|
|
|
Comment |
Sorted by
Date Written |
Re: .....I am ashamed for you (Reply to this comment)
by drdevience
Was that comment for real....?
ChucklingDoc
|
Jul 3, 2006
2:57 am PDT
|
|
Peter, (Reply to this comment)
by quidrock
I quite enjoyed your letter. Not that I agree with every point, but it should be clear to the rest of the world by now that the younger of the two Georges is quite ruled by the cast of characters he has assembled around him.
And quite opposed to listening to anyone else. Sigh. 8 years is a long, long time.
quidrock
|
Jun 18, 2006
5:22 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Re: Re: Speaking from my own experience (Reply to this comment)
by ddustyrose
LOL. Actually, people we kept meeting at the resort in Tenerife WOULD come up to me and ask if I was from America?
We'd be out and about at night at some clubs and the DJ always asked where people were from? I think I was the only American on the island at the time--if there were any other ones there, I did NOT meet them--although, I did meet a lot of German's. I'd learned by then to keep my mouth shut. Just opening it to say THANK YOU, PLEASE, YES MA'AM/YES SIR or NO MA'AM/NO SIR informed the natives I wasn't "native."
My so-called friend would holler at the top of her lungs and point to me saying I was from THE BIBLE BELT in America (or sometimes she'd say the USA), and then to add insult to injury, she'd call me a YANK. I did ask her one time why she referred to me as a YANK and all American's as YANKS. We're not all YANKS.
She explained her reasons WHY and I explained my reason why (the next time she visited on my side of the pond) it would be a good idea NOT to refer to us as YANKS when we were out and out in my neighborhood where people could hear her. They may not KNOW or UNDERSTAND her reasons--some would take it personally and not like it.
It was my impression Scotland belonged to England but she informed me IT DID NOT--they hated the English especially the ROYAL family and were sick and tired of supporting that "lot." Surprisingly, all the Scots I met while over there supported her statement.
I guess you live and learn. :)
Dusty (who, by the way, "thinks" the reason for the Bible Belt comments was because I refused to sunbathe or go swimming topless--I have to admit I'd never been to such a place before so I was constantly picking my chin up off the floor--me and my "tommy toes" had no intention of parading around in front of all those watermelons *grin*)
|
Apr 28, 2006
7:42 am PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Re: Speaking from my own experience (Reply to this comment)
by drdevience
They actually thought I was going to apologize for that!
Here's me in Europe:
Eu: Sooo.. you're from America?
Me: Please don't remind me. I'm trying to change citizenship as fast as I can...
GrinningDoc
|
Apr 28, 2006
5:07 am PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Speaking from my own experience (Reply to this comment)
by ddustyrose
After my last experience abroad, I plan on sticking inside my familiar cocoon where I "know" I belong and am not judged for being an American.
They actually thought I was going to apologize for that! I asked if they'd take a look out the window? They did. I asked if they saw any pigs flying?
In fact, my good friend decided not to be my "good" friend since I was American and she didn't want to be associated with my country in any form or fashion.
I don't have the answers for our country's problems--I can give my opinion, and vote, but other than that, I can only sit in the back seat while the men drive the car and hope they know where they're going.
Dusty ;)
|
Apr 27, 2006
8:56 am PDT
|
|
Re: Speaking from my own experience (Reply to this comment)
by pranapana
Dusty,
I was in New York recently and pretty much the ONLY people who were nice to me were people I gave money to or who were expecting money from me. Sometimes even those people were downright rude.
The nicest person I met in Nashville was a chinese immigrant in PF Chang's.
That doesn't mean I am swearing off those two places altogether.
It's nice you think you can stay in your little "cocoon" (i.e. don't think I am leaving America again any time soon) - well, that mentality is one of the very reasons non-Americans feel the way they do.
|
Apr 27, 2006
2:42 am PDT
|
|
Speaking from my own experience (Reply to this comment)
by ddustyrose
it was quite apparent on my last (and I do mean LAST) trip to Scotland and Tenerife, American's are not welcomed in certain parts of Europe.
I was given a hard time because I was from the South (kept having it thrown up in my face I was from the Bible Belt--still haven't figured that one out), was told as an American citizen, it was "my" responsibility to stop Bush from his many stupidities. How is one little housewife going to take control of the world?
I was also informed, as an American, coming from a mighty nation, we WERE going to fall and a lot of people would receive a lot of pleasure when we did.
I was in a beautiful country--too bad the citizens of that country weren't as gracious as we American's are (well, speaking for the southern American's I know).
We were in Tenerife for 2 weeks and the only friendly person I met while there was a man who immigrated from Pakistan.
I don't think I'm ready to leave America again anytime soon!
