[Heep]

Wow, thanks for all the opinions, both positive and negative, people...they are what help us learn. I also want to thank everyone for keeping cool...I was sure I was gonna come home from work and see 18 flames and a closed thread

Anyways,

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

The only thing I question though, is if so many countries seem to hate us, then why is it when they're in need of some sort of economic help they come knocking on our door?

Excellent point, however, it's my opinion that the US brought that situation upon themselves. Canada has rarely requested US assistance, and the US has rarely ever interfered with our issues. We're used to dealing with our own problems and don't like to burden the US with them. The countries that do come scrambling to the US for help, though, are usually the countries that have had the US involved in major events in their past. Countries experience help (or interference, depending on your viewpoint) from the US and get a taste for it, then when something goes wrong, the US is their natural choice of countries to ask for help.

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

We wouldn't have if Saddam wasn't such an a-hole dictator. He's not a leader, he's a man in search of power and gets his jolly's off by torturing and killing people who dont do what he expects. He practically brainwashed a large sum of the people by his use of force. No one deserves to be tortured and or killed for something as unjust as not supporting the government.

I agree with you fully on Saddam, but just because someone is a horrible leader doesn't give another country the right to step in. Did the people of Iraq make an official plea for help to the US (I honestly don't know)? If so, then I can see justification in the war, however, if they didn't, then to me it just seems like America stepping in to convert Iraq to the US way of doing things. While that may or may not be better in the long run, it can have serious impacts on the Iraqi society. Saddam and his regime are all many of the citizens know; therefore it can only be assumed that they will struggle with any other form of rule. It's like being acclimatized to prison...when someone is free, there is initial celebration, but soon they find out that they don't know how to live any other way.

Originally Posted by TexasF355F1

The vast majority of U.S. citizens aren't racists, it just seems that way b/c of the stupid ass media.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Of course there will always be people that have their own opinions on races but very few act on it now; that much is true. However, the US has gotten used to not being racist towards Blacks or Asians or Indians, but let me tell you racism is very much alive in the form of nationalityism (I love making words ). I've actually had people refuse my business because I'm Canadian which seemingly automatically means I don't support their war efforts. Well no, I don't, but I can't be held responsible for decisions made my my Prime Minister, just as Americans refuse to be accountable for Presidential decisions. I visit your country, I change my money to yours at a loss, I spend and your businesses and feed your workers, and some of your citizens have the gall to insult me based on my nationality!?!? Believe me, racism is stronger now than it ever has been.

Originally Posted by raysoh8

you can always tell if a white faced guy is american in singapore, just look at them, britons, autsralians dont act like them

It's actually very unfortunate that those mannerisms are basically all white non-Americans have in their favour. Brits and Aussies and others at least have a distinctly non-US accent, however we Canadians often can only act polite and wear a Canadian flag in order to avoid prejudice from people who have a bad taste of Americans.

Originally Posted by Solomon219

First, I believe that America should adopt an isolationist policy towards the rest of the world. Let's withdraw our troops and withdraw our aid, and then we'll let the rest of the world SEE how much we really mean to them. I think they'll have so much crime, terrorism and poverty that they'll be begging to intervene again. And then I would have them all sign treaties giving us sovereignty over all those who come crawling back. That's my policy on the rest of the world.

That's a very interesting and valid point, but as I mentioned in regard to Texas's comments, people are only scrambling to the US because they've become acclimatized to your "help."

Originally Posted by Solomon219

I love the way America USED to be, how it was envisioned by our founding fathers. Now all the gov't is trying to do is TAKE AWAY every single right that was given to us in the Constitution.

I agreed wholeheartedly. I love the old America as well. While not as extreme as in many parts of the US, Canada is being influenced by this new United States and is adopting some crazy policies as well. It won't be long before I get completely fed up with Canada as well...I've got nowhere to hide!

Originally Posted by Oz

Ignorant. Knowing so little about the rest of the world has led to a dangerous cycle of the blind acceptance of society wide views on foreign countries/policy and general knowlegdge.

Excellent point. I've always been annoyed by how little the majority of Americans know about other places, even us, their own neighbours! It's amazing how many people in the US have seriously asked me things like "How do you keep warm in igloos?" and "Do you drive on the left side of the road?" or even "Do you even have roads?" I would be willing to forgive them if only they didn't demand I know everything about the US such as what the capital of Oregon is (no clue!). You struck a new chord in my brain though, as I just realized how negative an effect this ignorance can have in light of US foreign "interference." We've got the US telling the world how to run their country when they know nothing about said countries or what it's like to actually live in them!

Originally Posted by Oz

what the mass marketed media TELLS them these things.

I fear that is one of the top causes of the state the US is currently in. Canada, while media-flooded as compared to most of the world, is nowhere near as bombarded as the US. At least Canadian media tends to be far less biased and is more objective, just giving facts and allowing citizens to formulate their own opinions. The US media is very smart and very crafty...they know how to manipulate through even the smallest things. For example, I was in Florida during that "Great Power Blackout" a few months back. Not even a couple of hours after it occured, the US media was already blaming Canadian power stations, and everybody's opinion of Canada just dropped 5 points right then and there. I even had some people blame me personally for it because of my nationality! Turned out to be a US power station and not at all related to our stations, but the damage had been done and people's opinions never went back up. It's a shame that the media controls so many lives.


Whew! I'm talking up a storm. Glad to be gaining insight here, lets keep up the rational debate