Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
But I still like the Brits. They are more like us culturally than anyone else but the Australians and Canadians!
You can say Brits, Australians, and Americans are alot alike only in the same way you can say a monkey is alot like an ape. Australians and Canadians are very diffrent from Americans. Here's just a short list of differences I see:
1) Neither Australians or Canadians seem all that religious and religion in the public square isn't normative. The PM of Australia is an atheist.
2) Australians and Canadians aren't that moralistic as a culture. Prostitution is legal in Australia. My Aussie friend thinks its silly that anybody would make it illegal. Domestic partnership benefits, whether gay or straight, exist as law in many parts of Australia (and Canada). Overall these countries don't believe private morality is that important, they tend to go with what works pragmaticly rather than moral absolutes, in terms of policy.
3) Australians are individualists but they don't pit the individual against society in the way many Americans do, and they believe strongly in fairness and looking out for people down on their luck and giving people second chances.
4) Both countries are less enamored with laissez-faire capitalism and both have strong Socaliast and Labour traditions.
I use the British English there, because I'm talking about Americans, and I want to distance myself from the country of my birth . And based on what I see in this board and in real life, I honestly believe Americans are stupid, anti-intellectual, cruel, and/or inhuman, for the most part. Lacking both critical thought and compassion, there's nothing redeemed about most of them. The basic goodness people think is at the heart of Americans is not evident to me. I think most people in this country deserve to eat the crap that the politicians dish out regularly here, it's not like they don't have it coming to them.
America, your life sucks and nobody to blame? Look in the mirror.
There's no point in responding to the actual claims, as ridiculous and vague as they are.
So I'm guessing you've packed your bags already?
If not, I guess you're still in high school or something and can't leave? Bit of advice: leave as soon as you can. I guarantee you other countries are Garden of Edens and they're all like little Utopia's where everyone's the same and nobody's smarter or stupid than anybody else. Go, look, it's great! Go! You'll love it! The doors over there! Have fun! BYEEEEEEE
On another note: isn't it great to live in countries where saying stuff like the OP is doesn't get you "disappeared" by the government?
In 21 pages, is this the first time the OP has returned to the discussion?
Please explain why you think Americans are cruel, etc. Support your views, so we can engage.
ok, Australia sounds pretty good (unless you're an aborigine), especially if you're a surfer, and if you don't mind encroaching desert. This isn't relevant to what you were saying about the American national character, though. You're talking about policy and law, not about people. You'll have to clarify your OP.
You can say Brits, Australians, and Americans are alot alike only in the same way you can say a monkey is alot like an ape. Australians and Canadians are very diffrent from Americans. Here's just a short list of differences I see:
1) Neither Australians or Canadians seem all that religious and religion in the public square isn't normative. The PM of Australia is an atheist.
2) Australians and Canadians aren't that moralistic as a culture. Prostitution is legal in Australia. My Aussie friend thinks its silly that anybody would make it illegal. Domestic partnership benefits, whether gay or straight, exist as law in many parts of Australia (and Canada). Overall these countries don't believe private morality is that important, they tend to go with what works pragmaticly rather than moral absolutes, in terms of policy.
3) Australians are individualists but they don't pit the individual against society in the way many Americans do, and they believe strongly in fairness and looking out for people down on their luck and giving people second chances.
4) Both countries are less enamored with laissez-faire capitalism and both have strong Socaliast and Labour traditions.
It's quite a liberal society here.
Gay marriage is legal in eight states (Not recognized at any level in France, Germany, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Finland, Switzerland, Austria)
Unrestricted abortion (Abortion restricted in Finland, Iceland, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Spain, or New Zealand)
Prostitution determined at the state level and is legal in Nevada (Illegal nationally in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland).
Sixteen states decriminalized marijuana (Illegal in Austria, U.K., Denmark, France, Iceland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden)
In 21 pages, is this the first time the OP has returned to the discussion?
Please explain why you think Americans are cruel, etc. Support your views, so we can engage.
ok, Australia sounds pretty good (unless you're an aborigine), especially if you're a surfer, and if you don't mind encroaching desert. This isn't relevant to what you were saying about the American national character, though. You're talking about policy and law, not about people. You'll have to clarify your OP.
Americans are certainly different to Europeans, and I think this forum reflects that.
If this was a European forum there would be far less emphasis on subject matter such as race, guns, taxes, the military etc
Americans seem obsessed with socialism and communism, yet they are quite happy to spend vast amounts on military expenditure and on a massive prison system, (ironically in a Keynesian socialist big government way) whilst generally going on and on about welfare, healthcare and anything that involves helping the poor or means government playing a bigger role.
At the same time as talking about freedoms such as the right to bear arms, they are obssessed with matters such as abortion, and are so puritanical and prudish when it comes to so many things. It's fine to go and kill someone with a high powered rifle but don't have an abortion - LOL.
Some Europeans could see all this as selfish, and that they are obssessed with themselves rather than wanting the greater good, but I tend to think it's more to do with their history, which is one of very much based on escping religous persucution, rebelling against taxes (and Government) and fighting both a war of independence and a civil war in order to secure their freedoms as indvidual. The constitution itself talks about the rights of the individual, and individual feedoms are key to Americans as opposed to the more collective view of the common good more prevalent in places like Europe.
America is certainly a strange place looking from a European perspective, but I wouldn't say they were nasty people or indeed cuel they have just been shaped by their history and have a uniquely different culture to Europeans.
