USA - scapegoat of all the worlds ills

[Peter Voice]

chance, it was you who put the issue up for discussion, not me.

Don't start something then run away. You put up the premise, we have challenged it, now you are supposed to deliver the decisive argument. That's how a debate works. Maybe you didn't do that elective at school.
Instead of telling me how I should live my life or who has slept on your couch, why can't you deal with the issue you've raised.

Wuss

[Chance]

I agree, well said Pyro.

As you can tell I am not attempting to act as apologist for the policies of the USA. As I said in the original post we have much to be accountable for. I guess I am just waiting to hear a balanced approach when it comes to these attacks, as opposed to simply aiming for the USA simply because it makes for the biggest target.

I just want to remind you that the reason I wrote this piece in the first place was to counter the voices here which seem to have nothing to say but negative, xenophobic anti-American diatribe.

For example, can you show me a single posting here, in any thread, that attacks any other country besides the USA? I am pretty sure there aren't any -- and I am positive that you won't find any posting from an American bashing another country. But I don't think I would have any trouble finding 2 or 3 dozen letters which attack the USA. (True, some of them will even be from Americans, but that's beside the point.)

And this phenomenon where no American here has ever attacked another country has me quite interested. Picking out patterns and attempting to identify them is a hobby of mine. Maybe no one else is interested, but I have been watching this particular pattern unfold in these forums for quite some time.

The Australians have a saying about the tallest flower being the first one to get cut down. This is suppossed to remind them that to be outspoken is not a good thing; don't knowingly make yourself a target, etc.

By contrast, this also makes it accepted for the outspoken or opinionated person to be more easily criticised. After all, they had allowed themself to become too 'tall' for their own good.

This would also easily apply to a collective whole, such as attempting to cut down the nation which had become too tall too fast.

(I hasten to add that this is not in any way meant to demean Australia in any way, even if it is the most racist and xenophobic country I have ever visited. Just an observation and an opinion, nothing more.)

Regarding your letter specifically all I can really say is that I think we agree on the most salient points and that you left not much room for debate. If I had been responding to my own letter I would have written much the same way. If I were acting as apologist I would of course be very happy to split hairs and argue syntax for the next few weeks, but since I am not... The hairs are safe for another day.

Always great to have another chess player on the boards. Welcome to performers.net!

Chance

[The Had Matter]

Well the point is that even though there are many terrible countries out there, the few good countries don't have enough political or financial muscle to make a difference. If the US - which last time i checked was the only real superpower left - got behind something (and i'll continue to moan about co2 emissions here) and really pushed then it would get done. There are few countries that can, or would be willing to go against the US head on at the moment.

(especially Tony Blair - GRRR we in the uk seem to have no international policy of our own except to yap around the ankles of whatever country the US wants us too)

This is why we moan about the US and not all the many other countries - because you (the USA) have such potential to change the world for the better and you waste it at every turn and oppurtunity.

Instead of playing war every few years to justify your HUGE spending on pointless defence projects and toys for the military wouldent it be better to spend the money on trying to actively fix the worlds problems rather than just destroying everything that doesen't immediately fall into line?

It's like destroying a car because the driver's a loon, there'll be another loon and another car along soon. - why not build an institution instead?

For the record I really don't think the USA is the worst country around - it just angers me that we sit here with nothing really changeing while oppourtunities to make a difference pass us by.

Well I've said enough for a bit - off back to bed to rest my aching frame - 9 hours of juggling is too much for me [img]smile.gif[/img]