Anti-Americanism Examined on BBC radio

[epp_b]

I think you win the 'Mr. Obvious' award for this month

I get told that a lot

Yes and let's not forget the oil scandals of the EU, corrupt South American governments, warlord dictatorships in Africa, and communist regimes in East Asia. I think you just proved the point the article was trying to make. But like you said, just a thought...

I didn't say anyone else was perfect (to say that is far from the truth), but there's something sinister about thief who is also a deceiver more so than the thief who just a thief.

What the article was trying to discuss was why there was an uneven weight placed on America's flaws as compared to other countries, world powers or not.

America tends to bully itself around quite a bit as a world power; I wouldn't hesitate to say that there's somewhat of a proportionate relationship between a nation's political bullying and a general dislike towards said nation.

/ thoughts from a Canuck

No, capitalism is definitely not perfect, but given the choices it is the system I would prefer to live under.

True enough, but it sure could use some improvement. Banning corporate money from politics alone would go a long ways.

I also dislike your election system, where a man with more votes can lose, that is a part of our system too, and I strongly disagree with that. I also don't like the fact that the US is de facto a two party state.

I've started saying that the ability to mark an X on a piece of paper isn't what makes a democracy a democracy.

But I personally prefer a combination. Sort of a combination of plan ecconomy and market ecconomy. Really don't know what it might be called in English, but you get the point. We use it over here. You get sick, you get threatment. You get laid off, you get welfare, you get enough to survive, it's not much, but you won't need to live on the street. It's a good system.

Agreed. There are some things that human beings need to be able to rely on and trust eachother for.

[zenkidori]

that sucks. The first open enrollment happened ruing my 90 days as well, so this recent one a month ago was the first one I was actually eligable for, and now I missed it.

ah well, next month I should be able to quit that shit job and go back to having just one job.

[nomix]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

But lets get back anti-Americanism. Why do people protest the United States but do not protest terrorists? During the 70s and 80s people would protest US nuclear weapons but not Soviet nuclear weapons. They would protest the Vietnam war but not the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

I don't go to demonstrations, aren't many of those round here.

But I do protest terrorism, I find it to be stupid, irresponsible, horrible and inhumane. But the fact of the matter is, that you must be able to expect a lot more from a civilized state than from an organisation of criminals, which terrorists are, basicly.

As for the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan, I wasn't alive when it stopped, but if I lived in the 70s and the 80s, I would have protested it. I'm not a marxist-leninist, and not to protest, you'd have to be.

Further, the Vietnam war differed in the way it was televised extensivly. This de facto meant that people were seeing what was going on. I think Vietnam did A LOT to harm America in the world, making sure America got a bad image. Which is strange. Since the Soviet Union was allways worse. The military coups d'etat sponsored by America didn't help either.

As for the Soviet Nuclear weapons, that's interesting. Unilateral disarmenment. The nukes probably saved the world from WW3.

Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, now chairwoman of the WHO, were once asked a question. They were discussing an idea that said that the Northern region should be a nuke-free zone. She was asked if that were to go for the Soviet Union too. The Nordic countries could not have gotten the Soviet Nukes off of Cola, so it's irrelevant. But we COULD make sure there was no nukes in Norway, for instance.

Point: We could do something about American nukes in Europe, but not Soviet nukes. And even with the nukes stationed in North America, they still were a big enough deterrant.

Originally Posted by tigger

That's a pretty weak argument...

I believe that was meant rather ironic.

Originally Posted by zenkidori

indeed our system could be a LOT better, and I would love a more socialized healthcare system, but the way you phrased your post sounded like you were alleging that if you don't have money you are shit out of luck and have to live on the streets, and are denied medical care, which is not the case at all.

I am not, I know that would not be true. I am sorry if I didn't make it clear enough.

[Firecat]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

We don't want to pay taxes.

But lets get back anti-Americanism. Why do people protest the United States but do not protest terrorists? During the 70s and 80s people would protest US nuclear weapons but not Soviet nuclear weapons. They would protest the Vietnam war but not the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

I'm sure there were protests, people will protest anything. They may not have been in the U.S. and just not as vocal around the world.

But I see your point, and we can see this in other circumstances as well. Like genocide in Africa. Even the Israeli/Palestinian issues gets loads of attention....but little is paid to other border crises, that claim more lives.

[superchevy]

who has america bullied? we're damned if we do something, and we're damned if we do nothing.

