A new Jewish immigrant gets a job on a building worksite among German immigrants. Like them he is a burly peasant, but unlike them, he doesn't drink beer with his lunch, and every day they comment loudly, "*Der Jude trinkt kein Bier!" "Ja, ja! Der Jude trinkt kein Bier, haha."* * * After a few days of this, the Jew decides to bring some beer with his lunch.
When his coworkers see that he has beer, they comment loudly, "*Haha, der Jude trinkt Bier."*
On Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 10:03 AM, Bill Bartlett <william7 at aapt.net.au>wrote:
>
> On 25/10/2013, at 12:38 AM, Wojtek S <wsoko52 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > My problem on this list is that I detest populism of any variety - which
> > earns me scorn of those who operate within the left-wing populism
> > framework.
>
> Populism is one of the traits I find endearing about Americans. Remember
> that the alternative is even more unpleasant, which is to say that while
> the populist instinctively appeals to the populace as the ultimate
> authority, the authoritarian instinctively appeals to the powerful, in
> matters of political dispute.
>
> As I say, my impression is that Americans more often than not tend to a
> populist bent, they will appeal to the public for support to affect change,
> while Europeans (particularly the poms) are usually more inclined to appeal
> to the elite for their understanding.
>
> I guess its a matter of personal taste, as well as cultural bias, though.
> I would go along with you to some extent, Americans do tend to take
> populism to extremes, just as they take democracy to absurd extremes. (Even
> electing dog rangers and the like.) Though the oddest thing to an outsider
> is that the populace seems to presume they have a right to a voice on all
> sorts of matters whether or not they make any reasonable attempt to keep
> abreast of the facts that are needed to inform sound decision-making.
>
> (I picture a jury belligerently asserting its God-given right to pronounce
> guilt or innocence despite sleeping through the entire trial.)
>
> But again, you can't help loving this feature of American culture. Though
> I suppose it is possible to detest it at some level simultaneously.
>
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell Tas
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>