La Historia de la Peroyapo

“Pero eres chilena o gringa?”  

“Pues, gringa, soy de la Florida, USA.” 

“Ya, pero tienes familia chilena entonces.” 

“Nopo, para nada, no tengo sangre latina, soy gringa-gringa.” 

“Y como cachai los chilenismos entonces? Y por que la fascinación con Chile?” 

He tenido algunas variaciones de esta conversación muchas veces en mi vida, y es entendible que me lo pregunten. Supongo que no es tan común que una gringa quien ha vivido toda su vida en los EEUU y quien no tiene ningún tipo de raíces chilenas tenga el nivel de interés en la cultura chilena como lo tengo yo. Pues, la respuesta corta y editada de porque me gusta Chile tanto seria, “Porque Chile es lindo, me gustan las montañas.” Esa es la respuesta que suelo contestar, pero en realidad va mas allá que solo eso.

Mi fascinación con la cultura chilena empezó a los 16 años. A esa edad ya había tenido varios pololos pero ninguna relación “real” antes de conocer al Gonzalo, un chileno recién llegado al EEUU quien conocí una noche en un teen club. Pero, para entender bien hay que ir mas atrás en la historia. Yo crecí en una familia pequeña, compuesto por mi mama, mi hermano mayor y yo. Visitaba a mi papa durante los veranos, pero básicamente mi vida diaria fue bastante solitaria, como mi mama trabajaba y mi hermano tenia a sus amigos, y pues la verdad es que simplemente no teníamos una conexión familiar muy fuerte. Después de pololear un rato con el Gonzalo empece a quedarme en su casa en los findes y vi por primera vez como es una familia latina.

Fue re diferente. En la casa de Gonzalo había mucho mas energía, mas conmoción, y simplemente mas interacción de que yo estaba acostumbrada. La Violeta, la mama de Gonzalo era una madre soltera trabajadora igual que la mía, y también él tenia un hermano, el Felipe, y una hermana, la Carolina, los dos menores, pero como mi casa estuvo vacía y silenciosa, la casa de Gonzalo siempre sentía llena; llena de risas, de música o del Sábado Gigante o alguna novela en la TV, de peleas entre hermanos, o de la Violeta gritando, “Pero yaaapo, levántense pues!” Era mucho mas caótico que la casa mía, y me fascinaba. Al principio no cachaba mucho de lo que hablaban en la casa porque no hablaban mucho ingles, y yo casi nada de español, pero lo que sí entendía fue el amor entre todos y la importancia que daban a la familia. Siempre cenaban juntos en la mesa. Eso no había sido parte de mi vida, muchas veces cenaba en mi trabajo o si pasó que mi mama cocinaba solía hacer unos platos grandes para toda la semana, y cada uno comía cuando quería, a veces juntos viendo tv, pero muchas veces en tiempos diferentes, y a sentar en la mesa cada noche como familia fue algo ajeno. Pero no solo fue que comieran juntos, es que hicieran todo juntos y eso fue muy diferente a mi vida familiar.

Al poco tiempo de haber conocido a Gonzalo y a su familia por primera vez me sentí importante para alguien y realmente conectada y parte de una familia. Con la familia de Gonzalo aprendí como es una familia latina pero también conocía algunas costumbres mas bien “chilenas”. Muchas veces tomábamos once, una ritual que me parecía tan lindo; un te caliente con unos pancitos, o un maté, el cual al principio admito que me parecía un poco extraño, a compartir la bombilla con todos, pero después de soltar esa duda gringa, me encantaba, no tanto por el sabor, de hecho a ese edad no me gustaba mucho el mate, pero lo tomaba con gusto solo por ser parte de la familia. Cuando la Ita (la abuelita) venia a visitar traía pan y dulces chilenos, y eso del ito/ita me caía tan lindo, no solo el nombre de la abuela pero a poner al “ito” o “ita” a muuuchas palabras, es algo tan chileno y lo adoro. A veces la Violeta preparaba empanadas de pino o pastel de choclo, ahí comí mi primer membrillo el cual sigue siendo mi fruta favorita y también en esa casa fue donde tomé mi primer Pisco Sour. Gonzalo solía contarme historias de su vida en Chile, de su pueblo pesquero, Los Vilos, y todos en la familia siempre hablaban de Chile con un gran cariño, y desde ese tiempo en mi vida he tenido un interés en Chile y todas cosas chilenas.

