america

[Darth Knight]

ok i didn't read the second page so don't get mad if some one already said something similar or somrthing.....

 

people always think of america as a "warzone" type of coutry, when the middle east has much more terrorist activity and the such then we do

 

there is a german foreign exchange student in my chemistry class, she is kinda mean and stuck up kinda, but i don't judge all of germany becasue of that person, i am not so narrow-minded

 

there is a lot of stereotypes of america and i think most of them are crap, it makes me mad how people say that america is so stubborn and things, i am not flaming any one but don't be so stupid

[Camus]

Originally posted by Mafia_Jabba

And wtf do most europeans think America is so criminal ridden and all that? Its NOT! NOT! NOT! It is not bad at all! jesus I've never had a problem. Despite what you hear from anyone, it is not bad. You have built an image in your head that doesn't exist.

[/b]

 

 

I must add on to this... Reb Starblazer... I can walk from one end to the other end of my city... and never get jumped or attacked or any thing... I can go to a small town around here walk right down the middle and say "Hi" to everyone that walks by and they will say "Hi how are you this find day" back... People think that the USA is free which means they have crimanls out the waz... but really... crime is accually slowing down in most areas of the US... You cant flat out say "the US has the most crime problem in the world" because its not true... we do have crime... but its not that bad... True... large cities have lots of crime... but go to any large city and try to find no crime...

 

Yes Vietnam was a big mistake... but we lost alot more people than you think... we was out numberd and in gorrial warfare there... and we still killed more of them... It was polical issue... that never really go to the people... Vietnam was basicly a red scare policily... But all the people that came back are scared for life... After disbanning they was casted out into the real world... They didnt go do all the stuff they did before after a war... Im sure if there was a few things if the usa could go back and change... Im sure Vietnam was one of them... but look at all the free Vietnamis children that was brought to the USA and live better lives then thier other families... Everyone can say War is evil... but those that go threw it say war is hell... once you come back from it you never want to go back to it...

 

On thing American teachers emphases alot to the studints is the future of the world lies in your hands... The kids of today are the leaders of tomorrow... If the USA is "Evil or wrong or bad" Thats one thing the kids of today can change when they get there... You cant punish our current government for all the problems its predicors has caused... But you cant forget... What our government has done for the other countries... Germeny is in det... really they are... We have forked over billions of dollars to the reforming of germany after WWII... And we will never ever see that money again... Its gone... We bend over backwords for other countries... You cant hate us 100%... We changed the tides in WWI and WWII... "United We Stand" That doesnt just cover the USA... That covers the world!!! Think about it...

[Jubatus]

The directed loathing of USA is probably an entity of several parts:

 

1. Envy of your power.

2. USA makes an obvious target for accusations of problems that many countries share.

3. USA's questionable motives concerning involvements in various 3rd world countries.

4. Encounters on various media on the net with smug, selfglorifying, condescending, ignorant USA citizens thinking that simply being from USA is sufficient to being a superior human being.

 

These are not my views, just what I think might be the dominant reasons for others.

 

My thoughts on this matter are, that while USA is the most apparent country with the problems I'm about to state, they are not alone in having them. It goes for many countries of the socalled western civilization. It's about the old clichés: Power makes right, my way or the highway, or majority (read: most power) rules.

 

I wrote earlier about money dictating the world order, but I'm not politically active nor do I follow the news of the world closely so I can't really offer any specific examples, just my look on the bigger picture. Greed is the primary reason for the world's problems paradoxically whilst also being one of the dominant catalysts for enginuity and development. It's a constant struggle between hanging on to status quo for the sake of already secured and steady income and evolving to break new grounds for new opportunities for making money.

 

The obvious example would be the car; today's cars are still energized by fossil fuel, a very outdated technology causing polution like hell. People in the oil business, which is hella big, wants to keep it this way to keep making money on it. Sure, they might come up with new designs and make the fuel consumption more efficient, but the problem remains. And I doubt anyone today can question the oil magnates manipulation of government to continiously secure their business at the cost of a cleaner and most likely cheaper transportation technology, which has already been available for many years.

 

Sounding like a classic movie conspiracy theorist I'm nonetheless quite sure business dictates more or less by manipulation who sits in power. Although politicians are elected by the people, it is already manipulated whom they get to chose between. Though I don't think it has gone as far yet that an ethical and moral politician can't get ahead by hard work; they just don't have as easy a road as the ones in the pockets of big business.

