American soul

[Thanh Dang Nguyen <nguyet1@Eng.Auburn.EDU>]

Hello Hai,
Hai,

> I am interested in trying to express MY feelings and thoughts about
> America, and share them with those interested. This is in no way different
> from doing the same with music, literature, painting, film, etc. So I
> don't understand why this would be an "extreme ambition".

First, I was not serious when I talked about your ambition (see the smiley
I put after the sentence just like this :-) Second, I do think that
it's always an ambitious attempt to find the "soul of America", or the
soul of whatever we can think of. It's OK to talk about the great Grand
Canyon, the magnificient Florida beaches, the awesome Manhattan,
the Southern black people and their troubles, the welfare system, the
current health condition of the President, and so on. They are factual.
But to define a soul for this land with its people in it, it's hopeless to me
who has been here for less than two years. I certainly can tell you
my feelings about this country, or even whether I hate it or not, but I'm
afraid I will tell you lots of prejudicial nonsense due to my short-sighted
mind (incidentally I'm *really* short-sighted :).

BTW, I didn't advise you to read Vonnegut for understanding the American
sould if it ever exists. It's also a joking remark. What I want to say is
I could not say anything about this country before I have enough life
experience and an unbiased mind. I'm glad to hear your voices about this
country, though!

Best,

-Thanh