What does the World think of the USA?

[BillyTheMountain]

when someone says USA, what pops into your head. just wondering if its what we think that you guy think:confused:

This RADICAL question could have been posed by Radical Reed, but it was actually posed by BillyTheMountain.

[yoopers]

They sponsor some great unicycle conventions.

[phil]

Tch... pesky upstarts... :)

Phil

[kington99]

If everyone in the world used as much of our natural resources and created so much pollution as the average American the world would still be habitable for roughly the next two days only.

[dudewithasock]

If everyone in the world used as much of our natural resources and created so much pollution as the average American the world would still be habitable for roughly the next two days only.

Being an American, I'll agree with you there.

[cathwood]

Guns and violence.
Big food.
Money.
Your health insurance thingy. Needing a dsm diagnosis to get help for mental health problems.
The movies & holywood.
That I'm as likely as anyone else to create stereotypes.

Cathy

[cathwood]

In contrast, the rest of the world probably doesn't know that wales exists, or think that it's part of England.

Cathy

[kapoute]

stupid

[James_Potter]

If everyone in the world used as much of our natural resources and created so much pollution as the average American the world would still be habitable for roughly the next two days only.
is that an actual statistic, or just an analogy?

either way, you make a good point.

[habbywall]

when the letters USA pop up anywhere but here i think of a awful country.
but when you asked me what the letters USA stood for being on a unicycle site i immediatly thought of unicycling society of america,(i only know what it stands for cause i did a report on the history of the unicycle)

[Mikefule]

In contrast, the rest of the world probably doesn't know that wales exists, or think that it's part of England.


The rest of the world, except England, of course.:D

So what do I think of when I think of the USA?

Unfortunately, my first gut reaction to references to the USA in news stories is somewhere between hostile, sceptical and despairing.

As a geopolitical force, the USA is a bad thing. Events of recent years have shown this.

A bunch of people from Saudi carry out a devastating attack on America. The President uses the language and logic of the OK Corral to justify attacking, er... Afghanistan.

The leader of the enemy is from a religious group which attaches great significance to martyrdom, and the Americans try to bomb him into oblivion, turning him into a quasi-mythical figure in the process, and increasing his influence over those likely to follow him.

They then draw a tenuous link between this religious nutter and a secular Arab state (Iraq) and create a false justification for attacking it with supreme force, in defiance of the United Nations (the Secretary general has said that the war is illegal) and killing thousands upon thousands of innocent civilians and conscripts in the process.

Having no understanding of the local culture, they try to shoehorn democracy into a society with no democratic heritage, and it all goes horribly wrong and descends into near civil war. But not to worry, because Big Tex the redneck President is already eyeing up Iran - Iraq's traditional enemy - and planning to attack it, giving these two powerful middle eastern countries a reason to forget their differences and unite against the west.

Don't miss next week's exciting instalment.

But what if we take a less pessimistic view and look at American popular culture? The first thought is of fries, burgers, overweight people, consumerism gone mad, gas-guzzling SUVs, and a small-island mentality.

But... the USA is the world's largest democracy (or at least, plutocratic quasi-democracy) and has produced some very good things: blue jeans, blues, rock and roll, country music, a love of freedom...

It's not all bad, but the USA brand is badly damaged at the moment.

[BillyTheMountain]

That I'm as likely as anyone else to create stereotypes.

Cathy

Stereotypes are false generalizations. Very different from an entity with an established of behavior and policy. You can judge a nation by its behavior patterns and policies.

[Radical Reed]

when i think of USA i think of them just like canadians who can be a bit full of them selves at times but we're too scared to insult them 'cause they could kick our asses:eek:

[harper]

When I hear USA the telephone dial tone pops into my head. This is because I don't think. I'm very accustomed to this sound.

[BillyTheMountain]

when I think of the USA?

Unfortunately, my first gut reaction to references to the USA in news stories is somewhere between hostile, sceptical and despairing.

As a geopolitical force, the USA is a bad thing. Events of recent years have shown this.

But what if we take a less pessimistic view and look at American popular culture? The first thought is of fries, burgers, overweight people, consumerism gone mad, gas-guzzling SUVs, and a small-island mentality.

But... the USA is the world's largest democracy (or at least, plutocratic quasi-democracy) and has produced some very good things: blue jeans, blues, rock and roll, country music, a love of freedom...

It's not all bad, but the USA brand is badly damaged at the moment.

So what are you, some kind of confused quasi-materialistic commie??

