i wonder if helen and dunk man have a problem with a mr. michael mcready riffing on the star spangled banner at the end of nearly every pj show during yl.....hmmmm
nearly every pj show? yeah in the states maybe.... he'd get booed of the stage in any other country
But wait... isn't it ODD that he needs to play it here in the US to remind people where they are? I mean, they should know, right? Wouldn't it make more sense to play it abroad to find like people, as you and Helen argued earlier when saying hanging a Cuban flag in America makes more sense as a celebration of heritage?
i dont get the idea of 'tipping'.. so i say so... and i get replies to me after that of "cheap ass scots" and things like that...
i dont get the idea of needing a gun... i say so.,.. i get told america is the freest nation in the world so shut up.
I'm your biggest tipping foil and I've always said it's reasonable for you to think it's a bad system and I don't recall ever claiming the Scottish were cheapskates. A living wage would be cool. All I've ever said is that when you're here it's shitty to take it out on the poor server who can't do fuck-all about it because you don't like the system. And, as I recall, you agreed and admitted that you wouldn't do that.
As to guns, there are few people more irrational than American NRA types... you can't hold that against all of us! They act the same way to other reasonable Americans.
i'll make a concession... if i go into a restaurant and i see an US flag, or they bless america or somewhere their promo material says "greatest steaks in the world served in the greatest country in the world" then i wont tip...
if none of the above is mentioned i'll most definitely tip and wish the waiter/waitress all the best.
thats fair huh?
That's fair... unless the steak actually turns out to BE the best steak in the world!
i wonder if helen and dunk man have a problem with a mr. michael mcready riffing on the star spangled banner at the end of nearly every pj show during yl.....hmmmm
nearly every pj show? yeah in the states maybe.... he'd get booed of the stage in any other country
well since most of em do occur here...perhaps, as usual ...the jeagler was taking liberties with that statement.
altho really, since i'ts so irksome that we fly our own flag in our own country, sing our own national anthem in our own country...it isn't too much of a stretch to think you might find it 'irksome' that mccready does that riff, even in his home country.
just sayin'.
look... if PJ walked off and left Mike there with one of those wee tin whistles and he did the star-spangled banner at an US show i was at then i'd walk off because it'd be boring... but he's doing it with a 1957 Stratocaster.... c'mon... its MIke and an electric guitar... he could play God Save the Queen (not sex pistols version.. boring anthem version) if he wanted and i'd listen..
ok i took that too far. :oops:
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
i dont get the idea of 'tipping'.. so i say so... and i get replies to me after that of "cheap ass scots" and things like that...
i dont get the idea of needing a gun... i say so.,.. i get told america is the freest nation in the world so shut up.
I'm your biggest tipping foil and I've always said it's reasonable for you to think it's a bad system and I don't recall ever claiming the Scottish were cheapskates. A living wage would be cool. All I've ever said is that when you're here it's shitty to take it out on the poor server who can't do fuck-all about it because you don't like the system. And, as I recall, you agreed and admitted that you wouldn't do that.
As to guns, there are few people more irrational than American NRA types... you can't hold that against all of us! They act the same way to other reasonable Americans.
i'll make a concession... if i go into a restaurant and i see an US flag, or they bless america or somewhere their promo material says "greatest steaks in the world served in the greatest country in the world" then i wont tip...
if none of the above is mentioned i'll most definitely tip and wish the waiter/waitress all the best.
thats fair huh?
Make sure it is 20%!!!
So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
That's fair... unless the steak actually turns out to BE the best steak in the world!
which it might be... but "served in the greatest country in the world? thats conjecture.
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
have you seen how bad the pound is against the dollar... 4 months ago i could have got $200 for £100... now its almost $140 for £100... :shock:
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
It's a '59 isn't it? Same as Hendrix and SRV? ooops way off topic on a media bias thread. my bad.
fucking hell Raymond Babbit... i dunno... it was the first year that came into me head!!
