Quote:
Originally Posted by Riverman
People who are old seem to feel very strongly that America really is special. That it stands for the right things, that it is in fact exceptional, that it makes the world a much better place and is without question the best place to live on earth. Sort of makes sense, because **** was really ****ed up around WWII and whatever shortcomings we've had are outweighed by saving the world, literally.
The next generation, baby boomers, seems to kind of sometimes think that, but less so. They abhorred Vietnam and are a bit more critical.
My generation, the baby boomers' kids, seem to have little to no nationalism at all, at least among the well-educated. I think this is a good thing, because nationalism sucks and it makes people defend and/or support things that are horrible such as the erosion of civil rights in the aftermath of 9/11. Also it creates an us vs. them mentality even where the supposed foe has much in common with us.
Are we actually getting less nationalistic? Is it because leaders suck even more than they did in the past? Does it even matter since the most any of us are willing to do about it is read Glenn Greenwald and type WAAF on the internet?
Surely America is getting more nationalistic. From what little I know it seems like soldiers returning from Vietnam were getting a very hard time. These days, your troops seem to be more or less demigods. Dixie chicks etc.
Obeying authority/rich ppl has more or less replaced rule of law. If you don't support whatever ******* is in charge, be it a president, banker, police, means you are un-American which seems to be even worse than being a communist. Anybody with a job seems to be untouchable. I don't really know how bad this has been historically (say 1900-) though, perhaps it was even worse. How many % of the population wants Obama to ***** just (ok, it's because he's black) because they think he was born outside of the USA?
American journalism seems like an enormous joke these days. MSM media mostly relays whatever the US gov wants. The whole Iraq thing was crazy and now watching it all over again w/ Iran is insane. Perhaps things have changed for the better now that cable news is here.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy_Fish
I think the USA is probably still one of of best countries, if not the best. That does not mean that we are immune to becoming worse, as seems to be the attitude of the older generation. I think that we're much "less better" than the rest of the world than we were 10 years ago.
Let's hear a few reasons for USA #1 please.
One of the reasons seems to be the right to carry a gun. Even if I concede that point, I am more likely to die a violent death in USA than in other wealthy countries (correct me if I'm wrong).
IMO, gun ownership seems to be a red herring. You see ppl cheering their state on while it imposes incredibly crazy things like the War on Drugs, for-profit prisons and good old assassination. But as long as you have guns, you're free!
Quote:
Originally Posted by miajag
America is def #1 at getting the haters furious.
That award goes to brown ppl or maybe, maybe poor ppl.
Last edited by JMa; 05-27-2012 at 04:48 PM.
Reason: really though, most of my knowledge of how USA used to be comes from First Blood, All the Presidents men, and Michael Moore