 

The public is constantly manipulated to by ways of deception, misdirection and, of course, truth concealment. They make you focus on one thing whilst another more vital thing happens in the shadows. And before you accuse be of being too influenced by popular conspiracy movies and television series just think about it: Does a fictional conspiracy mean that the conspiracy couldn't be real in real life also? Take that further: Movies and series about conspiracy are manipulative in themselves for being fiction, for if you saw a fictional conspiracy you'd not want to come out as stupid for claiming that it might be true in real life too, would you? It's manipulation by telling the truth as fiction; the two cannot be the same, right?

 

Another issue is western civilization influencing or even conversing other cultures. It happens through business. If a company sees a potential market they move in and by comercialism they transform the cultural countryside, of course through the young, easily impressionable minds. They create artificial needs and if one popular youngster falls for it the rest follow lead and voilá, consumerism ruleth.

 

Power should be married to wisdom at every turn, yet alas, it is not so.

 

Edit: It just occured to me after submitting my post; I never used the word 'corruption'...odd really...oh, well.

[OnlyOneCanoli]

I don't remember the specific case with that other America thread that was closed. I would never close that sort of thread unless there was indeed real flaming or mindless bashing going on. I can't speak for the other admins either since I don't know the thread. Sorry.

 

I, personally, disagree with your idea of giving every man the right "to protect himself and his family" (or something to that effect).

 

Guh?! You're saying that people should be allowed to come into your house, kill or rape your family members, steal your property, and just get away with it?

 

If you're opposed to the US citizen's right to bear arms, then I could more easily understand your opinion. I don't agree with it, although that's a totally different subject. But I have a nice 4 page essay opposing strict gun control waiting right here for you if you'd like to read it.

 

And our school shootings are down in the states. It's just that the media chooses to care about that issue in present day. This goes back to the point I made earlier that our media puts our crap on front page news, while other countries may not do that sort of thing as often. I don't have any stats to back up my school shootings claim, but I'm sure they're pretty easy to come by if you want me to look them up.

 

As for our glorious leader (), the only thing I can say is that people really hate his spoken image. He really does seem to be a blabbering fool sometimes ("they misunderestimated me"), but I think he's doing quite well as the President. Him and his staff ran the attack on Afghanistan quite well. They didn't nuke the place like many of the people who oppose him suggested and frequently exaggerate him as likely to do, and hell, he dropped food packets for the refugees to pick up and eat. And it's not as if Al Gore is extremely bright either - I think we have the lesser of two idiots running the country, honestly.

 

As for Reb, nice post. I'm not going to respond to the whole thing, but just a few points.

 

I think your last comment on Vietnam on hindsight bias is the most important part of the whole Vietnam debate. Of course, looking back on it, we shouldn't have been there. But at the time, I can honestly see the government being worried about the "domino effect" in Southeast Asia at the time. If Vietnam went to the commies, then everything else over there would, and that would be a significant blow to America, democracy, NATO, etc.

 

I'm sorry that you don't feel safe walking down our streets. I, for one, certainly do. I don't have fears of being mugged when outside or being murdered in my sleep. I gather from your post that you are European, and I suppose I can understand the feeling somewhat, especially after being taught a lot of things that aren't necessarily true about our crime in America (although, I'm sure, much of it is indeed true).

 

I have to agree with you to an extent about our culture creeping into other nations. It's just strange to see a McDonalds in Japan, or a Singaporean kid listening to Britney Spears. But once again, this is not the American citizen's choice, and in order for that sort of thing to happen, there has to be some sort of consent from the governments of those nations. McDonalds just can't stroll into Japan and set up 25 restaurants.

 

I'm sorry, but I'm not too knowledgable of the Kyoto environmental steps, as I've only heard of it by name, so I really can't debate that. I agree with most of your second to last paragraph. I think that America definitely took steps in the right direction in Afghanistan by coordinating with Canada and Britain, etc. before attacking, as well as gathering necessary intelligence and setting up food drops in advance. I'd like to see the same sort of thing happen with Iraq, but I'm not too sure if that can happen. They'll have to do something bad in order to get world support.

