Thread: American Character

Originally Posted by panama hat

playing baseball

baseball??? PH surely you jest!!

3rd base with the Grosse Pointe City Wildcats (Maire Elementary School, I kid you not. Second posting with my parents was in Chicago then I grew up, worked for US companies and lived/near in Hudson Mass, Phoenix AZ and San Jose CA)

Do I hate the US and its people? Not in a million years.

Do I find some 'national traits' annoying? You bet!

I find it very odd that someone might think having national pride a character flaw. It reflects quite poorly on the individual, the country, or both.

National pride and Nationalism are two different emotions. Instead of viewing things politically...why not socially? As a community, not a political identity.

....and continues to contribute to such a disgusting thread.

Originally Posted by blackgang

where you win every battle and then lose the war

Vietnam springs to mind.

Actually, brits didn't win every encounter in the 1812 war (well, it was a war to you, it was a punitive expedition really to the brits back then- the napoleonic campaign was the real war). A naval defeat actually, in the great lakes, caused the brits to turn back some ass kicking expedition into the US, because their supply lines were in danger. Trust that makes you feel better.

Then theres the Battle of New Orleans (as it happens, after the war officially ended). Just after that, the Brits defeated the Fort and took over Mobile, Alabama. This had been Spanish before the war- but the Brits handed it back to the Yankees, who had usurped it in the early days of the war.

A large part of Maine, which had been occupied by the Brits for much of the war, was handed back when a peace treaty was made- and the Customs money that had accrued during the Brit rule actually went towards founding a university.

So we helped ya out really, sorry for toasting the Capitol though.

Originally Posted by blackgang

so maybe you are a limey instead of an Aussie.

I was born in the UK, moved to Oz when I was nine. No secret about that, but history ain't your strongest subject, is it?

Originally Posted by durianfan

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

National pride and Nationalism are two different emotions. Instead of viewing things politically...why not socially? As a community, not a political identity.

And the troll comes up with another gem! We're not talking about politics. Your statement makes no sense. The issue here (at the moment) is national pride. There are some nations whose people could be accused of false nationalism, however, the US definitely isn't one of them. We are a proud people, and for good reason.

MEANING: you're largely dismissive of any social or familial extensions. Shouldn't surprise me that you didn't pick-up on the twisted rhetoric.

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

For someone that was casting a shadow for resurrecting this thread, you seem to be going out of your way to contribute.

Originally Posted by durianfan

^Just defending my country. You'd do the same if I started a thread called "British character" and then proceeded to lash out at and insult all things British.

I thought RS was a US citizen, who has spent most of his life in SE Asia? Shows how much I pay attention.

Why isn't this thread in the MKP already? The same arguments are being rehashed over and over again. It's really a moot point: We Americans are proud to be Americans, and morons like RS can't understand why and are jealous of said pride.

I'm done arguing with children like you in this thread. Go peddle your drivel elsewhere. Until then, welcome to my ignore list.

Originally Posted by blackgang

we ended up with their ass in a sack as has happened everytime we have had a scuff with them, and has happened everytime they have had a disagreement with any country that they colonized and got run out of in the end, sorry assholes couldn't even whip Ireland in a clean fight, and the scots gave them a lot of grief and England covered them in pure weight of numbers before it was over there too.
They lost NZ, they lost Aust., They lost Canada, They lost the Eastern part of Canada first and are running scared of the frogs for shit sakes. even tho you seem to suck up to them a lot so maybe you are a limey instead of an Aussie.

But then everytime they have a little scuff they have whined and cried for help from the US and like damn fools they dump money and US lives to bail em out.
They have never won in a todo with the Norskys, even back in 900 when the vikings were kicking ass, and then they had a hell of a time with Argentina here a few years back and fucking near lost that one too.

If that is what you honestly believe BG, then you really are a sad, misguided, uneducated old sack of wind. For a man with so many years and world experiences under his belt, I would have thought you`d be more worldly in your views. I would expect the above comments to come from a teenager, who has been nowhere, seen nothing and done nothing. Not from a man in his senior years.

Originally Posted by spiff

Also, frankly the views towards their closest allies, the Brits and Aussies by some Americans here is pathetic. With most Brits I know one can have a tongue-in-cheek slagging match about national traits and laugh about it afterwards, seems a much more laid back attitude.

The thing is, most Aussies don't give a flying fok as its all good crack and we can have a giggle about it all.

Technically, I'm an American citizen.

Originally Posted by astasinim

Originally Posted by Rural Surin

For someone that was casting a shadow for resurrecting this thread, you seem to be going out of your way to contribute.

Originally Posted by durianfan

^Just defending my country. You'd do the same if I started a thread called "British character" and then proceeded to lash out at and insult all things British.

