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WHY THE WORLD HATES AMERICA
Why does everybody hate America? Gee, I have no clue whatsoever. Could it be because...
WHY THE WORLD HATES AMERICA
A problem for US State Department of State think about
It is an open secret that anti-American attitudes are gaining steam all over the world. They are quite evidently caused by Washington's pushy foreign policy.
The world, probably except for radical Islamic extremists, felt sympathetic toward the USA after the Sept. 11 tragedy. As a result of this sympathy, the White House won incredible support for its plans for a "war on terrorism." This made for such a rapid offensive against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Due to Washington's universal support, countries neighboring Afghanistan agreed to accept contingents of the USA and its NATO allies on their territories. Ruling regimes of these countries expected to receive assistance from the USA and support in their struggle against local radicals, which pose a great threat to the ruling regimes. In fact, the US Army given strong support to authoritarian regimes in the countries neighboring Afghanistan.
As the USA proceeds with its anti-terrorism struggle, anti-American attitudes are ever gaining steam. Attempts of Washington to deal with disagreeable countries under the guise of a war against bin Laden and al-Qaeda have caused a strong wave of criticism toward America's policies. Such attitudes are strong, not only in "pariah" countries (this definition is very insulting by the way), but even among America's allies in NATO. The White House often tries to settle its political and economic problems under the guise of "fighting terrorism." The situation in Iraq can serve an example in this case: Iraq is off limits for US companies seeking Iraqi oil. If Hussein is overthrown, the situation is likely to change drastically. However, oil producing companies from other countries will have to leave Iraq in this case (Russia).
The rest of the world dislikes the fact that the USA enjoys the status of the world's sole superpower and makes decisions contradicting the norms of international law. Even the opinions of the America's allies are often ignored at that; they are just presented with a fait accompli. However, the White House and the US State Department criticize domestic policies of other countries and become angry when the same is done towards the USA. What is strange is that the US media, which are bragging so much about their "freedom," support the same line as the White House and the US State Department. Popular American TV channels will hardly show unbiased videos about victims of bombings in Afghanistan. Even if some of this footage is shown, the number of the Sept. 11 tragedy victims is sure to be mentioned as well. This is nonsense! Are American pilots who bomb peaceful Afghan settlements better than al-Qaeda terrorists who bring down skyscrapers? Innocent people are victims in both cases.
The US government is perfectly aware of the anti-American attitudes or the world, and the problem is being considered. Can Washington solve this problem?
A special conference with participation of American and international experts is to be held by the US State Department in Washington on September 5-6. The conference is being organized on the initiative of the US government and will touch upon the causes of anti-Americanism all over the world. Twenty leading experts from the USA and foreign countries and about 50 officials from US governmental institutions will take part in the conference.
In Boucher’s words, the US State Department has already investigated the causes of the anti-American attitudes in Europe, Russia, and Muslim countries. The upcoming conference is to be a culmination of the project. The manifestations and causes of anti-American attitudes in the world are to be studied at the conference. This is to be a closed conference; the list of participants won't be published.
It is hard to predict what conclusions the conference will come to and whether or not effective methods to stop the increase of the anti-American attitudes will be discovered. The results of the conference will be seen within the several next years. Washington won’t be able to settle the problem by financing regimes loyal to it and cranking out propaganda only. It is time for Washington to understand that there is not only the USA but also other countries, and they shouldn’t be judged by American standards.
Vasily Bubnov
PRAVDA.Ru
A problem for US State Department of State think about
It is an open secret that anti-American attitudes are gaining steam all over the world. They are quite evidently caused by Washington's pushy foreign policy.
The world, probably except for radical Islamic extremists, felt sympathetic toward the USA after the Sept. 11 tragedy. As a result of this sympathy, the White House won incredible support for its plans for a "war on terrorism." This made for such a rapid offensive against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Due to Washington's universal support, countries neighboring Afghanistan agreed to accept contingents of the USA and its NATO allies on their territories. Ruling regimes of these countries expected to receive assistance from the USA and support in their struggle against local radicals, which pose a great threat to the ruling regimes. In fact, the US Army given strong support to authoritarian regimes in the countries neighboring Afghanistan.
