NationStates Jolt Archive


Do you support America?

The Edward
21-09-2004, 16:02
After having viewed the forums for a while, I'm curious about something. Please answer the following questions. This should be a fairly straight forward, informative thread, hopefully without too much sniping.

This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Von Witzleben
21-09-2004, 16:04
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no
HELL no!!!

2) Are you from America?
yes/no
See 1.

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Germany, residing in the Netherlands.
Gigatron
21-09-2004, 16:10
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
no

2) Are you from America?
no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
not allowed/not applicable

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Germany
TheOneRule
21-09-2004, 16:13
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes

2) Are you from America?
yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Ruwenzori
21-09-2004, 16:17
Yes, I support America most of the time.
Yes, I am an American, total Yankee.
Yes, I vote.
New Dehli
21-09-2004, 16:18
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

no, rarley am.

2) Are you from America?

no

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?[/QUOTE]

England
Kazcaper
21-09-2004, 16:20
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Not anymore

2) Are you from America?
No

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
N/A

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Northern Ireland

I like America as a country, and I like individual Americans. But under the current government, I couldn't possibly support the nation politically. (Sorry, I know the thread wasn't meant to be about Bush!)
Mac Cumhail
21-09-2004, 16:21
yes, yes, yes.
Kybernetia
21-09-2004, 16:21
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Yes

2) Are you from America?
No

what country are you from?
Federal Republic of Germany
Squi
21-09-2004, 16:24
1. yes / but it's close see note
2. yes
3. yes

note. It really depends on how you define support and actions. While I have philosophical reservations about just about all US actions foreign and domestic, I accept most (by a small percentage) of them as correct in the context of the world as it is. I support all the actions of the US in a general sense merely because they come from the legitimate government even those I strenuously disagree with and voice disagreement on, but I doubt you would consider that support. There are also actions I wish the US would take which it doesn't, but ce la vie.
Psylos
21-09-2004, 16:24
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
no

2) Are you from America?
no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
N/A

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
France/Belgium.
Iztatepopotla
21-09-2004, 16:28
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

Well, what do you mean by 'support'? If it's blindly and acritically taking the position expressed by US leaders, then no, never. If it means the slow path that US citizens have been progressing into, with its detours and setbacks, then yes.

2) Are you from America?

Oh, yes. Totally American. Born and raised completely in America. Never stepped out of it, in fact.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

I voted in my original country. I'm not allowed to vote in my current country yet.

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

Well. I answered yes, so N/A.
Tybonia
21-09-2004, 16:28
Support America and her actions more than 50% of time?
(domestic policy)right at about 75%
(internationally)about 70%

From America?
yes, with the exception of about 2 months, I've spent every day of my life here.

Vote?
Most Definately.
Feminaria
21-09-2004, 16:29
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

No. Considerably less than that.

2) Are you from America?

No.


4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

Sweden.
Waffle-topia
21-09-2004, 16:30
1) No
2) No
4) UK
Stephistan
21-09-2004, 16:37
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

Not for the last 3 years, no!


2) Are you from America?

Yes, I live in North America, however I'm not from the United States.


3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

I can't vote in the USA as I'm not from the USA


4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

Canada
Martian Free Colonies
21-09-2004, 16:38
1. No simple answer here. I think America is an OK country, no better or worse than most in the West, with a lot of great things about it, and some not so great, but hey - haven't they all? Do I support America? I don't think it needs or cares about my support. Do I agree with what it does? About as much as I do with the actions of my country (the UK) or France - mostly yes, occasionally no. The difference is that the US has more power and influence (and hence more responsibility?)

If we're talking long-term past, then over the past century the US has more often than not played a positive role in the world, with a few dishonourable exceptions, of which Iraq has been the most recent and most blatant.

But if the question is about recent history, then the answer is no. Afghanistan is one thing. No issue with that (might be nice if there had been more follow-up, but you can't have everything). But frankly, using something as terrible as 9/11 to justify the Bush Clan pursuing their own neocon agenda in invading Iraq is just plain shabby. There's other stuff too - tearing up the Kyoto Protocol, demolishing the UN (which YOU set up, for god's sake...), so although this isn't supposed to be about Bush, I really don't see how it can be about anything else. On September 10th 2001 the US had the sympathy of most of the planet. Now it doesn't. Only one man is responsible for that. If you're worried about how the world thinks about you (which seems to be the point of the question), don't elect the guy - mind you, that didn't seem to work last time, did it?

2. No.

4. UK.
Bramia
21-09-2004, 16:41
1. no
2. no
4. the netherlands
Asylum Nova
21-09-2004, 16:42
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
No.

2) Are you from America?
Yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
If the candidates are good, yes.


-Nova
FutureExistence
21-09-2004, 16:44
Just being pedantic here, but surely America covers the whole landmass from northern Canada and Alaska, all the way south to the tip of Argentina and Chile? I don't know how to judge the actions of an entire continent (two continents according to some) comprising 23 sovereign states, even if one of them does exert quite a lot of influence over the other 22.
Of course, if we're only talking about the good ol' U.S of A., I always liked the quote that goes, "America can always be trusted to do the right thing, after exhausting every other possibility".
BTW, I'm from U.K.
TheOneRule
21-09-2004, 16:45
2) Are you from America?

Oh, yes. Totally American. Born and raised completely in America. Never stepped out of it, in fact.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

I voted in my original country. I'm not allowed to vote in my current country yet.

Aren't these 2 answers contradictary?
TheOneRule
21-09-2004, 16:46
Just being pedantic here, but surely America covers the whole landmass from northern Canada and Alaska, all the way south to the tip of Argentina and Chile? I don't know how to judge the actions of an entire continent (two continents according to some) comprising 23 sovereign states, even if one of them does exert quite a lot of influence over the other 22.
Of course, if we're only talking about the good ol' U.S of A., I always liked the quote that goes, "America can always be trusted to do the right thing, after exhausting every other possibility".
BTW, I'm from U.K.
Don't be deliberatly obtuse.
Frankiology
21-09-2004, 16:46
1. I don't think you can exactly quantify general support for americas actions, but the iraq war has been the big thing for a while, and I absolutly do not support that.