I thought RS was a US citizen, who has spent most of his life in SE Asia? Shows how much I pay attention.

I don't know where he is from, here in the thread about Viet nam people he claims to be a Vietnamese.

kingwilly
Senior Member

Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 24,252
Quote:,
Everyone's an expert here.
3 years living there plus a few additional trips lately, probably gives me slightly more idea than ET's one week.

later posted by;;
Rural Surin
Elite Member


Last Online: Today 08:01 AM
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Surin sticks
Posts: 2,212
Having some fun there KW. I was born and raised there. First 17 years of my life......and a few more in adulthood.

Originally Posted by blackgang

here in the thread about Viet nam people he claims to be a Vietnamese.

No, he doesn't.

Slightly off topic, but probably the most vehemently parochial US citizen I have ever met was a Vietnamese war baby, but adopted and brought up in the US, then Singapore, then HK- so a true international really. I always thought that was a bit strange. His brother, a biological son of his adoptive family and a good friend, was much more laid back, and for that matter, their parents (academics) were tremendously nice people.

Not much that follows these artificial stereotypes there.

Originally Posted by astasinim

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

It's always important to remember that more so than any other country in the 20th century the US has more immigrants and a wider makeup of races and religions than any other country.
That's the greatness that is America...

Are you serious? Im sure there are more immigrants in the US, than any other country. Lets have a look why eh? Hmmmm, probably because its one of the largest countries on the face of the planet. As for ethnic diversity, I wish you were right, but, Im pretty sure just about every country in the world is represented in the UK. As for religions, Im pretty sure thats well represented too. Is that the greatness that the UK is? If you listen to the politicians, then yes it is.

Are you serious?? all of that which you attempt to gloat over is forced and wasn't a call to immigrants around the world to emigrate and settle in your country like it was in the US. The preponderance of different races you have had until recently come more from slavery not immigration. Besides were talking in minutia in comparison given the size of the US versus the size of the British empire.. We don't have more immigrants because of our size we have more immigrants because of what is/has always been offered in terms of freedoms, prosperity and hope as well as that being our founding mantra..

I wonder though I saw some figures yesterday by Phuket immigration about the number of British long term residents versus all others and they top the numbers of expats by a considerable margin and I'm fairly certain that isn't just a local thing, if Brits are so proud and love their country so much why is it they seem to always be looking on the other side of the fence for another 'greener pasture'? I'm not talking just a few like so many other expats I'm talking big numbers relatively speaking..

It is also a consideration that since the pound is higher do you think that has any bearing on how many Brits can travel and evacuate in large numbers to other countries with lower currency valuation? Maybe it's more about that then it is actually about desire, we have no desire to leave it seems and is more costly for us to do so. You have an intense desire to leave and can afford to do so...it's that simple...it's not about worldliness like it's being painted here...

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

We don't have more immigrants because of our size we have more immigrants because of what is/has always been offered in terms of freedoms, prosperity and hope as well as that being our founding mantra..

You have quite a few immigrants as the result of refugees created by destroying their countries by bombing, unfair "free trade" agreements, corporate hitmen, support of brutal dictators, and war by proxy. And most of those probably love their home countries as well, but left due to the instinct of survival.

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

brainwashed.....

You appear to be.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

We don't have more immigrants because of our size we have more immigrants because of what is/has always been offered in terms of freedoms, prosperity and hope as well as that being our founding mantra..

You have quite a few immigrants as the result of refugees created by destroying their countries by bombing, unfair "free trade" agreements, corporate hitmen, support of brutal dictators, and war by proxy. And most of those probably love their home countries as well, but left due to the instinct of survival.

Pickel, American apologists don't like to bring such realistic nasties into the discussion, because it reflects badly on what they consider their 'high character'. They don't want to know, throughout history, how they have really treated the world. By the way - all good and truthful points you make.

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

We don't have more immigrants because of our size we have more immigrants because of what is/has always been offered in terms of freedoms, prosperity and hope as well as that being our founding mantra..

You have quite a few immigrants as the result of refugees created by destroying their countries by bombing, unfair "free trade" agreements, corporate hitmen, support of brutal dictators, and war by proxy. And most of those probably love their home countries as well, but left due to the instinct of survival.

brainwashed.....

Depends on one's perspective and worldview. Even more important, how one really wants to view historiography or how it might be revised/omitted/invented/repressed.....

Originally Posted by DrivingForce

Are you serious?? all of that which you attempt to gloat over is forced and wasn't a call to immigrants around the world to emigrate and settle in your country like it was in the US. The preponderance of different races you have had until recently come more from slavery not immigration.

I stopped reading after this part, as your clearly just as misinformed as BG. Also lets get this straight. You were the one gloating, and I just called you on it, so dont start trying to turn things round.