Mexico vs USA Sep 3rd. [R]

utah_heretic · 09-10-2005, 11:26 AM

It was really wild being in the airport in Columbus on Sunday...all around me are players and fans from the game, looking up at ESPN with dismay, all they were reporting on was College football. I couldn't even find an article in the Columbus paper I skimmed that morning. pathetic.

Rover · 09-10-2005, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scholesy

I can agree that it is disrespectful and wrong to treat the symbols of someones country (no matter the country) with disrespect, and ultimately I agree that even booing the French anthem is not polite.

As for horror stories of armed forces, look, no nation is perfect, there are dreadful stories from all sides, but as I recall the last discussion I had with a US Marine it ended with a lot of words I can't say here and included statements like 'we're American, we don't need permission, we see what we like and we take it, f the world - f England (as he tried to - unsuccessfully rip the Union Jack flag from my CO's arm), f you'. This occured as my unit with our CO in the lead stopped a US unit from beating on a teenage girl and boy very badly because they wouldn't give them their bikes. When the US commander was informed his exact words were (in front of his unit) f 'em, f 'em all, this is our country now, boo yah' blah blah blah. This incident was certainly not the first I have seen or heard of.

So you and I will have to disagree, because dispite the heroic efforts of some US military to do the right thing, there is a strong core that ruins it for the rest and best of you. Now I do admit however to being extremely jealous of the US MRI's, our's alays sucked with the exception of our Garibaldi cookies which last about 80 years packed. There are many things that I adnire about the US military, but them showing respect for other nations is not a strong suit for the US military in general, obviously there are many exceptions, you must be one of those, that's great, however the kind of attitude you have is not the norm in my limited and humble opinion.

I am aware that many people gave their all for my adopted nation, I feel doubly blessed since England has stood lone at times standing against dreadful foes and at times stood side by side with the USA in defeating those foes, some of my friends and family giving their lives for those causes. So trust me I get it, you may not need to point that out as much as you think because it rather proves my point, I really do understand it.

Then disagree we will, because what you are describing does not match my experience.

Scholesy · 09-11-2005, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rover

Then disagree we will, because what you are describing does not match my experience.

That's because you're American and have never seen it from the other side, but disagree we shall. No hard feelings.

Rover · 09-12-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scholesy

That's because you're American and have never seen it from the other side, but disagree we shall. No hard feelings.

You assume much, since you don't know me or my experience. But we have long since exhausted anything productive in this discussion so I agree to disagree. And no hard feelings.

soccerman · 09-12-2005, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scholesy

That's because you're American and have never seen it from the other side, but disagree we shall. No hard feelings.

OK well in that case you're not American and have the same problem.

Scholesy · 09-13-2005, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerman

OK well in that case you're not American and have the same problem.

Well,yes of course, it's inherent in being a 'foreigner' until such time as you become engrained in the society of another country such as you call yourself by that nationality because you identify more closely to them than your original nation. With maybe a few exceptions. I can understand a lot about the USA and Americans, but don't claim to understand all of it, or how Americans feel, it would be arrogant of me to do so. That process of discovery is one of the beauties of the world being much bigger than we think it is, with more people than we think there are and more cultures than we ever dreamed existed. I think that's what makes travel so fun, so exciting and so frustrating too at times, we are forced to look at our own selves and not only our perceptions of the world but also the worlds perceptions of us. Not always comfortable reading I am afraid, but sometimes very useful in our own personal growth.

montgjules · 09-13-2005, 06:41 AM

I have to stand behind scholesy on one important point: Americans would do well to examine themselves in a more international light. It is excellent and wonderful to be patriotic and say "GO USA!!" but there is a big world outside our borders and we can learn a lotand grow a lot by seeing how other people do things. The easy thing is always to assume that the way we do things must be correct. But stepping out of that comfort zone can sometime be the first step down the path to understanding and learning. I love my country and I love my fellow americans but the ethnocentrism ("My way must be the right way.... because it's my way...") is sometimes a bit appaling. It's a little frightening to take that stand, but it's something important to think about and open our minds to.

Go USA! 😉