[whitedragon]

Originally posted by OnlyOneCanoli

I don't remember the specific case with that other America thread that was closed. I would never close that sort of thread unless there was indeed real flaming or mindless bashing going on. I can't speak for the other admins either since I don't know the thread. Sorry.

 

 

 

well dont blame me if that happens because you wanted it to stay up ITS ALL YOUR FAULT:D

[Camus]

Originally posted by OnlyOneCanoli

I'm sorry, but I'm not too knowledgable of the Kyoto environmental steps, as I've only heard of it by name, so I really can't debate that. I agree with most of your second to last paragraph. I think that America definitely took steps in the right direction in Afghanistan by coordinating with Canada and Britain, etc. before attacking, as well as gathering necessary intelligence and setting up food drops in advance. I'd like to see the same sort of thing happen with Iraq, but I'm not too sure if that can happen. They'll have to do something bad in order to get world support.

 

 

Yes the move with working with other countries before going to Afghanistan was a good move... I would like to see the same with Iraq... CIA and lots of people in the USA knows... Iraq has nuclear power... and will use it... when we dont know... no one will know tell its to late... unless its diverted... Its not safe for anyone to really sleep with a 3rd world country in contact with a weapon of such magnitud... Reb wouldnt feel safe walking down the streets in the USA... I dont think I could sleep in Europ knowing there is a dictator to the south that has access to Nuclear bombs and biological weapons that is fu**ing crazy enough to use them... Its alot quicker to hit a NATO country than it is to hit the USA... and im sure... if he wants to start a nuclear war... I think that Europ will feel the first blast... then the USA... I dont mean to scare anyone but... I would be just as afread to be some where else right now... Thas why for the time being... Im staying in the USA...

[Darth Knight]

Originally posted by Camus

 

 

Yes the move with working with other countries before going to Afghanistan was a good move... I would like to see the same with Iraq... CIA and lots of people in the USA knows... Iraq has nuclear power... and will use it... when we dont know... no one will know tell its to late... unless its diverted... Its not safe for anyone to really sleep with a 3rd world country in contact with a weapon of such magnitud... Reb wouldnt feel safe walking down the streets in the USA... I dont think I could sleep in Europ knowing there is a dictator to the south that has access to Nuclear bombs and biological weapons that is fu**ing crazy enough to use them... Its alot quicker to hit a NATO country than it is to hit the USA... and im sure... if he wants to start a nuclear war... I think that Europ will feel the first blast... then the USA... I dont mean to scare anyone but... I would be just as afread to be some where else right now... Thas why for the time being... Im staying in the USA...

 

yeah i agree, i would be more scared to be in Europe and surrounding places

[Camus]

Originally posted by Darth Knight

yeah i agree, i would be more scared to be in Europe and surrounding places

 

 

Dictators will do anything to stay in power... most of them would even kill there own mothers on tv to show they wont let anyone stop them...

[Mafia_Jabba]

despite popular belief our military and high ranking officials aren't dumb, militarily or politically...

 

Mabe during vietnam they may have been a tad, but that was necessary for the future, which is now.

 

We know when to attack and when not to. Attack is always last. When Bush says he will have Sadaam removed, that doesn't automatically mean marines, nukes, bombs. It could mean propoganda, strong diplomacy, and a regime change coolition in the region. Sending our guys will always be last. Naval, Military, Air Force, Coast Guard Academies. Nation war College. All devoted to discussions on these topics. They know a hell of a lot more intelligence and info than we do and can probably reason a lot better than we can. I trust them. Of course that is what is good about the media. They are there to investigate and if anything is fishy we know about it. They have to stay in order. That is the beauty of this nation, things are revealed in time. I dont think there is any higher conspiracy personally because look at all the really top secret things that have already come to light. Some things NEED to be top secret obviously. I just think that discussing that topic of IF we should invade IRAQ or not is moot because of our lack of intelligence. Sure there are some gives: we need allie support, we need a good cause, and we can't let it diminish our international image.

 

I read somewhere that there is a controlling syndicate in the media and that this is bad because it limits investigative reporting on major issues. Like if the syndicate hadn't been there pre 9/11 we may have found security gaps. The syndicate sort of disperses news to a bunch of media outlets and they basically regurgitate it back to the public in different forms. If this is true then our nation needs to do something about it because if our media is uniformed and not a bind-free group that will take the lead to look into reports of suspicious government activity then our rights as citizens could be threatened. Not now, but long term. If we do not know what our government is doing then we do not know the bad things, you know?

