Compare and contrast - 1. The history - Dutch East India Company - Mega-conglomerate of the 17th century, imposing it's will on Europe and Asia. with 2. Modernity - Any # of American companies, doing the same, now. My only point: When you are, say #22 in the country 'power rankings', it's much easier to talk about 'forming consensus among all of the world powers' but... when your country was #1 on the proverbial totem pole, they acted no differently than the US has during it's ride. We'll get knocked down, eventually, if the Dutch happen to climb back atop the ladder, I have no doubt that they'll once again see fit to rule the world as they had in the past.
very good point...and i would go further and argue that no relative world superpower has ever checked itself more against the rest of the world than the US has in the past 60 years or so.
stra, Re WWII: 1) You brought up WWII first, and portrayed the US as just another combatant; 2) I responded, saying that was grossly inaccurate (you lose credibility when you continue to support that claim; you may not like the fact that we 'saved' you, but too bad...that's the reality); 3) You claim that we are trying to use WWII as a way of showing US importance, I was simply responding to your revisionist history. Re. Native Americans and Slaves: Thank goodness you have such a peaceful, non-violent history. BTW, I'm American so my world history is pretty bad...didn't the Vikings begin the Renaissance Period? Regarding the slave trade, Denmark joined the rest of Europe to profit from the slave trade in 1651, and did not end their participation until 1848. Eight American States abolished slavery between 1774 and 1804 and another 9 never legalized slavery. America outlawed the importation of slaves in 1808. Slavery in the South did not end until we tore our Country apart in 1861.
Well I didn't bring up WW2. I really didn't go back and check. Well to say that you are number 1 on the power rankings is right, but to say that the dutch or whoever would act like you or worse is speculation. Yes the vikings did come from Denmark. They are often characterized as these huge barbarians that kill and plunder. Well their height in meters were 150 cm or there about. They lived of their animals and were very big traders with the rest of civilization. And oh yeah in the summertime they went on holiday to england where they felt the need to live up their reputation as vicious warriors and cruel rapists. They did that very convinsingly. It was actually a viking who were the first to discover America. They called it the wine country. They came to the shores of new foundland. What does that mean: Nothing
Well okay long breath. I NEVER EVER said that we had a non-violent peaceful history, because that would be a stupid lie. I just said there are examples in history that can support every ****ing statement made. That's all. And it's okay that I use the F... word. That's allowed in Denmark. Ok no more stupid provoking it can go on forever if this continues. And perhaps it's a good picture of your mentality versus mine when you use power rankings to charactize the world. You can be number 1 that's ok. I am glad to live in a country that is number 100+. Because we don't feel the need to be bigger or more powerful than others in the same way in my opinion. Not a provocation just an opinion so please don't kill me. Let's just agree to disagree.
I'm just glad that The #1 Powerful County is guided by self-interested benevolence rather than imperialism.
stra, FWIW, responding to multiple people in the same post is rather confusing. Do you think that we all think the same?
Cohen, I know it's confusing. I am not used to posting and I don't know how to edit every statement made by different posters. Besides I have a lot to answer, because it does feel like I am the only one being critical of the USA in here, so it pans out like it's me against you all. Pretty tough to keep up with! I did not originally post in this thread to start a comparison between continents or countries. I just gave my danish view on things because a guy posted that we were really friendly and had a nice attitude towards USA. Well we can be friendly ( I know hard to believe now ) but the overall attitude towards USA is actually pretty critical (press, politicians, students and so on). Well if you feel like it is important for the way that you do politics now, that you 60 years ago were a part of the allied alliance, then go ahead and use that to answer critisicm from present time, but it will not change any of my opinions. 9/11 you were attacked on your own territory. Look what feelings it brought up in you. It should help you to understand how it feels like when you are attacked and how easy hatred flourish under such circumstances. It is scary! I have a girl friend who is a refugee kurd from Turkey. She has told how the us supported turks attacked her people and these stories has off course also shaped my views even though I always end up defending the US points of views when specific topics are being raised. I only do that to calm her down and stop the hatred not because I necessarily disagree. ( Europeans are also a part of this I know but let's stay to the subject) My very final say I promise: Look at the new video from George Michael. That is a political statement that I can understand the thoughts behind but judging from this thread I will not be popular over here.
clearly the message of that video/song is to "wake me up before i go go." somehow the political ideas of George Michael really aren't all that concerning to me.
