Mike Doughty writes in a letter to The London Observer commenting on a review of Billy Graham's crusade (Of God and Greenbacks
):
It's remarkable to me that
What's The Matter With Kansas?is published in the UK asWhat'sThe Matter With America?It's maddening to us New Yorkers, not to mention people from Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, and perhaps the most liberal city in the world, San Francisco, that while London is Britain, Paris is France, and Amsterdam is Holland, the United States is Springfield, Ohio.
Very true. For anyone who has not been to America, the views of the population varies greatly particularly based on geograpghy. Kansas is not America, but a slice that to a New Yorker is foreign and seemingly insane. The same can be said in reverse of a place like San Francisco if you're from Kansas City (KS or MO).
Another piece published in (presumably) the same edition as the Graham piece, Divided We Stand
, captures this condition through a personal account of the authors family that is not uncharacteristic for most others as this election approaches.
One passage stuck out in the the Graham article as I read it summarizing Thomas Frank's accessment of the divide in his book What's the Matter With Kanasas? which was renamed What's The Matter With America? in the UK promping Doughty's letter.
Frank argues that of all the divides in America, the key one is between the perceived authenticity of tradition-minded red America and its godless liberal nemesis. 'While liberals commit endless acts of hubris, sucking down lattes, driving European cars, trying to reform the world, the humble people of the red states go about their unpretentious business, eating down-home foods, whistling while they work and knowing they are secure under the watch of George W Bush, a man they love as one of their own.'
To me this statement really defines the divide. I originally come from Pennsylvania, which is somewhat sheltered in most parts from any significant cultural influence, though not nearly as much so from Red America.
In the short drive from NYC to PA where I'm from, the shift is clear and pretty dramatic. from this lack of diversity and the limited outside influence.
The article continues with what is the true irony that this sheltered simplistic view has created:
The great lie of this position, Frank argues, is that Bush has done more to undermine those traditional American values, by pandering to vast corporations, by slashing the tax burden of the rich, by rushing America to war, than almost any President in history. In this, though, Bush is convinced, he has God (and Billy Graham) on his side. Rarely has it been more straightforward for a rich man to feel eligible for a celestial upgrade than in Bush's America.
It's quite alarming. America is clearly coming to a crossroad with this approaching election that has me concerned and apprehensive for our future. Win or lose, I fear this will not be the end of the divide, but the beginning. I can only hope I'm wrong.
<p><a href="http://www.mikedoughty.com/blog/archives/000065.html">Mike Doughty writes</a> in a letter to The London Observer commenting on <a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1329063,00.html">a review of Billy Graham's crusade (<q>Of God and Greenbacks</q>)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's remarkable to me that <q>What's The Matter With Kansas?</q> is published in the UK as <q>What'sThe Matter With America?</q> It's maddening to us New Yorkers, not to mention people from Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, and perhaps the most liberal city in the world, San Francisco, that while London is Britain, Paris is France, and Amsterdam is Holland, the United States is Springfield, Ohio.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Very true. For anyone who has not been to America, the views of the population varies greatly particularly based on geograpghy. Kansas is not America, but a slice that to a New Yorker is foreign and seemingly insane. The same can be said in reverse of a place like San Francisco if you're from Kansas City (KS or MO).</p>
<p>Another piece published in (presumably) the same edition as the Graham piece, <a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1329057,00.html"><q>Divided We Stand</q></a>, captures this condition through a personal account of the authors family that is not uncharacteristic for most others as this election approaches.</p>
<p>One passage stuck out in the the Graham article as I read it summarizing Thomas Frank's accessment of the divide in his book <a href="http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/0805073396/tima-02-20"><cite>What's the Matter With Kanasas?</cite></a> which was renamed <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0436205394"><cite>What's The Matter With America?</cite> in the UK</a> promping Doughty's letter.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Frank argues that of all the divides in America, the key one is between the perceived authenticity of tradition-minded red America and its godless liberal nemesis. 'While liberals commit endless acts of hubris, sucking down lattes, driving European cars, trying to reform the world, the humble people of the red states go about their unpretentious business, eating down-home foods, whistling while they work and knowing they are secure under the watch of George W Bush, a man they love as one of their own.'</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To me this statement really defines the divide. I originally come from Pennsylvania, which is somewhat sheltered in most parts from any significant cultural influence, though not nearly as much so from <q>Red America.</q> In the short drive from NYC to PA where I'm from, the shift is clear and pretty dramatic. from this lack of diversity and the limited outside influence.</p>
<p>The article continues with what is the true irony that this sheltered simplistic view has created:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The great lie of this position, Frank argues, is that Bush has done more to undermine those traditional American values, by pandering to vast corporations, by slashing the tax burden of the rich, by rushing America to war, than almost any President in history. In this, though, Bush is convinced, he has God (and Billy Graham) on his side. Rarely has it been more straightforward for a rich man to feel eligible for a celestial upgrade than in Bush's America.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's quite alarming. America is clearly coming to a crossroad with this approaching election that has me concerned and apprehensive for our future. Win or lose, I fear this will not be the end of the divide, but the beginning. I can only hope I'm wrong.</p>
