andrew's
atomic fallout shelter |
andrew's drive-in theater
| andrew's five & dime | History Departmentt
“The
best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go
outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens,
nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it
should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple
beauty of nature."
--Anne Frank Welcome to Andrew's Diner!
You have entered "The Fallout Shelter" -- the place where I introduce myself and welcome you to the Diner!
Andrew's Diner has been around since 1997. I am the Proprietor, Andrew Hunt.
For
the past few years, Andrew's Diner has fallen into something of a state
of disrepair. The reasons are not too complicated. I was Chair fo the
Department of History for three years and between that and the demands
of teaching, researching, writing and being a parent, I didn't have a
lot of extra time to maintain a Website.
But I would like to refresh, revamp, update, tweak and just generally jumpstart Andrew's Diner once more. It has been an effective way of getting the word out to students and anyone else who's interested.
You can probably tell by this latest incarnation of the Diner that my current theme is "Vanishing America."
It seems like an appropriate theme at this time and place. I teach American History at the University of Waterloo. I must admit that -- like so many people I know -- I watch events in the United States unfold with great interest. I've chosen "Vanishing America" for a theme because the economic recession has created great difficulties for so many millions of people -- not just in the United States, but to a somewhat lesser extent, in Canada as well.
"Vanishing America" seems like an appropriate theme to pay tribute to a nation that is undergoing great changes. Economic growth, technological changes, political shifts (which have been wonderful for the Democrats), and social transformations have all contributed to the dramatic evolution of the United States in recent years. That evolution has not always been positive. The rich seem to still be getting richer, the poor poorer, the middle class squeezed, and the nation continues to confront old problems, such as poverty, pollution, corruption and an uncertain future.
I was born in western Canada (Calgary) and grew up in the American Southwest, yet I chose the quote above by a European - the diarist Anne Frank - because it speaks to the hope that I try to hold in my heart about the future of humanity. I must admit: I'm not always hopeful about the future. Sometimes, I despair mightily. But I also know that North Americans -- and here I mean Canadians and Americans -- are a resilient people. As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, I live in Canada and consider it my home. But I also see America as my home, too. And I feel that its future is so important because what happens in America often has a big impact on the course of history in the rest of the world.
In some ways, the "diner" is a motif of the past. It is a symbol of Vanishing America, like the Drive-in Theater, the Five & Dime, etc. I've chosen these symbols not to dwell on the past, but to resurrect symbols of past communities to remind people who visit this Website of the vitality -- and continued relevance -- of American History.
You have entered "The Fallout Shelter" -- the place where I introduce myself and welcome you to the Diner!
Andrew's Diner has been around since 1997. I am the Proprietor, Andrew Hunt.
For
the past few years, Andrew's Diner has fallen into something of a state
of disrepair. The reasons are not too complicated. I was Chair fo the
Department of History for three years and between that and the demands
of teaching, researching, writing and being a parent, I didn't have a
lot of extra time to maintain a Website. But I would like to refresh, revamp, update, tweak and just generally jumpstart Andrew's Diner once more. It has been an effective way of getting the word out to students and anyone else who's interested.
You can probably tell by this latest incarnation of the Diner that my current theme is "Vanishing America."
It seems like an appropriate theme at this time and place. I teach American History at the University of Waterloo. I must admit that -- like so many people I know -- I watch events in the United States unfold with great interest. I've chosen "Vanishing America" for a theme because the economic recession has created great difficulties for so many millions of people -- not just in the United States, but to a somewhat lesser extent, in Canada as well.
"Vanishing America" seems like an appropriate theme to pay tribute to a nation that is undergoing great changes. Economic growth, technological changes, political shifts (which have been wonderful for the Democrats), and social transformations have all contributed to the dramatic evolution of the United States in recent years. That evolution has not always been positive. The rich seem to still be getting richer, the poor poorer, the middle class squeezed, and the nation continues to confront old problems, such as poverty, pollution, corruption and an uncertain future.
I was born in western Canada (Calgary) and grew up in the American Southwest, yet I chose the quote above by a European - the diarist Anne Frank - because it speaks to the hope that I try to hold in my heart about the future of humanity. I must admit: I'm not always hopeful about the future. Sometimes, I despair mightily. But I also know that North Americans -- and here I mean Canadians and Americans -- are a resilient people. As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, I live in Canada and consider it my home. But I also see America as my home, too. And I feel that its future is so important because what happens in America often has a big impact on the course of history in the rest of the world.
In some ways, the "diner" is a motif of the past. It is a symbol of Vanishing America, like the Drive-in Theater, the Five & Dime, etc. I've chosen these symbols not to dwell on the past, but to resurrect symbols of past communities to remind people who visit this Website of the vitality -- and continued relevance -- of American History.
-- Andrew Hunt (January 2010)
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