<b>stra</b>: I'm sorry we've made you feel like it's you against the world. Fair to say, Cohen, MadMax, Ottomaton and I can all be critical of the U.S. You guys let me know if I'm off-base about that and I'll edit to satisfy. The difference is that we, too, have an appreciation for all the postive things that the U.S. is and does, while you seem to recognize none of that. You just seem intent on knocking Her down.
Originally posted by stra Cohen, I know it's confusing. I am not used to posting and I don't know how to edit every statement made by different posters. Besides I have a lot to answer, because it does feel like I am the only one being critical of the USA in here, so it pans out like it's me against you all. Pretty tough to keep up with! As giddyup mentioned, we are all critical of our country, but I do not ignore the good the USA has done and I will certainly correct what I believe are inaccuracies. I did not originally post in this thread to start a comparison between continents or countries. I just gave my danish view on things because a guy posted that we were really friendly and had a nice attitude towards USA. Well we can be friendly ( I know hard to believe now ) but the overall attitude towards USA is actually pretty critical (press, politicians, students and so on). Nothign the matter with a critical attitude...as long as its somewhat accurate. Well if you feel like it is important for the way that you do politics now, that you 60 years ago were a part of the allied alliance, then go ahead and use that to answer critisicm from present time, but it will not change any of my opinions. I am disappointed that you make statements but are not willing to listen to responses. I did not bring up WWII first. I was responding to your comments that minimized our role in the victory. You keep mentioning that WWII was 60 years ago, so I will go ahead and respond to that. Try telling my father that it was 60 years ago. He gave up 4 years of his life to SAVE the Allied countries. Many of his friends gave up their lives (at one time, he was the only one left in his squad). The Amercians who survived vividly recall it, and the ones who gave their lives for it are still dead and their families still miss them. Secondly, it is indicative of a trend over the years: WWI - Europe needs US military WWII - ditto Cold War (Berlin Airlift, NATO w/nuclear umbrella, etc.) - ditto Bosnia - ditto 9/11 you were attacked on your own territory. Look what feelings it brought up in you. It should help you to understand how it feels like when you are attacked and how easy hatred flourish under such circumstances. It is scary! I don't feel hate for anyone, even demented. I have a girl friend who is a refugee kurd from Turkey. She has told how the us supported turks attacked her people and these stories has off course also shaped my views even though I always end up defending the US points of views when specific topics are being raised. I only do that to calm her down and stop the hatred not because I necessarily disagree. I am curious, does she feel hatred for Turks also? Did the US attack her people? How are we responsible? How about the US and British protection for the Kurds in Northern Iraq? They are referring to it as their golden age. (Of course Bush sr. appears to have screwed them over after the Gulf War...but thats another story). BTW, do the Americans, French, British, Russians, etc. still hate the Germans? Do the British still hate the French? Do the Spanish still hate the British? Do the English still hate the Danish? Shall I go on? ( Europeans are also a part of this I know but let's stay to the subject) Thats IS part of the subject. You stated that most Danish and evryone else in the World despises us, yet if all other countries do the same thing that we do, wouldn't that imply that some other dynamic (other than OUR actions) is at work here? My very final say I promise: Look at the new video from George Michael. That is a political statement that I can understand the thoughts behind but judging from this thread I will not be popular over here. So George isn't spending as much time in LA's public restrooms? Again, we don't mind political statements, just be open-minded and balanced.
