Comments on: In Defense of the United States of America http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/ Solitude is impractical and yet society is fatal ---Ralph Waldo Emerson Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:29:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brook http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-953 Brook Sun, 11 Jul 2010 02:00:47 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-953 Yep, a little mutual respect goes a long way, and recently a lot of the world seems to have a problem understanding this. Thanks for the comment Ron. Yep, a little mutual respect goes a long way, and recently a lot of the world seems to have a problem understanding this. Thanks for the comment Ron.

]]> By: Ron http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-952 Ron Sun, 11 Jul 2010 00:12:44 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-952 Great post thank you. I've traveled the globe and have always attempted to learn and appreciate all cultures. I am extremely happy when others appreciate ours. Thanks again for the post. Great post thank you. I’ve traveled the globe and have always attempted to learn and appreciate all cultures. I am extremely happy when others appreciate ours. Thanks again for the post.

]]> By: Brook http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-808 Brook Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:19:48 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-808 Thanks! Good to hear. It's good to have a balanced, more informed perspective, however, so if you really want to stir their brains and get them thinking, have them read some Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn... Thanks! Good to hear. It’s good to have a balanced, more informed perspective, however, so if you really want to stir their brains and get them thinking, have them read some Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn…

]]> By: C_Love http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-806 C_Love Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:30:22 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-806 A friend of mine sent your post to me, and really--I can't tell you how nice it is to see something like this in print. I shared it with some young cadets I teach at the USAF Academy, and it was even nicer to see them take it in. Very well written. : ) A friend of mine sent your post to me, and really–I can’t tell you how nice it is to see something like this in print. I shared it with some young cadets I teach at the USAF Academy, and it was even nicer to see them take it in. Very well written. : )

]]> By: Brook http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-763 Brook Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:42:59 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-763 Milton, yep we have a lot of hatred all around, but I guess that's part of our system. I'm glad we have that freedom. Today, on a boatride after rockclimbing, I met a photographer from China, who now lives in New Zealand. I asked for her facebook info, but...China doesn't allow facebook, and since that's where most of her friends are, she hasn't got an account...so I had to settle for an old fashioned email address. Ocho, in a way, we've put ourselves in a bit of a pickle, where we're so strong that we're expected to help everyone monetarily, and at the same time, that aid is probably also a bit of a retainer for that country to help us out in the future in whatever way we'd like (World Bank, Confessions of an Economic Hitman?)---yet, our addiction to printing and throwing money at any and all problems, thereby devaluing the currency, is catching up to us. The Peace Corps teaches and organizes programs, but a lot of the countries we help have cultural differences so great that their problems can't be overcome with money. I really wonder, for instance, what will become of Haiti, say ten years from now. They're trying to raise nearly a trillion dollars to rebuild, but then what? You mention dependency. I think that's right on, and is the same argument people make for domestic welfare/social programs. There's a really slippery slope between helping people up, and giving them a free hand out. Milton, yep we have a lot of hatred all around, but I guess that’s part of our system. I’m glad we have that freedom. Today, on a boatride after rockclimbing, I met a photographer from China, who now lives in New Zealand. I asked for her facebook info, but…China doesn’t allow facebook, and since that’s where most of her friends are, she hasn’t got an account…so I had to settle for an old fashioned email address.

Ocho, in a way, we’ve put ourselves in a bit of a pickle, where we’re so strong that we’re expected to help everyone monetarily, and at the same time, that aid is probably also a bit of a retainer for that country to help us out in the future in whatever way we’d like (World Bank, Confessions of an Economic Hitman?)—yet, our addiction to printing and throwing money at any and all problems, thereby devaluing the currency, is catching up to us.

The Peace Corps teaches and organizes programs, but a lot of the countries we help have cultural differences so great that their problems can’t be overcome with money. I really wonder, for instance, what will become of Haiti, say ten years from now. They’re trying to raise nearly a trillion dollars to rebuild, but then what?

You mention dependency. I think that’s right on, and is the same argument people make for domestic welfare/social programs. There’s a really slippery slope between helping people up, and giving them a free hand out.

]]> By: Ocho http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-762 Ocho Sun, 21 Feb 2010 14:34:03 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-762 What about all of the countries to which the U.S. continually provides aid, however they usually end up dependent and worse off over time. Tanzania is a prime example. Shouldn't we stop providing aid to these countries and teach them to fish, rather then keep dropping fish from airplanes? What about all of the countries to which the U.S. continually provides aid, however they usually end up dependent and worse off over time. Tanzania is a prime example. Shouldn’t we stop providing aid to these countries and teach them to fish, rather then keep dropping fish from airplanes?

]]> By: Milton http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-761 Milton Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:27:37 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-761 Excellent post! In Romania, the only America basher we ran into was someone who was "not American," but from "California." (We have run into others who bashed President Bush in other countries fairly frequently.) I think we bash ourselves internally too often, as well. Excellent post! In Romania, the only America basher we ran into was someone who was “not American,” but from “California.” (We have run into others who bashed President Bush in other countries fairly frequently.) I think we bash ourselves internally too often, as well.

]]> By: Brook http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-760 Brook Sun, 21 Feb 2010 12:51:35 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-760 Big Mac, you're right. One big difference, though, between the US and Roman Empire, I think, is that our country is largely responsible for the success, wealth, and modernization that sooo many countries enjoy today...just like other countries are largely responsible for helping the US become what it has (that's for another post). I wish everyone would have some historical perspective and not be mean spirited to people they don't even know, based on citizenship. I also wish for peace on Earth (okay, I stole that wish from a beauty pageant winner). Big Mac, you’re right. One big difference, though, between the US and Roman Empire, I think, is that our country is largely responsible for the success, wealth, and modernization that sooo many countries enjoy today…just like other countries are largely responsible for helping the US become what it has (that’s for another post).
I wish everyone would have some historical perspective and not be mean spirited to people they don’t even know, based on citizenship. I also wish for peace on Earth (okay, I stole that wish from a beauty pageant winner).

]]> By: Big Mac http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-759 Big Mac Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:29:14 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-759 Good post Brook. However, I think the America bashing is unavoidable. Everybody likes to tear down the head of the pack. On a historical note, I bet the Egyptians, Franks, etc. did almost the same type of bitching during the height of the Roman Empire. Good post Brook. However, I think the America bashing is unavoidable. Everybody likes to tear down the head of the pack. On a historical note, I bet the Egyptians, Franks, etc. did almost the same type of bitching during the height of the Roman Empire.

]]> By: Bryson Ayers http://www.endsofearth.com/2010/02/in-defense-of-the-united-states-of-america/comment-page-1/#comment-755 Bryson Ayers Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:14:25 +0000 http://www.endsofearth.com/?p=991#comment-755 Very well done. Very well done.

]]>