La la la la la America

by philo 13 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  philo

  After all the deserved congratulations, lately heaped upon America and Americans in TR's thread, I've been wondering about a few things, which I couldn't figure from the discussion.

  1.Why do some feel the need to talk up the greatness of the US, when this fact seems so self-evident? Is it just the jingoism which comes along with a world empire?

  2. Do any American's here feel embarrassed about their government's foreign policies regarding: the new international criminal court (presently trying Miloshovic), the reneging on the Kyoto carbon-reduction treaty, or the high hand taken on SDI?

  I travelled in the US and Canada as a kid, and found most (or all) people friendly, welcoming, very full of themselves and refreshing to talk to.

  There is a British jingoist nationalism, but it is a poor relation at best. It's actually rather sad to see people deluding themselves about our greatness, as mostly, it is built upon a lost empire, a celebrity monarchy, marmite, and some valiant failures. We can joke about it, of course, but that's all it is, a joke.

  What is not funny for me, is the thought that people of an unrivalled superpower might have these outmoded ideas for REAL.

  I don't think I should be grateful for what the US does in Europe, against China, with Russia, or for our supposedly cosy 'special relationship'. No Sir! As it happens I AM grateful, but that's neither here nor there. The USA has the clout, we look up to her, and expect to see that clout used responsibly.

  philo

  "It is an absurdity to believe that the Deity has human passions, and one of the lowest of human passions, a restless appetite for applause." [David Hume]
• 

  Englishman

  Evening Mr P:

  There's nowt wrong with Marmite. No doubt you have forgotten the parable about the widows mite, one widow, having had the contribution box rattled under her nose, replied to the "And the widows mite, Sister?" with a snooty "And the widows might not!"

  What that has got to do with Marmite I have just forgotten!

  Englishman.

  ..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.
• 

  Seeker

  1.Why do some feel the need to talk up the greatness of the US, when this fact seems so self-evident? Is it just the jingoism which comes along with a world empire?

  Why do humans always look for ways to make themselves look better than others by grasping onto totally irrelevant factors? "My skin color is better!" "My language is better!" "My country is better" "My part of the state is better than your part of the state!" "My part of the city is better than your part of the city!"

  Infantilism, all of it. Nationalism is merely the adult version of kindergarten kids fighting over the sandbox.

  2. Do any American's here feel embarrassed about their government's foreign policies regarding: the new international criminal court (presently trying Miloshovic), the reneging on the Kyoto carbon-reduction treaty, or the high hand taken on SDI?

  Many Americans hate the way the government acts. They see what is happening to the environment and feel ashamed at the way their politicians have been bought by corporate interests. They also realize that SDI can never work and that it isn't supposed to work, but is merely a kickback to the defense industry.

  And other Americans believe whatever the right-wing tells them to believe, and therefore feel no embarrassment whatsoever about such things.

  My personal opinion? All empires die. The British empire faded long ago. So too, the American superpower is fading; it just hasn't been noticed yet how many countries now view America as irrelevant. Within 50 years, America will be where Britain is today. It's the way all empires go.
• 

  fodeja

  Nationalism is merely the adult version of kindergarten kids fighting over the sandbox.

  Absolutely.

  Englishman: Marmite is probably the most evil thing known in our corner of the universe. If it wasn't for your excellent beer, Marmite would be reason enough to ban all Englishmen to a secluded island with mostly horrible weather, lots of counter-clockwise roundabouts and sewage pipes running on the outside of houses, so that your neighbours know exactly when you're getting pregnant or developing prostrate trouble, respectively.

  f. :-)

  p.s.: Those of you who don't know Marmite, just be happy. All others will understand why death penalty isn't needed in Britain:

  Talk about cognitive dissonance, huh?
• 

  expatbrit

  Fodeja:

  I can tolerate most harping about English culture, but MARMITE IS SACRED!!

  Do you know how much I loved Marmite as a young scamp? Can you appreciate how much I miss it now, and how heartrending the constant search in Canada to find just a tiny tiny jar. Shit I'm getting choked up just thinking about it.

  Listen O backward European, Marmite has built generations of sturdy British youth. Marmite is the stuff of empire, the former of British stoicism, the strength in the corsets of Queen Victoria.

  When the youth of England heed once more the shining star of MARMITE and break their fast upon it's animating nourishment, then the fires of empire shall be relit, and Britannia shall rule the waves once more!!!!

  By jingo!!

  Expatbrit, still trying to get the wife to like Marmite after 10 years.
• 

  philo

  MARMITE?

  I almost didn't realise I had written that word until afterwards. Suppose I should have started a Marmite thread, LOL!!!!!

  Anybody want to defend VEGEMITE (the antipodean equivalent) which is btw disgusting, yuk.

  Seeker,
  You're a marvel to me, man. Always bang on the money. Thanks for the background.

  philo
• 

  Pathofthorns

  Click [url] http://home-news.excite.ca/news/cp/010716/14/activists-shimmy-down[/url]
• 

  Prisca

  Did someone say vegemite?
  

  "The yeast extract spread we all know and love first appeared on our shelves in 1923. It was made from many essential ingredients apart from yeast extract.

  One of the main ones was Fred Walker - a man before his time.

  He was an entrepreneur and business visionary. Fred tried many different businesses from selling hat accessories to managing an agency for racehorses & jockeys. He then branched out into canning. Under the company name of Fred Walker & Co, Fred started canning everything that could be canned- meat, ox tongue, macaroni and vermicelli.

  In 1918, the war delayed imports of popular yeast extracts. Walker saw an opening in the market and pounced. Fred enlisted the help of a brilliant young chemist, Dr Cyril P Callister, to work on a yeast extract and a cheese that had a long shelf life. After many attempts, they developed a spread, and Vegemite was born.

  While Dr Callister was working on a cheese with a long shelf life, he found a viable patent that was registered by James Kraft, a Canadian who was based in Chicago. Fred went to America to talk to James Kraft. James Kraft and Fred Walker were two peas in a pod and in 1926 they decided to start a joint venture -The Kraft Walker Cheese Company.

  Kraft has been making Vegemite here in Australia since 1926 and continues to do so today.

  Fred Walker's and James Kraft's values still pervade through Kraft Foods today and their famous spread continues to put a rose in every cheek."
• 

  Englishman

  Vegemite?

  Uuuuurgh! Come on, you can't possibly compare that yukky interloper to the might Marmite!!!

  Bloody Ozzies!

  Englishman.

  ..... fanaticism masquerading beneath a cloak of reasoned logic.
• 

  Mommie Dark

  STILL trying to figure out what a yeast-based spread would taste like, and how anyone could get a kid to even TRY the stuff let alone ask for it.

  Mommie,
  who wishes someone would send her a jar of the stuff so she could do some research. I'm imagining a bizarre hybrid of brewer's yeast and miso paste... surely the imagination is worse than the actual product? (one hopes...)