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i suppose one does have to warm those frigid canadian women... 
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Well she didnt say the US is the greatest nation on earth - and she said that that was how she should have responded to the BBC interviewer's absurd question - it was what we call in English a "comeback".Originally posted by HershOstropoler
"that access to information is still far freer in America than it is in Britain, that immigrants are far better treated in America than in Britain, and that democracy remains a more open affair in America than in Britain."
The first claim has some merit, the second one is dubious, the third is just absurd.
LOTM- im not sure the 3rd claim is absurd. Hard to tell since its not clear exactly what she was referring to. Certainly it has been widely held that the American primary system makes political parties more responsive to popular sentiment on many issues then the Brit system - debatable im sure, but not absurd.
AS for the immigrants im no expert on Brit immigration treatment - are you? again its not clear specifically what shes talking about - i suppose publicized asylum cases - i dont know.
"the economic freedom and political openness that many admire."
Economic freedom, debatable. Political openness, absurd.
LOTM - ditto above - I think.
Why couldn't she manage without that nonsense? Almost every article from the US has this "greatest nation on earth" mantra in it.
The general tone was not at all jingoistic. She made some points that were mild in context, and were all arguable, i think. She did not make a full argument - or even clarify what she meant - i dont think it makes her jingoistic."A person cannot approach the divine by reaching beyond the human. To become human, is what this individual person, has been created for.” Martin BuberComment
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Originally posted by GePap
There is no such thing as 'greatest country on earth'. Countries are too big for such claims (unless you live in a microstate). There are only greatest locations. I think NYC is the greatest place on earth, and NYC has far more in common with London than it does Lubbock.
I find it amusing when Texans look at a place like Lubbock and say that the US is the greatest place on Earth! I can see thinking that if one is in New York or San Francisco. But then again, it usually crackers out in places like Lubbock talking about how great the US is.
Siddi, try an antecucho (I make a mean one myslef), then get back to me on Peruvian food.- "A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it still ain't a part number." - Ron Reynolds
- I went to Zanarkand, and all I got was this lousy aeon!
- "... over 10 members raised complaints about you... and jerk was one of the nicer things they called you" - MingComment
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templar, people from ****hole cities are just compensating. theyve seen the sun but they havent seen it shine."I hope I get to punch you in the face one day" - MRT144, Imran Siddiqui
'I'm fairly certain that a ban on me punching you in the face is not a "right" worth respecting." - loinburgerComment
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Having read a fair bit of Solzhenitsyn, I'm confident that current US security measures are in no way comparable to the Gulag system of the Soviet Union (I was fortunate enough to grow up with a close neighbour who was unfortunate enough to be incarcerated in one for 5 years).
Current US policy can certainly be criticized from many points of view, but this claim is just sensationalist crap.
As for this "greatest nation on Earth" thing - well, one country has to be premier. So what? It's what you use the power for that people get worried about.
Personally it's not my no.1 choice for emigration - reckon I'll try for New Zealand or Australia instead.
It's just a dream I have - my chances are very slim.Some cry `Allah O Akbar` in the street. And some carry Allah in their heart.
"The CIA does nothing, says nothing, allows nothing, unless its own interests are served. They are the biggest assembly of liars and theives this country ever put under one roof and they are an abomination" Deputy COS (Intel) US Army 1981-84Comment
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AFAIK, New Zealand will take almost everybody. But it's such a boring place that, IIRC, it has the highest suicide rate.(\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
(='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
(")_(") "Starting the fire from within."Comment
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USA!!!
Osterrlich ist bunt.We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution. - Abraham LincolnComment
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Finished with your Oracle DBA work today?
(\__/) 07/07/1937 - Never forget
(='.'=) "Claims demand evidence; extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence." -- Carl Sagan
(")_(") "Starting the fire from within."Comment
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I hear that the suicide rate has dropped a bit since Agathon left.Originally posted by Urban Ranger
AFAIK, New Zealand will take almost everybody. But it's such a boring place that, IIRC, it has the highest suicide rate.He's got the Midas touch.
But he touched it too much!
Hey Goldmember, Hey Goldmember!Comment
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I've been to many other countries around the world and I honestly believe the US is the best country in the world. Just look at how much jealousy it attracts (and I fully expect some of the replies to that will only prove my point)."And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -- JFK Inaugural, 1961
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice." -- Barry Goldwater, 1964 GOP Nomination acceptance speech (not George W. Bush 40 years later...)
2004 Presidential Candidate
2008 Presidential Candidate (for what its worth)Comment
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You're flattering yourself if you think that anti-american sentiment or just anti-Bush sentiment has much to do with jealousy.
You could also try to tell me what exactly I would be jealous of. Good luck.
“Now we declare… that the law-making power or the first and real effective source of law is the people or the body of citizens or the prevailing part of the people according to its election or its will expressed in general convention by vote, commanding or deciding that something be done or omitted in regard to human civil acts under penalty or temporal punishment….” (Marsilius of Padua, „Defensor Pacis“, AD 1324)Comment
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And that includes penis size.Comment
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How about the amount of influence the US has (for better or worse)? I'm sure most countries would love to be able to influence events on the world stage. Russia tries. China tries sometimes. Personally, I believe the US is isolationist at heart (we took years to get involved in WW1 and 2) and we would be glad to step aside if another benevolent nation would try to solve all of today's problems.Originally posted by HershOstropoler
You're flattering yourself if you think that anti-american sentiment or just anti-Bush sentiment has much to do with jealousy.
You could also try to tell me what exactly I would be jealous of. Good luck.
"With great power comes great responsibility" - Stan Lee
Bush is not America, he is only the current president. If we don't like him we vote him out. Its nothing worth getting jealous over."And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -- JFK Inaugural, 1961
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice." -- Barry Goldwater, 1964 GOP Nomination acceptance speech (not George W. Bush 40 years later...)
2004 Presidential Candidate
2008 Presidential Candidate (for what its worth)Comment
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Originally posted by paiktis22
And that includes penis size.
There may be an element of truth to that.
It would be impossible to get an objective analysis of that. (Pleeeease, nobody start a poll on penis size )
This reminds me of a story I heard about one of our crazy cold war schemes to affect Soviet morale. Drop a bunch of footlong condoms out of a plane over major cities labeled "Made in the USA, size Medium"
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." -- JFK Inaugural, 1961
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice." -- Barry Goldwater, 1964 GOP Nomination acceptance speech (not George W. Bush 40 years later...)
2004 Presidential Candidate
2008 Presidential Candidate (for what its worth)Comment
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"How about the amount of influence the US has (for better or worse)?"
Which is, as far as western europe is concerned, mostly an issue for people who spent to much time in the french écoles.
I'd rather envy the influence say Israel has on the US, rather than the other way round.
"Bush is not America, he is only the current president."
Bush is part of a larger problem.“Now we declare… that the law-making power or the first and real effective source of law is the people or the body of citizens or the prevailing part of the people according to its election or its will expressed in general convention by vote, commanding or deciding that something be done or omitted in regard to human civil acts under penalty or temporal punishment….” (Marsilius of Padua, „Defensor Pacis“, AD 1324)Comment
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