History shows that America beats up the powerless in retaliation

It starts with the belief of superiority, then develpos into the thinking "if we are the best, why should anyone else be allowed to exist?'

No one really has any reason to want to "eliminate" others unless they see them as somehow inferior.

 

and all this time i thought it started with "they have what i want, therefore i have to figure out a reason why they're unworthy so that i may feel justified in taking it from them."

 

First of all, I want to point out that while it is certainly true that most Islamic nations have laws based on Islam, and can be said therefore to be "discriminating" based on religion, the United States is guilty of ALL KINDS of discrimination.

Prisons are overflowing with black and latino males based on American RACIAL discrimination, and the history of THAT in this country is just as disgusting and repulsive as any religious discrimination we may have read about in the middle east. To this day there are individuals in America who drag black men behind trucks, burn crosses on the lawns of black families, and murder black men - in cold blood, in unfounded police shootings, for nothing at all. Is it the "majority of the population?" Certainly not - but neither is the MAJORITY of any Muslim nation running around in the streets attacking christians. And while the law in the US may CLAIM not to support racial discrimination, this is belied by the fact that a black male are 75% more likely to receive the death penalty for the SAME CRIME committed by a white male.

More insidious and prevalent than racial discrimination in this country, perhaps, is CLASS DISCRIMINATION. This is probably the most brutal form of discrimination there is, because access to nearly all services and products in this country is based on class. Even racial discrimination can be escaped to some degree if an individual is able to advance to a higher economic class. We deny people treatments for cancer, for diabetes, for heart disease, for AIDS - ALL based on class. We deny people adequate housing based on class. We deny people decent education based on class. We deny people all KINDS of things based on class. But somehow, rather than viewing this as a sign of our OWN barbarism, we take our disgusting social stratification as a sign of how "civilized" we are.

On top of all of this, as we bleat about how "civilized" we are, how we don't discriminate based on religion (which is somehow so much worse than the discrimination we DO practice - rolling eyes), how we love "freedom" so much - we are the primary supporters of the most discriminatory governments on the planet. In effect, we are PAYING FOR Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Israel and Jordan and United Arab Emirates to discriminate based on religion, so we really should shut up. If we don't believe in it, why are we funding it? Sounds like hypocrisy to me. Not a suprise, however, coming from a country full of people who think they are "civilized" for basing whether people will live or die on how much MONEY they have.

 

The government doesn't do any discrimination, it's the people of the United States.

Yeah, considering in this "Godforsaken Nation" they actually get a trial. And yes, the Muslims do hunt down Christians, regularly, it's like watching footbal, a national passtime. It's pathetic and disgusting, but what the hell are you saying about it? We have to point out all of America's downfalls because we're better. Screw the barbaric nations, we have worse problems.

Yeah, knowing that in all the civilized countries there's actually a class between rich and poor. There's actually a slot in between. Instead of in all the Middle Eastern countries where there are rich royal families who couldn't give a damn about the starving children right outside their palace. We're really the worst.

Excuse me, I can look outside and see peace. There's no Christian or Jew being slaughtered in the street, no black man being dragged behind a truck, no Latino being chased. I don't see any of it. If you don't think we're the most civilized country in the world, then pull the blind fold from your eyes and take a look. No, we're not perfect. And it seems to you, that if we're anything but perfect, you can bitch about my country however you want, which is stupid and immature. All you can do is point out America's pits, ignoring the overpowering amount of good in American society. You fail to look past the few bad things about the US to actually see all the good it's done, all the great things it stands for. We're the barbaric ones who feed the homeless, who allow anyone to believe what they want, to let you say what you want about anything, with no fear or punishment or abuse.

By the way, have you moved yet? Just hoping...

 

There's going to be people that discriminate anywhere you are, there is always people that are ignorant. But our goverment and leaders strive for all to be equal in this country. I believe they have done a damn good job of it over the past 40 years. From equality of races and gender. There is alot of countries out there that there goverment is based on discrimination. Not yours and i'm proud to say that i'm American in the world today.

 

Maverick, as others have noted, I think you are probably the biggest fool on this site. And that is saying something. Congratulations.

Because YOU don't look outside and see how awful millions of people's lives are in this country, it's not a problem? Well, super. I'm sure that is heartening for the millions living in CRUSHING poverty. I'm sure that is helpful to the millions of children who live in rat-infested tenements, who are not able to receive adequate health care, who are receiving substandard education, or who live in neighborhoods riddled with crack dealers, pornography, and violence. As a non-profit mental health counselor in an urban environment, I have had unpleasant FIRSTHAND experience with the reality of poverty in this country. I'm happy you clearly have been sheltered from such, but it's obviously made you a complete moron.

