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#Post#: 7434--------------------------------------------------
Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Allie
Date: October 4, 2018, 4:53 am
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In a somewhat recent post, Chizuko mentioned that she is not a
representative of Japan or something like it.
It got to me.
Not all the time, but I feel I am some kind of representative of
my country pretty often, especially on language forums and
living in a foreign country.
That's why I try to answer the (serious) questions I am asked
and be as honest with them as I can, even when I have to break
the ugly truths (as the lies can be found anywhere).
It's not like I would be getting in trouble otherwise, but the
thought that I am a foreigner living in "other people's land"
and that if I somehow do anything wrong, I am tarnishing the
image of immigrants and Brazilians in general goes thorough my
mind.
Do you feel the same?
#Post#: 7438--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Aliph
Date: October 4, 2018, 5:21 am
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I consider myself a European. I do not attach too much
importance to a given nation in Europe even if I identify
strongly to what is the essence of Italian culture and I like
aspects of the french heritage (secularism) and I appreciate to
live in a country where people try to live up to some common
ethical community standards. I am proud of all that. I never
forget that I do not have any merit. I am born in a lucky spot
of the world at a lucky moment in history. I never was
confronted in my life with starvation, war, unemployment,
absence of liberty or lack of medical care. My ancestors (in a
broad sense) had to bear that. So I am grateful but I do not
feel guilty about those privileges.
If someone asks me, I gladly answer and share what I know about
topics regarding my european heritage.
#Post#: 7440--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: NealC
Date: October 4, 2018, 5:37 am
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Erik, out of all the board members I think you are the only one
living in a foreign country (maybe sofia too?). It certainly
must be tough to be an immigrant and I can understand the
feelings you are describing. I am not sure you will ever be
able to get fully beyond the 'representative' status as you meet
people they will always start the interaction with perceived
differences. The nature of people. Try to be patient with them
:-)
#Post#: 7441--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Aliph
Date: October 4, 2018, 5:40 am
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What I said above, also implies in a way to assume the past.
Recently an Arabic teacher mentioned the colonial past of France
and Italy (he didn’t know about the German colonialism in
Namibia) I have no problem talking about that and eventually
“tarnish” the image of Europe. As for the Shoah, I still cannot
understand it from the emotional, affective point of view. From
the cognitive perspective, there are enough explanations no
problems with that dimension. Spiritually I think it touches
the question of the nature of evil.
The only real question is how to prevent that something similar
happens again. Incidentally I also ask myself what I would have
done if I had lived at that time?
BTW Angela Merkel visits Israel and closes the eyes on
occupation.
#Post#: 7448--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Alharacas
Date: October 4, 2018, 6:45 am
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--- Quote from: Sofia link ---
>
> BTW Angela Merkel visits Israel and closes the eyes on
occupation.
>
--- End Quote ---
No, she doesn't. Or rather: she'd have to be blind, which I
don't think she is. The thing is: what would you like her to do?
Politely remark on it? As if Israel didn't know that the
occupation was internationally considered a problem? Threaten
Israel, perhaps with a boycott? Seriously?
We may ponder whether, or to what degree we consider ourselves
to be representatives of our respective countries, but Angela
Merkel will never be anything but a representative of Hitler's
heirs in a state which was founded not only in the aftermath,
but precisely because of the Holocaust - nor will any of her
successors. Ever.
Which reminds my that there's a new book about to be published
by psychologist Julia Shaw, about "Evil". I recently had the
misfortune of watching her in a talk show where she was talking
about her book and her perception of evil. I'm sure she's a
lovely person to know, but heck, is she naive. Apparently, one
of the questions she poses in her book is "Would you kill baby
Hitler?" Surprisingly (to me), the answer should be "no".
According to her, killing a baby would be an evil act,
presupposing, as it does, that some people are simply evil and
would not profit from a little TLC.
On a lighter note, I recently heard there was another suggestion
for time travellers: simply send Bob Ross back in time. He'd
have taught Hitler how to paint properly and successfully, so he
wouldn't have had to resort to politics.
#Post#: 7449--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Alharacas
Date: October 4, 2018, 7:13 am
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Sorry, Erik, there goes your thread. To get back to it - yes, of
course I feel like a representative of my country when I'm
abroad. Or at least, I often feel as if I'm considered to be
one.
If it's any consolation, unless you're able to completely blend
in, language-wise and in other respects, nobody will be able to
escape that feeling, I think. (Unless you happen to have been
born in, say, Denmark or Liechtenstein, I suppose.) I've met
enough US citizens who felt they were held personally
responsible for the US president's politics - whether they'd
voted for him or not.
#Post#: 7450--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Truman Overby
Date: October 4, 2018, 7:29 am
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Isn't it a damned shame that EVERYTHING has been reduced to
politics?
#Post#: 7451--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Truman Overby
Date: October 4, 2018, 7:52 am
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--- Quote from: Alharacas link ---
>
> I've met enough US citizens who felt they were held personally
responsible for the US president's politics - whether they'd
voted for him or not.
>
--- End Quote ---
I find that to be a very strange way to think. Is this a
European mindset? For example, I don't hold the flood of
illegals invading my country by the thousands every month on its
southern border responsible for the lawlessness, chaos, and
corruption in Mexico. I hold the Mexican government responsible.
#Post#: 7452--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Aliph
Date: October 4, 2018, 8:29 am
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--- Quote from: Truman Overby link ---
>
> Isn't it a damned shame that EVERYTHING has been reduced to
politics?
>
--- End Quote ---
You aren’t afraid of paradoxes Jerry: Trump 2020!*
* For those who didn’t notice it is the omen of Jerry here on
EGP
#Post#: 7453--------------------------------------------------
Re: Are you a representative of your country?
DIR By: Allie
Date: October 4, 2018, 8:32 am
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@Neal
Believe-me, living in Brazil was way harder and I am really
grateful I left that place.
Maybe I don’t show it, but I am much appreciative of my new life
and don’t miss the former one.
I know most here are not
expats, but I think this applies if you have just visited
another country.
@Sofia
If it’s about relating to a country in particular, I am from
Mars. I don’t feel a particular sense of belonging to anywhere.
What I said about tarnishing the image of a country is not
really about saying inconvenient truths.
For example, I have no problem about talking about the
corruption, violence, sex industry or the fact that our economy
was based on slave labour (I am more likely to talk about these
topics than samba, caipirinha and whatever). If that’s the case,
I am definitely the worst representative that place could have
(actually some friends get angry at me because I don’t promove
the image of tropical paradise).
Again, to illustrate my point, I will use some of the examples I
experienced as they were the ones I had in mind when I created
this topic:
- When we open the news and we read about Brazilians being
deported because they were living here illegally, as it creates
an image in people’s head.
- You see a Brazilian taking a fine because they didn’t pay for
the tram ticket. So there’s an assumption Brazilians don’t pay
for services...
- A very common one is when a Brazilian woman marries an
European. I am not saying there aren’t women that marry for a
visa, but many have to actually answer this kind of question for
no reason.
I was talking more about this kind of situations.
@Alharacas
I have nothing against deviation. I actually like when it
happens, it enriches conversation.
But I won’t participate as I avoid politics. I am with Jerry on
this one.
I agree with everything you said.
I falso feel it’s somehow expected from me. Otherwise no one
would ask me the questions they do.
About blending in, honestly, I am not even trying. I mean, I am
integrated and all, but people look at me and they know am from
abroad.
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