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
i wonder if helen and dunk man have a problem with a mr. michael mcready riffing on the star spangled banner at the end of nearly every pj show during yl.....hmmmm
nearly every pj show? yeah in the states maybe.... he'd get booed of the stage in any other country
but seriously, whats the point of him doing it in his own country anyway? we know where's from.
what ever???? now thats serious fucking debating...
well yes, that's ignorant. i'm not arguing that! it's on both sides here.
well i do get a lot of that in threads of this nature.
i dont get the idea of 'tipping'.. so i say so... and i get replies to me after that of "cheap ass scots" and things like that...
i dont get the idea of needing a gun... i say so.,.. i get told america is the freest nation in the world so shut up.
i dont get needless boasting like 'greatest nation in the world.. so i say i dont and we end up with this... a thread in which americans try and tell me its their culture and it does you no harm, so why bother?
i bother because i can...
its a very very rare thing that an american will be on this forum who doesnt like an aspect of their culture and is prepared to say it .. probably for fear of them being labelled unpatriotic... whereas i dont care.. be it scotland or the US... if something doesnt sit right with me, i like to probe it and question why.
british/irish people will say about things in their culture that they dont particulary like... not once would they get a retort from a fellow countryman of being unpatriotic... but an american could and probably has been labelled unpatriotic on here... it was probably Commy but thats cos he questions a lot of things in his society.
Dream, i dont believe anyone has been harmed by bad spelling... but it 'irks' you doesnt it.... so why bother saying about it? why not just do whats being asked of me here... sit back, shut up and say nothing.
well for the sake of saying it, i wouldn't call you cheap. i did work with a scotsman who was cheap, but i presumed that was an individual thing lol
rare for an american to disagree with something in the US? i dunno, i have no problem saying if i disagree with something....and there's plenty to be mad about (i.e. the economy, health care, retirement benefits, the war). and all my friends wouldn't think twice of doing the same. if someone wants to call me unpatriotic about it, that's their problem, not mine.
dissent is actually *being* patriotic, because you care that much about your country to want to make it better. no country is perfect, just like no individual is. we can all stand improvement, individually and collectively.
like i said before, you can say whatever you like, just like we can. the thing that bothers me is the generalizations....just as i would never call all scots cheap, i wouldn't want americans to be considered all arrogant and blindly patriotic
i wonder if helen and dunk man have a problem with a mr. michael mcready riffing on the star spangled banner at the end of nearly every pj show during yl.....hmmmm
nearly every pj show? yeah in the states maybe.... he'd get booed of the stage in any other country
well since most of em do occur here...perhaps, as usual ...the jeagler was taking liberties with that statement.
altho really, since i'ts so irksome that we fly our own flag in our own country, sing our own national anthem in our own country...it isn't too much of a stretch to think you might find it 'irksome' that mccready does that riff, even in his home country.
and helen, since you seem to enjoy the 'game' of responding to every post addressed to you - which quite honestly...no one does, including you....but since i addressed half of this post to you, 2x...this being the 3rd....hereya go:
and to lots of other people, it DOES make sense...so your opinion, even held by a great many....doesn't 'prove' anything....simply...opinion. it's a part of american culture. i do not find it odd that someone outside the country doesn't 'understand'...just as i may not understand all in another countries culture. only difference is, i don't try to tell said cultures that what they do is wrong, makes no sense, is silly, or what have you. it harms no one, many enjoy it, it's our culture...not yours...so who cares? i think that question has been asked numerous times over. i could not care less if everyone in another country sang to the rooftops their country is the greatest in the world, nor would i care if they draped every inch of it in their flag, people danced and sang only national anthems, etc.......it has zero effect on my life, if they enjoy it, more power to em.
and i elaborated further the 2nd time i posted it to you...
THAT's what i am saying...which you refuse to acknowledge. you want to think it's stupid...go ahead...couldn't care less! but to carry on and on about it - and say to say it serves NO purpose, that there are only appropriate times for displaying the flag, etc., when it has no bearing on you.....it is our culture.....yes, that is something *I* can't understand.
if i choose to display our flag on february 24th.....or on september 17th....on days that apparently would be 'no reason' to display a flag in your opinion, but hold great significance to ME.........how is that 'no reason'...and more importantly, why is it a concern of yours...or your place to say it's silly, has no meaning, etc, etc. we americans often get accused of being insensitive to other cultures....and all i can say is, clearly, the same can be said for a great many others.
however.....i think the post above this is a far more appropriate, and fun, end to this thread.
