Home away from home
"Of mixed ancestry," [William Carlos Williams] wrote, "I felt from earliest childhood that America was the only home I could ever call my own."
I found the poet's words here rather striking. Now that I think about it, America really is the only place in the world where the national identity is one of mixed blood, and I can understand Williams's affection for his country. America can sort of act as a "home away from home" for many people, because it encompasses practically all cultures, to some extent.
Comments
You and Sean had the same blog idea! I lived in Southern Italy for a while, and while I was there, I remember telling an Italian friend that I was a part Polish, Slovak, German and a little Welsh, and how fascinated he was by this. But the thing that struck me more was getting off the plane at JFK and seeing how remarkably different Americans are from each other. I had seen little other than black hair and dark eyes for so long, I forgot how beautifully diverse Americans are.
Posted by: Brenda Christeleit | February 15, 2006 2:42 PM