El Gonzalo y yo pasamos por mucho juntos, fue una relación mucha mas intensa de lo ‘normal’ para una relación entre teenagers pero esa es una historia en si misma, mas larga y compleja de lo que corresponde contar aquí. Aunque después de dos años nos separamos esa parte de mi vida siempre será algo muy especial. Tanto por ser mi primer amor como por sentirme parte de esa familia. Gonzalo se regresó a Chile unos años después de que terminamos pero a través de los años la Violeta y yo nos mantuvimos el contacto porque nos queríamos mucho. Y he tenido el placer de conocer recientemente de nuevo ya como adultos a los hermanos de Gonzalo y a los hijos de sus hermanos también.

Okay, pero el hecho de haber tenido un pololo chileno hace 19 años no explica el interés actual que mantengo por Chile. Es que en Diciembre de 2011 tuve la oportunidad de viajar a Chile por primera vez. Ese viaje tuve un bello reencuentro con el Gonzalo y juntos fuimos a Valparaiso, caminado mucho por la ciudad, también me mostraba muchas partes de Santiago, incluso tomar el metro y micro y eso fue una experiencia para esta gringa de Florida! Una noche caminando por las calles de Santiago escuchamos a una banda tocando en vivo y me fascinaba la música, resulta que la canción era “Tus Besos Son” de Chico Trujillo, y desde ese día soy su fan #1 gringa. Tuve la oportunidad de conocer a algunos de los amigos de Gonzalo cuando pasamos una tarde junto a ellos tomando mate en la playa de Viña, y también ahí probé cafe con helado por primera vez, riiico! Otro día me presentó a sus hijos mas pequeños y pasamos una tarde todos juntos en un parque y como la fotografía es algo que me encanta, saque un montón de fotos de ellos jugando en los arboles con su papa. Fue re lindo ese día y el viaje completo fue algo muy especial, como habían pasado 15 años desde que la ultima vez que lo vi fue algo hermoso ver Gonzalo de nuevo ese primer viaje a Chile.

He regresado a Chile muchas veces después de ese viaje, pero solo el primer viaje lo pasé junto a Gonzalo, el resto he pasado viajando con mi amigo Carlos quien conocí por Couchsurfing.org. Me siento muy, pero muy afortunada de haber tenido la suerte de conocerlo, es un gran amigo y una persona increíble. Juntos hemos ido a muchas lugares y hemos tenido experiencias muy cool. Mi segundo viaje a Chile la primera cosa que hicimos fue ir al Museo de la Memoria porque era algo que tenia muchas ganas de ver. He leído mucho a cerca de la época de la dictadura y aunque sabia antes de entrar básicamente que me esperaba dentro igual fue impactante la experiencia. Creo que porque mis abuelos también vivían bajo una dictadura (la Soviet Union) siempre he sentido una compasión por la gente de Chile por esa parte de su historia.

Los Aguas Termales

En ese viaje también fuimos al Pueblito Los Dominicos, al museo de La Chascona, subimos el Cerro San Cristobal en bici y casi me muero, porque donde vivo en Florida es completamente plano y fue muy impresionante la diferencia de andar en bici aquí que en Chile. Cuando por fin llegamos a la cima del cerro probé por primera vez un mote con huesillo, el cual no fue a mi gusto pero igual fue una experiencia linda probarlo. Viajamos lejos hacia el sur a donde los papas de Carlos y pasamos unas noches junto a su familia en su hermosa casa de campo disfrutando de la tranquilidad. Y mientras en el sur aprovechemos de ver la belleza del Saltos del Laja, el Alto Bio Bio y a bañarnos en los aguas termales de Tolhuaca. Y como me interesa la antropología fuimos a una comunidad mapuche para ver al Museo Pehuenche en Ralco. Cuando llegamos el museo estaba cerrado por el día pero Carlos explicaba que, “La gringa esta aquí solo por un día y hemos viajado tan lejos para ver el museo” y el señor del museo fue tan amable para abrirlo y hacernos un tour privado. En otro viaje viajamos al norte, a San Pedro de Atacama, donde anduvimos en bici en la Valle de la Luna, a bañar en el Salar de Atacama, a ver la Laguna Cejar, y a subir el Cerro Pukará de Quitor, otra vez casi me muero. Al regresar a Santiago pasamos una tarde en el Cajón del Maipo en el área de la Cascada de las Animas, almorzamos al aire fresco en la terraza del restorán La Tribu. Asistimos al partido de Chile versus Uruguay en el Estadio Nacional, CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE, VIVA CHILE!, ganamos 2-0! Me encanta el fútbol y fue bacán ver un partido en vivo, a gritar, a sentir y compartir la emoción de la multitud, pero igual pasé por unos momentos impactantes antes de que empezaba el partido. Al llegar al estadio y sentarme en las gradas me fue imposible no pensar en todos los chilenos quienes habían pasado por esas gradas hace 40 años secuestrados en contra de su voluntad.

