America Thinks it so big and bad

[Keiyoushi_Takun]

IN a sense, I guess it is...but...

Let's put it this way. If the earth were a high school, America is on of those preppy disliked snobs. Brittain is one of them also.

Always picking on the little countries. Recently, America has tried to get some popularity points by 'helping' out other countries. My @$$.

Nah, that's just me. I was born in America. Not to say that I enjoy knowing that. I wish I was born in Japan or something...

I'm asian by the way. About half. Anywhere but here ya'll.

furthermore, I'm in Republican Territory <crouches and shivers>....

But, you gotta live where ya live.

Who else feels like America is a prep?

[Machismo111]

I don't think America is as much of a preppy kid as a spoiled bully =). Combined with scrooge, of course. Everyone talks about how much money we give to foreign aid. Guess what, it totals to one tenth of one percent. That's .oo1% of the annual budget. While how much goes to military? More than the next 10 countries combined? Something like 47% of the budget? People insist that we need that, I think they're dumb. Bush is dumb, in my humble opinion for just about everything hes done. Breaking weapons treaties to test out his 'star wars' bs that didnt work the first time and just wasted billions of dollars the second.

I think two ways however. I think Americas not really doing that bad of a job, and we're definately not evil. We're not trying to conquer the world, just trying to make money and get everyone else to think like us. From a narrow minded point of view it makes sense. Secondly I think America is led by a bunch of money hungry power grubbing self interested people and shouldnt try to hold itself over the entire world as it does. I don't think the leadership necessarily respects the general consensus of the american public, so you definately shouldnt blame america as a whole. This is all opinion, of course =) and I still like living in america a lot.

[emitbrownne]

This thread provides explicit proof why more than a fair few members on this forum believe the flames section should be closed.

Peurile....

[xvikingx]

This section was so quiet for a while. I am with Emit; no more flames section. Talk about kendo (or whatever you practice) and keep your stupid ass politics to yourself! :tired:

[D'Artagnan]

"...Brittain is one of them also."

Why is this post on the KENDO world forum? i do think that it is rather irrellivent don't you chaps? i don't know, you young scallywags trying to cause a falling out. oh fiddlesticks i've dropped my pipe into my cup of earl grey, bother.

but then what do i know i am just a preppy snob from Britain (which only has the one 'T' by the way)

jolly hockeysticks, an' all that

A

[Machismo111]

The other message board I visit has something alike this, called the 'verbal warfare' section. I think this has nothing to do with Kendo, of course, but neiter should the general chat section. They are unrelated to Kendo and thus are in a different subsection of the site. I believe sections like this exist to allow people to vent their frustrations and state points of view that they might otherwise be forced not to discuss at the risk of someone taking offense. I enjoy heated arguments myself. If they truly upset you, ignore them or reply =). Besides, theres no arguing politics or religion, it's all opinion, so everyone's gonna be right, wrong, smart and dumb in this thread =P. Hehe, that doesn't sound like fun? ^_^. I am sorry if I offended anyone though, that was definately not my intent :(.

[nox]

Everyone talks about how much money we give to foreign aid. Guess what, it totals to one tenth of one percent. That's .oo1% of the annual budget. While how much goes to military? More than the next 10 countries combined? Something like 47% of the budget?

actually, this is a pretty big misconception
the US (ignoring the relatively unusual circumstances of the war on iraq and such) actually spends very little of its GDP on its military
actually less then 10%, prolly closer to the 5% range

your're assuming that the US budget and GDP is similar to other countries in the world
this isn't to sound cocky but it isn't
the US by far has the largest GDP in the world, more then double the no.2 nation in GDP, Japan
CA alone has the 5th (sometimes 6th, tends to flunctuate a bit, its right in there) largest GDP in the world

while the US does spend more in its military and military R&D then the next 6-7 highest spending countries combined. It does it with a VERY small portion of its GDP (even in comparison to other western countries) pretty much because its GDP is THAT MUCH BIGGER.

the largest chunk of the federal budget goes mostly to various government subsidies (agriculture, health care, etc etc etc)

this isn't to support or defend bush, but your claim that the US spends absurd amounts of its budget and GDP on its military aren't correct

[Machismo111]

I apologize, I must have been misinformed. I find that one can find several different sources citing very different numbers, and I dont pay much attention to the news =). The US budget for foreign aid, however should be correct or somewhat close to. That sort of a ratio (5-10% -> .1%) is rediculous. I suppose the would could constrew americas low foreign aid spending as greed. <shrug> I personally dont think we need to spend as much on military, but of course Im not in power nor do I have a full understanding on how america is run, so Im likely wrong. Still my opinion though =).

