Rants Against The U.S.....Again?

[phfttklr]

I'm tired of all the slamming against the U.S. all the time. No country, just as no person, can make the claim of being perfect.
I'm not all to thrilled with the way our government runs it's business sometimes but we are there for others for good intentions as well.
Some of you might be forgetting that we came from your country in the first place so an insult to us is an insult to you. Why don't you keep tabs on your own government and leave us be. We ARE going to take it personal, much like somone would take an insult upon their town, even though they know themselves it may suck. It's YOUR town. YOU may say it sucks because YOU live there. Well, we live here and we know it isn't always the way we would like it to be but it's still one of the best things going. People aren't risking their lives coming here for nothing. We open our doors and unfortunately seemingly spend more money on other countries than our own.

While I'm on the subject of getting slammed, what the hell is all this shit about American Football and Rugby. I don't ever recall anyone standing up and proclaiming American Football being the toughest sport on Earth. Yes, they wear pads. It's called being smart.
Plus, a lot of money is invested in these ( overpaid ) players. If I made up a sport that involved two teams clubbing each other to death, would that make it a truly great sport. NO! It'd make you an IDIOT!
WE like it, WE enjoy it...DEAL with it.

I'm done. Thank You. ....Now, go tickle somone. 😛

 

[Dave2112]

Glad to see another football fan! But in his defense, the Injun and I have had this little rugby vs. football thing going for a while. It's all tongue-in-cheek. Besides...

...we know better, don't we? 😀

 

[Deleted member 2452]

hmm.. trying to decide if i should join this thread?

actually, about the only thing i'd change is how we handle drug peddelers, oh yeah, the lawyers would have to go first!

the more i think about it, naw, i'll stay out of this, you football fans are scarry!

steve

 

[milagros317]

I make an effort to stay out of all the political threads. Who needs the aggravation, really?

 

[red indian]

Generally speaking..........

.....I have two styles of post, 1. Serious, questioning and thought provoking 2. Mocking, sarcastic and purposely seeking to irritate, and inviting people to respond in kind. OK, and sometimes maybe I mix the two! but you will never find foul language or direct personal abuse.

As dave points out I love to poke fun at American sports and will continue to do so, please feel free to "take the piss" (as we say over here) out of football, cricket or RFU. I think one of the cultural differences i have gleened from treading these hallowed boards is in the U.K. we love to hear what other nations have to say about us, and are happy to laugh at ourselves.Recommended reading on this subject is "Notes from a small island" by Bill Bryson.

On the more serious side, I can not accept suggestions that I am a suitable candidate for a subpoena to the committee for un-American activities. As a former jazz musician (now disabled) its hard to see myself as having an anti American view, in the broad sense, but as Neutron bluntly but honestly puts it the U.S. is THE world power and its influence covers most of the globe, so many decisions made by U.S. government and U.S. commerce affect the whole world.

Americas main concern in these decisions is self interest (the same as any other nation) and naturally those interests often do not co-inside,but the U.S. has all the military and industrial strength and therefore usually gets its way. So for these reasons the U.S. is likely to come in for a lot of critisism, who cares about, for example,Norways foreign policy or its views on Iraq?

As a natural effect of this,American culture also bestrides the globe, in the form of cinema,books, music, TV and so on. The result of these economic,military and cultural "invasions" is that the rest of us feel we know a lot more about you than you do about us and are therefore well enough motivated and well enough informed to critisize you. I think its the price you have to pay for being the worlds top dog.


I hope to visit the U.S. very soon, its the only country Ihave always wanted to visit,despite having travelled across europe and the middle east. I want to visit all the major "jazz capitals" New York, Los angeles, Chicago,and New Orleans. I also want to go to a ball game and see some grid iron. (honest, no kidding!!)


.....or am I taking the piss again? better ask Dave he seems to have the right radar for my posts.

 

[Moses25]

I think Canadjuns should be paid in US funds.

Just when I think I'm making the grade, I take a trip south of the border to see, once again, how truly poor I really am.

Hmph!!😡

Chers (couldn't afford the 2nd e)

 

[BigJim]

I'll echo Indy's most recent sentiments. If the internet had been available in the 1880's, we'd be sitting here listening to everyone slam the British Empire. Many of the shitty things America has done (killing over a million Iraqi children, mass-bombing of civillians in Afghanistan, lying to the world about why it wants the war, the Osmond family, Pee-Wee Hermann etc) Britain has been if not an equal partner, a significant contributor to. In my recent Part 3 thread I slammed the US unmercifully for some of the atrocities it's committed and hada good old rant about the man currently running the country. But my own country is just as deep in the poo, so yes phfttklr, I am insulting my own coutnry too. But I never insult the people in our countries who just live there and have nothing to do with the trouble. I never even slam the individuals who dropped the fuel air-burst bombs on civillian housing or manned the bulldozers that buried Iraq soldiers alive in direct Geneva Convention contravention. I only slam at the people who act as our leaders and do horrible things in our names.

Like Indy I've always wanted to visit the USA (say hello to Joby for me, will ya?😀) and if given the choice of any country in the world, would choose the USA as my home. I love the people and I love a lot of the 'tude' of the country. Just because we critiscise things the government or corporations has done, doesn't mean we hate the nation. 🙂

 

[Haltickling]

Although I might come over as anti-American sometimes (in the opinion of some people), I'm really not. America is a wonderful country, with mostly friendly people, extremely interesting cities, and breathtaking landscapes. The lifestyle there is quite different to Europe, and so are opinions. Red, you should absolutely go there to get a first-hand experience. It's certainly worthwile.

Like red indian said, most political moves of the US have a much greater impact on the world as those of other nations, so it's quite natural that the worldwide attention is focused on US politics. Yes, we Europeans (Asians/Africans/Australians) could leave well alone, but so many things the US does is affecting our daily lives. And quite a large chunk of the world is highly concerned about the current neo-con politics, especially the people who care for America. I do, because I really love that country.

But I also love my own country, and many other countries in this world, so I participate in often controversial discussions about the US. It doesn't mean to take a swing at the US, just to the current political direction which I consider dangerous.

 

[qjakal]

Norway...

Is staunchly against terrorism, and wishes us good luck. They also want to get in on a bit more of the 'ol export biz, preferably with the defecit being on our side of the economic equation.

Hope that satisfies Reds curiousity...took a lot of research even to get THAT much....a pretty tight lipped bunch with minimal governmental BS to publish.

Btw, rugby IS a fairly tough activity, but then again so is jumping off the roof of a house...*shrug*...we've had this chat before as well. Q

 

[Battousai]

Personally, I don't think any countries governments are to be trusted. The way I ALWAYS see it is that the people in the countries may have good intentions, but their governments don't think the same way. There might be acceptions, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[red indian]

Hi Q! how are you.......

...we dont seem to have spoken for a while, have I been shooting my mouth off again? or have you given up on me??!! hope you are well....speak to you soon.