 

Anyone else interested in the Academies? I am applying to the Naval Academy for the Fall of 2003.

Sorry if I do act like a jackass sometimes, you must forgive me.

[Camus]

Originally posted by Mafia_Jabba

despite popular belief our military and high ranking officials aren't dumb, militarily or politically...

 

Mabe during vietnam they may have been a tad, but that was necessary for the future, which is now.

 

We know when to attack and when not to. Attack is always last. When Bush says he will have Sadaam removed, that doesn't automatically mean marines, nukes, bombs. It could mean propoganda, strong diplomacy, and a regime change coolition in the region. Sending our guys will always be last. Nava, Military, Air Force, Coast Guard Academies. Nation war College. All devoted to discussions on these topics. They know a hell of a lot more intelligence and info than we do and can probably reason a lot better than we can. I trust them. Of course that is what is good about the media. They are there to investigate and if anything is fishy we know about it. They have to stay in order. That is the beauty of this nation, things are revealed in time. I dont think there is any higher conspiracy personally because look at all the really top secret things that have already come to light. Some things NEED to be top secret obviously. I just think that discussing that topic of IF we should invade IRAQ or not is moot because of our lack of intelligence. Sure there are some gives: we need allie support, we need a good cause, and we can't let it diminish our international image.

 

Sorry if I do act like a jackass sometimes, you must forgive me.

 

Hey... I forgive you and I dont think your out of line an any way shape or form... Yes all of our officers

 

 

despite popular belief our military and high ranking officials aren't dumb, militarily or politically...

 

Ive got to add onto this... This is why 3rd world countries shouldnt have nucs... do you know how hard it is to set one off in the usa??? Let me put it this way... It takes 2 people on a sub to fire a missle... that doesnt even have a nuclear war head on it... Do you know how many it takes to fire one form a missle silo with a nuc!!! alot... guess what... in a dictator ship only one only one person has the keys to it... Thats Sadaam him self... the same man that was happy on 9/11... :S Im sure if he has the chance he will use it...

[Weapon X]

Originally posted by cjais

Another thing that bothers me about america:

 

You sometimes claim to have had a long, proud history and truckloads of traditions that goes aeons back. May I remind you that America was "colonized" around 400 years ago, while most of the rest of the world has it's ancient history roots about 2000 years ago.

 

And also, when america was colonized, people saw the native americans as inferior beings, when in fact it is them that should be ruling northern america and be by large the dominant group over there. You call it "your" country, when in fact it was only *recently* taken from the natives.

 

Of course, the average joe doesn't give a crap nor has had any say in this, but I just find it silly that you often forget where you came from - historically speaking, america is still very young.

 

And BTW, these points could also be said about other countries to an extent.... so excuse me.

 

to answer some questions, yes i live in wyoming, pop of about 438,000 people or somthing like that, world war 2 started for US when WE entered, and i agree with a previous statement, all these various countries send in people to live here and want resources at the same time, doesn't make sense to me, all you other countries that say "oh america makes up 25% of the worlds polution" or somethin like that just remember that half of the US is made up of people that move here halfway through their life so in essence, foreigners are making all the pollution and taking our jobs, so don't blame us for pollution, blame your fellow countrymen who couldn't make it in your country and had to come to ours, cuz ours is nice enough to accept all of you

[Absurd]

Originally posted by Camus

I guess... I just dont understand other countries at times... Please tell me this flat out and no large paragraphs... WHY DO PEOPLE HATE I MEAN HATE THE USA!?!?!? There are times when I just dont get it... We do our own thing... People mess with us so we get back... every country does it... But everycountry points at the biggest one when they mess up... China has 1/3 of the worlds population!!! they are comies and not very many people pick on them... But the USA is free and people hate us??? I dont get it sometimes...

 

They don't have problem with our inventions, video games, and fast food.

 

If we truly wanted world peace - we give every household in a foreign country a fast Internet connection and hook up the teenagers to all our games.

[Darth Groovy]

The MLB Strike.

 

Enough said.

[C'jais]

Canoli:

 

What I meant was partly the right to have guns etc. Not every man knows how to use a gun correctly, and it is folly to think so.