it certainly has nothing to do with insecurity, nor not being able to handle criticism.....fire away! it has everything to do with people giving you reasons, explaining at least their personal pov, and it still being rejected. i can appreciate not understanding it...but acknowledging it, and admitting sure...fair enough, i don't get it...but i respect your right to do so, perhaps even accept it as gaining a better understanding of our culture or what have you instead of shouting down how silly and pointless it all is. obviously, it just isn't...to many americans...and thus why many choose to do so in their own country.
and jeagler....god bless ya for this thread!
the media IS biased, but hey...at least we're all up to date on every outfit michelle obama has been wearing all week. ya know, the important stuff. that and the fact that barack obama is left-handed...wooohoo! because leftys are the greatest in the world! yea, i said it......b/c i can.
anyhooo....none of this new in any case, been posted ad nauseum in this thread, by me and many others.
have a great weekend all!
and since this thread is completely off topic i'll just add that hubby and i just watched defiance tonight....good flick!
and helen, since you seem to enjoy the 'game' of responding to every post addressed to you - which quite honestly...no one does, including you....but since i addressed half of this post to you, 2x...this being the 3rd....hereya go:
and to lots of other people, it DOES make sense...so your opinion, even held by a great many....doesn't 'prove' anything....simply...opinion. it's a part of american culture. i do not find it odd that someone outside the country doesn't 'understand'...just as i may not understand all in another countries culture. only difference is, i don't try to tell said cultures that what they do is wrong, makes no sense, is silly, or what have you. it harms no one, many enjoy it, it's our culture...not yours...so who cares? i think that question has been asked numerous times over. i could not care less if everyone in another country sang to the rooftops their country is the greatest in the world, nor would i care if they draped every inch of it in their flag, people danced and sang only national anthems, etc.......it has zero effect on my life, if they enjoy it, more power to em.
and i elaborated further the 2nd time i posted it to you...
THAT's what i am saying...which you refuse to acknowledge. you want to think it's stupid...go ahead...couldn't care less! but to carry on and on about it - and say to say it serves NO purpose, that there are only appropriate times for displaying the flag, etc., when it has no bearing on you.....it is our culture.....yes, that is something *I* can't understand.
if i choose to display our flag on february 24th.....or on september 17th....on days that apparently would be 'no reason' to display a flag in your opinion, but hold great significance to ME.........how is that 'no reason'...and more importantly, why is it a concern of yours...or your place to say it's silly, has no meaning, etc, etc. we americans often get accused of being insensitive to other cultures....and all i can say is, clearly, the same can be said for a great many others.
however.....i think the post above this is a far more appropriate, and fun, end to this thread.
it certainly has nothing to do with insecurity, nor not being able to handle criticism.....fire away! it has everything to do with people giving you reasons, explaining at least their personal pov, and it still being rejected. i can appreciate not understanding it...but acknowledging it, and admitting sure...fair enough, i don't get it...but i respect your right to do so, perhaps even accept it as gaining a better understanding of our culture or what have you instead of shouting down how silly and pointless it all is. obviously, it just isn't...to many americans...and thus why many choose to do so in their own country.
and jeagler....god bless ya for this thread!
the media IS biased, but hey...at least we're all up to date on every outfit michelle obama has been wearing all week. ya know, the important stuff. that and the fact that barack obama is left-handed...wooohoo! because leftys are the greatest in the world! yea, i said it......b/c i can.
anyhooo....none of this new in any case, been posted ad nauseum in this thread, by me and many others.
have a great weekend all!
and since this thread is completely off topic i'll just add that hubby and i just watched defiance tonight....good flick!
debating back is not being able to handle criticizm..i'll have to remember that.
'Criticizm?' What's that? Is that another American bastardization of the English language? Also, if 'debating back is not being able to handle criticizm' then why have you spent so long in this thread trying to convince everybody that the obsession that American's have with telling themselves how great they are is normal - in between trying to convince everybody how open-minded and aware of others opinions you are?
Surely if you really were so open to the opinions of others then surely you would have simply accepted the fact that most people in the world find your chest thumping incredibly irritating and left it at that?
altho really, since i'ts so irksome that we fly our own flag in our own country, sing our own national anthem in our own country...