[abbabibble]

If everyone in the world used as much of our natural resources and created so much pollution as the average American the world would still be habitable for roughly the next two days only.


i agree too.
I think i'll move to aussie-land when i'm older.

[Tim Morin]

I think of a nation built by secret societies, with the ultimate goal being world domination (New World Order). I think of a propaganda and war machine, profitting by the blood shed of innocent people, including their own. I think of a group of ethnocentrics, who force their ways onto others, all in the name of freedom and liberty. I think of a beast under the sea, waiting for the time when it will rear it's mighty head from the waters and devastate the multitudes. I try not to think much about the U.S.A. these days.

[gollum89]

I think of America(ns) as fat people that carry guns, are controlled by probaganda, like irak war, dislike germans and have a real bad general knowledge. I also like what Tim Morin wrote. Still although most Americans that I met meet the mentioned pedjudices they were real friendly people.

[Loosemoose]

Americans come across as fat, lazy, arrogant, patriotic and insular. Except for every single one you ever meet, who happen to be normal size, active, friendly, embracing of other cultures and willing to travel great distances to meet them. Maybe I've only met tourists, but I still think there's something wrong with the way Americans are portrayed in the media.

They do have a stupid president though.

Loose.

[BillyTheMountain]

Americans come across as fat, lazy, arrogant, patriotic and insular. Except for every single one you ever meet, who happen to be normal size, active, friendly, embracing of other cultures and willing to travel great distances to meet them. Maybe I've only met tourists, but I still think there's something wrong with the way Americans are portrayed in the media.

They do have a stupid president though.

Loose.

Those that travel widely outside the USA are probably a different breed. And if you met them, that means they weren't just hopping off the tour bus to shoot some quick photos, so those again are a different breed. Of course, if they unicycle, they are a very rare breed indeed. :D

[wobbling bear]

an arabic humorist imagined a scene for a comedy: an American is going to be roughed up by an angry mob shouting "death to america", then this american has got an idea and shouts "run: the first one who arrives to this wall there gets a green card!".... guess what happens?
I do not think anything automatically about America because for every sin you can find you can find also the corresponding virtue: fascinating!
I am certainly not going to live there but any American willing to behave gentlemanly is welcomed here :) ....

[UniTyler]

Ego, money, and BIG

[James_Potter]

first I thought you said "eggs, money, and big."
I thought that was funny.

[dorkybarb]

Americans come across as fat, lazy, arrogant, patriotic and insular. Except for every single one you ever meet, who happen to be normal size, active, friendly, embracing of other cultures and willing to travel great distances to meet them. Maybe I've only met tourists, but I still think there's something wrong with the way Americans are portrayed in the media.

They do have a stupid president though.

Loose.

yea we do have a stupid president.
it still booggles my mind how he got back in, but what scares me the most is the fact that now there are rumors that Jeb is goiing to run. and here i thought that after 2008 we would be Bush free, but who knows!

i would have to agree with loosemoose. we do come across as fat, lazy, psychotic, arrogant, and there are lots of those who try to impose thier beliefs on others.
but what he said about the toursits, i think is true.
those who want to get out of the country and expand thier knowledge base are those that you meet and they are not any of the above.

i think that Americans are portrayed badly. but there are reasons for it.
we are portrayed that way because the people who make the news are those who are the lazy stupid people.

[James_Potter]

i think that Americans are portrayed badly. but there are reasons for it.
kinda like muslims....

[musketman]

when USA popps into my head i think of

1.Freedom
2. We are the richest country & have everything!
3. Americans own!
4. We kick everyones buttz!
5. We have alot of fatties in the U.S.A.
6. Our food is huge! (in a bad way)
7. We are very lucky

[chosen]

In contrast, the rest of the world probably doesn't know that wales exists, or think that it's part of England.

Cathy
arent great britain, wales, northern ireland, and england what comprise the uk? or something?

[cathwood]

arent great britain, wales, northern ireland, and england what comprise the uk? or something?

Wales, Northen Ireland, Scotland and England are all the countries that make up the UK (or Great Britian).

Cathy

[harper]

I do not think anything automatically about America because for every sin you can find you can find also the corresponding virtue: fascinating!
I am certainly not going to live there but any American willing to behave gentlemanly is welcomed here.

Thank you. How civil.