Otra noche salimos a Bellavista, a la Sala SCD a un concierto de “Músicos por la Educación” para ver a la Carolina Nissen. El programa se realizó en una sala pequeñita y eso lo hacia sentir muy personal. Tocaba también una tipa, de quien no estoy segura de su nombre pero en el CD que nos regalaron esa noche al lado del nombre de su canción dice “AirelaValeria”, un poco raro para ser nombre..no sé, pero extremamente talentosa la mujer! Ella hacia algo que nunca había visto antes y me parecía muy cool, hacia canciones en vivo con sampler con su voz, haciendo ruidos que se transformaron en música bella. Otro tiempo salimos al Club K-Oz para ver a GrandMaster Flash, un deejay hip-hop old school de USA, sentía un poco surreal para mi, estar en Chile viendo y escuchando a ese tipo, y me encantaba las reacciones de los chilenos, a ellos les encantaba la música, inventaron sus propias letras pero so what! Lo importante es que cantaban con gusto, no que entendían el ingles perfectamente.

El Club de la Comedia

Otra noche fuimos al Teatro Municipal de Las Condes para ver el show de The Voca People, creo que ahí escuché al mas ingles de mi viaje como la multitud estuvo lleno de gringos y fue bacán el programa, hacían tremenda música sin instrumentas, re impresionante. Me cae muy bien el humor chileno y desde hace tiempo soy una fan del Club de la Comedia y tuvimos la oportunidad de ir a unas grabaciones y tambien al show del Sergio Freire y Rodrigo Salinas,“La Hizimos” me reí caleta en “La Hizimos” y el Carlos tanto que le salieron lagrimas, me encantaba ver eso! También he conocido al cine chileno, fuimos a ver a “Gloria”, “Carne de Perro” y “Barrio Universitario”. Y en el departamento de Carlos vimos el DVD de “Stefan Vs Kramer" seco el Kramer! Aquí en Florida he visto muchas películas y programas chilenas, mis favoritas siendo, “Los 80” y “El Reemplazante” y de las pelis “Mi Mejor Enemigo” y todas las “Que Penas.”

Hemos disfrutado de la belleza de la naturaleza mientras trekking en el Parque Mahuida, y el Santuario Yerba Loca, y como hacen todos los buen turistas subimos el Cerro Santa Lucía, caminamos por el Parque Forestal y comimos en el Mercado Central. Pasamos una tarde en el pueblo de Pomaire donde vimos muchas lindas artesanías y ahí compré una bella tetera de greda. Fuimos caminando por Valparaiso y también a visitar la Isla Negra, otra casa de Neruda. Mi reciente viaje en enero de este año viajamos hasta el fin del mundo; a Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, al Torres del Paine, Lago Pehoé, Glaciar Grey y a la Isla Magdalena donde vimos muchos pingüinos muy de cerca y naturaleza tan hermosa que es indescriptible. Aunque soy de Florida y me siento muy conectada a la playa y los trópicos igual las montañas y toda la naturaleza de Chile me llama mucho. Pero lo mejor del viaje en enero fue ir a un pueblito que se llama Rinconada para ver a la mejor orquesta del mundo...a mi querido Chico Trujillo! Fue una experiencia inolvidable para mi, es algo único, la mezcla de estilos de músicas, junto al gran talento de la banda, la onda de la multitud...como bailan y gozan el publico es bacán! Haciendo la noche aun mas especial fue el hecho de que junto a Carlos y yo también estaba el Ignacio, un lindo amigo de Instagram que conocí desde hace mas de un año, y por fin lo pude ver en persona, y lo pasamos la raja!