Are you trying to suggest that this is what this discussion has been about?
The fact that you fly your flag and sing your anthem isn't the point, as you know if you were being honest.
The discussion has been about Americans constantly telling themselves and everybody else that their country is the greatest country in the world. It's also about the fact that in America there are flags everyfuckingwhere. Why is that? It's ridiculous. I think what you and many other Americans fail to understand is that when you spout about how you are the greatest e.t.c, most foreign people either laugh at you, or cringe with embarrassment. There's nothing 'cultural' about it, as you seem to keep trying to pretend. It has nothing to do with culture. In fact, it's the opposite of culture. It's stupid, unthinking jingoism.
America is the most hated country on Earth. This isn't because the rest of the world is jealous of you, which you seem to want to believe. It's because, amongst other things, you insist on shouting about how you are the greatest country in the world e.t.c. Although maybe 'hate' is the wrong word. It's more like the feeling you get in the presence of someone who is really loud, self-centered, and obnoxious. You just cringe with loathing and want to get as far away from them as you can.
altho really, since i'ts so irksome that we fly our own flag in our own country, sing our own national anthem in our own country...
Are you trying to suggest that this is what this discussion has been about?
The fact that you fly your flag and sing your anthem isn't the point, as you know if you were being honest.
The discussion has been about Americans constantly telling themselves and everybody else that their country is the greatest country in the world. It's also about the fact that in America there are flags everyfuckingwhere. Why is that? It's ridiculous. I think what you and many other Americans fail to understand is that when you spout about how you are the greatest e.t.c, most foreign people either laugh at you, or cringe with embarrassment. There's nothing 'cultural' about it, as you seem to keep trying to pretend. It has nothing to do with culture. In fact, it's the opposite of culture. It's stupid, unthinking jingoism.
America is the most hated country on Earth. This isn't because the rest of the world is jealous of you, which you seem to want to believe. It's because, amongst other things, you insist on shouting about how you are the greatest country in the world e.t.c. Although maybe 'hate' is the wrong word. It's more like the feeling you get in the presence of someone who is really loud, self-centered, and obnoxious. You just cringe with loathing and want to get as far away from them as you can.
Proto-typical "ugly american" Yeah I can see that.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Proto-typical "ugly american" Yeah I can see that.
Yeah, America has a lot to be proud of. Therefore Americans don't need to keep ramming the message down everyone's throats. Some humility would go a long way.
Proto-typical "ugly american" Yeah I can see that.
Yeah, America has a lot to be proud of. Therefore Americans don't need to keep ramming the message down everyone's throats. Some humility would go a long way.
Quiet example can speak volumes. Hopefully , we won't be such f'n bullies on the world stage now. There are some issues we've painted ourselves into the corner on , unfortunately.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
altho really, since i'ts so irksome that we fly our own flag in our own country, sing our own national anthem in our own country...
Are you trying to suggest that this is what this discussion has been about?
The fact that you fly your flag and sing your anthem isn't the point, as you know if you were being honest.
The discussion has been about Americans constantly telling themselves and everybody else that their country is the greatest country in the world. It's also about the fact that in America there are flags everyfuckingwhere. Why is that? It's ridiculous. I think what you and many other Americans fail to understand is that when you spout about how you are the greatest e.t.c, most foreign people either laugh at you, or cringe with embarrassment. There's nothing 'cultural' about it, as you seem to keep trying to pretend. It has nothing to do with culture. In fact, it's the opposite of culture. It's stupid, unthinking jingoism.
America is the most hated country on Earth. This isn't because the rest of the world is jealous of you, which you seem to want to believe. It's because, amongst other things, you insist on shouting about how you are the greatest country in the world e.t.c. Although maybe 'hate' is the wrong word. It's more like the feeling you get in the presence of someone who is really loud, self-centered, and obnoxious. You just cringe with loathing and want to get as far away from them as you can.
i really like this post.
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
Also, we are not the greatest country in the world... We just have the greatest possibilities, and it's what we do with them that defines us!
If one just changed ONE word of the above quote and it read 'We have the greatest RESPONSIBILITIES', I would agree.
