cultural mythology

Thanksgiving: A Bittersweet Holiday

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This image accompanied a message I received from the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), of which I'm a member: The Mayflower Society wishes you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving! It's an idealized view, glorious rays of sunshine and all, of a ship that brought saints and strangers, Puritans who came to be known as … Continue reading Thanksgiving: A Bittersweet Holiday

Vietnamese Student (Mis)Perceptions of the USA

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I recently talked with a Vietnamese student who had studied in the US and was back home.  When I asked him about the experience of living there, one reply really stood out:  people are free and equal.  That answer jump-started my interior monologue, which quickly went into overdrive.  The first reply was Which people, in … Continue reading Vietnamese Student (Mis)Perceptions of the USA