Kinda off topic, but later on I will try to bring the thread on topic.
I know there are a lot of people who do not think the US is the greatest nation (namely a lot of our European posters :)) - that is not what this thread is about.
For those who think the US is the greatest nation in the world, please tell me why you think this.
Imperialistic ruthlessness.
i think the US has a lot of both good and bad points, but i deffinately don’t think that we are the greatest country. I don’t know if i should say that though, seeing that i am a member of the US army and all.
There is no need to be politically correct - almost everyone thinks that their nation is the best. Be honest in your answers 
I hear New Zealand’s pretty cool…
Im with CSN.
No Country is the best or the worst.
From an outsider point of view it appears that americans are convinced that they are living in the ONLY country that has:
1.) Freedom of speech
2.) Freedom of press.
3.) Freedom of religion.
4.) etc.
And like to rub it into the rest of the worlds faces, even though the majority can and is free to do the same things they reckon makes America so great.
We also see the USA talk about A but practice B or C or D continously
Of course fell free to point out EXACT areas where the USA is better than the rest of the world. Not one case, but where the rest of the world lacks,
Sorry, joedoe, but this topic calls for an outsider view as we know how much Americans are prejusticed against their own country.
Originally posted by Laughing Cow
[B]No Country is the best or the worst.
From an outsider point of view it appears that americans are convinced that they are living in the ONLY country that has:
1.) Freedom of speech
2.) Freedom of press.
3.) Freedom of religion.
4.) etc.
And like to rub it into the rest of the worlds faces, even though the majority can and is free to do the same things they reckon makes America so great.
We also see the USA talk about A but practice B or C or D continously
Of course fell free to point out EXACT areas where the USA is better than the rest of the world. Not one case, but where the rest of the world lacks,
Sorry, joedoe, but this topic calls for an outsider view as we know how much Americans are prejusticed against their own country.
[/B]
I appreciate your views, and I would like to point out that every nation practices hypocrisy to some degree, however this thread, believe it or not, is not a political thread.
I have had some thoughts lately and I wanted to see what other people thought of them to test their validity.
I really should have titled the thread “Tell me why you think your nation is the best”. I picked the US because most of the forum members are from the US and it seemed the best way to relate my ideas.
I agree with Laughing Cow.
The US says, “thou shalt not cut down the rain forest”, but we indiscriminately cut down many of our forests just make the country what it is today.
The US says, “Killing innocents is bad”, but look at General Sherman in the American Civil War, who burned the fields and homes of those he knew would one day return to the Union (if the Union won).
The US says, “slavery is evil”, yet slavery is one of the cornerstones to the foundation of the evolution of the United States.
A Muslim friend of mine once told me, “before I came to America, I knew only two things about Americans. One, they eat too many sweets. Two, when they ask, ‘how are you doing?’, they don’t really want you to answer them.”
Buildings full of families in the Middle East are destroyed by missiles that read “Made in Georgia” along their side.
Congressmen/women vote on bills to meet their own ends. If you went from door to door in any city or town and America, and asked the people, “would you vote ‘yes’ on bill X?”, they would say, “No fu(kin’ way”. and yet, their congressmen/women just voted “yes” on that same bill.
It is a wise man who delegates authority to people smarter than himself. I only hope president Bush has done this.
But make no mistake that America was founded on the ideas of free speech, press, and religion. As the first modern country to embrace these concepts and survive, many other countries followed suit. If Europe had followed these guidelines to begin with, America wouldn’t have come to be. However, if America had not come to be, Europe would not be what it is today. Okay, that HAS TO BE OPINION, since none of us can see into an alternate universe (that I know of…).
The reason I believe in the US is because EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY HAS DONE AND IS DOING BOTH GREAT AND HORRIBLE THINGS. I sincerely believe that the president is doing what is ‘right’ for the world. I’ve heard it said that the greatest flaw of America is that it is TOO FAIR in it’s dealings with other nations. After Desert Storm, the US granted the Iraqi’s full use of their helicopter fleet, on the grounds that they would be used to transport supplies to civilians. Those same choppers were immediately used to rain gunfire on the Iraqi people.