If the american GOVERNMENT is not discriminatory, why are the prisons full of minorities? Why do minorities receive longer sentences for the same crimes whites commit? Why does a black male have a SEVENTY FIVE PERCENT higher chance of receiving the death penalty for the SAME CRIME a white male commits? Why does the United States have the largest prison population in ALL OF RECORDED HISTORY - most of it made up of nonviolent drug offenders? Why is police brutality and prison brutality commonplace and accepted? Why are white police officers being let off after shooting black boys with no weapons? Why are the VAST MAJORITY of toxic waste dumps located close to poor minority neighborhoods? Give me a break. You don't even KNOW what is going on in this country.

You keep mentioning the TERRIBLE discrimination and TERRIBLE human rights conditions in Muslim countries. If your government is so incredibly wonderful, and you people are so concerned about human rights, why aren't you protesting the fact that YOUR GOVERNMENT is the largest supporter of regimes that violate human rights on this planet? Who do you think is FUNDING Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Colombia, UAE, China, and most of the worst regimes on earth? You think Muslim governments are so "barbaric?" Wouldn't SUPPORTING those governments make you guys JUST AS BARBARIC? No? Why is it ok for you to fund this shit? You shouldn't be held responsible for any of it? It's just those dirty nasty MUSLIMS, right? Bullshit. THIS is why people call you a sheep - because you bleat about "freedom" as your government blatantly funds the worst human rights violators on the planet. What is your PROBLEM in understanding this? Are you really just stupid?

If America is the "most civilized" nation on earth, what do you call all the Scandinavian countries that have lower crime, better health care, better education, better prison rehabilitation, more equality, cleaner ecosystems, better food quality, better consumer protection, and participate in FAR LESS VIOLENCE than the US? Savages? Wild animals? Have you ever BEEN to western europe? Or anywhere else, for that matter?

 

Then move there, it's your freedom and right to. Quit bitching about how bad things are in the U.S. and go somewhere "civilized" if you prefer not to live amongst barbarians.

 

Yes, god forbid the barbarians should have to become of aware of their barbarities and false, paranoid presumptions about the outside world which give successive administrations free reign to manipulate their ignorance and impressionable sentiments whenever some new target for our national militancy is chosen.

All this talk of "leave then, fine" is simply indicative of the misguided bravado and jingoism which our citizenry is regularly spoon-fed.

Time for the gullible and naive to awaken and realise that things will only become more elite-focussed unless ever more people DO stand up and decry it.

 

I have a question/comment

Following the attacks on the Pentagon and New York there were a lot of media people seeking to find out 'why' these terrorists (in their minds) hate the USA so much.

Several middle eastern experts were interviewed for their 'inside' knowledge on the subjects.

Almost everyone I saw cited Support for Israel as the MAIN reason the Bin Ladens of the world are fighting the USA.

It then seemed to me that all the American News people quickly 'dismissed' this as more 'anti-semetic' nonsense.

It was never really taken seriously and to this day American Media does not make many (or any) references to the Al Quaida beliefs that America is run by Zionist Jews.

It just makes me wonder why we are not interested in why 'they think' they hate the USA.
Wouldn't it help us prevent more terror to 'know our own enemy' and why they think the USA is 'The JEWnited States of AMerica'
?

 

Now, Maverick, I don't make it a habit of calling someone names in a debate because it's in poor taste but you're a dick!

You're saying we have worse problems?! What about the rampant AIDS epidemic in Africa?! Are you saying they're not worth our trouble, they're not worth helping out because they're not apart of America?!

Gimme a fucking flying ass break! What about those poor children suffering from the Iraq attacks and suicide bombers?! Just because they come from a culture who hates America they have to suffer too?

What about the people in Cuba who are looking for freedom here in America but can't because they're being dragged through years in the legal system of immigration and get so desperate they have to sail over here?!

Maybe in your whitebread, flag waving, country music listening, middle class society you don't see this stuff, but it's out there, and just because they're not in America doesn't mean they don't deserve being helped!

What do we have to deal with? Over consumption from America's fat people? Gas prices going too high? Ooh!

We still judge on class, race, sex, and age, clear and simple. Why don't you try going into a fancy store in middle manhattan and receive looks and be followed around by the white staff who look at you like thugs?

"We're the barbaric ones who feed the homeless,"

We're not! We're the type whose New York mayor threatened to arrest the homeless if found on the street, we're the type who were going to stuff the homeless in abandoned cruise ships like they were dust under a carpet! We're the type who have so much homeless people we can't make jobs for them, we can't feed them, and we don't even know what to do with them other than let them die on the streets!

