Waving the flag.

[scottobear]

If you don't like it in the US... and you currently live here, here's another freedom open to you.

Leave. Hit the fricking road. Take a bite of a reality sandwich. See what life is like elsewhere.

Go Live in China for a year, see how wonderful life is there. Go to Afghanistan, and tell them you're an American, and see how well you get by telling them that you renounce our ways. Heck, spend some time in Germany or England, and try to get ahold of some of the "wrong" kind of literature.

I celebrate your freedom to an opinion, though I may deplore your ignorance and willful stupidity. I'd appreciate it if you thought before you started bitching about the way things are here. Vote, gather a petition, organize peaceably. If you have a problem, you can write your congressman, your local newspaper. Lay out exactly what your problems are, find folks of a similar mind, and do something about it.

Seriously. If you have a problem with the way things are here, at least you can make a difference. For such a young country, I think we've on the whole done a lot more good than bad. I think we've contributed far more positively than negatively to culture, society, technology and medicine than any other country on the planet for the last 200 years. This place is still a land of innovation and exceptional tolerance, especially compared to the entirety of the globe.

US life is probably some of the highest quality of life you can find, and that's coming from someone who's been homeless. There are problems with every system, but I feel that the one we have in place now is the best available. With the help of my nation and her citizens, I'm able to eat, sleep indoors, in a bed, love who I choose, travel freely, buy whatever books I like, work at a competitive wage, and help folks that don't have it so well to get back on their feet.

Tell me that you think we deserve most of the hate that we get, because of the country we live in... well... I'm sorry, but you're a fucking idiot.

Comments

[misspriss.livejournal.com]

Thank you for saying that; it needed to be said. People are so quick to complain, yet they don't want to DO anything about the "problems" they whine about. People are so quick to call President Bush names, and make fun of him - and although I do laugh when Will Ferrel does his impression of our president, the bashing is uncalled for. I know he is not the most impeccable public speaker, but we all have flaws. He has already proven to be better than Clinton, because we can trust him with the interns (heh). Seriously, though, he has given us no reason to hate him, and I think he is holding up very well through this time of crisis. I see no reason to blame him, for he is calling the world and our country together - he will get results and I believe he will lead us to punish the perpetrator/s.

This should be a time of working TOGETHER, not dividing ourselves by venting and making fun of our president - like it or not, he IS our leader and we need to support him.

I wish people could understand that

[drownedinink.livejournal.com]

Please don't be offended by what I have to say, but...

This isn't about America. Its about people. I mourn for all tragedies where thousands are killed for the stupid actions of their governments, whether it had been in Hiroshima or New York. I think its best to leave patriotic sentiment out of this...likewise, the actions of a nation do not deserve mass murder, so i'm horrified by the suggestion that those killed deserve this.

Agh, but I'm rambling...

One more point though, I have to take issue with your assertion that this nation is among the most tolerant in the world. I've spent a month on an Indian reservation, so I cannot believe that.

Again, I apologize if I offended or misinterpreted your statements.

[sida-al-hurra.livejournal.com]

Once again, Scottobear, so eloquently spoken. Most people here really DON'T know what it is like elsewhere. They don't know and they haven't had a reason to find out. They need to educate themselves and then see if they feel the same about this country.

Love it or LEAVE it

[darktrain.livejournal.com]

Amen Scotto

[sweetalyssm.livejournal.com]

So, if someone came into your house and killed your whole family, it would not be about your family? Indeed, it is the job of the government to care for its people. It has a LOT to do with America.

[invisibella.livejournal.com]

Amen! I couldn't have said in better. In fact, I'm linking to this entry...

[drownedinink.livejournal.com]

"So, if someone came into your house and killed your whole family, it would not be about your family?"

That's not the same thing. And I suppose you think that all the Japanese killed in Hiroshima simply don't matter that much because they weren't American?

I do not want the tragedy of yesterday to be lessened in any way. However, we mustn't mourn because Americans died, but because human beings died. Viewing such tragedy with nationalism in mind leads to only more tragedy.

[hissyfit.livejournal.com]

so am i. thank you.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Not really what I was talking about, at all. I was talking about people bitching about this country.

Regardless of our horrors and intolerance we do have, and have acted on in the past, I still think we're among the most tolerant.

[sweetalyssm.livejournal.com]

Not at all. I think it's a total tragedy about the Japanese people lost in Hiroshima. But I also think that Pearl Harbor was a tradgedy. Unfortunately for Japan, Hiroshima was provoked, although some may argue about the method used. The Japanese government made a grave mistake in attacking us. Should we not have retaliated?

You say this isn't about America. You say it is about human lives. Well, in my opinion, you are half way right. Like I said, it is the job of the government to stand between us and foreign invaders. These were American citizens--also human lives. Not only are their lives (and their loved ones lives) affected, but what about the rest of us? Must we live in terror when we leave our homes? Can we not fly througout the world freely?? We, as a country need to protect and stand up for ourselves. How can we defend ourselves without the American armed forces and the government that leads them? This is very MUCH an American issue. I do not understand how you can think otherwise.

As for the all encompassing bond of humanity, yes, it IS a time to mourn for the loss of human life. Just like for the people in Bosnia, Kuwait, and let us not forget the Jews who suffered in the concentration camps.

But...as an American, I do feel it is a VERY approprite time to mourn the loss of my my country men and women, and those unfortunate enough to be on those flights, as well as being at the WTC and Pentagon on that day.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

same here, thanks.

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thank you. :)

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

nobody here said that those live lost were woth less. they simply were not the topic of discussion.

[ex-neko700.livejournal.com]

i think the whole world has problems and everything is falling apart. but we do have the advantage and freedom most don't have and i am thankful for that. and our country is united for the most part..that is very good..

it's just too bad everything is all messy..i wonder if there was ever a moment in time where peace existed..

[ladyfire.livejournal.com]

::smile::

Re:

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

Probably sometime before multi-celled life was here.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thank you. :)

Re: Love it or LEAVE it

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thnaks, DT.

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

thank you. :) high praise indeed!

Re: Permanent Wave

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

well said, and wisely written, I think.

Thank you for your kind words of agreement. :)

[drownedinink.livejournal.com]

Forget I dared to say anything then.

Just remember, patriotism is a beautiful thing, but also a dangerouns one. So many people in this country fail time and again to understand that.

[drownedinink.livejournal.com]

Again, I'm sorry if I offended you. I just get nervous when people throw around patriotic speech in moments like these. I know it can be inspiring, but it can also lead to horrible things, some of which I've witnessed.

I probably shouldn't have typed anything at all, but as you realize its a rough and confusing time for all of us...

no worries....

[scottobear.livejournal.com]

freedom of opinion and speech is something that I value. :)

I didn't get offended, really... but my topic of conversation was about folks badmouthing the US, and saying folks deserved what happened, and not diminishing anyone elses tragedy.

[ojdorson.livejournal.com]

Woo Hoo!

scottobear cursed! (http://www.livejournal.com/talkread.bml?itemid=10487549&nc=3)

and he made really good points. Maybe he has read Robert Heinlein's story, Coventry?

Re: no worries....

[drownedinink.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I have a tendency to go overboard, especially since I am deeply worried about the government jumping the gun and doing something that will make things much, much worse...