ta Stic reading!
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Thanks Varasc 🙂
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It’s always interesting to read your vignettes of different parts of the world, and more so when a part is in the good ole USA. There are so many different vignettes here: the liberal cities, the conservative countryside, the fact that if you avoid politics and religion one side can get along quite well with the other. I’d be curious to read your observations should you ever take an American tour.
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Thanks Dave, I do agree! I always find interesting, for instance, Manja’s views on life in Italy as a non-Italian. I’d like to visit some lesser-known part of the US, such as for instance the Dakotas, Montana or Idaho. That’d be quite interesting.
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