Originally posted by StarValleyWyYou must be starting to get the shakes.
None yet today.
I'm still writing code. Beer and programming don't mix. Unless one has a real penchant for debug mode. I tried that one time and one time only. Took three days to fix two hours of 'work'. 😞😛🙄
Cheers. Here's some feedback from Americans and others ...
(1)
"How much concern do American's have when allowing for the possibility that the balance of power is going to shift over the next 50 years whilst America continues to be perceived as an aggressor with suspect motives ?"
(a) Stang, I appreciate your question. As an American I am very concerned over what is going on. I believe that China will surpass us all soon, and that Europe will unite in an effort to compete. The US will be in trouble if we continue this stand-alone approach. Although I do not accept much of the European anti-Americanism, and think it is way over-blown and irrational in alot of respects, I think that the aura of indifference to the rest of the world we have shown in our current administration is going to haunt us in the future. Don't blame me, I didn't vote for bush the first time, the second time, nor did I vote for his father.
Another element that haunts America is evangelical religionism and the ultra-conservative hysteria, hypocrisy, anti-science, anti-reason backwardsness that acts as a wall to progress in this day and age. 55% of Americans don't believe in evolution- the very foundation of biological sciences and probably the most solid and well supported scientific theory known. We have a president who believes in biblical literalism, panders to the religious zealots who want to keep us in the stone-age as China and the rest of the world moves forward without these impediments. The public dialogue concerning social issues centers around three major topics- gay marriage, abortion rights, and stem cell research. These three topics are virtually irrelevent to me and to what I think are much more important issues of pressing concern like foreign policy, jobs and the economy. The religious right has hijacked much of the political dialogue almost like a filibuster, creating an impediment to real issues that people should care about more. We have a president who will not allow lines of stem cell research to be opened due to religious beliefs. These are problems which are not even part of the public dialogue in other countries.
(2)
I think that if you ask 1,000 Americans that question, you will get 1,000 different answers. Like most countries, America is divided about most everything these days. While a majority did vote in the dolt we call our president, his opponent received more votes than any other presidential winner. And of those that voted for this president, most had concerns other than the impression of the rest of the world.
Unbelievably, quite a few Americans still believe we are the envy of the free world and even more believe that we should be the police for the world. But when you spend your money on bombs instead of schools that's what you get. The beautiful thing about the American Republic is that change is always right around the corner. While we have a wanna-be gunslingin' cowboy for a president now, we may have a more global-minded, open thinker in office four years from now. I know that it doesn't look promising based on this past election, but one must have faith in the common man or move. There are some good men in the US government, we just need to recognise the true leaders and seperate them from swaggering asses.
Yes, Americans can be rude, pushy and self-righteous, but they can also be compassionate, caring and giving. No one can deny the amount of money that the US gives to countries around the world. We truly are not the evil empire that we are made out to be. I think that the www.sorryeverybody.com gives you a pretty good idea of that. Then again the www.yourwelcomeeverybody.com shows what a bunch of rednecks there are in America. Fortunately, you will find Americans to be just like everybody else as individuals; people that want to be left alone to earn a living and raise a family.
As for America's role in the next fifty years, who really knows. While our image is certainly tarnished, our global influence is still strong. Despite harsh words from world leaders, most believe that any future global plans must include the US. So perhaps our role will be diminished, demoted to world police, but I really don't think so. Fifty years from now we will still be the most powerful influence in the Americas and therefore must have some say in global affairs. And while the unions have pretty much crushed our manufacturing industry, our resources, at least for the mean time, are still vast. And as for vast, only the Chinese and Indians can rival us for sheer acrage. Oh, and maybe Canada, but a lot of that is really cold.
(3)
If you think the successful UN peacekeeping mission in East Timor is the same as the unsanctioned invasion of Iraq, you know little about the situation.
Firstly, in East Timor is an international force unanimously approved by the Security Council. It has the support of the Indonesian government who agreed to withdraw their troops who had occupied the former Portugese colony since 1975. During the five years of involvement, milita forces have melted away with minimal bloodshed. Free elections have been held and the country has become independent - while relations with newly democratic Indonesia have improved.
A story that many do not want to hear - a glowing United Nations success, in contrast to the bloodshed and increasing chaos of Iraq.
Originally posted by amethyst deceiverWell, I can tell you we have better skiing and snowboarding, but this thread is about STANG's obsession with the US and the deeper reasons for it. I live here, hate Bush and I don't obsess over it like he does.
care to start a list of things to be envious about? you know... the great things no one else can come close to... especially australia.
Originally posted by CliffLandinthis has be on my mind quite a bit... the grand things like individual freedoms, ethnic diversity, wealth distribution, strong currency etc. are not quite exclusive to us in this day and age. thoughts? why might people be envious of the usa?
Well, I can tell you we have better skiing and snowboarding, but this thread is about STANG's obsession with the US and the deeper reasons for it. I live here, hate Bush and I don't obsess over it like he does.
edit: more specific... people in first world countries like mr. stang.
Originally posted by amethyst deceiverI'm picking up what you're putting down! I've been saying that for years to the jackasses that sit at the bar and say stupid stuff like "In what other country could we be sitting and having this conversation about the government." My answer is always "Pretty much any country in Europe or in Australia or Japan or Canada or ...." The thread was started because STANG is obsessed with spouting about the big, bad US and how we didn't help Australia secure their oil resources in Timor.
this has be on my mind quite a bit... the grand things like individual freedoms, ethnic diversity, wealth distribution, strong currency etc. are not quite exclusive to us in this day and age. thoughts? why might people be envious of the usa?
edit: more specific... people in first world countries like mr. stang.