OT: How small is your hometown?

[Instar]

I dont know about all this talk of "stop lights" and "paved roads"...
heh
honestly, I live in the megalopolis of small towns... the central part of all of the small towns alllll around a slightly bigger small town

[Gil Hamilton]

I lived in Seoul from 1970 to 1973. Grade school, took lots of fieldtrips. Unique history and people. My favorite of the foreign countrys and people I've lived in or visited.

Some special memories are: The Children's Center and Amphitheater, The Korea House, The Blue House, the cazillion Temples, Shrines, Royal Palaces and cemetaries, ThemePark and Zoo, Ice carving on Nam-San (the tower was still under construction), the Huge tunnels/bomb shelters, three wheeled trucks, Smile Cookies, Dajos, the city gates, pachinco machines and parlors, the DMZ and "their" huge flag and blaring music, my second time to see The Blue Angels (flying F-4s!!!), walking 1 1/2 miles to and from school with those Manchurian winds, catching pneumonia, two sided drums and those long head-whip things, A-frames and the people under them, bell brass and of course, Ramen and KIMCHEE!!! Still can't get enough!

Sorry for the discourse, but as I mentioned, I liked it. Did many of you know who's navy was the FIRST to use Armored ships and against whom?

[Captain Kwok]

Gil - Perhaps you should acknowledge the fact that your country's big corporations go into these countries and while paying them next to nothing for well paying jobs here just so you can save a few bucks on your next electronics purchase. Perhaps if these corporations paid the people something they wouldn't keep trying to live your life in your country. Plus - you ever try going through the INS? I couldn't believe what a racist and discriminatory dis-service it was. It's an unfortunate problem but maybe the people in charge can consider a better remedy?

Secondly - I'll take my "BANKRUPT" health care system that doesn't discrimate and gives everyone the equal access to medical treatment over a HMO system that allows people to be treated like second-class citizens because of the amount of money in their wallet or some guy in some office decides that treatment is too expensive. I'm sorry but you can keep spending billions of your tax dollars to drive your economy through your military but I don't think more big ships and a faulty missile defense screen is going to stop terrorism...the old white men in charge keep saying that 9/11 changed "things" but I don't see that it really has. You're hard EARNED dollars dissappear just as easily as ours.

Don't get me wrong - I like the United States. My wife is from there and I lived in the Northwest for a couple of years. It's a great country and has many more positives than negatives, but don't walk around thinking of yourselves as the most "enlightened" people on the Earth because that's just not right.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by Gil Hamilton:
I lived in Seoul from 1970 to 1973. Grade school, took lots of fieldtrips. Unique history and people. My favorite of the foreign countrys and people I've lived in or visited.

The Blue House, the cazillion Temples, Shrines, the Huge tunnels/bomb shelters, the DMZ and "their" huge flag and blaring music, my second time to see The Blue Angels (flying F-4s!!!),

walking 1 1/2 miles to and from school with those Manchurian winds, catching pneumonia, two sided drums and those long head-whip things,

Ramen and KIMCHEE!!! Still can't get enough!

Did many of you know who's navy was the FIRST to use Armored ships and against whom?

1. We do have a unique history. It helps when you are squished between rival powers and work as the only bridge between them It's worthy of a shakespearean drama, as one person said. Thanks for the comment; we try to be quaint

2. In the 70's... should be about right from What I've heard from my father and mother.
born in '80.

3. The Manchurian winds are one of the uncomforts of Korea. One of the most *enduring* periods, with added pollution and whatnot. Long Whip things? Is it an instrument?

4. Ramen is an Japanese invention. Kimchee, whoever, we take proud of. It helps you fight off cancer and many other things... except blood pressure. Don't take too much of it.

5. We really didn't build the first ARMOURED ships, we just built the first Ironclad. One of the finer moments of history.

[ June 02, 2002, 06:56: Message edited by: TerranC ]

[Gil Hamilton]

Originally posted by Captain Kwok:
Gil - Perhaps you should acknowledge the fact that your country's big corporations go into these countries and while paying them next to nothing for well paying jobs here just so you can save a few bucks on your next electronics purchase. Perhaps if these corporations paid the people something they wouldn't keep trying to live your life in your country. Plus - you ever try going through the INS? I couldn't believe what a racist and discriminatory dis-service it was. It's an unfortunate problem but maybe the people in charge can consider a better remedy?

Secondly - I'll take my "BANKRUPT" health care system that doesn't discrimate and gives everyone the equal access to medical treatment over a HMO system that allows people to be treated like second-class citizens because of the amount of money in their wallet or some guy in some office decides that treatment is too expensive. I'm sorry but you can keep spending billions of your tax dollars to drive your economy through your military but I don't think more big ships and a faulty missile defense screen is going to stop terrorism...the old white men in charge keep saying that 9/11 changed "things" but I don't see that it really has. You're hard EARNED dollars dissappear just as easily as ours.

