Thread: America

Here's what I know/feel about America (note the harsh generalization):

0) It's all about money. Supranational companies like to rape the nature and wipe out people who stand in their way (Shell in Nigeria, Chiquita about everywhere to mention few).

1) USA as a country likes to play cowboys and indians (or rosvo ja poliisi as we call it in Finland) with some other countries (Vietnam, Cuba, etc.). I also tend to feel that it's not about that freedom & democracy what's it about; It's all about money and police-stations (oil pipes and strategic positions in Afghanistan, military bases in Saudi-arabia and god knows what in South-America).

2) What I've read (see the quote in the Guantanamo-thread as an example), I have a feeling that while Americans are the most patriotic people I've heard about, they seem to have some sort of gene that blocks them accepting critique towards their country. They also tend to be rather conservative while they don't like things like abortion (speaking of freedom), nature (Bush) and like to inject all kinds of leathal fluids in to the blood vessels of criminals.

3) What I've heard about senior high school is something that really raises a question mark. I know few dudes who have been as an exchange student in USA (and friends whose friends have been there). While a normal school day in Finland doesn't include police, students with crossbows (or guns - this one is from media, not from a friend of mine), people pointing and laughing when somebody comes to a school with a bicycle or oath of allegiance for Stars and Stripes (or White Rectangles and a Blue Cross). However, we do decline students taking notes to exams (with some exceptions like math formulas) where (somewhere) in USA they can write notes to a piece of paper and take it with them to an exam. And when we write an essay, it's usually more than one or two sentences; full points usually require 1.5-2 A4s. And I have a feeling that our system (which obviously has it's own stupidities) gives a better result.

4) While not ever being near America, I got the feeling that they could use all that money better than putting it on something like nuclear weapons, Star Wars (not the movie, silly), Star Wars II or what ever was that what Bush junior was doing, that extra 18 billion dollars for army and small things like Nasa.

ps
> I'm getting very ........ed off at the ammrican critism here
Take it as constructive criticism: as it's said in Tao-te Ching:
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.

>exspecally from people like nvoigt.

Though I did say some things, I did not say anything about the points you mentioned.

>underpaid

I do think the US health and unemployment insurance system is ridiculous compared to ours. But then, if you hear how much of our income is spent on taxes, you'd probably be the one to laugh.

>> I like American people, there's nothing wrong with most of them. In the city I live we had a American NATO base, they were very friendly people. But I don't like American politics <<

Shiro,
You have hit the nail on its head.

>> But I don't like American politics
Come to think of it we can substitute America with other countries.

i don't know much about anything... but it seems to me like if you're gonna support a country for it's greatness, then you'd better live and breathe where that greatness does not exist. without the bad days how can you appreciate the good?

can't say much about politics, i'm not a political person...

Personally, it's best to just say that America isn't living up to her potential.

Yea, yea, corrupt politicians, corrupt system... this is something that you just kinda have to get used to. It's the little stupidities that get to me, like watching Rudolph Guiliani, dead serious, claim that
"The reason America was attacked is because we believe in freedom."
Mmmm.... patriotic oversimplifications that just distract from the truth. If we reprimanded such behavior, we'd be better for it, but instead we eat it up.

Still, this really is the kind of thing that changes every four years or so .

>>yes- we heard about the suspension of democracy in Florida that got him elected<<

Look at the pretty butterfly ballots, children! I still think that the democrats in this state are a bunch f whining, complaining geriatrics. Have you ever seen one of those ballots? I have 2 of them somewhere in my house. They aren't exactly confusing for people with an IQ above 5. "I voted for the wrong person" my arse.

>>Still, this really is the kind of thing that changes every four years or so .<<

So true.

>>2b. The right to bear arms is amazing. Just imagine a scenario where you end up with a totalitarian government - it's going to be real hard to rise up and overthrow your oppressors. Not so with the USA - despite private armies no single 'Dark Lord' could possibly emerge to take the whole show as self-destruction would occur first. Secondly it makes it almost impossible to attack using conventional means even if you have neutralised all other defences. The downside is that people get shot a lot. Small price to pay for 'National Security' ( cf. Manufacture of Consent). <<

True enough, and I've always thought this. It'd be really fun to see someone land on our shores and hundreds of regular shmoes with AK-47's staring them down . The only problem I have with it is, like you said, people get shot. There should be stricted gun control laws...maybe a sanity test .

First of all I don't even know where to start.......Those idiots that talk about the US without even being here to know what it's like........."oh but kids get to do this and that is school", if you've never been to the US and went to school here you shouldn't be rambling about things you don't know. Just because one school of thousands here in the US allows the kids to do that doesn't mean that the whole country is the same all over. One more thing people here are not just people that can't even write an essay, if you knew anything about American's school system you would know that people have to write an essay application in order to enter college/university. In addition to this, people have to pass a test whether it be the SAT or ACT in order get into college. These tests are standararized and people all over the country take them. Then they are shipped and grade by individuals outside of the school. About freedom, like someone else stated you can go and protest in front of the White House with a sign that says that George W. Bush is the worst president ever and your civil liberties will be respected. Tell me something, in how many countries can you do this? About out National Defense, the reason that we invest all this money into National Defense is to avoid people from walking all over us. What country is there when earthquakes hit unfortunate countries, hurracanes, etc. Lots of the times one of the first ones to be there is the US. When asian countries or central american countries get hit by natural disaters who is there? One of the first ones is once again the US, and they do this without any oil business in mind. So don't you say things about the US when in fact you have no prove of what you're talking about. GOD BLESS THE USA!!!!!!!!!