2. yes, I am an american.

3. I'm only 19, so I haven't voted yet, but I am registered and I do intend to in november.
Kharandus
21-09-2004, 16:47
1. I support the US on most issues, but the major issues might actually make up "most of the time," especially if you are talking about news coverage, so recently, its a close call.

2. Yes, and proud to be.

3. I will be voting, but as I live in Texas, my vote doesnt matter (or would that be "between these two candidates, my vote doesnt matter?). So the choice is - Nader or Badnarik?
Rhiandra
21-09-2004, 16:48
No
No
UK
Helloween
21-09-2004, 16:48
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
No, America's actions are eventually going to lead to either all out war, global destruction or both :sniper:

2) Are you from America?
no

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Im English
Ying Yang Yong
21-09-2004, 16:50
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?


I support a few of her internal policies however not her foreign which I find too intrusive (and before someone asks/flame grills me, I don't support all of my own goverments policies either).


2) Are you from America?

No

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

N/A

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Upper Cet Kola Ytovia
21-09-2004, 16:54
1) More than 50% of the time, yes.

2) Yes, I am a natural born American citizen.

3) Yes, I vote.
The English Supremacy
21-09-2004, 16:55
1. Yes
The English Supremacy
21-09-2004, 16:56
1. Yes

2. No

3. N/A

4. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Grebonia
21-09-2004, 17:02
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

Yes

2) Are you from America?

Yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

Yes...Bush in 04!
Knootoss
21-09-2004, 17:06
Support US: No
From US: No
Country of origin: The Netherlands

Does this thread have statistical purposes or something?
TODDER
21-09-2004, 17:11
Yes, yes, and yes.
Conagra
21-09-2004, 17:12
Do I support the US and her actions more than 50%?

Yes, with reservations. Do I agree with President George Bush? Hell no, President Bush belongs to a ultra religous movement within the Republican party who's quietly stated goal is to turn the United States in to a theocracy.

From the US?

Yes. Fairly extensively travelled Europe, Middle East, Central America.

Vote?

Yes.
Iztatepopotla
21-09-2004, 17:18
Aren't these 2 answers contradictary?

Nop. Two different countries. One continent.
Santa- nita
21-09-2004, 17:20
1. Yes I support America.

2. Yes I am an American Citizen, A Cuba-n Native.

3. Yes I vote.
The Eyes Of The Tiger
21-09-2004, 17:20
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
YES

2) Are you from America?
NO

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
YES

4)UK
The Yellow Spot
21-09-2004, 17:20
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
No, I haven't paid taxes in years, and philosophically can't support the actions of any government, though occassionally I can sympathize with the intent and outcome of an action.

2) Are you from America?
yes. though i have lived a significant amount of time out of the country.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
I have, and I will again, though only for tactical reasons, not because I believe it does anyone that much good. Voting is the least we can do.
Ruby Villa
21-09-2004, 17:22
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Yes

2) Are you from America?
No

4) Canada
Wehling
21-09-2004, 17:26
1) no
2) no
3) germany
Danarkadia
21-09-2004, 17:31
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
No, domestically and abroad would both be less than 50%. I love her, but she pisses me off.

2) Are you from America?
Yup. Born and raised.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Most definitely. I also write my elected officials, take part in protests, sign petitions, etc. Democracy only starts at the voting booths; after that you have to keep those idiot politicians in line.
Biff Pileon
21-09-2004, 17:34
Yes

Yes, but I have lived and worked in other countries for several years. Thus I have experienced other cultures/systems

Yes I always vote, absentee more than not.
Iakeokeo
21-09-2004, 17:35
[The Edward #1]After having viewed the forums for a while, I'm curious about something. Please answer the following questions. This should be a fairly straight forward, informative thread, hopefully without too much sniping.

This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?


1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes

2) Are you from America?
yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
(California USA)
Jurijland
21-09-2004, 17:35
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

no

2) Are you from America?

no

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?[/QUOTE]

Apart from Jurijland... Italy!
Iakeokeo
21-09-2004, 17:45
Here's my bet...

Those non-Americans (in these forums):

1) 98% Don't support America.

Those who are Americans (in these forums):

1) 65% Don't support America.
3) 98% Are voters.


The interesting bit is the large percentage of Americans here (in these forums) who DON'T support America.

There is an obvious bias in these forums "to port", as it were. :)

What's amusing to me is that the "silent majority" more than balances this bias "in the real world".
Psylos
21-09-2004, 17:48
Here's my bet...

Those non-Americans (in these forums):

1) 98% Don't support America.

Those who are Americans (in these forums):

1) 65% Don't support America.
3) 98% Are voters.


The interesting bit is the large percentage of Americans here (in these forums) who DON'T support America.

There is an obvious bias in these forums "to port", as it were. :)

What's amusing to me is that the "silent majority" more than balances this bias "in the real world".I think it is because the people here have an actual interest for politics. It's a political game after all.
Tronter
21-09-2004, 17:57
I support the historical intentions of America, though I disagree with Iraq, and politicaly gross wars such as Vietnam and Korea.

I am an American, proud to be, but aware of the American arrogance that sourounds the minset of its people in the international community.

I actively participate in elections, and I research the candidates.

If your an American (or not) have you ever studied the American Political Decision makeing practice to understand why you dislike or support the government? Let me know...

I fear to many people think this government is lacking logic, this is not true... Saddly to much negative influence comes from the American people who set public policy by simply being ignorant of the world around them. (You vote, and politicans are actors who perform based on your ill-informed knowledge)

Consider how much information Americans know about Reality TV... But they can't even name their State Governor, the Presidents Staff, or the name of coalition force in Iraq... And then they claim an opinion as to whether or not they support America... Scarey....
FutureExistence
21-09-2004, 18:02
Don't be deliberatly obtuse.

