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Frank Zappa quote that makes me feel sane

posted Wednesday, 2 April 2008

"Let me tell you one great thing about America, that everbody in Europe could be jealous of. For the land mass that we have Vs. the land mass of the European part of the world, you have more hatred per square foot, from country to country, than exists anywhere in the United States. The idea of the ethnic pride, and the grudges that go back thousands of years, that will keep this part of the world a disaster area for centuries yet to come, is something that we will not experience in the States. And I'm happy to be from there, rather than from here(Europe), because over here(again, Europe) you have to choose. You get to be English, or you get to be French, or Polish, or whatever it is, but you,ya know, you have to say, "We're the best," and you live your life thinking that you're the best, and the guy next door is a poot-head, and you have to conduct your business that way, and its the business of hate.

There's no cooperation, and there's no standardization, and you can insulate yourself and think that what you're doing in your country is really terrific, but it's not. Ultimately, it Bites. And in the Unites States, weird as it is, there is always the possibility that something good could happen all the way across the country, there is a national feeling there among a large number of people. Even though the guy from Vermont might have totally different tastes than, politics and everything else, from the guy in Texas, but they are still Americans, and they're happy to be that way. You don't hear people saying, "I am a European and proud to be that way." You hear them say, "I'm French, and the rest of you guys go die."-Frank Zappa (Music Box, 1984)

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1. sandydsf left...
Wednesday, 2 April 2008 8:59 am :: http://www.myspace.com/sandydsf

Now I know what my troubles have been after living abroad, in Europe, for the last 40 years. I am still just a hillbilly from Waynesville, Missouri. I even like it there.

Sandy


2. maciej left...
Thursday, 3 April 2008 2:33 pm :: http://aboganza.com

I'm Polish, and the rest of you guys go die. But Frank was always, really, welcome in Europe. So what's the deal? Music is the best :D


3. Dave left...
Saturday, 12 April 2008 7:50 pm

As much as I truelly admired Frank, he didn't half come out with total bollocks at times!! Also, what you wrote is taken out of context and very 'one-sided'. Frank also went on to denounce the US bar culture and praised Europe by stating, referring to London, 'You can go have a beer without it involving something centered arournd a sporting event or whatever, it's no big deal over there to just go have a beer and meet other people'. Or words along those lines.

A friend of mine recently got into shit for playing Hendrix version of 'Star spangled banner' on a jukebox in a bar in Sacramento. It was on the jukebox, why have it on there if upset about it??? It left a bitter taste in his mouth from his first trip to the USA, though I did warn him to take care down there. I prefer New Jersey/NYC, where real people live. Oops, there goes the many nice others seething now! Sorry nice others!

Assholes are assholes everywhere. It's not confined to nations. Most people, wherever they are, are basically good.


4. sigmundo left...
Tuesday, 22 April 2008 4:59 am :: http://sigmundo.wordpress.com/

i agree totally with dave (in his last passage)! we all have the same roots and have to go shitting every day in the very same way... planetarian greets! sig