tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post2663112198177688501..comments2023-09-15T04:27:57.129-04:00Comments on Commentarama: Question: American Greatness, What Gives?AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-46861350618662389472012-05-26T21:18:09.089-04:002012-05-26T21:18:09.089-04:00Anthony, I agree completely. America is very idea...Anthony, I agree completely. America is very idealistic. We may not be perfect all the time, but at least we aspire to be. I have never found that anywhere else in the world, where people just seem to go with what how it's always been.<br /><br />You're right about race too. Some people want to lock themselves into the Sharpton view and see the country as inherently evil, but that's not really America. America is a place where most people don't care what you are so long as you don't try to tell them how to live.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-27205021046651464862012-05-26T19:45:03.923-04:002012-05-26T19:45:03.923-04:00I think what makes America exceptional is its idea...I think what makes America exceptional is its idealism. It doesn't always live up to the ideals (in the real world that is impossible) but it has them, which is more than many countries can say.<br /><br />European countries tend to confuse amorality with sophistication and many LDCs decline to criticize dictators out of a (misguided IMHO) sense of solidarity.<br /><br />I also believe that our system of government is exceptional. Right now government is gridlocked, but the gridlock is better than what happened before. We have more freedom than most of the world and we've solved most of our disputes more or less peacefully.<br /><br />I've argued with a lot of people from a lot of places about America and race (many seem to get their take on race relations in America from Al Sharpton) but based on what I've observed and experienced from time in England, Pakistan, Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Jamaica and of course, the good old US of A in modern times, there's no better place to live no matter what color you are.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-1439401053032364112012-05-25T19:48:59.992-04:002012-05-25T19:48:59.992-04:00rlaWTX, I think that's around the time they st...rlaWTX, I think that's around the time they started treating mental illness.Doc Whoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283308866886912377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-37844804056232036812012-05-25T11:58:15.309-04:002012-05-25T11:58:15.309-04:00rlaWTX, Optimism is the way to go! :)
I agree 100...rlaWTX, Optimism is the way to go! :)<br /><br />I agree 100% on your American Exceptionalism point. Well said!<br /><br />That's interesting about the deaths dropping. I know the military did start working on mental health issues much more carefully in the past couple decades. Perhaps that has paid off?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-43050758547946521882012-05-25T11:49:05.467-04:002012-05-25T11:49:05.467-04:00RE military casualties: Table 5 - I find the sharp...RE military casualties: Table 5 - I find the sharp decrease in "self-inflicted" deaths in 1997 and forward interesting. I wonder if mental health assistance got better in the late 90s?<br /><br />Re American Exceptionalism: I can't imagine claiming any other country as home. The US was the first to truly understand the spirit of humanity: the urge for freedom as well as the corresponding negative urges, and to create a form of government that celebrates the former while limiting the latter. We've managed to mangle it over the years (and currently isn't the first time), but we tend to self-correct to a degree. And, this amazing creation has attracted strong, vibrant people from the beginning - as well as elevating those who are already here. The nature of humanness ensures that there will be deadbeats, but overall (OWS not withstanding) we have fantastic people trying to live their lives as individuals who are a part of an awesome whole. God Bless America!<br /><br />[apparently, as counterpoint to tryanmax, I am in an optimistic mood today!]rlaWTXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09319344164726195144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-58724972350058658692012-05-25T10:47:26.333-04:002012-05-25T10:47:26.333-04:00K, I concur. It's the freedom. Freedom leads t...K, I concur. It's the freedom. Freedom leads to all the rest.<br /><br />Great point -- you can get all those things if you agree to have yourself locked up, yet people who are locked up seem to desperately want out. Interesting, isn't it? I guess being genuinely free is worth more than certain things.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-35382816336013729032012-05-25T02:16:20.497-04:002012-05-25T02:16:20.497-04:00America. It's the Freedom. When America is no ...America. It's the Freedom. When America is no longer free it will no longer be America. <br /><br /><br />And I don't mean the "prison freedoms" like free health care, free education, free housing, free food. Those are the "freedoms" given to criminals in jails - and yet somehow they remain more interested in living outside than inside.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16289856510554336990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-15145431777306351942012-05-25T00:18:12.536-04:002012-05-25T00:18:12.536-04:00Space Aliens, Maybe you could sue?