Dusty
|
Apr 26, 2006
10:17 pm PDT
|
|
Re: Re: Don't confuse disagreement for misunderstanding (Reply to this comment)
by drdevience
Spoken like someone who has never come upon the obstacles to healthcare in the US...
...And has never had an up-close and personal look at healthcare elsewhere.
Sweden's system has it alllll over the US.
UninsuredCancerousDoc
|
Mar 15, 2006
4:19 am PST
|
|
Re: Don't confuse disagreement for misunderstanding (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
I would like to enthusiastically endorse the comment of tizzo---right on, Tony! I wish I had said that!
Gavia
|
Mar 14, 2006
11:03 am PST
|
|
Re: Don't confuse disagreement for misunderstanding (Reply to this comment)
by tizzo
I sincerly hope you do not ever come upon severe health issues which renders you unable to be insured. The government pretty much washes its hands of you in the US.
Without getting into any kind of debate or controversy, I'll just offer the observation that it remains more difficult to be denied necessary medical care in the US than in any nation on earth. Even if you are uninsured. Even if you are an uninsured illegal alien.
|
Mar 14, 2006
7:23 am PST
|
|
Re: Don't confuse disagreement for misunderstanding (Reply to this comment)
by drdevience
We also understand that Europe thinks that, in this respect, they are ahead of (or better than) the US. We respectfully disagree.
I sincerly hope you do not ever come upon severe health issues which renders you unable to be insured. The government pretty much washes its hands of you in the US.
I won't even go into the myriad of other problems.
SocialistDoc
|
Mar 14, 2006
4:13 am PST
|
|
Don't confuse disagreement for misunderstanding (Reply to this comment)
by tizzo
More importantly Australia, I dare to suggest, understands Europe better than the USA as Australia has closely followed, and implemented, European ideals especially over the last twenty or so years. These models are based in Social Justice and that translates to high standards of health care, education, legal representation, a home for all and a decent living wage or social security payment for all citizens as a right rather than a privilege.
I would argue that we understand these models very clearly -- we just don't agree with them. There is nothing socially just about all citizens having the "right" to the same standards of health care, education, housing, or income, regardless of the choices that they make.
There are a couple of things that perhaps our European friends don't understand about us. First of all, the term "rights" has a very specific definition, and one aspect of that definition is that rights are necessarily an inherent, natural attribute of any person. One of the consequences of this is that nothing can be properly referred to as a "right" if it can't be had without someone else giving it to you. Put another way, a right is by definition something that you are born with, whether you're born in the US or in communist North Korea. A right cannot be given to you (not even by a government), it can only be taken away. Health care, education, housing, and income are all things that must be produced by others. In order for you to get them without paying for them, they have to be taken away from someone else. That makes it logically impossible for them to be "rights".
We fully understand that much of Europe treats these things as rights, but that doesn't make them rights. We also understand that Europe thinks that, in this respect, they are ahead of (or better than) the US. We respectfully disagree.
There is the beauty of democracy, however. Democracy allows for this kind of diversity of thought. And this diversity enhances the freedom of all. Noone in the US is forced to live under the conditions that we collectively have chosen to model our society after. One need go no further than Canada to find much of the social justice that you speak of.
Likewise, few are forced to live under the European version of social justice. Most European countries will permit their citizens to emigrate to the US if they prefer what we're offering, with the only obstacle being the US immigration bureaucracy.
Tony
|
Mar 13, 2006
7:40 am PST
|
|
A very interesting letter--- (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
---and I hope George reads it and takes it seriously.
There are points with which I would disagree but they have by and large been mentioned in other comments---so I'll select one point that no one else has mentioned as yet.
You say: There is no such thing as a right or wrong culture.
This is a standard article of modern liberal dogma that's probably true but extremely misleading. While I wouldn't use "right or wrong" to differentiate cultures, it is certainly undeniable that some cultures are more "effective" than others. Effective in what sense? How should the "effectiveness" of a culture be measured?
I would suggest that an effective culture is one that has features that take care of the full range of the needs of its people. An ineffective culture is one that fails to do so---and it's undeniable that there are still cultures in the world that abysmally fail to meet the barest minimum needs of their people.
Those third world cultures are now gradually being dragged, sometimes kicking and screaming, into adopting the "better" features of the more effective cultures of the West---but generally preserving the important aspects of their native cultures.
But---can anyone seriously argue that the cultures of, say, Africa are as "good" as the cultures of Europe? For me it's a nonsensical principle, at the heart of multiculturalism, today's most basic dogma of the Left----an extreme shift away from the equally bad former widely accepted scientific wisdom of racism and xenophobia.
Thanks again for your letter to George. An interesting perspective from your piece of the world---and many helpful insights!
Gavia
|
Mar 12, 2006
8:53 am PST
|
|
honestly... (Reply to this comment)
by pantazis5
I am late in reading this one...but hopefully you will see this comment.
