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This just feels like you've never left the US If you only knew. In brief: of course there are many shameful / antagonizing aspects to the culture here. But the broader undercurrent of acceptance here (rather than tolerance as in most countries) gives grounds for optimism, if you choose to embrace it. The USA is the only country where any innovation and creativity happens. That is absolutely not what I said and of course this isn't true. And I wouldn't even say is broadly "more" creative in any sense. But there is a certain "largeness" to the creativity -- and in the force of will in certain disempowered groups -- here, which I believe is quite special. Which is why, in a few short years starting around 1969-1970, you had tens of thousands, then more, taking to the streets in NYC and SF saying, basically: "We are people, too, dammit -- and we are not going back". Whereas just a few years before they were almost universally considered to be outright deviants, if not mentally ill, with no prospect of living anything other than a life on the margins, perpetually in fear for their jobs, of arrest and beatings, and estrangement from their families. Along with giving the world Steve Jobs, Star Trek, Soul Train, Dolly Parton, etc. |