No Shorts Allowed !!!

Originally posted by aquageek Why don't we go poll the Iraqis on how easy it was to denounce Sadam and get away with it?. I think they had that poll and it was US go home. George

Yes, Geek, that is indeed a very arrogant attitude. I'm hoping it was tounge in check (hard to tell online). Usually I laugh at your posts so I'm hoping ... Anyway... My friend from Argentina has become a US citizen in part because his lovely wife is from here (and in part because he too thinks this is a great country though his family did have some big bucks back in Argentina and they all still live there). But there in lies the problem, the sense of entitlement that comes with being an American. The we shall save the world attitude. Why is it our responisibility to save the rest of the world? Because we can? Then why do we step aside or look the other way when there are millions (yes millions) of people brutally killed in Africa. The fact that we step in when and where we want (must protect our oil interests) is the problem. It makes other countries less likely to help. This actually is a well documented political theory. I have issues with the idea that we should serve as the world police. Nothing good can come of that. There needs to be balance. One single power attempting to police the world and control the politics of other countries is NOT a good idea. Do I think we should totally back off and let the world go to hell? No, absolutely not. What I am getting at here is the fact that we pick and chose our battles in such a way that there are millions suffering from our poor choices. There needs to be more a world wide effort ... basically I have the "hippie" mentality of "can't we all just get along?" Would I fight for my country. Probably not. I hate war, I don't agree with war, it goes completely against my peace first, talk and talk and absolutely use war as the absolute last resort. Which I don't feel has been done much in the course of history (not done in Nam or Iraq for sure). I think we as Americans are too quick to jump into war. Just my humble opinions feel free to debate. I love debates! Just no personal attacks please!

As for the Iraqis, last time I checked they were pretty pissed we went over there. I also firmly believe that it takes a brutal dictator to run a country with three very diverse and radical groups like Iraq has. Do I like the idea of brutal dictators? No, but I also think my grandkids (and no, I don't even have kids yet) will be talking abou the continuing instability in Iraq.

Edited b/c my computer is slow

Yup, computer still slow

God bless my slow computer ...

Originally posted by aquageek Was Canada on that poll? No, they were at home trying to decide what their national language is, French or English. I can only imagine the horrific violence caused by that debate. If that donneybrook get's too out of control, call us in to sort your problems out but don't expect us to solve your Mad Cow issue. No Canada did not go and I was upset that we didn't until we found out the truth. No language problem we happen to have two legal languages here French and English, we even still eat french fries. Mad cow disease it has been rampant in the U.S. and has been hidden by the government. The U.S. was always late going into real wars. Canada fought in both world wars way before the U.S. My Three older brothers were all in the 2nd world war two years before the U.S. came in. George

Geek, you just proved Heather's point by your thread, nothing more...You like the power play, huh?Like being a bully?Kicking a weak's kid's butt?That is not a strength but a weakness...It is nothing but arrogance, ignorance and lack of respect for the rest of the world!Talk about manners!!!That is why I am feard to raise my kids in this country.People do not know how to treat other people anymore - the "bully" attitude and "I do not care about the rest of the world" type of ignorance does not just affect overseas countries, it already sucked in the heads of many Americans, or should I say US citizens?You do not even realise that the country suffering from that approach is USA itself, since people think they are the best , and hey - if you are the best, then why learn and explore new things and places???Non progredi est regredi(not progressing means regressing - latin proverb).And that arrogance and lack of manners will not affect other countries, either, it will just pass on to you fellow Americans who will give you the same attitude back, that is how a mentality is built.And then you end up with feminism, people suing other people for no reason, highest divorce rate because people are too good for each other, etc.You are ruining your own country with that attitude without realizing it. I am appauled at some ways guys treat women here as an example.Where I am from a guy will ALWAYS let the lady first in an establishment, will ALWAYS bring flowers on a date, open the car door for her, help her with a chair in a restaurant or whatnot.I hardly ever see it here.And then the way guys talk to girls, too - I am not even going there.And that is in every way of life, not just relationship. P.S. History shows that every empire comes to an end by pretty much destroying itself, because people reach the "I can do whatever I want" status quo and that is a path to failure. PP.S.It is how people percieve life and other people , how they fit(or not) manners into actions,how much respect they give to others that makes a country strong

Dima, that is more or less exactly what I am saying, except ... Don't knock feminism. I'm not really a feminist perse. But I am a strong and independent. I do not NEED a male in my life. I don't need help with my bags (as my male coach learned this weekend, ha) and I don't need someone to open a door for me. All of those things are nice no doubt. The overall issue with feminism (in my opinion) wasn't so much about that stuff as it was about equal pay for equal pay and the like. I was raised by both of my parents thinking I could do everything a boy could do. My dad always made me assemble my own computer and furniture in college because he didn't think being a girl was an excuse. I always had to be able to carry whatever I packed on vacations because I needed to be responsible (I think part of that was to prevent me from bringing every item of clothing I owned, not that it did) and needed to be self-sufficient. I don't think in terms of boy jobs and girls jobs (taking out the trash vs. cooking dinner). I am sure you treat your girlfriends very well and they are very lucky. I sure as heck wouldn't put up with a guy that talked to me like I was a piece of poop. Oh no! Sorry to hijack this thread onto yet another tangent but had to say my peace ...

If the U.S. had not come in it may have taken a little longer and speedo was not Europe it was Australian but if you say so I must believe it because if I am not with you I am against you. George