I HATE AMERICA!
POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Thursday, February 1, 2007 10:35
VIEWED: 17359
PAGE 9 of 14
Quote:Like most models, it assumes a great deal...and also serves itself and it's creators. I'm of the belief that there is generally no ONE cause of things, just as there is no ONE answer to things.
Originally posted by charliethebloody:
hmmm, ok, that's quite a lot, I'm going to look for figures for ice melting...
I believe the thawing ice contributes to the mass of the unfrozen ocean, as well as some degree of de-salization, and thermal expansion surely plays into it as well IMO.
Oh, he thinks he's a scientist now, does he Chrisisall
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I’ll address the point of this thread by responding to a post from another thread:
Quote:A lot of people are anti-themselves. They may not perceive it that way, at least until they are hospitalized for stress, depression, dependency, anorexia or gross obesity. Many people are far too critical of themselves, often seeing themselves stridently as the sole villain in their lives and solely responsible for their failures while unwilling to also recognize their strengths. Many Americans are often far too critical of the US, as well, holding a similarly uncompromising one-sided view of America. Learning to accept oneself and finding positive ways of encouraging one’s strengths and overcoming one’s weaknesses is vital to a healthy lifestyle and a similar argument could be made about a healthy political thought and discourse. When you view yourself with loathing, you are less likely to appreciate the strengths that you need to succeed and less likely to make the compromises or take the steps needed for that success, and as such you fail. Similarly, when you are unable to distinguish an American president from a Middle Eastern fascist tyrant, you are not healthy either. If enough people learn to hate America because of bigoted and one-sided political rhetoric instead of a reasoned and educated assessment of America’s successes and failures and who fail to appreciate the strengths of the American political system people and philosophy while overemphasizing, exaggerating or distorting it’s faults for their own political hatreds or agendas, then we may very well fail as a nation, not because we are what some claim, but because we believed it.
Originally posted by chrisisall:
I tend also to spew venom about how I should exersize more than I do, eat better, write this graphic novel I've been putting off, and remember to take my vitamins on a regular basis, not just when the mood strikes. Is this being 'anti-me'?
The more negative and unreasonable we become, the more likely that will reflect the attitudes of our government.
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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Just an aside, the things people abroad admired about America was it's self confidence and "can-do" attitude. The general consensus from the 1920's until a few years ago was that an America engagged with the world makes for a better world, not so much due to hard power (though that's handy) but the fact that America could get things done. In addition, at least in the early years the US was seen as an honest broker because it didn't have a 1000 year history of animosity to its neighbours.
Has that changed? I think it has in part because even before 9/11 the world was begining to understand that the US had its own agenda. It was never the case that the US didn't have its own agenda but from WW2 though the cold war it was the same agenda as much of the free world (except France.) Once the cold war ended country's interests diversified and America became both ally and rival to a lot of nations. I suspect that as things go on and climate change and competition for resources become larger issues the distance between the US and the rest of the industrialised world will continue. What's interesting is the continued interdependence between the US and China. Perhaps the Anglo-Sino Alliance wasn't as far fetched an idea as we thought?
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Quote:As in most areas of global warming the science goes back and forth on this. I don’t know if I can give you links but here are some sources you may want to investigate.
Originally posted by charliethebloody:
I wouldn't have thought expansion would have that much effect, but I don't know that much about it, I'd be interested to see some links to stuff on that.
Cabanes, et al. says that the increase in global mean sea level is fully thermosteric, meaning it is fully explained by thermal expansion.
Cabanes, C., A. Cazenave, C. 2004. Sea Level Rise During Past 40 Years Determined from Satellite and in Situ Observations. Science, 294, 840-842.
On the other hand, Alix Lombard says that the GMSL is not fully thermosteric.
Lombard, A., Cazenave, A, Letraon, P. 2003. Contribution of Thermal Expansion to Observed Sea Level Rise During the Past Decade. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2003
Nihil est incertius vulgo, nihil obscurius voluntate hominum, nihil fallacius ratione tota comitiorum.
Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than public opinion, nothing more deceptive than the whole political system.
-- Cicero
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That reminds of a political joke about Margaret Thatcher from the 80's.
'Three Diplomats are arguing about their countries,
In Russia, a man had his arm cut off by a hay thrashing machine. Thanks to Soviet Science he was looking for work 20 days later.
In America, a man had his arm cut off in a factory. Thanks to American Medicine he was looking for work 10 days later.
