America

I was watching the news this morning, usually I don't. But there I sat as GMA interviewed North Korean people on the streets. The jist of the interview was that everyone hated america and hated american people, said that there was no good in them at all and they had nothing their country wanted.

They were completly shut out from any communication from Western Civilization. No TV shows No music, no comercials, no fashion or style, no books or liteture, nothing. Yet they despise us.

Are we really as bad as they say. We love, we worship, we care about humanity.

I know politics suck, but don't they suck all over in every country. The people are not privy to what goes on in the evil oval offices around the world.

We are not the only counrty that is out for profit, every nation is after the same thing. Power and Control. It is not limited to the USA. We are not a bunch of greedy bastards, we work our ass's off to provide for our families, we worry, we stress over the injustise's of humanity. We give to chairities to help others. Our tax dollars carry half the countries in the world, if we callaps the rest of the planet would go down with us and we would all revert back to savages.

I know things are screwed up, but it's really not what the people of our nation are like. We have hearts and souls, we are not demons or white devils. Most of us are god/dess loving and peacefull creatures, living our lives one day at a time trying to make ends meet just like the rest of the world.

And what about the relivites of people in other countries that live and have bizz'nez's in th US, do they fall under the same catagory as the rest of us demonized citizens.

All soilders kill, none of it is right, it's all a bunch of power struggles between nations that we the people arent even aware of. The military doesn't tell the common people their plans. It seems to me that every country has had their good and bad leaders.

We do not always agree with political decissions, that's why we have elections, to have the freedom to choose who represents us. If the ones in power do not fulfill their obligations then they are out the next election.

We have our problems just like any other country has theirs. Power currupts, we are all capable to it. We all have our social problems.

I think it's an evelution process that will grow more towards the civilization of the planet as a whole. We are after all in this together as a spieces, if the earth goes, no one will benefit, we will all go.

My point is: shall we blame the children for the mistakes their parents make. Should we blame a countries people bc of what their leader do behind closed and confidential doors.

Are our protests unheard, can't they see that we want change in our system of things and are trying to correct the mistakes the so called leaders made, as they lined their pockets with the money from our blood sweat and tears.

I don't believe that we should die bc of what the Bush's of the world do, without our knowledge or consent.

When ever there is a national disaster in any country, The United States are the first ones there to help, we send money we can't afford to send, we send clothing and food and medicine, we contribute our time, we give our love and hope to the ones that suffer. We open our homes and hearts to them, even tho we have to sacrifice to do so.

Look at all the help Bill and Linda Gates are giving to Africia, they're americans, Every american has given money and other things to the disadvantaged volenteerly, above what they take from our paychecks.

I am just as proud of my country as any other citizen of any other country is.

This is my rant for the day.

God Bless us and keep us safe, and get BushCo out of office.

sh

 

I agree with you....

People of North Korea are subjected to propoganda, and the on ly view they are allowed of the U.S. is propogated and manipulated. Whatever Kim wants them to see and hear. I really feel for those people over there. They need liberation!!

I have met a few kids from abroad....one especially from australia. she was here for a wedding. She said that was the only reason she came to the states. she never had a desire to visit here. but in the course of her visit, her encounters with american kids and our viewpoints helped her to change her mind considerably. she has a newfound respect fo the US!! I think that there is a misnomer to the world about us....and who would blame them, i mean, Bush was voted in twice!! (but that's another thread)

it is the people of the world who are ignorant about us that hate us...just like a lot of americans are ignorant about the Muslim world and religion. but once we experience things firsthand, the can the ignorance be shattered....there is hope for us

 

Shameless is right about the good people in our country, and the good things our country does. I think the problem a lot of the time is that the publicity tends to accentuate the bad, not the good (watch the average newscast and compare the number of stories about bad things people do, as compared to stories about good things done).


People in other countries who have not met the good people, only get to meet or hear about the corporate greedheads who are trying to bleed money from their countries, or see our service personnel in a wartime situation. Due to the propaganda that is fed to them, or lack of publicity for humanitarian acts, everyone thinks all Americans are the same -- bad. I've heard a lot of stories about instances where people came to the US for the first time and went away with an entirely different opinion of Americans, after they got to meet some of the good ones.

