Anti American sentiment

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Now the dust has settled, im starting to think that too. What he said really isnt that big a deal, put in the context of being constantly wound up simply because hes a nice bloke who happens to give a sh** about humanity (Well, most of it! )

"First they came for RobertN. But i did not speak out, because i am not RobertN"

"...Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

What RobertN said is the equivilent of me saying that the IRA bombings were justified for the years of humiliation the British placed on the Irish. RobertN is not a "nice bloke" and just reading his post history proves that. RobertN is obsessed with anti-americanism and probably cant realize that what he is saying is way out of line. He's even anti-american to the point where he flames those who comes in defense of him. Just because Bin Ladin blew up the trade centers doesnt mean all arabs are evil. Just because a few neocons want to control the middle east doesnt mean all Americans are like that.

I think that there are a number of reasons behind America-bashing. First of all, a lot of America-bashing comes from envy of the status of the United States as the sole superpower. My father who emigrated to the United States from Holland always used to cite a Dutch proverb "The highest trees catch the most wind." The higher up someone is, the greater the criticism that person receives. This also applies to lone superpowers. The world is deluged by U.S. culture for good or evil. For one, I do not like many of the shows that the United States exports to the rest of the world and reinforces negative cultural stereotypes of Americans and the United States. However, there other aspects of U.S. culture that are positive. Americans as a whole are a generous and hospitable people. Second, there is the religious and spiritual dimension. Americans are more religious as a whole than Europeans, Canadians, Australians, or New Zealanders. While people in the Third World are more religious than Americans, their religions are often different from those in the United States (except Latin America, the Philippines).

I think a major problem is the failure of many America-bashers to understand motivations of U.S. behavior around the world. First of all, 9/11 affected the American people greatly. It was as traumatic as Pearl Harbor. President Bush has decided to treat the problem of Islamofascist terror in the framework of a war on terror. The simple fact is, the Neville Chamberlain school of dealing with terrorists does not work. It is necessary not only to catch them and bring them to justice, but also knock out their sanctuaries. The war on terror framework is why President Bush went into Iraq. It seems that behavior that is being interpreted as arrogant and imperialistic is in fact defensive behavior for the United States.

Let me also say a couple of words about President Bush's objective of promoting democracy. The fact is, if you want peace, promote democracy. It is an empirical fact that democracies do not fight other democracies.

The fact was, the United States was right during the Cold War--the Soviet Union collapsed. The United States is right about Islamofascism. Those that ignore the Islamofascist threat do so at their own peril, as the Americans (9/11/01), British (7/7/05), French (2005 riots), Spaniards (3/11/04), Dutch (murder of several courageous politicians), Russians (Beslan), and Australians (Bali) have found out. The Israelis (except the Israeli Left) have always known the nature of the beast. Let's bash Islamofascism instead.

no it isn't. it would be the equivalent of you going onto a board where your nationality and political views were in the minority, and being constantly intimidated and bullied about your views until you were so harrassed by it all that you make that remark about the IRA out of frustration - which any other day of the week would just be ignored - but because it's coming from you and everyone has already made up their minds what they think about you, it's used as an excuse to get you banned.

Nah, CRB, considering the "Islafacists" dont tend to lie as much about why they bomb people id rather stay nuetral in this war. Iraq had pratically NO links to alquida and the likes but is overunning with them now.

There is the fact that your system of government and foreign policies are isolationist (when it suits you) and the least generous to the poor of all western countries. How is greatness measured BTW? It must be bigness and powerful army because most civil western countries have you trumped on standards of living and low death and poverty rates.

There is also the problem of lots of arrogant americans hiding behind their countries flag and lying about how great it is because they know they are NOBODIES in themselves.

Your even being arrogant about the 9/11 incident. Although tragic, your government (with help from other nations including my own) dispenses with millions of people every decade with it's foreign policies and has killed hundreds of thousands since 9/11. Why does american lives seem to be the only ones that seem to count for much with you? (unless it's your government and their supporters that are ruining and killing lives with their policies and love of the gun)

Anyway, being a superpower didnt win you vietnam so you might be the single most powerful nation but you cant afford to continue being so arrogant because you cant beat every other country in the world at the one time.

Your government is doing all of this and it is best not to say all americans are this but there are many other types of people being attacked by all types, and including americans doing this (you have done it now with the "islamofacists statement") but you seem to keep the typical US attitude of "we are great and free and above this so lets obliterate you by any means, foul or fair".

Of course though, it's the rest of the world being jealous of you being so big and powerful.

So i am led to believe that i was used as a pawn in a master plot to suspend RobertN.

Hey wait a second i wan't my warning squashed.

Free RobertT NOW!! !

aka
SB2

eamonn wrote,

i would agree with that.

No matter what i say or what i do my words and actions are inconsequential and fall upon deaf ears.

There is a point in the US being the worlds most powerful nation adding to the criticism. It gets more attention in the international forum and is big news so obviously it will get more criticism than smaller nations when it has a government thats view is at odds with most others in the world.

If you go to any British forum you will see it is the British government that gets most of the attention and therefore stick. Power attracts attention and some criticism, Lots of power used in a way that is imo bad is going to obviously attract a lot of criticism.

Maybe some people are jealous of the US but im not i can assure you. If i was jealous of it's greatness id move there but im not.

Id also like to point out that i know it is silly to tar put every individual in the one country with the same brush but nearly everybody in the forum does it (whether meaning so or not) so i dont see why it is a banning offence.

Last edited by eamonn on 27 Dec 2005, 4:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

DivaD recites the tired line,

Being a straight white male in America i am so tired of the line, "I am a minority, i am disenfranchised."

Well stand up and be counted then, get off your duff and make change.

There is no more a disenfranchisaed group in America than the Straight white male.

Yes my Ancestors kept alot of worthy folk down for generations, and they were wrong. But currently, their is not one piece of legislation that is supportive of my status. Rather, the opposite is true. Their is plenty of laws written to keep me down while others catch up.

I call them enabler laws. See while i have to work my duff off to catch fair play, the (disenfranchised) minorities get to remain on theirs and catch a break for free...


...Why do you suppose that is?

... Who do you suppose is the greatest benefactor of such inequalities?

ironic how it is guised under the label of equality.

Oh right, "positive discrimination" its called. It's supposedly to help the minorities get ahead because they are on average poorer. Well im against it and think it's just to make it look like the governments are doing something and keep the poor people fighting it out amongst themselves for the crumbs off of the rich man's table instead of seeing the bigger picture and demanding a fair slice of the cake that the ruling elte and influential are gorging themselves with.

If the governments helped make sure there was no-one poor and under the poverty line by bringing in more socialist policies then there would be no need for this infighting atall.

...which is precisely why they do it - "divide and conquer" anyone? if black and white people are fighting, or men and women, or straight and gay, etc., etc., then there's no need to worry about collective power.

i absolutely agree with the above, by the way, eamonn.

There you have it eamonn.

One of the "elite" are in agreement with you.
Maybe you should rethink your position. Kidding.

Thank you both i think you answered my 2 questions very well.

Ironic, non Americans could know the reasons why. More enlightened?

Uh, last time I checked, there are a fair amount of people from "other nationalities", in this forum. RobertN, in that respect, is not a minority. A good number of moderators and people are (from what I've observed) leftist-leaning. RobertN attacked those who were against him and not against him simply based on their nationality. Even the Americans who sided with him, he made comments saying that they deserved what was coming to them. Quite trying to absolve RobertN of any responcibily that he had in those matters. It was his free will.

Good point and cool avatar to boot.

Eamonn, 1 of the 10