America makes me sick

angelica

surferdude wrote:

I guess I don't buy into the arguement that people are limited by their environment. Environment can provide more obstacles to success, environment can have given you a mindset where giving up is easy, environment can give you a support network that doesn't want you to achieve. But it is up to the individual to recognize that they have near full control of their environment and complete full control to how they react to their environment.

People are absolutely amazing when they let themselves be amazing. One litmus test I have for friends is I tell them my wildest dreams and I know that my real friends will never tell me not to try or that it's impossible. I am the one who controls my environment to make sure I don't hang out with the naysayers or listen to them. For the most part people build their own environments, especially as adults. It's very easy to change your environment. I learned early on that it's way better to be the poor person in a nice neighbourhood, than poor in a poor neighbourhood. In the nice neighbourhood they recognize human potential. In the poorer neighbourhood they generally try to kill your potential.

Do you buy that you are limited by your brain wiring--based on genetics, and your resultant brain chemistry? Do you agree that it takes significant commitment, work, energy and focus to make even slight changes here such as in changing one's IQ or natural personality preferences that are hardwired? Do you acknowledge that while we're born with genetic blueprints, that it is our environment, including culture that molds those blueprints in reality, as the brain quadruples in size from birth to adulthood? Do you acknowledge we see and understand concepts we've been taught in our environment and that we generally cannot fathom the unfathomable, meaning in general ideas that have not been preconceived for us by others? Therefore very few see concepts that move beyond what is "normal". Do you agree that it is culture that shapes the religions that mold our morals and ethics, or even our base language structures? And as you mentioned about neighbourhoods, if the basic language structures in one's environment revolve around "that's impossible", that becomes reality for people--and they can't imagine anything beyond that? In such a case, how can the individual piece be stronger than the environmental one that created and reinforces it? Do you agree that we generally all exist within social norms that are very hard to move beyond and therefore few go beyond that?

I 100% believe that we all can control our environments and create what we need or want for ourselves. And I believe we all do unconsciously in each moment. However, there are many steps and stages and our power increases along the way before we can get to the point where we are able to understand that we control our environments. Many people dangerously collapse those steps or stages into a mono-level generic "equality" for all when really that sense of collapse and undifferentiated equality is an illusion.

stu gee

Rushlimbo wrote:

If you knew anything about American and world history you would realize what an ignorant statement this is.

Lol, you beat me to that there. That was almost as ridiculous a statement as the person who started this thread made.

Collin

Funny.

I somehow have the feeling that some of the posts of some of the Americans here will only have strengthened the thread starter's opinion about the US, which is a shame because it is truly a beautiful country (sometimes).

surferdude

angelica wrote:

Do you agree that it takes significant commitment, work, energy and focus to make even slight changes here such as in changing one's IQ or natural personality preferences that are hardwired?

To make a long story short I believe this. Limitless possibilities isn't easy but they are there for everyone. Nor does this availability of limitless possibilities to everyone equate with there being equal accessibility.

But I can sit here and say everyone has unlimited possibilities and opportunities. Or I can say you can't do domething. I'd rather have belief in people and marvel at the ones that overcome obstacles along their path, and hopefully give a hand up to those I can along my path.

I may acknowledge that there are obstacles along the way. I will never acknowledge that something is not achievable.

Cosmo

pushmepullme wrote:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/19/fox-obama-madrassa/

What a fucking rubbish country you all live in.

...
Drinking too much booze makes me sick... and sitting in a plane next to the fucker that keeps on coughing, too.

angelica

surferdude wrote:

To make a long story short I believe this. Limitless possibilities isn't easy but they are there for everyone. Nor does this availability of limitless possibilities to everyone equate with there being equal accessibility.

But I can sit here and say everyone has unlimited possibilities and opportunities. Or I can say you can't do domething. I'd rather have belief in people and marvel at the ones that overcome obstacles along their path, and hopefully give a hand up to those I can along my path.

