Subject:
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Re: Ok, why such anti-American sentiment? (Was Re: the metric system)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Tue, 1 May 2001 18:15:42 GMT
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Viewed:
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274 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, James Simpson writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Timothy Culberson writes:
> > Christopher Tracey wrote:
> > >
> > > yay or nay?
> > >
> > > -chris
> >
> > Abosolutely yay. The US should get out of their • redneck rut and realize
> > that they are decades behind the rest of the world • when it comes to this
> > issue. The US is simply stinking up everybody else • with their stupid
> > old system (especially here in Canada where we rely on • so many of their
> > products and such).
>
> First, regarding the metric system, use whatever • pleases you. Personally, I
> don't care. I like the old system, simply because i • grew up with it, and i
> therefore find it more (personally) natural to think in • terms of feet and inches
> than meters and centimeters, and i frankly always will • Big deal. Anyway, to
> the meat of my issue:
>
> I really tire of all the anti-American comments thrown • around in debate.
> Frankly, i'm offended by it, although i hate to let • down my guard and admit
> that. I am an American citizen, and have done • absolutely no wrong whatsoever to
> Canadians, Germans, British, Dutch, Swazilanders, • Mauretanians, Yemenese,
> Sudanese, Bhutanese, etc., etc. I have never • personally trampled on any of said
> nations' national senses of identity, and, to the best • of my knowledge, i have
> never sent a truckload of cultural • detritus/propaganda/rhetoric either north,
> south, east, west of my border. I do not, in a • nutshell, consider myself the
> "Ugly American."
>
> Now, I am, however, really trying not to become the • "Resentful American," but i
> admit that its sometimes hard. I've been to Europe. • My father is from Europe--
> an expatriate of Scotland who still retains his British • citizenship. At some
> important level, i consider myself to be "European" • because the bones of my
> ancestors (whom i honor) lie in European soil. But the • bones of my American
> kindred also lie in European soil. Shall we go there?
I have Irish relatives that want the money to keep
flowing from U.S.
citizens to support the I.R.A., but otherwise don't want
anything else to do
with the U.S.
> I have become something of an isolationist, though. • I'm not sure that I'll ever
> return to Europe. I don't particularly care to go to a • place in which i am
> (vicariously, at least) scoffed at and villified for • being an American. Heck,
> even my English relatives do that. They can't stand • America, but they still
> vacation at Disney World.
I have not been to Europe, but I have encountered many
Europeans in my
lifetime (especially since college) I bristle at the
elitist attitude that
many Europeans have towards America (insert comments
about our lack of
culture, gun control, education, etc.) My Father,
Uncles, Cousins, and
Grandfather were all American soldiers sent to fight
overseas to liberate
many of these countries from tyranny.
How is it so easy for many "intellectuals" to
conveniently forget the U.S.
contribution in both World Wars.
> American citizens make enormous contributions to • foreign aid. But most
> countries shake a fist at America, while keeping the • other hand open in case
> they need something. Maybe that's wrong, but it feels • that way. I relish a
> civilized clash-of-arms; let's debate foreign policy, • let's debate history and
> economics, but leave your whining "redneck" crap on • your side of the border.
>
> james
Well said James...
Why muddy up a perfectly good debate with tired
stereotypes ...
John
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