It's not obtuseness, it's wit. I would make a comment about Yanks failing to understand dry comedy, but after so many years of "The Simpsons", you have no excuse!
The Reunited Yorkshire
21-09-2004, 18:03
1) No
2) No
3) U.K
Zandalm
21-09-2004, 18:09
After having viewed the forums for a while, I'm curious about something. Please answer the following questions. This should be a fairly straight forward, informative thread, hopefully without too much sniping.

This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

Hard to say. Too many different actions that I have different opinions on.
If we're just talking about the current adminstistration I'd have to say 'no'



2) Are you from America?
yes/no

no



4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

From the Netherlands, living in Luxemburg.
Zandalm
21-09-2004, 18:17
2) Are you from America?
yes
4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
(California USA)
?
;)
Iakeokeo
21-09-2004, 18:18
[Psylos #46]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iakeokeo
Here's my bet...

Those non-Americans (in these forums):

1) 98% Don't support America.

Those who are Americans (in these forums):

1) 65% Don't support America.
3) 98% Are voters.


The interesting bit is the large percentage of Americans here (in these forums) who DON'T support America.

There is an obvious bias in these forums "to port", as it were.

What's amusing to me is that the "silent majority" more than balances this bias "in the real world".


I think it is because the people here have an actual interest for politics. It's a political game after all.

And people with "an actual interest in politics" are predominantly leftist..?

I would say, people with "an actual large quantity of free time and addiction to argumentativeness" are predominantly leftist....

..and predominantly HERE.

(( Yes,.. I admit my over abundance of free time and addiction to argumentativeness...! :) ))
Iakeokeo
21-09-2004, 18:22
[Zandalm #51]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iakeokeo
2) Are you from America?
yes
4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
(California USA)

?
:)

Just wanted to identify my location.

Though,... we Californians DO tend to think of California as a separate country, at times..! :D
Grebonia
21-09-2004, 18:22
And people with "an actual interest in politics" are predominantly leftist..?

I would tend to say younger students which probably makes up a good portion of this board lean to the left. Alot of leftist ideas like socialized medicine seem great until you are working and you actually are the one who has to pay for it.
Zandalm
21-09-2004, 18:24
Though,... we Californians DO tend to think of California as a separate country, at times..! :D
Having been in California only once it's hard to form a definite opinion but I have to admit, it felt like a different country at times ;)
Thunderland
21-09-2004, 18:25
1. Most definitely support America. I don't agree with her policies and plans all the time but I love this country beyond belief.

2. Yes

3. Yes, I'll be voting for Kerry. Have never missed a vote that I've been eligible for.
New Morglanden
21-09-2004, 18:27
No
No
French citizen living in Canada.
Psylos
21-09-2004, 18:28
And people with "an actual interest in politics" are predominantly leftist..?

I would say, people with "an actual large quantity of free time and addiction to argumentativeness" are predominantly leftist....

..and predominantly HERE.

(( Yes,.. I admit my over abundance of free time and addiction to argumentativeness...! :) It must be both
Greenmanbry
21-09-2004, 18:30
1) HAH!!.. (No)
2) No..
3) Bahrain..
Soko101
21-09-2004, 18:39
Yes Yes Yes

War has solved nothing except for Slavery, Facsism, Nazism, and Communism
Zandalm
21-09-2004, 18:42
Yes Yes Yes

War has solved nothing except for Slavery, Facsism, Nazism, and Communism
uhmm, most countries managed to get rid of slavery without war. Facsism and Nazism have started wars and last time I checked Communism was still very much alive in a lot of places.
Spionen
21-09-2004, 18:48
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
No

2) Are you from America?
Yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
n/a
West - Europa
21-09-2004, 18:50
No
No
(I vote. It's mandatory, but even if it wasn't, I'd go.)
Belgium, Europe
Conservative Thinkers
21-09-2004, 18:51
Without ANY partisan slant to my comments, I must shudder at the compulsively negative opinions foreigners have to a country that they do not live in, that they therefore only know about mostly second hand (that includes tourists... imagine my telling England what I think of their policies because I visited for a couple weeks).

You certainly have the right to any criticism you want to aim at us, that's the crux of our 1st amendment, but don't you think it makes you look rather small and petty to whine about something you really haven't experienced like U.S. citizens who live here?

Please just don't tell me that "you saw it on CNN", and therefore it must be fact. I spent quite a few years of my time in Moscow right after the fall, and I quickly learned that what I experienced "in person" had NOTHING to do with what I was staring at on CNN.

Do your schools rub this anti-american jingo into your psyche's? Do you so blindly form opinions of our country based on what your local constabulary or author tells you about us?

If so, it doesn't speak well to me, an American citizen, and it certainly doesn't make your opinion matter much at all (to me). Maybe America bashing makes your life seem more worth while?
The Yellow Spot
21-09-2004, 18:53
If your an American (or not) have you ever studied the American Political Decision makeing practice to understand why you dislike or support the government? Let me know...



My dislike is not uninformed. I was a history major for 3 years, and have spent the subsequent 6 years reading all I can about how fudged the US "democracy" is. It's not the only evil, but certainly the most powerful at the moment. Example #1- The Electoral College Example #2- Two-Party system Example #3- Founded on the idea of Manifest Destiny, that we have a god-given right to steal this land from the folks here first, kill them, and then do the same to the rest of the world. Oh, and leftists arent't the only one's that disapprove of what the US government does.
Freedom Fryia
21-09-2004, 18:57
1. this question is worded vaguely. i'm going to go with no.
2. yes
3. most likely
Speedin
21-09-2004, 19:00
This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes

2) Are you from America?
yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
N/A


yes
yes
yes
N/A
Zandalm
21-09-2004, 19:01
Please just don't tell me that "you saw it on CNN", and therefore it must be fact. I spent quite a few years of my time in Moscow right after the fall, and I quickly learned that what I experienced "in person" had NOTHING to do with what I was staring at on CNN.
Not going to bother with the other points right now as I'm lazy today (may do it tomorrow, you never know) but you'd be suprised how few people outside of the US actually think of CNN as a good source for news.
CNN International is slightly better but not even close to being in the same league as f.i. BBC World.
Battery Charger
21-09-2004, 19:03
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

No

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

Yes, and I'm still here

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

I never have, despite being old enough for 7 years.
Conservative Thinkers
21-09-2004, 19:05
[QUOTE=The Yellow Spot]My dislike is not uninformed. I was a history major for 3 years, and have spent the subsequent 6 years reading all I can about how fudged the US "democracy" is. QUOTE]

An interesting example of how a "bias" can develop within one's education, and then be cemented by the careful selection of books to read in pursuit of one's intellectual goals.

