The Wastrel
12/03/2003 1:40pm,
Dai-Tenchi said:
To us, Yanks is a trite way for an American to refer to a person from the north eastern US (Civil War), kind of odd to hear it comming from a non-American. To call a southerner a Yank would be very insulting.
I don't believe we're a righteous liberator, I don't want to get into that. However I do have to say that I'm tired of having non-Americans, particularly Canadians and Europeans, discuss international politics or events with me and approaching me as one might a child. The assumption that we are either ignorant, arrogant, stupid, or just evil is really starting to wear thin with me, and I'm getting tired of having to argue the point.
The "European edge" that LLL felt compelled to share is just what I'm talking about. As if, to be a good citizen of any other country, you must take as many opportunities as possible to deride the US for any infraction, regardless of how hypocritical such a judgement may be.
Blegh, this is complicated, I'm just tired of people treating me like **** because I don't scream "down with my government" and tell them "I'm so sorry I'm American".
**** yeah!
Sarcastic? Perhaps, but I am a US isolationist at heart. We could do ourselves a lot of good if we went to a defensive posture and emphasized social programs. Wait... that sounds like.... could it be??? EUROPE! It must be nice to sit around spending all of your money on yourselves while someone else provides for your defense.
I actually had to make that point to a dipshit Francophile grad student. European social spending was practically impossible without the American security umbrella. We paid the price in domestic social costs while they enjoyed the benefit of American military might. No debate friends. None.
I think it's frankly quite disturbing that Western countries squabble over which one is more evil when there are groups who don't share our values...for example, not blowing people up randomly.
To us, Yanks is a trite way for an American to refer to a person from the north eastern US (Civil War), kind of odd to hear it comming from a non-American. To call a southerner a Yank would be very insulting.
I don't believe we're a righteous liberator, I don't want to get into that. However I do have to say that I'm tired of having non-Americans, particularly Canadians and Europeans, discuss international politics or events with me and approaching me as one might a child. The assumption that we are either ignorant, arrogant, stupid, or just evil is really starting to wear thin with me, and I'm getting tired of having to argue the point.
The "European edge" that LLL felt compelled to share is just what I'm talking about. As if, to be a good citizen of any other country, you must take as many opportunities as possible to deride the US for any infraction, regardless of how hypocritical such a judgement may be.
Blegh, this is complicated, I'm just tired of people treating me like **** because I don't scream "down with my government" and tell them "I'm so sorry I'm American".
**** yeah!
Sarcastic? Perhaps, but I am a US isolationist at heart. We could do ourselves a lot of good if we went to a defensive posture and emphasized social programs. Wait... that sounds like.... could it be??? EUROPE! It must be nice to sit around spending all of your money on yourselves while someone else provides for your defense.
I actually had to make that point to a dipshit Francophile grad student. European social spending was practically impossible without the American security umbrella. We paid the price in domestic social costs while they enjoyed the benefit of American military might. No debate friends. None.
I think it's frankly quite disturbing that Western countries squabble over which one is more evil when there are groups who don't share our values...for example, not blowing people up randomly.