[dale_dale]

when USA popps into my head i think of

1.Freedom
2. We are the richest country & have everything!
3. Americans own!
4. We kick everyones buttz!
5. We have alot of fatties in the U.S.A.
6. Our food is huge! (in a bad way)
7. We are very lucky


i think of words like "owns" and "buttz" with a z ...

hahha no but rely we get the impresson form TV and the media that ur all fat and lazy. Im sure ur not but thats what we get told

[chosen]

i read recently that american kids are becoming twice as likely as their parents to develop high blood pressure, and diabetes later, becuase of all the fast food we eat. so yea americans will be even fatter, jsut wait
Wales, Northen Ireland, Scotland and England are all the countries that make up the UK (or Great Britian).

Cathy
for a lazy american, at least i was close, right cathy? :p

[musketman]

i think of words like "owns" and "buttz" with a z ...

hahha no but rely we get the impresson form TV and the media that ur all fat and lazy. Im sure ur not but thats what we get told


hehehe! so you are told we are fat? & lazy? Yea well.... most of us are fat and lazy! haha!

NO i think most of americans are fat, i dont know how the lazy thing got into this mess.

Americans have been known to be fat, but lazy is a new one.

At least im not fat! Im more skinny

[dale_dale]

hehehe! so you are told we are fat? & lazy? Yea well.... most of us are fat and lazy! haha!

NO i think most of americans are fat, i dont know how the lazy thing got into this mess.

Americans have been known to be fat, but lazy is a new one.

At least im not fat! Im more skinny

yeah i just added the lazy bit in cos most fat people i know are lazy

its all mcdonalds fault people are fat

[musketman]

yeah i just added the lazy bit in cos most fat people i know are lazy

its all mcdonalds fault people are fat

yea.. lets sue Mcdonalds! The American way! HaHa! He he!

[Jerrick]

lol its all McDonalds fault!!! but not burgerking... lol

Actually i really hate how ppl seriously blame McDonalds for their weight gain, i eat there, but i am very active and excercise everyday, and im young so i got a reasonably fast motabolism. Most ppl i know who are fat are only that way cause they do nothing but stay at home and play games, the most exercise they get is walking from one class to another at school, pretty sad really...

So when i think of USA, I just think of me and my friends, i know theres a lot of corruption and our obiesty rating is way way way too high, but there is a lot of good in the USA, and i see the good part of it way more then i see the bad.

And im not even gonna go into the political issue of our country, its never gonna be right, there is always gonna be bad political dissions, some may not think they are bad, other will think it was the best dicision ever, so there will always be someone ready with their rebutle and debate for hours, so to me its kinda like a never ending battle that i wish not to get involved (much) in lol.

[dale_dale]

lol its all McDonalds fault!!! but not burgerking... lol

Actually i really hate how ppl seriously blame McDonalds for their weight gain, i eat there, but i am very active and excercise everyday, and im young so i got a reasonably fast motabolism. Most ppl i know who are fat are only that way cause they do nothing but stay at home and play games, the most exercise they get is walking from one class to another at school, pretty sad really...

yup i eat at mcdonalds and have pizzas and loads of crap im not stuck in my bed cos im too fat to fit thorough the door

[darchibald]

when USA popps into my head i think of

1.Freedom
2. We are the richest country & have everything!
3. Americans own!
4. We kick everyones buttz!


Thats what I think of, cocky and arrogant people. Along with all the other stereotypes/generalizations in this thread. But I'm really not sure what you crazy guys are like because I'm not sure if all these generalisations are true, or just seem true because thats what we (well at least me as a Canadian) are told about you folk all the time. I've only met a few Americans, several unicyclists among those few, and they were all really cool.

One thing I do believe, (from a presentation/talk by a guy form California/Texas(he lived in both places) who had moved to Canada, and also from watching Bowling for Columbine), you guys are generally more angry. Both in general as individuals and as nation who likes partaking in/starting wars.

David

[Jerrick]

One thing I do believe, (from a presentation/talk by a guy form California/Texas(he lived in both places) who had moved to Canada, and also from watching Bowling for Columbine), you guys are generally more angry. Both in general as individuals and as nation who likes partaking in/starting wars.

David


Well, i can tell you that i am never angry, i seriously havent been angry in years, i get annoyed like once a month but then i just play guitar and im fine, to the person that gets me mad i will pay 50 dollars!!!

[dale_dale]

Well, i can tell you that i am never angry, i seriously havent been angry in years, i get annoyed like once a month but then i just play guitar and im fine, to the person that gets me mad i will pay 50 dollars!!!


Jerrick i hate you and u have no friends

can i have 50 dollars

[Jerrick]

lol, you wish it was that easy to get me mad =p

[Borges]

What does the World think of the USA?
I mainly think of people and places I'd like to visit.
Then there are social, environmental, and diplomatic stuff I'd have messed up in a different way if I had been president.
I've had trouble picking my stereotypes lately. They're not consistent enough.