As the USA proceeds with its anti-terrorism struggle, anti-American attitudes are ever gaining steam. Attempts of Washington to deal with disagreeable countries under the guise of a war against bin Laden and al-Qaeda have caused a strong wave of criticism toward America's policies. Such attitudes are strong, not only in "pariah" countries (this definition is very insulting by the way), but even among America's allies in NATO. The White House often tries to settle its political and economic problems under the guise of "fighting terrorism." The situation in Iraq can serve an example in this case: Iraq is off limits for US companies seeking Iraqi oil. If Hussein is overthrown, the situation is likely to change drastically. However, oil producing companies from other countries will have to leave Iraq in this case (Russia).
The rest of the world dislikes the fact that the USA enjoys the status of the world's sole superpower and makes decisions contradicting the norms of international law. Even the opinions of the America's allies are often ignored at that; they are just presented with a fait accompli. However, the White House and the US State Department criticize domestic policies of other countries and become angry when the same is done towards the USA. What is strange is that the US media, which are bragging so much about their "freedom," support the same line as the White House and the US State Department. Popular American TV channels will hardly show unbiased videos about victims of bombings in Afghanistan. Even if some of this footage is shown, the number of the Sept. 11 tragedy victims is sure to be mentioned as well. This is nonsense! Are American pilots who bomb peaceful Afghan settlements better than al-Qaeda terrorists who bring down skyscrapers? Innocent people are victims in both cases.
The US government is perfectly aware of the anti-American attitudes or the world, and the problem is being considered. Can Washington solve this problem?
A special conference with participation of American and international experts is to be held by the US State Department in Washington on September 5-6. The conference is being organized on the initiative of the US government and will touch upon the causes of anti-Americanism all over the world. Twenty leading experts from the USA and foreign countries and about 50 officials from US governmental institutions will take part in the conference.
In Boucher’s words, the US State Department has already investigated the causes of the anti-American attitudes in Europe, Russia, and Muslim countries. The upcoming conference is to be a culmination of the project. The manifestations and causes of anti-American attitudes in the world are to be studied at the conference. This is to be a closed conference; the list of participants won't be published.
It is hard to predict what conclusions the conference will come to and whether or not effective methods to stop the increase of the anti-American attitudes will be discovered. The results of the conference will be seen within the several next years. Washington won’t be able to settle the problem by financing regimes loyal to it and cranking out propaganda only. It is time for Washington to understand that there is not only the USA but also other countries, and they shouldn’t be judged by American standards.
Vasily Bubnov
PRAVDA.Ru
For more information:
http://english.pravda.ru/main/2002/08/29/3...
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is the state dept! Or have people forgotten its role in such events as the ove throw of Arbenz in Guatemala and Pinochet in Chile?
In 2000, the world's most respected foreign policy thinktank, the Council on Foreign Relations, conducted a study about how America is seen abroad. Their conclusion? America's image abroad has been on a rapid decline given our policies. But rather than recommending a review of our policies, the CFR's primary recommendation was that the U.S. had to do a better job selling itself -- propaganda, in not so fluffy terms.
We are beginning to see parts of that strategy. See the article I wrote weeks ago for indymedia below.
-- George Orwell
-----------------
Buying Your Brain With Your Money For War
by George Orwell
Tuesday September 17, 2002 Tue. 05:41 PM
George W. Bush and his staff can get any and all media time they want simply by calling up a journalist and saying, "Hey, want an interview?" But the "Bullypulpit" has limitations, all the more so given the FACT that the case Bush and Blair have made is flimsy, at best.
So, what's a "good" president to do? Slippery Karl Rove and other notorious spin master advisors have apparently decided to buy some insurance. The administration is going to spend $200 million dollars to target emotions (advertising). Reason alone (media debate) simply isn't enough. The Times in the U.K. published a news story about this today, and it appears to be the first media "trial balloon" (see excerpt below).
Last Fall, Tony Blair's government published a dossier on Osama Bin Laden. No money for advertising was needed to seed that document's message and justifications.
When a US administration feels the need to spend what amounts to about 35% of what was spent in all advertising and campaigning in the 2000 presidential elections, you know they're worried about winning your brain. Drawing an analogy to the corrupting influences of the campaign financing system is apropos on more than one count, for the US media greatly benefits during election years. The argument can be made that media corporations have a vested interest in keeping a one dollar, one vote system alive. We now stand at the crossroads where the media and politicians may develop a vested interest in dollars for individual policies, never mind elections. With our money, the magnitude of financing emotion (not reason) campaigns for political ends is here.
