Quote:
Originally posted by Azred:
America doesn't need to force its way of life onto anyone. What is really strange is that others are not embracing the American life of freedom on their own. Why would anyone willingly turn away from a positive thing? [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]
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"others"?? And which countries exactly do you mean by that? Why would anyone not want to enjoy the American life of freedom? Hmmm, let me see, well, I happen to quite like the DUTCH way of freedom. I'm free to smoke marihuana, free to have an abortion without fearing some pro-life terrorist murdering the doctor, free to have healthcare even though I can't afford it, free to choose from at least 10 political parties the one that suits me best, free not to be shot by some lunatic because gun possession is much much lower, free in the knowledge that I can never be put on the chair an innocent victim or even a guilty criminal... And no, I have never smoked pot, I would not have an abortion and I pay insurance for my healthcare. Still, it's nice to know we have all those freedoms here. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
Why not say "each to their own" instead of "our way is best, I can't believe others don't see that". My country's laws work for me, mostly. But I'm not about to say they'd work for you. For instance, apparently most Americans feel strongly about their gun laws, well, that's fine by me. If the majority of the population wants something, that's usually a good thing to go by. Here, those same gun laws wouldn't work, so I'm glad we don't have them. Your way isn't THE right way, it's the right way for your country and no one likes to be forced to do something, even if the end result is good. It's arrogance not to see some people have vastly different cultures and values, and need to adjust SLOWLY. If all I'd ever seen from the Western World was people on tv throwing chairs at each other in the Jerry Springer show and eating huge portions of junk food they don't need and drinking Coca Cola, I wouldn't want to adopt that culture. Of course this perception of the Western World/the USA would be WRONG, but if it's all people know, teach them otherwise *patiently* and wisely... they don't know any better and how could they?
And yes, this is mostly about countries that people would agree have a "wrong way" - dictatorships in which innocents are killed, countries ruled by fundamentalist governments, for instance. Of course they would be better off if they could change into something like America. But that doesn't happen overnight and you can't force people to accept it overnight. If my country were to be remodelled on an American mold I would protest till I died. Not because I think your way is the wrong way, but simply because there are more right ways to do it.
If you're going to come out and say "well, I only meant those countries you talked about just now, the dictatorships. I didn't mean 'others' to include other Western countries like yours..." Well, you should have specifically said so, because now you sounded just arrogant, because your post implied ALL countries in the world should recognise your way as right, and that other countries are less right. And I'm sure that's not what you truly believe. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[ 07-17-2003, 07:28 AM: Message edited by: Melusine ]