OFF TOPIC - The IOC sucks.

Alpha Kodiak · #1 July 19th, 2001, 04:45 AM

quote:
Originally posted by CW:
As an outsider (not living in the US), I can tell you the rest of the world doesn't think money is everything.

Nor do I. I merely find it frustrating that people/nations criticize the U.S. quite harshly, then come to us begging for money.

Your complaint was that people from the west look at people from the east as second class people. I do not feel that way at all. Please do not assume that because I live in the United States that I think money is everything.

Remember too, that not that long ago in the grand scheme of things, American blood mingled with Chinese blood stopping the Japanese from from taking all of China. Perhaps we are not so evil as people would make us out to be....

Baron Munchausen · #2 July 19th, 2001, 05:53 AM

The heat of this thread is certainly unexpected. I guess lots of people who watch the news and fume about high-handed US behavior are taking out their frustrations here.

I think US defenders need to understand that US 'bashers' are quite familiar with the fact that we lead the world in many areas. But, we do NOT lead the world in ALL areas. You would never guess that from watching/listening to US media, though. Especially political news and advertising. The constant 'patriotic' bragging and preening got so nauseating during the Reagan years that you could hardly stand to turn on the TV. It's subsided a bit since then, yet it's still far too prevalent. The attitude problem that our government displays in international contexts, crashing around like the proverbial bull in the china shop, doesn't help either. So, large numbers of Europeans who've been seeing this stuff for years run across this thread in the Shrapnel GAMES forums and vent at it. Hmm, maybe they should write letters to the editors at CNN.com, ABC/CBS/NBC.com, FOXNEWS.com, etc. They might actually attract some attention and get a feature story about the perceived arrogance of the US abroad.

CW · #3 July 19th, 2001, 07:12 AM

quote:
Perhaps we are not so evil as people would make us out to be....

Not at all. You guys are not evil. I'm merely suggesting that some of your country's policies can be counter-productive, and some of the common views in your country are not entirely the fact.

[This message has been edited by CW (edited 19 July 2001).]

Alpha Kodiak · #4 July 19th, 2001, 08:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by CW:
Not at all. You guys are not evil. I'm merely suggesting that some of your country's policies can be counter-productive, and some of the common views in your country are not entirely the fact.

Some would imply that we're pretty bad. (Or perhaps the term "barbarian" was used in its original meaning, "foreigner", which would be accurate for anyone not from the U.S.

)

My response was specifically related to your statement that implied that for us, money is everything. While that may be true for some, as it is in other countries as well, it is definitely not true for all.

As for the rest, I agree with you that not all commonly held views in this country are accurate. I would also state that not all commonly held views ABOUT this country are accurate.

Lucanos · #5 July 19th, 2001, 11:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:
Gee, thanks, I'll remember that the next time I send a letter to my Congressman about aid to other countries. You know, like the debts accumulated during WW2/1 that I think ONE nation payed back? The Marshal plan? (I'd quote more recent, but I don't have specifics offhand) The various relief organizations too, though not all of those are government funded.

Yeah, right - US foreign aid is something special? While you give away some money to the third world you also collect interest from the same - an amount that is more than three times higher than the so called "aid" you are giving. That is barbaric indeed.

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:

Guess you'll have to get off the internet too then, seeing how it was designed mostly by US scientists..

While internet (along with most of the computerparts inside my computer today) has been invented in the US most of my computer nerd friends agree that the development of computers would have come much farther if Bill Gates had nothing to do with it.

Bill gates' methodology (take what you can and dont give a **** about anyone else) is a barbaric one - and also shows us what kind of thinking occurs in the US.

btw, invention and scientific research has nothing to with if a country is cultivated or barbaric.

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:

Oh, and please explain to me why, if the US is a barbaric nation, immigrents from various countries attempt to enter all the time?

Because of the money. They don't immigrate because of the culture (you think?).

quote:
Originally posted by Phoenix-D:

Explain something, please. This actually applies to both sides here, but-what negative aspects are you talking about, and why would you have a better perspective than US citizens? Where are you getting your information? You've already admitted the local news sources are propaganda right along with US news, so it isn't that, is it?

I think europeans have way more insight in the US than the other way around (thanks to TV and Hollywood).

Take ricki lake for example - what kind of twisted moral is that?

The negative aspects are mostly:

-the US is too centralized
-People starve
-People get executed
-****ed up morality
-The US citizens are religious fanatics
-The US are a threat to the environment (like when they said no to stop producing mines, or when they said no to kyoto/kioto - or however it's spelled)
-US foreign aid is not enough (compared to swedish foreign law)

I could go on...

Mephisto · #6 July 20th, 2001, 01:46 AM

Ah, flames are getting higher.

Nitram Draw · #7 July 20th, 2001, 01:52 AM

Luc,
You really should learn more about our country before you bash it.

Foriegn aid is free, no strings attached. I've worked on ships that delivered 1000's of tons of free food to many nations.

Immigrents definately come for the money and because we let them in. I don't know Swedens policies but I don't think many people immigrate there. I wouldn't try to guess the reasons.

Most Europeans think they are more cultured than Americans. Must be because they get so much of their views of what America is like from TV. Try visiting first. I've been to a lot of European nations and haven't found one that I would live in instead of America, no I haven't visited Sweden.

Why you would think we are centralized is beyond me. We are about as centralized as Europe. Most European nations are about the size of an average US state, with more people living in them. We have 50 separate State governments that work together to form a nation. That, and the physical size of the country, is something most Europeans hve a hard time grasping. We don't work like European countries.

People do not starve here, unlewss it is voluntary. We have our share of poor. I'm glad your country has eliminated that.

We don't want to be like Sweden any more than Sweden want to be like us. That's the way it should be.

One more thing. If you think Rikki Lake represents America something is wrong with your views, get out more. The only thing she represents if the freedom we allow for any type of comedy show, no matter how bad, to be broadcast.