You know what really grinds my gears?

The Common Room Members, Inc.
#1021

Yes, Virginia. You’re only focusing on the horrible, evil, despicable people. What about the great people? The people who change the world for the better good? The normal people trying to make a living. The people who are selfless, and dedicate their lives to help others. It may be just giving change to a homeless man. Or it may be people who go and build houses after New Orleans flooded. I could go on and on with examples. Here in the USA you see the best and the worst of man kind. Because it’s a DIVERSE COUNTRY>

And there are false prophets in England. There are evil and racist people in Japan. There are spoiled Paris Hilton girls in China. There are whiet supremisists in France. The best and worst of people are everywhere Virginia.

You seriously are being way too pesamistic to people who live here, and turn a blind eye to them, and are idolizing people in other places you’ve never been too. No place is perfect. I’m sick of people saying what a sh*t place the USA is, without looking at the good people who live here as well.

Try living in Communist China. I’d like to see you try to make a living in Nazi Germany. Go live in Sudan, Afghanistan, or Egypt.

If people in those countries spoke out against their country, they’d fear for their lives. Be greatful you’re allowed to say those things in this country, without fear of being arrested or murdered.

#1022

muttering about how I’ve created a monster, begins to cry

#1023

Yeah,they’re bad people everywhere…you can’t just paint a broad stroke on everybody here…however America (The country) is based on greed… They came over here stole the land from my ancestors,forced them to move on little patches of land,abused my other ancestors. The goverment is not the way it was at first because political people are crooks…but you know what? It’s like that everywhere nowdays… :neutral_face:

#1024

Politics grinds my gears.

#1025

Thank you Kenzie for saying exactly what I was going to say. I’m tired of all this America hate, as well. And last time I checked, being patriotic isn’t being egotistic. It’s having a deep and sincere love for your country, and for the people who founded it and made it great - not to mention all the other people throughout history who helped to shape your country.

If you’re an American citizen and you can’t appreciate all of the rights and liberties you’ve been given, all I can say is I’m sorry for you and I can’t imagine how you could feel that way. Understood, this country and it’s government has its flaws. But as Kenzie also said, you can’t just look at all the bad things… you need to look at the bigger picture and appreciate everything you do have as an American. :slight_smile:

little chef

#1026

There’s no denying that the orginal Americans stole this land and did some bad things in this country though…

#1027

But then again, Vikings, Spanish, French, Germans, British… and the first prehistoric men did the same thing.

It’s a human fault, not an USA fault.

#1028

Why do I feel guilty because it’s my fault for bringing this up? Why?! :angry:

#1029

Yeah that’s true…that goes to show how greedy and power hungry most humans are…

#1030

:unamused: …and, I’m out of here.

#1031

I’m feeling a little guilty for saying what i sad before on the last thread just like Sully had started this… Sorry that you feel bad!

#1032

Nobody’s fighting here, are you guys?

They’re just saying heir opinions, unless I skipped an offensive post…

#1033

“The egotistical part comes from this song we had to sing in chorus–“God Bless the U.S.A.” I understand that, but we still have some shades of the dull fifties in which we revel in. We also judge people as well (discrimination incidents, Obama-being-an-American-or not-thing, immediate distrust of Muslims). Maybe it’s because I’ve lived here too long, but…you might disagree.”

That one statement launched a fight to the death…what did I do? I’m not trying to offend anyone. :frowning: It’s not that everyone’s an insensitive jerk in the U.S., we just hear lots about them, none of the good people–stamping the U.S with a bad name.

#1034

Well, I understand that may make some people feel a little uneasy, but they’re still opinions. Anyway, I would recommend to change the subject, as it’s potentially dangerous.

Uhm… Olives grind my gears. They don’t taste good and invade everything else… :smiley:

#1035

…martinis grind my gears, because there’s nothing to eat with them. :slight_smile:

#1036

Thank you little_chef.

And America WAS NOT founded on greed. It was founded on the idea that a nation could exist without a monarch. Sure, only rich white male landowners had power. BUT for it’s time, that was REVOLUTIONARY. Up to the USA’s founding, every society around the world had some form of monarchy, save the Republic of Venice which was very small.

And Americans DID NOT start the slave trade. That’d go to the Portuguese, who introduced it to rest of Europe, and it spread to the Carribean, North America, and Brazil. And before that slavery existed not with Blacks and whites, but dates back to the Greeks and Biblical times. The US is guilty of being a product of its time, and it took a great Civil War to throw off the shackles of slavery. Remember, many of the founders WERE AGAINST SLAVERY. Sure, Washington and Jefferson owned slaves. BUt others like Hamilton and Adams were very much against that notion.

But I’ve done a lot of studies on other countries, being a Libral Arts student, with the intentions of getting a degree in International Relations (yeah, I switched majors…again!). The USA still has many problems, but much less then places such as South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. We have more rights then many of those places.

As I’ve said before, there are manythings I’m ashamed of that the USA has done, and of what we’re doing. But I still love my country, and I hope we will continue to progress, and I’m greatful I live here.

And I’m also greatful that Virginia & SullyMike are allowed to live in the USA where they’re free to talk smack about the country, without fear of being thrown to jail or even killed. Take that in mind guys. Because a lot of people live in fear of being murdered for their thoughts.

Like one of my good friends who now lives in Egypt. That’s why this topic is so personal to me.

#1037

That’s sadly true. I’m even afraid of writing this :frowning:

#1038

Yes, we should be thankful for the many good things we have. Like basic rights and freedoms. No country is perfect, we have to accept it’s flaws.

#1039

This is why I stay clear of politics: it drives me bats when everyone gets all up in a tizzy and I know it was my fault and that I shouldn’t have bought the topic up anyway. Sorry, guys…I ruined your fun, didn’t I? :`-(

#1040

Sully! This is most certainley not your fault. Don’t feel bad. It’s supposed to get tizzy anyhow, we’re discussing what makes us mad!