BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 06:07 AM

Guest GUEST--

If you think the majority of people in the US support Bush and his uncounted crackpot "policies", you're way off base.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Terry K
Date: 06 Jan 06 - 04:09 AM

GUEST, guest I think you're getting mixed up with France

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 08:55 PM

The USA is a great country.
It is just the majority of people who live there that are the problem.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Madeleine
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 05:37 PM

hey,

if great britain wants us back, go for it. then everyone will be mad.

i'm ashamed of our exploitation of less prosperous countries and their workers and outraged by our insinuation into every single conflict on the planet, whether it involves us or not. preferably not. our worst offence is against our own disenfranchised; that being the elderly, handicapped and unemployable. and with all our capital.

i have to advertise for chapel hill, nc. there's more authors, scholars, artists, musicians and interesting, tolerant people than anywhere ive been. when i tell someone from another city where i live, they ask me if i know any communists. never met one.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: beardedbruce
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 03:24 PM

"Is it a perfect nation? Absolutely not. Can I think of one that I feel is a better one? Well...no, I cannot."



Is there any more to be said?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 06 - 01:05 PM

Well, I think Americans do tend to have more "stuff" even if they can't afford healthcare. Generally houses are bigger, cars are bigger and more people have them, and Americans own more gadgets that most people in other countries. See this article that appeared in MSN news
Poverty With a Color TV

I was brought up being told that "America is the Greatest Country". There was a great deal of upward mobility during those times - 50's and 60's. Many people were able to achieve the dream of owning a house and car, the economy was doing well. Come to think of it that idea was really emphazised by my parents and in school.   It wasn't, of course, such a great country for everybody, but many people who had been "poor" were able to join the ranks of the middle class.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: jaze
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:16 PM

That's exactly who I was thinking of, Bobert. But the Jimmy Carter of today, not the 70's.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Bobert
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:56 PM

Jaze,

We have the elderly staesman who is non too shy to scold us 'cept he don't get the midrophone too much these days... His name is....

....Jimmy Carter

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:35 PM

The worry, for nations as well as individuals, is when they take "could do better" as an insult rather than as a compliment.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 07:07 PM

Care to explain that, nager?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: nager
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 04:02 PM

Actually Australian ...
It appears the German immigrant influence is still strong in the US ...

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:27 AM

well said, michaelr.

Brett, the impact of the US policies on the poorer workers of the world lies in its betraying the truth of what it had found. The Unions of the United States, as well as those of Europe, found the key to prosperity. By creating organizations and laws that allowed workers to share in the prosperity they created, a huge marketplace was created. The largest demographic, the workers, became the middle class. A lifestyle was created that a great deal of the world is still trying to emulate. The right move would have been to expand on this idea and spread it to other nations in the developing world. But the monied interests decided that instead of creating an ever expanding marketplace built on the idea that workers being able to buy the fruit of their labors, instead we would feed the existing markets on the backs of the poorer and more desperate workers of the world. And, sad to say, organized labor in the industrial nations of the world went to sleep. They became institutions instead of movements. They failed to reach out in solidarity with ALL workers of the world, preferring to stay at home and try to conserve what they had. Now, a new marketplace is emerging in China. Business interests have sold out any committment to the old industrial nations and its workers. Unions are scrambling to try and do something but they are a day late and a dollar short. We are saddled with unfair trade agreements that only serve to widen the gap between the richest and the poorest. Some workers in the developing world benefit, but most are just taken advantage of. And the rich keep getting richer.

Where is it all heading? Steadily towards strife, sad to say. I believe we are headed to a time when the majority will take things into its own hands. At some point the workers will rebel against the status quo. I hope it doesn't happen, but increasingly it looks like this is the way things will turn out in the years to come.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Terry K
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 01:33 AM

"The USA is a such a wonderful place and there is so much to see and do there that you have absolutely no need to travel overseas as tourists... "

I'd be mortified if I thought that the USA was the only place I was ever going to go to. Maybe this explains why (apparently) only 7% of Americans have passports?

Or do the three dots at the end of the post mean that you are having a pop - admit it, nager, you're English really aren't you.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 12:08 AM

Naemanson -- "a great Nation" (which can be said about lots of countries) is a far cry from "the greatest Nation" (which should never be said BY any about itself).