For the record, to counter any debate about the policy in advance, there is significant difference between this PR campaign (funds used partly for domestic propaganda) and comparables like the money used to support operations like Radio Marti, beaming to Cuba. Radio Marti is about money spent to influence Cubans in Cuba. This week's insane Bush "PR" proposal is partly about spending your money to influence your mind, brought to you by the administration that openly discusses "selling" a plan for war on Iraq as a "new product," packaged and launched for your consumption.
It's bad enough that we live in a system that corporations can abuse with their money. Now we have a nation were our tax dollars are used in a similar manner.
God bless the United States of Plutocracy
==========================
September 17, 2002
America plans PR blitz on Saddam
From Tim Reid in Washington
THE TIMES (UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-418110,00.html
The Bush Administration is to launch a multimillion-dollar PR blitz against Saddam Hussein, using advertising techniques to persuade crucial target groups that the Iraqi leader must be ousted.
The campaign will consist of dossiers of evidence detailing Saddam’s breaches of UN resolutions, and will be launched this week at American and foreign audiences, particularly in Arab nations sceptical of US policy in the region.
The White House is aware that it lacks substantial new intelligence on Saddam’s nuclear programme or evidence directly linking Baghdad to the September 11 attacks. But it will build on the contents of President’s Bush’s speech made to the UN General Assembly last week, in which he listed Saddam’s violations of UN resolutions.
The campaign, which will initially receive over $200 million (£130 million), will be overseen by the Office of Global Communications, whose existence will not be formally announced until next month.
<end>
We are beginning to see parts of that strategy. See the article I wrote weeks ago for indymedia below.
-- George Orwell
-----------------
Buying Your Brain With Your Money For War
by George Orwell
Tuesday September 17, 2002 Tue. 05:41 PM
George W. Bush and his staff can get any and all media time they want simply by calling up a journalist and saying, "Hey, want an interview?" But the "Bullypulpit" has limitations, all the more so given the FACT that the case Bush and Blair have made is flimsy, at best.
So, what's a "good" president to do? Slippery Karl Rove and other notorious spin master advisors have apparently decided to buy some insurance. The administration is going to spend $200 million dollars to target emotions (advertising). Reason alone (media debate) simply isn't enough. The Times in the U.K. published a news story about this today, and it appears to be the first media "trial balloon" (see excerpt below).
Last Fall, Tony Blair's government published a dossier on Osama Bin Laden. No money for advertising was needed to seed that document's message and justifications.
When a US administration feels the need to spend what amounts to about 35% of what was spent in all advertising and campaigning in the 2000 presidential elections, you know they're worried about winning your brain. Drawing an analogy to the corrupting influences of the campaign financing system is apropos on more than one count, for the US media greatly benefits during election years. The argument can be made that media corporations have a vested interest in keeping a one dollar, one vote system alive. We now stand at the crossroads where the media and politicians may develop a vested interest in dollars for individual policies, never mind elections. With our money, the magnitude of financing emotion (not reason) campaigns for political ends is here.
For the record, to counter any debate about the policy in advance, there is significant difference between this PR campaign (funds used partly for domestic propaganda) and comparables like the money used to support operations like Radio Marti, beaming to Cuba. Radio Marti is about money spent to influence Cubans in Cuba. This week's insane Bush "PR" proposal is partly about spending your money to influence your mind, brought to you by the administration that openly discusses "selling" a plan for war on Iraq as a "new product," packaged and launched for your consumption.
It's bad enough that we live in a system that corporations can abuse with their money. Now we have a nation were our tax dollars are used in a similar manner.
God bless the United States of Plutocracy
==========================
September 17, 2002
America plans PR blitz on Saddam
From Tim Reid in Washington
THE TIMES (UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-418110,00.html
The Bush Administration is to launch a multimillion-dollar PR blitz against Saddam Hussein, using advertising techniques to persuade crucial target groups that the Iraqi leader must be ousted.
The campaign will consist of dossiers of evidence detailing Saddam’s breaches of UN resolutions, and will be launched this week at American and foreign audiences, particularly in Arab nations sceptical of US policy in the region.
The White House is aware that it lacks substantial new intelligence on Saddam’s nuclear programme or evidence directly linking Baghdad to the September 11 attacks. But it will build on the contents of President’s Bush’s speech made to the UN General Assembly last week, in which he listed Saddam’s violations of UN resolutions.