[doubissu]

This section was so quiet for a while. I am with Emit; no more flames section. Talk about kendo (or whatever you practice) and keep your stupid ass politics to yourself! :tired:

May I respectfully disagree; this certainly struck my nerve. Kendo is about life. Kendo is about sharing with others. It's about "To contribute to the development of culture. And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples" (AJKF). How can you not have a political opinion and share it with your lads ??? After a tough Kendo practice, why wouldn't you spill your guts about the state of the world over a glass of bud, Guinness, Maredsous or Maudite ?? Is Kendo all you have to offer ? Isn't Kendo about making you a "complete" human being ?

Whether or not his numbers are correct, I agree with Machismo111. "Spoiled bully ... trying to make money and get everyone else to think like us." No doubt here. Ask the rest of the world... (the part that's not connected to the web).

Eddy

[xvikingx]

May I respectfully disagree; this certainly struck my nerve. Kendo is about life. Kendo is about sharing with others. It's about "To contribute to the development of culture. And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples" (AJKF). How can you not have a political opinion and share it with your lads ??? After a tough Kendo practice, why wouldn't you spill your guts about the state of the world over a glass of bud, Guinness, Maredsous or Maudite ?? Is Kendo all you have to offer ? Isn't Kendo about making you a "complete" human being ?

Whether or not his numbers are correct, I agree with Machismo111. "Spoiled bully ... trying to make money and get everyone else to think like us." No doubt here. Ask the rest of the world... (the part that's not connected to the web).

Eddy

YAWN... :tired:

[Blue_Dragon]

I may be a new comer to Kendo but I do know alot about history and the 7 stages of man.. History repeats its self my friends.

MY country America was founded by people who where brave, god fearing, and believed that freedom was worth fighting for. The decloration of independance is proof of that as well as the constitution. These values have been lost over the years. Political correctness and extreme tollerance have ruined this country. People now have no since of values or standards..... They get there opinions from the news and let the public schools raise there children. Most people want the goverment to do all thinking for them. Give me Solcial security give me welfare and healcare and medicare. Free school lunch and midnight basketball, comunity policing, there is not a single aspect of an american's life that the government is not involved in. Now some countries might be used to this but america wasnt always like this. Americans werent always so lazy or apithitic.
In 1941 dec 7 pearl harbor was bombed it was the worst attack on america since its conception. There where no antiwar protestors then. And do you know why? I tell ya ....because people knew that evil and evil men exsisted. They where military forces that wanted to destroy our way of life and take away our freedoms. So we faught.....and won the war.
Now we have had an attack worse then what we faced in 1941. And we call bush a gang leader and a bully? We dropped a nuke on heroshima......Wich im not saying was the best choise to end the war however it worked. Right now there is a growing group of people who believe that there god is telling them to kill americans and jews. And if they do 72 virgins are waiting for them in heaven. But people argue that the terrorists are just misunderstood and we dont understand there culture... or worst yet that we brought the attack upon our selfs. And there might be some truth in that.....we have showed such weakness perhaps that the enemy couldnt help but attack us because they thought there would be no recorse?
still others think that we should involve the UN and not go in with both guns blazing like a texas cowboy........why? other countries didnt get attacked we did . The UN couldnt run a daycare let alone a battlefield. Any way I guess the point im trying to get across is that America is finally doing something right again. If your unkle died in 9-11 like mine did you might have a different perspective on things.

Any way if you disagree let me know I always like to hear different opinions. Feel free to E-mail me to:)

[aru-ma]

My problem with the US gov. is mainly that it tells other countries what to do, I'm not saying the Us is evil but just becasue the way the governmemntal system works in one country does'nt mean it works in another, it somehow ignores the cultural value of each country (eg. Iraq). Also the US gov. and some of the people thinks that they have the right to defame other countries but not the other way around.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the great American value does not work with everybody. America is lucky as a country to have found its idenity, other countries like Indonesia haven't.

[Nishi]

There is an oppurtunity here to increase your understanding of kendo using this forum...however there is no oppurtunity to change the future of the international powers through these forums....so give it up!

