miked10270 0 #26 January 24, 2009 QuoteOnce again, people need to review the difference between isolationism and non-interventionism. May I suggest that America effectively abandoned non-interventionism after its Civil War! Suppression of the Tripoli Pirates, the AEF of 1917, Washington Treaty (on battleships) of 1919, blockade of Japan of 1940... America's predeliction for isolationism (an example to all, encouraging none) was rendered ineffective on 7th December 1941. Since 1945, the globalisation of both trade and military reach means that America can no longer be isolationist and hence is forced to be prepared to intervene. Given the above, it is only the manner of Americas community among nations and how it intervenes which is variable. Compared to Bush, Obama seems on first sight to show a more outward or international view and is believed to be more empathetic. Hence, America is expected to act more compromisingly or co-operatively and less unilaterally (selfishly?) under the new regime. Thus, the new administration is being "given the benefit of the doubt" and a greater degree of friendship. Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #27 January 24, 2009 The folks in flyover land here dont seem to realize that.... they get all warm and fuzzy believing they are warm and safe in their wheatfields and cornfields and little hamlets in the interior states.TheWORLD is a concept they are not willing to accept as anything but an abstract place they may see on the news sometime.. and its dangerous and god forbid why would anyone want to travel there. Most of them dont. Most of them do not even have a passport. When some of them travel to other countries.. they expect it to be just like here with the same attitudes they have.. the same values... the same McDonalds. I am sure you can always spot that ugly american hurrying from place to place trying so see everything in a couple days. I wish THOSE people would stay home and not show the world that face of America. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #28 January 24, 2009 Quote I am sure you can always spot that ugly american.... Being in the "Touristy" part of the world for a lot of Americans, I have to say that the "Ugly-American" seems to have become if not extinct, then at least severely endangered as a species. Certainly over the last 4 or so years, American tourists were more intelligent and more polite. The only (slightly) irritating ones were the "Err... Canadian" ones. Still, they were easily exposed; What we did was tell them a joke, and they'd laugh, thus proving they weren't really Canadian!Mkike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #29 January 24, 2009 Quote What we did was tell them a joke, and they'd laugh, thus proving they weren't really Canadian!Mkike. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #30 January 24, 2009 Quote Quote What we did was tell them a joke, and they'd laugh, thus proving they weren't really Canadian!Mike. See!!?? The proves my case. I bet an American poster would reply with a !!! Mike. Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #31 January 24, 2009 Quote The folks in flyover land here dont seem to realize that.... they get all warm and fuzzy believing they are warm and safe in their wheatfields and cornfields and little hamlets in the interior states.TheWORLD is a concept they are not willing to accept as anything but an abstract place they may see on the news sometime.. and its dangerous and god forbid why would anyone want to travel there. Most of them dont. Most of them do not even have a passport. When some of them travel to other countries.. they expect it to be just like here with the same attitudes they have.. the same values... the same McDonalds. I am sure you can always spot that ugly american hurrying from place to place trying so see everything in a couple days. I wish THOSE people would stay home and not show the world that face of America. OK. and how many people come over here with the same attitudes? I agree that some American tourist are ... a bit ignorant. But so are some Germans and some Brits and some Australians and some (do I have to name EVERY SINGLE COUNTRY that exists?!) PEOPLE can be a bit ignorant. To claim that Americans are the only "ugly" people out there.... I do believe that one NON-American (a UK type) recently referred to many as ***gun crazy bible bashing homophobic racist country music loving anti abortion supporting booze swilling hicks[/url] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kbordson 8 #32 January 24, 2009 I also wonder about a post you recently had in Bonfire about hoping to live in the UK in the near future? I'm confused. I thought that with President Obama now being elected that this will become a country of Hope and Change.... Why are you running from that? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
downwardspiral 0 #33 January 24, 2009 Quote I also wonder about a post you recently had in Bonfire about hoping to live in the UK in the near future? I'm confused. I thought that with President Obama now being elected that this will become a country of Hope and Change.... Why are you running from that? My first thought was.... What's she going to do with all her guns? www.FourWheelerHB.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #34 January 24, 2009 Quote OK. and how many people come over here with the same attitudes? I agree that some American tourist are ... a bit ignorant. But so are some Germans and some Brits and..... As (Scottish) hosts, we EXPECT a degree of "ignorance" in visitors, particularly Americans where so much is the same that the differencees can really mess with your head. Even simple stuff like which way to look as you cross the road, or tipping (much less prevalent here -- only for really good service). What we DO expect is politeness and a willingness to learn & conform(we're all attitude-mirrors); This is a different country, our country, not yours. Thats what travel broadening the mind is about. AND... I HAVE TO SAY (again) THAT AMERICAN TOURISTS ARE ALMOST INVARIABLY POLITE, PLEASANT AND WELCOME.... Great company in the pubs, you can pick up great ideas for your trip to America.Mike. PS: If Y'All know ANYONE coming over here and renting a car... PLEASE get them to peruse this: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070202 Taking the piss out of the FrenchAmericans since before it was fashionable. Prenait la pisse hors du FrançaisCanadiens méridionaux puisqu'avant lui à la mode. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #35 January 24, 2009 QuoteWhere's the option, "I'm a US citizen, and world opinion doesn't concern me because the world does not have my country's best interests at heart" ?? That cuts two way mate ... What our countries do affects others, probably more so these days than any time in the past. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
