American Bashing

Imdusty

You are very welcome here and shouldn't take it all too seriously. That's the Oz way to trash what we call tall poppies - and each other. The current US bashing is mild compared to the feud of a few months ago reagarding some dead Dutch architect and the value of his weirdo designs and the verity of people's perceptions thereof.

Australia has a long history of friendship with the US, you saved our ass in WW2 or we would all be eating sushi for lunch. We continue as close military allies.

Currently, a lot of us are disturbed by the way the US is going. Your country needs rapidly dwindling oil supplies, and you have ensured a continuing supply by invading Iraq, who probably had it coming. Fair enough, but leave out the altruistic nonsense. The rise of loony right wing christian evangelism is terrifying, particularly with it's political clout. Just as bad as the Moslem cretins, maybe worse, cause the US guys have had an education. The US is our economic overlord, you gotta expect a bit of dissension from the peasants in the colonies.

Sure, discussion should be confined to woodwork etc, but that'd be pretty boring after a while.

Stay with us, getting your country knocked occasionally makes you angry, me too - I was born a Pom. Have a go back. Tell us we're horribly overgoverned (3 levels of Gov and taxes for less than the population of greater LA), desperately insecure and try to out PC the US and Europe, suffocating under enormous over-regulation, crude and un-cultured, we think the sick day is a right............

but don't go, we luvs ya.

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Originally Posted by Bodgy

we luvs ya.

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I wouldn't go that far. After all, we hardly know him. :p :D

We should all treat everybody equally!!!!!


So you can ALL get stuffed!!!!!




In a nice way that is........LOL (meaning I am joking.....)

Hi Imdusty

Welcome. You may note that any America Bashing goes on in the appropriate forums.....open slather or Have your say etc. It is unusual for it to appear in the woodies sections.

Aussies are very open and generally tell it how it is (or seems to be):D

If you dont like those sections then dont go there. You can always stay in the woodies section.;) But hey, come for a ride in the deep end. Nothing is personal.

You may need to keep in perspective that any anti-american sentiments are against your govt, not the people. I have served with US UN members and they are just like us, little bit confused with our taking the P*%% out of them though:p and I dont quite understand the black and white thing:confused:.

So this doesnt get moved to open slather put simply the US Govt and its foreign policy, past and present, is a VERY debatable subject.:(

now stop whining and get me some grits:p mmmmmmmmmmmm Grits:D

cheers

dazzler

This is another one of those perennial subjects, isn't it? I think, as it was with Ryan, it's a good sign that the question has been asked. Shows a certain amount of sensibility and good character.

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Originally Posted by dazzler

So this doesnt get moved to open slather put simply the US Govt and its foreign policy, past and present, is a VERY debatable subject.:(

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Some things just cry out for a loud debate, (read argument). You can get the same sort of feeling with Little Johnies IR policy down here.

Everyone will support what suits their own needs and why not, you have to look after your own needs.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...5&postcount=98

my 2c are free ;)

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Originally Posted by ryanarcher

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...5&postcount=98

my 2c are free ;)

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Is that US$0.02 or A$0.02 I don't like paying the bank for foreign currency transfer fees. :D

Well said Ryan.

I have met what I consider as idiots from everywhere and I have met top people from everywhere.

Ryan is a great ambassador for the yanks and I consider him a mate.

So hang in there, ignore our idiots just as we ignore your idiots and you will get on OK.

You're absolutely correct Ryan. I can't think of a stereotype that is constructive, although there may be one or two around that I haven't thought of.

It is galling to have people from another country to make assumptions about you based on some perception of your own country. There must be a lot of people in Singapore who object to the death penalty, I know there are plenty of Americans who oppose the war in Iraq.

Yet it is a fact of life that people will hold these beliefs, whether or not they have personal experience on which to base them. It is just one of the things about being a human. As I've said before, I don't think it would be possible to truly strip away all of your prejudices. What you have to do is to recognise them for what they are.

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What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking

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If you are asking for an opinion:
I don't denigrate others based on anything other than what they actually do... and I try not to get involved in denigration if I can, its demeaning to all involved IMO. Sometimes I can't restranin myself though! In this instance I'll put forward a suggestion, and perhaps and argument.

Champ, if that’s the case then I'd suggest (with the best of intention) that you just read the posts that are about woodwork, and leave the rest of the "monkey business to the monkeys". Get the value that you can out of the forum, and maybe forgo the "inclusiveness" that participating in all parts of it would give. Its a pretty good woodwork forum to give up on, if you don't like some of the non-woodwork stuff.

Other than that, perhaps to understand American bashing, maybe you need to be "on the outside, looking in". Sure "American bashing" is not polite, but politeness can go too far, IMO. Perhaps, just perhaps, there may be a reason behind it? An understanding of the reason can lead to different thoughts about the experience.
From personal experience, a lot of Americans I've met, served with and worked with have been ok on an individual level, however there is an enormous amount of horrifying stuff that comes out of your country as well. Maybe we notice it more due to the dominance of the US in the media, and perhaps its no worse than anywhere else; or maybe it is so bad we notice it due to its exceptional nature? Who know, perhaps we expect more due to the self-advertisement that the US participates in, you know, "honour, glory, ethics, free world, 'we're No. 1' rubbish".

Anyway, gotta go - I am supposed to be doing some pre-lecture research on the "United Fruit Company" for an ethics lecture. (thats part of the argument ;) )

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Originally Posted by ryanarcher

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...5&postcount=98

my 2c are free ;)

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Good on you Ryan. But then we made you an honorary Aussie ages ago. ;) :p :D

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Originally Posted by ryanarcher

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...5&postcount=98

my 2c are free ;)

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Ryan having read your post it is easy to see why many of us have no problems with you.

BTW it wont just be DPB who sticks up for you when the need arises.

We all owe America our gratitude for what it has done in the past to help us and others. That said, criticism at the those that form your present (and some past) foreign policy must also be directed appropriately.

ahh, guys,

He hasnt replied. Methinks you've scared him off. I feel sorry for americans, I really do. What woudl it be like if everyone judged all Aussies on a few bad examples?

We seem to assume they're all rightwing envangalistic trailer trash. I'm sure they have more decent people than any other country :)

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What woudl it be like if everyone judged all Aussies on a few bad examples?

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What makes you think they don't?

;)