Sure, this country has done lots of good things, and lots of bad. I can't claim to be able to step back far enough to see the whole balance. But then, that's not the question your thread title asked.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: michaelr
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 12:02 AM

Hey jimmyt, thanks for your concern. The town of Napa got hit pretty hard. Closer to us, so did the Russian River area. Mostly just property damage by mud; I haven't heard of any injuries or deaths. I'm not in a flood zone myself, thanks be.

And I agree, a moderate pride in one's homeland is not a bad thing. I was born in Germany, where they've had to walk on eggshells where that's concerned. In the US, on the other hand, moderation is a hard-to-find commodity.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: jimmyt
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 10:22 PM

I agree Nager that you have no need to travel overseas as tourists. I do it because I am interested and curoius of others'cultures, foods, art, archetecture and well, darn it, there is just a lot of neat stuff to see and do in other countries. I have travelled to most of the US and although I still have lots to see and do here, there is a certain charm of foreign lands.

MIchaelR I agree that EXTREME nationalism is the source of much of the world's problems, A cannot but believe that moderate pride in your homeland is not a bad characteristic. I guess the key is to control your nationalism and patriotism. I hope you didn't get too flooded out in Calif, Michael. I read that Napa has gotten slammed with flooding.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: nager
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 09:52 PM

The USA is a such a wonderful place and there is so much to see and do there that you have absolutely no need to travel overseas as tourists...

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 09:46 PM

Mick -- yes, you may safely assume that I regard the self-glorification of empire of any stripe as bullshit. Extremes of Nationalism and Patriotism are what have brought the world to its present sorry state. My suspicion is that it's too deeply rooted in human nature (read: reptilian brain) to change.

Nationalism/Patriotism is the mistaken notion that the accident of the geopolitical location of one's birth has higher meaning than membership of the human race and citizenship of Planet Earth.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: jimmyt
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 09:35 PM

Let me step forward and say I think it is a great nation. I also think Canada is, as well as Great Britain ( you folks actually have the guts to put Great in your name!) I also think there are lots of other great nations.

I travel a lot and have been to most of Europe and although I enjoy being there on holiday, I always feel good to come home. It is my home. As I am sure most people enjoy being in their home countries for one reason or another.

Is it the greatest nation? Well, I think that is a very difficult premise to prove and would be for any other country also. I am not really clear on why people are interested in putting down their home nation, whatever it is. It is a bit like your family, regardless of their curiousities and idiosyncracies and flaws, they are still your family, and most people will support and protect them against outside forces.

Is it a perfect nation? Absolutely not. Can I think of one that I feel is a better one? Well...no, I cannot. Sure we may be a bit over-the-top compared to some of our European friends, and probably more consumer oriented than some and more "in a hurry" and not as cultured in some ways but by and large, we are good people. Somehow it seems that any other people can conduct themselves in any manner they wish and it simply gets chalked up to "It's just their culture," I rarely hear anyone step forward to say that about Americans.

All this talk about crime, well I have never been in any situation in America that I thought I feared for my safety or my families any more than one night in the westend of London when the Football hooligans were out in force and drunk. Or another time when my elderly mother-in-law was surrounded by a group of traveller teenagers in Stow on the Wold in the Cotswolds bent on stealing her purse. I hesitate to bring this up at all because to me there are isolated incidents and I have never equated them with my safety in general in that nation or area.

I would think people are generally proud of thier country and would want others to view it in a positive way. I have never encountered people in my travels that have not said how pretty their village is or how wonderful the food is or how great the art is or the music is, etc. It is only human nature to be proud of your home. Or at least to me, that makes sense.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 09:20 PM

It's good of Mick to join in. He can talk of the impact the American ideal has had on the workers of the world. How about it Mick. That's your field of expertise, isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:48 PM

It used to be great, at one shining moment or two it actually was. What is upsetting now is watching helpless as it is being turned into a shadow of its former self by a sorry no account ruling elite.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Big Mick
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:42 PM

michaelr, can I assume that you also thought that the actions of England and Great Britain, during the times that they were "colonizing" the world, laying claim to being the civilizing force, and were the most powerful military power out there, were bullshit as well?

The ugly American certainly has validity. This overriding sense of moral superiority by others does not. I am fearful for my country, yet I have faith in the American people to change its course. I might be a fool, but I believe in the wisdom of the citizenry. But I sure do tire of the wait............

