What is your opinion of the United States?

[Sava]

DanS- I think the ignorance has more to do with the inaccurate, sensationalist media, rather than schooling. And speaking of schooling, America doesn't exactly lead the way.

[DanS]

Sava: Americans have access to a large number of news sources. Many are of very high quality too. If you can't find it on TV or radio, you can always find it on the internet.

[Sava]

Americans have access to a large number of news sources.

I have access to gold... it's just a question of finding it. The big media giants dominate the marketplace. Most average Americans don't have time to search on the internet for independent sources. They rely on radio and 30 second news bites. Viacom - Disney - FauxNews - Tribune NewsCorp are the primary sources of news... none of which are terribly reliable.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Your forgot AOL/Time Warner .

[Sava]

Your forgot AOL/Time Warner

yeah... it's hard to keep track of all the mergers and stuff. Basically... the vast majority of mainstream news in America is traced up the corporate ladder to about 5 people. And that's a bad thing.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, but those 5 people give two ****s what their companies are broadcasting as long as it means ratings and money.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Spiffor
It would indeed be pretty arrogant to think France is the best country in the world. It is quite a good country whose values are mostly good (though tainted), and whose quality of life is pretty high too. But to think that we are more free than the Dutch, more well-off than the Swiss, more cultured than the Italians etc. in a whole sure makes arrogant.

It would be even more arrogant to expect foreign people to feel France is the greatest country in the world. I have yet to meet someone who does so.

if you don't think france is the best country, why do you live there?

Jon Miller

[Sava]

Yeah, but those 5 people give two ****s what their companies are broadcasting as long as it means ratings and money.

exactly my point... to them, profits and ratings are more important than accurate news.

[Imran Siddiqui]

exactly my point... to them, profits and ratings are more important than accurate news.

Well, duh!! They are in it to make money.

The real fault lies then with the producers of the shows (much lower down the chain). I bet MSNBC would have the same amount (if not more viewers) if it went for more hard-hitting accurate news instead of bouncing around the political spectrum trying to find to find it's 'niche'.

Then again it doesn't do too bad of a job.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
if you don't think france is the best country, why do you live there?

Well, because I was raised there, master the language, have all my friends, family and roots ?

Besides, I'm living in Germany this year, for my studies.

[monolith94]

"You did read the sentences after that didn't you?"

Yeah, I did. And I disagreed with them, too.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Well, because I was raised there, master the language, have all my friends, family and roots ?

Besides, I'm living in Germany this year, for my studies.

so you would be happier somewhere else if you put down a liitle effort (And roots?)

than why not do so, you would be surprised at how much you get settled in a place after one year

also, if you come to america you can master the english language

Jon Miller

[Az]

Originally posted by elijah

And the West despises Sharia culture for the same reason. One coin, two sides, their culture is as valid as ours, lets not get into "my culture is the best because...", as the reasons used there are only to back up our position, have no hold on the other.

Move to Saudi Arabia, will you?

[MrFun]

So what is my opinion of my own country?

I sometimes think that the United States is behind other Western nations when it comes to equality and liberty for all of its law abiding citizens. Canada, Netherlands, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, and others seem to be making more progress in equality than the United States.

But, recently, the decision of the Supreme Court, and a Democratic candidate who is openly for equal rights regardless of sexual orientation (Howard Dean) has raised my hopes.

But then, we have a wacko in the House of Representatives, who would like to deny people equal rights.

[Shi Huangdi]

America! One of the most free countries in the world, proud champion of economic freedom as the other western nations descend into social democracy. A holdout of the Christian religion, as much of the west descends into agnosticism. America, with her wonderful foreign policy which continues to act as a force of justice in this world! No place in the world I'd rather be.


*dons flame-retardant suit*