Every country has both good and bad, but if all you are exposed to is the bad, that is how you tend to look at a country as a whole.

 

:jester:


Make Love Not War.

arty:

 

Although it is not a war with North Korea this time, it was once. And I don't think they learned a thing. The propaganda war has always been waged against the United States. Tokyo Rose, Hitler, just to name a couple were massive propaganda mediums in thier day, and for what. But lets not forget Vietnam and the propaganda from both sides. It reached such a bad level that our own service men and women were afraid to come home for fear of the negative propaganda....who wants to be spit on and called a "baby killer" by the people you fought for and watched friends die for. During the Vietnam era; I don't know which was worse....The persecution we hippies got for protesting the war and our involvement there, or the "welcome" our servicemen got for being forced to fight in a war they had no desire to be in ! Oh wait, It was a "police action" yeah man, right! I guess what I am saying is that I think that fear is mainly what guides the hands and mouths of the North Korean people. Thye are not allowed the privelage of speaking or thinking for themselves....or even just keeping quiet. The slander the U.S. out of fear. Oh sure, there are some that do it because they just have that much hatred in their hearts. But my main question here is, why do all of these countries want to bite the hand that feeds them ? I mean come on man, where do the vast majority of the worlds populations get food and aid to keep them alive ? It sure aint North Korea! America is the melting pot of the world ! America gives us the freedom to be what we want to be and say what we want (for the most part) without fear of reprisal. Think of how well the whole hippy movement would have gone over in North Korea or China or Russia....Yikes! We may have been and still are put down by the establishment for having the views we do as hippies, but it's America and we are allowed to have those views...right or wrong as they may be! I'll step off the soap box now. Grandpa Hippy

 

It's that thing of being judged by the company you keep. (birds of a feather flock together and all that.) Lots of folks in this world have a very bad impression of our government, thanks to George and co., and they lump us all in together. It does not help that George keeps making speeches peppered with the phrase "the American people", because that makes it sound like we all think like he does, and agree with everything he does. Which we don't.

I have been in communication with a couple folks out of country lately, and I have encountered something I never really thought about much before. Shame for having to say "I'm an American."

So, yea, I understand completely those who hate us. It's just more narrow minds, just like alot of people here who hate "ragheads" or "niggers" or, well, you get the picture. And those koreans don't really get the option to look too heavily at the other side. But ya got to know that some of those folks have brains and realize how things really are. I suppose that negatives make more interesting news than positives, and a little propaganda created to make you think that all Koreans hate us is just what George needs to keep the drama going...

 

I have lived in the states for a few years when I was younger. I visit often. The vast majority of the people I have met are kind thoughtfull caring folk, even those who are of the right wing variety. I don't understand how the perception of the American people is so maligned other than they voted twice for the current president. (althought not really in the second go around) I have even heard fellow Canadian say they hate Americans. When I question them it is usually American policy rather than the people they hate.

Brian

 

It's difficult to convince people that there was a coup in 2000 because of the shenanigans in Florida and Ohio--thrown out votes,ect.The supremes handed the repubs the election.Hopefully the bastards will be out for a generation or two.

 

I doubt the North Koreans are free to express anything but the party line.


Certain people have always felt anger toward the US, its nothing new.

The US is a convient boogeyman for certain sectors.

 

I just look at how far we have come and the advancement we have made structualy.

America is only about 240 yrs. old, and look what we have established in compare to countries that are thousands of yrs old an still live in grass huts and defacate in their own back yard, the cruelty of leaders that let children go blind or die bc they have no nutrition or clean water. No equality, no freedom, no choice, no education. Poverty so devastating the even we so far away hang our head in shame at what humans are capable of doing to other humans.

In some countries they cut off little girls clitoris and sew up their viginas so their prospective husbands will know the are virgins, they do this in dirty back rooms and 30% of the girts die and the rest are trumatized for life, a life a slavery like no clivilized nation could imagin.

Amercia may have her faults and social problems but we would never tolerate the barbaric behavior that some countries maintain.