 

Also, "the right to protect yourself, your home and your family" is sometimes portrayed as such:

 

A guy comes up to another guy's home and knocks on the door. Before that, he has pissed on their lawn, kicked their dog, made graffiti on their hedge and so on. The house-owner opens the door and gets slapped in the face by the vandal. Now, the owner of the house goes and gets his gun and shoots the vandal in his face. Is that fair? Was it is his "right" to defend his home? Was he justified in killing that guy?

 

Pardon my ignorance, but sometimes, I've actually seen examples of this bein true and the gun-owner got away with it. This is what I disagree with: A person can act as both judge, jury and executioner in a moment of crime. Again, this may not be true - but it is what the media has told me.

 

Its alot quicker to hit a NATO country than it is to hit the USA...

 

Errrrrr.... as far as I know, the USA is also a member of NATO - correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

And I have no fear of Saddam and his weapons here in Denmark, why would he choose to nuke *us*? Escapes me.... The states, OTOH, has a more to fear IMHO.

 

in a dictator ship only one only one person has the keys to it... Thats Sadaam him self...

 

I believe this is false, I think "many" people in Iraq has the power to set off a nuke, since they already have authorization from Hussein.

 

foreigners are making all the pollution and taking our jobs, so don't blame us for pollution, blame your fellow countrymen who couldn't make it in your country and had to come to ours, cuz ours is nice enough to accept all of you

 

Errrmm.... Ok, so since the states were formed ONLY from foreigners, no one is to blame for the pollution? And the foreigners take ya jobs you say? Well, again, who wasn't at one time, a foreigner in the states? Only the natives knows it seems.

And the migration to USA ended a long time ago, it is simply not true that half of the states is made up of people moving there in their lifetime - their current lifetime. If it was true, you'd have ahuge overpopulation problem, and Europe would have been sucked dry of inhabitants a long time ago.

 

About Bush: He lacks authority IMHO. Sure he mght be wise, but when I see him on screen, he appears very weak willed and unsecure. Not to mention that NO president would simply have nuked Afghanistan in the first place - no one. Many people here gets the feeling that Bush can only make sensible decisions due to his advisors.

[[RAA]-=Chi3f=-]

Well....

 

 

 

This thread has a good intention and you all have ....ummmm....interesting points, but I'm going to stay out of this. There have been enough of these "USA vs. the world" threads already.

[Camus]

Originally posted by -=Chi3f=-

Well....

 

 

 

This thread has a good intention and you all have ....ummmm....interesting points, but I'm going to stay out of this. There have been enough of these "USA vs. the world" threads already.

 

 

Really we dont have any america debat threads in the swamp...

[OnlyOneCanoli]

There is a difference between defending your home and shooting somebody. Defending your home doesn't mean running to the bedroom, grabbing a shotgun, and blowing the guy away. It could be as simple as using a nonlethal weapon to get him away. If that situation would happen to me, I'd hope to grab a baseball bat and scare him away or hit him with it a few times until he runs away. That is if he was constantly disrupting my property and I had given him sufficient warning. If he wasn't really bothering me, just trespassing, I would call the cops.

 

And believe it or not, there are many, many when a burglar comes into peoples' houses and the people defend themselves, yet they get in trouble. It is an extremely rare case in which people shoot a trespasser who is doing nothing to harm people and the person who shot him gets away with it. I have no diea where you got that idea from... our justice system may be strange, but it isn't that far out there.

 

And again, Europeans seem to generally support gun control (obviously, as many of those nations allow no firearms), but I disagree. That is an entire different debate though.

[Mafia_Jabba]

Do you believe that the law should be changed to firearms for hunting, nonlethal for protects? And you can't defend your home with lethal weapons?

[Breton]

At least I do

 

Here is a situation that might happen in USA:

 

A mugger is entering a house with his gun.

The father of the family hears this and get his gun. Father meets criminal, both gets panicced, and both shoots, both dies.

 

In a land where guns are illegal, the same situation would be like this:

 

Since no one of the characters above have guns, they relax and watches a football (soccer) match instead. No one dies.

 

Try getting rid of all the guns. Ppl don't kill eachother, guns do.

 

It works very well in countries wich have guns illegal.

 

 

USAs 3 greatest mistakes:

 

1. Nuclear bombs in Japan 1945, hundreds of thousands die because US wants to check how effective it is.

2. Vietnam war

3. W. Bush as president.

 

I am not trying to say that all "Americans" are selfish and brainless idiots, all im saying is that the goverment are.