Whether one likes it or not, the US are the most influential country worldwide, due to a lot of factors - being 'greatest' not one of them. They have massive responsibilties politically, etc. These past years, the US have been acting as big bullies with the extremely arrogant 'we are the greatest' attitude. One hopes that this new administration will change that - Obama's speech certainly suggested this.
I think this inauguration was very important for the US - it showed a very different president (ie seemingly intelligent, articulate, poised, informed and with an outward look) and the rest of the world needs to see that. The US might just get a bit of credibility back.
I really don't care if people put flags out on their lawn, wrap them around themselves for rugby matches or waves them at PJ concerts. Of course everyone would like to think their country is the best but what really gets to me is the patronising and arrogant 'we're the greatest' attitude that is being rammed down our throats. The US are very good at that.
i was just referring to the unbridled enthusiasm of the supposed non biased media. they are all giddy like a bunch of school girls
i will agree with this....just before i turned off coverage, they went to andrea mitchell and i swear she was so excited she probably had to change her underwear
Proto-typical "ugly american" Yeah I can see that.
Yeah, America has a lot to be proud of. Therefore Americans don't need to keep ramming the message down everyone's throats. Some humility would go a long way.
where do you see it being rammed down your throat? was it in my "tongue in cheek" off handed remark in the original post? you perceive it this way. it doesnt mean it is a fact. there are plenty of people in this country who despise what has happend over the last 8 years. im not saying i am one of them. but to just make a blanket statement like you and dunk and helen have been doing is ridiculous.
i love my country, yes. i think its the best in the world, yes. i fly a flag outside my house a few days a year, yes. what the fuck is it to you? i'm sure there are plenty of people in ireland, scotland and wherever the hell you are from who do the same thing. live and let live my friend. life is too short to be overly concerned about what people in another country do with their flags!
live and let live my friend. life is too short to be overly concerned about what people in another country do with their flags!
this is what interests me. it's looked upon as stupid or ridiculous to do so in our own country...we give reasons why we do so, yet not good enough. however, i fail to see how doing so at home in any way infringes on others, nor being rammed down anyone's throats, etc. especially interesting that a few think they can speak for the myriad 'reasons' of a couple billion people within the US. obviously, an outsider knows far better why we do things we do better than we may. sure, makes total sense. :roll:
are people blindly patriotic? you betcha. i highly doubt it only exists with the US borders either. beyond that, there are many who are patriotic for their own, personal reasons....thought out ideas - respect, hope, pride, whatever it may be.....and it will vary from person to person, especially in a country as large as ours, with such a diverse population. as to the 'greatest country' again...it's a subjective opinion. i can think of many great, and many not-so-great, things about my country. i bet we all could. depending on what's important to you will greatly influence if you think it's the 'greatest' or not, if you're even the type to quantify as such.
live and let live my friend. life is too short to be overly concerned about what people in another country do with their flags!
this is what interests me. it's looked upon as stupid or ridiculous to do so in our own country...we give reasons why we do so, yet not good enough. however, i fail to see how doing so at home in any way infringes on others, nor being rammed down anyone's throats, etc. especially interesting that a few think they can speak for the myriad 'reasons' of a couple billion people within the US. obviously, an outsider knows far better why we do things we do better than we may. sure, makes total sense. :roll:
are people blindly patriotic? you betcha. i highly doubt it only exists with the US borders either. beyond that, there are many who are patriotic for their own, personal reasons....thought out ideas - respect, hope, pride, whatever it may be.....and it will vary from person to person, especially in a country as large as ours, with such a diverse population. as to the 'greatest country' again...it's a subjective opinion. i can think of many great, and many not-so-great, things about my country. i bet we all could. depending on what's important to you will greatly influence if you think it's the 'greatest' or not, if you're even the type to quantify as such.
i believe this thread is about media bias. :ugeek:
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
live and let live my friend. life is too short to be overly concerned about what people in another country do with their flags!
