God Bless America !(?)

[Amused]

<< I'm from outside the US, and I think that the US is one big, messed up country. I'm surprised it still exists, although it's likely that the current culture will cease to exist in only a few decades, seeing that disorder, anarchy and paranoia are increasing quickly. >>



It's so terribly sad how distorted the view of our wonderful country is to those in other countries. Ell, I've lived here all my life. The US is a wonderful and peaceful place to live. You only hear the bad because it's sensational and gives good copy in your press.

We're going to be here an awful lot longer than you think. Hell, at least we have been bent over and rammed up the @ss by every two bit dictator that comes along like you guys have

 

[Amused]

<< i find very little pride in being an american. We leech off the entire world so we can live happy. Billions live in poverty, but ride around in $50k cars and waste away more resources than we deserve. I know this probably sounds hypocritical, but i just thin ktheres a lot wrong with america. Not to mention the double standards and superficiality. This isnt a day to falsely comemorate our nation, its a time to recognize how much is wrong with america, and how much needs to change. >>



We worked for it, we deserve it. We didn't steal anything from anybody to drive nice cars, TacoBell, we earned it.

BTW, thanks for pissing all over the accomplishments of our forefathers who built this country into the strongest and most productive country in the world in one pathetic paragraph.

We have ONE fusking day a year to CELEBRATE our great nation, and you feel like coming in here and pissing on everyone's parade. Take your pity party elsewhere.

 

[GL]

As a Canadian, I like to dog on Americans all the time - but I hope you all know it's in good fun. To generalize a whole populace...I'd have to say Americans are well-intentioned and moreoever, they follow through on these intentions. Any differing opinions is what makes you guys Americans, and me, a Canadian. But as long as you don't melt my Igloo, water down my beer, or shoot my pet Moose I think you're all alright

 

[EvanFerguson]

the us is cool

 

[busmaster11]

<< We worked for it, we deserve it. We didn't steal anything from anybody to drive nice cars, TacoBell, we earned it. >>



AmusedOne:

I give nothing but credit to our forefathers who put their suffering, sacrifice, and blood, sweat and tears into making this country great. There is no doubt in my mind that overall this is the best country to live in, and I am especially proud of the freedom and equality which we have today, and with it the most precious of freedoms: the opportunity to innnovate and prosper.

Having said that, there's a little point that I kinda disagree with... I don't think you can objectively say that &quot;WE&quot; work harder than the average non-American. We live in a country we can be proud of because we are for whatever reason, blessed. We are blessed by God if you will, and we are fortunate, and we are dealt a better hand than most people living outside the US.

For every tragic, heroic Amreican that died sacrificing his life in a war, etc; for every American soldier who perished and is remembered honorably, there are probably thousands throughout history who have fought and died without so much as a tear shed.

My point is, Americans are taught to be proud of and value lives, recognize accomplishments, and hard work - but only those of Americans. We do not &quot;earn&quot; the right to all this material wealth. We inherited the right to it by living in this country. And we do not work harder for it; we just like to think we do.

So lets take pride in our country, but lets not go down the road of arrogance.

 

[Amused]

<<

<< We worked for it, we deserve it. We didn't steal anything from anybody to drive nice cars, TacoBell, we earned it. >>



AmusedOne:

I give nothing but credit to our forefathers who put their suffering, sacrifice, and blood, sweat and tears into making this country great. There is no doubt in my mind that overall this is the best country to live in, and I am especially proud of the freedom and equality which we have today, and with it the most precious of freedoms: the opportunity to innnovate and prosper.

Having said that, there's a little point that I kinda disagree with... I don't think you can objectively say that &quot;WE&quot; work harder than the average non-American. We live in a country we can be proud of because we are for whatever reason, blessed. We are blessed by God if you will, and we are fortunate, and we are dealt a better hand than most people living outside the US.

For every tragic, heroic Amreican that died sacrificing his life in a war, etc; for every American soldier who perished and is remembered honorably, there are probably thousands throughout history who have fought and died without so much as a tear shed.

My point is, Americans are taught to be proud of and value lives, recognize accomplishments, and hard work - but only those of Americans. We do not &quot;earn&quot; the right to all this material wealth. We inherited the right to it by living in this country. And we do not work harder for it; we just like to think we do.

So lets take pride in our country, but lets not go down the road of arrogance. >>



Our higher standard of living has NOTHING to do with good fortune, luck, or any god. It has everything to do with the hard work of WE and the fathers that came before WE. It also has everything to do with individualism and capitalism winning out over totalitarianism and feudalism. WE must work to maintain the standard of living passed on to us by our forefathers. It does not just magically stay this way without constant hard work, innovation, and risk taking.

It is also because of OUR vigilance that enough freedom has been retained in this country that WE can still maintain this standard of living, and yes, even raise the bar with each successive generation. In the future, OUR children will have WE to thank for their standard of living, and THEY will raise the bar for their children.

