OFF TOPIC - The IOC sucks. - Page 5

Lucanos · #41 July 18th, 2001, 10:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Marty Ward:

Luc,
You're right the US is not a Democracy, we are a Republic and the election was held properly according to the laws in effect at the time of the election.

You must have spent a lot of time in our country. I've lived here over 50 years and haven't seen any country side that looks like a poor South American country. Maybe I've just been lucky.

PS-Europeans may think Bush is a moron but he was smart enough to get elected President of the most powerful country in the world. Would he have been smarter if he were elected Prime Minister of Sweden?

I've heard alot of US politicians/millitary ppl say: "We must defend democracy" and such. If they weren't talking about the US maybe you know what democracy they were talking about?

Your question wether Bush would have been smarter if he was Swedish or not is irrelevant - since I was talking about PROPAGANDA. But I bet that swedish propaganda would have made Bush looked smarter if he was a Swedish minister.

I would also like to comment your statement: "...the election was held properly according to the laws in effect at the time of the election."

It shows us what kind of laws are in effect in your country. I want nothing to do with those laws, but unfortunantly I have no choice since the "too big corporations" are in power today.

And they really like that kind of UNCULTIVATED law.

Is there any culture, in the US, that doesn't bring any money? Except for a few idealists I don't think I've seen any.

Lucanos · #42 July 18th, 2001, 10:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
I was talking mostly about.. ...that

...ahhh. Okay, I see. Those anti-US thoughts comes mostly from the cultural elite, and in this case the propaganda reflects the thoughts if this "elite" - not the other way around.

Europe is not "better" than US in any way, Im not saying that.

But I think we have some thoughts regarding some negative aspects of your country, that is coherent with reality - that most of the US citizens don't.

Most US citizens I've been speaking to, actually think that their country is "the best country in the world".

I like Sweden - because swedish taxpayers have payed for my education, healthcare (almost free in sweden), and has given me alot of money when I was out looking for a job. Of course, I'm a patriot - a nationalist - I love sweden.

But I KNOW that Sweden is not perfect - that many countries in the third world has things that we don't.

Money isn't everything.

Lucanos · #43 July 18th, 2001, 10:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by capt_spoogy:

Lucanos - Please be careful not to heap in Canada in the same pile as the US. Just because we're on the same continent and share a lot of things does not mean we practice the same politics or culture. I've lived in both countries - and find that Canadian politics have a lot more in common with European countries.

I would NEVER compare an evolved nation such as canada with a barbaric lowlife nation such as the US.

That is why I pointed out that I knew you were from Canada so you wouldn't feel bad when I critizised the US.

Unfortunantly I failed.

Alpha Kodiak · #44 July 19th, 2001, 12:35 AM

It's funny how people love to criticize the U.S. as a "barbaric, lowlife nation", right up until they want our money....

Phoenix-D · #45 July 19th, 2001, 01:16 AM

quote:

I've heard alot of US politicians/millitary ppl say: "We must defend democracy" and such. If they weren't talking about the US maybe you know what democracy they were talking about?

Maybe because they say what sounds good? I trust a politician- especiallly a career one like, oh, Strom Thurmond (this guy ran against Truman from President in the 1940s, and he's STILL in the Senate)- about as far as I can throw them.

quote:

But I KNOW that Sweden is not perfect - that many countries in the third world has things that we don't.

Best does not equal perfect.

quote:

I like Sweden - because swedish taxpayers have payed for my education, healthcare (almost free in sweden), and has given me alot of money when I was out looking for a job. Of course, I'm a patriot - a nationalist - I love sweden.

You ARE aware that many Americans think that's wrong, right?

Our welfare system encourages leeching, really.

Heathcare- Canada apparently has a similar system. Lots of Candians come to the US for various proceedures. (aside from prescription drugs, which are ususally cheaper elsewhere because of price caps, amoung other reasons).

If you can't get an education here (past high school), you've got a problem. Between the scholarships- some offered because of merit, some because of financial situation- grants (see scholarships), low-interest, delayed payback loans and lowcost local community colleges (at least in Arizona, dunno about other states), and work-study programs, you should be able to afford an education.

quote:

barbaric lowlife nation

Gee, thanks, I'll remember that the next time I send a letter to my Congressman about aid to other countries. You know, like the debts accumulated during WW2/1 that I think ONE nation payed back? The Marshal plan? (I'd quote more recent, but I don't have specifics offhand) The various relief organizations too, though not all of those are government funded.

Guess you'll have to get off the internet too then, seeing how it was designed mostly by US scientists..

Oh, and please explain to me why, if the US is a barbaric nation, immigrents from various countries attempt to enter all the time?

Do I need to go on?

Any country has it's failings. The US has plenty of them.

EDIT: speaking of which..

quote:

But I think we have some thoughts regarding some negative aspects of your country, that is coherent with reality - that most of the US citizens don't.

Explain something, please. This actually applies to both sides here, but-what negative aspects are you talking about, and why would you have a better perspective than US citizens? Where are you getting your information? You've already admitted the local news sources are propaganda right along with US news, so it isn't that, is it?

Phoenix-D

[This message has been edited by Phoenix-D (edited 19 July 2001).]

Suicide Junkie · #46 July 19th, 2001, 01:47 AM

They're powering up their incinerator beams!

Raise shields! Full power to the engines! We'll not be caught in this potential flame war!

Alpha Kodiak · #47 July 19th, 2001, 03:35 AM

Phoenix-D: If I guess correctly, looks like we've got Arizonans, back-to-back.

The world doesn't stand a chance!

CW · #48 July 19th, 2001, 04:00 AM

quote:
It's funny how people love to criticize the U.S. as a "barbaric, lowlife nation", right up until they want our money....

As an outsider (not living in the US), I can tell you the rest of the world doesn't think money is everything.

Alpha Kodiak · #49 July 19th, 2001, 04:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by CW:
As an outsider (not living in the US), I can tell you the rest of the world doesn't think money is everything.

Nor do I. I merely find it frustrating that people/nations criticize the U.S. quite harshly, then come to us begging for money.

Your complaint was that people from the west look at people from the east as second class people. I do not feel that way at all. Please do not assume that because I live in the United States that I think money is everything.

Remember too, that not that long ago in the grand scheme of things, American blood mingled with Chinese blood stopping the Japanese from from taking all of China. Perhaps we are not so evil as people would make us out to be....

Baron Munchausen · #50 July 19th, 2001, 05:53 AM

The heat of this thread is certainly unexpected. I guess lots of people who watch the news and fume about high-handed US behavior are taking out their frustrations here.

I think US defenders need to understand that US 'bashers' are quite familiar with the fact that we lead the world in many areas. But, we do NOT lead the world in ALL areas. You would never guess that from watching/listening to US media, though. Especially political news and advertising. The constant 'patriotic' bragging and preening got so nauseating during the Reagan years that you could hardly stand to turn on the TV. It's subsided a bit since then, yet it's still far too prevalent. The attitude problem that our government displays in international contexts, crashing around like the proverbial bull in the china shop, doesn't help either. So, large numbers of Europeans who've been seeing this stuff for years run across this thread in the Shrapnel GAMES forums and vent at it. Hmm, maybe they should write letters to the editors at CNN.com, ABC/CBS/NBC.com, FOXNEWS.com, etc. They might actually attract some attention and get a feature story about the perceived arrogance of the US abroad.