Stupid white men
Came back from my trip today. A little low on sleep. Sat on the matatu reading Michael Moore’s “Stupid White Men” and had to hold back tears.
I’ll read more of that when I have caught up with my sleep.
And I’ll write more here about the weekend soon too.
Fede Says:
Why hold back tears?
Laughter or sadness?
Im reading a book set in Napoli in 1944 after the liberation. This makes me laugh and makes me cry it s such an amazing book about my hometown. Im homesick!
A little package on its way for you…
And today is rob’s 40th! can you believe it…
fex
April 26th, 2004 at 5:58 pmSophia Says:
>> reading… Moore’s "Stupid White Men" …tears.
> Laughter or sadness?
I know which one would be in my case …
But for the other emotion, try reading a certain bible
April 26th, 2004 at 7:56 pmhttp://www.bluesock.org/booch/bible.html.
Lydia Says:
I agree with "why hold back tears". Sleep then read. Then you know the tears are brought on by the book and not that lowered emotional awareness (or should that be heightened? accentuated? - just pick the word and move on!) that tiredness brings on. I am STILL reading "What is good?" and it is now making me sleep rather than cry. Think I’ll try Sophia’s link!
April 26th, 2004 at 10:22 pmDrew Says:
April 27th, 2004 at 2:17 amMark Says:
**Why hold back tears**: Because I’m on the Kenyan public transport: these minivans that will hold 14 peopl-with-short-legs, and I’m the only mzungu, so I’m already attracting more than my fair share of attention, and my observation is that public displays of emotion of any kind are less common here than they are in England. I’m really not sure how a big white bloke crying on a bus would go down. And I really don’t feel like trying to find out when I’m in a state of heightened emotional instability brought on by lack of sleep. A shame perhaps, because it would be an interesting experiement to see how local society would deal with it: ignore, offer sympathy, say porley sana, etc.
**Why tears**: I was reading the introduction to the British edition. He tells the story of how the book was going to be banned even after the first printing but before distribution, because the publisher thought it inconsistent with their chosen response to September 11, and how people petitioned the publisher, used the internet to promote the book etc, and it became a best seller. It wasn’t sadness as such, but I was touched by the sense of community and people working together to defend their own right to read Michael Moor’s ‘free speech’.
The link above doesn’t work for me because Greymatter has included the full stop in the URL. but I found the Booch Bible here:
http://www.bluesock.org/booch/bible.html
April 27th, 2004 at 2:57 pmFede Says:
i think that if a book can make you think, and give you such strong emotions, it’s a fantastic achievements. Havent read michael moore but as i said, this Naples ‘44 is just deep and so real. When im on a busy tube in london, made for fairly tall people but with no air, no space, no fun, i read then i lift my eyes because it’s becoming too much and I need a ‘back to reality’ experience…oh well.do I make any sense?
April 27th, 2004 at 4:44 pmno…
Mark Says:
No, Fede, you dont make any sense to me :crazy:
Im a fairly tall person with no ‘air!
But, seriously, yes, I think I know what you mean. And notice that we both describe a situation where we read on public transport, and how we react. There are some things I just can’t read before bed, and some that don’t suit sitting in the sun. My own attitude has a lot to do with how I receive what I’m reading.
April 27th, 2004 at 6:38 pmLydia Says:
Fede makes sense to me. I can get so involved in a book that it’s almost a shock to lift my eyes from it, however "too much" it’s becoming but I need to check that reality is still there! Mark, if you already stand out, then whatever you do is going to stand out so maybe if you cried it would just be another odd thing about you but no more unusual than the rest of you. (Having said that, can I emphasise how much I value your unusual qualities) :hehe:
April 28th, 2004 at 4:34 pmfede Says:
Indeed, it is like Lydia said…thats why despite having had an Ipod for two months i havent used it but once on the tube. Music doesnt completely take me away from the reality of a busy peak time carriage. A book completely does…ever missed your stop? I have!…
fex :satisfied:
April 28th, 2004 at 5:13 pm