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Rock
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject: My Comparison to Home and Korea |
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Being in Korea has woken me up to my own naivete and ignorance, especially to the world at large. I think this is one of the things that travelling is supposed to teach you. It's supposed to teach you tolerance.
But being in Korea also stirred up in me a sense of patriotism, something I didn't think I had. You could only guess why. This it did in the sense of me believing in my country more than before, not only because of its high standard of living, sense of morals, and beautiful landscape, but because of its sense of democratic justice. No country beats America in this sense.
And then some.
I would, therefore, deviate from Korea and most Asian countries in this one major respect; democratic justice. For this main reason I 'd prefer not to work let alone live there, perhaps ever again. Neither would I prefer to call it home, even though I certainly liked the climate and people.
Thus compared, few countries that I know are comparable to the states, Korea being one.
I do not say this out of spite. It's a critical judgment, not based on race or people or cultural differences. It has more to do with what I consider RIGHT LIVING, or THE RIGHT WAY TO LIVE. Korea, and Asia, are out of since with democratic justice. Maybe my final conclusion has to do with the good old democratic adage, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: All men were created. . ." or something or another.
It depends on you, then, if you'd rather be in Korea or back home. It depends on how much your country means to you, and what it's offered you that you find lacking in Korea. I'm looking at the standard of living back home, wherever your home may be, and the democratic principles you may or may not adhere to.
Of course, you can always choose to stay there and think the opposite. Sooner of later, however, it may haunt you. |
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billybrobby

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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I fully expect that this thread will be filled with post after post of hearty agreement. |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Blah blah blah. Another American who leaves the hallowed shores of the godly United States of America and discovers what they knew all along: Low and behold, the USA is the greatest country on Earth.
Give me a break.
Democratic and just. Are you? Your government blows up villages in Pakistan and kills innocent people (and offers no trial like a democratic country does) because you believe you are justified in doing so. You invade countries like Iraq against the advice of the world community because you and only you have information about mysterious weapons of mass destruction. Your government listens into phone conversations because they suspect you're a bad person. That's freedom? Try pissing off the CIA and see how free you are in America.
You bully the world into doing everything your way because you are all mighty and powerful.
That's right, only the wonderful system that the United States created is the just one. People like you make me sick. You should stay in your godly country and never leave. Why would you leave? You're in the holy land.
I don't think Korea has cured your naivete my American friend. |
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SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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billybrobby

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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Big Mac wrote: |
Blah blah blah. Another American who leaves the hallowed shores of the godly United States of America and discovers what they knew all along: Low and behold, the USA is the greatest country on Earth.
Give me a break.
Democratic and just. Are you? Your government blows up villages in Pakistan and kills innocent people (and offers no trial like a democratic country does) because you believe you are justified in doing so. You invade countries like Iraq against the advice of the world community because you and only you have information about mysterious weapons of mass destruction. Your government listens into phone conversations because they suspect you're a bad person. That's freedom? Try pissing off the CIA and see how free you are in America.
You bully the world into doing everything your way because you are all mighty and powerful.
That's right, only the wonderful system that the United States created is the just one. People like you make me sick. You should stay in your godly country and never leave. Why would you leave? You're in the holy land.
I don't think Korea has cured your naivete my American friend. |
Yep. just as i predicted. hearty, hearty agreement. i'll just sit back and let tributes roll in. but please, folks, try not to gush. |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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You have to admit, if Bush was the leader of any other western country, he's got so much shiat stuck to him through all these countless scandals that he'd have been out the door by now. |
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azzwell
Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: where the girls from Super Junior cannot find me
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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I take offense to your continuing use of the word your when referring to America. Some of us did not vote for Bush, nor do we like him or his policies, so please, say Dyba or george not your president. Because as an American, I take offense at that. But that is what America means, if we disagree with something, we can talk about, just like you can in Canada. So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? Or what about Mr. Creatin (sp) was he not forced out by scandal? We do not have a lock on stupid politicians, their is a world market for them. And another thing, oh enlightened one of American politics, (funny you are so smart for not being from here) Do you get alll your American news from C.N.N or Fox? That is not the complete America. And one other thing, I didnt like the current regime in America, that is why I left, and I have not lived in my godly country for life and never left it. I lived in Communist Russia for four years, England for six, Korea for 2, and then Dubai and Saudi for one each, and from my WORLD view, I must say that the Holy Kingdom of Suadi Arabia is far more oppressive and bent on world domination than the U.S.A. |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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ara_lester wrote: |
I take offense to your continuing use of the word your when referring to America. Some of us did not vote for Bush, nor do we like him or his policies, so please, say Dyba or george not your president. Because as an American, I take offense at that. But that is what America means, if we disagree with something, we can talk about, just like you can in Canada. So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? Or what about Mr. Creatin (sp) was he not forced out by scandal? We do not have a lock on stupid politicians, their is a world market for them. And another thing, oh enlightened one of American politics, (funny you are so smart for not being from here) Do you get alll your American news from C.N.N or Fox? That is not the complete America. And one other thing, I didnt like the current regime in America, that is why I left, and I have not lived in my godly country for life and never left it. I lived in Communist Russia for four years, England for six, Korea for 2, and then Dubai and Saudi for one each, and from my WORLD view, I must say that the Holy Kingdom of Suadi Arabia is far more oppressive and bent on world domination than the U.S.A. |
Fine to everything except comparing Martin to Bush. Really? Way off. But give us 3 years, and you might be able to compare Bush to Harper (we'll see, I give it about a 30% chance). |
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Jeonnam Jinx

