Superpowers and rising states.

History is like our own memory. We might not remember everything but, weather we remember it or not, our past defines our present situation.

edited 9th Aug '11 5:53:14 PM by Baff

Because there is nothing sadder than someone who advocates mediocrity as an acceptable outcome. That's the impression I get out of the entire continent of Europe. Provide for this, shelter from that, avoid anything that might otherwise disturb the mundane like a war. I see no drive to be special or unique in any way over there.

Over here everyone I meet from immigrants to long running families has dreams, aspirations, a desire for uniqueness, a drive to be special. A drive to do something with themselves rather than settle for mediocrity. (Whether they succeed or not varies.)

Maybe it's just a vocal portion over there drowning out those who wish to be special.

It must suck to hate lazy people soo much.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:04:08 PM by Baff

Honestly? I never bought American Exceptionalism. The only two things that make America "exceptional" to me are that it's here and I was born in it.

That's good enough for me.

History doesn't remember people. We don't remember Abraham Lincoln, or Jefferson Davis, or George Washington, or Winston Churchill, or even Adolf Hitler. We remember their actions. History is defined by action. Will you be safe in the here and now? Perhaps. But will anyone care?

When a tree falls in a forest where no one can hear it, it still makes noise, but it doesn't matter because nobody cares.

^^ It's because I know firsthand how lazy folks ruin it for everyone.

-ignore-

edited 24th May '12 1:36:29 AM by JosefBugman

No. You can be great without crippling others. But why settle for great? Why would you ever stop trying to make yourself better? And why would you backslide in one area to get better in another? Some way, some how, you can be the best at everything. It's only a matter of whether you can find the way.

Still. You are making no sense. My question was, why are you so bitter? And it implied... "why did you get soo mad at me pointing out the Roman legacy amounted to a variety of things instead of only architecture and invading a lot of placesk, lifting them out of the bronce age."

How does me pointing out that England is remembered as the place of constitutional monarchy and Rome as the birth place of the Roma Catholic faith came to be associated by that strange inner monologue of yours to signify "leave alone those poor lazy immigrants who cant do anything because they are all welfare queens who say nationalism is a sin"

You should get yourself examined or something because it seems as if all you have is a hammer (to slash back at those terribly dangerous lazy people) and thus everything to you looks like a nail (a justification of laziness and immigration where there is none)

edited 9th Aug '11 6:10:20 PM by Baff

The same kind of people who believe nationalism and patriotism rank as the highest sins of mankind, those who believe everything can be talked over even when the reality says it is impossible, those who believe independence and succeeding on one's own talents and merits are immoral. Those kinds of people.

-ignore-

edited 24th May '12 1:36:58 AM by JosefBugman

Nationalism is foolish. A nationalist would start a war with an opposing nation because he cannot compete, and bomb children to "free" his people, only to bring down the hammer of their oppressors when before there would have been no reprisal.

If a supranational government could prove that it could run things without ruining everything, I wouldn't fight it. I wouldn't stand for every sovereign nation being dissolved, but I would allow my country to cede full control in exchange for a better life.

The difference between a patriot and a nationalist? The nationalist would bomb the supranational capitol. A patriot—me? I wouldn't care. I might even respect them, if they earned it.

But I would only ever salute one flag...

Dont listend to him

He will just derail this thread out of some sort of sadistic enjoyment.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:09:43 PM by Baff

Perhaps it's because you assume "superpower" is synonymous with a giant military. It's not. It's a big part of it, but it is not, in and of itself, the definition.

Scandinavia or France are not superpowers. But neither is China, and it will never be if it keeps going the way it is.

A superpower is defined as a government, to me, with the means and the will to carve out a better place for its people, and defend that place with every inch of its being, while making it better at the same time. China doesn't respect its people or itself enough to ever earn that distinction.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:13:09 PM by USAF713

-ignore-

edited 24th May '12 1:37:41 AM by JosefBugman

But his entire point is that the USA isn't carving out a better place in the world for its people! It is probably the last advantageous time in history to be American right now. What good is military might when your infrastructure is crumbling and countries with GD Ps maybe half your size have better healthcare?

edited 9th Aug '11 6:17:05 PM by cadeonehalf

America isn't the happiest place on earth(that title goes to Disneyland) but it's one of the most diverse and most funniest places to be .

Also in America you can pursue happiness even if your poor or rich.I think even the poor in this country can make a difference and become famous.

Believe it or not Americans citizens hate the bully image more than people think.Like in Hetalia,we would rather be the hero than the bully.Actually some of the actions are only interpreted as bullying when there is more to the story than it appears.Yeah,some actions in the past aren't always that great however we can always learn from them.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:19:20 PM by jazzflower14

Then why does the US score lower than other countries in test about overall happiness?

After leaving the U.S I realised it was a sort of depressing place. Ppl who have never left the states dont seem to notice it, but I talked to many that have left and then realised they didnt want to go back.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:21:09 PM by Baff

I would say that several other nations have far greater levels of social mobility than the United States.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:18:13 PM by Rationalinsanity

Citation Needed. I'd be interested to see who ranks above the USA.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:20:46 PM by cadeonehalf

I think the reason is we Americans read or watch the news too much.

Baff@I wouldn't leave America or even California even though it has very liberal areas.Heck,it not all that depressing when you get used to living there.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:22:38 PM by jazzflower14

The Modern Age is no better and no worse than the past. It's just better advertised.

Also, "a better place" is relative. Americans can't agree on what the definition of the term should be. At least we're trying to define it, however. The Chinese government simply bribes its people and deludes itself that it can keep going on forever even as economics and demographics conspire to bring it down.

Probably the truest thing said in the thread...

edited 9th Aug '11 6:22:29 PM by USAF713

Lol. Not true. In fact I would say is the opposite.

Baff@I watch the news very much and its very addicting.I mean I always need to know what's going on.

-ignore-

edited 24th May '12 1:37:51 AM by JosefBugman

Yeah, but it's a point of pride in many parts of the States to completely ignore politics above the local level. Plus, the number one watched news source in the US (Fox News) has a documented history of misinforming the public.

edited 9th Aug '11 6:27:40 PM by cadeonehalf