Your Morning Amerigo
For Friday, July 4th, 2025
Week 121 of our regular morning feature here at Friedman of the Plains Worldwide in which we highlight the great words and works of great men and women, as well as those who are insufferable, delusional, and even fictional.
This Week Amerigo Vespucci
“Those new regions [America] which we found and explored with the fleet... we may rightly call a New World... a continent more densely peopled and abounding in animals than our Europe or Asia or Africa; and, in addition, a climate milder than in any other region known to us.”
Bonus Amerigo
“The manner of their living is very barbarous, because they do not eat at fixed times, but as often as they please.”
Bonus Amerigo
“Beyond the fact that they have no church, no religion, and are not idolaters, what more can I say?”
P.S. On this July 4th, there were two Paul Simon songs to choose from, American Tune, which guts you, especially that last verse about how you can’t forever be blessed, and this one, which is more wistful and hopeful. We could use some hope, I think, looking for America
every time we hit the road and look for America (20,000 miles + per year) we find a wonderful place, full of kind people, in coffee shops and flea markets, in beach towns and back highways. Next loop will be from NY via empty highways that the interstates obsoleted Cincinnati, Mobile, Pensacola, Jacksonville, Norfolk then home. After more than a decade of rambling, we've come away with the highest appreciation of Americans when they host you, greet you, meet you. It's only when someone comes along and tells America what it should be that the whole thing falls apart.
We're all looking for America these days. But, it's slowly fading away. And has been for 50+ years. The GOP accelerated the process yesterday. Enjoy your first expat 4th, Barry. Glad to know Melissa's going to be arriving Sunday.