La gran mayoría de la gente que sigo y que me siguen en IG y Twitter son chilenos y por eso ésta gringa suele escribir en español, bueno, en spanglish en realidad, y aunque como en todas partes existen gente pesada diría que casi todos los chilenos que he conocido en persona o en las redes sociales son muy buena onda. Y aunque Santiago es una ciudad de 6 millones de personas, no se siente así muchas veces. Pues mientras en los tacos, sipo es notable, pero como en el barrio de Nunoa donde queda el departamento del Carlos, es muy tranquilo. Las personas que te atienden en los almacenes te reconozcan, te hablen, y en general he encontrado los chilenos muy cálidos y cariñosos. Por ejemplo la cuestión del museo Mapuche, aquí jamas te abrirían un museo que haya estado cerrado solo porque no fuese posible regresar en el tiempo cuando estuviera abierto, jamas! Aquí en los EEUU uno se siente mas bien como un numero muchas veces, se quiten la conexión humana de la interacción, es muy lamentable que como país hemos llegado a eso. Mi país es inmenso, tenemos mucho, demasiado en realidad, pero lo tengo muy claro que no somos “lo mejor” en todo, y ese ejemplo del museo lo muestra muy bien. Aprecio mucho mi tiempo en Chile y mis amigos chilenos, me siento muy “en casa” cuando este en Chile. Y para cerrar les regalo un “poema” que escribí para el 18 y algunas fotos favoritas. ;-)

Esa tarde en Viña

San Pedro

Valle de la Luna

Salto Laja

Valpo

La Isla Negra

Ni idea... 

Salt bath

Huasos :-)

Torres

Torres again

Glacier Grey 

Isla Magdalena 

Concierto de Chico Trujillo!!!

I Do Remember

The piece below is part of my theater class journal I turned in today. The assignment for this entry was to give feedback on my classmate's presentations from last week. I won't bore you with the descriptions of each student's project...I'm only posting this piece here because I kind of veered off subject in the assignment, and I think it's worth posting.

Dori -Presented information on the play and movie version of “Rent.” I have not seen this play or movie, but the storyline seems interesting. Dori told the class a good portion of the play material came from the playwright’s own life, who was dealing with the emergence of AIDS.  The most touching part of Dori's presentation was when she spoke a line of one of the characters in the play, who said, “I’m not scared of dying; I’m scared of losing my dignity.” 

The majority of my fellow classmates are too young to even remember when AIDS was first brought into the public spotlight.  They didn't grow up in the time when people were completely ignorant about the disease, when fear and prejudice plagued anyone connected to the disease. I am glad for my fellow classmates that they've grown up in a more educated era, and don't remember those days...but I do remember

I remember Ryan White, the young boy who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.  He and his family were subjected to terribly cruel behavior by the ignorant, hateful people of the town where he lived.  He was actually expelled from school because of his sickness. I remember being horrified that adults could be so cruel to an innocent young child. Ryan went on to become a national spokesperson for AIDS. In his short life Ryan made a huge difference on how Americans thought about AIDS and those people infected with the disease.

I remember Kimberly Bergalis, the local young woman who contracted AIDS from her dentist who knowingly worked on patients without following proper safeguards. Kimberly was not the only person her doctor infected with the virus. Kimberly spent the rest of her short life fighting to get mandatory AIDS testing for health care workers. I can still picture her in my mind as she looked in her last televised interview, wearing a light pink shirt, lying on her living room couch, looking so very sick.

I remember the first TV program, “Life Goes On” that had a regular character with AIDS, played by Chad Lowe who I had a huge crush on.  Ironically, watching the TV show week after week, made the disease of AIDS very real to me.

 I remember the pain I felt, crying many times over the unfairness of it all. Thinking of these people, even now decades later, as I type this I’m still tearing up.   The fact that the names of the people I write of just sprang to my mind so quickly was surprising to me. In general I have a terrible memory, but yet decades later, these people and their stories are still right here, in my mind, and in my heart.

Military Bullies

QUESTION: How according to Miller did men resist the inclusion of women in the military?

In  her article, “Women in the Military”, Laura L. Miller asserts that the male members of the American military resist the aspect of social change that is the growing presence of women in the military, by “using techniques of resistance more commonly associated with the protests of minorities.”-P.518

At the root of the gender relations problem in the military is male invocation of the victim role, and refusal to challenge military policy. As members of the structurally dominant group these men ironically choose to take on the role of the “underdog”, and in turn use methods of resistance against the perceived threat (women) that are typically assigned as “strategies of the weak” p.519.  Miller describes these efforts of resistance as being done in such a manner so as not to be traced directly back to the initiator.  Some specific examples of this resistance behavior are: sabotage, name calling, foot-dragging, spreading rumors, constant scrutiny, and indirect threats.