[Blue_Dragon]

You might have a point about the US mabey getting involved in other countries a little to much. But Iraq is not a good example of that. Yes we should respect other cultures and mabey we americans dont take that under consideration as much as we should. But when you have a dictator that lets his sons rape and kill who ever they want and the country is funding and hiding terrorist groups, culteral regard goes right out the window. When terror and force is used to control people and you say its that country's cultural right? People who live in those places dont have a choise. They have to live under fearful conditions with no hope of leaving because they dont have the means. When you say that our form of goverment will not work in every country your probably right..However if your saying that people in these different countries cant have freedom because of thier culture, then human life has gotten really cheap.

sorry about the spelling errors spell check has spoiled me.

As always feel free to e-mail me if you want to curse me out in private:)



Its only a flesh wound!

[Fantasia]

My problem with the US gov. is mainly that it tells other countries what to do, I'm not saying the Us is evil but just becasue the way the governmemntal system works in one country does'nt mean it works in another, it somehow ignores the cultural value of each country (eg. Iraq). Also the US gov. and some of the people thinks that they have the right to defame other countries but not the other way around.

I guess what I'm trying to say is the great American value does not work with everybody. America is lucky as a country to have found its idenity, other countries like Indonesia haven't.

No. We give other countries money, and say that if you don't do the things in a way we approve of (almost always talking about how you run your government) we will stop giving you money.

Do I need to remind anybody here of the Marshall Plan? Or that we took two defeated ENEMIES after world war II and turned them into some of the world's largest and strongest economies? We treat our enemies better than our supposed "allies" in the UN and NATO treat us. And now we are pouring massive amounts of money into Iraq trying to build the worlds FIRST DEMOCRATIC Arab state.

That's right. There are 17 Arabic states in the world right now (I think, I might be off by one or two) Guess how many of them are run by freely elected government? ZERO. This is the only part of the world still wallowing in the dark ages of nepotism and theocracy.

American money, American ideas, and American blood built a vast majority of where the world is today. I DON'T think it's unreasonable that we exert our influence in continuing to shape the world. Do you think the scores of countries where our troops are stationed want them out? Bull crap. They'd raise holy heck if we pulled our troops out of their countries. But they turn their backs on us when push comes to shove simply because they think they can become important by balking us.

DO you know why France and many other countries REALLY didn't want to oust Saddam? Follow the paper trail. These countries all have major export and import contracts (some going against UN sanctions) with Saddam's regime, and they know that they wouldn't be valid in a new Iraq.

I couldn't give a damn about whether or not Saddam had a bio/chemical weapons program. He didn't follow the rules of his CEASEFIRE in 1991. This isn't a new war, it's simply the enemy not abiding by his truce terms.

Liberals in America decried the war as a bid for "oil" by GWB. But then they ask the government to "do something" about other parts of the world where human rights atrocities are committed on a large scale. And what do we find in Iraq? Torture. Legalized rape. Chemical weapons used on thousands of his own people.

I love George Bush because he doesn't CARE what the rest of the world supposedly thinks. Being popular has absolutely nothing to do with being right.

[Noe]

These are some pretty heavy topics. But really, it is not America. It is the people who run it. Personally, I think Bush is a dumass, excuse me. But seriously. Like mentioned before, tons of the countries money goes to military, in most people's thoughts, too much. But don't just look at the bad things. Americans, a lot of the people of America, don't agree with what goes on. There are countless organizations that help the less fourtunate and they should not be over looked. I'm not taking any sides, I just wanted everyone to remember that despite fault, there is always merit, even countries.

[Hongsermeier]

I think there is a little confusion here about how much money is spent on the military. I work civil service for the navy. We do not have an abundance of money. I know exactaly how much money people make around here. A LARGE portion of our military qualify for food stamps because they are paid so little. Yet they go out there and put their lives on the line so Everyone back here can sit at home with their fredom in tact. And some of you want to cut they little money they get now. I think you can all kiss my a**!!! I think every person in uniform should get a raise, and a big thank you for all they do. :cross_eye

[cvgkendo1]

