CloudHands Posted July 23, 2017 Hi, I'm very curious about how do you feel about your own country, your personal non-objective opinion... How would you define it ? What do you like or dislike in your culture ? For big countries it's welcome to focus (or not) on your region/state/land. Pictures, sounds, music are also very welcome. Let's make each us travel cheap Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted July 23, 2017 I think it is well established that I am an American and I love my country.  Also well established, I think, is that I feel my country, and especially the politicians, have been travelling the wrong road for many years.  Aside from that, no other country on the planet has the diversity as has the USA. From sea to shining sea and all that stuff. Soon it could be "from wall to big ass wall".   3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Miffymog Posted July 23, 2017 I find that a strange question for me at the moment. I live in England, although I'm more British than English. 10 years ago I was happy to say I was European as well, but that put me in the minority. Now, I'm not European. Â Now, English / British - British / English? there is a difference. Â But how do I define my country? It's where I grew up and is where I'm familiar. I've lived abroad and learnt how to appreciate all the things I missed, far more than I could ever have realised. Â Ultimately, it is a very personal thing, so I can't really define it right now, may be in a later post ... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wu Ming Jen Posted July 23, 2017 I do not have a country maybe someday I could answer this question. If I did identify myself with a country it would be the best. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted July 23, 2017 Too wet, cold and muddy, too full of people. A lot of those boring. Â but feel rooted here. Would not go away to a sunnier place cause it seems that I belong here. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spotless Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) I would describe the USA as "being in the process of being sold". It is being broken up and sold off in parts. Â White collar mafia with Evengelical backing - and actual mafia. Edited July 23, 2017 by Spotless 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted July 23, 2017 I live in the Southern Appalachian Highlands. Â Geographically, it includes Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, a corner of Georgia, and a bit of Kentucky & West Virginia. Â The region has a wonderfully diverse biosphere and a distinct culture (although both are being negatively impacted by the "progress of civilization"). Â Â A picture or two... Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â That cat sure picked some fine claw-hammer banjo! 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sagebrush Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) what in the world is the broom doing on the roof? good storage maybe  plus one of the pics toward the end looks like old school moonshine in background  very nice- just like home especially soda pop talk the sound of the birds and the rising mist over the hills-         Edited July 23, 2017 by sagebrush 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted July 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, sagebrush said: what in the world is the broom doing on the roof? Â Â Â Â Â My guess would be because a broom over a doorway keeps haints away, much like painting a porch ceiling blue (they don't call it "haint blue" for nothing...) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sagebrush Posted July 23, 2017 the essential john Denver playing in the background making myself cry unnecessarily and instant down pour whats it all about Alfie?  who is they? they don't call it haint blue for nothing   Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted July 23, 2017 (edited) 21 minutes ago, sagebrush said: the essential john Denver playing in the background making myself cry unnecessarily and instant down pour whats it all about Alfie?  who is they? they don't call it haint blue for nothing   Google "haint blue" -- I don't want to derail CloudHands' thread (any more than I already have...)  EDIT: https://www.sherwin-williams.com/architects-specifiers-designers/inspiration/styles-and-techniques/sw-article-pro-thewhysbehind  And John Denver was born in Roswell, New Mexico. To my knowledge, he never lived in or spent time in the Southern Appalachian Highlands -- he came by bluegrass commercially. Edited July 23, 2017 by Brian 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ralis Posted July 23, 2017 1 hour ago, Brian said: I live in the Southern Appalachian Highlands. Â Geographically, it includes Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, a corner of Georgia, and a bit of Kentucky & West Virginia. Â The region has a wonderfully diverse biosphere and a distinct culture (although both are being negatively impacted by the "progress of civilization"). Â Â A picture or two... Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â That cat sure picked some fine claw-hammer banjo! Â The eighth picture appears to be a still. