I'm just expressing my personal belief. It's based on observation of the leaders of the nation and value sytems espoused and enacted.

But don't mind me. It's just my belief. If you get personally offended it's just you. It has nothing to do with the inclusive nature of my subjective statement. Feel free to disagree with me if you like. You have your belief and I have mine. Tomayto tomahto and all that.

[ 08-01-2003, 03:09 AM: Message edited by: Yorick ]

Facts please.

Who needs facts? I'm just stating my belief. I could go on about how the man leading the country is such an idiotic so and so - well he must be... his own people are always deriding him, yet he's the best they have - but that's not the point. I'm simply stating my personal belief.

Tomayto tomahto and all that. ;)

But your ideas have to be based upon something ? Not just the fact that they have Bush for a president ?

Don't get me wrong here, i'm just curious, cause i've heard other people make the same statement.

They're based on my personal experience Johnny!

Hey Johnny, read the religous tolerance thread, you'll see some common themes on the last few pages.

Just curious Yorick,

But, this is the Current Events Forum. This observation can't be current as we, in America, have had the leaders in power here for over 2 and 1/2 years. ;)

They (Bush Administration) have been on their current track since the choosing of Bush by the SCOTUS. Also, don't forget that the popular vote totals favored Al Gore. I think many people who voted for Bush, did so because they wanted a change from Clintonian politics. I think it is overly broad to lump all Americans into the same unintelligent group that you percieve. Many of us have not been overly pleased with the performance of Bush et al, while of course others are quite happy, your mileage may vary. I also think that there has been a major change in Bush between the Campaigning Dubya and the pResident Dubya. I think many Americans were victims of the old Bait and Switch routine. During the campaign we were sold a product and after the item was delivered we it was inferior to advertised model (I didn't buy it, though). There is a label on the collar that says "Abolutely No Returns" (Unlike in California Recall and Gov. Gray Davis. ;) )

Of course, it may be that you are just having a bit of fun with us Dumericans and in that case nevermind! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Mark

[edit] To add more.

[ 08-01-2003, 06:23 AM: Message edited by: skywalker ]

*sigh*
Whatever man... :rolleyes:

Speaking in *very* general terms, I will add something to this thread. There are three factors that one should consider:

1. The average US citizen has lived with the fruits of the 'information age' a lot longer than most other countries. In our new, 'fast-paced' world, he wants his information today and he wants it as succinct as possible. Now he has the internet, Sattelite TV etc. to keep him informed.

As time goes on, a reliance on these mediums develop as well as a level of unprecedented trust. "My favorite (and therefore trusted) journalist 'John X" of TV station 'Y' summarised all of the issues in a 3 minute spot. I have no reason to doubt his assessment nor do I believe that he left out any pertinent facts, and I therefore do not need to look for or listen to an alternative opinion." has become the rule of the day.

2. Political correctness and 'emotionalism' has further stifled healthy public debate and discussion. This emotionalism drowns out serious arguments and fact-based analysis's. For example, Glenview State Bank recently wrote in its newsletter:
"The Great Depression of the 1930's saw falling prices, staggering unemployment and shattered stock markets all over the world, and the world's leading statesmen seemed helpless to defeat it. Except for one.

His name was Adolph Hitler. Unlike France and Britain, and unlike the United States, Germany spent most of the 1930's growing economically, not declining. If we can understand why Depression-era Germany resisted the disease, we may better understand how alarmed we should be today in the 21st century."

To my mind, this was a perfectly reasonable statement. Hitler *did* dramatically improve the German economy in the 1930's, largely by instigating public works programs, improving the infrastructure and taking a long-term view.

But what happened next? A critical response to these innocent comments? Oh no, howls of protest from the 'Anti-deformation league':
"Hitler's economic policies cannot be divorced from his great policies of virulent anti-Semitism, racism and genocide," Hirschhaut wrote in a letter to the bank. "There are really no circumstances under which Hitler should be held as a good model."

and such is the strength of such societies that the bank was forced to make an apology for printing the facts!
http://www.suntimes.com/output/busin...in-bank30.html

3. The United States is huge and the environment and society varied. Whatever you want, be it sunny beaches, wilderness or ski slopes - you can find it there. Whatever job you want to do, or business you want to set up or market that you want to appeal to, chances are you can do it there too. However, it is also a long way away from most other developed countries - travel is long, costly and painful. The result is that the numbers per head of population who have visited other developed countries (barring Canada and Mexico) is really rather small in comparison to the citizens of other countries.