 

Why have USA, and no others, policy to have nuclear weapons? I mean, man yof the presidents there have been mad enough to may use them.

 

 

well i guess everyone else knows more about anything than americans well... i dont give a flying #### what people say about the United States... its the best damn country in the world hey we could be worse look at the middle east man... eat #### and like it if you dont like the United States!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ok, you better travel more.

 

"oh america makes up 25% of the worlds polution" or somethin like that just remember that half of the US is made up of people that move here halfway through their life so in essence, foreigners are making all the pollution and taking our jobs, so don't blame us for pollution, blame your fellow countrymen

 

Not exactly half , more like 1 percent...

 

Stop blaming others.

 

come to ours, cuz ours is nice enough to accept all of you

 

If you tell that to a Mexican or a guy from Cuba, they will defidently laugh of you.

 

 

There has been not one reason for that Hussain would start a nuclear war, actually i am just as afraid of Husseins "Nuclear" and "Chemical" weapons (propably just some bad bug spray) as i am for Bushs lack of intellegence and his nuclear bombs.

 

USA should have listened to Einsteins warnings for nuclear weapons in WW2, so that they would have destroyed Germanys attempts on making one instead of making some theirselves.

 

USA should never have been approved as a "Super power" , fistly beacuse it is no "Super power", secondly, if there has to be some, it has to be at least 2, or else you ruin the balance.

 

Hope I did not offend anyone

[Darth Knight]

ok this is directed to the nuclear bomb on japan:

 

What!! japan would have done the same thing if they would of had them, we did what we had to do to save american people and everyone else, hey japan attacked us first

[Breton]

Japan attacked a milatary base. USA slaughtered entire civillian citys, and it was really a huge massacre.

 

USA did not need to fire it, the war was nearly over already. They just did what they did to act though.

[Reb Starblazer]

Well, I'm glad this is going well. I'm just going to reply to a few things, to keep this thread going and interesting.

 

First Camus and Canoli, I would like to say that I didn't get mugged or anything like that, it's just that I was worried about it. I also said that I should have been as comfortable walking in the states as I am at home, in Canada BTW for you people that asked. The problem was, I didn't feel comfortable, and it's because of the negative image that the States is unfairly given. There was always this little doubt at the back of my mind "oh, I'm in the states now, I'd better be careful.", I didn't want that doubt there, but it was. So I agree with you to an extent. The USA is portrayed as crime ridden, and I don't like to enforce sterotypes, but this one just subconsciously got to me. I did my best to try and feel comfortable and safe there, I really did, but that little doubt was unfortunately at the back of my mind, and I didn't feel quite safe. I'm saying that I really wanted to be comfortable, but just couldn't get rid of that little naggin voice in the back of my mind, and that's a very sad thing. All because of the way the USA is portrayed. I'm not sure if this message came across very well in my last post.

 

About Vietnam, you hit exactly what I was getting at. I meant that at lot of people died, and the ones who came back were never the same. And yes, about the hindsight quote, that's exactly what I meant. Given the chance, the USA would change it, as I'm sure they would not nuke Hiroshima either. The thing is, the USA has done some things they regret, and wish to make up for them, and learn from their mistakes. That's partly why the USA has become the policeman of the world, they want to make sure certain things are never repeated, and I applaud them for it. The USA is slowly becoming better, and as long as people keep trying to make it a better place, it will eventually be what your forefathers envisioned.

 

With the "westernization", I agree, as I have previously stated. It's not actually the country or governments fault, as I said, I blame Corporate America, not America itself.

 

BTW Canoli, it's alright about the thread. I try not to dwell on the past too much

 

About the whole "who would Saddam hit first" thing, I belive that he'd probably fire his first shot at the USA, not Europe. Who do you think he despises more hmm? As for not sleeping soundly in Europe because there's some crazy person to the south with a nuclear arsenal, how do you think I feel? Just kidding man, hehe:D

 

Don't want to seem to harsh on you Ep2 Anakin, but that is a very bad philosophy to have. Blaming everything on foreigners, saying that they're stealing all the jobs, making the pollution, etc, etc. Sounds a lot like scapegoating to me, which is not a good thing. Scapegoating is exactly what Hitler did in Germany, giving the people something to hate, The Jews, placing all their anger towards them and using this to put him to the top. Racism is not something I like or appreciate, so please don't lay the blame on someone else. I'm sorry if you didn't mean your post like that, but that's just what it came across to me as.