[Eddbmxdude]

USA? hmmm

People:
Loud
Big egos
Bigger stomachs
A bit dim
No/odd sense of humour

Country:
Big
Loud
Guns
old towns
Murders
Dumb president
bullys (towards poor countrys)

I think that this image is mainly the governments fault though. All the yanks iv spoken to on unicyclist.com have all been very friendly and helpful and dare i say it: normal!!!

Ride on!
Edd

[GILD]

My first thought when I hear 'USA' is this quote by Gerge Clemenceau “America is the only nation in history which miraculously has gone directly from barbarism to degeneration without the usual interval of civilization.” (http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation/america_is_the_only_nation_in_history_which/206644.html)

The French-bashers among us would no doubt love to know that he was French Prime Minister during the First World War.

I think of a nation built by secret societies...
I try not to think much about the U.S.A. these days.
Tim, wow, wicked post.
Remind me to buy you a beer someday.

And as much as I think of all these 'orrible things when I think about the USA, I also think of all the exceptionally kewl american people I've met via these fora. JJuggle, Harper, John_Childs, TomBlackwood, UniBrier, Dave Stockton.
And especially Yoopers.
Why especially Yoopers?
Because we don't agree on anything. We don't agree on politics, religion, abortion, hunting, death penalty, legalising marijuana, you name it, we disagree on it. And yet we're able to have completely civilised discussions about life, the universe, tea/coffee, wrestling/soccer and stuff. If the Americans are so kewl, why is America such a mess?
Who is John Galt?

I guess being from a country that was an international pariah due to the actions of a minority gives me a slightly different perspective as well.

But whenever the USA comes up in conversation, I'm still going to quote Clemenceau.

[Eddbmxdude]

Just an after-thought: Why yanks? Is there a meaning behind that?

[GILD]

The word is derived from Yankee, which I'm told by a contributor is an Indian word referring to those from Connecticut and New England. I am told by yet another member of my private army of researchers that Yankee was a derogatory term for northerners dating back to the American Civil War and is in fact an amalgamation of two common Dutch names - "Jan" and "Kees".

More info over here (http://english2american.com/dictionary/y.html).


And the relevant Wiki entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee).

[BillyTheMountain]

If the Americans are so kewl, why is America such a mess?
Who is John Galt?

I guess being from a country that was an international pariah due to the actions of a minority gives me a slightly different perspective as well.

But whenever the USA comes up in conversation, I'm still going to quote Clemenceau.

Isn't the USA an international pariah?

America is such a mess because Americans don't have much say in what America does.

JOHN Galt? Why the reference to anarcho-capitolism here?

Billy

[yoopers]

its all mcdonalds fault people are fat
C'mon. Lay off Mickey-D's. They serve only the finest.

[GILD]

JOHN Galt? Why the reference to anarcho-capitolism here?

Billy
The reference was to an unanswerable question.

[BillyTheMountain]

America is such a mess because Americans don't have much say in what America does.

Billy

Dave [re: John Galt]: You don't think my answer is an answer?

[GILD]

Only in the strictest anarcho-capitalist way.

[BillyTheMountain]

Only in the strictest anarcho-capitalist way.

Dave: You have much too much MR in your repertoire.....

[UniTyler]

USA? hmmm

People:
No/odd sense of humour

Edd

That's a generalization towards the government, I think. I agree with everything else, but most of the people I know have a really good sense of humor.

Just for the record, I think I'll move to England when I get older. Probably take up a computer-related carreer over there. I've got mostly English genes, but a little bit of Norwegian popped in there somewhere. Off topic, but because most of my dad's family is Mormon (my parents, brother, grandparents, and I aren't), they have really good record of family history, so we traced my dad's family back to the 1300s up to the 1930s living all around England. There's still some of my family living over there, too.

[BillyTheMountain]

That's a generalization towards the government, I think. I agree with everything else, but most of the people I know have a really good sense of humor.

Just for the record, I think I'll move to England when I get older. Probably take up a computer-related carreer over there. I've got mostly English genes, but a little bit of Norwegian popped in there somewhere. Off topic, but because most of my dad's family is Mormon (my parents, brother, grandparents, and I aren't), they have really good record of family history, so we traced my dad's family back to the 1300s up to the 1930s living all around England. There's still some of my family living over there, too.

