Things I like about the USA

[Graham]

This thread belongs in P&CE because there's a political point to it (right there, at the end, do you see it? )

Posters on this board have taken things that I've said to mean that I'm Anti-American. I disagree with their interpretations but that argument is over. Since the world can always use another argument, however ( ) here is a list of the things I like about America:

1) Certain Americans - one of my best friends in the world is an American from Philiadelphia. I like him.

2) Hot dog stands. You don't get enough of those over here. I like them.

3) McDonalds. For some reason, eating McDonalds totally helps me when I have a hangover. I like that.

4) Movies. There are a lot of American-made movies that I like, to many to list easily.

5) CHiPs - I've recently started watching this show on Bravo, it's great! Also the A-Team, The Fall Guy and all the other action-adventure shows I used to watch when I was a kid.

6) Cowboys (the movie kind not the redneck kind!). Clint Eastwood is one of my all-time favourites.

7) Quarters - it beggars belief that when they brought in the Euro they didn't make quarters - unbelieveable!

8) The Apollo Program - wasn't that cool?

9) The principle - I like the idea of America, Land of the Free and all that. It's a nice idea.

. . . which brings me neatly to the political part. There are a number of things I don't like about the USA but, for the most part, they're as petty and selfish as 1 -7 above (The Apollo Program was just cool ). There is, however, one really big thing I don't like and that's they way I perceive the USA to be going politically and culturally (in the sense of "as a society").

I don't hate Americans and I don't hate America. I do hate what seems to be happening in America and I do hate the attitude America has given the rest of the world. The reason I hate those things is essentially number nine above. I like the idea of America and what I see on the news every day and read on these boards and elsewhere just ain't it!

To me it appears as though America is heading down a very dangerous and destructive path. I'm perfectly willing to listen to anyone who can convince me otherwise. In fact, I'd love that but no one seems to be interested in doing that, for some reason.

I look forward to any comments.

Graham

 

[Tmy]

4) Movies. There are a lot of American-made movies that I like, to many to list easily.

I dont know if you can call them American Movies when they are all being filmed in Canada. HOLLYWOOD IS DYING!

 

[blackadder65738]

I'm worried and I live here

Well, I'm not here to talk you out of your misgivings about where America is headed, since I share them. Unfortunately we're being ruled by a bible-beating right wing now, and nobody is paying attention. The biggest danger to us and the rest of the world is for the true xtian zealots to get their hands on the reins of power, and they're almost there. America would be a great place to live if it weren't for all the xtians.

 

[Graham]

Re: Re: Things I like about the USA

I dont know if you can call them American Movies when they are all being filmed in Canada. HOLLYWOOD IS DYING!

Check out this list. I'm sure you'll find some you like!

Graham

 

[PygmyPlaidGiraffe]

Re: Re: Things I like about the USA

I dont know if you can call them American Movies when they are all being filmed in Canada. HOLLYWOOD IS DYING!

Financed by Italians, and directed by people with Germanic names and accents.

 

[KelvinG]

Re: Re: Things I like about the USA

I dont know if you can call them American Movies when they are all being filmed in Canada. HOLLYWOOD IS DYING!

Hollywood isn't dying, it's just facing competition. And Canada is not the only country where American financed films are being shot.
A lot of folks in the industry in Hollywood have been crying foul because of the number of productions that come up here, but they have to realize that the business isn't like it used to be. The days are gone when Hollywood was the sole bastion of filmmaking.
Plus, the unions in L.A. can be a real pain in the ass and some producers say "screw it", let's go somewhere else.
Also, the low Canadian dollar helps (although it's getting higher).

And the best reason of all for American productions to come up to Canada. It keeps me working!!

 

[Graham]

You guys are gonna get this thread Shemped to Literature or Movies or whatever the approprite forum is these days.

Any comments on the "political" bit?

Graham

 

[Ricomise]

Graham,

Unfortunately, I agree with you. The U.S. does indeed appear to be headed in a dangereous direction considering the arrogance and ignorance of the current administration. However, I will share with you something both my grandfather and my father have always said, and that I try to think about whenever I get to wound up over the current political climate.