I use the British English there, because I'm talking about Americans, and I want to distance myself from the country of my birth . And based on what I see in this board and in real life, I honestly believe Americans are stupid, anti-intellectual, cruel, and/or inhuman, for the most part. Lacking both critical thought and compassion, there's nothing redeemed about most of them. The basic goodness people think is at the heart of Americans is not evident to me. I think most people in this country deserve to eat the crap that the politicians dish out regularly here, it's not like they don't have it coming to them.
America, your life sucks and nobody to blame? Look in the mirror.
You don't like America? No problem.. Live anywhere else you want. Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.
I use the British English there, because I'm talking about Americans, and I want to distance myself from the country of my birth . And based on what I see in this board and in real life, I honestly believe Americans are stupid, anti-intellectual, cruel, and/or inhuman, for the most part. Lacking both critical thought and compassion, there's nothing redeemed about most of them. The basic goodness people think is at the heart of Americans is not evident to me. I think most people in this country deserve to eat the crap that the politicians dish out regularly here, it's not like they don't have it coming to them.
America, your life sucks and nobody to blame? Look in the mirror.
Some people on this thread are saying, "love it or leave."
Well, some of us have indeed left!
On the whole, I have seen a lot of trust in guns, in a merciless legal system that supports the strong and not the weak, and a great indifference for what goes on in the rest of the world.
America is and always has been isolated from the rest of the world. Look at a map. Atlantic to the east, Pacific to the west. All the dark-skinned people are far away, just within reach of our bombs. But if the US was physically attached to the middle east, we'd think long and hard before starting aggressions.
Military invasion by another country has not happened to the US yet. But if it does happen, people will finally stop singing war chats and start learning diplomacy.
America has grown fat with greed (not everyone, but a few have caused the current global economic disaster and have not been punished for it). Consumerism is king. No one talks about saving money. It's all about spending and buying. Without any limits.
Lots of American preachers say that God will judge America because of homosexuality, porn and rock music.
But I say that God will judge America because of greed, corruption and war-mongering.
Some people on this thread are saying, "love it or leave."
Well, some of us have indeed left!
On the whole, I have seen a lot of trust in guns, in a merciless legal system that supports the strong and not the weak, and a great indifference for what goes on in the rest of the world.
America is and always has been isolated from the rest of the world. Look at a map. Atlantic to the east, Pacific to the west. All the dark-skinned people are far away, just within reach of our bombs. But if the US was physically attached to the middle east, we'd think long and hard before starting aggressions.
Military invasion by another country has not happened to the US yet. But if it does happen, people will finally stop singing war chats and start learning diplomacy.
America has grown fat with greed (not everyone, but a few have caused the current global economic disaster and have not been punished for it). Consumerism is king. No one talks about saving money. It's all about spending and buying. Without any limits.
Lots of American preachers say that God will judge America because of homosexuality, porn and rock music.
But I say that God will judge America because of greed, corruption and war-mongering.
Peace,
brian
I wish you well in your new land, but I think somehow we will manage to get by without you.
I use the British English there, because I'm talking about Americans, and I want to distance myself from the country of my birth . And based on what I see in this board and in real life, I honestly believe Americans are stupid, anti-intellectual, cruel, and/or inhuman, for the most part. Lacking both critical thought and compassion, there's nothing redeemed about most of them. The basic goodness people think is at the heart of Americans is not evident to me. I think most people in this country deserve to eat the crap that the politicians dish out regularly here, it's not like they don't have it coming to them.
America, your life sucks and nobody to blame? Look in the mirror.
Humanitarian Assistance: "A hurricane tears through Central America. Civil war creates refugees in the Balkans. Famine strikes the Horn of Africa. Two decades of war in Afghanistan its new government unable to deliver the most basic of services. In these and other situations around the world, the compassion of the American people goes pouring out to those in need through USAID. The United States gives more to those in crisis than any other country in the world. USAID is the U.S. Government agency that is responsible for directing these contributions to thousands of non-profit partners and international organizations like the World Food Program and UNICEF. In tandem with these organizations, the agency helps those affected by disaster to cope and then begin again by converting crisis situations into opportunities to promote peace, democracy, and economic growth. USAID ensures that all of this assistance is spent in the way that most effectively helps those who are in need."
Food Assistance: "In the last two weeks America has gotten close to a default on our credit. Our country has seen our federal debt downgraded by Standard & Poor's and witnessed the worst day for the stock market since the 2008 financial crisis. It has also faced withering criticism from the Chinese and Russians for this sorry state of affairs. Yet, we are still feeding the world, sending more than $100 million to Africa to make sure it happens."
AIDS Assistance: "The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR/Emergency Plan) was a commitment of $15 billion over five years (2003–2008) from United States President George W. Bush to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The program initially aimed to provide antiretroviral treatment (ART) to 2 million HIV-infected people in resource-limited settings, to prevent 7 million new infections, and to support care for 10 million people (the "2–7–10 goals") by 2010. PEPFAR increased the number of Africans receiving ART from 50,000 at the start of the initiative in 2004 to at least 1.2 million in early 2008. PEPFAR has been called the largest health initiative ever initiated by one country to address a disease. The budget presented by President Bush for the fiscal year 2008 included a request for $5.4 billion for PEPFAR."
I wish you well in your new land, but I think somehow we will manage to get by without you.
Thank you, frieghtshaker. I also wish you well. And I'm sure that you will in fact do well, if you are healthy, young and economically secure. Those are the ones who do well in the US today.
Peace,
brian
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