They've been worried about you. You should phone more frequently! I'm sure you could stay with them, since in England, family is everything. :D :eek:

Glad you're back, Tyler. I'll give you a course on writing like a teenage boy, if you want.

Billy

[gollum89]

1.Freedom

yeah right:mad: :confused: :)
iraq 1&2
hawaai
afganistan
WW1&2
vietnam
kambotscha
cold war
...........................................................

[chosen]

GILD i think of you as an american. if you ever come to america, we can throw back or a cold one. or you can, and ill watch. but none the less come, and you can kick it with the rednacks here.:)

[BillyTheMountain]

GILD i think of you as an american. if you ever come to america, we can throw back or a cold one. or you can, and ill watch. but none the less come, and you can kick it with the rednacks here.:)

I hope you didn't scare Dave away or worse....

Chosen: I think of you as a South African. If you ever come to NYC, we can throw back or a cold one. Or you can watch, tho that's a bit odd. No rednecks here in NYC, but we'll try to make you feel at home,

For a visitor to the USA, would you say Florida is a MUST-SEE?

[GILD]

I'm still trying to make up my mind if he insulted me or complimented me.
Either way, its accompanied by an offer of beer, so I'm good.

[UniTyler]

They've been worried about you. You should phone more frequently! I'm sure you could stay with them, since in England, family is everything. :D :eek:

Glad you're back, Tyler. I'll give you a course on writing like a teenage boy, if you want.

Billy

Back? When did I leave? :confused:

[GILD]

According to your earlier post, around 1930 or so?

[harper]

Who is John Galt?



Ayn would tell you were she still a kickin'. Do you think he was the one who shrugged?

[BillyTheMountain]

Ayn would tell you were she still a kickin'. Do you think he was the one who shrugged?

Wasn't it Hank Reardon and Dagny Taggart who shrugged?

In some ways, the unconscious of the JC is responding to the original question of this thread. Very interesting (said with a Viennese accent ala S. Freud).

[cathwood]

Wasn't it Hank Reardon and Dagny Taggart who shrugged?

In some ways, the unconscious of the JC is responding to the original question of this thread. Very interesting (said with a Viennese accent ala S. Freud).

Well what does it mean then that I don't know what the hell you're talking about?

(Correct psychodynamic response is probably "Well, what do you think it means?")

Cathy

[harper]

Well what does it mean then that I don't know what the hell you're talking about?



The side story (thread jack) involves characters from Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged and "who's John Galt" is not a quote from the same book. I think "John Galt knows
" is the quote.

[musketman]

yeah right:mad: :confused: :)
iraq 1&2
hawaai
afganistan
WW1&2
vietnam
kambotscha
cold war
...........................................................

Im lost...are u saying we didn't have the freedom to say we are not going to war?

If we didn't go to those wars we wouldn't be free! Our country wouldn't be if we didn't fight in them wars!



Thats why i hate it when people say we shoudn't have went to Iraq. The freAken iraqis attacked our country! Are yous nutz? We have to go to war! We cant just say oh no they rammed plaines into our buildings....ahhh...lets just act as though nothing happend...derrrr...

that would be stupid if we didn't go to war! We have to! War is a sad, but real part of life, not everything can be worked out. Most Iraqis dont care about the U.S., and are actually taught at a very young age to hate us!

[mscalisi]

Are you SERIOUSLY that ignorant? NOT ONE of the hijackers was from Iraq!! I don't even know what else to say to you.

Im lost...are u saying we didn't have the freedom to say we are not going to war?

If we didn't go to those wars we wouldn't be free! Our country wouldn't be if we didn't fight in them wars!



Thats why i hate it when people say we shoudn't have went to Iraq. The freAken iraqis attacked our country! Are yous nutz? We have to go to war! We cant just say oh no they rammed plaines into our buildings....ahhh...lets just act as though nothing happend...derrrr...

that would be stupid if we didn't go to war! We have to! War is a sad, but real part of life, not everything can be worked out. Most Iraqis dont care about the U.S., and are actually taught at a very young age to hate us!

[U-Turn]

Im lost...are u saying we didn't have the freedom to say we are not going to war?

If we didn't go to those wars we wouldn't be free! Our country wouldn't be if we didn't fight in them wars!



