Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

I knew I had to leave America when I was no longer able to go to the county fair.

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU
 
Democrats Ramshield Donating Member (90 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-14-12 08:12 PM
Original message
I knew I had to leave America when I was no longer able to go to the county fair.
I knew I had to leave America when I was no longer able to go to the county fair.

by Democrats Ramshield

(Written by an American Expat living in the E.U.)

That's when I knew the America I grew up in was gone for good.

For me leaving home, family and friends was easier for me to live with than watching the America that I grew up in die!


In order for me to stay human! I couldn't allow myself to become desensitized and assimilated to the hunger, fear and suffering. I knew for me to not be assimilated and stay human I was going have to leave America for good. I had to leave America! It was just too painful to stay and watch the America I grew up in die!

There's something deeply medieval about neo feudal America as 132 million Americans who can't eat normal food because they can't properly chew anything because they have no dental insurance. While some people like to wake to music from their clock radios, these Americans can't really appreciate the rendition that you and I hear fully, because they have ringing in the ears, that's what dental pain does, and too many of them millions, many of them children live that way everyday in the richest country in the world which doesn't really give a shit about them!

As an American expat people tell me I'm a brave soul to have left America, home, family and friends, that people like me are a brand of the new American pioneer, who no longer just go West but every direction of the compass now. I realize I had to leave America when I saw I could no longer go to the fair. The America that I was raised in, county fairs were a big event. They had rodeo's and clowns. The future farmers of America had events where they could win prizes. The fairways were busy with people and eating wonderful things like cotton candy in big reddish orange plumes, and laughing and going on bumpy rides to the cheers and screams of delight echoing through the fairgrounds.


Now the fairgrounds of America from sea to shining sea are regularly turned into what some are calling the nightwalkers' waiting room, who stand in long lines sometimes all night to get urgently needed dental care. They don't mind staying up and standing out in the cold, in the dark often times with their family members, because they and the people around them live in chronic pain, probably almost everyday. These people are desperate and they are too afraid to go to sleep, because they know that with first come, first serve, people will be getting turned away before daybreak. Some have been quoted as saying that farm animals are treated better than they are.

In the America I grew up in we used to care about each other.
What the Hell happened to us? Where did America lose its way?


(Please click on the link below to read the rest of my Daily Kos diary.)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/14/1052394/-I-knew-I-had-to-leave-America-when-I-was-no-longer-able-to-go-to-the-county-fair-?via=siderec

Refresh | +15 Recommendations Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
Cronus Protagonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Jan-14-12 08:42 PM
Response to Original message
1. The Americans I know stand up and fight for their rights
They don't leave the country and piss on it.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
druidity33 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 07:47 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. The Americans I know
would leave in a heartbeat if they could have good medical care and food security somewhere else. Maybe throw in a job and a decent education for their kids, and they'd never turn back. Americans are so damn fickle with all their "wanting not to get kicked to the gutter anymore" attitude. Sheesh.

:eyes:

Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Cronus Protagonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 08:17 AM
Response to Reply #3
4. lol you need better friends
:)
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 03:14 PM
Response to Reply #4
10. Lol, you need a reality check.
:-)
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
No Elephants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 11:27 AM
Response to Reply #1
6. Unless you have a lot of money, fighting for your rights has also changed.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 03:15 PM
Response to Reply #6
11. Amen to that. nt
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
ooglymoogly Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 12:12 PM
Response to Reply #1
7. The deck is stacked...all aces for the rich and all jokers for everyone else..
On some levels I agree with you, but I can understand why others think differently. Many Jews, in Germany, for instance, waited too long to exit and were slaughtered. This government has proven that it has no qualms about torturing and slaughtering large numbers of people for resources, fun and profit.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Lorien Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #1
9. What exactly are you doing to "fight for your rights"?
How is that working for you? How is that working for the rest of America? Personally, I'm a human being and citizen of the planet earth. I don't identify myself with land masses given artificial borders. I prefer to live among compassionate, thinking fellow humans, wherever they may be.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
lbrtbell Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 07:35 PM
Response to Reply #9
13. If you don't love your country and fight for it
There will be no compassionate, thinking fellow humans anywhere. They'll be too busy struggling to survive.

There is no such thing as a citizen of planet Earth. You're an inhabitant of planet Earth, but a citizen of a country. If you think otherwise, you'll be in for a rude awakening when you try to leave the USA, and the "compassionate, thinking fellow humans" in other countries refuse to let you in their countries because of their immigration laws.

America IS the greatest country there ever was...that's why all these greedy bastards are engaged in a war to steal it from "We The People". And that's why we have to fight every attempt to strip our rights--because as America goes, so goes the world.

I'm proud to be an American, and I will NOT let corporations or teabagging hatemongers co-opt the flag to represent them. The moment we give up our rights to claim that flag as ours, is the moment we concede defeat.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Cronus Protagonist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. That was a much needed reality check
And I still say one ought to pick one's friends with more discrimination. :)
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
lector Donating Member (61 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Jan-16-12 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #13
16. America IS the greatest country there ever was...?????????
Are you drunk? This country was founded by stealing the land from the Natives then dam near killed every one of them. Then proceeded to steal people from their homes ( called slavery). What the fuck is so great about that ??
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Divine Discontent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 02:04 AM
Response to Original message
2. it is sad. im one of the millions with horrible teeth after once having
beautiful teeth up to my 20s, but they were always thin, and they have been cracking and falling apart ever since. I'm down 6 already, just waiting for opportunity to remove the rest eventually so I can get dentures when I can afford it. There are tens of millions suffering. Such a shame this is going on in America. We needed healthcare to be universal, instead we have an unsure future. If you have good health, I'm very happy for you, never take it for granted.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Democrats Ramshield Donating Member (90 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-20-12 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #2
20. To Divine Discontent - Thank you for sharing your deeply personal post.
It means a lot.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Name removed Donating Member (0 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 09:52 AM
Response to Original message
5. Deleted message
Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.
 
Divine Discontent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 03:13 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Rush would be pleased by your smug pettiness
troll
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
No Elephants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 03:50 PM
Response to Reply #5
12. Way to disrespect yourself!
Your post says absolutely nothing about the actual reason for Divine Discontent's suffering, but it does tell us a lot about you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Divine Discontent Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Jan-15-12 09:00 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. thx No Elephants. and my dentist was amazed at my quick loss of
tooth strength. my dad had all of his removed when he was 30 because the roots were dying and his teeth did same thing. sadly, I couldn't afford the caps and such and toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash just couldn't stop the inevitable. I'm part Cherokee on my dad's side so perhaps that's where it came from since that seems to be common, plus we had no flouride in our water growing up.

thanks again
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
No Elephants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-17-12 02:44 AM
Response to Reply #14
17. No problem.
Anyone who read your post would have understood that your problems were not from lack of brushing.

But, you know what, even if they were, it was obvious that you were suffering and anyone who would mock a person who is suffering can kiss my ring.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
dtexdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jan-17-12 01:55 PM
Response to Original message
18. Out state fair is a great state fair. Don't miss it, don't even be late.
No dollars for donuts, but our state fair, has the only dental care for you in the state.
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
Democrats Ramshield Donating Member (90 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Jan-20-12 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. dtexdem, that was a great post
Printer Friendly | Permalink | Reply | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed Dec 04th 2024, 11:19 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC