BS: What have the Americans ever done for us

Subject: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 02 May 07 - 10:44 AM

There's a scene in the Monty Python film the life of Brian when a group of activists are trying to whip up the mob against the Romans, by asking them 'What have the Romans ever done for us'.

So my question as person from planet Earth is,

What have the Americans ever done for us ?

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 07 - 12:38 PM

I think you're asking the wrong question, Brian. Are you talking about American politicians and industrialists, or about the American people?

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Amos
Date: 02 May 07 - 12:39 PM

ANd who is us in that sentence?


A

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: kendall
Date: 02 May 07 - 12:41 PM

Troll alert!

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 07 - 12:51 PM

Hey, he specified - he's asking as a person from Planet Earth. But yeah, it gets old to hear all the American-bashing, so people get sensitive. The Internet seems to have become a home for stereotyping and prejudice, a place where people can find support for their dislike of whatever group they choose to hate today.

Condemning or praising any national group is a logical error. Some members of the group are worthy of praise, and some are not.


And some "contributions" are both beneficial and harmful. Americans gave you Coca Cola, which I happen to like a lot. However, it rots my teeth and expands my belly and makes my wife glare disapprovingly at me, and has been a symbol of American imperialism for a generation.

The Americans gave you Woody Guthrie, and all folkies love Woody Guthrie. But some people - and some Americans - hate him. And I have to say that I liked his songs, but not his singing voice.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 May 07 - 12:55 PM

It would be quicker sailing to Australia if the Americas weren't in the way. I'm not sure which side of the scales that would belong.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:02 PM

Brian - what have you ever done for us?

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:05 PM

You name it, them fellers done it. Better 'n most.

Yeah, Kendall, I know, but....

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:10 PM

Without the US, it's likely that the world now would be either divided up fairly evenly between the German and Japanese empires, or, if not, entirely a part of the Soviet empire.

I suppose either one would be more peaceful than today's world, so maybe we can be considered the cause of all the troubles.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: gnu
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:17 PM

I remember this.

Subject: BS: What Have Trolls Ever Done For Us?
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:33 PM

Besides those Billy Goats Gruff and nearly having their way with Hermione Granger, that is?

Subject: RE: BS: What Have Trolls Ever Done For Us?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 02 May 07 - 01:35 PM

Trolls give us something to complain about, besides ourselves.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 May 07 - 02:56 PM

They gave us Elvis on TV with Celine Dion.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Bert
Date: 02 May 07 - 03:25 PM

Computers for one. British computer technology was sealed after the war due to the official secrets act.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Peace
Date: 02 May 07 - 03:32 PM

I have read that Sinclair article before, Gnu. I could not agree more.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 May 07 - 03:36 PM

Maybe it's a bit unfair identifying Brian as an anti-Yank troll.

The joke in the Life of Brian was that the determinedly anti-Roman Zionists couldn't help but come up with an ever lengthening list of benefits from Roman rule, so that rhetorical question "What have the Romans ever done for us?" backfired. I rather assume that's the assumption underlying behind the thread.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 02 May 07 - 03:56 PM

Gnu:
Nice link, but possibly not quite factually accurate. I quote:
Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

That paragraph is somewhat rebutted by the BBC website BBC, which says:
The UK will repay debts owed to the US dating from the World War II by the end of this year, the government says.
Under the lend-lease programme, which began in March 1941, the then neutral US could provide countries fighting Hitler with war material.
The US joined the war soon after - in the wake of the attack on Pearl Harbour - and the programme ended in 1945.
The final payment of £45m will be made by the 31 December, meeting a 1945 obligation to repay the debt in full.

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 02 May 07 - 04:10 PM

They taught me how to cringe,watching their awful sickly sit coms

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 May 07 - 04:11 PM

And NB the date on that last was 3rd May 2006, so it's paid off by now.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Joe Offer
Date: 02 May 07 - 04:16 PM

We had a thread on the Gordon Sinclair piece in about 2000 (that's the text gnu linked to, with the Canadian griping about people who gripe about the U.S.), and I think the entire Sinclair text had been posted previously. Can't say I think much of the Sinclair piece, and I have some doubts about its authenticity. You can find it in about three million places on the internet, so I greatly appreciate gnu's not posting it.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: jacqui.c
Date: 02 May 07 - 05:48 PM

They gave us the Mudcat.......

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 May 07 - 06:50 PM

... can we give it back?


:-P

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: kendall
Date: 02 May 07 - 08:33 PM

They gave us Twiggy. We gave them the Torrey Canyon.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:17 AM

Steinbeck, Melville, Faulkner, James, Dreiser, Poe, Hawthorne, Whitman, Pound, Kerouac, Hemmingway, Fitzgerald, Ellison, Wolfe, Cooper, Ginsburg, Cummings, Mailer.

To name just a few

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Peace
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:31 AM

Bob Dylan ought to be enough for anyone, IMO, never mind providing the world with the prototype for the French Revolution. The US has contributed its fair share of great people and great thoughts to this planet.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: alanabit
Date: 03 May 07 - 03:21 AM

In fact the Brits and Americans have always taken the piss out of each other. We probably always will. Likewise the Ausssies and the Brits. It is usually no more than banter between friends. Those, who really do want to set up their people or culture as "superior" are the losers. I am not going to waste a lot of time getting hot and bothered about a few half witted bigots.
I loathe Coca Cola, chewing gum, crap sit coms, fast food joints and overbearing US companies and military arrogance. On the other hand, I love Mudcat, Mississippi John Hurt, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Ambose Bierce, Mark Twain, Katherine Hepburn, American spontanaeity and generosity of spirit.

"Condemning or praising any national group is a logical error. Some members of the group are worthy of praise, and some are not."