The basic logical objection of the male soldiers appears to be the existence of differentiality in relation to gender policies.  Male soldiers assert that these differences “work in women’s favor, disrupt the meritocratic order, and are likely to imperil soldiers in times of war.”p.525.   The men object to the differences which supposedly allow women to take advantage in the following ways: easier physical training standards, use of pregnancy as an advantage, better educational opportunities, exemption from combat arms as a way to faster promotion, and “getting away with more” because of a male commander’s uncomfort in seeing or hearing anything related to the subject of menses.

I find most of the male soldier’s objections justifiable.  I believe female soldiers should indeed be able to meet the same physical requirements as the male soldiers. Also, the objections related to educational opportunities and exemption from arms seem valid to me. I don’t think women should enlist in the army unless they are able to perform equally to male soldiers. The blame however lies with whoever is in charge of military policies, not with the female soldiers.  The complaint that female soldiers get away with more because of “paternalism” is again, the fault of non-enforcement of regulations and not the female soldier.  Finally, the male soldier’s complaint of pregnancy as an advantage brings to mind a whiny three year old, stomping his feet and yelling, “No Fair!” To these soldiers who complain about this issue I say “Tough-get over it”. Women are responsible for growing another human being inside their body for those nine months and should do whatever is medically best for both mother and child. All of the male soldier’s complaints are due to existing military policy and non enforcement of said policies. The male soldiers need to either speak up* (or find advocates to do so for them) to Congress and the Department of Defense as to the unfair policies, or remain silent on the matter and stop being juvenile and harassing female soldiers.

*SOLDIERS' RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND RESTRICTIONS

Freedom of Expression

The right of all citizens to express their feelings freely and openly has only those limitations necessary to protect the rights of society. Soldiers have the same basic rights. These rights must, however, be consistent with good order and discipline and national security.

CORRESPONDING WITH A MEMBER OF CONGRESS  

Soldiers may write or petition any member of Congress about a complaint. You should not interfere with or try to dissuade a soldier from exercising this right. UCMJ, Article 138 (Chapter 13), protects a soldier's right to complain and request correction of a grievance against his commander.

WRITING FOR PUBLICATION

Generally, soldiers may not write on the following topics without submitting their writing for prior review and approval by the appropriate headquarters:

• National government operations.
• Military matters.
• Foreign policy.

They may write letters to editors and similar articles that constitute personal opinion or knowledge without having them reviewed and approved, even if the topic involves military matters or foreign policy. (See AR 360-5, Chapter 4.) Soldiers may not do personal writing during duty hours or use Army facilities, personnel, or property. (See paragraph 2-4.)

Writing for underground newspapers is not illegal, but it is subject to the same restrictions as other forms of writing. Soldiers may publish these newspapers off post, on their own time, and with their own money. However, soldiers are subject to discipline if the newspaper contains material or words for which the soldier can be prosecuted under federal law.

DEMONSTRATING

Soldiers may participate in demonstrations if they do not-

• Do so during duty hours.
• Soldiers participating during duty hours may be considered AWOL.
• Do so while in uniform.
• Soldiers in uniform can give the appearance that the Army sponsors or approves of the demonstration.
• Do so while on post.
• Do so while in a foreign country.
• Create a breach of law and order such as blocking traffic or assaulting police.
• Do so when violence is likely to result. (See AR 600-20, paragraph 5-3.)

Soldiers who demonstrate in a manner prohibited by AR 600-20 may be subject to disciplinary action.

EXPRESSING OPINIONS ON POLITICAL SUBJECTS

Soldiers do not lose the right to express opinions on all political subjects and candidates. Soldiers may not, however, use "official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the course of its outcome" (DOD Directive 1344.10). Therefore, as a commander, you may not campaign among your subordinates for any political party or candidate or distribute any literature published by one.

VOTING

Soldiers retain the right to vote in local and national elections. They may register to vote at their legal or permanent residence. (See AR 600-20.) Some soldiers change their legal residence to the state where they are stationed. (However, by registering to vote where stationed, soldiers might incur local taxes. Any soldier considering registering in the local community should visit a legal assistance officer to discuss possible problems.) When duty requires them to be away, soldiers may vote by absentee ballot. The forms needed to get absentee ballots and other election materials are generally available in the legal assistance office or from the unit voting officer.