To be sure the USA is not perfect nor is any other country in the world but these things you must know and have no choice but to accept. The USA created the United Nations and is it largest contributor both in money and resources wheather they be military or otherwise. Secondly the USA and it citizens give more resources and money to the world in form of government aid, charities, rescue missions or whatever. The ONLY reason any of the former Soviet block countries namley Russia even exist today and are not in a state of total cival war is US FEDRERAL AID in the form of millions of dollars. Maybe will just not freely give out our money anymore and watch the rest of the world collapse? As far as Europe goes if it were not for the United States EVERY Eruopean would be speaking German and or Russian right now! and for that matter every Asian would be speaking Japanese!! Like I said we are not perfect but you owe us our due. If it were not for the USA you would not have freedoms such as, internet access to express your opinoins here. Point of fact even if you did you would probably end up in the Soviet Gulag, North Korean, Chineese, Iranian, Burmese, Cuban etc prison for expressing your views. Oh well. Why is it the very same country's that kick us every chance they get are the first ones to come grovelling on hands and knees begging for our help? Why is it that the people who say they hate us are the very first people to jump on the boat to move here if given the chance?

This point had to be made even though this web site is a joke. A "flames" section has no place in Kendo!!!!!!!!!!

[A P]

I don't like BUSH and that is all that I am going to say..

Because you know the rest. @#$% blah blah blash

[Eldritch Knight]

Its not just Bush or the current administration. America and its people have been snobby ever since it became a superpower and looked down on every other nation. It has a stolen culture, no history, and a people who lack style.

FYI - I am a born and raised American with Asian roots. I have national pride, but seriously - our country has some SERIOUS defects that it needs to have put in its place.

[OmahaKai]

This section was so quiet for a while. I am with Emit; no more flames section. Talk about kendo (or whatever you practice) and keep your stupid ass politics to yourself! :tired:

America has become something that no one wanted it to be, and I think what the people laying statements about politics are doing is saying that the origins of kendo are frome japan- and look how well there economy is doing. It bugs me to see the world hate us now because we (americans) didnt vote to make our government work. Everyone asks how are political leaders got this way, and how are society changed to fit the minority over the majority- and I can tell you right now that it was because american citazens didnt do their responsibilitys and vote, and make wise decisions rather that sit on their lazy buts at home and think their vote doesnt count. We compair ourselves to japan, and I think that their way of not bringing shame to your family is a good reason why they're better off.

[OmahaKai]

I need to use the spell check a FEW times- lol

[xvikingx]

America has become something that no one wanted it to be, and I think what the people laying statements about politics are doing is saying that the origins of kendo are frome japan- and look how well there economy is doing. It bugs me to see the world hate us now because we (americans) didnt vote to make our government work. Everyone asks how are political leaders got this way, and how are society changed to fit the minority over the majority- and I can tell you right now that it was because american citazens didnt do their responsibilitys and vote, and make wise decisions rather that sit on their lazy buts at home and think their vote doesnt count. We compair ourselves to japan, and I think that their way of not bringing shame to your family is a good reason why they're better off.

:confused: What the hell are you talking about? I think the only person who even remotely compared America to Japan here, is the clown who started this crap. (BTW we have all been arguing because of that troll) He thinks America and the UK are "stuck up" or "snobby" or something like that and he wished he lived in Japan. Well here some news for you; Japan is a very conservative, homogeneous society, that has got it's fair share of serious problem just like ANY country in this world, including the U.S.
I think we should change the title of this section from "Flames" to "Let's rag on the U.S." I often hear that Americans are stuck up and lack social tact, but almost all cases have been people of other countries blasting the U.S. out of the clear blue. Every country has got it's share of dirty laundry. Maybe I should start a thread about the French army slaughtering thousands in Indo-china, or the death squads in China, or maybe about the still large amount of supporters of the Nazi party in Germany, or the sexual abuse problem is Japan... or maybe I could mind my own business and talk about something we can all relate to *KENDO*

BTW the "bringing shame to your family" thing is a little dated, try learning something about the country you are going to make a comparison to.

And to the people of those countries I listed earlier, please do not take offense I was simply using them as an example. We all know the U.S. has got plenty of problems as well.

[Tipsykitty]

I know im new here, but i hope my opinion is heard even if it isnt completely respected.

I dont think there is any country in their world that is better then any other country. Yes I live in the USA, was born and raised here. Every country has its share of problems, both historically and at the present. Its just some problems are more apparent then the others. I lived in Japan for almost 4 months, which I admit isnt enough time to learn everything. But then again you can never know everything about well everything. I also went to Cuba on an educational visa for approximately a month. I love all 3 countries, all of them are special, all of them are great, all of them have problems.

