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No_hite_pls
Joined: 05 Mar 2007
Location: Don't hate me because I'm right
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 Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:21 am Post subject: |
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Most American's take pride in their homes and it shows. Many homes are really beautiful and the same can be said about many French homes.
Those two countries have some great craftmenship! |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
So sorry, but I was merely pointing out that forums are usually a place where dialogues happen. That you would keep a thread about the positives of America dialogue-free is, in itself, telling.
which does not equate to 'bashing' or 'belittling' your country. Why is this always the knee-jerk reaction?
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I wasn't saying you were bashing or belittling (I assure you, I am not that sort of American "patriot" who subscribes to the "love it or leave it" mentality.) I was saying that we aren't bashing or belittling other countries. We're just being happy-go-lucky. Because, y'know, it is nice to not always looks at the big picture.
"If life is going to exist in a Universe of this size, then the one thing it cannot afford to have is a sense of proportion."
� Douglas Adams (just one thing I like, like "like-like" about the UK)
I did make a dialogue forum if you are so inclined.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=171827
If you would like me to Google something for you as well, please let me know.
PS. Oh those Northwestern men! The sexiest ones are from Washington, you know. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:15 am Post subject: Re: US likes |
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| Perceptioncheck wrote: |
| chris_J2 wrote: |
I like the restraint, shown by the US. It's the most dangerous country on the planet: if it chooses to be. They could have nuked the USSR, several times over, but won the cold war though other means. Kissinger suggested nuking Hanoi, during the Vietnam war, too, but that idea was quickly scotched. Can you imagine a world where the Soviet Union or China was the dominant power? Would they follow protocol, or have any serious considerations for human rights or environmental issues?
There's a lot more to like about the US, now that GWB has gone, too, imho. 'Tall Poppy syndrome', is alive & well, I see. If it wasn't the US, it would be the UK, China or Russia being sniped instead.
No country is perfect, nero. I'm surprised that you lived in 5 States, as long as you did, if you allegedly hated it so much. Maybe you should try a stint in Dhaka, Bangladesh, before you truly appreciate what living in a first world country means? |
I realize that this is a thread about things you like (like) about the US, but your post has made me go a little bit like this 
America remains the only country that has used atomic bombs in a war. I would hardly call that restrained. Sure, they didn't use nukes during the Vietnam war but they dropped a helluvalot of regular bombs, not only on 'nam but also on Cambodia and Laos. Restrained? Er, no. And whats more, I've met very few Americans who could place Laos on a map or know why the Khmer Rouge came to power.
We've all heard about the human rights abuses in Iraq. Most Americans I know admit they drive everywhere when they're at home. Sometimes I think Americas international reputation as being a bastion for environmentalism and human rights is more because of media lip service than action. But I've never been to the states so I can't say from first hand experience.
NOW, before I get LAMBASTED  for posting negative things on your "hooray, America! Like, like like!" thread, I have to point out that I am NOT America bashing.
I know there is a thread for that.
But surely I am allowed to write a reasoned response to a post I disagree with? Isn't that part of the reason for Internet forums?
One thing I do dislike about America (what the hell, while I'm here) is this fear of "America-bashing". I live with three Americans and we can't have a conversation about international politics or even their country; it's like they're afraid of any critisism at all. Why is that?
Anyway, I guess that's why the threads are split up. One for the haters, one for the lovers. Don't you think it's kind of sad there can't be a dialogue between the two? |
Biggest. Quotation. Ever.
America is the only Hegemon in modern history to *not* take over a large portion of the world. We take it over slowly, one piece at a time, and through the WTO. It is usually mutually beneficial. And yes, we do have enough nuclear arms to reduce the entire Earth to cinders. Which brings me to the next point...
Americans dislike to be criticized because we are constantly being ragged on by every half-bit nationalist from every half-bit hole in the mud the entire world over for decades. It's annoying. Most of these people know nothing about America, its political structure, its history, and far more importantly, their own damned country.
Here is an example. The IMF. It does some good. It also does a lot of bad. Jamaica, '80s forward. Takes out a loan with the IMF. Par usual, this means "free and equal" taxes and tariffs on foreign trade. Their now unprotected markets are bombarded by produce from all over the world, putting a serious crimp on the bellies of farmers.
From Jamaica: WE HATE AMERICA!
Meanwhile, they get a great discount on Dutch potatoes at the import market.
