I think there are all sorts of us, and not all of them require a them (well, not a human them). And not all of them require an invasion. But the idea that there is a West Indies of which I'm a part doesn't mean I'm claiming kinship or similarity with a Trinidadian.
I agree not all us's require a them. But ethnic identity, as opposed to simply "we humans" does require a them. I'm sure related nations had some sort of ethnic identiy - the Hopi and Navaho compared to the Aztecs perhaps. But I doubt that a pair of continents full of people though of themselves as one ethnic group. In point of fact you wil note that American Indians actually prefer to not to think of themselves as a single ethnic groups even today - feeling that that particular ethnicity was a creation of the invaders. And I'm saying all the evidence was that they are right. Races, nationalities ethinicities are all social creations, that distinguish between people. Why have those without the other to distiguish between. Suppose the West Indies was the only inhabited part of the world and you live there? You might think of it as a geographical entity - humans live here, other things live everywhere else. But if you were thinking of all the people in that area why would you think of them as anything but "humanity" or the "the people" or whatever. Why would you think of that "us" being ethnically from the West Indies, if all humans live in the West Indie and were from West Indies? I wonder if I'm misunderstanding you here, answering an argument you are not making.
Erin - doesn't Deborah speak fluent French? and Raq?
Erin, my French is a little rusty (though I've been trying to get it better -- language exam for my Ph. D. will be sometime next year), but I'm pretty sure that's right.
Ugh, ridiculous headache that I don't know how I acquired. WTF? Don't know if I should hole up in my house or head out for life-sustaining caffeine.
Okay, somebody finally thought to apply some scientific principles to the eternal disappearing flatware problem:
Disappearing teaspoons: Spoon solutions
(Found via LJ in a comment to cesperanza)
Oh my with the muggy and the sticky. Today might be the day to install the new A/C.
Went to return some overdue books to the library only to discover that my local branch IS CLOSED FOR 10 WEEKS!! WTF?!?! Now I have to travel to a faraway and scary unknown branch to return books and pay a fine. WAH.
Anyone building a dog?
I just brushed enough fur from my own to cover two to three mid-size ones. If demand is high, I'm pretty sure I can do the same thing tomorrow.
You can always spin it into yarn. [link]
I can donate some cat fur and we can create a whole new species!
I was in the bookstore and the clerks were talking about dog temperments and how some require more training to overcome certain inclinations. The clerk asked me if I had any dogs. "Nope, I have cats. I am very well trained."
The weather is actually normal for this time of year. Low 80s and a bit muggy. It's nice. But they need to repair my a/c soon. It's started turning off without me resorting to pulling the breaker, but it really isn't as robust as it used to be. I'm told this year they have a lot of spare parts as well as replacement units ON SITE and are operating on the assumption that all original units will need one or the other. I'll believe it when I see it. Since the fire and the firing of the maintenance manager (that BITCH), maintenance response has been pretty prompt and effective. But I've been burned before.
First day of vacation! Had brunch with a new friend, bought an outrageously expensive, gorgeous skirt at a boutique where my hair was the subject of much fawning (weird), am off to make an appointment for a mani/pedi, and then will clean the fuck out of my apartment in preparation for finishing the book without having chores hanging over me.
It's a good Saturday.
