America's Image Abroad

 
Published without comment.

Source: Pew Research Center, America's Image Abroad Rebounds with Transition from Trump to Biden

Sentiments

For years now, I have desperately been trying to create an image of myself as a down-to-earth, rational man who only very occasionally is swept away by strong feeling of outrage, anger and disappointment with the human condition and social injustices in the world.

Then I get a picture like this pasted on my timeline on Facebook by my husband Tomais.

Seeing this I was immediately turned into a blubbering fool and was swept off my feet by mushy romantic feelings with tears of joy and relief in my eyes. At such moments I must secretly admit - at least to myself - that I am mostly ruled by my emotions although I try to give them a facade of rationality.

I don't mind getting tears in my eyes or weeping when I encounter strong and true emotions, but hate being manipulated to tears by heavy-handed sentimentality like in cheesy romantic movies or cute kittens. Or rather, I hate being manipulated full stop. Show me something true and honest and my emotions will come but don't try pushing me towards the edge.

There are two men in SecondLife whom I am heavily indebted too for conspiring to make a couple out of Tomais and me, without my knowing it of course. The excellent matchmaking team are Ziggy Starsmith and Rylan Sirnah, I highly recommend the two to anyone seeking a match made in heaven. How they got the idea of the wonderful Tomais and me as a couple I haven't fully learned yet, but I will always be grateful.

What I am wondering even more about is how they actually got us together, but the less I know the better maybe...