Afghanistan, '70s. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are gunned down, blown up, especially women and children, and INTENTIONALLY by the Soviets, in order to break the spirit of the Mujajadin. Americans arm the freedom fighters with surface-to-air missles to take down the Soviet Hinds, the one force they cannot contend with. They take care of the rest. The United States follows the usual proxy-war protocol and denies it ever happened, thus preventing it from moving in and rebuilding the country. The last thing anyone in the world could possibly have wanted was the all ready hair-trigger relationship between Moscow and Washington to sour further. But no. It's all about ME, ME ME! What has America done for me? Why haven't they done more?
From Afghanistan: WE HATE AMERICA!
The list goes on. Get an education. Realize that there are few evil people in the world, there are few evil heads of state, but there are a whole lot of businessmen and politicians that have got to cover their own arses no matter how much they would like to help yours. Certainly there is evil in the world, but you don't have to look far to find it. And no, George W. Bush wasn't one of them. Also realize that America is the biggest of the Western neo-colonists, not the only one. You needn't look further than your own capital to find that the international G8 web is enormous, complicated, and necessarily so. |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: Re: US likes |
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| .38 Special wrote: |
America is the only Hegemon in modern history to *not* take over a large portion of the world. We take it over slowly, one piece at a time, and through the WTO. It is usually mutually beneficial.... |
Oh. Oh no. Certainly not. Oh my. Propped leaders that turned out to to be genocidal maniacs, countries mired in debt, farmers forced off their land and way of life to make way for large american corporations, etc. Hey, Canada is no better in their politics, but it would be a mistake to believe your country is restrained. Rather, other countries are cowed.
Back to good stuff about America- huge portions at restaurants! |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:21 am Post subject: |
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Don't even think for a single, fraction of a moment that Canada would do any differently with the immense power and immense responsibility handled and shouldered throughout the 20th century than the United States has. We may build nations, for better or worse with our limited resources, but at the very least we build them instead of exploiting their resources and abandoning them to far, far worse.
You don't have to like it. I'm not particularly fond of it. But in this world there are those who wear the collar and those who hold the leash.
Something else I rather like about my country: We were among the first countries to realize that "inferior" nations filled with "savages" who are "uncivilized," when properly supported, make excellent economic allies.
But one people, one government, a proud history of relative isolationism, and massive economic burden can only get you so far. |
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ajuma
Joined: 18 Feb 2003
Location: Anywere but Seoul!!
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:25 am Post subject: |
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Candy corn....love that stuff!! Jelly beans (not the beenies!). Convenient OTC medications...
Breakfast!! Eggs, your way. Toast, your style. Sausage!!! Bacon!! English muffins (yeah,yeah...I know), pancakes with that super sweet syrup that has nothing to do with maple....
Knowing your neighbors.
State Fairs
County Fairs!
Treating everyone you meet (regardless of age) as an equal until you know differently....
Relatively safe drivers... |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| .38 Special wrote: |
Don't even think for a single, fraction of a moment that Canada would do any differently with the immense power and immense responsibility handled and shouldered throughout the 20th century than the United States has. We may build nations, for better or worse with our limited resources, but at the very least we build them instead of exploiting their resources and abandoning them to far, far worse.
You don't have to like it. I'm not particularly fond of it. But in this world there are those who wear the collar and those who hold the leash.
Something else I rather like about my country: We were among the first countries to realize that "inferior" nations filled with "savages" who are "uncivilized," when properly supported, make excellent economic allies.
But one people, one government, a proud history of relative isolationism, and massive economic burden can only get you so far. |
Oh, buddy, don't I know canada would and canada is right now with the power that they have. And I am aware there is a power dichotomy in the world today.
I don't think it pays to accept what is just because it is and I think it's worth fighting for positive change regardless of whether or not the battle can be won. I think it is quite an accomplishment we live in a world where we have defined and can recognize injustice, and our ability to kid ourselves about the nature of that injustice is eroding.
As a planet, we have a long ways to go, but so long as we don't forget the real injustice in the past and present I think it's fair to credit the USA for playing a large part in our movement towards universal justice. It just wouldn't do to forget or rationalize injustice either. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Agreed. There is a great deal of injustice in the world. But just as necessary as it is to recognize injustice is it to recognize those who are culpable. In our globalized world, few parties ever act alone, especially when the alleged crimes are imported from without.
Worse comes to worst, America still has William Shatner.  |
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aboxofchocolates
Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Location: on your mind
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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| .38 Special wrote: |
Agreed. There is a great deal of injustice in the world. But just as necessary as it is to recognize injustice is it to recognize those who are culpable. In our globalized world, few parties ever act alone, especially when the alleged crimes are imported from without.