It is essentially this: Americans will always eventually come back to the middle. (Politically) Now everyone has a different idea of where the "middle" is, but it is precisely because of that that the end result is usually moderation. My dad and grandfather claim that they've lived through these times, and that there are always shifts to one end of the spectrum or the other, but that there will eventually be a shift back to the middle.

That being said, of course, we shouldn't hesitate to complain about what's going on and try to fix it. Although I'm not sure I completely believe this idea, they certainly have more "life experience" than I do, and my study of American history tends to bear the idea out, at least in general terms.

p.s. The hangover reducing qualities of Big Macs are due to the secret ingredients in the "special sauce." Especially helpful after a night of too much Guiness.

 

[Mr. Skinny]

I have my concerns about where we are headed as well, but I pretty much agree with Ricomise (well, his dad and grandfather anyhow). I think we'll eventually swing back to a middle ground.

I'm old enough to have lived through the 60's, and I'm of the opinion that the dissent and demonstrations over civil rights and the Vietnam war had me far more worried over the future of our country than anything currently happening now.

There have been scary times in our past. There will be more in the future. We will deal with the problems the best we can I suppose.

P.S. Welcome to the forum Ricomise.

 

[blackpriester]

Let me start by saying this is a GREAT thread!
Too often, justified cirticism of the way America is HEADED is wrapped in a negative "container" - and thus not even heard by the people who need it most, because they think its criticism of what America IS. There are so many GREAT things about America - we should mention them sometimes, just in order to not BECOME Anti-American over all the crap Mr. Bush and his cohorts are producing

As for the "idea of America", let me add a few more things I like:

1) Freedom of speech and expression

2) Barrier between state and church
(being chipped away by current administration)

3) Actually, the whole bill of rights

4) Flexibility and Innovation, fueled by a spirit of
"everything is possible" (don't you hate how
NEGATIVE Europeans can be sometimes?)

5) Stores that are open for 24 hours a day
(sadly lacking in Germany, for example)

6) Great service culture
(exclude banks and insurances here)

7) No front number plates needed in California
(at least you don't get stopped for the lack of one)


That being said, i do think that the current culture of fear and paranoia reminds me of Germany's sad path in 1932. Although I don't want to use the N-word, the Bush administration plays cleverly on the insecurities of the misinformed to build a mob...

 

[ZeeGerman]

6) Great service culture
(exclude banks and insurances here)

You forgot to exclude the DMV

Zee

 

[Graham]

Let me start by saying this is a GREAT thread!
Too often, justified cirticism of the way America is HEADED is wrapped in a negative "container" - and thus not even heard by the people who need it most, because they think its criticism of what America IS. There are so many GREAT things about America - we should mention them sometimes, just in order to not BECOME Anti-American over all the crap Mr. Bush and his cohorts are producing

*snip*

That being said, i do think that the current culture of fear and paranoia reminds me of Germany's sad path in 1932. Although I don't want to use the N-word, the Bush administration plays cleverly on the insecurities of the misinformed to build a mob...

5) Stores that are open 24hrs - that's a good one. There's like one convenience store about a ten/fifteen minute drive away that's open 24hrs and that's it.

6) Service culture - also good though it's a little freaky when they follow you around the shop.

I'd like to give special mention to The Simpsons too!

These may all seem like small things but they are important IMO.

Then you get into the bigger issues in Blackpriester's post and America seems like a pretty cool place.

It's not without problems though, many of which are pretty serious, a few of which are very, very serious. The trick is to address those problems without affecting the good things. That doesn't seem to be working out at the moment (though you can still get hotdogs on the street in most places!).

I appreciate the sentiment that things will most likely eventually "swing back the other way" but is it safe to rely on that precedent and ignore the possibility that they won't?

Graham

 

[Graham]

You forgot to exclude the DMV

Zee

DMV are the same here and in Canada (the only two places I've lived). What're they like in Germany? Are miserably long queues, cranky staff and complete incompetency the rule for DMVs worldwide?

Some sort of conspiracy at work maybe?