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted July 23, 2017 4 hours ago, Brian said: My guess would be because a broom over a doorway keeps haints away, much like painting a porch ceiling blue (they don't call it "haint blue" for nothing...)  I thought you were going to say ;  mother-in -law visiting , thats where she landed . 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian Posted July 23, 2017 Thought about it ("that's where the old witch parked it!") but didn't want to derail CloudHands' thread (any further...) Â 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nungali Posted July 23, 2017 'My country'  is down in the crack ,  from the air it looks like a moss filled fracture in a dry landscape.  Escarpments tower to the north and waterfalls plunge over the edge into the rainforest below.  It is haunted by the spirits of the original people , a very old people.... a few are left. I have  sat and talked with them and peered into their eyes ; like dark pools and far away ancient places  that I have never been .   It is a borderline country , a midway point for many fauna and flora species of north and south variety that meet here .  In some cases, they interbreed, creating unusual types.  It juts out to the east, into the western Pacific, the Great Dividing Range also, here, is at its most easterly extension , and aside from ' Daintree '  'up north'  it is where the range is closest to the coast .   And it  curves around like a big arm, catching the weather as it comes up the east coast from Antarctic regions, and swoops it in and spirals it around.  On a hot day, cool ocean air breezes up the valley.  In winter, at night, it is a 'cold sink' .  I have pademelons in my garden ... a lot lately  - winter, food is scarce .... they ate some of my food plants ... but thats okay, they gotta eat something this time of year, and I have enough to share .    Sometimes , I walk the ancient tracks, along the bottom of the escarpment ,  its like a cathedral in there . The trees tower overhead, and underneath the  ground is covered with ferns and cycads  and other primeval plants ;         and strands of Antarctic Beech , and ripped and torn up rocks from the original formation of the fault line .  and down 'the bottom'   cool rainforest pools     ....  and of course .....  'the wet season '   ( well... ya wanna live in a rainforest , gotta expect  'a bit ' of water  ! )    7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudHands Posted July 24, 2017 16 hours ago, blue eyed snake said: Too wet, cold and muddy, too full of people. A lot of those boring. Â but feel rooted here. Would not go away to a sunnier place cause it seems that I belong here. Â Ireland ? North England ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudHands Posted July 24, 2017 15 hours ago, Brian said: I live in the Southern Appalachian Highlands. Â Geographically, it includes Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, a corner of Georgia, and a bit of Kentucky & West Virginia. Â The region has a wonderfully diverse biosphere and a distinct culture (although both are being negatively impacted by the "progress of civilization"). Â Going to put a brand new tone (accent) on your writings 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudHands Posted July 24, 2017 9 hours ago, Nungali said: Â Â Â Â Beautiful 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted July 24, 2017 14 minutes ago, CloudHands said:  Ireland ? North England ?  The Netherlands    4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudHands Posted July 24, 2017 Oh yes, the flat country, many lovable things there, the weather put aside. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudHands Posted July 24, 2017 "With a sky so low that it makes one humble." A past neighbor 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
blue eyed snake Posted July 24, 2017 4 hours ago, CloudHands said: Oh yes, the flat country, many lovable things there, the weather put aside.  weather can be nice here, sometimes... but when I wrote that post  it' was raining very hard  4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted July 24, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, blue eyed snake said:  weather can be nice here, sometimes...  Which day of the year is that?  Edit to add:  That came from a memory of when I was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. The saying was that one should not sleep all day during the months of June through August because you could easily miss summer.  Edited July 24, 2017 by Marblehead 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anastasia Posted July 25, 2017 People who have never visited my country sometimes think it's all grey and monotonous. Well, it's not! It has many different faces. Â Pretty towns... Â Â Green mountains and valleys... Â Â BIG flower fields... Â Â Picturesque sea sides... Â Â Vast deserts... Â Â Sometimes, it looks like Holland... Â Â And yes, there is a lot of snow... Â Â Sometimes you can watch a big cat running on the snow! Â Â But luckily not where I am living... Â Â You know, my country is really big... Â Â And it kisses the USA! Â 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted July 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Anastasia said: And it kisses the USA!  Would that be Hillary and Putin?  (Sorry)  Spoiler   1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
