all I can say is that success is all very relative...
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Outrage over Obama's bow
- Thread starter daveza
- Start date
all I can say is that success is all very relative...
LazyLion
King of de Jungle
yes, it is not a major issue. But for the record, sovereign heads of state should not bow to each other even if you would do it as a normal citizen out of respect.
Rubbish. Take a look at U.S conduct during WW2 compared to now.
daveza
Honorary Master
How would you define "unsuccessful" , what we see in Africa ?
For the USA it would be defined by money I suspect.
You can define it in terms of individuals and the country as a whole.
America as a country has a number of benefits from its geography - it is protected by two vast oceans, it has an ally to the north, with the arctic circle beyond that and mountains with deep forests. It has some security issues to the south but Mexico is no match for the USA and it acts as a buffer. South America is not a security threat to the USA. It has rivers which aid in transport and has size able natural resources as well as plenty of arable land.
In terms of individuals Americans tend to be satisfied, happy and rich. Their problems - healthcare, unemployment, petty left vs right wing politics, threat from nuclear attack, threat from terrorism - pale to the threats most other nations face. Job satisfaction in the US is pretty high - even though they work the longest hours out of everyone in the world - "89 percent said they were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their jobs."
America is a mixing pot of ethnicity, you will find everyone there. All these people have contributed to some degree to America's wealth and spirit of enterprise and liberty are some of the driving forces behind the US' power, in addition to the safe, un-threatened homeland.
Twice America saved Europe from destruction in World Wars and a third time from being overrun by the Soviet Russians. America could have let the Russians take all of Europe but they stood firm with things such as the Berlin Airlift and risk of nuclear war. What has Germany done in return for America? What has France done?
America saved South Korea and Taiwan from destruction and prevented Japan from being a Soviet Union vassal.
So yeah, only one nation could do that. As for Europe - well each European nation is still very racist - try being a Turk or a Bulgarian in Germany - especially in East Germany - but ex-West is just as bad. Despite the EU and some nice ideals behind it, the EU is still just a collection of countries with their own interests with populations who dislike each other and who only 50 years ago were burning each other in gas chambers. Go to Japan - you'll be a gaijin 2nd class citizen. Go to Australia and you'll still stand out - you'll have a better deal if you're educated and white but if you're coloured, black, yellow - well forget it. The thing about America is that it is a true rainbow nation - SA is not, not by a long shot.
That's my take. I can see millions of people wanting green cards for the US and entering it illegally but I don't see Americans leave. In fact America is so big, you don't even need to tour outside of it for many years to enjoy great holidays from snow capped mountains, deep forests, beautiful beaches to deserts and canyons. You've got everything there.
Of course it's not perfect but hey nowhere is - just that as a sum of all parts they're tops. They've saved the world many times and most of the innovation we enjoy - from medicine to electronics - is of American origin.
Are some Americans stuck up? Surely yes. But hey, who cares. Anyone can be an American. Also note how the US government looks out for its citizens.
Of course your mileage may vary but a African-American or Native American in the US still has a better deal than a Turk in Germany.
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Of all my friends who emigrated to the US, every single one is satisfied. Not all are rich, but they earn way more than they earned in SA and their quality of life is much higher. They are close to Europe. They are close to Asia on the other side.
daveza
Honorary Master
I'll toss these in as a counter for the Utopian view of the USA -
58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese; 3 Million morbidly Obese
Eight out of 10 over 25's Overweight
78% of American's not meeting basic activity level recommendations
25% completely Sedentary
76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990
The United States has one of the widest rich-poor gaps of any high-income nation today, and that gap continues to grow
On the Human Poverty Index the United States ranked 16th.
The USA is the second largest emitter of CO2 Emissions.
We also need to look at their military history:-
The United States originally wished to remain neutral when World War I broke out in August 1914.
US involvement in World War II was initially limited to providing war material and financial support to the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Republic of China
In both cases only a direct threat induced the USA to become militarily involved.
Korean war - at best a draw.
Vietnam - a dismal failure.
Both these wars were not in support of any country but against the threat of communism.
Beirut - troops withdrawn after heavy casualties.
Somalia - troops withdrawn after heavy casualties.
Afghanistan - Taliban, and Iraq - both previously supported by the US against Russia and Iran respectively.
Both conflicts continue with little sign of any resolution.
I think it is fair to say that the US is not the philanthropic saviour of the weak and oppressed as suggested, but their military might is only used when American interests are threatened or when a countries ideology is in conflict with that of the US.
Yes, the US of A is / has been successful but way from perfect - remember, they are the ones who gave the world the Jerry Springer Show.
58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese; 3 Million morbidly Obese
Eight out of 10 over 25's Overweight
78% of American's not meeting basic activity level recommendations
25% completely Sedentary
76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990
The United States has one of the widest rich-poor gaps of any high-income nation today, and that gap continues to grow
On the Human Poverty Index the United States ranked 16th.
The USA is the second largest emitter of CO2 Emissions.
We also need to look at their military history:-
The United States originally wished to remain neutral when World War I broke out in August 1914.
US involvement in World War II was initially limited to providing war material and financial support to the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Republic of China
In both cases only a direct threat induced the USA to become militarily involved.
Korean war - at best a draw.
Vietnam - a dismal failure.
Both these wars were not in support of any country but against the threat of communism.
Beirut - troops withdrawn after heavy casualties.
Somalia - troops withdrawn after heavy casualties.
Afghanistan - Taliban, and Iraq - both previously supported by the US against Russia and Iran respectively.
Both conflicts continue with little sign of any resolution.
I think it is fair to say that the US is not the philanthropic saviour of the weak and oppressed as suggested, but their military might is only used when American interests are threatened or when a countries ideology is in conflict with that of the US.
Yes, the US of A is / has been successful but way from perfect - remember, they are the ones who gave the world the Jerry Springer Show.
Didn't see any claim of that around here.
One wonders why there's so many legal and illegal immigrants.
Something the South Koreans are most grateful to the combined forces who supported them in the Korean war, and they are grateful to the US military presence that's maintained there to this day.
The wheels falling off your "paint the US black" bandwagon?
daveza
Honorary Master
One can wonder the same about SA.
Most certainly, but at least note where SA immigrants are from, and bear in mind that the US immigrants are not all from third world failed African states.
daveza
Honorary Master
Oh please - where have I tried to paint the US black ? All I'm suggesting is that it's not the global wunderkind it's made out to be in some circles and perhaps a little balance is in order.
The Human Development Index ranks the USA as only number 15 - which implies it not being as 'successful' as suggested.
Peder
Hobbit
Firstly i have no idea what this has to do with the topicWould you like to live in a housing estate, like the Desperate Housewives movie lot, or would you rather live in a Walled, Gated and Arm Guard patrolled enclave like the many in Gauteng...
secondly Maybe my sense of security is warped because we have thigh high fences around our house where everyone can see in but yeah i would rather live in gauteng (minus all the walled, gated enclave)
To me that is just stupid, so basically you think because you are better than another person it is och to push him down and belittle him?
And yes i think my country is the best in the world but to the point of that i won't let my president show his respect? thats just absurd!
The U.S in your prejudiced head and the real U.S are two completely different things it seems. Nobody said it was Utopian like progressive socialist Zimbabwe