Actually, stop...Space Aliens, Maybe you could sue?<br /><br />Actually, stopping an alien invasion is probably as realistic a justification for this bill as any other they've given.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-66680869850935009422012-05-25T00:15:23.621-04:002012-05-25T00:15:23.621-04:00Andrew
Please don't allow this Congressmen to...Andrew<br /><br />Please don't allow this Congressmen to pass this bill. On our planet we don't have names and our address can't be verified as the post office has yet to travel in outer space.<br /><br />This bill will stop us dead in our tracks in preparing for our grand invasion!!!!Space Aliensnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-2951765077990956062012-05-25T00:06:23.304-04:002012-05-25T00:06:23.304-04:00T-Rav, I agree, it's the little things like th...T-Rav, I agree, it's the little things like that which make America great. The constitution, etc. is a great foundation, but it's the very way Americans live which makes us who we are.<br /><br />For example, Americans are the only people on the planet who aren't satisfied with "good enough." They are always striving to find ways to improve things. They take the initiative to make the world around them better. You honestly don't see that in the rest of the world were people simply accept things as they are and hope the government makes improvements. In America, we do it ourselves.<br /><br />And a thing like your 100-mile sale is a great example where somebody came up with an idea and did it. That is very, very American.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-28981010703268675232012-05-24T23:58:50.699-04:002012-05-24T23:58:50.699-04:00I'm going to avoid the government/democracy ro...I'm going to avoid the government/democracy route and go with something less tangible. <br /><br />Today, my home region kicked off the "100-Mile Yard Sale," which is exactly what it sounds like. Every Memorial Day weekend, a local highway plays host to hundreds of yard sale booths and thousands of buyers, roaming up and down looking for stuff. I've always thought stuff like that is quintessentially American--people putting these events together on their own without a government permit, selling stuff from roadside stands, mingling with friends and strangers and just enjoying the day. You could never find that kind of thing in a Communist dictatorship, or even in the bureaucratic welfare states of the supposedly free world. Being American means having and defending liberty, not just in a legal sense but in how you live your life.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-8104292095668258192012-05-24T23:56:38.497-04:002012-05-24T23:56:38.497-04:00Terry, I've strangely got a lot of faith in th...Terry, I've strangely got a lot of faith in them as well as the moment.<br /><br />And yeah, progressives suck.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-3587343220888317032012-05-24T23:08:12.422-04:002012-05-24T23:08:12.422-04:00Andrew, No progressives come to mind at all. In f...Andrew, No progressives come to mind at all. In fact, they seem to be working against everything this country stands for.<br /><br /><br />tryanmax, Don't be discouraged. There is a lot of progress despite the naysayers and fools. For the first time in a long time I have faith that the Republicans are going to fix things.ScyFyterryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12635510395140863437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-53566559152034522322012-05-24T21:24:47.876-04:002012-05-24T21:24:47.876-04:00tryanmax, I was surprised. I've given up on m...tryanmax, I was surprised. I've given up on most of them some time ago and only hear them now under protest. But lately, the people I do know who listen have first started questioning whether the hosts were right, then got angry at the hosts, and finally stopped listening regularly or at all.<br /><br />Beck is pretty much a nut, and I think he lost a lot of people when he decided to try the messianic cult thing.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-37928714492437643042012-05-24T21:19:12.741-04:002012-05-24T21:19:12.741-04:00Well that's good to hear (read). Among my own ...Well that's good to hear (read). Among my own circles, I'm pretty well leading the charge as far as no longer listening to certain radio hosts. I'm pretty much on the third tier (Bill Bennett, Denis Prager) and they actually talk about interesting and different topics. The only exception seems to be Glenn Beck. Lots of people dropped him far before I did, but I think for entirely different reasons.