In Britain, a women moved into No 10 Downing Street and thanks to British Politics everyone was looking was work afterwards'.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Fletch2:
Just an aside, the things people abroad admired about America was it's self confidence and "can-do" attitude. The general consensus from the 1920's until a few years ago was that an America engagged with the world makes for a better world, not so much due to hard power (though that's handy) but the fact that America could get things done. In addition, at least in the early years the US was seen as an honest broker because it didn't have a 1000 year history of animosity to its neighbours.
Has that changed? I think it has in part because even before 9/11 the world was begining to understand that the US had its own agenda. It was never the case that the US didn't have its own agenda but from WW2 though the cold war it was the same agenda as much of the free world (except France.) Once the cold war ended country's interests diversified and America became both ally and rival to a lot of nations. I suspect that as things go on and climate change and competition for resources become larger issues the distance between the US and the rest of the industrialised world will continue. What's interesting is the continued interdependence between the US and China. Perhaps the Anglo-Sino Alliance wasn't as far fetched an idea as we thought?
I like your reasoning, I think the Bush Presidency has done more to sour the perceptions of America than any other event in history that I can recall. At least during Vietnam there was a common feeling that parts of the US were more socially advanced than elsewhere in the world. I don't think that common feeling exists anymore.
In Europe, we are going through a mass migration of people. Hundreds of thousands of Eastern Europeans have been leaving their homelands and going to the west, primarily the UK and Germany. In the 1800's and early 1900's they would have passed these imperial powers and taken the long boat to North America. I do not know if this is occuring as I have seen no media reports of it. Please tell me if it is happening.
As for Anglo-Sino co-operation that's probably going to more and more likely, especially as China holds lots and lots of US Treasury bonds. It is ironic that the US war on terror is being funded by a communist country.
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Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:Quote:I don't know you son (sister), but I'm sure you're very nice. And I'm sure you didn't have time to read all of this, so I'll give you the skinny: I don't hate America, and The Brooklyn Bridge is the only one I would consider living under.
Originally posted by jorune:
Mr Troll, the builders just called. Your bridge is ready for you.
Gotta problem wit dat Chrisisall
Curse my sudden but inevitable betrayal, I was intending to refer to ShinyEd's original rambling but my goofing of the quote button meant it didn't happen.
I agree with your sentiment, when you consider how the US treats its close allies, Canada with Ahar, UK with Gitmo detainees, it's no wonder that the rest of the world sees the US as a big bully.
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Looks like you're not the only one who HATES America, Chris. Just look at all those unpatriotic, terrorist-supporting cowards who protested in Washington. Don't they realize that the war is all for their benefit, so that they don't have to live in constant fear of dangers from the outside? Oh, wait...
The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.
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Quote:In my experience, most who are critical are critical of others, making all their problems caused by someone else while taking responsibility off themselves. While it might even be somewhat true, it limits personal power too, and restricts the person's ability to grow and adapt. And where it's not true, it's just a reason to do nothing while basking in learned helplessness. When critical of themselves, peeps tend to over do it, as you say. We need moderation in ALL things.
Originally posted by Finn mac Cumhal:
Many people are far too critical of themselves, often seeing themselves stridently as the sole villain in their lives and solely responsible for their failures while unwilling to also recognize their strengths.
Quote:Very well put.
Many Americans are often far too critical of the US, as well, holding a similarly uncompromising one-sided view of America. Learning to accept oneself and finding positive ways of encouraging one’s strengths and overcoming one’s weaknesses is vital to a healthy lifestyle and a similar argument could be made about a healthy political thought and discourse.
Quote:Agreed, there is too much of the "Bush is evil" rhetoric, although it comes from a place of disgust with the idea that peoples lives are a military commodity, like bullets. Not all politicians believe this, but Bush talks endlessly about the 'price we have to pay for freedom', and we all know now that that's not what it's all about, hence the vitriol.
When you view yourself with loathing, you are less likely to appreciate the strengths that you need to succeed and less likely to make the compromises or take the steps needed for that success, and as such you fail. Similarly, when you are unable to distinguish an American president from a Middle Eastern fascist tyrant, you are not healthy either.
Quote:If you call my mom a whore...I will dismiss you with a laugh and a fart in your general direction.
...we may very well fail as a nation, not because we are what some claim, but because we believed it.
If you call my mom a whore, and she indeed was walking the streets once (or presently), it might make me very upset...
Get my point?
Finn, with the making me think again...Chrisisall
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Sayeth Cartroll -
Quote:
that minor inconvenience they'd experienced with that Austrian fellow.
Oh, you mean that Austrian fellow who's rise to power and military machine were in great part financed an assisted by....
Prescott Bush ?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1312540,00.html
The apple never does fall far from the tree, does it now ?
-Frem
It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history are doomed to endlessly repeat it.
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