Far too many Americans would find this disgusting instead of essential to our culture. What poison has soaked in to the bones of many.
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Waltuh, I don’t wanna try your new bread Waltuh
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.
Agreed, and I’m in that group (sorta)… but it doesn’t take that much travel to realize we’re all much more alike than we’re different.
God I miss him
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Ouch. I know I’m old and people fall out of the collective zeitgeist, but he is worth a look into. Anthony Bourdain. He’s a chef that became an “influencer” though I think he would hate it if I described him as such. He wrote books about kitchen life and doing drugs and waking up on the beach in New Jersey and not knowing how he got there. Having to figure out a way back to New York for his night shift.
He’s been to so many countries that if you’re curious about any random one then one of his many shows has an episode for you. He goes into the not only the food, but local scene, night life, and history.
He was very famous and had many food and travel shows. Had an episode where he had a meal with Obama in
South KoreaVietnam. (Thank you Wav_function). He has a nice way of speaking and uses words I like.His tale ended tragically in a hotel room while he was working on another show.
And this quote:
"Once you’ve been to Cambodia, you’ll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands.”
*Obama meet was in Vietnam
Best episodes of his shows:
Beitruit, Lebanon (NR)
Paris, France (NR)
Basilia, Brazil (PU)
Tokyo, Japan (PU) - my favorite
Vietnam (NR-PU)
Thanks for the correction and link. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen the episode.
Fun fact about Anthony: he took LSD over 200 times!
In a row or all at once?
Try not to take any lsd on the way to the parking lot
That’s definitely more impressive than 37.
Probably not
Bourdain’s life was incredibly complex.
From being a rebel bad boy who is also to a incredibly loving person, to a father who wanted to do everything for his kids while also leaving half the year to work.
He helped shine a light to the beauty of the world cultures while banging hookers. He was the guy who would give you the shirt off his back and then rip into you on a bad day.
He’s a complex dude. Someone who I admire from the distance and would absolutely hate to be in the same room as him.
Shit I need to get to work
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.
Well-said
One of the Vietnamese guys at work gave me a little half length banana from the “far East” which tasted vaguely like a Kiwi.
The wholesome joy of sitting with someone you have nothing in common with, but someone has put out enough bread for both of you
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”.
You say vitriol, I say sadness.
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.
I harbor no illusions about there being toxicity on the internet and beyond. You can acknowledge its existence without letting it taint your daily life.
The human brain is a sponge, that soaks in every experience and interaction one has. I’m encouraging you to allow it to have these positive moments and hope without clouding them with disappointment for what could be.
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.