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-37557479568453550032012-05-24T21:05:42.912-04:002012-05-24T21:05:42.912-04:00tryanmax, I can't argue with that. It's b...tryanmax, I can't argue with that. It's been pretty clear that at least the talking heads are determined that nothing will please them and I have no doubt they'll complain about his failures the moment he takes office.<br /><br />But in the end, I'm not sure this will matter for the Tea Party people who are taking over. They seem to understand that you can't rebuild Rome in a day, or else they wouldn't be slowly working their way up party ranks. And I think they will begin to tune out the people who aren't helping. I can tell you that in my own family I have already heard people say they won't listen to certain radio types anymore.<br /><br />Also, I think conservatives got lucky in Romney because I really don't think he's a moderate. I think he will do conservative things no matter how much the whiners keep whining.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-59166350745822191792012-05-24T20:35:22.918-04:002012-05-24T20:35:22.918-04:00Andrew, I'll feel less gloomy when the conserv...Andrew, I'll feel less gloomy when the conservative movement stops eating its own. At the moment it is a little too omnivorous for comfort. It already seems fairly certain that, should Romney take the White House, he won't have full conservative support. "Throw the bums out" mentality is applied to freshmen congressmen at their swearing in. Conservatives as a group don't understand the incrementalism that has been the secret weapon of the left. I will be pleased if Romney and the Republicans just put the brakes on things, but I know most conservatives will want to see the car turn around in the first 100 days. And they'll call it betrayal when it doesn't happen. <br /><br />I'm a little rain cloud. Gloomy-gloomy-gloom-gloom.tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-11266437107976783682012-05-24T20:12:12.611-04:002012-05-24T20:12:12.611-04:00Terry, Yeah, it's hard to think of too many go...Terry, Yeah, it's hard to think of too many good progressives. None come to mind really.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-61505074257606693672012-05-24T20:09:39.092-04:002012-05-24T20:09:39.092-04:00Andrew, Liberals yes. Progressives, no.Andrew, Liberals yes. Progressives, no.ScyFyterryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12635510395140863437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-49738150458581657292012-05-24T20:02:09.360-04:002012-05-24T20:02:09.360-04:00CrisD, Well said. I concur. And I think the vast...CrisD, Well said. I concur. And I think the vast majority of America remains exactly like it always has been -- proud people working hard, even if they aren't the ones that get celebrated by Hollywood or covered by the MSM.<br /><br />I join your salute. :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-21296013947427073062012-05-24T20:00:38.183-04:002012-05-24T20:00:38.183-04:00Terry, LOL! I'm sure there have been at least...Terry, LOL! I'm sure there have been at least a couple of good liberals who helped make America what it is, right?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-38071985223314919172012-05-24T19:59:30.002-04:002012-05-24T19:59:30.002-04:00I still believe that hard work and perseverance pa...I still believe that hard work and perseverance pays off in America. There is pride in a job well done.<br /><br />Meantime, I salute our fallen soldiers who have defended the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-89910819980657723652012-05-24T19:53:51.914-04:002012-05-24T19:53:51.914-04:00Conservatives. :DConservatives. :DScyFyterryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12635510395140863437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-38396799501365958712012-05-24T19:16:45.262-04:002012-05-24T19:16:45.262-04:00Doc, Strangely, that makes sense. ;)Doc, Strangely, that makes sense. ;)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425587034622601550.post-83958811689683428192012-05-24T19:12:54.788-04:002012-05-24T19:12:54.788-04:00Andrew, That's Obama practicing to shut down t...Andrew, That's Obama practicing to shut down the internet so people stop talking about how bad he is as president. LOL!Doc Whoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283308866886912377noreply@blogger.com