Sunday, October 25, 2015

STEREOTYPE OF HUNGARIANS : PARTY ANIMALS or DEPRESSED and DRUNK? WHAT ABOUT POETRY?


 

Since I personally have never been anything close to a "party animal" and rarely get drunk, that stereotype sure doesn't fit me.  I've been depressed, though not seriously deep or for too long.  A bad break up or the death of a loved one can do it to me, and everyone is entitled to one bad break up so that one can mature, but it seems to me that my response is usually long walks in nature and morning shakes with lots of vitamins and protein powder.  I also suspect that most depression is actually anger that is unexpressed and unexpressed because it is considered antisocial to do so.  So making lists of things I hate often brings me to humor.

It mostly seems to be a waste of time to me to be depressed but yes, sometimes one must entertain their depression till they figure things out, and while entertaining it, one might wish to have a glass too many of wine.  (Read my past posts on STEREOTYPING Hungarians and Hungarian-Americans including the wine versus beer issue!)

OK, the PARTY ANIMALS are usually drinking beer and they chug it, they like LOUD parties and concerts, they don't want to have conversations, just to yell at each other, and speak in bumper sticker messages.  They call other men who they are not related to "Bro!"  Too much beer (or hard liquor or drugs) allows some of these beasts to actually BOND to each other, and show emotion and support for others, without actually being thought of as homosexual!

OK, the DEPRESSED AND DRUNK, they want to be alone, they may actually be picky about the wine labels - the brands - as they drink themselves into sleep. How deeply depressed can you be when you also actually EAT FOOD and GAIN WEIGHT?  Seriously depressed and you would be unable to entertain food, and just waste away, thinner and thinner, till you were nothing.  Seriously depressed and you cannot answer the question, "What would you order if it was your last meal?"

Then there is the next day when the sun must not come through the window bright and early, but there is always a pillow over the head anyway.

Are you laughing yet?

The fact is that while "party animals" and the depressed and drunk people exist, they do not especially exist in Hungary. And so this is a worthless stereotype.  You can find such people all over the world who use or imbibe substances in order to feel. 

Hungarians also write and read and recite poetry in order to feel and express feelings.  So there!

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Tuesday, October 13, 2015

COLUMBUS DAY AFTERTHOUGHTS and THE REFUGEES INCOMING TO HUNGARY and ALL OF EUROPE

Yesterday was a holiday called COLUMBUS Day here in the United States.  It meant that most government offices and schools were closed in honor of the DISCOVERER OF AMERICA.  (I should say THE Americas as he didn't actually land on North America or what would become the United States.)  COLUMBUS DAY IS A TRADITION.

To be honest, a lot of people are just grateful to have a day off, maybe just to go shopping for all the sales that feature early winter clothing.  No one wants that holiday removed from the calendar if it could mean loosing that day off.  (We really do not have much off time here in the States.)  I went out shopping for several hours, something I loath to do, but my neighbor enticed me with a big coupon she had for more savings from the local Macy's.  I barely thought about the discoverer of America or any of the issues now connected to him as I walked the mall and tried on lots of shirts.

As a child the adventures of Columbus, his sailors, and the ships the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, certainly captured our imaginations in school.  How could they have sailed all the way across the ocean in those small rickety ships thinking there were sea monsters at the edge of the world?

I recall that classrooms were decorated on the theme, and that we did art drawings and projects that focused on this adventurer and discoverer.  We tried to imagine what the Native Americans that he and his sailors encounters thought when they saw those ships and saw people who were very light in complexion.  (Our teachers figured we were too young to understand venereal disease.)

These days some of the Native American tribes are particularly upset about the dedication of a day to the man. These days there is speculation that Christopher Columbus was NOT the first European to sail and land on a beach in the New World - America - a CONTINENT  that was either totally unknown or long forgotten.  For a very long time there was no opposition, speculation, or CONSPIRACY THEORIES attached to Columbus and his discovery of America, a voyage that was financed by Queen Isabella of Spain, and about the time that Jews were being converted or expelled from that country.  It was simply a day to be enjoyed.

So maybe it's true that Queen Isabella financed the trip, not for the greed of gold, but actually thought that Columbus could find some place for the Jews to go live?

The expulsion of Jews from various European countries over time is history.  It was thought that all the citizens of a country should be unified in the same religion, the same values and way of life and that it would bring unity.

And I've been reading around Hungary's position as a Christian  (Roman Catholic mostly) country that does not want to take in thousands of fleeing refugees from war torn Syria or anywhere else particularity Moslem.  I was thinking about how countries often have an OFFICIAL RELIGION but here in the United States at the founding of our country it was decided that religious freedom was key.  So recently there have been some statues of Satan popping up in this nation.