Thats why i hate it when people say we shoudn't have went to Iraq. The freAken iraqis attacked our country! Are yous nutz? We have to go to war! We cant just say oh no they rammed plaines into our buildings....ahhh...lets just act as though nothing happend...derrrr...

that would be stupid if we didn't go to war! We have to! War is a sad, but real part of life, not everything can be worked out. Most Iraqis dont care about the U.S., and are actually taught at a very young age to hate us!I had an Iraqi friend at college in Chicago in the early 1980's; a really nice guy. At that same school, I had two different Iranian roommates at two different times. One was a REALLY nice guy, super smart and super neat, educated, articulate, polite. Straight A's, and had no luck AFAIK finding a job at a US company. The other was a bitter, angry, useless slob.

It's easy to generalize, but very difficult to do so accurately.

It's distressing, but not surprising, to see that Bush's campaign to confuse the issues with respect to 9-11 and Iraq has worked so well on some people. 9-11 was a justification for response, but he deliberately mislead (enough of) us to execute a murderous attack on a country that had little to do with it. Unfortunately, "freAken iraqis" is not an accurate enough term for a full-scale invasion by the most powerful country on earth, with the most sophisticated weaponry and intelligence gathering the world has ever known.

Neither the 1st nor the 2nd in command is capable of handling a loaded weapon.

[GILD]

Most Iraqis dont care about the U.S., and are actually taught at a very young age to hate us!
By who?
Madeleine Albright?

In May 1996, US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was asked on the CBS program 60 Minutes if the death of more than half a million children was a price worth paying (http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig4/katz1.html).
"[W]e think the price is worth it,"
(http://pilger.carlton.com/print/other_art)she replied. (6)

[Gilby]

By who?
Madeleine Albright?
No silly, by Mr. Bush.

[toddw9]

2. We are the richest country

I don't think that's true... you're 2nd or 3rd I think. I know for a fact that Luxembourg is WAY ahead of you, looking at GDP per capita. The US definitely has the largest economy, but that doesn't make it the richest country by any means.

[fexnix]

1. Fat people
2. McDonalds
3. Bombs
4. Big cars
5. Everyone carries guns
6. Christian fanatics
7. Good unicyclists

[JJuggle]

I don't think that's true... you're 2nd or 3rd I think. I know for a fact that Luxembourg is WAY ahead of you, looking at GDP per capita. The US definitely has the largest economy, but that doesn't make it the richest country by any means.
Whadya know. Luxembourg is way ahead and Norway slightly so. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita) I hope they're as fat as we are too.

[BillyTheMountain]

7. Good unicyclists

Correction: The BEST unicyclists!!! USA! USA!

[fexnix]

Correction: The BEST unicyclists!!! USA! USA!

You managed to find the only positive thing on my list ;)

[mscalisi]

The best unicyclists ARE in North America, but not the USA.

Correction: The BEST unicyclists!!! USA! USA!

[monkeyman]

Thats why i hate it when people say we shoudn't have went to Iraq. The freAken iraqis attacked our country! Are yous nutz? We have to go to war! We cant just say oh no they rammed plaines into our buildings....ahhh...lets just act as though nothing happend...derrrr...
I LIVE in America, and sadly, therea re a lot of people who are actually like this...
The american government, as of now, is a war propaganda machine, and sadly, people like this are the result.
The so called "American Dream" has corrupted society by having people become obsessed with making as much money in as little time as possible, and destroying values along with it.
The government has mortgaged my generation's future to China
In case you haven't figured it out yet, I have a very horrible opinion of the current American society, and at times, I'm ashamed to live here

[yoopers]

I LIVE in America, and sadly, therea re a lot of people who are actually like this...
The american government, as of now, is a war propaganda machine, and sadly, people like this are the result.
The so called "American Dream" has corrupted society by having people become obsessed with making as much money in as little time as possible, and destroying values along with it.
The government has mortgaged my generation's future to China
In case you haven't figured it out yet, I have a very horrible opinion of the current American society, and at times, I'm ashamed to live here
Very interesting. I can honestly say that no matter how bad things have been or perhaps might become, I have never been ashamed to live in the good ol' U.S. of A. Call me ignorant but I am living the American dream. We are down the ladder somewhat from the list of billionaires, quite a ways down, matter of fact about one rung off the bottom, but I couldn't ask for more. I have a very loving family, the means and ability to work for a living, the freedom to go to church and to travel on vacation, a roof over my head, food on the table every night, socks in the drawer and an apple tree in the back yard. Maybe it's nice being ignorant because the society in which I exist is pretty rosy, all for which I will be eternally thankful.

