El Jardin - Just Another Local Prejudice by Michael Wein

Why do people make fun of our lovely Jard�n? Ahhhh, so you say that it is the Jardinistas they pick on? Well then, why pick on them? Are the people who say nasty things merely snobs who think they have much better things to do with their time? Perhaps they think it is better to spend their own days drinking, or partying, or lunching, or playing cards, or whatever it is that they do. Personally, I think this is just one more example of some people's personal need to look down on others (just as is racism, and other prejudices, this one might be named "elitism") What makes these people think that they are elite? Why do they generalize about such a huge and diverse group of people?

Isn't it better to spend some portion of each day doing many different things you like to do? Isn't it better to have some, or many things, to look forward to, to awaken with a purpose (even if it is only evident to you).

As for me, I spend my day doing just that. I work at various things I enjoy doing almost every day between 5am and noon. And I normally work some more between 2pm and 6pm. But, I do need a break, and I find that a walk into town, and a time-out at the Jard�n before a mid-day meal, is just what I personally desire, five or six days a week.

I guess I really don't care much about what other people do to enjoy themselves. I hope that they, too, are excited about their reasons for living in San Miguel de Allende. Our choices seem almost unlimited to me. For example, if something you want to do doesn't currently exist here in town, it doesn't take too much effort to gather a group and make it happen yourself.

I'm not above being prejudiced myself; oh, imperfect me. And who do I look down on? I really try not to do that at all, but when I do make that imperfect exception, I generally look down on those who think that they are better than anyone else.

On the other hand, I think people should concern themselves more about the gossipers who infest virtually EVERY local place of gathering (probably your own favorite places) and who infect everyone with their malevolent and generally erroneous ideas of who is doing what with whom.

So, I am pleased to say that I, too, am a Jardinista, more popularly called a lazy, boring, no-good loafer, as well as a half-dead, awaiting the graveyard, empty-headed pecker, (well, you get the idea), etc. Looking at it just one other way, over the decade that I've lived here, I've spent countless moments meeting with, and enjoying the company of, among varied others, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, talented local and visiting artists (of all sorts), interesting peoples from many other countries, as well as just some Juarde'd names that I had never met previously.

By the way, for those of you who like to generalize, and gossip, and call people names, you may also call me a geezer, one more prejudiced and derogatory term all of us over-50 year olds can share.

Have a good day doing whatever it is that you like to do.

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