 

As for people leaving their homes and moving to the USA, yes, plenty of people do. Just as plenty move to Britain, or Japan, or Canada. People are constantly moving from one country to another. Plenty of people leave Canada for the USA, but also vice versa. One of the things that I dislike about the US though, is the "melting pot" mentality that was so popular. Now, don't get me wrong here, I'm not sure how much, if at all, it's still in effect, but I know it used to be. Basically, people expected "foreigners" as you put it, to come in, and lose all ties to their homelands. Become American, eat a Big Mac, not fried rice, etc. As I have stated earlier, I don't totally agree with Westernization, but it seems like it's the way of things. I love different cultures, and wish to learn more lore about my own homeland which I left. I don't remember much about it, but some memories are more vivid than others. Anyways, don't be so quick to judge "foreigners" just because they're not as "American" as you are. Your ancestors moved from some other country to the USA, making you part foreign. We are all foreign somehow. Even the Native Americans aren't really "native", they just got there first.

 

As for gun control, up here in the great white north:D we have rather strict gun control. You need a licence to own one, buy ammo, pretty much like everywhere else. However, If you own a gun, it must be placed inside either a locked gun cabinet, or a locked drawer if it's a hand gun and it must also have a trigger lock on it. When transporting a gun somewhere, it must be in a case, with no ammo in the chamber or clip. As for anyone saying, "Well, if someone breaks in, you have to go down, unlock the door, unlock the trigger..." yea, you do. However, so does anyone who would be willing to break in. Most people don't have guns, and the ones who do, don't have the need to use them very often, except for hunting. Not to mention it's very hard to get a firearms licence here, and there's not really much of a black market for them. I believe that firearms should be allowed in the States, but perhaps with a bit stricter control. That's just my thoughts.

Thank you for your time

 

EDIT: noticed the posts about nuking Japan after I sent this. One of the reasons that the USA decided to use the nuclear bomb on Japan was to show Russia the new power it wielded, really. As I said in this post, I belive the US regrets this decision now, as it led to a massive buildup of nuclear weapons, and now, smaller countries have them too. The USA can't get rid of all it's nukes now, because it has to worry about other countries with them, and the other countries won't get rid of theirs because the USA has them. It's a big cycle. The USA is trying to reduce the number of nukes worldwide, but face it, it's not exactly working well. Besides even if a deal was reached for all nuclear weapons to be destroyed, you KNOW that every nuclear power would keep at least one, hidden somewhere, you know it. That's the problem with progress, it's always going forward, even if it's in everyones best interest to take a step back.

[Darth Knight]

I apologize on behalf of ep2 anakin. I know this is why a lot of people give americans a bad name, it is becasue of people liek him.

 

I do see where he is coming from though. Not that i agree with it, but a lot of people blame stuff on americans like we make all the polution and stuff as he said.

 

I do not think there is a best country, they are all different.

 

As for Reb, if you lived in america you would not have that thoght in your mind. And i was born in Germany, sooo i know what Europe is like. I don't remember that much but i wnat to go back some time.

[Camus]

Originally posted by Reb Starblazer

Well, I'm glad this is going well. I'm just going to reply to a few things, to keep this thread going and interesting.

 

First Camus and Canoli, I would like to say that I didn't get mugged or anything like that, it's just that I was worried about it. I also said that I should have been as comfortable walking in the states as I am at home, in Canada BTW for you people that asked. The problem was, I didn't feel comfortable, and it's because of the negative image that the States is unfairly given. There was always this little doubt at the back of my mind "oh, I'm in the states now, I'd better be careful.", I didn't want that doubt there, but it was. So I agree with you to an extent. The USA is portrayed as crime ridden, and I don't like to enforce sterotypes, but this one just subconsciously got to me. I did my best to try and feel comfortable and safe there, I really did, but that little doubt was unfortunately at the back of my mind, and I didn't feel quite safe. I'm saying that I really wanted to be comfortable, but just couldn't get rid of that little naggin voice in the back of my mind, and that's a very sad thing. All because of the way the USA is portrayed. I'm not sure if this message came across very well in my last post.