ATTENDING POLITICAL MEETINGS

When not in uniform, soldiers may attend both partisan and nonpartisan political meetings or rallies as spectators. While soldiers may go to these rallies, they may not speak before a partisan political gathering of any kind to promote a partisan political party or candidate. The limitations on soldiers participating in public demonstrations also apply to participating in political meetings. That is, soldiers cannot do so when on duty, while in uniform, while on post, and so forth. Furthermore, soldiers may not attend partisan political events as representatives of the Army, even though they do not actively participate. (See AR 600-20, Appendix B.)

Soldiers may also join political clubs and attend meetings when not in uniform. However, they may not serve in any official capacity (for instance, as officers) or be sponsors of a partisan political club.

Legal Assistance

Through the legal assistance program, the Army provides free legal advice to soldiers and their family members. (See AR 27-3.) In some places, the Army is also operating a court representation program. This program permits legal assistance attorneys to represent soldiers before civilian courts. To qualify for this program, a soldier must be unable to afford civilian counsel. Check with your legal assistance office to find out if this expanded program is available

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/27-1/Ch10.htm

My Amish Family

WHY HAVE THE AMISH RESISTED CHANGE? DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE RESISTING CHANGE?

My Family June 2010

Dressed For Amish Wedding

I am able to provide an unusual perspective on this topic because I am related to Amish people through marriage. My husband Atlee “lived Amish” until the age of seventeen when he “jumped the fence” (the Amish slang term for leaving the community) and began to “live English.”(The Amish refer to the non Amish as English, no matter the person’s heritage.)  When Atlee left home he had not yet “joined church”, which is a good thing, because he would be shunned if he had left after joining church.   The Amish are not baptized at infancy but instead are encouraged to join church as a young adult, only once they are completely positive it is the correct choice for them to make. Because he left without having joined church, we are able to stay in contact and remain close, visiting usually at least once a year. 

This coming February I will have been part of the Miller family for ten years. During this time, I have gotten to know and love the family. From my personal experience of being involved with the Amish, I see the answer to the question of “why the Amish have resisted change” as dedication to faith and family.  I know the Christian faith is important to the Amish, but what I personally see as likely being the heavier influence on the decision to continue with the Amish way of life is the importance of family. The Amish are so close knit that the idea of being away from family and the larger Amish community is largely unappealing. There are those like my husband though, who just know they can’t live the lifestyle and do leave, but it is a small minority.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE AMISH WILL BE 20 YEARS FROM TODAY?

I’m not sure. I don’t know how the “English” will be in 20 years either.  Aside from a huge societal change happening throughout America, I think the Amish will continue to live the same way they have been, making slow, well thought out necessary changes, staying in the world but not “of” the world. 

Sacred Cow-Sacred Car

QUESTION: Why is the cow considered sacred in India? Harris mentions that we have a "sacred" car. List the functions of the Americans' "sacred" car in the same way that Harris does with the functions of the Indians' sacred cow.

The belief that the cow is considered sacred in India is an integral part of Hinduism because it is essential for the maintenance of Indian society.  In Marvin Harris’ article “India’s Sacred Cow”, he describes the functions of the cow as: serving as a symbol of health and abundance, being a producer of yogurt and ghee, as well as being a producer of dung for fire & fertilization. However, of all its functions Harris asserts that the cow’s most important function is it’s breeding, by which the existence of the oxen and bulls essential to the survival of the Indian agriculture is assured. 

For much of American society, the car is not just a serviceable machine to aid one in the pursuit of getting from point A to point B. The “sacred” American car is one of the most important status symbols of our society. The newer and more costly a car one drives, the more prosperous it’s driver is presumed. Ironically, this is often not the case.  People so badly want to be bathed in the golden light of wealth and prosperity, that they often “purchase” cars far more expensive than budget allows, thus worsening the driver’s true economic status. 

The “sacred” American car is an extension of one’s personal space.  The car can be used as a mode of self expression, by means of bumper stickers, plastered on the car, proclaiming the driver’s moral and ethical beliefs, sense of humor, hobbies, likes, dislikes, pride in offspring, etc., etc. Even the paint job and accessories of a car can speak to the personality of its driver. There are drivers who get murals painted on cars and some install elaborate sound systems with which to inflict the chosen song of the moment on other people nearby. Whether the general public wants to hear the music or not, is not relevant apparently.