So tell me, who in America ever claimed that we are a "pure democracy"?? The last truly "pure" democracy was in ancient Athens, and it pretty much self-destructed. These and many other lessons were not lost on our founding fathers, who were not exactly a bunch of ignorant savages. Our model of "democracy" is just that, a model. No one here that is unbiased will claim otherwise.

As for our "Manifest Destiny", you are correct that we began with a conquering attitude (like most new nations, including your own), but as a history major, surely you remember how we had to get "semi-dragged" into both World Wars. My point being, just spitting out how "war mongering" we are as a people is simply a very 2-dimensional view of what we are all about.

And please, don't believe everything you read OK? You'll become a much smarter older person.
The Edward
21-09-2004, 19:07
Does this thread have statistical purposes or something?

This info is strictly for my own curiosity.

I believe that everyone should have the right to express their beliefs and opinions. That's the basis for this survey. Unlike most other threads I've taken part in though, on this one I am not requesting that anyone qualify or explain their answers, because that's all it is -- opinion. To that end, I wanted to create a survey just to see opinions, without bringing arguments or evidence in on any side to try to back it up.
Wulfaharduz
21-09-2004, 19:09
1) No
2) No
3) The Netherlands
Greater Brittannia
21-09-2004, 19:14
Do your schools rub this anti-american jingo into your psyche's? Do you so blindly form opinions of our country based on what your local constabulary or author tells you about us?

Hell no. Our schools and national curriculum is so America-centric these days we couldn't possibly name all of the counties but at a push we could name all the states (simplistic answer, but you get the idea. all of our history syllabus now relates to America in some way. whether this is so we get a better undestanding of the present ruling empire for the future is debatable and I'm going on about something completely off topic)


No no no no and UKGBNI
Siljhouettes
21-09-2004, 19:15
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Too vague. Do you mean just under recent administrations or since 1776? If the former, then certainly no. If you mean things like giving their citizens freedom of speech and instituting a political system that revolutionised the entire world, then yes, I like those things.

2) Are you from America?
no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
I vote, but I'm not American.

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Ireland
Siljhouettes
21-09-2004, 19:19
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

Not for the last 3 years, no!
Oh come on, I hate the Bush policies too, but was Clinton that much better? Bush wasn't the only president to illegally attack a country. Don't be so partisan. It's bad enough in an American, far worse in a non-American.
Psylos
21-09-2004, 19:21
Without ANY partisan slant to my comments, I must shudder at the compulsively negative opinions foreigners have to a country that they do not live in, that they therefore only know about mostly second hand (that includes tourists... imagine my telling England what I think of their policies because I visited for a couple weeks).

You certainly have the right to any criticism you want to aim at us, that's the crux of our 1st amendment, but don't you think it makes you look rather small and petty to whine about something you really haven't experienced like U.S. citizens who live here?

Please just don't tell me that "you saw it on CNN", and therefore it must be fact. I spent quite a few years of my time in Moscow right after the fall, and I quickly learned that what I experienced "in person" had NOTHING to do with what I was staring at on CNN.

Do your schools rub this anti-american jingo into your psyche's? Do you so blindly form opinions of our country based on what your local constabulary or author tells you about us?

If so, it doesn't speak well to me, an American citizen, and it certainly doesn't make your opinion matter much at all (to me). Maybe America bashing makes your life seem more worth while?There is no CNN over here.
I'm basing my opinion on foreign policy, which I experience here. I couldn't care less about your domestic policy (well of course unless you violate human rights like with the death penalty).
Sgurtzlandia
21-09-2004, 19:24
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Dumb question. I support what i think I should have to support. Why the f**k make statistics?

2) Are you from America?
No

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Answer to #2 is no.

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Italy

I still don't understand the meaning of those questions.
BastardSword
21-09-2004, 19:33
1) Do you support US of America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Before Bush:
80%
During Bush: 43%
So currently no.


2) Are you from US of America?
yes, Virginia

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes, as soon as I find my voter card...maybe should go to DMV for a new one.

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
N/A
Siljhouettes
21-09-2004, 19:35
And people with "an actual interest in politics" are predominantly leftist..?
What has this topic got to do with being left-wing or not?
New Obbhlia
21-09-2004, 20:14
Do your schools rub this anti-american jingo into your psyche's?

Yes (well, take a look at my school and school books and the answer is obvious. Americans really ought to thank me, I pay in grades for defending them at social science:P).

1. Yes, there are many things I don't like, but seriously, US is a quite normal country and even if I would never like to live there I think I agree to at least 50% of the actions taken by the government.

2. No

4. Sweden
Hickdumb
21-09-2004, 20:42
1) yes
2) yes
3) yes

Personal note: i had family die on 9/11, every one of those radical suicidal islamics deserves to die and we should hunt them no matter where they are and any government that refuses to cooperate is just as much an enemy as Al Qaeda itself. Do not think for one minute that just because you leave them alone means they will leave you alone, if you practice political freedom and civil rights no matter which country you are, you are as much of a target as we are. Russian school massacre, Russian plane bombings, French journalists held hostage and threatened with execution. Dont ever think your safe if you leave them alone, because they will kill anyone not affiliated with islam or terrorists. In islamic teachings, we are infidels and deserve nothing but death.
Faithfull-freedom
21-09-2004, 20:58
Yes 100%
Yes 100%
Yes 100%
na
Tybonia
21-09-2004, 22:01
There is no CNN over here.
I'm basing my opinion on foreign policy, which I experience here. I couldn't care less about your domestic policy (well of course unless you violate human rights like with the death penalty).

