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Sweet Caroline

"Sweeeeeet Caroline.......Ba Ba Ba", the crowd chanted in unison. I could not help in but join in the catchy chorus though it was the first ever time I had heard it and when it came to that part again, I sang even more heartily with the rest of the crowd. Thanks to that piece alone, the rather drab patriotic performance by the orchestra on the night of July 4th was saved.

And as I stared into the sky in wonder as the fireworks started, I recalled that it had been half a year since I shifted residence to the 'greatest country on Earth'. I knew what to expect when I landed, for American soft power had been extremely successful in reaching every nook and corner of the globe, to the frustration of most intellectuals. Materialistic, superficial, know-nothings, paternalistic, endlessly interested either in the weather or the lives of their dogs and the list does not end (especially if you ask the French). Most of these cultural nuances, as I found out, were pretty spot on.

However, those who only choose to view and point out only the negative aspects of a culture are not any less superficial, paternalistic or know-nothings. It took me a while to escape from that mentality and to see what more was there to this country. In the process, one slowly but surely realises that in the midst of the materialism and chatter, Americans are (at least in Texas) welcoming, kind and very protective of what they believe in. There are always exceptions of course, but it hard to ignore the kindness of the old folks who, seeing me quite lost, invited me to dance with them on the dance floor or friends who insist I go for parties despite my repeated refusals. It was much easier to feel at home here than in Europe where one stood out like a sore thumb. Plus as many noteworthy personalities have shown, in America, hard work and talent will always assure you a quality of life and riches, as compared to many places in Asia where one needs to have the right connections to even get a job.

Like every other country, America is far from perfect. However it is that imperfection and the continuous struggle between the numerous groups that adds the color and dynamism that makes American society a distinctive class of its own. The smarter Americans know it, and that's why they stay.




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