For those few die-hards who have the time, the CBC, the Canadian public radio station, is having a special 3 hour forum tomorrow morning on the topic, "The Lone Superpower." I haven't found much information, but I understand that academics and journalists from around the world will be participating. The focus will be on the post 9/11 world, I believe. It will be on at 9:00am, but you can pick which 9:00am you prefer. http://cbc.ca/audio.html Winnipeg is on Houston time.
Let me guess....another negative review of everything we do. I'm going to write a song. It goes a little something like this: "Plight" by Surfguy Another negative review of everything we do We try to do what's right and wind up getting...in fights We lead the world in technology which is why we need psychology As we deal with foreign critics who prod us with their sticks We can do no right...seen from outside looking in All our worldly efforts are denounced...in a whim Foreign opinion would keep us all at bay yet we do what is right and lead the way Third world countries...blame us all for their problems and their cause In their eyes they all see a lie while they criticize and stigmatize They think we don't care about anyone who is....out there We live our daily lives... all the while sitting idly by Here we do make our way by with God's freedom on our side To those angry ones out there give up your violent affairs Take a look into the past and look what we have done How easily it's all forgotten all the aid and sacrifices As if we did nothing in the end but commit the ultimate sin We will not be be giving in freedom and peace will reign again Our politics may be unfair...sometimes misguided But we do what we can...to not be one-sided We uphold those beliefs which you seem to be missing In a world around us who bemoans us with pissing For we have a vision of our Earth where one can live and love and learn To make ourselves...our own lives free from all the imposed strife For we wish the planet's population individual freedom, rights, and salvation No more ruins of evil deeds Cause it's sickening and extreme So pull back all your violence your whips...your spears and arrows and help us embark on down this path that is narrow Hehe....it's a rock ballad. Surf
Your jingoistic drivel is but a simple explanation of why America is both a loved and loathed nation.
Do I care about what other countries think about us? Nope, because I got better things to do than to hear a bunch of whining and pissing and moaning.
I will have to work on the guitar part of it. I'm thinking of a heavy combined sound of the following bands: Metallica, Creed, Steel Dragon(hehe) The name of my band is "Pissed On and Piss Off(evil-doers)" . I'm having fun with this...hehe. Surf
Maybe so, DoD, but it's like MadMax said in another thread, the US is damned if we do and damned if we don't when it comes to helping or not helping other countries. I just get so f*cking sick and tired of it...these 3rd world nations blaming us need to get over it. I'm tired of us playing the role of a scapegoat for a Cambodia, Ivory Coast, French Guiana, etc. (just using less populated countries as an example not that these countries are upset with the US but I wouldn't be surprised).
Hey, I like the poetry! Surf and Mrs. The show wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but it had its moments. The American panel was a little too liberal and cynical, IMO. John MacAurthur from Harper's has some VERY cynical views about American motives, easily the most cynical ones expressed on the show. The French admission that they can be whiners was interesting. "Europeans are good at whining but not very good at finding solutions." This from a French woman! There was also an interesting exchange where the French woman was supporting concern and action for dealing with WMD threat in Iraq, while the Americans were not convinced of the threat. There was general agreement, IMO, that the US needs to be the peace broker in the current situation, because it needs to be done and there is no one else who can do it. But there was also general agreement that the US needs to look more toward multilateral solutions in the future. Not much new, but some interesting exchanges.
Some people are going to disapprove of any action. That's because if it's important that we do something, then other people probably have serious issues at stake on both sides. I think the problem is, that we've come out on the wrong side according to those nations we have most in common with, all too often. That said, a super power is a threat to any nation, save those who are completely dependent upon it. Thus, there is a tendency to disapprove. They're not whining and b****ing. They're looking out for their self-interest. Just the same as us. Why don't you become informed rather than resorting to blind assertions? Many 3rd world nations have reason to hate the US. Speaking as a Realist again... great powers, and super powers to an even further extent, run rough shod over minor nations. When our interests clash... well, we get our way. I think the key is acknowledging when we're violating basic principles, like in propping up South American dictators who happen to like us. So once again... there will always be a tendency to resent a superpower. Such a tendency is irrational in the sense that it's railing against basic laws of international relations. But it does make sense, insofar as super powers are generally bad for small, non-dependent countries. One could make a strong case that super powers reduce the likliehood of significant international conflict... but crediting a nation for the absence of something is always rather difficult to see.
Hey I updated my song above What do you think? It's gonna rock...dudes. I'm moving on to laying my guitar tracks down. I'M GONNA BE FAMOUS!!!! No autographs now....though...please . I think it's a pretty good song that explains how it is. I worked hard on those lyrics. Ho hum...fee fie fo fum...I smell a drum, a cup, and some rum. I bid this thread....adieu. Surf
haven: You know me by now to know that it is not normal for me to speak out against these types of topics. I ALWAYS remain silent and just read the posters that do talk about it like you, treeman, glynch, Grizzled, etc. I am fully aware that the U.S. has done some bad things in the past by supporting some dictatorships in South America. Also, I know that when you are a superpower, there is always going to be resentment by other countries. But good grief, man, it's like we get flak from some nations for just going to the bathroom. What's that saying...You can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time. Although this is another blind assertion on my part but I would be willing to venture that the U.S. has done lots of good things for other nations and maybe more good than bad. Unfortunately, positive news is almost never reported compared to negative news. Why is that? Nice try in goading me into an argument with you on this, but I think I'll pass and say you are right. However, your view won't change my opinion just like it won't change about old-time baseball. But really, it serves me no purpose to debate you because you are obviously the more skilled debater and this is a subject that is like many of the ones here...something that can be debated, but in the end, no answers are right or wrong. I can be a person that wears my heart on the sleeve, and I guess my first post in this thread was a knee-jerk reaction. I try to be logical, but I guess there are some things that I can't help be emotional about. That reminds me...haven, are you always logical on everything ? I'm beginning to think that you are more of a robot than Mango is...hehe However, your points have not been dismissed by me, but I guess I can be stubborn about some things (if you haven't noticed by now). [size=1/4] You do realize how impossible of a task you gave me in trying to find some reasons in showing that old-timers are better, don't you? b*stard [/size]
It is really just mypoic to ignore the rest of the planet. It doesn't mean you have to do everything they ask, but this is no longer as big a world as it used to be. What we do effects other people and what they do effects us. We ignore that at our own peril.
Manny, im sick and tired also of some people expecting the US to appease every last single coutry every time they cry and whine. The last time I checked, all of these cry baby countries did not have clean cut histories themselves. Its always easier to blame, rather than to fix your own problems. Again, we will always be winners and will dominate this planet, either by wealth, or by the rest of the planet adopting western economic and political model.
