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TheProffesor The Professor from USA Since: Jan, 2011
#1: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:08:27 AM

It seems like everyone acts like it's the end of the world.

"We're in economic decline! The war in Afghanistan is ruining us! We're in massive dept! The Tea Party are a bunch of radical anti government jerks! The World Trade Center was destroyed! We're doomed! I blame -Fill in blank-!"

This has all happened before. We've had economic problems many times before, but we came out fine.

We've been to tiresome wars before, and we're alright.

We've been in debt before, but it's always worked out in the end.

We've had radical parties on both sides before.

We've had national monuments burned before.

We need to stop acting like it's the end of the world. We're going to be alright.

Jauce Since: Oct, 2010
#2: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:10:25 AM

Better to be cautious and have nothing happen than to be complacent and face a catastrophe.

whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#3: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:13:49 AM

ITT: Someone thinks America = World.

Things have changed though, some of it for the better but mostly for the worst. Shit, even the IRA are back.

Dutch Lesbian
TheProffesor The Professor from USA Since: Jan, 2011
#4: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:15:28 AM

If catastrophe happens, it will happen whether you're cautious or not. I'm not saying we shouldn't be careful, but constant critisism of the war and complaining about the dept is getting out of hand.

[up]I was referring to America, not the world.

edited 12th Sep '11 4:16:06 AM by TheProffesor

Jauce Since: Oct, 2010
#5: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:18:16 AM

Well if you are cautious, presumably you will try to minimize the risks of a catastrophe happening.

TheProffesor The Professor from USA Since: Jan, 2011
#6: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:21:05 AM

Note that I am referring to America's reaction, but anyone well versed in other countries' history would probably say the same.

There was a point when an enemy burned the White House. We've been through this before. We'll be alright.

johnnyfog Actual Wrestling Legend from the Zocalo Since: Apr, 2010 Relationship Status: They can't hide forever. We've got satellites.
Actual Wrestling Legend
#7: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:22:31 AM

Well, if by "complaining" you mean impotent whining and no real action.... but as for 'we've seen it before", keep in mind the 20th century was calamitous from start to finish. I don't blame people for expecting things to be at least slightly better in the new tens.

This is going to be a very pragmatic century.

I'm a skeptical squirrel
whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#8: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:26:37 AM

[up][up] The burning of the white house was action during a war though.

Dutch Lesbian
TheProffesor The Professor from USA Since: Jan, 2011
#9: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:28:43 AM

Act of war, action during war, the point still stands. If America can make it through that, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume we can make it through Iraq and Afghanistan?

whaleofyournightmare Decemberist from contemplation Since: Jul, 2011
Decemberist
#10: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:32:09 AM

[up] The two aren't comparable though imo. What you are doing is basically saying that 7/7 is the same as the London Blitz.

Dutch Lesbian
GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#11: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:40:34 AM

No, he's saying that todays challenges are nowhere near as big and dangerous as the challenges of the past.

I'm not sure. In the long term, they may be more insidious perhaps...

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
TheProffesor The Professor from USA Since: Jan, 2011
#12: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:41:50 AM

How aren't they comparable? They're both two national landmarks burned. Many people were butchered.

9/11 had more civillian casualities.

There are comparisons and contrasts, but the point still stands:If America can make it through tragedies like that, it can make it through this.

deathjavu This foreboding is fa... from The internet, obviously Since: Feb, 2010
This foreboding is fa...
#13: Sep 12th 2011 at 1:12:49 PM

I'm not really sure an attitude of complacent acceptance is any better than panicking.

Honestly, it might be worse.

At least with panicking, people care enough to get something done.

edited 12th Sep '11 1:13:31 PM by deathjavu

Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.
Alrune Swirl Swirl Red Whirl from Your Bed Since: Jan, 2001
Swirl Swirl Red Whirl
#14: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:13:26 PM

I don't know if America will make it through the current ordeal.

All I know is that the US are walking on thin ice right now and there is still a possibility for it to break.

