[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Micki', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')nteresting Miki. My background is Swedish on father's side and my brother visited for the first time, a couple of years ago. He had glowing reports of the country, but something about his descriptions of it, turned me off a bit. It was really odd. I can't put my finger on it, but I'm really glad my grandfather emigrated to Canada, when he did, because I don't think I could live there. I honestly think the people would get on my nerves

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('zensui', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Denny', '(')...)
When you look for extremes of achievement and generosity and education and wisdom you shuld start by looking in America.
(...)

[chumley]

I am sick and tired of America bashing. Here is some good for the USA...it took me all of 5 minutes and a google search to return hundreds of web pages and articles that support this one article I will post as an example of the generosity and compassion of America.

Q. Are Americans more or less charitable than citizens of other countries?
A. No developed country approaches American giving. For example, in 1995 (the most recent year for which data are available), Americans gave, per capita, three and a half times as much to causes and charities as the French, seven times as much as the Germans, and 14 times as much as the Italians. Similarly, in 1998, Americans were 15 percent more likely to volunteer their time than the Dutch, 21 percent more likely than the Swiss, and 32 percent more likely than the Germans. These differences are not attributable to demographic characteristics such as education, income, age, sex, or marital status. On the contrary, if we look at two people who are identical in all these ways except that one is European and the other American, the probability is still far lower that the European will volunteer than the American.

http://www.american.com/archive/2008/ma ... -of-givers


America may have its faults and shortcomings, but it has furthered the cause of freedom and liberty more than any other country in human history.

The United Nations charter on Human Rights was based on and inspired by the US constitution and Bill of Rights.

I am damn proud to be an American and damn proud of this country and all the good deeds it and its citizens have done and ARE doing. Do I think it is perfect...hell no. Are there times when I completely disagree with what we are doing....yep. That is not cause to trash the country.

The American experiment in a free society is to date the most ambitious attempt in human history to allow people to be free and follow their dreams.

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('chumley', 'I') am sick and tired of America bashing.

[chumley]

Nickel,

Excellent work, Thanks for making my point. Focus solely on the negatives and cast aside all the positive accomplishments of the United States of America( I usually put in America due to laziness, but I will now use USA even shorter and easier). No offense meant to my northern and southern neighbors.

I can list off all the negatives as well...hmmm...overthrowing Iraqs democratically elected leader in the 1960's or overthrowing Iran's democratically elected leader in the 1950's to name a couple. There is a very large pool to choose from. How about being cozy with a brutal dictatorship...Iraq in the 1980's Saudi Arabia today and for a long time, so on so forth.

Back on topic.....how often do all these negatives get beat around every second of every day all over the world.......countless air time, I mean it is all you ever hear about. Ad nauseum comes to mind.

Now how often do you hear about all the good we do as well???
There is no balance, it is just bash bash bash the USA.

This is what I am sick and tired about.

Stupidity, racism, greed, deceit, ignorance, hubris are all HUMAN traits and can be found in any country, in any population, in any government all over the world.

Challenge yourself to view the glass as half full and you will be amazed at all the good you will see.....soak yourself in negativity and you will get it back in spades.

Now since I have listed a few crappy aspects of the USA why don't you try to name a few positives?

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('chumley', ' ')Excellent work, Thanks for making my point.

[Pretorian]

Chumley you are a great find for this forum. We need people like you here.

[Cashmere]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Nickel', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'J')ust like the 300 pound man laughing at the obesity of the 400 pound man doesn't make him fit.

[Nickel]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Nickel', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'J')ust like the 300 pound man laughing at the obesity of the 400 pound man doesn't make him fit.

[burtonridr]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Nickel', 'W')hat I would prefer, what we all would like, is a United States capable of looking at the evil is has wrought, as well as polishing its laurels as it does so well, so endlessly, to the point of mythologizing itself, and find the courage to be self-critical enough to step back from the brink and stop doing those things. To really become a force for good and real champion of democracy, not just DEMOCRACY!!(reg.d trade mark, patent pend.). The US of Ben Franklin, not Ronald Reagan... and certainly not of GWB.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('burtonridr', '
')I gotta hand it to those guys in iraq that blow themselves up, I dont even have the balls to be the one that says enough is enough.