What are your thoughts on the USA? I think it is an okay country but from what I can tell it is not very good compared to other developed countries.
I'm a military brat. Hoo boy, here we go...
Other countries seem to be a lot more progressive than America especially in Europe where I think there is much less prejudice toward gay people and such.
Eh? Personally, for me, Europe sorta has The Asia Problem, to a lesser degree.
That many countries, that close together, for that many years... That creates stereotypes, bias, prejudice, etc. I've lived there, so... yeah.
Also, in Britain, at least, there's also a lot less freedom of speech. I'm not talking 1984 Orwellian dictatorship, but there's definitely more of an emphasis on not offending people. See Orwell's prelude to
Animal Farm for more details. Ironically, the Brits censored it out.
Also America is very religious, to the point where religion is allowed to stand in the way of scientific progress and influence politics and education which is ridiculous.
1. "Not my ideals" =/= "Ridiculous."
2. Religion is allowed to stand in the way of scientific progress? That's not religion, ma'am, that's "ethics."
For example, is the Hippocratic Oath an example of "Foolish religious sentiments impeding medicine?" Answer me that. Should we abolish it?
And... America isn't the only religious country in the world, and even the beloved, free-thinking Europeans are religious.
No, I don't mean cynical Britain, where putting "SCIENTOLOGY IS A CULT" on a sign will get you detained by the police.
Let's examine some of the more prosperous nations of Europe:
Liechtenstein (~80% Roman Catholic)
Finland (~98% Lutheran Church of Finland, remaining 2% mostly Orthodox)
Sweden (~95.2% Church of Sweden)
Switzerland (77% various religious (No official church, too divided among various faiths))
Denmark (92% Church of Denmark)
Norway (87% Church of Norway, ~5% other Christian denominations)
Eh?
My point is, being religious doesn't make you backwards and horrible.
I think America is the only country in the developed world which doesn't universally teach evolution as fact.
So... You're whining that religion has too tight a grip, but you're also whining that our educational system doesn't stamp out any and all alternate beliefs?
Explain, please. You can't fight for equality, and then demand that religion is completely wiped out. If I have to learn the history of Islam and the Middle East for the sake of political correctness, I refuse to let anybody eliminate Christianity from European history. An no, "We'll just teach the bad parts of Christianity, like the Inquisition!" doesn't cut it. If you do that, I want the massacres of the Confucians to be known. I'm sick of this forced political correctness.
I'm not happy about having political correctness shoved down my throat, but I bear it. You can bare seeing the words "Evolution is a theory."
Also I have heard that the quality of life in the USA is pretty bad compared to European countries where workers have better working conditions and more holidays.
On an unrelated note, the United States is 40th in global suicide rates (By percentage. If you do a strict "# of deaths", you mess up the data due to relative size), behind Russia (#6), Hungary (#10), Finland (#14), Belgium (#15), Switzerland (#17), France (#18. I heard the Eiffel Tower was a popular spot, 'specially around Christmas), Austria (#21), Sweden (#28), Cuba (#31. But I thought they were a perfect nation...), Canada (#35), Portugal (#36), and Norway (#37).
Granted, we're ahead of the UK (Though the individual nations of the UK had greatly varying rates...) and Ireland.
Additionally, an American household is near the top of the charts in terms of disposable income. And, despite the whole "American employees are treated like crap!" argument, Americans still make some of the highest wages on average.
Do your research, please. I had to do a lot in order to correct you, and I'm glad I did. I love this country.
Also America has not adopted the metric system which is much better than the imperial system.
I'll give you that, but that's not exactly a reason why America is "bad." America hasn't switched to Mandarin Chinese, which would be much more useful in our relations with China, but is that "bad"?
Europe has almost as many languages and dialects (Not even counting the bastardized offshoots of the European colonies) as China. Okay, maybe not
that many, but the point it, you still need to know a few languages to get around.
That's great, that means you're more cultured than an ignorant American.
But how efficient can you be when everyone speaks a different language?
I dunno why people are so proud to be American really I would rather be French.
Go to any military base in America.
Any. Military. Base.
You look those young men in the face, and tell them that. You tell them that they're fighting an unjust war, for a country that you're ashamed of.
Tell them that they've made the wrong choice. If they're religious, tell them that God won't save them, because there is no God.
Pull a Vietnam on them. Spit in their faces. After all, what more do they deserve.
Anyways.
How many revolutions and regime changes has America had in the last 200 years?
Germany has been through Imperial Germany, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany, East and West Germany (Within living memory of most Germans), and, finally, the Republic of Germany. Since 1900, mind you.
Great Britain, fortunately, has been Con. Mon. for quite a while, now. Granted, they've had territory struggles, and that Belfast problem, but, you know...
France has been Vichy France, begged for the Anglo-Franco Alliance, and, finally, has gotten the message that being friends with America is beneficial.
Spain has also had a troubled history. Since 1940, they've had a civil war, a failed military coup, and a few other incidents.
Italy has undergone fascism, social and political turmoil, and knee-jerk governments. Currently, they're center-right.
Hungary, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia... I'm not even getting into all that. Eastern Europe isn't a very fun place, I've heard.
My point? America is extremely stable, and, despite how awful we are, is one of the few countries in the world that takes almost anyone in. That isn't to say that we're a glorious bastion of all that is good. We're a young country, and we're run by humans. We make mistakes, and we learn from them. We have the right to criticize, to fight, to grow...
Oh, and our political system, modeled after the greatest empires in history, is used as a basis for many new non-dictator governments.
God bless America. Thank you for making me do my homework, Jolene. My faith is renewed.
NOTE: This is not to say that I don't have a great respect for many countries. I love America, yes, but...
I respect the German sense of order and efficiency, as well as the beautiful architecture, cooking, and language. Yes, I love the Germanic language family, and all it's gutturalness. I used to speak fluent Dutch, over a decade ago...
I have a great deal of respect for many, if not all, Western European nations (Which isn't to say I don't like E. Europe, but I just don't know enough about the many, many nations). The international culture each country possesses is wonderful, and I really loved living there. Additionally, I really don't have a grudge against the Brits, but... They're just so... cynical. However, I do recognize that Great Britain is one of the greatest 20th century imperial powers.
So... yes. Please don't call me a fascist American. I don't have anything against any other nation, because I don't believe in hating a country for the actions of the individuals. However, I'm not one to let my beliefs get trampled in the name of peace and happiness.
