All the people we don't like

[billvon 3,070]

I've been trying to keep track of the people we're pissed off at. It's not easy.

First off we have the coalition of the willing. I'd have to divide that into the coalition of the very willing, the coalition of the not-so-willing and the coalition of the not-really-willing-at-all. For example, Turkey clearly falls into the last group - they've been claiming they're on the US's side, but change their minds regularly about whether or not we can even fly over their country. Rumsfeld has been making veiled threats about them moving their military into Iraq, which sounds odd until you realize they really want to put down the Kurds before they get too uppity, and are just taking advantage of the war to have an excuse to send troops in. Not very nice of them.

Then there's the coalition of the not-so-willing, countries like Morocco who won't send any troops but will send us some monkeys we can blow up. (No, I'm not kidding.) Or Estonia, who is perfectly willing to say they're behind us all the way, as long as they don't have to actually do anything - even though 70% of their people are against war.

And, of course, there are the countries who are actually willing to support us with troops, which (as far as I can tell) are the UK and Australia.

So in that group we seem to like the people of the UK (who are pretty solidly against the war) and the Australians. The Turks we're actually sort of annoyed with. And of course most people here can't even find Estonia, Eritrea, Latvia or Uzbekistan on a map; they're just plain off our radar screen in terms of likes or dislikes.

Then there's the "alliance against war." These are UN members opposed to war. These include France, Germany, Russia, Canada and Mexico. We hate these people with a passion, of course. Not their leaders - we hate the people themselves. Stations in NY are refusing to sell gas to Canadians. US people are boycotting French wineries and vandalizing "french" businesses here in the US. (I put french in quotes because often they have nothing to do with France, that's just their name.)

Then there are our enemies, which seem to include Iraq, North Korea, and to some extent Jordan, Iran and Syria. (All of them have been threatened recently.) Oddly, we seem to like these people a lot - our president keeps saying how the Iraqi people have no better friend than the US, even though quite a few of those Iraqi civilians are trying their best to kill US soldiers. Their liberation is a primary reason many use to justify the war. We seem to be OK with the Saudis even though there are pretty strong connections between 9/11 and Saudi Arabia. This may be because boycotting them would mean boycotting oil, and that's simply not something people here are willing to consider.

So:

Iraqis - our friends (the ones not currently shooting at us at least)
Australians - our friends
Saudi Arabians - no strong feelings
Canadians - hate em
French - hate em even more

These are odd times we live in.

[AggieDave 6]

You left off California, in the sorta-hate list...

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Deuce 1]

You got a mouse in your pocket?

Or is that the royal "we"?



I don't think the people involved in any of the cases you cite are uniformly anything. Just the people who they gave the keys to, if it's a democracy, or the people they are subject to, otherwise.

Yeah, yeah, I know, Bush didn't "win" yada-yada. But the folks in democracies should take who they vote for seriously.

The folks in totalitarian regimes have my prayers.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Actually in all fairness Bill, the Canadians should be in a different class. Our government openly says we do not support the war, yet we have soldiers actually on the ground in Irag and ships in the Gulf and soldiers relieving americans in Afghanistan so they can go to Iraq, yet publicly we are against the war.

Guess we are the "coalition-against-war-willing-to-support-it-through-the-back-ally"

[jlmiracle 7]

I like Mexico, especially their people, they haven't forgotten what customer service or hard work is.

I work for Canadian company. Thank heaven for that or I would probably be unemployed.

Judy

Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

[QuickDraw 0]

Quote

These are UN members opposed to war. These include France, Germany, Russia, Canada and Mexico. We hate these people with a passion, of course. Not their leaders - we hate the people themselves.

Either the irony was lost here or its the first of April.

-- Hope you don't die. --

I'm fucking winning

[JJohnson 0]

I don't think we hate any people, including the Iraqi. We don't agree with them, but hate is a pretty strong word.

Also as for the British people, some worthless poll the other day said 84% of their people are for the war and want to see it through to the end.

JJ

"Call me Darth Balls"

[billvon 3,070]

>I don't think we hate any people, including the Iraqi.

We hate the french, as is evident here. ("We" meaning several posters on this very board, and indeed our own congress dislikes them enough to make anti-french statements.) Apparently many americans dislike the canadians enough to deny them gas. Even Fred, a french TM at our DZ, is getting a lot of shit.

>We don't agree with them, but hate is a pretty strong word.

I agree; I see very strong emotions against them here, and certainly vandalism connotates hatred. I wish we could separate our disagreements with their leaders from our feelings towards the people themselves. Disagreeing with Chirac is fine; vandalizing french businesses is not fine. They are not spinless cowards or 'surrender monkeys' just because their government prefers a different method of achieving the same goal.

[happythoughts 0]

Quote

You got a mouse in your pocket?

Or is that the royal "we"?

Deuce, don't go taunting BV with your "reality" stuff. If you are going to hide behind those imperfect solutions for world problems, then it is his duty as a Californian to educate you. Do I need to remind you where Jesus was born ? (just below San Diego). Joining a good cult might do you some good, darn it.

[quade 4]

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I don't think we hate any people, including the Iraqi.

Do we "love" anyone?

Is there a continuum that goes something to the effect of: hate, tolerate, indifferent, accept, love?

I mean, certainly you can't have white without black. Ya know, the whole yin & yang thang.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,070]

>Do I need to remind you where Jesus was born ? (just below San
> Diego).

Exactly, but remember, it's pronounced "hay suess." I took him for a tandem a few years back. You'd think with a name like that we'd get a decent opening, but no.

>Joining a good cult might do you some good, darn it.

Especially if they have cheap jumps. Just don't drink the Kool-Aid.

[happythoughts 0]

Quote

>Do I need to remind you where Jesus was born ? (just below San
> Diego).

Exactly, but remember, it's pronounced "hay suess." I took him for a tandem a few years back. You'd think with a name like that we'd get a decent opening, but no.

Maybe not a decent opening, but great restaurant seating. "Hay-suess, pahty of twelve..."

[Deuce 1]

I already drank the Kool-aid.

I live up in NorCal where we have REAL war protest with people handcuffing themselves in pipes and stuff.

I love them.

I love you.

I love Quade. Lots.

I only hate certain food. And only because I'm fairly certain it can't tell I hate it.

[Sebazz1 2]

"I love you
you love me
we're one big
happy family...."

Barney the purple dino...

[quade 4]

Ok, now that's just creepy jp.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Snowwhite 0]

OK, so maybe I'm just a little paranoid. Just checked this thread to make sure my name wasn't on it.......

skydiveTaylorville.org
freefallbeth@yahoo.com

[jtval 0]

hehe I thought it was more of a localized thing like who do we hate HERE...on the forums! I think most of them have been locked off for "acting like assholes"

My photos

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[Deuce 1]

Yeah, I have my moments

LOOK BEHIND YOU!

Bwahahahahah!

I'm outta here!

chow!

[happythoughts 0]

Quote

I love you.

I love Quade. Lots.

We all love Quade, but in a "manly" way, not the Barney-dinosaur-Hollywood way. None of that touchy-feely stuff.

[FallRate 0]

Greenies shouldn't troll.

FallRate

[Faber 0]

You forgot Germans...You also hate them...

I think US having a problem laying the bad stuff behind and look at the positive

I hope ya love Denmark(you know the once that suport you by 2 ships and one sub..in Iraq)

Stay safe
Stefan Faber

[stylin 1]

I think we should just cutaway from the UN. That should solve all our problems.

[masher 1]

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I think we should just cutaway from the UN. That should solve all our problems.

I see you're disobeying your own rule...

--
Arching is overrated - Marlies