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: jaze
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:01 PM

It could be...and it should be. As someone said above we need to lead by example not by force. I've often thought the US needs an elderly respected man as president who will scold and I mean scold the American people for their selfishness and wastefulness. Someone to help people realize what is really important. Sadly, it seems leaders such as this are few and far between and usually only show up in times of great strife such as WWII. but we can still hope.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 07:47 PM

Go on, you feel you're the greatest. Say it and don'r feel guilty about it. I should if I were you. If you don't feel that, nobody else is going to feel it for you.

of course there are bits and pieces you would like to change. I don't think my country is fundamentally flawed in the way Martin is saying, but theres lots of stuff I would change if I could.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Ebbie
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 07:40 PM

The US likes to deal in superlatives.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: robomatic
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 07:35 PM

Let's not get overly down on ourselves. Getting down on ourselves is one of our better characteristics, but let's not go too far. I think the US is certainly a great nation, but I think it is foolish to even pose the question as to great-'est'.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 07:32 PM

Actually, Michael, I think there was a time when we actually could be considered a great nation. We were never perfect but then who is?

Whatever the reason, we jumped into WWII and made a major difference. And after the war our Marshall Plan helped rebuild the destruction left behind.

We jumped into WWI eventually and made a difference, stopping the Kaiser and reshaping Europe.

We built the Panama Canal and opened it to the ships of the world, at least, those of our allies.

We led the nations of the world in revolutions against autocratic power and pushed the idea of popular democracies into the world stage.

All of this is just a sample of what the USA did. It is juxtaposed with the bad things the USA did. But did our bad eclipse our good? I'm not sure.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: michaelr
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 06:52 PM

Naemanson and Grab make good analogies: we're seeing the US Empire in decline, a lot like France before the revolution ("Off with their heads!") or Victorian England. Or perhaps Rome before the barbarian hordes took it apart.

The poor are in misery, and the "leaders" in denial.

When did that whole "greatest nation" hype start, anyway? 1776? 1865? 1918? 1945? It's always been bullshit.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: bobad
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 04:05 PM

Viz. NOLA

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST,The Clothes, etc.
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 01:55 PM

The true greatness of a nation can be measured by the way it treats its poorest, weakest, and most vulnerable members.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Bobert
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:56 AM

Right on Naemanson and Ron...

Over the last month the Bushites have slashed $50B plus from programs that help our poorest citizens while giving another $90B to our most wealthy...

Might of fact, on January 1st, every person in America eanring $1M a year got $100,000, copliments of the Bushites...

Like I asked, define "great'???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Grab
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:56 AM

It's quite simple really. America is in the same position as Victorian Britain.

1) America has highly-educated people at work in industries which are leading the world; but there are many people left behind due to social circumstances.

2) "Family values" are top of the public agenda; but there is huge hypocrisy in the difference to private actions, with a large industry existing in drugs, porn, prostitution, gambling, etc.

3) It has massive natural wealth in mineral reserves, oil, gas, coal and forests; but private companies are busy depleting these and polluting their environment. These same private companies are also doing the same abroad where possible.

4) It claims to be the world's policeman; but it's carried out wars of aggression and occupation against other countries on a unilateral basis, whilst disregarding the actions of repressive regimes who are considered allies, and war criminals frequently escape unpunished.

5) It has the world's most powerful military; but it's been spanked badly several times by people with less sophisticated weaponry who really *care* about their countries.

6) It is the world's richest nation; but many of its citizens are in absolute poverty, and its wealth is concentrated in a small minority, most of whom have not had to work to earn that money but have inherited it from their aristocratic parents.

7) The national attitude is that anything is possible for citizens of the country; but this often leads to the presumption that *their* citizens are somehow better than people from anywhere else, simply by virtue of their country and culture.

If Americans could see this pattern, maybe they'd learn from history. What did Britain get out of the Victorian period? Mainly it was trade links with previous colonies, a decent transport infrastructure, a perennial problem in Ireland, overspending on defense, and an attitude problem. But sadly history is repeating itself.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST,rat
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:15 AM

Good points:

England

Music (best in world)
Beer (warm and fantastic)
TV (though declining)
Martin Gibson doesn't live here (self explanatory)
Countryside (refreshes the soul without killing you)
Sense of Humour (We have one, I have travelled and no other country has one apart from the scots and irish)
Martin Gibson doesn't live here (self explanatory)
History (Bloody interesting - sometimes more bloody than interesting)
Martin Gibson doesn't live here (self explanatory)


USA in alphabetical order

Seaworld - that is all

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:15 AM

Revionist historians tell us that she didn't say that, it was part of justifying what they did to her.