The campaign, which will initially receive over $200 million (£130 million), will be overseen by the Office of Global Communications, whose existence will not be formally announced until next month.
<end>
"hi there! we're america! we love you and care about you! so you just sit back and watch our pretty advertisements about how nice and good and pure america is, while the right wing death squads we arm and train torture and kill your family and friends! or, you can watch the helicopters, tanks and fighter bombers we build here in the u.s. of a. wipe out your village! look out, run for cover! sounds fun, doesn't it! such great ways to build trust and friendship right! thanks for watching! bye now!"
The Right's Clueless Wondering.
"dear innocent people of the world.
we can't understand why you don't like us. we sit around on our ass all day and try to figure out why people don't like us.
sure, we've killed the wrong people many times. sure we've killed innocent people many times. but that doesn't mean you should dislike us, right?
in the early years in vietnam, as a military tactic we indiscriminantly bombed and fired artillery on whole villages, killing some guerillas, some innocent men, women, and children, some water buffolo's, some pigs, some chickens, and some buildings. but in our infinite wisdom, we couldn't understand why that created so much anger that those who survived the attacks would want to join the guerillas. hmm, it just doesn't make any sense.
likewise, how the hell could our blind support of israel's occupation of palestine cause alot of resentment in the arab world? why can't you arab people just lay down and take it quietly? jeez, it doesn't make any sense.
or, why would the people of iran, many of whom were tortured and killed by "our man" the shah's internal security forces, get sick of the shah, rise up, and install an equally repressive fundamentalist islamic cleric? why didn't the people of iran like the shah? he was our guy.
we can't understand why saudi arabia doesn't reform itself in our image, and stop spawning terrorists. yeah, it's true that our oil addiction supplies the royal family with billions of dollars to entrench and strenghten their power, and it's true that everybody in saudi arabia knows exactly were all that money going to the royal family comes from, but that doesn't mean it's our fault that saudi arabia is a breeding ground for islamic fundamentalist resentment, both of the royal family and the west.
likewise, why would families in el salvador that lost members who were not guerillas through torture, imprisonment, and execution by roving death squads that were armed with AR-15's, wearing fatigues with made in u.s.a. labels, and practicing american counter-insurgency tactics, be angry at america? it just doesn't make any sense. we have our best minds working on it, and we can't figure it out...
we also can't figure out why you all don't want to live exactly like we do. drive big cars exactly like we do. listen to big stereos exactly like we do. watch flashy, stupid, worthless programs on $2000 hdtv screens exactly like we do. wear clothes exactly like we do. eat food exactly like we do. pray to god exactly like we do. what are you saying? that you want your own way of life? your own language? your own traditions? that you want some self-determination? jeez, who would want a crazy thing like that?
well, we'll just sit on our ass and scratch our heads some more then..."
"dear innocent people of the world.
we can't understand why you don't like us. we sit around on our ass all day and try to figure out why people don't like us.
sure, we've killed the wrong people many times. sure we've killed innocent people many times. but that doesn't mean you should dislike us, right?
in the early years in vietnam, as a military tactic we indiscriminantly bombed and fired artillery on whole villages, killing some guerillas, some innocent men, women, and children, some water buffolo's, some pigs, some chickens, and some buildings. but in our infinite wisdom, we couldn't understand why that created so much anger that those who survived the attacks would want to join the guerillas. hmm, it just doesn't make any sense.
likewise, how the hell could our blind support of israel's occupation of palestine cause alot of resentment in the arab world? why can't you arab people just lay down and take it quietly? jeez, it doesn't make any sense.
or, why would the people of iran, many of whom were tortured and killed by "our man" the shah's internal security forces, get sick of the shah, rise up, and install an equally repressive fundamentalist islamic cleric? why didn't the people of iran like the shah? he was our guy.
we can't understand why saudi arabia doesn't reform itself in our image, and stop spawning terrorists. yeah, it's true that our oil addiction supplies the royal family with billions of dollars to entrench and strenghten their power, and it's true that everybody in saudi arabia knows exactly were all that money going to the royal family comes from, but that doesn't mean it's our fault that saudi arabia is a breeding ground for islamic fundamentalist resentment, both of the royal family and the west.
likewise, why would families in el salvador that lost members who were not guerillas through torture, imprisonment, and execution by roving death squads that were armed with AR-15's, wearing fatigues with made in u.s.a. labels, and practicing american counter-insurgency tactics, be angry at america? it just doesn't make any sense. we have our best minds working on it, and we can't figure it out...
