An answer so true that it can benefit all Americans needs to shared. Enjoy, and DON'T GET DEFENSIVE!!?

Question

It really is difficult to remain unbiased when it comes to discussing Americans. They arrogate to themselves the right to act as this planet's policeman, to condemn other countries for real or perceived breaches of human rights and to rail against forms of government which in American eyes are less democratic than theirs. As Americans are such good Christians, surely they know the passage in the Bible that says: "O thou hypocrite, before thou wouldst remove the splinter from thy brother's eye, attend to the beam in thine own eye!" Never has a passage from the Bible been more apt. So naturally do Americans become defensive when their own shortcomings are pointed out to them, because to face the truth would be unbearable.
Which other self-proclaimed peace-loving country has waged so many wars against smaller defenceless countries, has allowed the members of their military to commit atrocity after atrocity going back to WW2, the Korean War, Vietnam, and now Iraq?
In what other country do you need to be a millionaire or at least be able to raise millions in order to be elected to parliament or chief executive?
Where else on this globe has the education system broken down and/or deteriorated to such an extent that children no are no longer able to read and write or do simple arithmetic and need to take remedial classes upon entering college?
In which other country with the exception of certain Middle Eastern nations does a small fundamentalist religious minority have the power to manipulate both government and the media to enforce a Victorian concept of morality upon an unwilling population?
I could go on and on, but let this suffice.
No wonder Americans are sensitive when it comes to discussing their shortcomings

Answer 1

human rights, my @@@!

documents obtained from the lying pentagon say that 44 detainees have been killed in US custody.

the american way. freedom and democracy.

saddam said he only tortured the bad people. that's what we say too. fancy that.

amnesty international, human rights watch, the red cross all say saddam tortured people. they also say america tortures people.

and to you nazi zombies, i'm not going to leave america because i would rather stay here and fight--nonviolently--you nazis.

hey, mr. superior, nam and iraq did not pick a fight with us, you zombie.

we say we love freedom and democracy, the american way. then we tell the questioner that she's wrong to use it.

proud american veteran
and I say,
bite me

WHAT A MIGHTY INTELLECT.

WHEN HAS AMERICA NOT BEEN AT WAR. NO, WE ARE NOT A PEACE LOVING NATION. THAT IS CORRECT.

Answer 2

Which other self-proclaimed ... the Korean War, Vietnam, and now Iraq?

The Soviet Union (now Russia) and China.

In what other country do you need to be a millionaire ... or chief executive?

Being a millionaire is not a prerequisite. Read the Constitution. The cost of campaigning running in the millions is a poor strawman. Bush recieved roughly 52 million votes in the last election. If only 1 in ten that voted for him donated 1 dollar that is 5.2 million alone and an individual can donate up to 2000 dollars, corporations even more. Raising campaign funds can be rquated to reaching people with a message that they will support, and hence show up and vote for. Unlike a majority of countries in the world at least the U.S has elections, and centuries old tradition of peaceful transition of power every four years, is there a nation with a better record?

Where else on this globe has the education system ... classes upon entering college?

Since there no national education system, to argue that such a system is broken down as a whole is disengenuous. I must agree there are places where the local system is broken, however education in the United States is local and to blame the failings of some districts and ignore the successes of others demonstrates a level of bias and willful ignorance in order to support your bias against the United States.

In which other country with the exception of certain Middle Eastern nations ...concept of morality upon an unwilling population?

Why must we exclude Middle Eastern Countries?
Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, The Sudan, Somalia they all get a pass so your example can be assumed valid?

Unsubstantiated accusations do not an argument make. However if communism can be counted as a religion China fits your criteria, as does Cuba, and soon Venezuela. Indonesia is not in the Middle-East yet religion is a driving force there as well, or maybe India.

My answer is to continue to educate my children for their future and to continue to oppose the idea that the world's ills are the fault of the United States. That the ideals of individual rights to life, liberty, and property and a system that allows the individual to enjoy them in an environment of freedom is something worth respecting and defending.

Yes there are dark parts of American History, but taken as a whole the American model has provided more good to the world than ill. Instead of going on and on about the ills of America as you see them, I would ask what is your alternative? What nation, or ideology would suggest has proved itself superior?

Answer 3

You know that this is just another opinion... I'm thrilled that you were given the wonderful right to post this... Just as I have my own right to post an answer... You do realize that this is a question/answer site right...??? I must say that disagree with you're opinion... I can't recall anyone ever saying that America is or was a peace loving country.... And I still see nothing wrong with any wars that our troops old and new have and are currently fighting... And don't get me started on the education issues... The main reason our education levels are dropping is from our parents... we tend to blame everything bad on someone else... If my child isn't doing well in school then I sit down with my child and teach them... Too many parents don't take the time to help teach their children... And as for the Bible it is just a book that you can freely choose to believe in or not... I face real life issues every day and when I do something wrong I fess up to it... In my Opinion I would never want to live outside of America... We have a great lifestyle over here...

Answer 4

Well, democracy may not be perfect, but it works like hell. Ask Europe after the fall of the Naz's, the Russians fter the fall of Communism. Even China is going capitalist. You are not speaking for the majority of Americans. Look at the rest of the world when it comes to charitable contributions, America leads then by far. In America, Christians give more than any other group, conservatives give more than liberals and most of all, as Americans, we are willing to put ourlives on the line for freedom.

So enjoy the right to say the things you do. A veteran gave his/her all so you can.