The other thing is, in those days, "cake" was the residue of cooking that formed and stuck to the fireplace and chimmney. That had to be not typical French cuisine, more like English... (running for cover)

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: kendall
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:09 AM

Right on, Brett

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 07:42 AM

When you get right down to it there are pleasant people and unpleasant people. Some people will go out of their way to help you and others will turn their backs or worse. It isn't a blanket reaction to be found in any location.

Still, in talking about service in the USA we are getting away from the central point I was asking about. Can we continue calling ourselves the greatest nation if our cities are dirty and running with crime, the police are not given the funding (i.e., equipment & training) they need, the schools are also underfunded, we cannot handle a major disaster like Huricane Katrina, there is no health care for a huge number of our people, and the leadership acts as though all is well and we are the best? It isn't enough to be rich. It isn't enough to have the largest military. If you want to grandstand you have to be ready to put your money where your mouth is. Otherwise you become the laughingstock.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: alanabit
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 04:26 AM

I want the country I live in to be led by people who are respected, if not actually liked by most of the population. I want all the citizens to have access to health care, education and work. I want most people to grow up in stable families. I want the leaders to manage the resources without destroying the land for future generations. I want to have laws, which most people respect, because they feel that they represent the values of most of the citizens. That, in turn, means there will be little coercion necesary to enforce them.
I think that is the path to stability and personal liberty. No country is all the way there, but I believe that Sweden and Switzerland are a bit closer than either Britain or the US.
As for "greatness", I wonder if it is any comfort to you to know your country is "great" if you grow up with your father absent, you live in a slum and you can't make a living at one job.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Terry K
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 03:32 AM

Martin, one tiny flaw in your last post is the assumption that England is tolerant. Generally speaking, the ordinary man is not at all tolerant. And in the same way that governments never understand anything about how the ordinary people live, they don't understand their intolerance either.

With all due respect, to me the tragedy of change in Britain (and possibly many other places in the world too) is that it is inevitably becoming more and more like the USA.

A sign of how far we have moved away from what we perceive as the archetypal "English culture" is that my son was at a nightclub in St Albans last week where some trouble broke out and two gunshots were fired. Gun culture didn't start here, it's brought in or copied from elsewhere, and no matter what the gun apologists say, it's not something I welcome.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Ron Davies
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 11:45 PM

Interesting that when cuts in the budget have to be made--do the Bush tax cuts, which disproportionately benefit the rich get considered?

Not likely--it's Medicaid--which benefits the poor--which is on the chopping block.

That's the sort of thing that has to change before the US can make a claim to the mostly meaningless title of "greatest nation".

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 08:32 PM

It was me. I lost the culture. I know I put it somewhere. Its with the car keys somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Naemanson
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 08:20 PM

I think I am angry at the hypocrisy. Our leaders do not know what it means to be poor. They don't know what it means to live from paycheck to paycheck. They do everything they can to line their own pockets at the expense of their fellow citizens. The streets are filthy and full of homeless people who survive because of the charity of churches and those few who see the need to care for them.

These same leaders stand at the podium giving speeches patting themselves on the back for leading the greatest nation on the planet. They have no concept of history or reality.

And it extends to many different zones of life. Our infrastructure is falling apart but we do nothing about it. Our oil based economy is threatened but we do nothing more than try to find more oil fields. We face the potential of a flu pandemic and the response is to cut funding for other health programs to fund the preparations. There is an overwhelming sense that the leadership at all levels thinks that all is well. That they are blind to the reality around them. If they could be persuaded to step out of the limousine and speak to the common folk that wander ragged through the streets then they might get the idea that Iraq is not as much of a threat as ignorance and poverty.

I am fed up with our own version of the aristocracy. There might even be parallels with the last years of France before the revolution. Yet they are so happy with their own version of what lies below their feet they cannot see the mob gathering. "Let them eat cake." was supposedly Marie Antoinette's reply when told the poor were starving. Isn't that what our leadership is saying to people now? Do they understand that people who cannot afford bread will not be able to eat cake?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 06:05 PM

Winston Churchill used to do that. It stood for 'Victory'. It was also a convenient place to keep his cigar.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Once Famous
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 05:59 PM

What are you, on drugs, McGrath? England's tolerance is causing it to lose it's own current culture. Now can you see I am holding two fingers up?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 05:44 PM

"It's own culture" would presumably mean the natuve culture of the people who were there before the Europeans arrived?