Don't get me wrong - I like the United States. My wife is from there and I lived in the Northwest for a couple of years. It's a great country and has many more positives than negatives, but don't walk around thinking of yourselves as the most "enlightened" people on the Earth because that's just not right.

Here we go again....

American culture is one of the newest on the planet. How is it that it excels, by magnitudes, in almost every conceivable, measurable aspect over cultures hundreds, if not thousands of years older?

Why is it that other cultures/countries envy our robust economy but few do little to emmulate ours or improve their own? Certainly there are countries or regions with equal, if not more, natural resources. Is it poor education, an empty belly, religion, corrupt political system which holds them back? Don't think so... This country's founders faced and overcame all of that. (Well, still polishing up on a few, but...)

Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Aiwa, JVC, Pioneer, Casio....These don't sound very American owned to me. Intel, Motorola, yes, but publically traded. Not sure about other sectors, but what ever the goods produced "over there", I'm sure the people with the jobs are better paid, clothed, fed, housed, educated, medicated and more mobile than their average countrymen and would be unwilling to give up their job. Income is relative to where you live and what your money buys you THERE, not halfway around the world. So what if the employee is not rich by American standards, if he/she is rich by his country's standards?

I guess it is a good testament to the way we do things here, our willingness to constantly examine our systems and methods to see where change and tweaking are needed, that invites so much "helpful criticism" from those living elsewhere. If our treatment of others is so terrible, then don't let our companies build infrastructure and facilities there, don't eat our food, don't depend on our faulty missile systems when you see streaks headed towards your population centers, don't buy our goods, listen to our music, watch our movies and news/entertainment channels, don't ask our blood to shed for your inability to get along with your downtrodden neighbors.

A basic concept is to do it for yourself. Take the mantle of being a responsible individual, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE. Good or bad, when they place the pennies on your eyes, you'll truly rest in peace as you'll know what ever successes or failures you had were YOURS. If I get sick, I pay the doctor/hospital- not some HMO or government do-gooders. If I can't afford some treatment/proceedure, then I do without. So what? Who said life is fair?

I gladly pay taxes expecting nothing but the world's finest military. Look at your and other's bitterness towards something you will never understand, appreciate or create for yourselves. My deal is this, America forces no country to trade with us. We constantly maintain trade deficits world-wide. Point to anywhere where there is need and tell me the people living there aren't their own worst enemies.

Its easy to sit and blame us for your troubles, but in the end, you still have to wake up in YOUR neighborhood, not mine. After we get a tougher INS, that is. Your 1st paragraph accuses INS of prejudice- now read your 2nd paragraph. Get my point?

[TerranC]

Originally posted by Gil Hamilton:
INS of prejudice

I don't think the Immigration and Naturalization Service (I believe that's what it stands for...?) is prejudiced.

I mean, if any agency that lets Osama bin laden and Mohammed Atta in to the USA is racist, what are we?

[dogscoff]

How is it that {American culture} excels, by magnitudes, in almost every conceivable, measurable aspect over cultures hundreds, if not thousands of years older?

*Dogscoff rolls around on the floor, giggling helplessly...

[Dracus]

Man, this thread went way off topic.

[Captain Kwok]

You are very patriotic Mr. Gil but there are many countries that have a standard of living equal or better than that of the US. It's true that the US pioneered democracy as we know it, but that doesn't mean that it's closer to perfect than others. Unfortunately, you don't realize the control that the big corporations have over your government. Why do you think the US trades with one communist country China and not another 90 miles away, Cuba? Could it be the market there in China?

Open to change and criticism? Ok...so do many other countries.

And don't talk about shedding blood. We have a highter per capita % of our military in Afghanistan than you. In fact - the US accidentily bomb us and during the same week boo our anthem at sporting events? Thanks for the help right?

You're right here though - the US has the top military in the world. No questions there. I just don't see why they are wasting so much money into the missile screen which may start another cold war - with what your own critics are saying has low standards and failed 2 of 5 major tests. I rather see you guys use the money to train your people even better giving them the best equipment and protection in battle. They deserve it.

Don't worry Gil, my own country has lots of problems of its own too. Everyone country does. Like I said I love the US and some of their fine entertainment but I just hate it when you talk like you are the only free and enlightened people around...and for the record just because we have universal health care doesn't mean we are SOCIALIST which is what starting this in the first place.

[Captain Kwok]

I apologize for hi-jacking this thread. I will make no further comments. Sorry.

My hometown is Toronto. It's a great city with the most diverse population in the world. You wouldn't believe how things get during the World Cup with each little community celebrating in the streets when they're countries win.