434 2 #36 January 24, 2009 You dont care about "The World" outside? Think about it, your butt is stamped with "Belongs to the world"! I guess ASia have the biggest part by the way Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #37 January 24, 2009 QuoteWhere's the option, "I'm a US citizen, and world opinion doesn't concern me because the world does not have my country's best interests at heart" ?? This statement right here is a good example of the attitude of many American Conservatives. I've been thinking a lot lately about why American Conservatives and American Liberals often have trouble understanding each other. For example, Conservatives often accuse Liberals of being un-patriotic. The truth is that many American Liberals are extremely patriotic, but have a different vision for what America is supposed to be than Conservatives do. Regarding the world outside the US we see a huge difference. American Liberal Patriotism is focused on the idea of America as being the "Shining City on the Hill", a beacon to the world, an example of freedom & liberty, and all that stuff that's written on the Statue of Liberty. Liberal patriots are proud of the extent that American culture (music, movies, art, clothing styles, inventions) has spread all over the world. They are also proud of the fact that you can go into any room in any part of the world & be surrounded by things invented by Americans. Conservatives are people who turn towards traditional values. Traditionally, a country achieved greatness by conquest, and because of its military might. Mention patriotism to a Conservative, and they will usually think of a soldier. Conservatives are more likely to be suspicious of people who are different from Americans, and focus on the idea that foreign countries "do not have America's best interest at heart." So American Conservatives generally don't care how foreign countries view America, as long as they understand that we can kick their ass if anyone fucks with us. Conservatives are more parochial, Liberals have a more global outlook. It isn't surprising that so many of the Blue States are on the Coastlines. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Belgian_Draft 0 #38 January 24, 2009 World opinion seems to be to the extremes of "Stupid Americans won't lift a finger for anyone but themselves" and "Stupid Americans sticking their nose into everyone's business" with rarely finding a moderate position between the two.HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingOsh 0 #39 January 24, 2009 QuoteQuoteOK. and how many people come over here with the same attitudes? I agree that some American tourist are ... a bit ignorant. But so are some Germans and some Brits and..... As (Scottish) hosts, we EXPECT a degree of "ignorance" in visitors, particularly Americans where so much is the same that the differencees can really mess with your head. Even simple stuff like which way to look as you cross the road, or tipping (much less prevalent here -- only for really good service). What we DO expect is politeness and a willingness to learn & conform(we're all attitude-mirrors); This is a different country, our country, not yours. Thats what travel broadening the mind is about. I like that attitude and I think it's lost quite frequently with many people in this (the US) country. Some seem ashamed to be American because we can't compromise for every single person on every little level. I feel like you do. It's our country, not yours. If you don't like it, go home. -------------------------------------------------- Stay positive and love your life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 186 #40 January 24, 2009 C,mon Andrew, we don't push Canada around. We protect you guys. That Canadian Navy at the West Ed mall isn't going to do it... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
christelsabine 1 #41 January 24, 2009 Quote .... I like that attitude and I think it's lost quite frequently with many people in this (the US) country. Some seem ashamed to be American because we can't compromise for every single person on every little level. I feel like you do. It's our country, not yours. If you don't like it, go home. Yep. Let all your allies go home and mind thier own business. Then, come back in a year and have a look at where you stand (then). Man, ignorance is a bliss, sometimes dudeist skydiver # 3105 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #42 January 24, 2009 Quote C,mon Andrew, we don't push Canada around. We protect you guys. That Canadian Navy at the West Ed mall isn't going to do it... Uh huh, and the fact that the long standing softwood lumber dispute was settled within 90 days of the Conservatives being elected was just a coincidence right? Cheney visited Fort Mac all those times because he likes the unfettered nature around the place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grimmie 186 #43 January 25, 2009 Cheney liked to go smell all of that black gold in the sand! He heard there was good lawyer hunt'n in them thar parts too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #45 January 25, 2009 Read the post again... Its multi faceted. Why take a short vacation when you can do a total immerison in another culture. I spent a few months there in the 70's already. My ancestors came from England and Scotland in the 1600's I want to do a castle crawl of the places I have read about in history.. including Canterbury where several ancestors are entombed. One of my direct ancestors was one of the 4 knights who did in Sir Thomas Becket The Queen is a 10th cousin.. I thought I might drop by Windsor and see if they might have a spot of tea ....what. Oh and Mike.. I used to have a right hand drive MG... and I rented cars over there several times... Fun stuff driving on the other side of the road... never forgot.. even once... Downward.. they get to stay home in a BIG safe... But I might have to take a BIG knife with me that my dad picked up on Guadalcanal Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #46 January 25, 2009 QuoteQuoteWhere's the option, "I'm a US citizen, and world opinion doesn't concern me because the world does not have my country's best interests at heart" ?? Oh, you'd be in plenty of company. But that would be the equivalent of advocating the xenophobia and isolationism that has been popular in the US since the early 20th Century, but which history has shown to be more of a losing strategy than a winning one. I said nothing about isolating.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tumbler 0 #47 January 25, 2009 There is a reason the world rejoiced when Obama was elected... I believe we have already regained some of the lost respect with this election. There really is a worldwide hope that the US will become world leaders again and not just bullies hell bent on thinking of no one and nothing other than ourselves. If we make the world a better place, don't we in the states have it better as well? seems to make sense to me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
434 2 #48 January 25, 2009 You better say world partners! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #49 January 25, 2009 Quote There is a reason the world rejoiced when Obama was elected... I believe we have already regained some of the lost respect with this election. There really is a worldwide hope that the US will become world leaders again and not just bullies hell bent on thinking of no one and nothing other than ourselves. If we make the world a better place, don't we in the states have it better as well? seems to make sense to me. Yep...they're building a bonfire around the UN so we can all sing "cum-by-ya"...all is at peace again...because of one guy...So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #50 January 25, 2009 QuoteYou better say world partners! Yeah, except for that whole prisoner transfer thing, right?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
