Why I'm proud to be an American

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI

EDIT: Oh lord, I hope the video is being ironic.

  On 1/8/2011 at 6:52 PM, Calx Sherbet said:

 

  On 1/8/2011 at 2:09 AM, Fred McGriff said:

 

a)i'm american and despite my own views on my country, i take anti-americanism at least somewhat personally especially if it comes from someone with no firsthand experience.

 

amazing, thread should've stopped there.

 

that first hand experience line is a non-starter ... if that were the case no one could study history, "given that you have never been on a roman slave ship young man, your paper gets a fail" .. Or comment on sports, "Given that you've never played said sport X professionally, you have no right to comment on any aspect of the game or any teams performance."

Part a of your point is not analagous though because no one has been on a roman slave ship alive today. Can you really have an informed opinion over someone who lives the topic daily?

  On 1/9/2011 at 6:27 AM, Fred McGriff said:

Part a of your point is not analagous though because no one has been on a roman slave ship alive today. Can you really have an informed opinion over someone who lives the topic daily?

So you agree with me mostly, but also decide to nitpick on a partial point that is still analogous to the whole and using a standard no one could be expected to live up to. Lest there never be any debate on any topic ever.

Despite all that I wonder what we are basically arguing about here, if you check my main post you'll find something vastly different going on from the general tenor of this thread.

-- heh + luvf dleet

merge this thread with ciffords & assange threads

Americans are just in a massive denial. That's what the 'passion' actually is, and why this thread was created.

I'm gonna go ahead and deny that.

i dont be proud for being american, but not unproud either. why be, you only tiny or none affect on what your countrys people/gov do

I surprised JR hasnt closed this yet.

  On 1/9/2011 at 7:50 PM, chassis said:

I surprised JR hasnt closed this yet.

there's some good discussion going on here and somehow we've avoided brit/american flamewars for the most part.

  On 1/8/2011 at 4:50 PM, azatoth said:

  On 1/8/2011 at 2:09 AM, Fred McGriff said:

 

america has its issues, but there is a massive population of quiet, well-intentioned, rational, hard-working individuals that doesn't make the news, that doesn't color international perception, and is victim to the bad name that the extreme ones that are fucked up and make daily headlines give us all.

 

 

Where are these people in the day to day politics of America? Why have they let the loudmouth morons jump around and represent their country? I have no doubt that there is a large number of rational and intelligent people that at the shit their government is doing. Why have they not stepped up and rocked the boat?

Because the media focuses on freaks. Why? Because it gets them views. How often do you look up "Hard working man makes a quiet difference" in youtube/[insert video site]? Never. How often do people look up "Glenn Beck Stupid" or "Sarah Palin Stupid" on these sites? All the fucking time.

Azatoth, I don't like Capitalism, I don't like the 2 Party System, I don't like how the rich have all of the power, but really, how am I supposed to "step up and rock the boat"? That statement is obviously easier said than done.

Also, nicely said Fredd. Fuck Pizza Hut though, their sauce is nasty. I order dominoes.

  On 1/8/2011 at 4:50 PM, azatoth said:

  On 1/8/2011 at 2:09 AM, Fred McGriff said:

 

america has its issues, but there is a massive population of quiet, well-intentioned, rational, hard-working individuals that doesn't make the news, that doesn't color international perception, and is victim to the bad name that the extreme ones that are fucked up and make daily headlines give us all.

 

 

Where are these people in the day to day politics of America? Why have they let the loudmouth morons jump around and represent their country? I have no doubt that there is a large number of rational and intelligent people that at the shit their government is doing. Why have they not stepped up and rocked the boat?

I'm gonna add to Murveman's point and say also that for the most part, those in the middle lead fairly comfortable lives and are mostly content. Not until something that really affects their lives occurs will they rise up together.

In addition, the media reinforces a fairly fearful and/or apathetic stance on what is going on, which keeps people feeling indifferent or isolated from the (perceived) crazy masses. It seems like the media paints everyone as crazy when actually there are a good chunk of reasonable people out there. They present more opinion and viewpoints of a select group then they do facts. For the most part they just let the news and media tell them what to think rather than seeking out additional facts or information themselves (despite having an unprecedentedly fast and easy way in which to do just that). It's easier to keep people in line if they are afraid.

  On 1/7/2011 at 2:03 AM, kaini said:

snooki is writing a book at the moment.

*curls up into a ball and weeps for humanity*

:

  On 1/9/2011 at 7:26 PM, luke viia said:

I'm gonna go ahead and deny that.

