Where Have We Gone Wrong?

[helene_t]

Debating our policies is of course sensible but bringing up the fact that we are not loved is pretty irrelevant. It's been a constant for my 69 years and I don't expect it to change.

Here is what you have to do to become a loved country:

 

- Split up into 50 countries (well CA, NY and TX would have to be subdivided)

- Sell Microsoft, Exxon etc to the Chinese.

- Convert your economy to one of providing Country&Western workshops for the tourists.

 

You see, the problem is jealousy. As long as you are the World's leading country in so many areas we will hate you.

[luke warm]

Debating our policies is of course sensible but bringing up the fact that we are not loved is pretty irrelevant. It's been a constant for my 69 years and I don't expect it to change.

Here is what you have to do to become a loved country:

 

- Split up into 50 countries (well CA, NY and TX would have to be subdivided)

- Sell Microsoft, Exxon etc to the Chinese.

- Convert your economy to one of providing Country&Western workshops for the tourists.

 

You see, the problem is jealousy. As long as you are the World's leading country in so many areas we will hate you.

the trouble is, there are americans who feel the same way you do... it's my opinion that this present generation (or maybe even mine) could never have fought or won WWII

[Gerben42]

Here is what you have to do to become a loved country:

 

- Split up into 50 countries (well CA, NY and TX would have to be subdivided)

- Sell Microsoft, Exxon etc to the Chinese.

- Convert your economy to one of providing Country&Western workshops for the tourists.

 

You see, the problem is jealousy. As long as you are the World's leading country in so many areas we will hate you.

 

I thought you were going to suggest what I'm going to suggest now: How about giving up independence and return power to the lawful rulers, the great empires of England, France, Netherlands and Spain :P Oh and give Alaska back to the Russians. Then everyone is happy *g

[Gerben42]

Yes I know they are part of NATO but I guess they can go to war without a declaration of war also, even years later. Perhaps the USA is not the only country who has not sorted out Winston's question of the "third state"

 

There is no doubt that war is seen differently in the USA compared to Europe. When was the last time the American mainland has seen a war from nearby? 1865. Since then, the American public has only known war and tyranny from the newspapers, except perhaps for those in Hawaii.

 

In Europe it was 1995. And only 20 years ago, there was an iron curtain running through the middle of the continent. And behind that iron curtain, socialist dictatorships suppressed the people.

 

In this historic standpoint, European leaders will think twice, three times and then reconsider again before starting an armed conflict of any kind. I'm sure the American government does the same, but not on the same level. It is not by accident that the USA were the front runner to go into Iraq. No European leader could do so, given the history of the continent.

 

When Germany reunited, there was a big scare in neighboring countries that the at that point friendly ally West-Germany would turn into a dangerous dominating state again. Before the 2006 World Cup, Germans were very reluctant to show any nationalistic signs like waving flags, such was the memory of the 2nd World War. Even for youngsters whose parents had not experienced this war.

 

As you can see, the European relationship with war is quite a different one as that in the United States.

[Al_U_Card]

Karma is a bitch and the US is making up for lost time in a big way.

 

What goes around....comes around.

[Al_U_Card]

Vietnam = Iraq

 

Cheney, Rumsfeld et al = Cheney, Rumsfeld et al

 

Gulf of Tonkin = WMD

 

Draft = "volunteer" army with 'extended" tours of duty

 

Media coverage = media complicity or silence

 

Body count and funeral services = funereal interdiction

 

Public outrage = public fear

 

Demonstrations and resistance = Patriot act etc.

 

Corporate profits = corporate profits

 

 

Well, it looks like the "good ol' boys" learned from their mistakes and may well be ready for the next step...