If I had to say what the biggest problem the US faces in regards to the original posters comment is that I think that a great deal of the people in the US are blind in a way. Many people dont know what the heck is happening in the world, and sadly it seems that many just dont seem to care about the majority of other countries issues, as many are focused on the strife w/in the US itself. With that being said, there are many in the US and the rest of the world that do care about events worldwide, and not just focusing on the local issues only. Thats just my opinion though. I hope that I didnt offend anyone here. I however value that i live in the US, just in my opinion is what i see around me.

[moetl]

ahh i just felt bored so i looked into this flame section.. it's some kinda weird

so i thought i could contribute... ;)

america seems to concern a lot of people. many are against this country, some americans are brainless patriotic, some like it blah blah..

i would like to know what prejudices you have against/about (voc?) austria??!! (in case you know this country...)


would be nice to have some responses! thx

[moetl]

ahh.. propably i should stress/emphasise that i don't mean australia, but AUSTRIA (the country inmid europe)
:)

[xvikingx]

First, thank you for clarifying AUSTRIA and AUSTRALIA. It is nice that you think people in the U.S. are too stupid to know the difference between a 857 year old European nation (independence from Bavaria in 1156) and a former Bristish colony in the Southern hemisphere.
some americans are brainless patriotic, some like it blah blah..

Gee, you sure do know a lot about my country and it's people. You must know a lot of Americans and do not have any prejudices yourself. *Sorry, to get off subject here but I would like to congratulate the people of the U.K. for being able to focus their energy on the Bush administration and not on the citizens.*

"i would like to know what prejudices you have against/about (voc?) austria??!! (in case you know this country...)"
I have news for you friend, Americans don't sit around thinking about foriegn countries we don't like. In fact most Americans are concerned about their jobs, family, economics, the future of their country, education, or one of the numerous other things that are more important than thinking up a stereotype for Austrians. Ya' know?..IMPORTANT stuff! If there is one it probably was birthed during one of the two World Wars and would likely be the same as stereotypes for Germans.

"would be nice to have some responses! thx"
My pleasure.

[aru-ma]

Let's look at a bigger problem you can see in the US and it's as clear as day:

Should turkey be replaced by some other poultry or even tofu turkey during thanksgiving?

for more info:
http://money.cnn.com/2003/11/10/news/companies/turkey/index.htm

:D

[moetl]

before i go to university i have to reply to your post, viking:

i'm really sorry - i didn't mean to offend anyone by clarifying that i mean austria not australia. somehow i have the feeling that people tend to take posts way too serious just because they were posted in the flame section..! :(

my intend by posting that was to turn the tables and give you (the americans) the opportunity to look at other countries in the way people from other countries look at you.

btw, i do think that america is one of the countries were people tend to be (a lot) more patriotic - and i don't like that. patriotism is dangerous.


just forget about that other post - i agree that it was stupid


see you after university :)

[xvikingx]

my intend by posting that was to turn the tables and give you (the americans) the opportunity to look at other countries in the way people from other countries look at you.

How thoughtful of you. Thanks for the go ahead to post inane dribble about a group of people I know little about. Then when somebody gets insulted by the ignorant shit I have written, I can just brush it off by saying people are too "serious".
Get real you clown. I would catch wreck if I started a thread saying "The [insert Nationality here] are [insert thoughtless, insulting comment here]."" and I would expect to, because it's a jerk thing to do.
Patriotism is dangerous?! Ignorance is dangerous and you my friend are f**king TNT.

[Deuxmad]

May I respectfully disagree; this certainly struck my nerve. Kendo is about life. Kendo is about sharing with others. It's about "To contribute to the development of culture. And to promote peace and prosperity among all peoples" (AJKF). How can you not have a political opinion and share it with your lads ??? After a tough Kendo practice, why wouldn't you spill your guts about the state of the world over a glass of bud, Guinness, Maredsous or Maudite ?? Is Kendo all you have to offer ? Isn't Kendo about making you a "complete" human being ?

Whether or not his numbers are correct, I agree with Machismo111. "Spoiled bully ... trying to make money and get everyone else to think like us." No doubt here. Ask the rest of the world... (the part that's not connected to the web).

