Let's Turn the Tables for Once.

[JiggaWHO]

This was dug up after 9-11, 28 years after it was written. It is very true that much of the world dumps on America but looks to America as a beacon of hope when things go wrong. Sure we in this country can be bullies, selfish, arogant and pushy but I have found that Americans have some of the the biggest hearts when others are in need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/sinclair.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Americans

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claim: Canadian radio commentator Gordon Sinclair delivered a stirring, pro-American editorial in 1973.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Status: True.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example: [Collected on the Internet, 1999]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good reading, from a Toronto newspaper's editorial page!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Widespread, but only partial news coverage was given recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television commentator. What follows is the full text of his trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional Record:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans. I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States Dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar, or the Douglas DC-10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American planes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Ã

[Chris]

True but I still couldn't give two tosses. :?

[Pete_the_Viscous]

...but to this day I can't think of any time a country other than Canada has ever helped the U.S.A. in a time of crisis...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What, one of the many crises that plague the USA, such as the terrible famine, ruthless civil war and unstable system of government? Countries like Indonesia should damn well do more for America, instead of being so selfish and relying on America for aide whenever they have even the slightest problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seriously, though -- you say that people regard the USA as bad when they don't help out other countries less fortunate than they? Well, think of it this way: is it not wrong to not right a wrong when it's quite within one's power to do so? There are so few situations in which a country as powerful as the USA would be of no help to another country, that others are bound to be a little suspicious if there is no aid forthcoming from them, when other, far less fortunate countries are pitching in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's not to say that the USA doesn't do a terrific job in helping out outher countries when they're in need. I'm just pointing out that, yes, people will look down on a big country if it doesn't do it's moral duty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: I have pre-emptively bolded the sentence above so that, if and when someone accuses me of USA bashing (likely), I don't have to quote them quoting me, and bold the bit where I said nice things.

[indy500fan]

I'm just pointing out that, yes, people will look down on a big country if it doesn't do it's moral duty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

who says its your moral duty to help less fortunate people? morals are purely subjective to the person, i personally dont believe that it is my "moral duty" to help out less fortunate people.

[Pete_the_Viscous]

While I completely respect that (notice that I didn't say I expect the USA to do things), the majority of people in the world have a similar sense of morals. So, while you're right, it's subjective, and not everyone will agree, most people will. This is why I used the word "one" not "indy500fan". For the same reason, most people aren't criminals and most people don't like violence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frankly, I myself don't care what the USA does: I just felt like pointing out a reason for what the poster was complaining about, to show that it's not a one-sided argument.

[xyrec]

I don't wanna get into this subject much but I'd just like to point out that the US isn't filthy stinking rich and everyone here isn't driving a cadillac or ferrari. They say statistically that 1 in 5 children in the US don't receive proper nutrition and I"ve know some of them personally and watched them sit and talk at lunch during school instead of eating because they couldn't afford food. The poverty rate in this country is like 10-20%. More in some areas, less in others. That's a lot of people who don't always have all the food and supplies they need. So every dollar the US spends helping other countries is a dollar they could spend helping their own people. So there is no reason for anyone to complain that the US doesn't give enough when they could easily choose to not send the money and spend it on their own people.

[Pete_the_Viscous]

Again, a good point. However (and, please, believe me when I say I have nothing against the USA), it's also fair to say that the USA has rather more money and resources than most other countries. In fact, it's likely (and, no, I'm obviously not an economist) that, if everyone put their minds to it, the USA could sort out it's own poverty problems, and help other countries with theirs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I mean, come on: sure, every country has poor people -- it's in the nature of a society (it just is) -- but compare how many poor and starving people there are in the USA with... well, any third world country, and surely it is lower?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, the point I was making was one about selflessness, (see my second post on this topic to establish that I don't give a damn, by the way): putting others first, in other words. I gather that the majority of the USA is Christian. I also gather that it's christian of someone to put others' needs above their own. Seriously: you said that you've seen kids sit in school, not eating anything because they're too poor? Well what about those kids in other countries for whom an education is something only to dream about, for lack of funds? ----but seriously, I'm only saying this in response to what you said: I don't, as I will keep saying, care what the USA does with its money: it's none of my business, and I was only saying that there are other things to think about (see above post).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So yeah -- while, as indy500fan said it's all subjective, and as the first poster said, lots of countries view the USA as being bad (not that that's necessarily true, or anything), and as I say, it's not right to make statements along the lines of "we give more than enough" or "you don't give enough", simply because there are always more ways of looking at it.

[indy500fan]

So yeah -- while, as indy500fan said it's all subjective, and as the first poster said, lots of countries view the USA as being bad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

well, bad and good is subjective too. my version of bad and anothers is different... :lol:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

im just kidding :lol: actually its true though :twisted:

[vladmoney]

About time somone posts something like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People do think we are to rich and we have money to through away. Hey who has the most debt in the world, and we can't get rid of it. We are paying 8% of our money just paying the interest on the debt, thats a lot of money. Yet no one helps us take care of our debt problems, yet we get into debt by helping other problems. We are asked to donate more money then anyone for some reason. Blah well i can complain about a lot of things. I know most Americans like to brag, but when it comes down to it we are nice where it counts MOST. Yet everyone just hates America, why? How come everyone just hate Germany or Japan for WWII. Nope, we forgave everyone. We forgave Japan, the country that attacked us. But yet all over Europe people hate America, why? America saved their butts 2x from German domination. SHouldn't that be enough?