Perhaps it is because of my experiences, but I do not see the death penalty as a violation of human rights... Perhaps it is a bit cruel, but before you say that the condemmed are undeserving of such punishments, I ask you where the compassion was when they were doing whatever horrendus crimes they committed to receive such a sentence.

I'm sure folks like Katie Autry (http://www.wkuherald.com/news/2003/05/14/News/Autry.Dies.Police.Say.Fire.Intentional-437641.shtml)would certainly agree, if she could... It has since been found that two men raped, stabbed, beat, and burned her. One pleaded guilty to complicity charges and the other stands trial sometime next month, I think...
Iztatepopotla
21-09-2004, 22:10
Perhaps it is because of my experiences, but I do not see the death penalty as a violation of human rights... Perhaps it is a bit cruel, but before you say that the condemmed are undeserving of such punishments, I ask you where the compassion was when they were doing whatever horrendus crimes they committed to receive such a sentence.


Funny thing. I don't believe in the death penalty because, for me being an atheist, it's just too good. I am a strong believer of forced labour and physical punishment (not torture, that's different) as punishment.
The Right Arm of U C
21-09-2004, 22:15
1.) I think I support about 50% of our actions exactly, possibly a little more or less
2.) I am from the United States
3.) I am unable to vote until next year

For those who hate America, we're happy to have you, because we've ALWAYS had the right to free speech. Alright, since 1789 for you stinking history buffs like myself, but you know what I mean.

-R. S. of UC
Dacowookies
21-09-2004, 22:16
no, no and UK
Upitatanium
21-09-2004, 22:19
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?

Depends whose in charge. Currently, that's a big NO.

2) Are you from America?

No.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?

N/A

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

Canada.
The Dogshed
21-09-2004, 22:24
WARNING, SCARY STUFF FOLLOWS:

1) yes
2) yes
3) yes

Personal note: i had family die on 9/11, every one of those radical suicidal islamics deserves to die and we should hunt them no matter where they are and any government that refuses to cooperate is just as much an enemy as Al Qaeda itself. Do not think for one minute that just because you leave them alone means they will leave you alone, if you practice political freedom and civil rights no matter which country you are, you are as much of a target as we are. Russian school massacre, Russian plane bombings, French journalists held hostage and threatened with execution. Dont ever think your safe if you leave them alone, because they will kill anyone not affiliated with islam or terrorists. In islamic teachings, we are infidels and deserve nothing but death.

/END OF SCARY STUFF

THIS is why my answers are "no, no, Sweden".

THIS is why most of the world are starting to get worse relations with USA. It's frankly scary! Totally scary! So full of hatred and totally totally WRONG!

No, you did NOT leave them alone. 9/11 was THEIR retaliation. Not vice versa. Why is that so hard for you to understand? THEY struck back. Irritating!

Also

"In islamic teachings, we are infidels and deserve nothing but death."

Have you read a single word of the Koran? Do you know anything about islam? What can I say? It's scary!

The bible teaches the same thing. Everyone who doesn't believe as we do should die. Crusades anyone? The crusades took place some 700 or so years ago. Since then no country has officially spoken like that.

Until the year 2001. Then the "free" USA suddenly started using the same way of speaking again. With support from "God" you were going on a "crusade" to kill the "infidels". Gah. Pick up a mirror and look at yourself.

The ones you are describing in that hate-post is NOT islam, it's USA anno 2004.

Scary!
Impunia
21-09-2004, 22:27
Another triple yes Yank here. One more notch.
The Dogshed
21-09-2004, 22:29
And before Hickdumb or any other gun-waving religious extremist comes and bashes me:

I see the deeds on 9/11 as an atrocity and it's horrendous that they took place. I do not in any way condone terrorism.

Not by al-Queda - nor by USA.
Impunia
21-09-2004, 22:32
No, you did NOT leave them alone. 9/11 was THEIR retaliation. Not vice versa.

Apparently this "retaliation" was partly for our interference in the natural course of Islam (that is, the part where some fed-up entity starts exterminating them indiscriminately), such as in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

To be frank though, I don't think this is so much a part of mainstream Islam as it is of the Left. It's groups associated with the Left that turn to terrorism and that get highly sophisticated at it, and it should be Left-wing factions that we should target in our War on Terrorism and not Muslims. For example, the PKK might pretend to be Islamic and Kurdish but their essential ideology is Marxist. So also the PLO and PFLP.
Savas
21-09-2004, 22:32
No, yes, not eligible.
Bunnyducks
21-09-2004, 22:33
1) I suppose I must support her actions at least 50% of the time cos 99+% of the time I'm not affected by her actions. I belive most of "America's actions" must be domestic - how could I not support democratically elected regime governing it's citizens...

2) No

4) Finland
Celticadia
21-09-2004, 22:34
1) Yes

2) Yes

3) I am not old enough to vote, but I believe that I understand the situation in the US right now enough that if I were able to, I would. I think a lot of people misunderstand the current president and his agenda, especially people who are not from America. I've studied his policies a lot over the past year or so to find out whether I really supported him or not. I even watched Fahrenheit 9/11. The film didn't sway my opinion as it was missing a lot of points. Right now I'm confident that the President is actually a good person, with a good platform and I'm trying to encourage people that he will do a good job and fix problems that we may have now in the next 4 years.
West - Europa
21-09-2004, 22:40
Without ANY partisan slant to my comments, I must shudder at the compulsively negative opinions foreigners have to a country that they do not live in, that they therefore only know about mostly second hand (that includes tourists... imagine my telling England what I think of their policies because I visited for a couple weeks).

I'd share this opinion with you if I were a U.S. citizen, but many of us -mostly meaning "me", but with the knowledge that I am not alone- are more informed about the U.S. than U.S. inhabitants are informed about the rest of the world.
Makes sense don't you think? Outsiders look upto your nation for many things.

