NorthernGent
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Joined: 7/10/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
I would have to disagree with this in a sense. It is not people who refuse to accept that, it is (by and large) American citizens.
Not sure people worldwide think of the United States as the "Freedom country." People I know and have talked to in Canada and Europe tend to be dumbfounded at the ignorance of the American people about the actions of our government.
Sinergy, I meant the American people - although it wasn't clear from my post. One of the differences could quite well be that Europeans are fully aware of what our countries have done over the centuries. There is a sense that European imperialism was chaotic and does not belong in the modern world.
I read a good book by an American (Mark Hertsgaard) called "Why The World Hates America" - it's not really about the world hating the US at all, it's about why some Americans struggle to understand some issues on which the rest of the world generally holds a consensus view. His conclusion is the lack of investigative journalism in the mainstream media - meaning lots of information by-passes the majority of the population. It sounds hard to believe because in a country of 300 million people, there must be some good news sources? Can you shed any light on this.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
One aspect of the American self image is the idea that the United States trots in with our military and our wealth and saves the day. We became involved in World War 1, and according to us, we solved the problem. We became involved in World War 2, according to us, we won the war. We became involved in Korea, and according to us, we prevented World War 3 by partitioning the country. We stood up to the Red Menace and Reagan handily defeated them. It has been hundreds of years since the United States has faced a foreign enemy on our soil, and the verbal and written lessons from our founding seem to have gotten lost in the jingoistic flag waving during these conflicts.
That's an interesting way of looking at it:
WW1 - the US aren't seen as a major player over here.
WW2 - a lot of US soldiers died, but the consensus view is the Russians took the brunt of the war.
WW3 - that's quite funny, lol...weren't the Americans flying bombers around for 24 hours a day in an attempt to overwhelm the Soviets? The best way to prevent a war is not to go charging 'round like strutting peacocks.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
Early on in the Vietnam War, the United States people were told repeatedly by our government that the Vietnamese wanted us there, it was a few malcontents who were arguing, etc. Reading the writings of the Vietnamese, a dramatically different picture emerges.
Lessons from history eh. A recent poll reported in British news suggests 76% of Iraqis do not want foreign troops on their soil.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
Vietnam was a loss of the United State's innocence and sense of righteousness. Since then, it has been somewhat of a struggle to rebuild our own collective self-esteem as well as try to formulate relationships with the rest of the world.
After WW2, the US had a rock solid reputation in Europe. I would say they still had a good write-up in Britain...until Bush. Then again, most realise that the current government is out of control and not representative of a significant number of Americans.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
I suppose I will be shouted down for this, but I will say it anyway. None of the people involved in the decision to take us to war in Iraq were involved in Vietnam. More importantly, all of them drummed up a way to avoid being involved in Vietnam.
It's the age old way isn't it. Kings and the landed classes (and their modern day equivalents) start the war and gain from the war, but they never fight them.
quote:
ORIGINAL: Sinergy
Unfortunately, Monkeyboy has now made me an accessory to murder.
I think it's a wise way of looking at it. There's no sense in Britons playing the get out of jail free card by saying he's nothing to do with us. He's our elected Prime Minister, if we take responsibility then there's a chance we'll be shamed in to doing our best to ensure another one like him is not elected in the future.
_____________________________
I have the courage to be a coward - but not beyond my limits.
Sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.
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RE: Invasion Strategy and Results - 
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