George Dubya is truly a phenomenon to me. Where he came from and how he is still here amazes me completely.
Unfortunately too many Americans vote for the party they were born into just because their parents did. The concept of changing parties and voting out of it is still in its infancy. I know people who voted for George just because they were registered republicans.
Your letter is valuable, I wish he could read it. He needs to see and know how the rest of the world views the USA.
I am a true American. However, I also think we need to wake up and stop thinking high and mighty of ourselves and realize that we are part of a big world. The invasion and current occupation of Iraq is awful. I want us out as soon as possible.
I do not believe we have the right to tell others how to live. The forefathers of America came here because they did not want to be told how to live, yet we go around telling others what to do. To me that is just hypocrasy. I do not believe that my pilgrim grandfathers wanted it that way. They came here to build a new world and a new way of life.
The constitution of America comment is a bit offensive though...it is near and dear to the heart of those of us who do have deep roots here. Although, I agree, it does need to be a bit tweaked now and then.
|
Jul 23, 2005
4:18 am PDT
|
|
Re: Left Wing Weakness Only Encourages Enemies of Freedom (Reply to this comment)
by pranapana
as the former Soviet Union did not fall due to liberal argument or green peace protest
I believe the Soviet Union fell because of a dysfunctional ruling class and a bankrupt economy. Not because of the Cold War.
But the world is a very dangerous place filled with fanatics who want to kill freedom.
No. The fanatics don't want to kill freedom. They want to "kill" economic imbalances, poverty and perceived injustice. Like you, they do that by employing "military power". It's just that you happen to be on the other side of the fence.
I'm not a leftist or a rightist or whatever - I'm not even American. I just think your comment was weirdly offensive.
|
Apr 26, 2005
7:28 am PDT
|
|
Left Wing Weakness Only Encourages Enemies of Freedom (Reply to this comment)
by markantony
I never met a leftie who didnt mean well in his weak-kneed feelings of universal peace. But the world is a very dangerous place filled with fanatics who want to kill freedom. Sady, my friends on the left will never understand that evil empires such as the former Soviet Union did not fall due to liberal argument or green peace protest but to military might aimed at preventing their system from spreading across the planet.
As always we here in America are blessed with having the right President at the right time. Many Aussies have been killed by terrorists as well and I do hope you folks respond with more than a funny accent.
|
Apr 25, 2005
9:40 am PDT
|
|
Good Advice (Reply to this comment)
by mike.holmes
I'm a little late reading this so I don't know if you'll see this comment. I think your ideas and the civilized manner with which you made them are excellent. I live in a town that Mr. Bush lived in as a teenager. I'm what they call a "Blue-stater" living in the heart of "Red-state" country. Mr. Bush may or may not be a "good bloke" but he has surrounded himself with some of the meanest, backward-thinking people around. I love the United States but I also love the world. The President and his mean-spirited advisors seem to believe it's "their way or the highway." We should not have attacked Iraq. We should not be giving the richest 1% the majority of the tax cuts and we should try to help the education of our children. I thank you for your concern but I believe that it will fall on deaf ears.
|
Mar 29, 2005
12:45 pm PST
|
|
Did ya send it? (Reply to this comment)
by artbyjude
I sent him one too, but I couldn't sign my real name. The SS was watching.
Nice try Peter. Too bad he doesn't know how to read. (duh)
Jude
|
Mar 23, 2005
3:24 pm PST
|
|
hehe... (Reply to this comment)
by webguy
living in one of the most non-aligned parts of the U.S., and having lived in Europe, I just have to chuckle along with ya.
Cheers,
Kurt
|
Mar 15, 2005
7:46 pm PST
|
|
We aren't trying to be world-leaders... (Reply to this comment)
by AinsleyJo
...just trying to be helpful, though we don't always do it right!
Anyway, this was an interesting letter to say the least, and I could almost hear it in my head read in your wonderful down-under accent as I read it!
Love that Mel Gibson way of talking!
Seriously, it's interesting to read how we're perceived in other parts of the world.
Still haven't been convinced to leave the good ol' US of A except for temporary trips!
God Bless America--And You, Too!
AJ :o)
|
Mar 12, 2005
9:16 pm PST
|
|
~There are...~ (Reply to this comment)
by Kieli
There are a lot of things which I'm sure you truly believe in this little "letter". That is good. I know that this is well thought out.
I don't know, however, if much of your information regarding our president and nation is well researched. Perhaps you should reconsider that you may not understand how our society works as a whole, nor do you necessarily understand the elections in 2000.
As a note, Though I thoroughly enjoy reading your adventures in Oz, I have issues with several key points you try to make in this letter.
I appreciate your opinions, but question your facts. :D
~Kieli~
|
Mar 1, 2005
4:37 am PST
|
|
ALL THIS (Reply to this comment)
by SMITHSWOODSIDE
reminds me of when John Howard invited George Bush to Australia.