I may acknowledge that there are obstacles along the way. I will never acknowledge that something is not achievable.

I think I basically agree with what you are saying. I generally focus on the unlimited possibilities, too, for the same reasons. Even though I also find I need to address when people are collapsing and overlooking the reasons some people end up maybe committing suicide, or becoming murdered prostitutes (like real people in my life) while others might become highly successful.

surferdude

angelica wrote:

Iven though I also find I need to address when people are collapsing and overlooking the reasons some people end up maybe committing suicide, or becoming murdered prostitutes (like real people in my life) while others might become highly successful.

I agree with this. I feel you cannot make yourself bigger by making someone smaller. You can only make yourself bigger by making others bigger.

Alex_Coe

cutback wrote:

Thank you for generalizing the entire country. I'd tell ya to fuck off but what's the point.

Yeah, it's like I've been trying to say- 300 million people can all safely fit into one negative catergory.

Lemme tell you something, OP. The difference between a New Yorker and a Texan and a Hawaiian is fourfold the difference between the average American and the average Berliner, or the difference between an American farmer and a Russian famer. If you can even comprehend that.

B nice

madrassas means "school"

doocey means douche

JOEJOEJOE

Byrnzie wrote:

True. To our shame. We are in a position to influence Bush et al and make a difference in the world. It's to our shame that we have allowed Blair - practically singlehandedly - to let Britain be dragged along on America's coat-tails.

It's as if England has become the Fredo to America's Michael Corrleone!

And we know how that ended!

Please Mr. Blair, don't go out on the boat!

Collin

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

It's as if England has become the Fredo to America's Michael Corrleone!

And we know how that ended!

Please Mr. Blair, don't go out on the boat!

What's with all the mafia on this board?

Abuskedti

thankyougrandma wrote:

i guess UK is better... by the way, Fox does not represent the USA, Fox is not even close from representing AMERICA...

It represents a large part of America

Byrnzie

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

It's as if England has become the Fredo to America's Michael Corrleone!

And we know how that ended!

Please Mr. Blair, don't go out on the boat!

So true. We are the spineless brother who wants a bigger slice of the cake and so sells out the whole family.

Scubascott

Byrnzie wrote:

So true. We are the spineless brother who wants a bigger slice of the cake and so sells out the whole family.

What does that make us?

But maybe things are going to change soon. This year is an election year. With Johnny still sticking to his guns on nuclear energy and a commitment to Iraq, I don't know if he'll make it to a fourth term. But he has surprised me before.

gue_barium

Byrnzie wrote:

So true. We are the spineless brother who wants a bigger slice of the cake and so sells out the whole family.

Nah. He had that bad fever when he was a baby so he was a little slow when he needed to be quick. That's a tough row to hoe in that family and he failed, but not by is own doing.

I'm up way too late.

sponger

America makes me sick too. The conservative response to that is, "Love it or leave it." But, I think that should be changed to "Change it or leave it." But, then John Lennon would say, "Change yourself first." Then again, John Lennon was English.

ONCE DEVIDED

cutback wrote:

Isn't FOX owned by an Australian?


(no offense Australians, just trying to make a point)

nah sorry he gave up his australia for the US
so he can make millions
IS YOUR NEWS LIMITED

gue_barium

sponger wrote:

America makes me sick too. The conservative response to that is, "Love it or leave it." But, I think that should be changed to "Change it or leave it." But, then John Lennon would say, "Change yourself first." Then again, John Lennon was English.

Things are getting kinda tight for a sponge around here. Have you wrung it all out?

gue_barium

ONCE DEVIDED wrote:

nah sorry he gave up his australia for the US
so he can make millions
IS YOUR NEWS LIMITED

Yikes.

Stick around. Post in the morning.

gue_barium

do you "wrang" it out Wrung"? ring? Wring?! that is it. What did i say? "wrung?"

crazy language.