Google's quote of the day.

[stormbind]

Eurotrash will find any excuse to nitpick something wrong with America. However, we can expect it, because we have a unique position in the world of being its sole superpower right now.

You are using power as an excuse for corruption and inadequacy

Americans don't nitpick at everything we can find wrong with the people of any given European nation...

Americans frequently boast about their self-perceived superiority, which is exactly the same as dismissing or disrespecting their peers.

... what goes on in that particular nation doesn't really matter when compared with what happens in America.

What did I just say?

 

[Fifty]

You are using power as an excuse for corruption and inadequacy

no, I'm saying that the fact that we are the superpower of the world is what makes us so susceptible to criticism.

Americans frequently boast about their self-perceived superiority, which is exactly the same as dismissing or disrespecting their peers.

What are we supposed to do, just let everyone talk about how everything is crappy in America and not point out that we do indeed lead the world in just about everything? There is no single country more important to America, and you know that as well as I do. It isn't just that eurotrash criticize our current administration's decisions, which they are fully in their rights to do, but many things are constantly said about America that are said simply for the reason of saying something bad about America (library analogy):

-all americans support bush
-all americans support Iraq
-all americans are religious fundies
-all americans are xenophobic and ultra-nationalistic
-all americans think all muslims are bad
-all americans are fat and lazy
-all americans are uneducated
-all americans are uncultured
-all americans are hicks

...I could go on and on, the point is, the idiot eurotrash community will find ANY excuse to criticize America, and this is to be expected because we lead the world.

What did I just say?

Go buy a Sunday Paper, and go to the sports section... tell me the ratio of stories about superstars and stories about average players. That is my point. We can expect more criticism because we lead the world (and also the library analogy).

 

[sysyphus]

Yeah the education does pretty much suck here, but as Perfection says there are quite a few good schools. Overall I agree with you in this respect though.

Too many jocks, not enough nerds.

 

[sysyphus]

To be honest Fifty, the only truth I see in your library analogy, is that jocks only believe that nerds are jealous of them, and that most nerds are actually quite content with themselves, and are merely annoyed with those who hate them. Why? because they're smart and have nothing to prove.

Unlike jocks who are compensating for their own inadequacies by being "tough and manly" and generally go out with the gorgeous but otherwise useless bimbos who would get on the nerves of any nerd in only a few minutes, basically only as trophies (again because they have something to prove).

Take any sports star in the world, even the richest's salary is only pocket change to Bill Gates.

Now apply that to the subject at hand, and maybe then you might to start to understand where to so-called "Eurotrash" are coming from.

 

[Perfection]

Not to threadjack, but I think the real issue with American education is apathy toward the education system. Those who really want a good education can usually get it at an affordable price. It's just that many parents seem to view school as merely a baby sitting service.

 

[stormbind]

I'm saying that the fact that we are the superpower of the world is what makes us so susceptible to criticism.

It's being vocal that makes you susceptible to criticism

There is no single country more important to America, and you know that as well as I do.

Actually, I believe that all countries are just as important as each other. They are, after all, all made of people.

Go buy a Sunday Paper, and go to the sports section... tell me the ratio of stories about superstars and stories about average players. That is my point.

Go check the international news headlines and find it covers (in order of news importance) ...

Current news headlines:
1. France
2. Israel
3. EU
4. Afghanistan
5. Germany
6. Iraq
7. China
8. Jordan
9. Syria & USA (yay, you share ninth with Syria)
10. Kashmir & UK (doh!)
11. Iran & Russia

Current international sports headlines:
1. England 3, Argentina 2
2. Britain 32, New Zealand 12
3. England 26, Australia 16

 

[stormbind]

Not to threadjack, but I think the real issue with American education is apathy toward the education system. Those who really want a good education can usually get it at an affordable price. It's just that many parents seem to view school as merely a baby sitting service.

As may be, but does that excuse the end result?

 

[ComradeDavo]

Because those are the most popular. There are other choices, just not as popular. If the American Communist Party suddenly became very popular, then they'd be on the ballot. Until then, it is going to be the two most popular. You are still allowed to vote for whoever, it is just the two most popular that appear on the ballot. There are more than 2-3 political parties in the US just to let you know.

But people are basically forced to conform and support either one of those 2 parties, the whole US media is geared up to represent elections purely as a battle between those 2 parties. If there was real choice then their would be independants/other parties represented. Fact is there isn't.