I read a great book called “From Novice to Master”, a story about the life of a Zen master. He described his time in World War II, and he mentioned that until the end of the war, the Japanese people SINCERELY BELIEVED THEY WERE THE GOOD GUYS. But really, there’s no good and evil in war, only enemies.
I guess the point is that I sincerely believe that the Americans are TRYING to be as good and fair as possible in this whole situation, and unfortunately, peace is not always an immediate option. For every line one draws in the sand after the first, it is that much easier for an opponent to cross it with a smile, and the next one. However, now that no more lines are being drawn, it is a cowardly adversary who begs forgiveness.
So, for better or worse, that’s why I like the United States.
Please don’t turn this into a political thread. That was not my intention.
Here’s my reason… This is the best… If we can have THIS much time on our hands…it MUST be the best country in the world…
~Wen~
Das Kapital…
It’s called “Capitalism” people. What do you think that means? We capitalize on the positive outcomes of the politico-economic “game”. The result is the rest of the world gets “played”.
If you don’t understand the rules of a pyramid scheme and wind up losing more than you gain, then it’s your own fault. Ignorance of the facts is no excuse! Once you agree to the “rules” of the game and participate, ones fate leaves their hands. America is the innovator, implementer, rule maker, main supporter and financier of the world economic stage/battlefield. Every country has a stock market with a “Wall Street” structure, and the dollar is still the faux-gold standard. Plus we got weapons, lots of 'em. Everything should end in a big "splosion, BOOOM! Hehehe! CIVILIZATION AT ITS FINEST!
The plantation owner is always gonna live on the high hog. Especiallly if the workers don’t understand that he owns and controls them. Hahahaha. Sorry. You fools are getting took. It’s International Servitude exported for our viewing pleasure. From the Africans to the indentured servants to you. We’ve dressed it up, revamped it snazzy-like and made it available for mass consumption. Ain’t nuthin’ like lazy elitists taking advantage of the world forever. We the citizens of the USA would like to thank you for your chaos, blood, sweat, tears and money. If we don’t do it, someone else will. We got it locked up. No need to worry we’ll, destroy-uhhh- take care of the world for you. Then puddle jump to the next recyclable planet. Peace or Pieces?
E. Pluribus Unum---- From Many, ONE. Somewhere a dead fuhrer smiles.
Originally posted by Watchman
[B]Laughing Cow:
You forgot…
4.) The right to keep and bear arms. [/B]
Yeah, sure the US is the ONLY country to do so.
Pull the other one it hatheth Bells on.
Megapoint.
Ever wonder why in most Countries “Pyramid schemes” are ILLEGAL.
Joedoe.
It was not my intention to turn this political, as many things I see guaranteed in the US constitutions are also part of many other countries constitutions.
But I guess topics like this will always turn political.
Even though I can’t see a town in the USA build a mosque from taxpayers money as happened in my home-country which is predominately Catholic/Protestant.
FYI, we practice FULL separation of Church & State. A Goverment official mentions god or similar he/she is a goner.
Every Citizen is free to choose his Religion from the age of 14., this is a LAW and part of our Constitution.
NOBODY can interfere with that decision.
Cheers.
re:Please don’t turn this into a political thread. That was not my intention
sorry joedoe, i’ll try to be brief.
The Us is not the greatest country on Earth, but i’d guess it to be in the top 5
Marky
The US says, “Killing innocents is bad”, but look at General Sherman in the American Civil War, who burned the fields and homes of those he knew would one day return to the Union (if the Union won).
Being a southoner I’ve no real love for Sherman, but i cannot speak ill of him, he did what he thought was right to end the war quickly. But the fact that ‘we’ killed innocents, burned feilds and homes, or held slaves for labour, does not justify the acts in themselves.
Killing innocents is bad. Keeping slaves in bondage is bad. Kidnapeing, rapeing, droping atomic weapons, and firebombing are all bad, no arguement there. We, as a nation, in our short history have done all this and more. But where we seem unable to learn from our mistakes, I hope better countrys can look at us and learn.
Congressmen/women vote on bills to meet their own ends.
snip
It is a wise man who delegates authority to people smarter than himself. I only hope president Bush has done this.
