by Rado Vleugel 36 Replies latest jw friends
As I've said. Euro's aren't capable of a simple thank you.
They need to be grateful that we have a war mongering idiot at the helm instead of a draft dodging cigar abusing coward.
And should Buckingham Palace be attacked, we'd be there fighting for them too without regrets.
The UK soldiers fighting along side us now are, from what I hear over here, are well trained and brave. Thank goodness there are some men left over there.
Never Squat With Yer Spurs On
Geez LB! Did I read it wrong or are you really questioning the bravery and manhood of the Brits??!! I don't think that's a very fair generalization, any more so than any of the other generalizations I've read in this thread.
I, for one, don't think all that highly of Bush and I really don't understand why so many Americans (here I go making one of those nasty generalizations!) insist that we, as a nation, have acted altruistically towards other countries. It just ain't so! As much as I hate to admit, Expat is right when he says that America, just like EVERY OTHER NATION acts in its own self-interest. I mean, let's not be naive here...each has its own agenda and that agenda is "what is going to serve ME best?"
Eman and Expat, I am sorry about the friends you've had who have been affected by the violence and bloodshed occurring in your country due to terrorism. Having to deal with terrorism on such a scale in our own country is something relatively new to us, more immediate and in our faces, so to speak. I don't feel that what your countrymen have suffered for so long is in any way lesser or not as important as what happened here on Sept 11. Just so you know.
Dana
Why, thank you S4K, how very civil of you.
Dakota Red, I doubt that George W is a war-monger, he seems to have handled the whole 911 thing extremely well. A bit of background may be of interest to you here:
George W was indeed regarded with great suspicion by the UK when became president, this was on 2 counts. 1, his upholding of the death penalty was deemed as archaic. Please remember that this has been outlawed here for over 30 years, the modern UK generation simply are aghast at this punishment because it just doesn't happen here. I'm not arguing the rights or wrongs, I'm just saying that the new generation find the whole thing astonishing because it is considered very unusual.
2, we were all very aware that George W would put US business interests first and foremost, and that this would be despite what the rest of the world had to say about reducing pollution. He acted true to his word in his rejection of Kyoto.
When 911 occured and the whole of my country grieved over America's pain, 95% of Brits were all for action against terrorism alongside America. The UK government put their money where there mouths were, and the Royal Navy symbolically initiated the onslaught of missiles against the Taliban.
Now, months later, 1000's of UK troops are still in Afghanistan. BUT, because of terrorism precautions, our police force is stretched to the limit, with the result that criminals are having a hay-day, particularly in London.
So, yes, everyone here is affected by terrorism, but generally this is a war that the British people support.
The down-side is that George W's reputation was on the up until he started to penalise our steel exports to the US with a 30% tarrif, which has pissed us off a bit.
Englishman.
I'm sure he is a nice man, but I agree he has limited abilities. It may have nothing to do with his intellect, and more with the way the government is set up, in this country. The President is seen as being the most powerful man in the world, but he is very much a figure head, for the real powers behind him. Whoever put him in office, is the real President. (Just my opinion, you realize)
Many in this country believe that Dick Cheney is the real President, but I am undecided.
I think that Bush is embarrassing much of the time. And, I voted for Gore, who would have done a good job after September 11, too!!
Marilyn (aka Mulan)
"No one can take advantage of you, without your permission." Ann Landers
be still
puzzled,
That is one creepy jpeg. Reminds me of the one msil had... of an eyeball peeking thru a keyhole. Not that I'm doing anything I wouldn't want the world to see... sitting here nekked... typing on this keyboard. But still, that's one creepy pic.
As I've said. Euro's aren't capable of a simple thank you
Yuck. Nationalism rearing its ugly head again, and as always, it's coming with blinders attached.
Are you referring to the same "Euros" who make up a significant portion of ISAF? Apart from British forces, one of the largest non-US military contingents in Afghanistan is German. The rather small Danish army lost two or three soldiers just a couple of days ago over there - ungrateful wimps, huh?
To get back to the topic: Bush is standing for a powerful nation whose actions can, and do, affect our entire world. People have every right to criticise those who are affecting their lives. So, those "Euros" and Asians and Africans are very well entitled to an opinion. For instance, I feel very much entitled to voice my concerns that the US as a nation generally doesn't give a fuck about the atmosphere we 6 billion citizens need to breathe - think Kyoto, think by far the highest per capita CO2 emission in the world. And I also feel very entitled to criticise any damn government on this planet that has enough firepower to blow us all to bits a couple of times over, be it the US or China. I feel very entitled to criticise any government that has spent decades in praising free trade and deregulated markets as the wonder cure for all of mankind's problems, and then resorts to economic policies from the prehistory of economic globalisation (very much like the WTS associating with the UN, if you ask me).
As regards the "be thankful" pseudo-argument, I agree with Expat. Every nation, including the US, is primarily acting in its own interest; if some of those interests happen to be congruent with my own interests, I'm thankful for exactly that, nothing more. Altruism on a national level is a myth, be it WWII or the "War on Terror".
f.
