American Exceptionalism

[TDE30]

Nort Caalina, proud to call it home.

[nando]

anyways, go live in another country, be poor, be rich, live other lifestyles/cultures then pass judgement.

i've got a muffler to pull. cya
Julien

I don't really live there, but I spend enough time in canada (well 3 days a week) to know where I want to live - and it's the USA.

Europe isn't the best either - unless you like high unemployment and taxes. it's nice to visit though. ;)

[rwh11385]

Ted, have you been to Denmark? Germany? UK? France? Holland? I need to get my ass to Copenhagen badly. Denmark is the happiest place on earth, not Disney World.

It's great to do well and be fairly rewarded. It's great to have freedom, but what do we choose to do with it?

There's positive and negative things about other countries, and I guess I feel a lot of people always think that America is the best way and only way, and that makes their opinion matter much less than someone open to understanding other people's perspectives to further the discussion and have a more complete argument. Works much better than simply bickering back and forth as "Nuh Huh" "Yah Huh".

Read these book and then see how at least you make your statements.
http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Enligh.../dp/1859840736
$5 shipped for a novel about finding the perfect world

Ultimately you could look up facts and figures about the US and other nations all you want, but sometimes in life quantifying things does not get the real picture. It would be rather scary if numbers could sum up a person's life, their experiences, their attitudes, their friends, their love, their culture. It is also scary if someone thinks that this is possible and attempts to calculate the best with numbers. I feel a lot of people miss the point, and there is a lot not being brought in that exist elsewhere and we take for granted because that is not on a balance sheet.

[uofom3]

uofm3

Your assumption that I cannot comment on the US's status because I don't live in the US is pretty lame. I have lived in more countries around the world that you will ever. I lived in Africa, France and Canada. I visited most European, Asian and Pacific countries and travelled across the US, coast to coast on bikes and cars, perhaps more times than many members here. I have lived different environments and seen different ways to govern a country. So, yes, I can comment on the US based on my experiences.

"The better we do, the better you do. You tapped into the US market because you know it's got more people who are financially secure and willing to spend money on goods such as BBK's. You also would benefit directly from tax cuts, economic stimulous packages, etc."

Are you serious when you write stuff like that?

50% of my market is the US. 50% is the rest of the world. My business supplies US customers, and buys from US sources. My business beneficiates US businesses too. I have no idea where you got that because I do business with American customers, I should shut the fuck up on the US government or the US lifestyle. I'll say up front what I think of good or bad US policies. What do you make of the first amendment? Please don't patronize me and tell me otherwise.

You can say whatever you like, Lee.

Think about what you just said. Half of your business is from 1 COUNTRY and then THE REST OF THE WORLD. I never said that you don't benefit US business, did I? But it is pretty undeniable about the fact that you benefit hugely from the success of America (50% of your gross, apparently).

I start a thread about how I think this country is great, despite it's flaws, and then people can't wait to shit on it. I guess it really exemplifies the sorry state of the situation.

[uofom3]

Ted, have you been to Denmark? Germany? UK? France? Holland? I need to get my ass to Copenhagen badly. Denmark is the happiest place on earth, not Disney World.

It's great to do well and be fairly rewarded. It's great to have freedom, but what do we choose to do with it?

There's positive and negative things about other countries, and I guess I feel a lot of people always think that America is the best way and only way, and that makes their opinion matter much less than someone open to understanding other people's perspectives to further the discussion and have a more complete argument. Works much better than simply bickering back and forth as "Nuh Huh" "Yah Huh".

Read these book and then see how at least you make your statements.
http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Enligh.../dp/1859840736
$5 shipped for a novel about finding the perfect world

Bobby I'm not saying it's perfect. Everyone assumes that I'm on some perfectionist bandwagon and that's the last thing I'm saying.

Why is it not OK to be proud of being an American, regardless of flaws?

[apexede30]

Everyone thought they won world war 2. Russians, brits, the freakin italians after they switched sides per se, even the ethiopians. Other than that, good post, agreed, and what not.

[rwh11385]

Bobby I'm not saying it's perfect. Everyone assumes that I'm on some perfectionist bandwagon and that's the last thing I'm saying.

Why is it not OK to be proud of being an American, regardless of flaws?

It is OK. It's not okay to say we're the best and there's nothing else out there that were are missing out on because we have the assumption we're the best and that's it. Culture keeps changing, and not for the better. Technology is, but we're losing humanity quickly for the interests of profits and "well-being". Some nations may be moving slower to "catch up" but really are rooted in other things that seem undervalued here. The American machine may be efficient, in the aims of its intent but not in life.

I don't know if it's just houston or what - but people are wasteful, inconsiderate, gluttonous, and litter a lot - all the while posessing an overwhelming sense of self satisfaction.

HEY. Someone record this, I agree with Patrick.

The US would get a lot further if we were not so damned arrogant and expecting other nations to be like us in order to be successful. They may have their own definition and be happy, very happy, with it: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Canada...

[rwh11385]

I start a thread about how I think this country is great, despite it's flaws, and then people can't wait to shit on it. I guess it really exemplifies the sorry state of the situation.

Or underlines much of the world's annoyance with the American self-image

[Turf1600]

God made us #1 because he loves us the best.

[uofom3]

God made us #1 because he loves us the best.

great, keep religion out of this.

[uofom3]

It is OK. It's not okay to say we're the best and there's nothing else out there that were are missing out on because we have the assumption we're the best and that's it. Culture keeps changing, and not for the better. Technology is, but we're losing humanity quickly for the interests of profits and "well-being". Some nations may be moving slower to "catch up" but really are rooted in other things that seem undervalued here. The American machine may be efficient, in the aims of its intent but not in life.


HEY. Someone record this, I agree with Patrick.

The US would get a lot further if we were not so damned arrogant and expecting other nations to be like us in order to be successful. They may have their own definition and be happy, very happy, with it: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Canada...

I could care less what other countries want to do. They can do whatever they please. This isn't arrogant, it's that I'm not there and don't have to live in the situation. They should govern, etc. as they see fit.

The problem I have is that when something bad happens, we're going to be the ones called on - even though they call us "arrogant" and "wasteful" and generally crap on the country.

Success corrupts a lot of people, and the quick success that we've had in the last 120 years or so has been tough to deal with. it's like a 16 year old with 50 mil in the bank sometimes; bad decisions are made.

[uofom3]

Where's Pasha for a civics/history/foreign policy lesson?

[Jand3rson]

Why is it not OK to be proud of being an American, regardless of flaws?

I totally agree with everything you've said, Ted. But I did want to touch on this.

I've always said you should never be "proud" to be an American. You should be happy, and feel lucky and fortunate that you are an American. If you were born in this country, you were born here by nothing more than a stroke of cosmic chance. Yes, your parents live here and that's why you were born here, but that's part of it. Pride does nothing more than create arrogance (not saying you are) and bigger problems, and you can't take pride in something that you more or less "happened" into.

Do I love this country? Yes. Does my government piss me off on a daily basis? Oh yes. But I thank my lucky stars every day that I was fortunate enough to win a cosmic lottery, if you will, and be born in this country.

[Stevie30]

I agree with Merle Haggard; If you don't love it, leave it: Let this song that I'm singin' be a warnin'. When you're runnin down my country, man, you're walkin on the fightin' side of me.

[mtechnik]

I will just say that I respect Ted very much for trying to bring about a balanced discussion/ opinion.

I mean we all should be patriotic of our own particular country to some degree..shouldn't we.?? There's a reason why Earth comprises of different countries. Different groups of people sharing a common identity to some extent.

Had my carefully typed say; before this thread implodes and gets locked.