Graham

 

[Ladewig]

You forgot to exclude the DMV

The Illinois Secretary of State has greatly improved services here. Sitting at the front door is a helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly clerk who makes sure that you don't get into the wrong line and makes sure you have the appropriate documents before you get into line. Chairs and numbered slips are used for the services that often have a waiting period.

 

[Ladewig]

I agree with Ricomise. I admire the U.S. for the Marshall Plan. The thing that sticks in my craw right now is not that so much money will be spent rebuilding Iraq, but that such a large portion of it will go to Halliburton. No open bidding with the contract going to the V.P.'s old company, a firm well-known for going over budget. WTF?

Actually, the thing I hate most about the U.S. is not the religious right. It is the two-party system.

 

[blackpriester]

Then you get into the bigger issues in Blackpriester's post and America seems like a pretty cool place.

Actually, I DO THINK America is a pretty cool place.
Contrary to the black-and-white-thinking-crowd (led by Skeptic, Rikzilla etal), I do believe that you can criticize a country for it's shortcomings and still love it from the bottom of your heart. In fact, the ability of taking criticism (and improving on it!) is what has made America great in the first place, IMHO. And no, your ability or right to critizise America does NOT depend on being born there.

It's not without problems though, many of which are pretty serious, a few of which are very, very serious. The trick is to address those problems without affecting the good things. That doesn't seem to be working out at the moment (though you can still get hotdogs on the street in most places!).

I appreciate the sentiment that things will most likely eventually "swing back the other way" but is it safe to rely on that precedent and ignore the possibility that they won't?

Graham

You are very right Graham.
Only by being very much aware of what is going wrong can one improve. I DO have good hopes for the US, though, and seriously hope that Dennis Kucinic (http://www.kucinich.us/index.htm) can kick up some dust in the presidential campaign. Even though he IS a bit too far on the "regulatory side" in economical matters for my taste, he adresses the lies, deception and curbing of individual rights that are so flagrantly Anti-American right now.

(edited for formatting)

 

[blackpriester]

You forgot to exclude the DMV

Zee

Umm, yeah, I did forget THEM .
And I DID want to visit you in Erlangen during the Beergarden season. Had to prepare my girlfriend's move to Frankfurt... including the cats that come with her.

How about early July? Still beergarden season...

 

[Graham]

Actually, I DO THINK America is a pretty cool place.
Contrary to the black-and-white-thinking-crowd (led by Skeptic, Rikzilla etal), I do believe that you can criticize a country for it's shortcomings and still love it from the bottom of your heart. In fact, the ability of taking criticism (and improving on it!) is what has made America great in the first place, IMHO. And no, your ability or right to critizise America does NOT depend on being born there.

Sing it, brother priester!

I DO have good hopes for the US, though, and seriously hope that Dennis Kucinic (http://www.kucinich.us/index.htm) can kick up some dust in the presidential campaign. Even though he IS a bit too far on the "regulatory side" in economical matters for my taste, he adresses the lies, deception and curbing of individual rights that are so flagrantly Anti-American right now.

I took a quick look at his website there. He seems like a bit of a wooly thinker or maybe just someone who says what people want to hear. For instance, he says in the first quoted passage:

As President, I will cancel NAFTA and the WTO, restore our manufacturing jobs, save our family farms, create full employment programs, create new jobs by rebuilding our cities and schools.

You go girl! How about world peace while you're at it!

I'd be interested in some comments on this thread from the "You all just hate Ameriica" lobby. Any volunteers?

Graham

 

[blackpriester]

I took a quick look at his website there. He seems like a bit of a wooly thinker or maybe just someone who says what people want to hear. For instance, he says in the first quoted passage:

You go girl! How about world peace while you're at it!

Graham

It becomes a little bit clearer if you take a look at his personal history and his speeches. He does have a kind of visionary-radical approach, though, that much is true.

A nice contrast to the ultra-pragmatic, dishonest and short-ter-thinking current administration, though. So much for the pendulum swinging...

 

[blackpriester]

Kucinic

I specifically like his ideas about abolishing the Death penalty, repealing the Patriot Act and restoring the wall of separation between church and state.

Most of his economic stuff is up for discussion, though - but it ain't much worse than Bush's plans ...