If there is a cause to fight for.. that would be it

 

You're right! America is a great country with a good history, not that my country isn't great, though my ambition in life is to live in the southern states xx

 

funny.....my ambition in life is to get out of the southern states....(well, its not that bad, but I do want to leave)

why the southern states, Sian Jade?

 

Everything really, like i said earlier i love my country, but i don't really fit in anywhere, people are so bothered about what people think of them, and buy designer clothes just to fit in when 'I can buy the same damn thing on a Wal-Mart shelf half price.'
In a nut shell the people over there seem really friendly, the houses are really cheap (compared to over here anyway,) i could drink all the beer i wanted to instead of an ideal glass of wine (which is foul!) I would be able to have a decent conversation with people about the music that i love, instead of being too embarrassed to even own up to the fact that i like country music, because people would just shun me, like i'm an alien. Basically, i just feel like i belong there, and have done from an early age.
How come you want to move away?
P.S. i also love the accent lol

 

I must start out saying that i believe you to have a very romanticized outlook on the south......

Friendly.....well, yes, but the same people who are nice to you are at the same time apt to talk about you as soon as you turn your back.
Really cheap houses.....probably in parts of the south you should stay away from. where I live, just about every house around me is going for a million ( and they are NOT new houses!!! its the prorperty value that keeps rising)
Country music......well, yes you should have no problem finding other country fans

Why do I want to move?? several reasons.........for starters, I live in the heart of conservative country.(and Bush Countryuke: )nothing changes....or it changes at a snail's pace. we are about 5-10 years behind the rest of the world....(that can be good or bad)
The south is being built up, and not in a good way. we down here like to call it the "second coming of the carpetbaggers"....
I dont much care for redneck assholes, and there are a LOT of them.......

There are certain things that I do like about the south, but I really think you have illusions of another kind of south......
Plus, it remains to be seen if you can survive a summer here.................

 

ps........i drink wine and lots of it..................

 

hmmm maybe i have a different view on the south now lol; I think i'll probably go for a holiday and see how it goes
However, i do no that i not be staying in this town all my life.
Just out of curiosity, where are you planning to move to?

 

People of the US are subjected to propoganda. The views of themselves they get thru the media is propogated and manipulated. I really feel for the Americans, they need liberation from the media propaganda...

 

As much as I like to bash the current state of our government, I would agree that we're very fortunate in this country for the freedom and opportunities we have. I just hope we're able to restore our democracy from the corporate funded oligopoly it is now back to the democracy our founding fathers envisioned when they drafted the constitution.

It's no wonder other nations resent us, they're envious of what we have, and the standard of living we enjoy. We can walk down the street without bombs going off and killing people, and we are free to express ourselves openly, even if we're critical of the government, without fear of retribution. There's a lot to be said for that.

Big media is propaganda in this country, this is true, because it's run by big money, not by conscientious journalism, but if you look hard enough, you can find plenty of alternative news sources with substance.

 

we are not the only country in the world that has the same standard of living we enjoy.........i dont think they resent us because they are envious. There are many reasons they may have for hating us, but one in particualr comes to mind: our arrogance. Yes, we are an arrogant society.

 

WV is sort of south and sort of not. It's a hard place to live unless you either don't require much or you can make your own job. But I knew when I was a kid growing up in NY State that I belonged here for some reason. Hey, there are shitty people EVERYWHERE, not just in the south. But there are also VERY GOOD people here, there is still a "code of honor" that the true hillbillys live by, which includes the friendliness and helpfulness that you may not find in other places. Rednecks can be a pain in the ass, just add alcohol, but some of the rednecks I know I would trust with my life.

All in all, folks here are mostly GOOD and honest. And if there were no such thing as country music (which I mostly despise) alot of folks would not know what to do. But BLUEGRASS is the BIG thing in these parts. There's a musician (picker) in every self respecting household... Sometimes whole families.
The BEST thing to do before deciding any BIG move is to visit and check things out. When I visited here I felt instantly like I had finally come home.

WARNING: In THIS part of the country, the biggest risk to life and liberty is the State Police. But we're working on that....