But make no mistake that America was founded on the ideas of free speech, press, and religion. As the first modern country to embrace these concepts and survive, many other countries followed suit. If Europe had followed these guidelines to begin with, America wouldn’t have come to be. However, if America had not come to be, Europe would not be what it is today. Okay, that HAS TO BE OPINION, since none of us can see into an alternate universe (that I know of…)
No, we cannot see alternate universes( yet ;)) but we can look at history. Our freedoms and instutions came cheifly from the europeon ideals of justice and liberty, it was not so much that we were being opressed (or taxed) but that we had no say in the matter. Had the Brits offered us full voteing rights, I might well be drinking tea right now.
But really, there’s no good and evil in war, only enemies.
another good book, but a scary one is “We thought we were free” about the experiance of a small German town during the rise and fall of the Riech.
So, for better or worse, that’s why I like the United States.
I know you like the US, just make sure you like it for the right reasons.
'MegaPoint
Hahahaha. Sorry. You fools are getting took. It’s International Servitude exported for our viewing pleasure. From the Africans to the indentured servants to you. We’ve dressed it up, revamped it snazzy-like and made it available for mass consumption. Ain’t nuthin’ like lazy elitists taking advantage of the world forever. We the citizens of the USA would like to thank you for your chaos, blood, sweat, tears and money
:rolleyes: you are the reason nobody likes to talk about politics. :mad: its one of my favorite subjects, but I rarely bring it up here, being a kung fu forum and all.
America is the innovator, implementer, rule maker, main supporter and financier of the world economic stage/battlefield. Every country has a stock market with a “Wall Street” structure, and the dollar is still the faux-gold standard.
Uh huh, its called Capitalism, and we do it beter than most, plus we came out more or less on top after the first couple world wars, so we’re in a great position to help the world. Or screw it over, but I think we are smart enough over the long term to not "$hit where we live.
Somewhere a dead fuhrer smiles.
No, cause in his world, you would be shot for saying such things.
I’m just Wondering
(What If)
What if U.S.A. didn’t get involved in the european war.(They should have minded their own bussiness)instead it became W.W.2
What if U.S.A. didn’t fight Hitler and Nazi Germany?
What if U.S.A. did nothing against Mousoulini and dictatorship Italy?
What if U.S.A. Looked the other way with the empire of Japan?
Where or what shape would the WORLD be in today?
Originally posted by logic
[B]I’m just Wondering
(What If)
What if U.S.A. didn’t get involved in the european war.(They should have minded their own bussiness)instead it became W.W.2
What if U.S.A. didn’t fight Hitler and Nazi Germany?
What if U.S.A. did nothing against Mousoulini and dictatorship Italy?
What if U.S.A. Looked the other way with the empire of Japan?
Where or what shape would the WORLD be in today? [/B]
I guess the U.S.A. entered WW II for ALL those reasons and NOT because they got attacked at Pearl Harbour in 1941.
Funny that they entered WW II after it was already in full swing for a few Years and now all of a sudden fought for all the right reasons.
Maybe we should thank the Japanese for getting them involved in WW II.
Hmmm.
Plus, dont forget that Germany declared War on the US first, not too long after Pearl Harbour. It was not like the US particularly had a choice at that point.
Geese Laughing cow
I just took it for granted that everyone new we got involved after W.W.2 because of perl harber. I was only stating if we didn’t get involved.
I admit I like my country.But by no means are we perfect.
We have corruption,scandal, in our government and I get ticked off when I hear about it. But every country has this also.
I hate sweets or candy of just about any kind.
I could care less how you are doing when I ask. When I go to the 7-11 today I going to tell the Indian clerk all of my problems and I sure he will have the ut most concern,just like the French do when Americans come to visit.
Yes many other countries do have the same rights we have.
and we don’t mind fighting for and protecting those rights like we do so often, and then get kicked in the face for it.
Originally posted by logic
Yes many other countries do have the same rights we have.
and we don’t mind fighting for and protecting those rights like we do so often, and then get kicked in the face for it.
Every Citizen fights for their rights, but I don’t hear the rest of the world bragging about it.
It is the loudmouth attitude that get you kicked in the mouth more than anything.
Point being the rest of the world had enough of it(Broken record, etc) and is now speaking up about it.
Now you Guys feel upset because a few dreams are being shattered and you don’t get the support you think you deserve.