Why would someone who is truly proud of something need to make a thread explaining why? There's something lacking there. You don't feel the need to justify something if you're secure about it.

It's funny.. at first, whenever I say something everyone's all shocked, like omg did he just say that? then I explain what I meant and everyone shuts up. >lol<

  On 1/11/2011 at 2:53 PM, mafted said:

  On 1/9/2011 at 7:26 PM, luke viia said:

I'm gonna go ahead and deny that.

Why would someone who is truly proud of something need to make a thread explaining why? There's something lacking there. You don't feel the need to justify something if you're secure about it.

Lol. The person that made this thread was joking. You're also generalizing an entire nation of people based on one user in the WATMM forum.

  Quote

It's funny.. at first, whenever I say something everyone's all shocked, like omg did he just say that? then I explain what I meant and everyone shuts up. >lol<

Do you wear a king's crown and cape whilst masterbating in the mirror?

  On 1/11/2011 at 5:08 PM, Murveman said:

  On 1/11/2011 at 2:53 PM, mafted said:

  On 1/9/2011 at 7:26 PM, luke viia said:

I'm gonna go ahead and deny that.

Why would someone who is truly proud of something need to make a thread explaining why? There's something lacking there. You don't feel the need to justify something if you're secure about it.

 

Lol. The person that made this thread was joking. You're also generalizing an entire nation of people based on one user in the WATMM forum.

 

  Quote

It's funny.. at first, whenever I say something everyone's all shocked, like omg did he just say that? then I explain what I meant and everyone shuts up. >lol<

 

Do you wear a king's crown and cape whilst masterbating in the mirror?

I'm not sure how I generalized anything other than basic, psychological principles. The other stuff.. I don't care.

Its seems that some people arent as proud as Alzado to be American. They'd rather censor out the unsavory parts.

ahhhhh yes...

The American dream....

it all comes back to either gettin yo shit done!

or gettin anuther mothur fuckur to do that shit for you!

loving your chronicles of Walmart series as always xxx...

Funny thread (Rambo's posts are lol).

America isn't the most cultured of countries is it? Though fair do's you did give us rock and roll, but since 2010 that's been dead so don't count anymore.

At the end of the day, if you have any common sense or done a bit of travelling you will know there is good and bad in all cultures. I for one don't give a flying fuck where you are from. Just as long as you are a fairly decent human being, then that will do.

I do think that once upon a time America was a cool place (Evil Knevil, Fonze for example) but for a while now your cool rating has massively slipped (50 cent, Wrestling). The Stars and Stripes just arent as hip as they used to be.

Some of you Americans ought to watch Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, which will point out in a gentle/piss-take/lovingly way how we veiw America.

As I said anyone with half a brain views people as individuals not all lumped together underneath a stupid flag.

haha man fonze? fonze is what made us a cool country? I guess ron howards not carrying his weight.

  On 1/24/2011 at 5:56 PM, 24ourange said:

haha man fonze? fonze is what made us a cool country? I guess ron howards not carrying his weight.

All kids in England my age loved Happy Days, it was impossible not to.

Muppets, Knight Rider, break dancing, the Vampire off Sesame St, Monkees, Star Wars. All great lovable American stuff. Then we got gangster rap....

there is so much art and stuff being made its kind of ridiculous to judge a country on the media exports that get to your eyes and ears. Dig deeper there is always something cool coming from somewhere. anyway. Ive never been proud to be an American

  On 1/24/2011 at 7:01 AM, xxx said:

A very American thing happened tonight at work. 2 black women come through, dressed to the hilt, tattoos visible on their chest and tits. One buys tampons, the other buys a Mars bar. In the middle of the transaction, one lady's phone starts ringing. She hits speakerphone. "HELLO. YOU ARE RECEIVING THIS CALL FROM A UNITED STATES CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CHARGES. PRESS 1 TO CONTINUE". She hits 1. I mentally grin because I can't believe she's giving me the good fortune of hearing this out loud.

phone: "ay yo"

woman: "hey whaddup?"

phone: "did you get it done?"

woman: "yeah, I got it done for you, ain't no thang".

I spent the rest of the night just fantasizing about what "it" might have been. Did she transfer some funds to his commissary? Choke a bitch out? It reminded me of the immortal words of "So Cold In The D": "it's all on a nigga's mind/workin' and doin' time". I'm not trying to be racist but it's a statistical inevitability that the average black American will know someone who has caught a case or is in currently. This seemingly everyday interaction on the phone sort of brought that fact home.

you sound white