Us v. Them
WEDNESDAY: As a change from cheese, lunch today is a tuna sandwich. As my old California workmates would know, I'm really not a fan of tuna and mayo, and I am a bit particular about my tuna sandwiches. For one thing, I prefer tuna steak (or albacore in the States) and I much prefer it in brine rather than in oil. This morning, however, the only tuna in the house was tuna chunks in oil, so that's what I've used, draining it well. Then I mixed it with capers, a dash of caper vinegar, and chopped red pepper, and seasoned it with fresh coriander leaf, dried thyme, cumin, and cayenne. I make it differently every time depending on my mood and the available ingredients. And to keep it from falling out of my breadcake I use a thin slather of cream cheese for glue. As far as this blog is concerned it's Tuna Sandwich Experience No. 3. For fruit I've got some cantaloupe -- possibly my last cantaloupe of this gloriously tropical summer fruit season -- and some plump red grapes. And I'm eating it all in the newly lilac-and-blue staff room livened up by the same old fridge hum and air circulation buzz, not to mention the sound of Edward tripping over one of the new coffee tables.
This past Friday I was interviewed by phone on BBC Radio Sheffield. The last 2 times I was on Radio Sheffield I was prepared and eager to talk about coffee and tea. This time, however, I was sleep deprived and slightly hung over from my Thursday evening festivities, and the questions I was asked about the American Presidential campaign just didn't inspire my struggling mind. For instance, I attempted to answer the question about the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, but as soon as I started I was so bored with the question that I was even more uninterested in my reply. They're 2 different parties, that's all, with the Democrats generally more liberal than the Republicans and the Republicans generally more conservative than the Democrats. But there are always exceptions, as there are with any generalisations.
Which brings me to this week's subject. (I suppose it's more of a beef, although being a pescavegetarian I prefer the taste of subject.) This week I'm talking about generalisations and stereotypes directed toward enormous chunks of the population -- for instance, the believe by many Brits I've encountered that America is a land full of obese Bible-bashing gun-toting Bush-loving conservatives who are anti-abortion and pro-capital punishment. Now, I could argue that there are quite a few thin atheist Bush-hating liberals who are pro-abortion and anti-guns and capital punishment. But what about the slightly overweight Socialists? And what about the staunch Democrat pro-hunting self-called rednecks you find in some states? What about the Unitarian single moms who voted for Ross Perot in 1996? What about the middle-of-the-road beer-bellied apathists who don't have an opinion on abortion or capital punishment but who vehemently hate guns? I used to think of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts as being more liberal and the heartland of the country as being more conservative, but how does that explain the California Conservative Movement or that great progressive from Texas, Molly Ivins?
Here in the UK there are stereotypes involving Northerners v. Southerners. When I lived "down South", eg. in Kent, and we were planning on moving to "the North", eg. Yorkshire, I was warned by my small number of Southern friends that I would find life miserable "up there". They honestly believed that in the North the pubs were filled with men while the women stayed at home cooking -- Yorkshire puddings, obviously -- and cleaning. When we moved to "the North" we were surprised to find not only a warm and friendly population whom we befriended instantly, but also pubs that were filled not only with men and women, but with women who were drinking full pints and appearing to have a good time, as opposed to the Southern women with their half pints I always saw who often looked angry, thoroughly bored, or at least like they were dealing with a mouthful of Marmite. I know that could be construed as my own Northern and Southern stereotypes, but it's my honest observation. Obviously I realise there are happy full-pint-guzzling women in Kent and miserable half-pint-sipping women in Yorkshire. So you really can't make generalisations about anybody anywhere.
I'm just glad I live in the North, away from all those sour-faced provincial "Souv'ners" with their million-pound homes and those horrid accents…
