Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Is there any state more solipsistic than expatriatism?
I don't care that much about the political occurances of the country I am in because it isn't my country. I don't care that much about the political occurances in my native country, because I am not there. All there is to worry about is my own mind. What do you think of that, Gertrude Stein?
I don't care that much about the political occurances of the country I am in because it isn't my country. I don't care that much about the political occurances in my native country, because I am not there. All there is to worry about is my own mind. What do you think of that, Gertrude Stein?
# posted by 8yearoldsdude @ 7:45 PM 
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Ok, so first things first. I figured I had the gist, but in the spirit of the Morse dinner table I confirmed it w/ M-W:
Main Entry: so·lip·sism
Pronunciation: 'sO-l&p-"si-z&m, 'sä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin solus alone + ipse self
Date: 1874
: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing
Second, I think you're sort of right and sort of wrong. On the one hand being dis-countried takes you out of the current events loop and lets you navel-gaze ("My feelings are all that exist or matter"). On the other hand, it reminds you of how little your agonizing over the world's injustice matters ("The world will continue to spin without me; I am little and unimportant"). So I think you're back to square one: care about the world when you can, and fake that the world cares you're around. --EW
Main Entry: so·lip·sism
Pronunciation: 'sO-l&p-"si-z&m, 'sä-
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin solus alone + ipse self
Date: 1874
: a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing
Second, I think you're sort of right and sort of wrong. On the one hand being dis-countried takes you out of the current events loop and lets you navel-gaze ("My feelings are all that exist or matter"). On the other hand, it reminds you of how little your agonizing over the world's injustice matters ("The world will continue to spin without me; I am little and unimportant"). So I think you're back to square one: care about the world when you can, and fake that the world cares you're around. --EW
# posted by 
: 9:07 PM
: 9:07 PM
To take the analysis of a one line comment one step further along the metaphorical Morse dining hall table (following in Eva's lead)... doesn't expatriatism speak to a desire to specifically renounce your former country? Please tell me you haven't become so disillusioned that you have actually decided that the US is noth worth saving! Sure you may not care about the politics as you are removed from them, but you sure care about the culture... hence this blog and your strange fascination with the NY Times society page. =)
# posted by : 10:55 AM
: 10:55 AM
Main Entry: 2ex·pa·tri·ate
Function: adjective
: living in a foreign land
simply a matter of geography, dear lawyer.
Function: adjective
: living in a foreign land
simply a matter of geography, dear lawyer.
The best game is that which is shiny and scratching. Please a pease and a cracker and a wretched use of summer.
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# posted by : 11:10 AM
: 11:10 AM << Home