But then again as long as it is your opinion and you're not saying this as a fact, knock yourself out you're withing your rights to do this.

DEAR LORD SOMEBODY BETTER RESTRAIN ME!!!

Kooma,

0)
you an enviromentolist? well yeah some companies do terrible things some break the law in doing it, but damnit there are much worse that us, THINK ABOUT THE SIZE OF THIS NATION!!!!! we do considerably less that we could! give it a damn break! and we do a lot to prevent that **** so consider that before you start critisizing!

1)
WHAT IN THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH YOU 4000+ PEOPLE DIED!!!! DAMNIT DOES THAT MEAN NOTHING TO YOU!!! AND I YOU THINK WE SHOULD SIT BACK AND LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT YOU CAN KISS MY ASS!

2)
WHEN YOUR DAMN CONTRYS PERFECT THEN YOU CAN CRITISIZE ME FOR NOT DOING WHAT YOU CONTRY WONT OR WILL!! WE DONT LIVE BY YOUR RULES HERE!!
>
They also tend to be rather conservative while they don't like things like abortion (speaking of freedom), nature (Bush) and like to inject all kinds of leathal fluids in to the blood vessels of criminals.
<

OOOOHHH I SSEEEEE!!!! KILLING BABIES IS FINE! BUT CRIMINALS NOOOOOO THE DESERVE LIFE AFTER RAPING AND KILLING 40 FRIGGEN PEOPLE!! GIMMIE A BREAK!!!

3)
>
While a normal school day in Finland doesn't include police, students with crossbows (or guns - this one is from media, not from a friend of mine),
<

WHAT KIND OF IGNORANT STUPIDITY IS THIS!! THERE IS ABOUT HALF THE DAMN SCHOOL VIOLENCE HERE NOW AS THERE WAS 10 FRIGGEN YEARS AGO!! SO SHUT UP!

>
people pointing and laughing when somebody comes to a school with a bicycle
<

dear lord don't make fun somebodys feelings might get hurt!!

<
or oath of allegiance for Stars and Stripes (or White Rectangles and a Blue Cross)
<

EXCUSE US FOR BEING PATRIOTIC!! WE WILL SUPPORT AND SERVE OUR COUNTRY LOYALY! YOU APPEARENTLY DONT GET THIS CONCEPT!

>
However, we do decline students taking notes to exams (with some exceptions like math formulas) where (somewhere) in USA they can write notes to a piece of paper and take it with them to an exam.
<

dear god don't do something that might help you!!

>
And when we write an essay, it's usually more than one or two sentences
<

this is quite an unnecessary remark.

so our school system isnt perfect SO WHAT JUST DESTROY THE COUNTRY AND START FROM SCRATCH!

Shiro,

>
In America people are allowed to kill eachother by law! I read that your president Bush has executed many people when he was governour of Texas. Is that humanity?
<

ITS CALLED THE COMMITED CRIMES KILLING AND HURTING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THEY FRIGGEN PAYED FOR IT!

>
The Americans only think about money. The only reason that they were present at the Gulf war was because of the oil. Are they present at the war in Northern Ireland, are they present at the war in the Molukken (Indonesia)? No, since there can no bussines be generated.
<

WHY DONT YOU FRIGGEN LEARN WHAT WAS HEPPENING OVER THERE BEFORE YOU MAKE COMMENTS LIKE THIS! THIS COUNTRY IS THE ONLY REASON 90% OF THE OTHER CONTRIES IN THIS WORLD EVEN EXIST WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE SO DAMN QUICK TO FORGET THIS!

nv,

>
I do think the US health and unemployment insurance system is ridiculous compared to ours. But then, if you hear how much of our income is spent on taxes, you'd probably be the one to laugh.
<

now this is true, where do you live nv?


Jessey,

>
Just 'cos I said your countrie is corrupt does'nt mean I have a problem with the people of America, just the government of America. Most Governments are corrupt but America being one of the most powerful and most significant to this planet, they should'nt be so corrupt!
<

NAME ONE GOVERNMENT THAT ISNT CORRUPT! I HATE THAT OURS IS BUT THERE IS NO WAY OUT OF GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION IN SOME FORM but limiting its growth the hard part, and we are not doing very well...but we are sure a hell of a lot better than most and we at least feed our people.

our size makes it all the harder...

>
Afghanistan was corrupt but its people are ok.
<

THEY ARE ALL STARVING OVER THERE WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! THEIR GOVENMENT CORRUPTION WAS KILLING THOUSAND OF INNOCENTS!!

Ken Fitlike,
i will just skip it... i don't even wanna go any farther.

QuestionC

i really cant argue with you.