We're the type who only give people welfare unless they work their asses off for welfare like they're the fucking mafia!

"who allow anyone to believe what they want, to let you say what you want about anything, with no fear or punishment or abuse"

Bullshit! We're the type whose teachers snitch on their students after making a joke about the president and let them be hauled off by secret service agents and questioned, we're the type who censor our children for writing poetry against the president, we're the type who bans any other type of flag in school except the American flag, we're the type who won't let anyone speak against the Bush administration or else they'd be called un-american and ostricized!

If we're so better how come we have more murders in this country in one month than Canada and Europe have had in two years? Explain that!

Until you've lived and experienced the worst America has to offer like I have, please, shut the fuck up because you are sorely uninformed and misinformed.

 

All of that I agree with, and up until this point in the post I thought you were making a pretty good point. Then I read this:

No.

 

Elaborate for me please.

 

I can't always agree with countries being rated as 'Better or Worse' than others.

Different Pros and Cons everywhere.

Example:

I can walk anywhere in London at anytime of night on any day.. without any realistic fear for my life or safety.
This is a feeling of freedom and liberty.

However..... I have camera's following me everywhere in London too. I can't stop somewhere to adjust my zipper without knowing someone could be zooming in on me, taping it and maybe even having a laugh at my expense?

That's not true for me in Seattle.
There I can walk about anonymously and feel 'free' to be myself..

However...

I DO NOT have the freedom or liberty to walk around Seattle without being in fear of my life and property!
Even in the middle of a week-day there are dozens of streets where I would be lucky to freely move down without being bullied, threatened or harrassed!

So.. its not necessarily about 'who is better'.

 

This was just mad funny... the most civilized country in the world.

Just to point out something, when a country IS something it doesn't need to be bragging about it so others would believe it. It is the others that notice it, without any help. When you need to be constantly saying.. "we're the greatest country in the world", "the land of the free" and all that bunch of crap that has you brainwashed is clearly because you're not.

 

Autentique, I don't know what your message says, and it's barely readable. The edit button is your friend.

 

I was being sarcastic with that remark. But you wouldn't know sarcasm if it bit you.

Considering all the rampant murder and all that goes on around the Middle Eastern children, whom are nothing but poor. The religious programming, the Jihad, the slaughter of Jews and Christians and Infedels. Killing isn't too bad around Middle Eastern childeren when we have drugs and pornography being dumped on our own babies.(note, that last bit was sarcasm, incase you couldn't tell)

The government doesn't put these people on trial. The jury judges them, not the government. The jury decides their fate, not the government. The government just carries out the will of the people. The government is not discriminatory, the people are.

Like I can really control what my government decides to do. I can't even vote. But even my parents, who can, can't vote not to do that. There isn't a "don't fund foreign countries" option on the ballot.

I lived in Western Europe for a bit of time, although it was a long time ago. So you'd rather live in England, whom has a worse crime rate because they don't allow guns? Or France and Germany, where anti-semetic groups who burn and destroy Christian sybols and churches go un-punished? Yeah, it's hunky dory over in Europe.(that was sarcasm too, just in case...)

 

Ha! We are far from the most civilized countyr in the world. I found a link to comparison of the counties in the industrialized world. Granted this is in 1991...but really, have things gotten better or worse since 91?

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/8Comparison.htm

First off, we have the largest income inequality in the world.

CEO's make more over their employees than any other country in the world.

We have the highest murder rate.

We have the highest rape rate.

We have the highest armed robbery rate.

We have the most prisoners.

We have the most annual reports of police brutality.

We have the most death row inmates.

We use the most oil.

We emmit the most carbon dioxide.

We have the most oil spills.

We have cleared the most forests.

We burn the most coal.

We have the most waste per preson.

We recycle the least.

We work second to most, with the least paid vacation.

We are second to most in TV watching hours.

We fire the most employees.

We have the least voter participation.

We have the most political scandals.

Oh, and if you read through the link...there's more...

 

Oh, sarcasm? That was your idea of humor? Oh, well I gotta say it sucks, man. Honestly.

Oh and by the way it's not your government, it's the people's government. Why is it conservatives always refer to the government as their government? The ego, heh.

 

Mr. Comedian? Uncle Milty! You still haven't answered my question.

If we're so better how come we have a higher murder rate in this country in one month than Canada and Europe have had in two years? Go ahead mr. comedy.

 

Because American media learned long ago that they can cash in by pushing violence on children, which in turn causes violent behavior in stupid children who become stupid adults. I'm not going to try and explain this phenomenon, but the media in other countries isn't nearly as sensationalist or as violent as America's.