"america! america! come help us! america! america! we need food, money, technology, security...!"

[Gibby]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

Most Anti-Americanism is usually a result of ignorance on behalf of the ones preaching it.

Hit the nail on the head there!
I am not American i think this Anti-Americanism is bloody stupid!

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by D-Fence

Seeing the way zenkidorki, jetsetter, Momentum57, Blind_Io and cvg behave in this forum is reason enough to explain anti-Americanism.

Wow. Just for that, I've not only lost my respect for you, but I also feel compelled to post this:

America, FUCK YEAH!
Coming again, to save the motherfucking day yeah,
America, FUCK YEAH!
Freedom is the only way yeah,
Terrorist your game is through cause now you have to answer too,
America, FUCK YEAH!
So lick my butt, and suck on my balls,
America, FUCK YEAH!
What you going to do when we come for you now,
it’s the dream that we all share; it’s the hope for tomorrow

I thought the gun control babbling in the Virginia Tech thread was just a low point for you, but I guess this is how you really feel about THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WUURRRLLDDDD, wildly condemning a nation you know little about comparatively, then you're probably closer to the type of person described in this documentary than those people you've just blacklisted. Go ahead, add me to the list too.

You can respond if you like, but I'm going to be too busy getting a hickie from my wifebeater-wearing sister in my Mickey-Thompson-tired Firebird with the 7" lift kit while shooting Colt 45 cans from my shotgun from the infield of a NASCAR race or whatever cliched lame bullshit stereotype you want to trot out from your lederhosen-wearing face. See? Two can play this game!


Aren't Europeans supposed to be cultured and classy? Anti-Americanism, anti-anything, from anybody, just brings everybody down to the level of those they supposedly hate and truly reveals the ignorance they try to hide so much.

[Vette Boss]

You can't just clump all Europeans into a group that way. There are normal Germans, then there are Neo-Nazis that hate everything they can't control or lack understanding of. I'm sure he's just jealous of our cultured understanding

[nomix]

Originally Posted by superchevy

"america! america! come help us! america! america! we need food, money, technology, security...!"

Real world:
"CHINA! LEND US MONEY! MONEY! MAKE CHEAP CONSUMER PRODUCTS FOR US!"
- America.

I know you was kidding, and you now I am.

[Momentum57]

Originally Posted by nomix

Problem is, that the laizez faire market liberalism that is advocated by surtain members of the current administration, is harmful for the society, for the enviroment, and for most others than the owners of some very few, very big corporations.

Thats just a bunch of words really. "laizez faire market liberalism" I favor a hands off approach for the economy but i have never heard it called liberalism. I really want to know how is it harmful for society for businesses to make profit. Also for the environment thing regulations are in place to prevent dumping so... Back in the day you might have been right about the environment thing. Syracuse has a lake that is just full of mercury but the government has forced the polluters to spend billions to correct it.

So who is bitching in America that life is bad? oh ya people who are ignorant and lazy or undereducated (students). Truth is i graduated last year found several positions that wanted me, in an area of the country that is said to be job poor. If you work hard you are rewarded! If your looking for a job that you punch in at bla, and do bla, and punch out at bla well friend your late by three maybe four decades. People need to take responsibility for their self! Your Retirement - Your Problem not Social Security, Your Health care - Your Problem not Medicares, Your Long Term Care - Your Problem the government suggest you get LTCi.

Free Markets are not the PROBLEM they are the SOLUTION to the problem

[tigger]

Originally Posted by Momentum57

Thats just a bunch of words really. "laizez faire market liberalism" I favor a hands off approach for the economy but i have never heard it called liberalism.

Anyone who believes in capitalism, democracy and "unalienable rights" is a liberal. Reagan came along and demonized the term in the '80s as a reference to the political left.

Originally Posted by Momentum57

I really want to know how is it harmful for society for businesses to make profit.

See the US's Gilded Age . Any regulation upon business (i.e. pollution regulations, 'workers rights', taxes, price floors and ceilings etc) is an infringement on the free market. A truly free market is a nasty place for anyone without money. With the exception of crap like tariffs and some of the subsidized farming stuff, I like where we are today.

Originally Posted by BlaRo

Aren't Europeans supposed to be cultured and classy? Anti-Americanism, anti-anything, from anybody, just brings everybody down to the level of those they supposedly hate and truly reveals the ignorance they try to hide so much.