we also can't figure out why you all don't want to live exactly like we do. drive big cars exactly like we do. listen to big stereos exactly like we do. watch flashy, stupid, worthless programs on $2000 hdtv screens exactly like we do. wear clothes exactly like we do. eat food exactly like we do. pray to god exactly like we do. what are you saying? that you want your own way of life? your own language? your own traditions? that you want some self-determination? jeez, who would want a crazy thing like that?
well, we'll just sit on our ass and scratch our heads some more then..."
why do bad things happen to innocent people, samuel?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
why did 9-11 happen, samuel?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
what could we change to make sure it never happens again?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
if we find fault in our actions, could we admit it and try to improve, try to learn from our mistakes?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth? does that deny that we have in fact been wronged...
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
why did 9-11 happen, samuel?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
what could we change to make sure it never happens again?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth?
if we find fault in our actions, could we admit it and try to improve, try to learn from our mistakes?
is that such an evil question? does that destroy our self worth? does that deny that we have in fact been wronged...
Yes why did slavery happen? Why were the Natives killed? Why did lynching occur? Why were the Japanese put in internment camps. Why did we bomb Bagdad? Why did American soldiers kill innocent civilians in Vietnam? They must have deserved it.
This is lefty logic
This is lefty logic
Yes why did slavery happen? Why were the Natives killed? Why did lynching occur? Why were the Japanese put in internment camps. Why did we bomb Bagdad? Why did American soldiers kill innocent civilians in Vietnam? They must have deserved it.
This is lefty logic
This is lefty logic
... it's more like:
"Yes why did slavery happen? Why were the Natives killed? Why did lynching occur? Why were the Japanese put in internment camps. Why did we bomb Bagdad? Why did American soldiers kill innocent civilians in Vietnam? They must have deserved it, because they were a threat to progress and national security. This is right wing logic."
"Yes why did slavery happen? Why were the Natives killed? Why did lynching occur? Why were the Japanese put in internment camps. Why did we bomb Bagdad? Why did American soldiers kill innocent civilians in Vietnam? They must have deserved it, because they were a threat to progress and national security. This is right wing logic."
Do you really think that the Left Wing is any less guilty? Or that other governments do not participate in their own forms (usually more pervasive) of propoganda...or as I have heard it referred to as perception management? What you have to realize is that almost every source of information has its own agenda. As much as you might want to believe that America is a terrible place to live, I would like to suggest that it is the most free system in the world. At least here, you are welcome to criticize everything that is wrong and vote out people that you don't like. And if you can convince enough people, you might even make a difference. Try finding another country in the world that compares. Now, I am not saying that we are the only democracy or even the best country, that is largely a matter of opinion, and I do believe that some things are getting out of hand (War on Drugs), but let's remember that historically, the USA has done more good for this world that any other nation EVER! Or do you think that WWII was just made up to manage your perceptions. We have not only given more money, but also lives in supporting the cause of others.
for all the good we have done, WWII being a primary example, we have a done a lot of evil crap, crap that is frankly the exact opposite of the good we have done.
now, the problem i have is people who are in denial. just like addicts are in denial. they go on and on about how good america is, but they DO NOT want to hear that america has made mistakes. and further more, they use all the good america has done as some kind of excuse for all the bad.
i dislike bullshit. i prefer honesty. I KNOW THE GOOD MY COUNTRY HAS DONE. I DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED OF IT. but part of the good of living in this country is that i can criticize it and not (yet) get thrown in prison. so when i hear how we can buy anything we want and live in big houses and drive big cars, and that kind of freedom excuses the support of the likes of pinochet, or right wing death squads in central america, or wars we shouldn't have fought to begin with like vietnam, that pisses me off. because you know what, it doesn't excuse those things. Nothing Does. i don't want to live in some dishonest, candy coated, rted white and blue denial about this country. i prefer honesty. and when you look at this country with honesty, you come to realize just how sweet it is to live here, and just how fortunate we are to be americans.
no coutry is perfect. no person is perfect. but that isn't an excuse. ESPECIALLY when you trumpet to the world how superior you claim your nation is above all others. actions speak louder than words. if you say one beuatiful thing, but do some other ugly thing, it sticks out like a sour thumb, and it's gonna get called. it's the same for every goddamn nation and person on this earth. in that regard, america isn't any more or any less special...