Bruce

[monkeyman]

mmmmm, apples
Have you ever read The Great Gatsby?
Normally I'm happy that I live in the USA, because, normally, it's great.
We do have many good rights that aren't granted in many parts of the world, but many times I'm ashamed to be associated with the teenage American stereotype (the lazy, wasteful, overweight, ungrateful, selfish, sit-around-and-play-video-games-all-day teen)

[cathwood]

The side story (thread jack) involves characters from Ayn Rand's book Atlas Shrugged and "who's John Galt" is not a quote from the same book. I think "John Galt knows
" is the quote.

Thanks. It's always good to know there's a rational explanation for things that seem otherwise inexplicable.

Cathy

[yoopers]

mmmmm, apples
Have you ever read The Great Gatsby?
Normally I'm happy that I live in the USA, because, normally, it's great.
We do have many good rights that aren't granted in many parts of the world, but many times I'm ashamed to be associated with the teenage American stereotype (the lazy, wasteful, overweight, ungrateful, selfish, sit-around-and-play-video-games-all-day teen)
Every generation seems to look at the younger generation as a pitiful excuse for all that's good and right. I have two teenage boys so I am very interested in what they experience on a daily basis. So I monitor a thing called Myspace and peruse the Myspace sites of many of the teenagers in Rochelle. I'm astounded and horrified by what I see. It's as if the scourge of the earth are alive and well on Planet Rochelle. Then Ben and Brad's reports of what they see and hear in the school hallways are frightening. So what do we do?

You mention that you are ashamed to be associated with such a crowd. Well, don't associate with the stereotype. So far, Ben and Brad have kept their defensive walls up, maintained their distance, and picked and chosen their friends very carefully. They use our home as a refuge from it all. I know, easier said than done. But change always needs to start with the first step.

I guess honestly I would have to admit that we're not out to change the typical teenage stereotype but rather find ourselves in a defensive mode more often than not. There's just no way we can take on the world by ourselves. So we protect ourselves and realize that we can't change the world. But we are able to initialize changes in the immediate enviroment in which we exist, which can only benefit the community as a whole.

[monkeyman]

When I said associated, I didn't mean 'am friends with" i just meant being steroetyped as one of them. I have excellent friends, none of which fall under the typical stereotype, in my opinion.
And as ashamed as I am to admit it, I have no idea what scourage means...I assume it means the lowest or something to that effect, but I do agree with you. I am actually worried as to what wil happen to the world once my generation comes into power

[yoopers]

When I said associated, I didn't mean 'am friends with" i just meant being steroetyped as one of them. I have excellent friends, none of which fall under the typical stereotype, in my opinion.
And as ashamed as I am to admit it, I have no idea what scourage means...I assume it means the lowest or something to that effect, but I do agree with you. I am actually worried as to what wil happen to the world once my generation comes into power
Sorry, meant scourge. Was able to go back and change it on an edit.

As for what will happen when your generation comes of age, the world will go on and you will look at the next generation with fear and trembling. If all else fails, we have apples.

[cathwood]

well, the world has survived previous generations coming to power (when the generation before were probably all horrified at the prospect) I daresay it will survive your generation too.

Cathy

[monkeyman]

well, the world has survived previous generations coming to power (when the generation before were probably all horrified at the prospect) I daresay it will survive your generation too.

Cathy
Oh well, you and Bruce will be in nursing homes by then anyway, so it doesn't matter
;)

[cathwood]

Oh well, you and Bruce will be in nursing homes by then anyway, so it doesn't matter
;)

Only if they let us bring our unis.

Cathy

[yoopers]

Oh well, you and Bruce will be in nursing homes by then anyway, so it doesn't matter
;)
Make sure my blender is working properly by then, please. Looking forward to supper through a straw.

[monkeyman]

Make sure my blender is working properly by then, please. Looking forward to supper through a straw.
-threadjack-
Speaking of blenders, have either of you seen Firewall?

[Borges]

Whadya know. Luxembourg is way ahead and Norway slightly so. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita) I hope they're as fat as we are too.
No way! Do you know what food costs in Norway?
You have to pay more than 6$ for a bigmac there.

[GILD]

"who's John Galt" is not a quote from the same book. I think "John Galt knows" is the quote.
Very funny. John Galt might, but who is Greg Harper?

The rhetorical question "Who is John Galt?" is one of the centerpieces of the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged. Occurring a total of 28 times in the novel and spoken by several different characters, the phrase serves as a motif that takes on many levels of meaning throughout the book. The question was also used in an underground campaign used to promote the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged and the philosophy of Objectivism. Billboards and bumper stickers were printed with the question; Objectivists continue to include the question in online signature blocks, on license plate frames, and on any other location where it will fit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_John_Galt%3F).