Worse comes to worst, America still has William Shatner. |
Yeah, you stole him from us! |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:53 pm Post subject: |
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| aboxofchocolates wrote: |
| .38 Special wrote: |
Agreed. There is a great deal of injustice in the world. But just as necessary as it is to recognize injustice is it to recognize those who are culpable. In our globalized world, few parties ever act alone, especially when the alleged crimes are imported from without.
Worse comes to worst, America still has William Shatner. |
Yeah, you stole him from us! |
Finders keepers  |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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Eh? Why would I want you to Google something for me? Is this some kind of new internets lingo with a hidden meaning or, as I suspect, are you just being narky?
So now we've got THREE threads about America, which seems a bit oh tee tee, ih em oh. Talk about over-exposure. You Americans!
Anyway, I've temporarily misplaced my soap-box.
Right, I'm off to watch some sitcoms, drink some coke and eat some left-over turkey. Cheerio! |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I was being snarky. I created a thread for you so this one would no longer derail. The implication is that you are a person who would rather complain about not having what you want (a "dialogue") rather than just take the action to create it yourself.
The Google joke is generally used to imply doing something for someone they could do for themselves. Generally, it is used in forums when the question being asked can easily be looked up on a search engine. or this website:
http://tinyurl.com/632hcv
However, my drink was stronger than I thought last night and my jokes are usually only funny to me. |
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Perceptioncheck
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| DorkothyParker wrote: |
I was being snarky. I created a thread for you so this one would no longer derail. The implication is that you are a person who would rather complain about not having what you want (a "dialogue") rather than just take the action to create it yourself.
The Google joke is generally used to imply doing something for someone they could do for themselves. Generally, it is used in forums when the question being asked can easily be looked up on a search engine. or this website:
http://tinyurl.com/632hcv
However, my drink was stronger than I thought last night and my jokes are usually only funny to me. |
Oh! DorothyParker. Seems there's a few crossed wires in the house!
You assume the main point of my comments thus far is that I want a dialogue. Perhaps I was being a little ambiguous.
My point was, in fact, that it's funny (and I mean this in the non-humorous sense) that on the other thread about things you DON'T like about America, there is a lot of back and forth. Conversation. Dialogue. Arguments! Great stuff. No finger pointing or cries of "derailment!" there.
And yet on this thread - which should be the binary opposite if some posters are to be believed - any poster that dares to disagree or venture a bit of back and forth is attacked mercilessly. Tongue-lashed, even!
Opposites? Poppycock!
To me, this speaks to a greater fear that many Americans have about "bashing." Now, nobody likes to hear crap about their country, I'll grant you that. But statements that, for example, America has shown great restraint in it's short history make me gasp because of the sheer audacity of it all. You can't make statements like that and not expect some kind of response.
Quite frankly, if you're going to put yourselves up on a pedestal you shouldn't be so worried about being knocked off (if I may stretch the metaphor a little).
That, my dear Dorothy Parker, was my point.
And I'm well aware that people say "Yo, google is your friend, fool" if you ask for particularly ridiculous or banal information. I can even understand how you could stretch it to implying that you are offering to do something for me that I could do for myself. But as I didn't want you to do anything for me OR ask for information, the whole google reference flew right over my silly little head.
Dreadfully sorry about that. |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: Like about the US |
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| chris_J2 wrote: |
Perceptioncheck, I was thinking more along the lines of the macro, big picture. There was no all out nuclear war with the Soviet Union or China, despite an out of control arms race between the 2, for decades. Agreed, the micro picture is not so pretty, with a number of proxy wars fought against Communism (Korea, Vietnam eg). Maybe it's the American people that exercise restraint, rather than the Government? Politicians who go too far, are voted out of office by those same people. Or impeached, as in Nixon's case.
This would not happen in Iran or Burma. Or North Korea, the only true Stalinist State left. But enough of politics.
I admire the 'can do' attitude of Americans. Nothing is too big or too complex to at least try, for them. And they more often than not, succeed, inspiring the rest of the world to follow suit. Most Americans don't have a problem with criticism, provided it's justified. |
I see what you mean here. During my TEFL course I had a hard time, getting over the nerves and such. Whereas I often find English people would prefer to see you fail, my American classmates were nothing but encouraging. The whole 'come on buddy, you can do it!' kind of thing, which is often thought of as being cheesey, does actually work well when you need a lift.
The positive attitude a lot of them have can be a great help. I found this attitude in general to be refreshing and Im sick to death of how negative and cynical British people can be. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:47 am Post subject: |
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Perception: You're cute. Let's be friends.
Also, please call me Dorkothy. I did take the time to make the pun... |
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