Eddy

Hello all, as a fellow Kendoka. I must agree with 'Eddy' here.

[Kapplow]

kendo teaches to love your country and society. my own 2 cents.

[Hai_hai]

IN a sense, I guess it is...but...

Let's put it this way. If the earth were a high school, America is on of those preppy disliked snobs. Brittain is one of them also.

Always picking on the little countries. Recently, America has tried to get some popularity points by 'helping' out other countries. My @$$.

Nah, that's just me. I was born in America. Not to say that I enjoy knowing that. I wish I was born in Japan or something...

I'm asian by the way. About half. Anywhere but here ya'll.

furthermore, I'm in Republican Territory <crouches and shivers>....

But, you gotta live where ya live.

Who else feels like America is a prep?
That is your perception, and judging by the content of your post, you are young, ignorant and naive.

I cannot argue or discuss this topic with someone with a narrow view of the world.

[kendonewbie]

I don't think you need to worry about arguing with him. This thread was started 2 years ago, and the guy hasn't logged on since 2003. Just let thread die....

[Julian D]

Heh! I fully endorse, pal!! Let me explain why with a very VERY simple example:

America is a giant continent with three entire subcontinents, some see it as three independent continents: North America, Central America, and South America. Lots and lots of countries.

America wasn´t discovered by the British, it wasn´t even named by them (hi Americo Vespucio, Italian explorator to the service of the Spanish Crown).

The inhabitants of the former British Colonies and their United States are not even the majority of the continent´s population, by a long long shot.

The enormous majority of the continent´s cultural identity is of Spanish and Latin origin...


... yet one single country took possesion of our continent´s identity for themselves.


So now when over a thousand million people try to say internationally that they´re Americans as well, they are likely inviting to be attacked with some variation of "why do you hate [the true] America?" "why do you hate freedom?" "are you a communist?" "omg it´s a terrist" "you´re an ilegal alien, are you? are you??".


PS: In the mid 1700s, before the US of A were constituted, my great-great-great-great-(etc)-grandfather came from another country loved by you American fellows: France! Oh yes, so now this flamish rant has been written by a frog-blooded spick. Although I´m not Mexican or don´t even look like Mexican, for your information: Latin America is not Mexico. We don´t eat burritos, use "sombreros" (sombrero = hat. Any type and kind of hat is a sombrero, not only the giant mexican ones). Hey homies! Did you know that there are blond latin Americans as well? And actually a lot?

Well, this is kind of not being fun anymore. Bashing "America" is too easy, there are lots and lots of things to say. I´ll better go back to studying my American sport rulesbook ´cause I´ve got to referee tomorrow in a Paintball tourney.

[Lloromannic]

Latin America is not Mexico. We don´t eat burritos, use "sombreros" (sombrero = hat. Any type and kind of hat is a sombrero, not only the giant mexican ones).


Neither do we, you know?

[Paikea]

Heh! I fully endorse, pal!! Let me explain why with a very VERY simple example:

America is a giant continent with three entire subcontinents, ...Yaaawwwwnnnnn. Oh, and your geology needs brushing up some.

[Paikea]

Neither do we, you know?Not that there was any subliminal who's-top-dog-in-SA superiority going on in that anti-burrito post or anything. I never thought they wore sombreros in Argentina, just those fritz helmets and shiny boots.

[Lloromannic]

Not that there was any subliminal who's-top-dog-in-SA superiority going on in that anti-burrito post or anything. I never thought they wore sombreros in Argentina, just those fritz helmets and shiny boots.

He is right about some things. There is a sterotype of latin americans as mexican stereotypes, but really it's the same as the gringo stereotype. There are quite a few blond Latin Americans, specially in Argentina. Unlike every other country in Latin America they didn't mix with the indigenous population.

Burritos suck

[joekc6nlx]

He is right about some things. There is a sterotype of latin americans as mexican stereotypes, but really it's the same as the gringo stereotype. There are quite a few blond Latin Americans, specially in Argentina. Unlike every other country in Latin America they didn't mix with the indigenous population.



Having visited Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama, I saw a great variety of ethnic traits. There are blondes, redheads, brunettes, etc., remember that Europeans did "colonize" South America - can you say Pisarro?