You certainly have the right to any criticism you want to aim at us, that's the crux of our 1st amendment, Thank you.


but don't you think it makes you look rather small and petty to whine about something you really haven't experienced like U.S. citizens who live here?
Not really. Only if the person whining (oops, there's that little republican buzzword!) is generally uninformed. Hearing a fresh opinion every now and then can be inspiring.


Please just don't tell me that "you saw it on CNN", and therefore it must be fact.
It's wise to never get your news from just once source. Everyone should know that, regardless of their convictions.
I spent quite a few years of my time in Moscow right after the fall, and I quickly learned that what I experienced "in person" had NOTHING to do with what I was staring at on CNN. Of course not. Major networks don't tell stories about the man in the street.

Even though it's not the same, the closest thing to interacting with Americans in real life on an everyday basis, would be through the Internet. Meeting tourists is also not the same, since they don't behave exactly as they would at home.


Do your schools rub this anti-american jingo into your psyche's? Do you so blindly form opinions of our country based on what your local constabulary or author tells you about us?
Our media and education systems here in Europe don't scream rape and murder about America. We're smarter than that. Maybe you are confusing bashing with criticism?

See what I said about getting news (or rather, information) from multiple sources. Thankfully I live in an advanced nation with good education and access to the world's media.


If so, it doesn't speak well to me, an American citizen, and it certainly doesn't make your opinion matter much at all (to me). Maybe America bashing makes your life seem more worth while? If it's unsubstantiated America-bashing instead of constructive criticism, I might very well feel the same in your shoes.
MAB Cheese
21-09-2004, 22:45
1.no
2.yes
3.yes
4.NA
Tybonia
21-09-2004, 22:54
Funny thing. I don't believe in the death penalty because, for me being an atheist, it's just too good. I am a strong believer of forced labour and physical punishment (not torture, that's different) as punishment.

True, I agree, with you on that, but I'm sure there are those who would say that your ideas are "cruel and unusual". I would love to know where these people are when the crimes are committed and mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and cousins are taken away from their loved ones.

Also, on topic, I must admit that I am a little surprised at the number of non-americans who actually support US policy.... It is non-zero... That's what shocks me... The people I know abroad seem to like the US' policies, but I always thought they were just humouring me... Hmmm...
Siljhouettes
21-09-2004, 23:19
It's groups associated with the Left that turn to terrorism and that get highly sophisticated at it, and it should be Left-wing factions that we should target in our War on Terrorism and not Muslims.
You want to start another war on communism? You've already been there and it didn't work.

Why attack the left when it was al-Qaeda that attacked you?
Protectorate States
21-09-2004, 23:23
50% of the time, no, not anymore, both polititcal parties in America are corrupt, with the Democrats taking liberal to a whole new level, and the Republicans that are in office, trying to destroy the nations railroads, which really pisses me off. Anyways, i don't agree with much of what the U.S. does anymore, as we have no backbone, and get ourselves into trouble that isnt even ours anyways, like the Vietnam and Korean wars.

I am from America, and love my country very much.

I cannot vote, yet...

I just wish we could get a good president like Reagan again, or maybe even someone like Lincoln, who possessed a ton of integrity.At this rate, America will have deteriorated to nothing in about 50 years, and ill move to England, 'cause England rocks.
Iakeokeo
22-09-2004, 03:34
[The Yellow Spot #65]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tronter

If your an American (or not) have you ever studied the American Political Decision makeing practice to understand why you dislike or support the government? Let me know...


My dislike is not uninformed. I was a history major for 3 years, and have spent the subsequent 6 years reading all I can about how fudged the US "democracy" is. It's not the only evil, but certainly the most powerful at the moment. Example #1- The Electoral College Example #2- Two-Party system Example #3- Founded on the idea of Manifest Destiny, that we have a god-given right to steal this land from the folks here first, kill them, and then do the same to the rest of the world. Oh, and leftists arent't the only one's that disapprove of what the US government does.

Do you know why the electoral college exists..?

(( Balancing populous and sparse areas (states) ))

What is wrong with a two party system..?

(( Why any worse than a 27 party system ))

What country are you from, and who were the "aborigines" of your country..?

(( Utter genocide was the rule a very short while back ))
Iakeokeo
22-09-2004, 03:42
[Siljhouettes #79]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Iakeokeo
And people with "an actual interest in politics" are predominantly leftist..?


What has this topic got to do with being left-wing or not?

That's my standard rant. Surely you must know that by now..! :)

The topic is very generic.

I've just interjected my rightist biased perceptions as relating to the proponderance of leftist opinions on this topic.

D'uh..! :D
Zarbia
22-09-2004, 03:47
Too many people blindly support their country.

This may sound cliche, but you should always question authority.
Iakeokeo
22-09-2004, 03:49
[Iztatepopotla #84]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybonia
Perhaps it is because of my experiences, but I do not see the death penalty as a violation of human rights... Perhaps it is a bit cruel, but before you say that the condemmed are undeserving of such punishments, I ask you where the compassion was when they were doing whatever horrendus crimes they committed to receive such a sentence.


Funny thing. I don't believe in the death penalty because, for me being an atheist, it's just too good. I am a strong believer of forced labour and physical punishment (not torture, that's different) as punishment.

Agreed. Death is much too easy on the condemned.

But,.. having society pay to keep them alive is not acceptable.

I would vote for a "survivor island" approach:

*) Dedicate an island of reasonable size for dumping of the condemned.
*) Ofter them death by "least possible pain" or
*) Drop them on said island and let them survive their as they will.
Iakeokeo
22-09-2004, 03:56
[The Dogshed #88]
WARNING, SCARY STUFF FOLLOWS:


Quote:
Originally Posted by Hickdumb
1) yes
2) yes
3) yes

Personal note: i had family die on 9/11, every one of those radical suicidal islamics deserves to die and we should hunt them no matter where they are and any government that refuses to cooperate is just as much an enemy as Al Qaeda itself. Do not think for one minute that just because you leave them alone means they will leave you alone, if you practice political freedom and civil rights no matter which country you are, you are as much of a target as we are. Russian school massacre, Russian plane bombings, French journalists held hostage and threatened with execution. Dont ever think your safe if you leave them alone, because they will kill anyone not affiliated with islam or terrorists. In islamic teachings, we are infidels and deserve nothing but death.



