h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I am SO tired of the US bashing I could s**t.

Seems everything in the world is our fault....but we shouldn't have a say in anything, 'cause we'll only muck it up!

World unrest is our fault 'cause our foriegn policies caused it. Global warming is our fault 'cause we use more energy than anyone else. We shouldn't be allowed to carry weopons, 'cause we might be tempted to ambush someone. We shouldn't have a death penalty in our laws because its' morally hypocritical. "Dubya" shouldn't be president 'cause our election laws are faulty..........*ad nauseum*....

.....to which I say "BULLPUCKY"!

This world is way too complex for any one nation to control the chaos involved. We make a good scapegoat simply because we are as powerful as we are.

We didn't stumble into this power so we must be doing SOMETHING right. You couldn't tell it by reading the posts in H2G2.

I don't want to get in anymore discussions on politics, simply because there is always a list of extreme right or left Reasearchers waiting to pounce on anyone who might be so "nieve" as to think there might be a spot of "middleground" somewhere. (hey all you grammer nuts...hows' THAT for a "run-on" sentence!)

Just for kicks, may I say that I am all FOR global warming....it still frosts in central Alabama!....Besides....in 50 years my little house could possibly be "beachfront"!LOL

"Goodnight Sweet Princess, Whoever You Are!"

NM

"I am SO tired of the US bashing I could s**t."

How rewarding to note that you have remembered our conversation of long ago and are not using the *pi* word.

I don't want to seem facetious in the face of the terrible things which have happened, are happening and will (regrettably but inevitably) happen, but I fear I shall.

BULLPUCKY ?

Is that all your own work? I have managed to avoid it heretofore. It seems to have a nice ring to it. "Dong" or could it be "dung"?

We can never know, in advance, the outcome of our actions or inaction but such is the human predicament that "sometimes" we have to do "something". The complaint that we don't "always" do "everything" is rife but shouldn't be regarded as a valid criticism.

I can't remember where I've posted this before, so - sorry if I repeat myself. I can't think of a case where a country has, eventually, finished up "worse off" (using any "liberal" criteria) after being thoroughly trounced by the US, with or without allies. It is difficult to imagine that Afghanistan could possibly get any worse - physically or spiritually. There has just been an Afghani refugee speaking on BBC radio in support of the action against his country. He, a muslim, was arguing against non-Afghan muslims who were complaining about the action.

It is a strange world.

Good eve, plaguesville! Long time no see!

Must say its nice to get a visitor here every once in a while!

I wish I could claim the term "bullpucky", but alas I am afraid I picked it up from Col. Potter of the TV series "M*A*S*H". I think I remember the old timers using it around here when I was a wee lad of a boy.

I skimmed through a website earlier this afternoon...it is for the Afganistan Womens' Rights group. That was depressing. Its' hard to believe that such conditions still exist in this day and age.

The Afgan people, in general, need help desperately....but under the present circumstances aid is near impossible. There are those who would love to blame us.....but rational thought proves that not to be the case.

When the dust settles, the present military attacks are successfully completed, we'll help put it back together......

......and take our usual flack for being an overly meddlesome nation.

I think they call it "catch-22"!

NM

Hey NM--I came across this little jewel of journal entry; to which I say "AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!"



Has anyone else picked up on the fact that most of the Taliban and bin Laden's followers aren't even Afghan? National Geographic Explorer interviewed a Taliban POW caught by the Northern Alliance who said Afghanistan didn't matter; they'd just infiltrate another country and use their people as shields until they reached their goal worldwide. How sad that many anti-US protestors throughout the world and on h2g2 are blind to this. The Taliban and Al-Qaida are not fighting for Muslims, Afghans, or anyone else other than their twisted little selves.

The US: Damned if we do and damned if we don't.

Ya' know...up until now, I thought this "blame SOMEbody for everything" mentality was strictly a US phenomenon. Sadly, I note that it has invaded other parts of the world, as well. Its' become rampant in some threads in here.

I've gotten to the point that I just read and laugh!

I read in another thread someones' comment that our assistance and backing of Isreal was a primary cause of Islamic dislike for us. I am working from memory, so I'll not say it as well, but their thought was to the effect that the Islamic nations felt slighted that we were not backing/assisting them to the same measure.

HHMMM...I found that comical. Death to all us "Yankee infidels"! We don't give handouts evenly!

One of, what had been a relatively decent forum has now deginerated into a debate on the meaning of words and terms. The last business meeting I was in on that subject I walked out of. It was either leave or get kicked out....the bosses don't appreciate it if you start laughing uncontrollably at things they consider serious!!!!

Anyone know the true meaning of "is"!!!!!LOL

NM

I particularly liked the ding-dong who made the comment elsewhere on h2g2 that the US should end off these attacks and provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. DUH! Who did he think is the biggest provider of aid--not only to the Afghans, but literally to anyone else who asks? I find it ironic that Americans are ridiculed for not being familiar with international events, yet this person displayed his ignorance of the same. If we weren't providing aid, then why do so many Americans object to monetay help for other nations? Why is there a big isolationist push in this country? It isn't because we don't lift a finger to help others...

Jeez, we're a cold-hearted nation. Wonder what would happen if we cut everyone else off from our trough?

Sad part is, we did.

We cut our own off. We kept our international aid programs basically intact, and re-vamped our own welfare programs.

I'm not a fan of welfare....but if you're going to cut someone off in favor of someone else.....you care for your own first.

Guess these guys don't understand us...though they think they do.

