Far too many Americans would find this disgusting instead of essential to our culture. What poison has soaked in to the bones of many.
This guy: just eats with some people
Americans, apparently: yeah, we need more of THESE type of people!
Am i missing something here, or is this just some tv or influencer guy being all social?
Long story, I suppose, but the short of it is that this guy was a prominent celebrity chef who, more than just eating with people, was a strong advocate of cross-cultural dialogue and the value of culture (including food, naturally) as a means of communication between peoples and a way of spreading understanding. Very outspoken politically, anti-xenophobic, anti-racist, anti-exploitation.
So combining cultural tolerance (something many of us would like to hope is American, if we can get the shovel out and dig deep down inside) and enjoying food (very American) hits close for many of us.
Imagine seeing a meme like this and feeling the need to append vitriol to the end of it. Just enjoy what’s out there, you don’t need to say “I just hate the way modern americans just want to hate everything”.
From one human to another, I’m going to recommend trying to look for the good, rather than the bad. Nothing kills motivation for action as much as pessimism.
I get that there is pain and suffering all over the damn world, but dwelling on it doesn’t really provide wisdom. It just makes it harder to find reasons to get out of bed in the morning. I don’t think I should have to defend taking care of one’s mental health on a post about Anthony Bourdain.
I looked for the good. The meme is the good. I also looked for the bad - and commented. To recognize the good without the bad is to create a false image of reality that will inevitably come crashing down; to recognize the bad without the good is also a false image, but a miserable one, and not one that will necessarily come crashing down.
I express disappointment because I believe we can be better. I express disappointment because I see a value worth loving in the meme. I express disappointment because I recognize the great capacity for good that is here. I express disappointment because I still have hope, and will continue to have hope.
You know what, I’ll practice what I preach. I worked with a guy who reminded me of Anthony Bourdain. By 30, the guy had traveled all over the world, supped from springs in Taiwan and bunked with strangers in Germany. Then went back to the US to settle down and do odd jobs. I wish I had the chance to coax more stories out of him but we stayed busy during working hours.
This is why it’s important to travel.
That’s the beauty of it though, a lot of us will never be able to afford to ‘travel’ in any meaningful sense of the word.
America struggles by its contradictions. I strive to be an American like Paine and Bourdain, but their opposites are also iconically American. There is something beautiful and redeemable about our country, and we should fight for that.
It’s also important to welcome folks to break bread and eat mashed potatoes with us. If we love our culture why would we not proudly share it with those interested in trying aspects of it. Why would we not be willing to let people try to tweak it and find even better ways it can be.