Excellent point.

[nomix]

Originally Posted by Momentum57

Thats just a bunch of words really. "laizez faire market liberalism" I favor a hands off approach for the economy but i have never heard it called liberalism. I really want to know how is it harmful for society for businesses to make profit. Also for the environment thing regulations are in place to prevent dumping so... Back in the day you might have been right about the environment thing. Syracuse has a lake that is just full of mercury but the government has forced the polluters to spend billions to correct it.

Buisnesses making profit is not bad, but when buisnesses makes profit without considering the public, that is bad. That's my point.

I know that there's been done things the latter years, but there's still very, very much to do.

So who is bitching in America that life is bad? oh ya people who are ignorant and lazy or undereducated (students). Truth is i graduated last year found several positions that wanted me, in an area of the country that is said to be job poor. If you work hard you are rewarded! If your looking for a job that you punch in at bla, and do bla, and punch out at bla well friend your late by three maybe four decades. People need to take responsibility for their self! Your Retirement - Your Problem not Social Security, Your Health care - Your Problem not Medicares, Your Long Term Care - Your Problem the government suggest you get LTCi.

Free Markets are not the PROBLEM they are the SOLUTION to the problem

Free markets alone can never be a sollution. I generally support the idea of market ecconomy, but here needs to be some restraint, that has been my whole point.

As for college education, if your school does not give you quality education, you are less likely to achieve the knowledge needed to get into a college.

Kudos to you for working hard, but that does not mean that everyone that can't make it doesn't work hard. In many cases, that couldn't be further from the truth.

[zojpz]

The other day I was sitting with my buddies drinking coffee at the school cafeteria. The chit-chat wandered to the VT massacre topic, here are some quotes my friends made at the table:
"...over 30 people died over there. Good that it happened 'cause less americans, the better"
"one can see that when two american teenagers start this kind of stuff with rifles, they manage to kill 15. But when an asian man does this, with a handgun even, his results can be already compared to bombs."

You hear these comments alot... Be it in work or school, people of all ages say these words. Usually when a young person says something like that, I sense the want for to be "in with the group" - young people in general seem to dislike the US thus its easier to be with the group than against this BS talk. When an old person says bad stuff about americans, I sense hate, anger and jealosy.

But meh, I dont think its any different over the pond and it aint gonna change anytime soon.

[jetsetter]

Originally Posted by zojpz

The other day I was sitting with my buddies drinking coffee at the school cafeteria. The chit-chat wandered to the VT massacre topic, here are some quotes my friends made at the table:
"...over 30 people died over there. Good that it happened 'cause less americans, the better"
"one can see that when two american teenagers start this kind of stuff with rifles, they manage to kill 15. But when an asian man does this, with a handgun even, his results can be already compared to bombs."

Sooooooo much bullshit. Perhaps one of the most ignorant things I have ever read. Tell your friends to get a fucking life and show a little respect.

But meh, I dont think its any different over the pond and it aint gonna change anytime soon.

When it comes to a tragedy, things are quite different over here. You would not hear people saying shit like that.

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by zojpz

The other day I was sitting with my buddies drinking coffee at the school cafeteria. The chit-chat wandered to the VT massacre topic, here are some quotes my friends made at the table:
"...over 30 people died over there. Good that it happened 'cause less americans, the better"
"one can see that when two american teenagers start this kind of stuff with rifles, they manage to kill 15. But when an asian man does this, with a handgun even, his results can be already compared to bombs."

Yeah, your friends are cunts.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

Sooooooo much bullshit. Perhaps one of the most ignorant things I have ever read. Tell your friends to get a fucking life and show a little respect.
...
When it comes to a tragedy, things are quite different over here. You would not hear people saying shit like that.

I've never heard anyone joke like that about Columbine. I really doubt i'll hear anyone here say anything that disrespectful about what has happened at VT.

zojpz, tell your friends to pull their heads out of their asses. I didn't hear anyone here laughing when London or Madrid got bombed. (Maybe there where a few jokes cracked at all the riots in France though ... ).

[nomix]

Originally Posted by zojpz

"...over 30 people died over there. Good that it happened 'cause less americans, the better"

Blithering morons, please allow me to punch them in the face.

[zenkidori]

My girlfriend is watching one of her "freak shows" on the discovery health channel and there is some 1200lb mexican on there who blames his fatness on moving to the US.

ROFLPWR