"If you don't like it, leave"

[hetron]

[ QUOTE ]
True, but that more reflects the the US is a nation based on a governmental concept as opposed to an ethnicity.

In other words, since the US is a nation of immigrants, our shared national identity is more one of a governmental concept, rather than an ethnic one. The people are accusing others of not being true to what they define as our core being.


[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree with the concept behind the US being a governmental one. I think it is more along the lines of thinking that it is a great meritocracy- in other words, those who work hard and are willing to sublimate completely into Americana will achieve "the American dream", so to speak. If you are perceived as unwilling to work hard for your piece of the pie, or not willing to sublimate to the extent that certain folks want you to, you are viewed as "un-American".

I obviously don't have a problem with people working hard or trying to fit in with American culture. But the hypersensitivity to anyone who even APPEARS to not fall into line with the mainstream political thinking of the times (look no further than Dr. Wogga's posts if you need proof of what I am saying) is something that is difficult to find in too many other cultures worldwide, whether they be homogenous or heterogenous.

[MMMMMM]

"You also have to understand that there is a much wider spectrum of political debate in europe than here in the US. Even from my perspective, the Democrats and Republicans look more like different wings of the same political party than two distinct entities."

Quite right, and it seems the Europeans are on average a lot slower to learn the lessons of history than are the Americans. For instance, many in European countries still believe in Communism (naturally, primarily in those countries which never experienced it;-) I mean come on how willfully stupid can these present-day European Communists be. And I do say willfully because I think it takes a special effort to believe in such things today.

[hetron]

A real American is a musician named Keith. Here goes:

For the 2000 (2000)
Black elvis (black elvis)
We get raw with this (hand me my guitar)
Tour bus packed (tour bus packed)

Black elvis, recordin in the 48-track studio
Madison square garden soundcheck, to speak direct
Fans in the upper level, backstage passes
Wearin diamonds around my glasses, leather coat
Thirty thousand from wilson, countin the mill’s
I’m talkin to andre harrell with a chaffeur drivin me around
In the green rolls royce, parked parallel, on fifth avenue
Steppin in bloomingdale’s, waitin for celine dion to get her nails done
Tour dates start tommorrow, mci send the cash through wells fargo
Black elvis, 28 g’s a night
Tour bus with the motley crue, who gon’ stop who?
Rock star don’t need no tattoo
Guitar out of the sharp, fender bass with the stratocaster
With prodigy, rage against the machine, flyin over the atlantic ocean
With the potion

Chorus: kool keith

Black elvis, rock star, walkin down broadway
What y’all thinkin about?
Black elvis, rock star, walkin down broadway
Chillin in the project hallway

(repeat 1.5x)

[kool keith]
Tour bus, painted neon green with black wheels
We do big wheels, count big head franklin bills
Movin up that’s when I’m black elvis at the civic center
Promoter book venues that are too small, ignore the call
Seventy thousand jam packed arenas
With rock fans wearin backpacks
Merchandise sell nice gold shirts with red lights
Sponsored by dial soap and a heineken
The biggest rock star gon’ rhyme again
Roadie cases for eight months, samsonite suitcases
Rappers comin home with no money on the red eye with dead eyes
Stadium tickets, watch scalpers get wicked
Pull up in my limo ejecting your demo (your demo)
Stretch lamborghinis with four doors, with four floors
Followin right behind yours, basic continental
Get out your rental before I get mental
(yeah baby)

Kool Keith...really (mentally disturbed) American

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I disagree with the concept behind the US being a governmental one. I think it is more along the lines of thinking that it is a great meritocracy

Well, a free country is a meritocracy to a certain extent. But that wasn't my point. I meant defined as a nation by governmental concept as opposed to defined as a nation by ethnicity.

those who work hard and are willing to sublimate completely into Americana will achieve "the American dream", so to speak.

I disgree completely. The US seems to me to be a place where you can "do your own thing" and succeed. I'm not sure I know what "sublimate completely into Americana" means.

Regardless, this country is a pretty damn heterogenous place. Besides, there's little difference in you saying "bozo-in-chief" and your adversary saying "if you don't like it, leave." You're both exercising your right to free speech. What you say offends him, what he says offends you. There is no right to not be offended by other people's opinions.

[Dr Wogga]

.....to bonus whores.com. Brad and i could have fun there, doing manly hetero things to those sluts

[Cyrus]

When a dozen threads ago Utah had disputed that conservatives lie about liberals in America, the first big lie that actually came into my mind was the perennial and blatant conservative lie about liberals being less patriotic than conservatives.

I was about to start a thread in order to demonstrate to dear Utah the inherent problem in that basic conservative position (a.k.a. a lie) but I was too lazy to type up anything more than chicken hawk at the time.

--Cyrus

PS : Those physicals from Dubya's stint in the "American military" came back yet? Just askin'.

[dsm]

....taking a Red, White, & Blue Boot up his Ass
from a "Real" American....President Bush.

God Bless America!!!

[Rushmore]

Actually, you make an ironic point.

If it had not been for many great American "conservatives," who live in the world as IT IS, rather than the way they'd LIKE IT TO BE, we might live in a country where you were NOT, indeed, welcome to leave.

Go figure.

To put it in pop culture terms: "You WANT me on that wall. You NEED me on that wall. And while my existence might seem grotesque to you, I save lives. So grab a weapon and man a post. Otherwise, I'd rather you just said thank you, and went on your way."

Or should we simply dismantle the military, turn a blind eye to the realities of the world and human nature, stick out heads in the sand, and just, uh, "pray?"

[Rushmore]

Very well-said, Kurn.

When defining everything as "good" or "bad," the left-of-center crowd seems to demonize everything to the right of themselves, and objectivity ("good") seems to get lost in the vitriol ("bad").

I'm sure "bozo-in-chief" seems like an erudite and reasonable and objective and sophisticated and rational and, uh, "good" way to approach the situation to some folks.

To me, it is a great bullsh*t detector.

[scalf]

[img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]..love it or leave it!!!

that's the correct phrase...lol..

power to the people..

gl [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]