OT (or is it?): American Imperialism

[AMF]

Renegade 13 said:
When you talk about Ireland, and the fighting that goes on there, do you not say "the Catholics fighting the Protestants"? Is that also severe religious discrimination? I highly doubt that all Catholics and Protestants are fighting, no?

It is not severe religious discrimination to say "Islamic terrorists" because it is simply a distinguishing identifier. It is no worse than saying "that white serial killer". If you say "that white serial killer" are you discriminating against all white people? I think not. That's not discrimination, it's just an identifier, so people know what you're talking about.

The difference lies in the word "the" - iEnglish, "the" identifies a specific noun (the white serial killer") whereas, if left off, applies to ALL of that class of subjects. Hence, I would think that, grammatically speaking, equating "the white serial killer" with "the islamic terrorists" is fine. But by saying "islamic terrorist" you are essentially saying ALL muslims are terorrists.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Not semantically true, but I think it is true that that is what many people hear.

[Renegade 13]

Alarikf, it all depends on context.

[Ragnarok-X]

dogscoff said:


People who get fat eating burgers and try to sue mcdonalds are losers, I agree. I think the smokers might have a point, given some of the highly addictive crap in cigarettes, but that's an aside. It's the people who suffer from these products and *don't* complain about it that cause me the greatest worry.

Your point is only partly right. It has been scientificly -PROVEN- that certain integrints within mcdonalds, burgerking and fast food products in general are indeed addictive as well. Just watch the movie i mentioned, SuperSize Me, afterwards you will know a few things you didnt want to. Whats happening is amazing, on the entire line unbelieveable.

[Ragnarok-X]

Renegade 13 said:
Ok, just to clear a few things up:

- As for the nukes in European countries: Your leaders have to have accepted the nukes being there, no?? Take your frustrations up with your leaders. They are the ones who should be listening to the common people, and if the common people say no nukes, they shouldn't accept American nukes. However, you can't blame the US for wanting to have nukes all over the world; it gives them power, and everyone wants power. Convince your leaders that the people don't want the nukes, and they'll probably leave.

No offense, but you should open your eyes. Under NO circumstances would countries with history like france and especially germany be willing to openly accept the stationing of nuclear weapons within their countries. BUT, and thats the point here, would they have denied the US request they would have to face certain consequences. When germany didnt participated in the iraq war, most german companies were sanktioned and didnt received ANY official orders/tasks both in iraq and afganistan. Up to NOW, it is inofficialy known that german companies are overseen when choosing which companies get which order. And THIS indeed is cultural imperalism. I dont get your point...
Over the last month i have read so many articles its hardly to believe. I think europens definitly get to know more than americans or canadians or texans or whatever. Would you know what i do, i would be sure you would agree on the entire line with me. America is wrong, american people, the gouverment, the president, their are all wrong and need to be taken care off. I dont know how, but something must happen in the near future. While im at it, i dont entirely blame the population for it, because they are somehow kept "stupid". I mainly blame the newspapers and tv and stuff for not spreading information correctly. Then again, i fully blame the gouverment and whoever helped bringing bush into the presidents position.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

"Islamic terrorism" and the "justification" of it are both bull****. I've talked with a Muslim about it once, and he says that those terrorists are NOT "good Muslims", just like a Christian killer is not a "good Christian". The Koran says that it is a sin to kill people, like the bible does, and the person I talked with about it said that those terrorists will most likely end up in Hell.

To say that the Islamic terrorism is justified by the Koran is total nonsense. Those who claim it isn't need to talk to a Muslim about it once.

[Fyron]

Holy scriptures can be used by those looking to twist them as justification for anything... It is all a matter of interpretation and which parts you stress over the others.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Yes... but according to most of those living by the Koran the people that use it to justify blowing themselves up with lots of other people around misinterpret the Koran and are therefore (not because of the misinterpretation, because of the acts that follow it) are sinners, doomed to Hell.

[Yith_Saulkar]

StrategiaInUltima said:
And I do NOT have any objections to people wearing Levi's... it's their choice. But it's the way that the US is promoting itself everywhere it can, patting itself on the back for something that they had no right or reason to do, that did not go so very well, and that is still not exactly finished.

Your confusing "America" with "American Business".
We import Japanese cars by the bucketloads... We buy more foregin cars than domestic I believe. Does that mean the Japanese are trying to push thier "cultural imperialism" on us? No, it is simply international trade and business men trying to make a buck.

Iraq is a total mess. BUT it is not America patting itself on the back. People everywhere in the US still protest our actions there... it is the Bush administration doing the patting. You should see/hear/read the heated debates between the Republicans and the Democrats over the war. Just so happens the Bush supporters are in control of the government right now. Republicans hold majority in both the house and senate so Bush has little opposition to his agenda. So the "American Policy" transmitted to the world is the "Republican/Bush American Policy".

America has the same problem as an overplayed comercial. You get sick of seeing it all the time and end up hateing it.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

[06:07:45-PM] puke: any chance of "cultural imperialism" like in IG2, where your trade income could be influenced by how much of your culture has spread to influence other empires?

Excerpt from chat transcript. Cultural imperialism exists. QED.