[____]

Personally I think the only reason most coutnries dislike America is because the US government likes to try to police the world too much.

 

 

 

And I don't just mean wars and such, it's everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As for hating on Germany: most of the german population had no choice in the matter. The Nazi party had everyone under its thumb.

[unknownmasterofnothing]

It's to be expected, peoplehave different opinions and there will always be the people that hate america for policing the world, and those who hate america for not policing enough.

[Death_By_Pod]

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=178372530&p=y78373345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australia will send $10m (ÃÆââââ¬Ã¡Ãâì6.1m) and a team of 20 disaster experts to the US to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the prime minister John Howard said today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ãâ¦Ã¢â¬ÅThere should not be an assumption that because America is the wealthiest and most powerful country in the world, this isnÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬Ã¢ââ¬Å¾Ã¢t a major challenge and a major crisis,ÃÆââââ¬Å¡Ã¬ÃâÃ

[Bubsa]

About time somone posts something like this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

People do think we are to rich and we have money to through away. Hey who has the most debt in the world, and we can't get rid of it. We are paying 8% of our money just paying the interest on the debt, thats a lot of money. Yet no one helps us take care of our debt problems, yet we get into debt by helping other problems. We are asked to donate more money then anyone for some reason. Blah well i can complain about a lot of things. I know most Americans like to brag, but when it comes down to it we are nice where it counts MOST. Yet everyone just hates America, why? How come everyone just hate Germany or Japan for WWII. Nope, we forgave everyone. We forgave Japan, the country that attacked us. But yet all over Europe people hate America, why? America saved their butts 2x from German domination. SHouldn't that be enough?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course man, that's all very valid and cannot be ignored. But 60 years on, with the idiot you have running the ship, you can see why it can be easily forgotten. To be honest (even though I wasn't born then) this anti-Americanism really only came to the fore recently; 10 maybe 20 years tops, probs with the first Gulf War is when it really began to kick off.

 

 

 

Obviously, being the world's only superpower, a lot of the 'hate' would simply come through envy. To be honest though, I wouldn't worry. America's still a baby. Building up a country that strong so quickly might be a double edged sword if you get me.

 

 

 

And you're never going to get news praising the U.S. That's not how the media works. No doubt that they are, but everyone's always quick to pick up on the things America aren't doing or should/should not be doing. I'll confess I do too. Some of it is warranted and some maybe but every country makes mistakes. Being the world's most powerful nation, America's mistakes are going to be elaborated on more.

 

 

 

Like Rick says, there's an impression that the U.S tries to police the world. But think about it, they're in the United Nations, something formed so democracy could help out the nations of the world. Why shouldn't America be helping as the world's leading nation? It's likely if they don't they'll get criticised. Again though, it has to be accepted there have been grave misjudgements and/or execution on some matters America have got involved in. I can think of 2/3 obvious wars.

 

 

 

America has the impression of being high and mighty. But that's simply because it is. Whether they should flaunt it as much as they do I don't know. But America and its people are strong and powerful because they've never really faced a huge crisis (bar Wall street I think) prior to 9/11. In that moment, they rallied together and, with the support of other nations, got through it in a 'typical American way'. Well good for them I say. America didn't get where they are now by being also rans. They're at the forefront and I, with some limitations, am all supportive of them continueing to do so.

[____]

There is a difference between America going off on its own to attack some country on a hunch or whatever (like Iraq - I don't want to get into a debate about it, it's just based on the results of the invasion) and acting on behalf of the UN to achieve something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the above case most of the UN wasn't for it but America did it anyway (enter 'policing the world' tag) and then the US government bullied a few other countries into helping. And attacked those who didn't want to (like France).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted it isn't like that all the time but it's actions like that (being a bit of a bully and throwing its weight around) which doesn't help nurf the amount of distate people have towards the USA. Personally I have no real dislike for America. It's just sometimes the Government makes really bad political decisions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*shrug*

[unknownmasterofnothing]

I barely have any beef against america before the clinton administration, except possibly the atomic bomb, which i'm semi ok with. And the time when the KKK was popular among government :x.

[Bubsa]

There is a difference between America going off on its own to attack some country on a hunch or whatever (like Iraq - I don't want to get into a debate about it, it's just based on the results of the invasion) and acting on behalf of the UN to achieve something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the above case most of the UN wasn't for it but America did it anyway (enter 'policing the world' tag) and then the US government bullied a few other countries into helping. And attacked those who didn't want to (like France).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted it isn't like that all the time but it's actions like that (being a bit of a bully and throwing its weight around) which doesn't help nurf the amount of distate people have towards the USA. Personally I have no real dislike for America. It's just sometimes the Government makes really bad political decisions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*shrug*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, definately agree with that. It would be one of the 'mistakes' I wrote about.