The people I met in my travels around South America were extremely friendly, even though they knew I was from the United States (and in the U.S. Navy). As far as I was concerned, they have as much right to call themselves Americans as anyone else. I do not like the ethnocentric trait of calling the U.S. "America" as if it were the only country in that area of the world. So, you folks in Montreal, you're Americans. You people in Punta Arenas are also Americans, and everyone in between and beyond on this entire land mass is an American. So there are no such things as Mexican-American (it's redundant), Brazilian-American (also redundant), or Chilean-American (redundant, too).

The treaty organization that binds us all together is called "The Organization of American States".

[Julian D]

Let there be peace! My burrito comment was indeed because of the stereotyping, I didn´t mean to say you guys actually eat burritos.

Saludos

[Lloromannic]

Having visited Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama, I saw a great variety of ethnic traits. There are blondes, redheads, brunettes, etc., remember that Europeans did "colonize" South America - can you say Pisarro?

The people I met in my travels around South America were extremely friendly, even though they knew I was from the United States (and in the U.S. Navy). As far as I was concerned, they have as much right to call themselves Americans as anyone else. I do not like the ethnocentric trait of calling the U.S. "America" as if it were the only country in that area of the world. So, you folks in Montreal, you're Americans. You people in Punta Arenas are also Americans, and everyone in between and beyond on this entire land mass is an American. So there are no such things as Mexican-American (it's redundant), Brazilian-American (also redundant), or Chilean-American (redundant, too).

The treaty organization that binds us all together is called "The Organization of American States".

Nice to see someone who thinks like that for a change. :)

[piggy]

I don't like BUSH and that is all that I am going to say..


By any chance, have you heard of a store called Hot Topic? You might want to check this out.

http://www.translife.net/images/pictures/Hot-Topic.jpg

Also, please read this article.

http://www.subvulture.com/archive/158.html

[Hai_hai]

I don't think you need to worry about arguing with him. This thread was started 2 years ago, and the guy hasn't logged on since 2003. Just let thread die....
Hmm. Good point. I feel so stupid. I don't know what to say. It's quite an embarassing situation.

[ahmed61086]

I hate it when ignorant fools starts telling people things about Islam when they have no clue what its even about. Im talking about YOU Blue dragon. With your 72 virgins comments. Isnt it magical how every single ignorant person mentions this as if they understand it.

So i am going to school you on a few things.

1. Only people who go to heaven get 72 women, who said those people who killed innocents are going to heaven? Only god knows who is going to heaven. Islamically what most terrorists do are wrong (ex, killing civilians, women, children, (committing suiciede). So Islamically, in the views of a lot of Muslims, these terrorists arent likely to make it to pardise anyway.

2. Why is it that people find this 72 virgins thing as being weird. When a man goes to heaven, what do you think he is gonna want?!?!!? Infinite blueberry muffins!?!!?!? (o yes, blueberry muffins, mmmm) He might get that, but Most definitly he is going to want beutifull women. This is how men are. Dont even act like you wouldnt want 72 women if God gave then to you, because then you would be gay, and gays are denied heaven in Islam. And if God wants you to have 72 women, you are going to have 72 women, and if god wants you to want it, then you are going to want it, period.

3. Dont ever, ever, speak about a religion in that way when you dont have a true understanding of it. Blue dragon, i know you dont TRULY understand the religion so dont even act like you do.

Now, sorry for the angry attitude, but your comments angered me. No offense towards you truly, but i just wanted to make a few things clear. If i still havnt made it clear enough, questions are allways welcome.

Ahmed.

[Utotin]

ahh i just felt bored so i looked into this flame section.. it's some kinda weird

so i thought i could contribute... ;)

america seems to concern a lot of people. many are against this country, some americans are brainless patriotic, some like it blah blah..

i would like to know what prejudices you have against/about (voc?) austria??!! (in case you know this country...)


would be nice to have some responses! thx

I am upset that you jerks allowed the Arnold Schwartzeneger Museum to close!!!:mad:

[Utotin]

Let there be peace! My burrito comment was indeed because of the stereotyping, I didn´t mean to say you guys actually eat burritos.

Saludos

My Dad is mexican & he loves burritos.

[kendonewbie]

Hmm. Good point. I feel so stupid. I don't know what to say. It's quite an embarassing situation.
Don't be embarassed. I know I did the same sort of thing with Issac Ru-"Who should we blame for the london bombing?" thread. Besides, its started up a nice disscussion.