Nailed it in one Joe!

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: GUEST,brain
Date: 03 May 07 - 04:47 AM

Whay hay Thanks Mcgrath of Harlow, at least someone haS seen the film and well put alanbit, my thoughts exactly.
Itlooked as though the thread was going to end up being full of paranoid people thinking this was an anti American thread,then who would be stereo typing, there are other worries in the world and we don't all want to take a pop at the US, so lighten up and take it in the spirit it was meant and maybe take time out and watch the film sometime.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 May 07 - 07:13 AM

We have given the world new standards in torts! We are the most litigious country in the world and when you READ THIS you will know that no one can hold a candle to us.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Grab
Date: 03 May 07 - 07:35 AM

Doubt I could say it better than Alanabit.

I'd also add the spirit of free, unencumbered research and taking that research to market. The Brits did pioneer work on a huge amount of modern technology in the first half of the century - aircraft, computers, radar, radio telecoms and cars, to name a few - but either the research was hidden by the government to avoid other countries getting a leg-up, or industry/investors simply weren't prepared to put their money where their mouth is and so they lost out, went under or moved elsewhere. American government, industry and investors weren't so stupid.

The blessing and curse of American culture, as I see it, is that it sees every ambition as possible if enough people and money are thrown at it. That gave us men on the moon, Bell Labs and some fantastic technology, and gives us wonderfully generous, optimistic people. It also gave us Vietnam and Iraq II, and people who are (to European minds) overly influenced by soundbites.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 May 07 - 07:43 AM

I too saw it as a positive thread, like Kevin, for the same reason - it's OK Brian, you're not a naughty boy like your Mum says. So, without thinking too much or prioritising, I for one am (or have been at some stage in my life) grateful for:

Billy Joel, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tim Robbins, Tom Hanks, Orson Welles, Isaac Asimov, Kurt Vonnegut, Doris Day (what a confession), Alan Arkin, proper hamburgers, peanut butter, Teflon, nylon, Alaska Mike and Big Mick; and Happy Days and the Fonz.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 May 07 - 07:47 AM

And for that little piece of text the Fathers of the Nation drafted... It has been abused since, especially in our days, but it has served many countries as a shining example, and many individuals, myself among them, in sorting out their stance on life in their youth.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: kendall
Date: 03 May 07 - 08:26 AM

Alanabet, I hate the same things you do!

There are those who think that our arrogance is inherited from our European cousins, though I mention no names.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 03 May 07 - 08:31 AM

Great singers, songwriters , musicians and writers far too numerous to, and BANJOS

eric

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 03 May 07 - 09:01 AM

Might one modestly mention the Mudcat Cafe?

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: MMario
Date: 03 May 07 - 09:04 AM

It's been mentioned - but while we are at it:

The Digital Tradition

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: GUEST
Date: 03 May 07 - 09:21 AM

I'm American, (no I'm American) I'm American and so is my wife

(see the film to get the context of this)

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Peace
Date: 03 May 07 - 09:57 AM

America didn't give us banjos. They are of Middle East and African origin, I think. Azizi did a write-up about that a year or so ago.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 May 07 - 12:50 PM

Jazz, Country-Western, Blues, Rock and Roll, Bluegrass...

You're welcome

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 03 May 07 - 12:51 PM

Oh, and Scotland and Ireland didn't give us bagpipes, either. They came from the Middle East.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:09 PM

George, they didn't actually GIVE us nylon - it was a collaboration between US and UK scientists, hnce the name NY - New York, LON - London (or so the story I read about it led me to believe - no doubt someone from the West side of the pond will tell me it was all their own work, much like they won WWll single-handed!) LOL!

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:11 PM

But, to their great credit, they DID give us Emmylou, James Burton, Buddy, The Big 'O', Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, Jerry Douglas, Ry Cooder, Tom Paxton........need I go on?

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:15 PM

Pete Seegar 88 years old today.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Rog Peek
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:16 PM

......Phil Ochs, Woodie Guthrie, Cisco Huston, Tom Russell, Rambling Jack Elliott, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Tex Ritter, Pete Seager, Sis Cunningham, Joe Hill (well he ended up in America), and many, many more..........

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: DougR
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:16 PM

Doesn't appear Guest Brian is interested enough to post his/her response to the replies to far. I fear Kendall is right (horrors!)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Rog Peek
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:19 PM

Oh, and I forgot Jackson C Frank

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:31 PM

Yes he did Doug - it's just he respelled it as Brain.

Peanut Butter.

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Bill D
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:32 PM

What have the Americans done for you? Oh...compact & reasonable spelling, should you wish to peruse it...*grin*












*stepping out of missle range...*

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 May 07 - 01:32 PM

Hey - when you have a troll make troll-house cookies!!

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 03 May 07 - 03:47 PM

Compact and reasonable spelling? Maybe, perhaps.
Absolutely and utterly f**kin' wrong spelling? Absolutely.
It's our language - Yanks either spel it and talk it proper like wot us Brits doo, or feck off and invent your own! LOL!
S:0)

Subject: RE: BS: What have the Americans ever done for us
From: Jeri
Date: 03 May 07 - 05:36 PM

Didn't we give Jerry Springer to the English? If we did, why is he still here in the US? Can't you people hold on to anything!?

In my little pocket of America, in the places where I sing, we like English folk music. This is a good thing, since from what people say on Mudcat, hardly anyone sings it in England.

As an aside to people who are just a bit slow getting the joke and too eager to find fights, the original Monty Python, 'What have the Romans ever done for us' line is, 'All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?'

It's not a troll, unless you're in the habit of being easily trolled by ironic lines in humorous moves, and it has the stink of a compliment about it...