/END OF SCARY STUFF

THIS is why my answers are "no, no, Sweden".

THIS is why most of the world are starting to get worse relations with USA. It's frankly scary! Totally scary! So full of hatred and totally totally WRONG!

No, you did NOT leave them alone. 9/11 was THEIR retaliation. Not vice versa. Why is that so hard for you to understand? THEY struck back. Irritating!

Also

"In islamic teachings, we are infidels and deserve nothing but death."

Have you read a single word of the Koran? Do you know anything about islam? What can I say? It's scary!

The bible teaches the same thing. Everyone who doesn't believe as we do should die. Crusades anyone? The crusades took place some 700 or so years ago. Since then no country has officially spoken like that.

Until the year 2001. Then the "free" USA suddenly started using the same way of speaking again. With support from "God" you were going on a "crusade" to kill the "infidels". Gah. Pick up a mirror and look at yourself.

The ones you are describing in that hate-post is NOT islam, it's USA anno 2004.

Apparently some Swedes are evil as well..! :)

"I'd wager this is a "muslim inspired" swede", he said euphemistically.

I understand your postition Dogshit,.. er,.. shed, and consider you a complete moron.

You will consider me the same. That's fine. :D

What has been your greatest influence in coming to your decision as to the evilness of America..?

A little interupted training session in an al-qaida madrasa somewhere, perhaps..?
Saline County
22-09-2004, 04:10
Yes, yes, and every election since I turned 18-years-old (i.e., since Bush Sr. ran for office).

Interesting responses on this one, indeed. What's fascinating is you put up a little poll and made it pretty clear that your intent was not to get a bunch of sniping done, yet there's still a fair amount of "I hate them thar 'mercans" crud going around.

Oh, well.
The breathen
22-09-2004, 04:21
1. No
2. No
4. Canada
Independant Turkeys
22-09-2004, 04:36
1.) Yes
2.) Yes
3.) Yes
Armacor
22-09-2004, 04:39
Not anymore
No
Australia
Tree torchers
22-09-2004, 04:39
1.yes
2.yes
3.i'm 16, can't vote for another 2 years


now for the :sniper:

i like the survivior island idea, great britain acctually used it,

australia was used for hardened criminal's, and america was in a way used for people who did crimes against the catholic church.

(plz don't read further if swearing bothers you)

i think people hate bush cause he has the guts to say fuck you to the islam terrorists.

someone said they took retribution on us, what did we do to them????, do they consider leaving them alone a crime that deserves retribution?
Shotagon
22-09-2004, 05:11
Yes
Yes
Underage
Texas (it actually was a sovereign entity once). :)
Extreme Darwinists
22-09-2004, 05:22
Do I support America 50%+ of the time?

Yes. Although I've never calculated the actual percentage it is less than 100% but more than 50.

Am I an American?

Yes. But don't call me a Yankee, I live South of the Mason-Dixon line; I'm a Reb.

Do I vote?

Yes. For better or worse I influence my government, and I don't appologize for it.
Jebustan
22-09-2004, 05:27
1) HAH!!.. (No)
2) No..
3) Bahrain..

Do you really live in Bahrain?
Carolina Trinity
22-09-2004, 06:07
1st Question
Yes but....see note

2nd Question
No I am not an American Citizen

3rd Question
I am from the Republic of Ireland but currently studying in the United States.


Note: As Im sure has been already said, America is a nation like all other nations with its own (very) unique cultural style. However unlike all countries it has a very powerful administration at the moment that are making some very stupid decisions which are affecting the entire world. eg. Iraq, dropping the ban on Assult Rifles etc. I know it's not supposed to be a Bush v Kerry poll but the fact of the matter is you can't seperate America and Bush at the moment in the eyes of millions of people. People who are affected by what this administration is doing everywhere and seeing first hand the effects of their decisions.
Mentholyptus
22-09-2004, 06:10
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Not since January 2001.

2) Are you from America?
Technically a Canadian citizen, but have lived in America for 8 out of 15 years, so I would consider myself pretty American.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
not allowed
Unito
22-09-2004, 06:15
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Whereas I don't support America, per se, I'm not going to claim that I don't support them. I refuse to subject my self to the ideals of proof or belief.

2) Are you from America?
yeah, texas.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. - Plato
Colodia
22-09-2004, 06:17
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes

2) Are you from America?
yes

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

I don't see how me supporting America's actions have anything to do of how I support America. There are different ways to support America...
The Edward
22-09-2004, 17:37
Interesting responses on this one, indeed. What's fascinating is you put up a little poll and made it pretty clear that your intent was not to get a bunch of sniping done, yet there's still a fair amount of "I hate them thar 'mercans" crud going around.

True. But then, the intent of the poll was to get opinions. The intent was just that there not be a need to qualify the opinions.
CaptainLegion
22-09-2004, 17:56
This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

1)HELL NO
2) YES
3) not allowed
Balistia
22-09-2004, 18:04
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
You are a dumb fucksack
New Obbhlia
22-09-2004, 18:28
No, you did NOT leave them alone. 9/11 was THEIR retaliation. Not vice versa.

Apparently this "retaliation" was partly for our interference in the natural course of Islam (that is, the part where some fed-up entity starts exterminating them indiscriminately), such as in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

To be frank though, I don't think this is so much a part of mainstream Islam as it is of the Left. It's groups associated with the Left that turn to terrorism and that get highly sophisticated at it, and it should be Left-wing factions that we should target in our War on Terrorism and not Muslims. For example, the PKK might pretend to be Islamic and Kurdish but their essential ideology is Marxist. So also the PLO and PFLP.

