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Archiver > AZORES > 2001-08 > 0996869195


From: Doug da Rocha Holmes <>
Subject: [AZORES-L] Re: Faro, prettiest town
Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 13:06:35 -0700
References: <200108031750.f73HoNX09697@sm0101.promedia.net>
In-Reply-To: <007201c11c4c$c0a956a0$e93119d0@papagaia>


Hi Pat,

At 11:47 AM 8/3/2001 , Patricia J Corbera wrote:
>Doug,
>(and I quote you) ...."It seems that was yet another pathetic export from
>the U.S..... it made me feel embarrassed to be an American."
>Do you actually believe "graffiti," is an export of the USA? Are we, (USA
>citizens/residents) that origianal...no matter where my husband and I have
>traveled in Europe and Mexico, "graffiti," surrounded us... not to my
>liking, but it's reality...
>Pat
>---- Original Message -----
>From: "Doug da Rocha Holmes" <>
>To: <>
>Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 10:46 AM
>Subject: [PORTUGAL-L] Re: Faro, prettiest town
>
>
>> At 10:11 AM 8/3/2001 , wrote:
>> >Re: PORTUGAL-D Digest V01 #331,prettiest town
>> >
> >I believe that I must withdraw my nomination of Faro for prettiest city in
> >Portugal. My sister-in-law just returned from visiting her relatives and
> >came home very disappointed. She says the place is now dirty and nearly
> >covered with graffiti.
>> >
>> >Hans v Wijk
>> >Van Nuys, California
>>
>> What a shame. It reminds me of Paris in 1994. I had never even been there,
>but took a bus from the airport to central Paris and along the way there was
>graffiti all over the buildings. It seems that was yet another pathetic
>export from the U.S..... it made me feel embarrassed to be an American. I
>hope things have changed back since then.
>>
>> Doug


I truly believe all the graffiti from these "taggers" in the U.S. slums and spreading out from the inner city to suburbs in the U.S. are a major influence outside the U.S. Think about it for a moment. Was that graffiti you saw in other countries there before it plagued American cities? I don't think so. I remember a time here before they had graffiti, when I had a 4th grade Hispanic teacher (about 1969-70) when Cezar Chaves, the farm worker/activist, was becoming famous, and she taught us about the very popular Mexican murals so abundant in Mexican sections of California cities. I think the graffiti was an extention of those murals, but adapted by others members of the impoverished city dwellers, like blacks and again by Latinos.

Just like the fact most schools I am aware of in Europe have students who are usually far better than the average U.S. student, because the teachers don't take any crap from the students. It is a cultural difference. Kids in Slovakia, where my wife is from, simply would never consider acting like the bad kids here. Leniency and lack of discipline is our demise. So now these kids in other countries get these ideas from American TV and movies and create their own slums from formerly nice, clean areas.

As a parent, it scares me a little to know what my son will be facing when he starts school in a couple years. I guess that is one of the oldest worries in the world.

The graffiti is probably "best" exported through movies, which reminds me. Doesn't it give you a kick to see American TV shows dubbed into different languages and the actors voices so different than the original?

One of the other pathetic exports is Rap music. We can say that is a generational difference, but I can't believe anyone can really think it takes any skill to create rap (crap) music. On the contrary, Blues and Bluegrass music are each something to be proud of.

And I still get a kick out the fact American music is so dominant outside the U.S. and remember driving crossing what I call the "golden gate bridge" in Lisboa and hearing my cousins singing along to American music. It's often like I never left home.

So there are obviously many good exports from here, but some of these exports we could do without.

Doug

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