this is what interests me. it's looked upon as stupid or ridiculous to do so in our own country...we give reasons why we do so, yet not good enough. however, i fail to see how doing so at home in any way infringes on others, nor being rammed down anyone's throats, etc. especially interesting that a few think they can speak for the myriad 'reasons' of a couple billion people within the US. obviously, an outsider knows far better why we do things we do better than we may. sure, makes total sense. :roll:
are people blindly patriotic? you betcha. i highly doubt it only exists with the US borders either. beyond that, there are many who are patriotic for their own, personal reasons....thought out ideas - respect, hope, pride, whatever it may be.....and it will vary from person to person, especially in a country as large as ours, with such a diverse population. as to the 'greatest country' again...it's a subjective opinion. i can think of many great, and many not-so-great, things about my country. i bet we all could. depending on what's important to you will greatly influence if you think it's the 'greatest' or not, if you're even the type to quantify as such.
i believe this thread is about media bias. :ugeek:
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
It's more like the feeling you get in the presence of someone who is really loud, self-centered, and obnoxious. You just cringe with loathing and want to get as far away from them as you can.
This is my old college roommate, Jay. You have described him perfectly, except failing to mention that somewhere, deep down, there is a glimmer of hope that this moron may actually be a good person. I just saw him a few weeks ago, and he was just being himself, ACTIN A DAMN FOO. He was just getting worse and worse, drunk, loud, belligerant, and just when he couldn't get any worse, he pulled the Pearl Jam out of the cd player, and screamed, "VINNY UR MUSIC SUX!!!" and started cranking Bon Jovi, with complete dance choreography. I turned to him and said, "You are everything that is wrong with America."
Comments
But wait... isn't it ODD that he needs to play it here in the US to remind people where they are? I mean, they should know, right? Wouldn't it make more sense to play it abroad to find like people, as you and Helen argued earlier when saying hanging a Cuban flag in America makes more sense as a celebration of heritage?
That's fair... unless the steak actually turns out to BE the best steak in the world!
look... if PJ walked off and left Mike there with one of those wee tin whistles and he did the star-spangled banner at an US show i was at then i'd walk off because it'd be boring... but he's doing it with a 1957 Stratocaster.... c'mon... its MIke and an electric guitar... he could play God Save the Queen (not sex pistols version.. boring anthem version) if he wanted and i'd listen..
ok i took that too far. :oops:
Make sure it is 20%!!!
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
which it might be... but "served in the greatest country in the world? thats conjecture.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
have you seen how bad the pound is against the dollar... 4 months ago i could have got $200 for £100... now its almost $140 for £100... :shock:
fucking hell Raymond Babbit... i dunno... it was the first year that came into me head!!
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
great way to break in the new forums
but seriously, whats the point of him doing it in his own country anyway? we know where's from.
duh
rare for an american to disagree with something in the US? i dunno, i have no problem saying if i disagree with something....and there's plenty to be mad about (i.e. the economy, health care, retirement benefits, the war). and all my friends wouldn't think twice of doing the same. if someone wants to call me unpatriotic about it, that's their problem, not mine.
dissent is actually *being* patriotic, because you care that much about your country to want to make it better. no country is perfect, just like no individual is. we can all stand improvement, individually and collectively.
like i said before, you can say whatever you like, just like we can. the thing that bothers me is the generalizations....just as i would never call all scots cheap, i wouldn't want americans to be considered all arrogant and blindly patriotic
and now i want some shortbread lol
in case you missed it:
and i elaborated further the 2nd time i posted it to you...
however.....i think the post above this is a far more appropriate, and fun, end to this thread.
it certainly has nothing to do with insecurity, nor not being able to handle criticism.....fire away! it has everything to do with people giving you reasons, explaining at least their personal pov, and it still being rejected. i can appreciate not understanding it...but acknowledging it, and admitting sure...fair enough, i don't get it...but i respect your right to do so, perhaps even accept it as gaining a better understanding of our culture or what have you instead of shouting down how silly and pointless it all is. obviously, it just isn't...to many americans...and thus why many choose to do so in their own country.
and jeagler....god bless ya for this thread!
the media IS biased, but hey...at least we're all up to date on every outfit michelle obama has been wearing all week. ya know, the important stuff. that and the fact that barack obama is left-handed...wooohoo! because leftys are the greatest in the world! yea, i said it......b/c i can.
anyhooo....none of this new in any case, been posted ad nauseum in this thread, by me and many others.
have a great weekend all!
and since this thread is completely off topic i'll just add that hubby and i just watched defiance tonight....good flick!
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
.....
