Posted by Matiz on March 22, 2001 at 15:51:57:
In Reply to: I was surprised, too. posted by RickFeliz on March 22, 2001 at 14:49:40:
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Recently, I spent some time in D.F. with an amiga who is a psychotherapist there. She told me much the same thing: she likes visiting the U.S. but would never live here or raise her kids here, even though she has the money and contacts to do so easily. The kids go to Aspen to ski and L.A. to shop. But she hates the emptiness of American culture, its emphasis on materiality instead of people, and the overall lack of civility. When I was with her, and got to experience firsthand her interactions with others, which were routinely pleasant and courteous and friendly whether it was a street vendor or a professional, I understand exactly what she's saying. It's dangerous to generalize from limited experiences, but I certainly can see where many people might not feel comfortable with the society we've created, regardless of its wealth and opportunities.
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