 

About Vietnam, you hit exactly what I was getting at. I meant that at lot of people died, and the ones who came back were never the same. And yes, about the hindsight quote, that's exactly what I meant. Given the chance, the USA would change it, as I'm sure they would not nuke Hiroshima either. The thing is, the USA has done some things they regret, and wish to make up for them, and learn from their mistakes. That's partly why the USA has become the policeman of the world, they want to make sure certain things are never repeated, and I applaud them for it. The USA is slowly becoming better, and as long as people keep trying to make it a better place, it will eventually be what your forefathers envisioned.

 

With the "westernization", I agree, as I have previously stated. It's not actually the country or governments fault, as I said, I blame Corporate America, not America itself.

 

BTW Canoli, it's alright about the thread. I try not to dwell on the past too much

 

About the whole "who would Saddam hit first" thing, I belive that he'd probably fire his first shot at the USA, not Europe. Who do you think he despises more hmm? As for not sleeping soundly in Europe because there's some crazy person to the south with a nuclear arsenal, how do you think I feel? Just kidding man, hehe:D

 

Don't want to seem to harsh on you Ep2 Anakin, but that is a very bad philosophy to have. Blaming everything on foreigners, saying that they're stealing all the jobs, making the pollution, etc, etc. Sounds a lot like scapegoating to me, which is not a good thing. Scapegoating is exactly what Hitler did in Germany, giving the people something to hate, The Jews, placing all their anger towards them and using this to put him to the top. Racism is not something I like or appreciate, so please don't lay the blame on someone else. I'm sorry if you didn't mean your post like that, but that's just what it came across to me as.

 

As for people leaving their homes and moving to the USA, yes, plenty of people do. Just as plenty move to Britain, or Japan, or Canada. People are constantly moving from one country to another. Plenty of people leave Canada for the USA, but also vice versa. One of the things that I dislike about the US though, is the "melting pot" mentality that was so popular. Now, don't get me wrong here, I'm not sure how much, if at all, it's still in effect, but I know it used to be. Basically, people expected "foreigners" as you put it, to come in, and lose all ties to their homelands. Become American, eat a Big Mac, not fried rice, etc. As I have stated earlier, I don't totally agree with Westernization, but it seems like it's the way of things. I love different cultures, and wish to learn more lore about my own homeland which I left. I don't remember much about it, but some memories are more vivid than others. Anyways, don't be so quick to judge "foreigners" just because they're not as "American" as you are. Your ancestors moved from some other country to the USA, making you part foreign. We are all foreign somehow. Even the Native Americans aren't really "native", they just got there first.

 

As for gun control, up here in the great white north:D we have rather strict gun control. You need a licence to own one, buy ammo, pretty much like everywhere else. However, If you own a gun, it must be placed inside either a locked gun cabinet, or a locked drawer if it's a hand gun and it must also have a trigger lock on it. When transporting a gun somewhere, it must be in a case, with no ammo in the chamber or clip. As for anyone saying, "Well, if someone breaks in, you have to go down, unlock the door, unlock the trigger..." yea, you do. However, so does anyone who would be willing to break in. Most people don't have guns, and the ones who do, don't have the need to use them very often, except for hunting. Not to mention it's very hard to get a firearms licence here, and there's not really much of a black market for them. I believe that firearms should be allowed in the States, but perhaps with a bit stricter control. That's just my thoughts.

Thank you for your time

 

EDIT: noticed the posts about nuking Japan after I sent this. One of the reasons that the USA decided to use the nuclear bomb on Japan was to show Russia the new power it wielded, really. As I said in this post, I belive the US regrets this decision now, as it led to a massive buildup of nuclear weapons, and now, smaller countries have them too. The USA can't get rid of all it's nukes now, because it has to worry about other countries with them, and the other countries won't get rid of theirs because the USA has them. It's a big cycle. The USA is trying to reduce the number of nukes worldwide, but face it, it's not exactly working well. Besides even if a deal was reached for all nuclear weapons to be destroyed, you KNOW that every nuclear power would keep at least one, hidden somewhere, you know it. That's the problem with progress, it's always going forward, even if it's in everyones best interest to take a step back.

 

 

That was very nicely put Reb... I hope this thread stays active in the swamp... It helps reduce the pointless spam...

[Darth Knight]

 

 

 

 

 

yeah i hope this thread stays up to, i just hate when people take it to far, being to patriotic and such