now, the problem i have is people who are in denial. just like addicts are in denial. they go on and on about how good america is, but they DO NOT want to hear that america has made mistakes. and further more, they use all the good america has done as some kind of excuse for all the bad.
i dislike bullshit. i prefer honesty. I KNOW THE GOOD MY COUNTRY HAS DONE. I DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED OF IT. but part of the good of living in this country is that i can criticize it and not (yet) get thrown in prison. so when i hear how we can buy anything we want and live in big houses and drive big cars, and that kind of freedom excuses the support of the likes of pinochet, or right wing death squads in central america, or wars we shouldn't have fought to begin with like vietnam, that pisses me off. because you know what, it doesn't excuse those things. Nothing Does. i don't want to live in some dishonest, candy coated, rted white and blue denial about this country. i prefer honesty. and when you look at this country with honesty, you come to realize just how sweet it is to live here, and just how fortunate we are to be americans.
no coutry is perfect. no person is perfect. but that isn't an excuse. ESPECIALLY when you trumpet to the world how superior you claim your nation is above all others. actions speak louder than words. if you say one beuatiful thing, but do some other ugly thing, it sticks out like a sour thumb, and it's gonna get called. it's the same for every goddamn nation and person on this earth. in that regard, america isn't any more or any less special...
I just returned from a three week stint in Europe going to London, Paris, Lucerne, Florence, Rome, Venice, Innsbruck, Heidelberg, and Amsterdam, and did not have a single individual from any of these countries say any type of discouraging words about the USA. The only mention of it was for them to say they would love to come visit. I've traveled Europe on and off for years and have seldom run into any anti-American sentiments. My personal experience tells me these things are overblown.
The US is the number one immigration station of the world. More people in this world want to be here than those who do not. It's a fact.
There are also more guaranteed rights in our system of goverment than any other. In some Western European countries, most of what some people write in this blog would be a CRIMINAL offense. Free speech is massively taken for granted in this country.
And yes, the US has done some really crappy things in it's history. No one is perfect and no one ever said that the US was perfect. Some countries out do us in some areas, some countries out do us in others. The basis of our pride is that of all the countries, we tend to do more things right than wrong..
The goverment is run by Human Beings. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we think we are supporting the lesser of two evils as it was with Bin Laden in the 80's and Vietnam in the 70's. Sometimes it's outright greed as it was with Clinton/Gore and the Chinese. But the people of the country find out and make their opinon's known through their votes. Yes, it seems trivial most of the time, but en masse we control the country. If you don't like the way someone does something, don't vote for them. It's that simple.
America is a better place to live at this time than anywhere else on earth. Simple fact. I've lived in Great Britain. I've lived for a short time in France. I've also spent months in New York until I decided to settle down in The South. The healthcare system in the US may not work as well as we'd all like it to, but it sure beats the hell out of Europe. Same for taxes. Same for defense. Same for freedom of speech.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Opinions are like a$$holes...everyone has one they usually stink to everyone but the owner.
But that's why we're even talking right now, isn't it? Expressing our own opinions and trying to change others.
There are also more guaranteed rights in our system of goverment than any other. In some Western European countries, most of what some people write in this blog would be a CRIMINAL offense. Free speech is massively taken for granted in this country.
And yes, the US has done some really crappy things in it's history. No one is perfect and no one ever said that the US was perfect. Some countries out do us in some areas, some countries out do us in others. The basis of our pride is that of all the countries, we tend to do more things right than wrong..
The goverment is run by Human Beings. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes we think we are supporting the lesser of two evils as it was with Bin Laden in the 80's and Vietnam in the 70's. Sometimes it's outright greed as it was with Clinton/Gore and the Chinese. But the people of the country find out and make their opinon's known through their votes. Yes, it seems trivial most of the time, but en masse we control the country. If you don't like the way someone does something, don't vote for them. It's that simple.
America is a better place to live at this time than anywhere else on earth. Simple fact. I've lived in Great Britain. I've lived for a short time in France. I've also spent months in New York until I decided to settle down in The South. The healthcare system in the US may not work as well as we'd all like it to, but it sure beats the hell out of Europe. Same for taxes. Same for defense. Same for freedom of speech.
Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Opinions are like a$$holes...everyone has one they usually stink to everyone but the owner.
But that's why we're even talking right now, isn't it? Expressing our own opinions and trying to change others.
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