[U-Turn]

As for what will happen when your generation comes of age, the world will go on and you will look at the next generation with fear and trembling.Better than shock and awe! :(

[GILD]

This generational discussion reminds me of these (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?p=158888&highlight=sebastian#post158888) threads (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39363&highlight=sebastian) and in particular this post. (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?p=295461&highlight=sebastian#post295461)

I get so derivative sometimes.

[harper]

Very funny. John Galt might, but who is Greg Harper?

You've got me there. I remember the characters saying "John Galt knows" and in context being synonymous with nobody knows or could figure it out. I wonder if both phrases are used in the book or if I'm just dead wrong. I'd go with option two to be safe.

[GILD]

I thought it was some deep, dark and mysteriously objectavistic subtext joke and nearly let it go...

[musketman]

Are you SERIOUSLY that ignorant? NOT ONE of the hijackers was from Iraq!! I don't even know what else to say to you.

:mad: i mean Osama and his people:mad:

[musketman]

I don't think that's true... you're 2nd or 3rd I think. I know for a fact that Luxembourg is WAY ahead of you, looking at GDP per capita. The US definitely has the largest economy, but that doesn't make it the richest country by any means.

this i know is true, pretty much every American has/gets what he wants.

What other countries are richer that the U.S. as a whole?

[musketman]

this i know is true, pretty much every American has/gets what he wants.

What other countries are richer that the U.S. as a whole?

my bad u where right about Lexionberg? or what every that place was u said, but we are what the 3rd or 2nd richest in de world?

[fexnix]

No way! Do you know what food costs in Norway?
You have to pay more than 6$ for a bigmac there.

Thats why Norwegian people buy beer in Sweden, swedish people buy beer in Denmark, Danish people buy beer in Germany and the German peopla buy beer in Poland.

[harper]

What does the World think of the USA?

1.) Foreign aid source
2.) Insult target
3.) Go to 1.)

Where's mine? You owe me.

[Gilby]

1.) Foreign aid source
2.) Insult target
3.) Go to 1.)How correct you are... even though the foreign aid seems to be misguided, and so does the insults, but probably less so.

[GILD]

Foreign Aid would be wonderfull if it wasn't funded by pillaging the third world's resources, trapping the countries in question in never-ending World Bank/IMF debt and then selling the final products back at them to perpetuate the cycle.

Oh, don't get me started.

[Gilby]

Oh, don't get me started. Why not? Those of us that vote here in teh US want to know... even if we do vote for the losing candidates.

An international perspective is a good thing for american voters...

[GILD]

This (http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/whatwewant/debt.shtml) is as good a place to start as any.

And moving on from there, just google cancel the debt (http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=cancel+the+debt&meta=) for oodles more reading on the matter.

Future generations will look back at the IMF/World Bank the way we look at The Spanish Inquisition, just without those twinges of "Ah, quaint" that are normally associated with riping people's arms from their sockets because they refuse to accept your invented 'religion'.

Like I said, don't get me started.

[john_childs]

I've been intentionall ignoring this thread till now. Must be the beer.

US is like Microsoft
Europe is like Linux
Japan is like Apple
China is like spyware
North Korea and the Middle East are like malware
Russia is like Sinclair

That's what I think

[Gilby]

US is like Microsoft

Hmmm... give MS a little more credit... at least they are trying to make things better... can't say that for the US.

[wobbling bear]

North Korea and the Middle East are like malware

compare North Korea and "Middle east"?
_that_ is strange .... I know there is no such thing as "Middle East" but the population of this region as a whole is much more friendly and hospitable than that!

[BillyTheMountain]

What does the World think of the USA?

1.) Foreign aid source
2.) Insult target
3.) Go to 1.)

Where's mine? You owe me.

1.) Foreign aid source: This is how the USA blackmail small nations.

[JJuggle]

1.) Foreign aid source: This is how the USA blackmail small nations.
According to the OECD the United States is the largest provider of foreign aid (http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/0/41/35842562.pdf) in total dollars, but second to last as a percent of GNI (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNI).

[BillyTheMountain]

1.) Foreign aid source: This is how the USA blackmail small nations.

Like threatening to withdraw aid on dependent nations if they support the World Court (becasue the USA would undoubtedly get prosecuted, and Bush would be arrested if he traveled outside the USA.)

It's like the crack dealer, fostering a dependency, then controlling the hapless crack girls.

[monkeyman]

Wow...I'm almost agreeing with Billy on this one