Point is: It's useless to panic but it's just being wilfully blind to believe that nothing could possibly happen. Staying watchful and not presuming too much of one's abilities is the best course of action right now in my opinion.

USAF713 I changed accounts. from the United States Since: Sep, 2010
I changed accounts.
#15: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:17:23 PM

The world is on the edge, because the world has always been on the edge.

In other words, no use worrying about it now. It's not that it's any worse, so much as the shit is just slightly more in our face now...

I am now known as Flyboy.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#16: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:30:57 PM

I really don't understand why people think the US as a country is about to collapse. For one, it's sturdier than that. We survived the Great Depression. We can survive this. Shit, there was one Russian guy who thought we'd split up like Chzeckoslovakia (how do the fuck do you spell that?) by 2010. Which clearly didn't happen; our economy didn't work the way he thought it did. Diminished in stature I can understand, complete collapse I don't. Besides, it is in no one's interest right now for that to happen.

In any case, it's not like we're just sitting around waiting for the end; If the far righters can be defeated (hopefully soon) and Obama can get his jobs plan pushed through we can start moving towards improvement. (No, I don't know if it's a cure all, but then I don't really believe anything is a cure all. I just think it's a move towards improvement.)

GameChainsaw The Shadows Devour You. from sunshine and rainbows! Since: Oct, 2010
The Shadows Devour You.
#17: Sep 12th 2011 at 4:33:09 PM

Czechoslovakia. I had to google it.

edited 12th Sep '11 4:33:47 PM by GameChainsaw

The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
LostAnarchist Violence Is Necessary! from Neo Arcadia Itself Since: Sep, 2011
Violence Is Necessary!
#18: Sep 12th 2011 at 8:17:12 PM

[up][up] This. Because I don't feel like using talking points to point out why we, as Americans, suck in the eyes of ourselves and the rest of the world!!

This is where I, the Vampire Mistress, proudly reside: http://liberal.nationstates.net/nation=nova_nacio
Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#19: Sep 12th 2011 at 8:22:25 PM

Call me when we reach Cold War levels of fear and "oh shit."

Seriously, people thought they could have died the next day, and they weren't wrong in believing so.

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#20: Sep 12th 2011 at 8:24:15 PM

I want everything to go to shit.

LostAnarchist Violence Is Necessary! from Neo Arcadia Itself Since: Sep, 2011
Violence Is Necessary!
#21: Sep 12th 2011 at 8:31:26 PM

[up] What will that do? Or do you get a kick out of anarchy?

Please enlighten me. I might just approve and agree for once.

This is where I, the Vampire Mistress, proudly reside: http://liberal.nationstates.net/nation=nova_nacio
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#22: Sep 12th 2011 at 8:33:49 PM

Dude, Barkey, things going to shit generally means people dying and suffering pointlessly. D: I am distressed that you would say that. And, given we're rather tied to the world economically, the US collapsing would drag down a whole lot of the rest of the world. So the misery would just spread. Why would you want that?

Thorn14 Gunpla is amazing! Since: Aug, 2010
Gunpla is amazing!
#23: Sep 12th 2011 at 9:09:42 PM

[up][up][up]

Cant I just live a simple life without worrying about the health of myself and everyone I love?

God its comments like that that scare me shitless.

I mean I'm stressing out over dealing with my kitten's spaying. Complete anarchy? I'd probably die of stress before the bullets even hit me.

MajorTom Eye'm the cutest! Since: Dec, 2009 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Eye'm the cutest!
#24: Sep 13th 2011 at 4:55:21 AM

Cant I just live a simple life without worrying about the health of myself and everyone I love?

Nope. I wish I could too but reality says I can't.

"Allah may guide their bullets, but Jesus helps those who aim down the sights."
thatguythere47 Since: Jul, 2010
#25: Sep 13th 2011 at 5:22:06 AM

We've survived disease, famine, world wars, depressions, a nuclear show-down and Cher. I think an economic slump and some dudes in pajamas aren't exactly going to destroy the west, all things considered.

Is using "Julian Assange is a Hillary butt plug" an acceptable signature quote?

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