posted March 25, 2003 02:46 PM            

So can we please take the war "element" out of it before giving your answers....
Pre this war...

Where would you prefer to live?
America? Why? And if not, why not?
Iraq? Why? And if not why not?
Substitute your own country if it's not America.

posted March 25, 2003 03:53 PM              

Just wanted to give you my quick answer. I suppose it is more complex than this, but I don't have alot of time. Anyway, just wanted to give you my initial thoughts...

I am sure that I'd rather live in America. I firmly believe that is because I've always been here and it is what I know to be comfortable culturally and morally.

I presume that if I was raised in Iraq and had a different comfort zone (ie, the Koran was my Constitution and "moral guide", or my livelihood and family were in Iraq), I might feel differently.

I am pretty sure we all have a different view of our life depending on what we are born into. There are reasons for it, karmic and otherwise. One never knows, and that is why it is crucial to respect others way of life.

Anyway... there's my short of it

posted March 25, 2003 05:38 PM              

I was born and grew up in California. Never been out of state except to Reno and Tahoe in Nevada.

I am nearly always the only ethnic minority in school and work. Thank goodness I have Venus in 10th with easy aspects, because most people treat me kindly and enjoy doing nice things for me. For example, the subway drivers always wait for me before they pull the cars into the tunnel in the morning as I head out to work.

I have only been harassed publicly once. When I was walking out of a bookstore and a black man spit at me. He said, "Oh, sorry. Hoe!" I was completely speechless.

I will consume most anything these days as long as it has relatively conventional ingredients on clean plates. Just keep a bottle of Pepto-Bismo aka Pink Bismuth near by.

For the most part, I am comfortable going anywhere at least once. But there are times when my Capricorn moon kicks in, and there is no way I or anyone else can coax me out of being a frozen pizza. This happens in the most inopportune times. Like when I was shooting pool with this hot looking lawyer who had an open tab for us, and I turned into a frozen pizza. He was absolutely sweet. I don't know why I did that.

Now, this story originates from a Asian American woman who lives in California. Someone who was educated in a "Top Ten" public university in the United States. A woman who started working at age 14 and put herself through college, even having dropped out for 6 months. Yet finishing in 4 by age 22. A person who was born to parents who weren't married in a society that gives tax and insurance breaks to couples who have a piece of paper with ink on it. I have dated men from different ethnicities than I, such as Black, Native American, Japanese, Irish, Puerto Rican, El Salvadorean, White-Anglo Mutt (hehe), etc., etc. My best friend from college is bisexual. And I use to "Fag-hag" for fun years back in the Castro.

I definitely know it was my own strong will that created all that I wrote above. California was the playground and I choose to do all that and more. If the playground is different, there is a good possibility that I may push the envelope in other directions, who knows? Would I prefer to live in the United States? Well, I only know California. I do not know how things would be for me if I were to live in Columbus, Ohio where the Klu Klux Klan are my community neighbors who parade down the street preaching hate. Or if I were to live in Kentucky where the Asian American population is probably only half a percentage point and the wildlife would probably take a good stare at me as I drive down the roads.

I know I have chosen to stay here in California, for now. I have been thinking of moving to New York City, or thereabouts for grad school and so that I could travel to London and Paris more inexpensively than from San Francisco.

Was all this possible by living in the U.S.? I do not know. I am not going to create a meaning out of my living here and dream up of connections.

As for Iraq, hey I will try anything at least once, and if I like it I may stay longer. I may enjoy their food and music and get a nice tan. I may enjoy reading their literature and learning their history. I may enjoy chatting with the locals in broken Arabic and drinking things for which I haven't a clue how they were made. I would like to chat with their community and religious organizers. I would like to take pictures and play cards on the street. May be date a few Iraqi men. Hey, anything is possible. The best part for me would be to hear their story. Their lives, and what they make it mean.

posted March 26, 2003 10:42 PM              

http://www.camden.nsw.gov.au/
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~scrob/camden.html

As for country... I love Australia... but i hope to travel (more so than i have so far) and maybe live overseas for a while... not sure where too... have to wait and see where my dreams take me!

posted March 27, 2003 01:01 AM              

jjjax Camden seems wonderful! I think I have to visit Australia!

posted March 27, 2003 04:41 AM              

I like Australia as well, it has it all (just like N. Zealand): mountains, deserts, sea, all in all, simply wonderful nature, and most importantly, it's out of the world's focus

posted March 27, 2003 07:15 AM              

morgana, I have heard New Zealand is amazing, and Ruby, I have actually heard it compared to Tassie... but I haven’t had the pleasure of going there yet either... and I have heard it is so beautiful New Zealand is were the lord of the rings is filmed... so imagine that scenery in real life... amazing!

Ruby I’m always at the Camden show!!! I usually submit artwork there too. I bet we have walk right past each other

posted March 29, 2003 05:43 AM              

I see you Australians like to live in Australia What's Tasmania like, Ruby? Hehe, it always makes me think of the Tasmanian Devil, the cartoon character

Aphrodite, interesting observation about the Sag in the charts I have none, btw

posted March 29, 2003 06:35 AM              

Cradle Mountain: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lebessis/cm2.jpg

Tiptoe through the tulips: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lebessis/tu1.jpg

The 'Nut': http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lebessis/stan1.jpg

Wombat Lake: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lebessis/cm3.jpg

Our Capital - Hobart http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lebessis/hp.jpg

posted March 29, 2003 06:49 AM              

Mt Murchison, near where I grew up:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/bruce.foto/img6.jpg

Tassie Devil: http://www.users.bigpond.com/bruce.foto/img26.jpg

Tassie Tiger, believed to be extinct: http://www.users.bigpond.com/bruce.foto/img36.jpg

Enchanted Forest: http://www.users.bigpond.com/bruce.foto/img235.jpg

and again:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/bruce.foto/img238.jpg