'Criticizm?' What's that? Is that another American bastardization of the English language? Also, if 'debating back is not being able to handle criticizm' then why have you spent so long in this thread trying to convince everybody that the obsession that American's have with telling themselves how great they are is normal - in between trying to convince everybody how open-minded and aware of others opinions you are?
Surely if you really were so open to the opinions of others then surely you would have simply accepted the fact that most people in the world find your chest thumping incredibly irritating and left it at that?
Are you trying to suggest that this is what this discussion has been about?
The fact that you fly your flag and sing your anthem isn't the point, as you know if you were being honest.
The discussion has been about Americans constantly telling themselves and everybody else that their country is the greatest country in the world. It's also about the fact that in America there are flags everyfuckingwhere. Why is that? It's ridiculous. I think what you and many other Americans fail to understand is that when you spout about how you are the greatest e.t.c, most foreign people either laugh at you, or cringe with embarrassment. There's nothing 'cultural' about it, as you seem to keep trying to pretend. It has nothing to do with culture. In fact, it's the opposite of culture. It's stupid, unthinking jingoism.
America is the most hated country on Earth. This isn't because the rest of the world is jealous of you, which you seem to want to believe. It's because, amongst other things, you insist on shouting about how you are the greatest country in the world e.t.c. Although maybe 'hate' is the wrong word. It's more like the feeling you get in the presence of someone who is really loud, self-centered, and obnoxious. You just cringe with loathing and want to get as far away from them as you can.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
Yeah, America has a lot to be proud of. Therefore Americans don't need to keep ramming the message down everyone's throats. Some humility would go a long way.
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
i really like this post.
If one just changed ONE word of the above quote and it read 'We have the greatest RESPONSIBILITIES', I would agree.
Whether one likes it or not, the US are the most influential country worldwide, due to a lot of factors - being 'greatest' not one of them. They have massive responsibilties politically, etc. These past years, the US have been acting as big bullies with the extremely arrogant 'we are the greatest' attitude. One hopes that this new administration will change that - Obama's speech certainly suggested this.
I think this inauguration was very important for the US - it showed a very different president (ie seemingly intelligent, articulate, poised, informed and with an outward look) and the rest of the world needs to see that. The US might just get a bit of credibility back.
I really don't care if people put flags out on their lawn, wrap them around themselves for rugby matches or waves them at PJ concerts. Of course everyone would like to think their country is the best but what really gets to me is the patronising and arrogant 'we're the greatest' attitude that is being rammed down our throats. The US are very good at that.
The media focus on this
Reminded me of this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGuha3PCTqA
or maybe this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_qDftr0VVA
where do you see it being rammed down your throat? was it in my "tongue in cheek" off handed remark in the original post? you perceive it this way. it doesnt mean it is a fact. there are plenty of people in this country who despise what has happend over the last 8 years. im not saying i am one of them. but to just make a blanket statement like you and dunk and helen have been doing is ridiculous.
i love my country, yes. i think its the best in the world, yes. i fly a flag outside my house a few days a year, yes. what the fuck is it to you? i'm sure there are plenty of people in ireland, scotland and wherever the hell you are from who do the same thing. live and let live my friend. life is too short to be overly concerned about what people in another country do with their flags!
The only thing that would make it better is if it were waving in the wind!!!!
Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
this is what interests me. it's looked upon as stupid or ridiculous to do so in our own country...we give reasons why we do so, yet not good enough. however, i fail to see how doing so at home in any way infringes on others, nor being rammed down anyone's throats, etc. especially interesting that a few think they can speak for the myriad 'reasons' of a couple billion people within the US. obviously, an outsider knows far better why we do things we do better than we may. sure, makes total sense. :roll:
are people blindly patriotic? you betcha. i highly doubt it only exists with the US borders either. beyond that, there are many who are patriotic for their own, personal reasons....thought out ideas - respect, hope, pride, whatever it may be.....and it will vary from person to person, especially in a country as large as ours, with such a diverse population. as to the 'greatest country' again...it's a subjective opinion. i can think of many great, and many not-so-great, things about my country. i bet we all could. depending on what's important to you will greatly influence if you think it's the 'greatest' or not, if you're even the type to quantify as such.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
i believe this thread is about media bias. :ugeek:
Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14