When any overseas leader (we are allies with) comes they are invited to give a brief speech to the Australian Federal Parliament.
This George did - and in very bad taste towards a guest - several members of our Parliament gave him some abuse;
George retorted; "Don't you just love democracy"
I liked that comment, just like I appreciate ALL the comments here.
Peter
|
Mar 1, 2005
4:24 am PST
|
|
Bravo (Reply to this comment)
by keithpruitt
Yes, I do believe that ole George is somewhat out of touch with the rest of the world, but what the rest of the world need also understand is that there are many of us in the USA from whom George is also disconnected. Please do not think that Bush represents the views of all Americans because he does not.
|
Feb 28, 2005
6:46 am PST
|
|
:-) (Reply to this comment)
by jankp
This oughta be in satire, Peter! Some people don't know your sense of humor, heh. Great fun.
Jan
|
Feb 27, 2005
1:26 pm PST
|
|
yup (Reply to this comment)
by garym
Hi Peter,
["European ideals especially over the last twenty or so years. These models are based in Social Justice and that translates to high standards of health care, education, legal representation, a home for all and a decent living wage or social security payment for all citizens as a right rather than a privilege."]
With great respect, my response to this is nonsense. You have opened up a can of worms that I don´t have the energy to give a good rebutal. These are snapshot generalizations that don´t match up with the real world.
No denying we have our share of warts, but on the whole we handle our given situation pretty well. We are the most scrutinized country in the world. By a country mile. Our faults are too often overblown for worldwide comsumption and taken for being examples of the US in general. Hollywood can paint a pretty dreary picture that can be taken at face value. It sells tickets, but it doesn´t represent reality.
As I write I am bogged down with European examples that speak rather poorly of Liberté, Egalité, and Fraternité, mein Herr.
I love Chile, and dispite France, I think Europe is a swell place. That said, fortune has placed the US in a powerful yet costly position, with resposibilities that can´t be ignored.
Peter, you asked for comments. I replied. "Nonsense" aside, I respect your opinion, and I respect you as aperson more than you know.
Gary
|
Feb 27, 2005
12:33 pm PST
|
|
Hmmm (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
Two comments - you only regret he has a few years left? That went over my head or since I am counting the minutes maybe I can't conceive of regretting his every moment in office.
You write "Rather the world has come to understand that the USA thinks of itself as the great world bastion of freedom and democracy and that what is good for the USA is good for all the citizens of this planet. "
I disagree only because I don't think that the USA believes that - at least not 50% of us. W believes he is the ruler of the world who thinks he has a right to employ his beliefs be it political or religious on others. Newsweek (I think) had a cover recently. It had lots of pics and a statement such as Who is the Worst Dictator? I'd like to know why W's pic wasn't there. jo (ducking)
|
Feb 27, 2005
9:44 am PST
|
|
Re: Re: Hey Peter (Reply to this comment)
by pranapana
The UN is full of thugs and thieves that do not look to help other nations but only work for their own particular personal gain.
Phil! I completely agree with you! The UN is pretty active in Malaysia... active in the sense that they piddle money away uselessly. And the misbegotten pride the people who work for the UN have! They totally look down their noses at you and say snottily (as if you should fall down on their feet and say "thank you for coming to help our poor begotten country") "I work for the UN". Most of them have nothing interesting to say or 2 braincells to rub together. It disgusts me.
Renee
|
Feb 27, 2005
9:07 am PST
|
|
Friends (Reply to this comment)
by smh32775
Pres. Bush is actually a family friend and he's a very nice man..great sense of humor and intensely loyal to those he loves. Interesting take from someone of another country :-)
-Michele
|
Feb 27, 2005
9:04 am PST
|
|
Thanks Peter well written (Reply to this comment)
by grandgram
I agree with pops the UN has lost it luster and Australia is welcome to it. I know you have a building just sitting there waiting for the move. I welcome your visit and yes we can get to Crawford but I think the ranch is off limits to the likes of us. We can still have a barby and spin all the yarns we can muster. From my yard we will have to watch the golfer go by and a few deer will amble over for a visit.
Your view of USA is interesting and I do not believe we want to rule the world. Spreading democracy around is a different matter. Even though our troops are in countries we have helped we do not interfer with their elected government. They are there to protect.
See you around whenever you decide to make the trip.
Letta
|
Feb 27, 2005
7:46 am PST
|
|
Well written (Reply to this comment)
by pilarzmom
I always welcome the perspective of others from different countries. My husband was not born here so we enjoy discussions like this.
Now, here's my one burning question, what's a "yarn" (in Aussie speak?)
Peggy
|
Feb 27, 2005
7:37 am PST
|
|
|
|
