Things That Make Me Believe in America Again
I lived for many years in Chicago with my friend Shannon James, and whenever anything really great would happen (like, for instance, Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention or a new episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), we would always say, "That kind of makes me believe in America again."
Things have been a little negative here lately, largely because mouth pain can make you a pretty sour individual, but it's time to perk up. So here are some things that have recently kind of made me believe in America again:
1. There's this kid named Luke (also known as Running Fool and The Human Baton) who is making a circular trip around the United States using only fans of Ze Frank's The Show (who are known to themselves as Sportsracers) for lodging, food, and transportation. Virtual communities that work! Teamwork! Coming together to do beautifully pointless things and cover people in buttons! I like.
2. Speaking of I like: Borat makes me believe in America again. Sure, the movie itself is pretty damning when it comes to America. But a lot of people have seen the movie and liked it, which is something.
3. This essay by Matthew Cheney, which--while it doesn't say it--seems to be about problems faced by a teacher trying to teach Looking for Alaska. It's good writing, and--rare among such essays--it's not self-righteous and doesn't try to lay blame. I'm not looking to see Alaska or Katherines defended so much as I'm looking for an honest discussion of the issues.
4. Extremely funny authors who blog. Like Emily Gould, whose hotly anticipated first book I am trying to get a galley of so I can report to you on its awesomeness. Or Bennett Madison, who apparently once lived with Emily Gould, in what must have been the world's funniest apartment. Or Maureen Johnson, who has the best photo captions in the blog business. Also, read Andrew Auseon's web comic. All of these, needless to say, are American blogs.
5. Mimosas with a splash of pomegranate juice. Last night Sarah and I made a series of cocktails based on Things That Were Inside Our Fridge. Cheap scotch and diet Mountain Dew are not a good pairing, nor is Corona Light with lemons. But those mimosas were fantastic.
6. Lonelygirl15. That's right, she's back! And she's living with a hot guy named Jonas ever since her parents got kidnapped (or killed!) by the crazy cult they belong to.
That's it, for the moment. What, if anything, makes you believe in America again?
posted by John Green @ Friday, December 15, 2006
7 Comments
7 Comments:
funny is one word for it! thanks though.
I though of you when I saw lonelygirl15 on the cover of Wired (yeah, I get it a little late here in Holland). She's so lovely! And she made me smile because she reminded me of your charming obsession!
Still haven't read your books because I'm crazy-busy at work. Sorry.
Ford and Chevy commercials, getting 7 Christmas cards in the mail in one day, and old episodes of Law and Order that aren't "ripped from the headlines."
I think the shuttle launch was pretty amazing.
Now, you see, quality work like Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines is what makes ME believe in America again, but if I say that, it will just look like I am kissing ass, even if it is 100% true. Which it is.
True, I mean. Not kissing ass.
There is just no winning with this. I like your books. Isn't that enough?
Also, NACHO TOTS, delicious nachos made with tater tots instead of chips. I actually ate these in Atlanta. I think I lost a year off my lifespan in doing so, but it was so worth it.
So, you and NACHO TOTS.
I find it intriguing that people find the language in Alaska and Katherines crude or offensive. Maybe it is primarily a male/female thing because I can't imagine any guy that has been in a locker room that has not gotten used to much stronger language.
As for Borat, he's a big hit with all my labmates, but for whatever reason I just don't find him funny. I suspect I might be harboring a grudge against Shacha Cohen since he appeared as Ali G at my college graduation. He stood up there with the seeming goal of offending as many people as possible, for instance talking about our grandparents and gangbangs. He just went so far over the line that he ceased to be funny. And I guess that is what I see every time I watch him, just a guy being an ass. I understand the social commentary subtext, but I am just not laughing. Tom Green never got me to laugh either, and I guess they just seem like they are doing the same shtick (except in Tom Green's case there wasn't even social commentary).
Great essay about censorship and sexuality's role in the classroom. I'm a teacher at a public high school in Michigan, and our after school novel club read your first novel. Parents sign letters approving their child's freedom of choice, and the books are read without restraint!
I agree with the essay--the main idea of it at least--but the author ignores new issues teachers face, at least in Michigan: It is illegal for a teacher to discuss sexuality in the classroom if he or she isn't a certified health teacher.
Now, I will admit I haven't read the law, and I'm unsure what constitutes the ambiguous, "discussing sexuality," but I find myself walking strange lines at times. Why must I? Not only parential complaints, but the fact that it only takes one very conservative parent looking for an issue to complain about to create a problem for a school's funding. That's right, a school can lose funding if it breaks this rule.
It's a strange time for the classroom. ~William Maerle
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