Answer 5

I guess Yahoo being an American company is not good enough to give us some "positive criticism". We gave you our most prized right which is the freedom of speak to let you freely vent about our country on one of our most popular internet websites. Most of the wars you speak of we tried to be neutral but other countries need our help or drug us in to them i.e. WW2 we were attack at Pearl Harbor on a Sunday. Lots of countries ask for our aid and we help. I am sorry our country does want to just sit bye and watch horror go on in the world and we get up and help out instead of sitting around complaining. If our country is so bad why do so many immigrants come over and go as far as sneaking in illegally. It is easy for other nations to generalize all Americans as all being the same when the best attribute of my great land is that we are so diverse and we are all living together without another Civil War. Our mixed cultures with different ethnicities and backgrounds all working together contribute to making our socitey a good one. Now no country on this planet is perfect but to come onto an American forum and talk about how many problems we have because we are human is just wrong. You are naive to come on our Yahoo and think we would not be offended.

Answer 6

i think of the statements you published are presumptuous, at ultimate. call them the government's shortcomings, and not my very own. human beings blame individuals for WW2 or Korea or Vietnam... I wasn't even alive whilst those occurred, so how am I in charge? i'm no longer boastful approximately my united states of america. i understand the government is tousled, and that i do no longer think of that we would desire to continually be butting into the affairs of alternative countries. and that i'm no longer Christian. i think of it unusual that this variety of religiously distinct united states of america has gotten the the theory we are all Christian. And the coaching gadget isn't deteriorating. look at me- i'm a highschooler taking seven tutorial solids (4 of that are college-point), and college takes up ALL my time. Yeah that became right into slightly protective, yet what do you assume once you're taking the offensive?

Answer 7

I agree with you America does not hesitate to jump on these little countries they think would be a push over. When is the last time America won a war out right. Not in Korea, Vietnam ,Somalia. Iraq and Afghanistan. Now they want to take on Iran. North Korea is a greater threat than all those other nation put together And you do not see Americans Yelling lets smoke them and take on their nuclear armed ,Million man Army. The moral Values of America is gone, We have always tortured prisoners. But now it is not against American law.

A Veteran that backs our fighting army, but not its Government

Answer 8

You know you could replace the word America with England in that rant it would read just as well. I know Saddam received condemnation for using chemcial weapons in Iraq, but why do not I hear the same condemnation towards the Bristish. No nation has been more violent, petty, empire minded, self-important, hypocritical or oppressive as the British. No wonder they do not have a decent football team.

Answer 9

Myabe you should check some of your facts. I agree America is not the country that it used to be. America is in a downward spiral. Yet the minority religion you are speaking of could not be Christianity which is in fact the majority religion in America. Check your facts. Otherwise your arguement may become invalid.

By the Way.... I just picked one fact of your apart. I could spend al day picking your arguements apart. But what is the point? You believe what others have told you about a place you have never been to. What has your country done to try an eleviate the troubles in our world? Threw a few idiots that it could convice to strap a bomb to their nuts or **** towards innocent women and children who have nothing whatsoever to do with your pitiful little complaints.

Thin skinned? Nah Americans hear stupid little statements all the time. Are we offended? Do we cry our hearts out because some people don't like what we try to accomplish in this messed up world we live in? No we do not.

Instead of bellyaching about the way the world is, we try to make it a better place. What other country pours out the humanitarian aid to poor and impoverished peoples in the shear amounts that Americans do. And it isn't just the American government doing it. Simple little ole backwoods hicks that barely have enough to eat for themselves will send their hard earned money to causes that they feel need help!

How many frenchmen and women do that? How many Arabs do that? How many Russians do that.

In America, we believe it is our responsibility, demanded by all of you poor little nations that doesn't care about it's own people, to make the world a better place to live.

What has your country done lately to help others in need??? Yeah I thought so. Your the one who is a whine bag with such thin skin!

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!

Answer 10

I agree with you that we have many arrogant notions and poilcies that are out to greatly benefit only Americans while inhibiting others from sharing in those benefits.
Nevertheless, I think you will find numerous 'self-proclaimed peace loving countries' who have had similar crisis' of conscience when it comes to doing the right thing in regards to another, weaker nation. I would also strongly disagree with you in regards to our educational system which, while it has many problems, is far greater than any educational system in any developing nation and in most developed nations. All areas could use great improvement, YES!!
Yet, the greatest problem for America is not our government, but our citizens. There is no uprising, no great protest, no leaders and volunteers that will stand up and say 'no more'. We can blame our leaders for everything, but we vote (or don't vote) for them. We don't demand accountability from our elected officials. We don't even know what they are doing or who we elected much of the time. We aren't involved; we don't care. That is why America is where she is. No politician could take away our rights more than once if we would do soemthing about it. No Abu Graib scandal would happen and SOMEONE (ANYONE) would be punished for such horrors if our people would rise up and demand more accountability. Yet we all sit around doing nothing. It may help people to feel better at night to not have to worry about problems that don't affect them, but someday those problems will affect each one of us, and then it will be too late to fix them. Citizens lack of involvement in the process, their lack of care in their leaders or leaders actions, is what has caused us to be where we are today.

Answer 11

From all the soap boxes around the world, America included, we are becoming pockets of theocracy. We see what we see and we hear what we hear. The spliter in the eye got there somehow, some way. It is as easy to get to heaven, some say, as as a camel passing through the eye of a needle.