Would al-Quaida be left? They are religious fundamentalists beliving in some wicked and twisted form of Islam, oppression of women do they consider natural, how can that be left (but of course, everything not represented in the American twopartsystem is "left")? I hope that the post above is a joke, if not, what about far right movements? And then US shall go into Europe I guess? Well, as I live in Sweden I better watch it, you never know when US is coming to liberate you from welfare...
Bushrepublican liars
22-09-2004, 18:36
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

1) Well it is about 50% so, no yes and no no. BTW, 50% is good. Imagine that all other countries would have that score from other citizens in the world :)

2)No

3) yes

4) from Bushrepublican Liars (an extreme right republic in the Himalaya)
Bushrepublican liars
22-09-2004, 18:40
1) yes
2) yes
3) yes

Personal note: i had family die on 9/11, .

If I had to believe all the ones that say that they lost someone at 9/11, then their would have been millions of victims. Must be very en vogue in the US when you have nothing else interesting to say.
Gigatron
22-09-2004, 18:56
If I had to believe all the ones that say that they lost someone at 9/11, then their would have been millions of victims. Must be very en vogue in the US when you have nothing else interesting to say.
It's supposed to inspire some sort of emotional response in the form of "awwwww" and "owwwwww" and "oawwoaoawww" - alas, since the US squandered the goodwill of the world afterwards, all I can muster when I read that is a sad grimace thinking about what scale the next inevitable attack will have.
New Avignon
22-09-2004, 19:13
1. yes / but it's close see note
2. yes
3. yes

note. It really depends on how you define support and actions. While I have philosophical reservations about just about all US actions foreign and domestic, I accept most (by a small percentage) of them as correct in the context of the world as it is. I support all the actions of the US in a general sense merely because they come from the legitimate government even those I strenuously disagree with and voice disagreement on, but I doubt you would consider that support. There are also actions I wish the US would take which it doesn't, but ce la vie.

Essentialy my own take, but it can really vary depending on the course set by a particular administration. I probably supported the Clinton administration's actions a good deal less than 50% of the time, Bush would be close to 50% and falling, and Reagan and Bush Sr. considerably more.
Pennsville
22-09-2004, 19:34
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
Yes
2) Are you from America?
Yes
3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Yes
The Edward
23-09-2004, 00:55
Thanks for all the input in my little questionnaire, folks. It's good to get some insight into peoples' views. :)
Siniestro
23-09-2004, 01:28
After having viewed the forums for a while, I'm curious about something. Please answer the following questions. This should be a fairly straight forward, informative thread, hopefully without too much sniping.

This thread is NOT about George Bush or John Kerry.

1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
yes/no

2) Are you from America?
yes/no

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
yes/no/not allowed

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?

1.No. My support is at about 20%.

2.Yes.

3.Yes.
LordaeronII
23-09-2004, 02:46
1) Do you support America and her actions more than 50% of the time?
I support America 100% as a nation. Whether I support her actions? More than 50% I'd say, but not 100%.

2) Are you from America?
Kinda... I am an American citizen but I also hold a Canadian citizenship (dual citizenship) and I live in Canada... So yes and no.

3) If the answer to #2 is yes, do you vote?
Not of legal voting age =/ Lol. I will once I am old enough though (If I move to America, where I move to depends alot on what university I get into... Canada or America)

4) If the answer to #2 is no, what country are you from?
Errr again half and half... you could kind of say I'm from Canada, or from the States, or even from China (even though I wasn't born there nor live there, I am Chinese... so...)
Conservative Thinkers
23-09-2004, 03:29
I've been reading all the posts since my previous one yesterday, and I was trying to look for the commonality in it all, and I'd like to offer the following as some "superglue" to bind us all together. After all, we are all part of the same human race, and we all "basically" care about the same things and are horrified by the same actions in roughly the same way, particularly as individuals (mob mentality and brain washing not included).

You see, America is a very LARGE and DIVERSE country. In fact, it's so large, that within our borders, there is a tremendous variety of "opinion" expressed from East to West, and perhaps more so, from North to South.

What I see in these posts and responses is something similar to what happens in diverse parts of this country... particularly when it starts to get critical of each other... and what I see is "FEAR". Fear from a lack of control in one's or the world's destiny.

It is a kind of paranoia, caused by the fact that you are over there and I am over here. And it's BECAUSE we don't stand in each other's shoes that we worry about what each other is doing and thinking. And when these thoughts turn dark, I believe it's caused by simple FEAR of what we don't know about each other.

Call it "armchair politics" or whatever, it's caused by sitting on one's duff and worrying about something you cannot really change to any great extent.

It's immensely frustrating (and sickening) for Americans to see videos of our citizens being killed and beheaded in ways that we can barely imagine. But this is also new for us.

When I was a child (50's and 60's), it was common thinking that Europeans were more able to understand violence and loss and starting over because our country was spared the inhuman destruction of both World Wars.

Some from overseas might look at 911 and say, "What the hell are you Yanks screaming about? You didn't lose millions of people (Russia). You didn't get entire cities leveled and burned to the ground (a lot of Europe). You didn't live through a Holocaust. How dare you say ANYTHING to us in ANY critical way."

I believe that these deep rooted feelings have never really gone away from tainting the way Europeans look at the U.S. as a sort of "spoiled child" of the world, walking around with this HUGE stick in it's clumsy hand... that we haven't "earned" the right to have any opinions that could have major effects in the world... any of this strike a chord out there?

So this may explain why, when asked, the vast majority of non-Yanks kind of turn a nose up and sniff at how crazy and undisciplined we are .

But I'd like to suggest that this doesn't get us anywhere as a human race. Calling 911 a revenge on us is to say that anyone has the right to directly kill anyone in the world because it's probably "just deserts". We are not the first or last country to make "compromises" in foreign policy that backfire. But our unique standing in the world makes us the HUGE tail that wags the dog, and THAT MERE FACT can generate resentment and F-E-A-R.

Anyway, there's no way to cover this topic in full, but I just wanted to say that I can understand a bit where this unanimity comes from, but would also like to say that none of these negative feelings will change the world or solve anything, and saying that a President, ANY President, can so completely affect the world that you have to have so much fear is really not understanding the checks and balances of our Constitution very well.

Cheers and good luck to us all! We may have merely pricked the boil that was only going to grow bigger... now we have to get rid of all the puss.