This is not arrogance. It is the reality that our forefathers created with our Constitution based on limited government and individual freedoms, and maintained by us.

 

[CichliSuite]

I am very proud to be an American. To enjoy the opportunity that this coutnry gives is simply unparalleled anywhere else in the world and immigration to this country from all other countries is testament to this fact.

That said, there have been good points made in the disrespect shown in this thread. While I think it's disgusting to bring about bad sentiment on a day where we are celebrating the good, the points are there. America's commerciallly-controlled culture is really eating itself alive. We all are witness the breackneck drive spiral that we are winding into. However, it's inevitable to a certain extent. The capitalist drive that made this country into the most powerful nation in a span of 200+ years, can't be switched off or slowed down, although I think it is indeed necessary. Marketing to children, gutter-level advertising campaigngs and marketing tactis are just some of the demons destroying the fabric of America at the expense of the dollar.

That said, America is still a great place. It isn't perfect, and there is much to be ashamed of, but there is even more to be proud of. Nowhere else in this world is there such access to education - not even in socialist countries with government run, and perceivably free schools. Nowhere else in this world will one be able to reap the rewards of hard work so consistently and so relatively easily. If you work hard, you WILL succeed. Yes, even for underpriviiedged - they may have to work harder, but they will and can get there.

 

[busmaster11]

<< Our higher standard of living has NOTHING to do with good fortune, luck, or any god. It has everything to do with the hard work of WE and the fathers that came before WE. It also has everything to do with individualism and capitalism winning out over totalitarianism and feudalism. WE must work to maintain the standard of living passed on to us by our forefathers. It does not just magically stay this way without constant hard work, innovation, and risk taking.

It is also because of OUR vigilance that enough freedom has been retained in this country that WE can still maintain this standard of living, and yes, even raise the bar with each successive generation. In the future, OUR children will have WE to thank for their standard of living, and THEY will raise the bar for their children.

This is not arrogance. It is the reality that our forefathers created with our Constitution based on limited government and individual freedoms, and maintained by us. >>



Well, see, here's the thing. We ARE blessed. But maybe thats because I believe in God. We're blessed because at the time of our independence the countries we separated from happened to be 3000 miles across an ocean. We're blessed because we have undeniably the largest and flattest and most fertile stretch of land anywhere on earth to grow our crops. We're blessed that when we first started out we had a clean slate, little overhead, tons of good and for all intents and purposes uninhabited land, and very few people to settle it. Remember, for example, relatively little of India and China's land is inhabitable or suitable for agriculture.

I agree with tacoking and think that those &quot;high standards of linving&quot; we strive to maintain are pretty irresposible. And if you think you work harder than people outside the US, a week in China's coal mines should change your mind.

But still, your point remains very valid: The constitution and political system that we have is the best history has ever seen. IT was written by humble people escaping tyranny, and smart people who swore to never let it happen again (thus all those checks and balances). Ultimately, the people who fought for this country and the faith I have in the system thats kept our country strong are the only reasons, abet great ones, why I celebrate the 4th.

I guess its inevitable that once conditions improve, and there's prosperity for all, prideful and arrogant people such as the far-right politicians will own Washington. They will remember their forefathers for their sacrifice, bravery and hard work. What they won't remember are the humble beginnings.

 

[busmaster11]

Just wanted to add that as an Asian American whose lived in and can contrast the two worlds, I think there is nothing more dispicable than an American who does not know he is blessed, and is arrogant and prideful enough to think he's earned the right to piss on the world, by living in a country that can; and also arrogant enough to think that his live is worth more, just because he lives in a country that does value human life more, but only because it is a luxury that we can afford, and not because it actually is.

my two cents...

 

[Triumph]

<< Good post, but the credit for space exploration must be jointly shared with the former Soviet Union. If you want to be completely anal about it, the credit goes to the Cold War between the two superpowers. >>



I fully realize that, but it takes two to tango. (or is it two to tangle?)

 

[AnitaPeterson]

As far as space exploration goes, you need to set your record straight:

1) with the exception of Robert Goddard, none of the rocket pioneers were American (Tsiolkovsky, Oberth, von Braun, Tsander...) Wernher von Braun moved to the U.S. after WWII, but kept his German nationality as well.
2) the Soviet Union had the first satellite in orbit (Sputnik, anyone?), the first living being in a space capsule (Laika), the first man in space (Gagarin.)
3) Americans are the first (and only) ones to set foot on the Moon. This remains the pivotal accomplishment.
4) No matter how much fun was made on its expense, the MIR space station had outlived its American counterpart Skylab several times over.



...and for those complining that Canadians are bashing the U.S. on its birthday, you did the same to us on our birthday, three days ago. Please check the threads, to refresh your memory...