Miriam Margolis in America

If you read up on Miriam you will find she is a caring woman and life couldn't have been easy for a lesbian in a relationship in the sixties, what ever her faults she has been in a relationship for fifty years . I remember hearing her speak of her childhood ,some years ago, an only child and had a lot to live up to.

I saw her giving a talk about audio books at our local library and she was lovely. Very entertaining, no bad language and she signed autographs for everyone. She also read a chapter from Alice in Wonderland quite beautifully.

Fabulous Miriam she says it as it is, just my sort of gal.

She speaks beautifully/clearly too I can hear every word she says.

Loving it! She gets people to talk and explain their attitudes wonderfully, although I do wonder if she could get away with being quite so forthright without a camera crew there.

This programme has passed me by (I will make a note to try to catch it next time it is on). I would like to see a programme where instead of sending a celebrity off for a trip the programme makers take someone who has no experience of travel and other cultures and film their reactions

I enjoyed these programmes. Something I hadn’t realised was that American Summer Camp was so nationalistic. I was moved by the young male adult leader who talked about meeting a man who had become a role model for him as he came from a single mother family.

The whole programme fascinated me. Obviously Miriam had a camera crew with her but appeared to be driving herself. I don’t think I would be brave enough to do that in America. I enjoy her unusual personality but agree I didn’t warm to her coarseness in Marigold Hotel.

I asked a friend why everyone in America is so religious, and she said that, in the absence of social care, the church fills the supporting role [as did ours years ago] and people are very dependent on it. It worries me, the way that everyone there seems to feel that everything is in Gods hands; it devolves people of responsibility imo.

In some parts of US virtually everyone seems to belong to a church. Some of these churches are quite weird, and the association with religion and guns is bizarre. If you don't attend church you are regarded with suspicion and may be ostracized. Neighours might ask "which church do you belong to?" It is just not acceptable to say "no church"

I worked with someone who based her voting decisions on how God fearing someone appeared.

I have also watched this from the start in spite of not having warmed to Miriam in the past, but thought the content would be interesting as indeed it has been, and Miriam does come across as more likeable.

They certainly know ( or did know when it was filmed!) how to welcome immigrants. Yes many Rural Americans have a very provincial attitude, backward looking, (as we can be, but mostly we accept that change is inevitable). and it being thus, you can understand why they vote against change or anything that will force them to confront the 21st (or 20th) century. I wonder if it is because the country is so big and has everything - hot and cold climates, and mountains, deserts, lots of space - they can be self supporting and don’t need to travel. More worrying is the lack of interest in learning about other countries - I suspect their knowledge of history, other than that of America, is pretty dismal. Perhaps this is why immigrants who have been able to acquire education and opportunity can do so well there, they are more open minded.
Sorry if these sound like a sweeping statements I mean to refer to the rural Americans who have no interest in travel - and in that vast country, there are many who have not left their own state, let alone their country. There are of course many open minded, intelligent people, ( Bill Bryson for one who prefers to live in England!).

I have also been very impressed by Miriam in this series especially her self awareness and acknowledgement of her prejudices. I think she was charming to the sheriff and his family , really trying to understand them even though she didn't agree with their point of view. I was also very moved by her visit to the prison and could see she was really trying to understand the issues even though they were totally outside her experience. I really admire her.

It must be very difficult not to be over-earnest if you’re brought up reciting that oath of allegiance to the American flag every day. I wonder how many are cynical about it? I hope some are. I think I’d get the giggles.

The programme can only give a very limited view of America, but it’s interesting viewing and Miriam an ideal intelligent commentator.

I was told that only 6% of Americans have a passport. Surely that cannot be true?

I reckon it is. Just crossed my mind that one of the reasons why Miriam is able to converse with such a wide range of people is that so many recognise her from her role in Harry Potter so, once again it shows how art and literature are vitally important to us in so many ways.

T'was said George Dubbya was not in possession of a passport when he cheated his way into the White House.
I admire MM very much, she takes no prisoners in her direct approach. If we don't agree with something why should we hold our tongues?I would have been incandescant at some of the right wing rubbish she had to listen to, although my preconception of the sheriff showed my prejudice as he seem a decent bloke. I thought he would be the very worst kind of 'red-neck'. But IMO his wife made up for it!!

MM was polite in her disagreement, though - showing respect.

Yes. I thought she'd give them both barrels but seems to have held back. She seems to have a way of communicating with such a huge range of people. Maybe because she seems so different from everyone else. She also seems to have a big kind heart.

Where do they get their version of Christianity from though! I've never seen anything in the Bible about God wanting us to protect our rights, or about every man for himself. What happened to loving your enemy?

Obnoxious woman! Watched her telling the black man in Chicago (who was so proud of his adopted country) not to be so sure of his beliefs! Typical liberal loviee had to switch off!

Loved it, really interesting and yes she can be blunt but in this series refreshingly so. Look forward to more.

americans are not all into religion
on the other hand large parts of the country were colonized by english, irish, europeans looking for freedom of religion because they couldnt practice in thier home countrys
i find all religions ridiculous,but respect the right to worship what or who they please

same goes for the pledge of allegience/i stopped pledging in early 70s/i love my country but hated the polotics and still do.

Poppyred; I think that, having switched off the TV, you should have watched that episode to the end. It might change your idea of her....

One thing I do always try to do is hold my hand up and admit when I m wrong and Gransmetters you’re right Miriam Margoles is a very different lady to how she came across in the Marigold series I now salute her as a caring and deeply thinking woman I have enjoyed the series so far and thanks for making me step beyond my own prejudices

Very honest BlueBelle I'm glad you persevered. I don't know when the next episode is. I thought there would be more than two.

Wow, Jane, I just came on to say that I thought there were 3 parts and I've only seen 2. I think I set Sky to record all of them and I'm fairly sure that they did a preview at the end of the 2nd one. The last one I saw was with the prison.

Glad you enjoyed it Bluebelle.