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 Off-Topic / Debate / 19894
19893  |  19895
Subject: 
Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.off-topic.debate
Date: 
Wed, 26 Mar 2003 16:41:33 GMT
Viewed: 
274 times
  
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Koudys writes:

Not to try to single folks out, but your "Dream of America the Perfect" must
be revisited--Directed at John

'Faith in their own exceptionalism,' she writes, 'has sometimes led to a
certain obtuseness on the part of Americans, a tendency to preach at other
nations rather than listen to them, a tendency to assume that American
motives are pure where those of others are not.'

She also writes in that article (and indirectly criticizes you for your
one-sided except):

"It would be unfair to reach these harsh conclusions without pointing out that
America does provide much aid and expertise to the developing world and pours
billions of dollars into peacekeeping operations."

Our faith in our exceptionalism creates the spirit and will to engage in such
behaviors as well.  You know, it's not that we think we are perfect.  We know
we are not, but we are constantly striving to become it.  It's not that we
think we are better than anyone else, it's just that when we look at everyone
else, we say "we can do better".  That spirit stems directly from our love of
freedom and liberty.

It may sometimes result in obtuseness, but many times it produces countless
blessings upon the world.


What?  You think America the Great is the only country that 'produces
countless blessings upon the world'?  You act as if America is the second
coming, John!  We, all of us, are equal nations (or at least should be), and
the second you start thinking that you're better than the rest is the second
that there are second class citizens that are allowed to suffer so you can
live better.

Someone once said a long time ago here in o.t-d that one of the reasons
America is as great as it is, is because there are 'lesser' nations working
at lesser wages, at lower living conditinos, just so you can get your shoes
cheaper, but that's okay, as long as your shoes remain cheap.

The very minute you raise yourself above the rest, you can ignore all sorts
of atrocities elsewhare because 'it's only them'.

So again, America is not God's gift to the world.  Stop your self
cerntralized view and start seeing what's going on in the world around
you--that's what the author was trying to get across.



JOHN

Dave K



Message has 4 Replies:
  Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
 
*Applause* (21 years ago, 26-Mar-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
 
(...) Because I am a red-blooded american boy; living, breathing, working, and striving for all that is great and good for my world; and because I am committed to a larger project which takes the downturns and the upswings with a grain of salt; (...) (21 years ago, 26-Mar-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
 
(...) Sorry, Dave. Some nations are better than others. That's no slur against those who happen to live in the nations that aren't up to snuff. But when you say stuff like "We, all of us, are equal nations", you're being tiresome. Note that I didn't (...) (21 years ago, 26-Mar-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
  Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
 
(...) Did I say that? You are obfuscating and being argumentative. (...) I don't even know what that is supposed to mean. (...) I reject your moral equivelance of nations. The second we think we are better is the second that there are second class (...) (21 years ago, 26-Mar-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Break Out the Cristal (trickle-down economics explained with champagne!)
 
(...) She also writes in that article (and indirectly criticizes you for your one-sided except): "It would be unfair to reach these harsh conclusions without pointing out that America does provide much aid and expertise to the developing world and (...) (21 years ago, 26-Mar-03, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)

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