I find it interesting that most outside the US don't think we are aware of what is happening in the world around us. I suppose the BBC is the only honest news source in the world!!!GEESH!!!LOL

NM

This is post 994 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F19585?thread=76493&latest=1 "Subject: What to do if you come up to a peace rally!! Posted 4 Hours Ago by Zorpheus - I'm so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis. 1) Approach ignorant, liberal person talking about peace and saying there should be "no retaliation" 2) Have a brief conversation with them and ask if military force is appropriate. 3) When he says, "No." ask him, "Why not?" 4) When he says, "Because that would just cause more innocent deaths, which would be awful, and we should not cause more violence." 5) Punch him in the face . . . hard. 6) When he gets up to punch you, point out to him that it would be a mistake to (and contrary to his values) punch you because he would be causing more violence. 7) When he agrees with you that he has pledged not to commit violence, punch him in the face again . . . only harder this time. 8 ) Repeat steps 2 through 7 until he understands that sometimes it is necessary to punch back."

OH MY!!!! A "John Boy and Billy" fan!!!!!LOL

NM

Awwww...they wouldn't get it, and probably use that as an example of why Americans are nasty and violent and big meanies and rotten and stinky and ugly and dress funny....

If you ask me, it sounds like the gist of some of the comments is "give humanitarian aid or else". Isn't that a form of protection money? Since when did the Mafia become the accepted model for a government?

From what I've seen on the Afgan Womens' website, the mafia would be a better choice!

NM

Dear FS (or should I say NM). Loving your Cl. Potter ref. My personal fave was when C.E. Winchester III was labouring to explain a point and sighed and said "Colonel, let me be succinct.." to which Potter shouted " WELL LET ME BE SUCCINCTER!"

My friend I have read your page and journal entries with considerable interest and contemplation. Thereis quite some depth in yourt page.

I am not in any way preaching, but the good book says "there is nothing new under the sun'. It is referring to strife, sin, conflict between individuals and nations and so on. This was written long before there was an America (or a Russia or a South Africa for that matter), so it would seem that there was troubles before you guys came along. And if the USA isn't around forever then there will be conflict and strife after you have gone.

No one has the monopoly on causing trouble. Some of the most sophisticated of modern societies have dreadful skeletons in their closets from their colonising days etc. I seem to remember the USA having to fight terribly to acheive their independence from oppression in past ages. In Australia we are experiencing some real problems in relation to creating equality between our indigenous people and the European settlers. Sometimes there seems to be more emphasis placed on attributing historic blame than trying to rectify the problem.

There is a classic piece of dialogue in the 3rd Die Hard movie when Samuel L Jackson's character is giving Bruce Willis's character a hard time about the oppression of African Americans and Bruce Willis stops him and says "have I personally oppressed you?". My perception is that he gets across the message 'if you don't know me personally and don't know my view of these things, then don't assume the negative position on my behalf'.

FS (NM) I seem to have rambled and gotten a bit deep, but I liked your entries.

See you around the ridges..

LK

Thanks, New Fast Automatic F-REEK.....

Sorry, I dropped out for a bit...'tis the holiday season in these parts and this place was depressing me!!!

Do you mind if I attempt to summarize(sp.?) what I think is your point(and mine, might I add, as well?)?

hmmmm....in my least "political correct" poise....would it be..."learn from it, get over it, move on.".(Which, in turn, reminds me of Charles Emerson Winchester,III...."Do one thing, do it very well, and move on!")

NM

Ahhhhhh!!!..

My very favourite C.E.W. III quote. You would have indeed been a honoured guest at our Brisbane meet up, and probably I who would have been dwarfed.

Your summary of both of our points is most excellent (I was getting a bit worried that something in my comments had offended somewhat....)

There is indeed a 2 word phrase that we all know well and the second word is 'happens'. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it was Abe Lincoln that said that any generation who forgets their mistakes is destined to repeat them, but somwhere in there we have to stop living in the past. And it was P.K. Shaw who said "everyone is so worried about human rights but no one seems to be worried about human responsibilities..." That kind of changes the view a bit if we start thinking 'how can I be more good' rather than 'look how bad everyone else is'.

Anyways, great talking to you NM (can I call you that) and I look forward to reading more of your journals and chatting some more.

NFAF

He-he....you may refer to me as NM all you wish. It seems to have become the "nickname" all my old friends use.

No...you've said absolutely nothing to offend......I was just laying low 'till the "bombing" was over!

I take it you're a bit of a "M*A*S*H" fan......I think I've seen every episode at least 50 times! I must say, that was one of the "deepest" comedies I've ever seen...a lot to be learned on that show...while you laughed!

Not good on quotes, myself....but my favorite must be Samuel Clemmens(Mark Twain): "If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosper, he will not bite you. This is the principle dfference between a dog and a man"

NM

And I certainly second that motion!

I'd also like to add that I am sick and tired of the Brits on this site bashing America's imperialist policies vis-a-vis the current situation in the Middle East. To them I would like to say "Empire, heal thyself!" Bit ironic, isn't it? Once the sun done set on the British Empire, they forgot all about what happened in their country's past that now allows them to live comfortable lives and post whiny messages on h2g2. Mmmmm....India, South Africa, China, Canada, Australia....

A little bit of 'empire envy', wouldn't you say?

LOL! Theres' nothing like a bit of "empire bashing" to get things going!

I'm still looking for a single nation who is not guilty of being "Imperialistic". I'm afraid I must say that we in the US have been a bit lax in that area......we only tried to take Cuba, the Carribbian(sp.?) Islands and a few, nondiscript Pacific islands after WW II.

Maybe we should have been more aggressive....at least then we would deserve the "title"!

NM