The sacred American car often times also serves as a “dining room”, since Americans live such frenzied lives that many meals are eaten on the go, in the car en route from one activity to another. Likewise, the car can serve as a “living-room” of sorts, equipped with multiple TV’s, DVD/Blue Ray players, CD Players, IPOD players, Phones, Sirius XM Radio-providing commercial free broadcast of news, sports, comedy, audio books, traffic, weather and a ridiculous amount of music choices. The “sacred” American car can also serve as a means of facilitating amorous endeavors of teenagers without any other available place of privacy, or the means to “rent a room”.  The car can also serve as a sort of “baby nursery”. It is a common practice for parents of colicky babies to drive the baby around in the car, allowing the car to lull the baby to sleep. The car also can literally serve as an actual “home” for those who find themselves in the unfortunate position of being homeless.

The “sacred” American car also often provides a medium for release of pent up aggression, expressed in the form of road rage. This is not a healthy medium in which to release aggression, as it is dangerous. Nevertheless, it remains the chosen medium for many unhappy/passive aggressive people.   An interesting phenomenon with connected with the “sacred” American car is the issue of emotional attachment.  Some drivers become emotionally attached to cars, and refer to the car as “she”, or even name the car, usually assigning a feminine name.

The “sacred” American car can also function as a means of employment. The auto industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that employs masses of people.  The oil and tire industry are also dependent on the existence of the “sacred” American car.

And finally, there is a whole subset of society that “worships” cars, and car drivers, in particular, race cars and race car drivers.  NASCAR, the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing, is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that has millions of fiercely loyal fans.  The driver’s race cars are covered with sponsor’s advertising slogans, companies which NASCAR fans naturally support as well.

"No-Fault" Divorce

QUESTION: Before “no fault” divorce laws were enacted, divorce was a relatively rare occurrence, permitted only when a sound reason (such as abuse) could be established.  Given that divorce places children and adults at risk for numerous negative outcomes, should “no fault” divorce laws be revoked?
 
It can be offered that no-fault divorce laws came about as a reactionary defense against an overwhelming inundation of work to the Family Court System. Before the adoption of no-fault laws, one marriage partner would have to prove the other party acted in a way to cause the breakdown of the marriage. This requirement brought a lot of extra work to the court system. The judges and lawyers would have to spend a lot of time finding out who was lying and who really did what to whom. The no-fault divorce laws have certainly made the judicial process faster.

I don’t know for sure if revoking no fault laws is the answer to the problem of marital discord in America. I think if someone wants out of their marriage, the home life situation can’t be that positive anyway. I don’t know that making the divorce process harder would really change how people treat each other. It might stop people from marrying though. But people live together and raise families unmarried also, so what difference would it make?

Ultimately, it is up to each person in the relationship to decide how they want to treat each other and if they want to stay in the relationship or not, no matter what laws are in place. If I were made to simply say yes or no to the question, I would say the no fault laws should not be revoked. It would seem to me to just prolong an inevitable end, causing more pain, and costing more money for everyone involved.

It is of interesting note that in some states (Louisiana, Arkansas and Arizona) there are laws that give couples the option to choose which laws they would want to apply to their divorce, should the marriage end. The options are “covenant marriage” or the no-fault option. In covenant marriage, couples agree to pre-marital counseling and to limit the grounds and options should they decide to divorce. Having to make that choice would certainly bring about an enlightening premarital discussion.

Undertakers

At the end of life when our physical body has to be disposed of, rituals have developed for those left behind. The caretakers of our remains and those who provide the ceremonies for the living in our society are the undertakers. What thoughts do you have after viewing the documentary entitled "The Undertakers"?

One of the most unenviable jobs in society has got to be that of an undertaker. Aside from the morose reality of dealing with dead bodies, the undertakers must also deal with the emotionally devastated loved ones of the deceased. I’m not sure which aspect of the profession would be the more difficult of the two. The average undertaker receives an annual salary of $34,690.00. This is not a great deal of money at all, which begs the question, why then do people choose to work in this profession?  In preparation for this assignment I looked for psychological research on workers in the undertaking industry. This appears to be a topic that has received only the slightest hint of investigation, and one I personally think bears further research.  The undertaking business depicted in the Frontline video was a multi-generational family run business. I imagine that family has continued on in the undertaking business mostly due to tradition. It takes a very strong person to choose to be involved in this profession. Though I consider myself a strong woman, I really can’t imagine myself working in this field, as it just seems it would be too depressing to deal with death on a regular basis. I am certainly thankful for those that do work in this field as it is necessary to our society.