Although I understand that people who flee their countries are desperate, leaving everything behind, and risking their lives, and that many of these people end up dead because the boats they paid to get on sink or there is a stampede or illness, I frankly also understand that sometimes a country has to look at it's budget and it's own citizens who are living in poverty, and for Hungary that often means the Rom (gypsies), and admit to itself that it cannot afford to help. 

I'm not picking on Hungary here.  Hungary can fit in our state called "Indiana," but I actually think that until the United States houses all it's own homeless it should stop being parental to the world.

I look at it from a one person standpoint.  I have friends who I like and care about who are in need and maybe I can invite one of them over for dinner once in a while, and I can afford to share food, but I'm not able to pay their rent.

Hungary is also concerned about Moslems because of a history of being occupied by the Moslem Turks for a substantial amount of time, that Christianity and Christian values will be threatened by too many of these refugees.  It may be unpopular to say, but I can understand these fears, especially when it comes to the value, attitudes towards, and treatment of women.

The United States is thought of as a Satan country by Moslem terrorists.  That's why we had 9/11 et el.  A family of Moslems lives down the street peacefully and no one seems to think badly of them just on that basis, but as they are surrounded by people with Western Ways, they must tolerate knowing that their neighbors include people who have sex without being married, women with educations who work at jobs full time and don't have families, and so on.

Germany has taken thousands of refugees willingly.  Germany's economy can afford more.  But as I read around the subject, hours of reading, I found ONE EXCELLENT QUESTION that we should all be asking which is  WHY ARE THE WEALTHY MOSLEM DOMINATED COUNTRIES NOT TAKING THESE REFUGEES? 

Why are they running all the way to Europe?  Is it the reputation of these countries?  Is it that they perceive that the Western World is overall wealthy?  How many of them wish to make major changes in their point of view and lifestyle to fit in, contribute, and cooperate?

Let me make this personal once more.  One of my friends in need has eaten a dozen times at my table this year, and if I could not afford it I wouldn't invite him so no I don't feel used, and on occasion he brings a loaf of bread or a bottle of wine or some other contribution, but has never offered to wash a dish.  Compare him to the friend who is also in need, also eats, sometimes contributes,  but who always offers.

All for Now!


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Thursday, October 1, 2015

AMERICAN MEDICINE - SOCIALISM - BERNIE SANDERS - and THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER BITE

The election of the next President of the United States is far away but the election process has started as various candidates dare to run, some more famous than others.  I have a friend who wants Bernie Sanders, the openly socialist candidate to win.  In particular he thinks of Obamacare, the slang term for mandatory medical insurance coverage that has begun under the administration of President Barack Obama, as socialist. 

I don't agree.  Social medicine is run by the government.  Here we have to pick a plan and pay for it, though if you are truly poor you might be covered by a plan that uses taxes.

But right now I'm so turned off of politics that I can't imagine voting for anyone who is running!

I did notice some grassroots campaigning for Sanders taking place, and that cheered me.  Some common citizens with hand drawn posters were standing at a busy intersections and waving these posters.  "Honk if you want Bernie!"  I prefer that kind of local activism to all the expensive media campaigning.

Do I really want to live in a Socialist  country?  No.  No more than I would want to live in a Communist Country.  I think my friend doesn't know how much is dictated to you when you are a participant in government health care and other so called social welfare programs.  Yes, we can take care of the poor better than we do, but that is a spiritual choice.

This friend is from Texas where he says there are black widow spider's everywhere.  I found some in my apartment crawling but not their nest.  I managed to kill one crawling on the wall with some ecologically correct insect spray.  I believe they came inside because of the drought. 

Well, my friend managed to never get bit in Texas but about five days ago he got bit here in Southern California by something on his back - in his car!  (I've since learned that mechanics here frequently find Black Widow spiders in vehicles and get bit! ) He can't see it but he can feel the pain and the swelling, which is about five inches in diameter.  And he will not go to a doctor or urgent care.

Why not?

He is covered under Obamacare.

Certainly that is the place to go where the bite can be examined to be sure it is not infected and perhaps besides some pain killers or antibiotics he can get something to reduce the swelling.

This is not the first time this year that he has had a medical issue that might have benefited from seeing a doctor.  He also decided to let his body fight an infection in a tooth, and when I saw him he had lost 10 pounds and looked like the blood had drained from his face.

What is the fear of using his insurance.

One of my friends thinks that he is afraid because he knows that there is actually something else very wrong with his health and that seeing a doctor over something minor might lead to tests that might reveal a more serious diagnosis.

Hmmm

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