How do Americans feel about Canadians and Britons interjecting their opinions onto hot localized political topics: gun laws, abortion, ect?

by adjusted knowledge 50 Replies latest jw friends

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  adjusted knowledge

  Are those counter opinions opposed to your own opinion too damaging or weakening  ?

  My personal opinion on guns varies, but I have no problem with strict gun laws. Mostly I agree with the opinions given by those who are opposed to guns, with the exception of a total ban on guns. I bought 9 guns and sold them when I had a baby. I don't hunt nor shoot recreational. Personal protection was the only other reason for me, and I rather not take the chance my child would be killed by them.

  Again wasn't looking for a gun debate, there are other political topics such as American health care. It just doesn't seem in my experience that most Americans care anything about Canada's or European politics, but my foreign friends have plenty to say about American politics. Perhaps Americans are just as a whole are ignorant. Thirty-three percent of Americans would be unable to pass our citizenship test. The test is very basic.

  The following does provide what I'm looking for, at least on the issue of gun laws:

  The issue of open gun ownership is a universal situation in every country and has cultivated its own concern around the world.

  it's because I fear the spread of Americas mentality to our shores.
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  Simon

  Canada says otherwise. More guns per capita - less shooting.

  "What's all that aboot eh?"

  It's not gun ownership per-se or guns or bullets - it's the society and it's breakdown.
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  freddo

  It's not surprising - when Americans get bitter they cling to guns or religion or anti immigration sentiment or anti trade sentiment or antipathy to people who aren't like them as a way to justify their frustrations about themselves.

  Brits are the same when they get bitter but they don't have any guns or so much religion to cling to - which is probably a good thing.
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  GrreatTeacher

  I don't understand why one would be upset over the opinion of a Canadian or a Briton or even another American.

  I personally like to get the opinions of others. If I am a fish in a barrel, there might be an outside-the-barrel perspective that I might have never considered before.

  ...as also in the case of JWs and the world at large.
• 

  Simon

  a fish in a barrel

  "Like shooting fish in a barrel" is a strange expression. Anyone else would just use their hands or maybe a small net. Who thinks using a gun is necessary? Americans - that's who.

  I blame the Super Bowl for all the violence.

  I can't back that up in any way, I just hate both :)
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  little_Socrates

  How do you non Americans  feel when I start ranting against soccer?   Do you want to say "Dumb American you have no idea what you are talking about!"
  
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  20years_to_get_free

  I would love to be a Brit or a Canadian (or German, or Swedish, for that matter).  I think they have a great deal more sense about many things related to governance.  Although lately the Canadians seem to be following in our footsteps, and more's the pity.  Alas, I was born an American, and it seems I will die one.

  
  

  edited to say that this sentiment means I have no ill will for the opinions of Canadians or Brits.
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  freddo

  @little_Socrates

  I'm British and "soccer" (just called "football" here) is just a yawnfest to me. Mind you I am out of step with the majority of bladder-kicking Englishmen ...
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  TD

  I love the Brits.  Always have.

  I love them even more if they seem to actually understand the issues.  If they understand what it means to live on the edge of 6000+ square miles of primitive land; what it's like to be attacked by a wild animal; what it's like to be 30+ miles from emergency services of any kind;  what life on a reservation is like and what it means to live on one of the largest drug routes in the world..
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  zeb

  Australian perspective.

  Perhaps comments re firearms are mentioned because what happens in America  (legislation trends )is often copy catted here.Good or bad. ie. In the US there is a huge body of opposition to medicare where here it underpins (with its faults too) the health care of everyone and the Liberal party would like to dump it. They are the rich end of town and dont give a fig for anyone else.

  I could give you all a page or two but wont. Suffice to say that all things America fill the air waves and that country has a huge influence on what happens everywhere else.

  If you wish to see the Australian experience on firearms go to google and look up the entries on "Port Arthur."..Tasmania.  Tasmania is one of the Australian states.

  I just had a look at the Jim Jeffries-U-Tube clip. He states that after 1996 guns were banned this is entirely wrong. The Prime minister (Liberal party) instigated a 'buy-back' of certain classes of firearms and pulled $500,000 out of the medicare budget to do it.