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 05:36 PM

Define "greatest"...
Actually, most of the posters here have shown their awareness of how basic that is to the question. Certainly at the moment we are the single most powerful nation on earth. The richest man in the world, and a huge share of the other richest people, live here. We have the skyscrapers of Manhatten, the Grand Canyon and the canyonlands of Utah, some redwood forests we haven't cut down yet, and Preservation Hall is still intact in New Orleans.
And we have a proverty rate, down to the level of our infant mortality rate among the poor, that stands out among the "developed" nations: Largely because we have lost sight of major parts of the definition of greatness that we started out with.
The greater the degree to which we concern ourselves with who we are greater than, the greater the degree to which we have "blown it".

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: robomatic
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 04:40 PM

I think the notion is hackneyed. A great deal of our 'greatness' comes from our sense of current imperfection coupled with our confidence in a future that is better for the next generation.

Therefore, some of our greatest attributes come from our bitching, our challenge to authority, and our refusal to be bullied, cajoled, humored, or bamboozled into thinking we 'are' the greatest.

Just as with the issue of the flag. It is our sense of what the flag stands for and our willingness to stand up for those ideals that makes the flag in any way great. The minute we have to legislate its greatness it has diminished in value.

Similarly, the minute we all genuflect to our own 'greatness' we have lost it.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Once Famous
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 04:37 PM

England is on the verge of losing it's own culture. Let's hope America doesn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 04:32 PM

As a UK citizen, I learned most of what I know of America from third parties, and formed the opinion that this was a very special country for a number of very good reasons.

America IS the greatest country on earth, if you are talking about the "America" envisioned by it's founders. The idea of a nation based on equal opportunity for all it's inhabitants, with inalienable rights enshrined in the form of a written constitution which has the force of law, has never been bettered in human history.

The fact that the reality falls short of the idea does not detract from the idea itself. As long as there is an intention to adhere to the dream of the founders, that America survives.

The American dream has, IMHO, been subverted by men who over the years, have come to regard financial success as the only criterion by which the worth of a man may be established.

Nevertheless the dream is still in the background, waiting for good men to decide that it needs reviving, and therefore America is still a great country, though going through a very bad patch.

The time WILL come (soon, God willing) when the people will take over the maintenance of that dream, dismiss those who have corrupted it, and restore the greatness of the country created by the signatories of the constitution.

Then America will be able to teach the world about democracy, not by force, but by example.

The worth of a man equates to what he puts into his community, not what he gets out of it, and the worth of a country likewise.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 01:59 PM

Of course the USA is the greatest country in the world, and we're all very grateful to you for living there - somebody's got to. I bet parts of it are lovely.

Subject: RE: BS: Is the USA really the greatest Nation?
From: GUEST,AR282
Date: 02 Jan 06 - 01:11 PM

I remember back before Bush's reelection that I went into various online forums to get a feel for how things sat with people election-wise. One place I stopped was some Metal forum--it's defunct now. The place had divided itself into an interesting polariziation:

Pro-Bush/American v. Anti-Bush/European

There were NO Europeans on that board that could stand Bush. Not one. Of the Americans, 2 or 3 sided with the Euros. The rest were not only pro-Bush but it was godawful horrible the way this one American metal guy--claimed he was married with two kids--just went off on this 16-year-old Belgian kid who merely stated that Bush is overwhelmingly despised in Europe. He was ranting like, "We're the ones fighting for freedom and Iraq should be grateful and we don't need you so don't come crawling to us the next time you need someone to pull your asses out of the fire. We don't give a fuck what you think and we don't give a fuck what happens to you. We're looking out for us and fuck you if you don't like it!!" And he's saying this as Bush was desperately wooing European govts to help him in Iraq so that he wouldn't have to start the draft.

It's like Europeans should be grateful that Bush dragged them into this over complete bullshit. We're trying to force democracy on Iraq when we don't really understand or agree with it ourselves. We're going to give Iraq complete freedom to determine their fate and when they decide of their own free will that they hate our guts, we'll just have to go back there and give them a good ass-kicking and remind them who they owe for their freedom. God bless America.