Put all three factors together and you get (generalisation - of course):
People who rarely travel abroad and who collect their 'information' on the world from brief sources who themselves are careful in their writings to not upset any powerful lobby groups for fear of 'persecution'.

The result tends to be an ill-informed or misinformed populace (where world events and issues are concerned).

However, one should not confuse being 'misinformed' with a lack of intelligence.

. Australia..............America

1 John Howard..........G.W. Bush

2 displaced.............displaced
. Aborigines &..........Indians &
. massacres.............massacres

3 camps full of.........camp full of
. assylum seekers......"enemy combatants"
. held indefinitely......held indefinitely

4 uncertain sense of......schizophrenic sense of
. national identity..........international identity

5 footy shorts..........?????

If you feel so strongly about Americans...GET OUT. That's not a bash, it's advice. It's what I did.

[ 08-01-2003, 10:12 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Mopery ]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA [img]graemlins/biglaugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh3.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

Oh...wait...sorry...were you being serious? Guess I'm a big dumb American and intalec...intulic...untoluc...err...I aint got enough smarts ta get it. ;)

[ 08-01-2003, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Nachtrafe ]

So what you're saying is....we have to work on getting some sort of American equivalent to footy shorts? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm :D

Could this be a responce to the discussion in that other thread? [img]graemlins/1disgust.gif[/img] Provoking? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

LOL

Then why bother even debating with us? Find a forum that has you in it and ...well you! (and whichever guest you deem worthy)!

Thanks for the observation. Would you please share with us who is best. As a matter of self improvement I might want to move.

<font color='white'> I dont see how this isn't considered country basing, but whatever. </font>

But it's only my opinion I.R.!! If you're offended it's all you. It has nothing to do with my words or opinions now is it? ;)

We have a WINNAH! Careful... you might win a prize. ;) :D

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#00FF00">Could you share with us these personal experiances? I find this thread confusing and I am not sure the point of it. While I get a few laughs of Rick Mercer's "Talking to American's", I don't believe they are all unintelligent as portrayed in the show.</font>

[ 08-01-2003, 04:34 PM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

We have a WINNAH! Careful... you might win a prize. ;) :D </font>[/QUOTE]Umm, isn't this called trolling? ;)

Only if you believe it is so. ;) Trolling/Trawling same difference. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Today Canada is celebrating the legalization of insulin AS WELL AS making Beaver Balls our National dish! :D

Extra crispy ? :D

But it's only my opinion I.R.!! If you're offended it's all you. It has nothing to do with my words or opinions now is it? ;) </font>[/QUOTE]<font color='white'> Thats beside the point. It has nothing to do with me. Ziroc said he wouldn't tolerate Country bashing, and I dont see how this isn't considered country bashing.

If its safe to assume Americans are less intellegent than all other humans. Is it safe to assume Arab's are more dangerous than all others? How about French more cowardly?

I mean afterall, those are especially accurate if your basing it on the countrys leadership. </font>

But it's only my opinion I.R.!! If you're offended it's all you. It has nothing to do with my words or opinions now is it? ;) </font>[/QUOTE]<font color='white'> Thats beside the point. It has nothing to do with me. Ziroc said he wouldn't tolerate Country bashing, and I dont see how this isn't considered country bashing.

If its safe to assume Americans are less intellegent than all other humans. Is it safe to assume Arab's are more dangerous than all others? How about French more cowardly?

I mean afterall, those are especially accurate if your basing it on the countrys leadership. </font> </font>[/QUOTE]It's so dangerously provoking that I thought that it was Tongue-in-cheek, wasn't it? What about us Brits? Are we the second most stupid nation on account of our taking tea breaks in the middle of a battle?

Grand Ranger, I was making a point using sarcasm and putting the shoe on the other foot. Keep your shirt on. ;)

The issue concerned is now resolved in any case.

Skunk, it's a measure of my continued ignorance of other posters here that I didn't know you were British. Where exactly are you from, if I may ask?

Exactly. I had trouble talking my tongue was so far in my cheek. For those that know me, the post is also inconsistent with my defending America or France from "country bashing."

The Brits are fair game though. :D :D ;)

We have a WINNAH! Careful... you might win a prize. ;) :D </font>[/QUOTE]And as such, it's locked down. Please don't post things meant to provoke others like this! A little joke is fine, but don't push it. ;)

Let's find a Current Event in the news and discuss it.