Makes me un-American, I suppose.

I could more or less let the world pass by. Ignoring world goings-on. And live quietly and placidly in a place such as Sardinia. Of course, it helps to not know the language. If I turn on the TV or radio, I’m gonna hear mostly Italian. Oh, I can take to my computer and the Internet and learn stuff that way. In English. But many days here in Sardinia I have better things to do. So I ignore the world happenings. Unless I decide to call up the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. Then I merely glance at the news. Rather than digest it thoroughly. I don’t allow American politics to bother me anymore. I’ve managed to distance myself. And I have no clue of what’s happening in my home state, Minnesota, or my home city, Forest Lake. And I don’t care. I pay attention to what’s happening in Carbonia in Sardinia. Out of curiosity. Me being there. And because the city of 30,000 has a history of attracting and revering socialists and communists. Better that than American-style capitalists and American political parties. I still have a little interest in my Chicago sports teams, the baseball Cubs and the football Bears. I check the scores. And I’m happy that the Bears have clinched a play-off spot. I don’t miss watching the games. I can live with that. Even if the Bears make it to the Super Bowl. I’m getting so I’d rather watch soccer and the World Cup. Makes me un-American, I suppose. –Jim Broede