quote:
Originally posted by creedon:
As an American, I would have to disagree with you; NOT because I think you're wrong, but as a non-American, you don't have the Perspective to really understand how a certian portion of our population regards an issue like this.
There are people in this country that regard the rest of the world at best, with suspicion and at worse, with abject terror. This segment truly believe that we live in the only really free country in the world, and that the rest of the world envies us and wants to take our freedom away. These are the people who you can see with their hand planted firmly over their heart whenever the Star-spanged Banner plays, teary eyed at the thought of being blessed with the honor of being an American. These are the folks that will just go ballistic when someone suggests that the good ol' U.S.A. might not be the best place to live. When you have to deal with a mindset like that, then the decision about the Pledge of allegance doesn't seem so humorous.
No it doesn't, and that's why i think that the US should either keep itself to itself, or begin reevaluating itself in earnest.
400 years of lethargy and apathy are no excuse. The USA was a young nation once, with vigour and commitment to honesty. How would any of the US's revered pioneers be treated today?
The US needs to scrap it's bullshit and start a new non-brainwashing campaign of honesty. Why do they like the brainwashing so much? is it because they are afraid of people thinking for themselves? if their country is so good, what do they have to be afraid of?
Brainwashing is only for a regime that knows it would be unpopular otherwise, as proved by many nations and dictators throughout the last century or two.
Be fucking honest! and then maybe i'd have some real fucking respect for america, not the contempt i have right now (that contempt does not extend to the US citizens, btw, only those who endorse the US method of control).
And fucking take down that "give me your tired and your hungry" crap from the statue of "liberty", we all know it's one of the most famous
lies on the planet.
edit - I feel the need to post a big long screed of lyrics now to show you what i think about the whole two faced situation, even though you must take me with a pinch of salt since i have never been to the USA.
It's a song by the Motor City Five about what it was like for them to live in the USA in 1969:
The American Ruse (MC5)They told you in school about FREEDOM,
but when you try to be FREE they never let ya
They said, "It's easy - nothing to it"
and now the ARMY's out to get ya
'69 American terminal stasis,
the air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses
I'm sick and tired of paying these dues
and I'm finally getting hip to the AMERICAN RUSE
I learned to say THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE,
before they beat me bloody down at the station
They haven't got a word out of me since
I got a billion years probation
'69 American terminal stasis,
the air's so thick it's like drowning in molasses
I'm sick and tired of paying these dues
and I'm sick to my guts of the AMERICAN RUSE
Phoney Stars, (Oh No!), Crummy Cars, (Oh No!)
Cheap Guitars, (Oh No!), Joe's Primitive Bar - Nah!
The way they pull you over it's suspicious,
Yeah, for something that just ain't your fault
If you complain they're gonna get vicious
Kick in your teeth and charge you with ASSAULT
Yeah, but I can see the chickens coming home to roost
Young People everywhere are gonna cook their goose
lots of kids are working to get rid of these Blues
cause everybody's sick of the AMERICAN RUSE
Well, well, well ... TAKE A LOOK AROUND!
You can get a couple of free MP3s by the Five at this site, plus some other juicy mp3s as well...
[ July 05, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]
[ July 05, 2002: Message edited by: Calum ]