Joined: 06 Oct 2005 Location: Jeonnam
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? |
You lived in England for 6 years, yet you do not know that some countries have Prime Ministers, and not Presidents? What a world view! |
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laogaiguk

Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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Jeonnam Jinx wrote: |
Quote: |
So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? |
You lived in England for 6 years, yet you do not know that some countries have Prime Ministers, and not Presidents? What a world view! |
Burn!!!  |
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RACETRAITOR
Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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Allow me to continue the burn. Paul Martin recently lost an election due to a few corruption charges, nothing proven, and nothing as bad as even the recent Abrahamof scandal. The Canadian people distrusted him so much, they elected the political party they distrust. When Bush was re-elected in 2004, it was already well known that the intelligence on Iraq had been faked to justify the war. Also, Halliburton had just finished up "misplacing" a few billion dollars of tax money donated by the government in very suspect deals.
All it takes in Canada to ruin a political career is ordering a few pizzas on the government dime. The US needs a higher standard to keep draft-dodgers, tax evaders, and white collar criminals out of power. |
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billybrobby

Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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laogaiguk wrote: |
Jeonnam Jinx wrote: |
Quote: |
So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? |
You lived in England for 6 years, yet you do not know that some countries have Prime Ministers, and not Presidents? What a world view! |
Burn!!!  |
I thought Canada was run by a governor.
(oh, calm down, just kidding) |
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jacl
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: |
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The gun registry will cost 2 million. Oh, sorry. We were wrong. It's now 2 billion and counting. He was elected after that mistake.
Then there was Brian Mulroney.
In the States, it's Bush, In South Korea it's Mr. No.
What's this thread about? |
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Big Mac
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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ara_lester wrote: |
I take offense to your continuing use of the word your when referring to America. Some of us did not vote for Bush, nor do we like him or his policies, so please, say Dyba or george not your president. Because as an American, I take offense at that. But that is what America means, if we disagree with something, we can talk about, just like you can in Canada. So what about your former President, Mr. Paul Martin, has he not had his share of scandal? Or what about Mr. Creatin (sp) was he not forced out by scandal? We do not have a lock on stupid politicians, their is a world market for them. And another thing, oh enlightened one of American politics, (funny you are so smart for not being from here) Do you get alll your American news from C.N.N or Fox? That is not the complete America. And one other thing, I didnt like the current regime in America, that is why I left, and I have not lived in my godly country for life and never left it. I lived in Communist Russia for four years, England for six, Korea for 2, and then Dubai and Saudi for one each, and from my WORLD view, I must say that the Holy Kingdom of Suadi Arabia is far more oppressive and bent on world domination than the U.S.A. |
I'm not quite sure what your argument here is. However, in Canada we don't have a president. We have a prime minister. The scandal you refer to happened while Jean Chretien was prime minister...however, Paul Martin was finance minister at the time and as far as I am concerned bears some responsibility, but not all. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Chretien was not forced out, he quit, although overstayed his welcome. A lot of Martin's people wanted him forced out because they wanted to throne their new king...but Chretien hated Martin so he taunted them by staying on.
If you're trying to say that Canada is not perfect either, I agree. There are good things about it and bad things...just as the there are in the United States.
I would never start saying based on one trip to Korea though that Canada's system of democracy is so much better than anyone else's. There are things that work better in our parliamentary system than in the US system. There are also things that work better in the US.
A lot of people look to countries in Europe who use proportional representation systems (an idea that has also been tossed around in Canada). Who is to say that system might not work better than the one in the US? There are good and bad things about all political systems, including communism and systems the US look upon as evil. It all depends on the people, the culture, the geography, etc. If every country in the world used the US model of government there would be serious problems...especially if it is forced on them. In some contexts it just won't work. I suspect Iraq will be a case study on this in the future (although the US will see it as the Iraqis' fault, not theirs). |
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Rock
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Take it or leave it. If you don't see democratic justice, or democracy, of vital importance to your life, then you're always free to stay in Asia.
This is all I'm saying. How much does your country mean in comparison to Korea?
It sounds as if some of you want to rail President Bush again, thereby demeaning America. This doesn't really bother me though, nor other Americans other than those in Korea. Most Americans have separated themselves from the political will.
But I'm glad some see America as some nemesis. I hope that keeps them away from here, from the good life America can offer. Let them stew in Korea, or elsewhere, still pondering George Bush's reason for attacking other countries that seek to destroy ours.
Stay where you are then, and let us draw lines. For I'll surely attack you, and swiftly, considering you're DUMN LITTLE EGGHEAD FOOLS, FLICKING YOUR TONGUES. |
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