The Soviet Union

[la cosa nostra]

Fighting wars abroad isn't really imperialism, since the US doesn't actually conquer these countries, like the USSR did.

From above ...

PHILIPPINES, 1898 - 1910: seizes from Spain, 600,000 Filipinos killed
PUERTO RICO, 1898: seizes from Spain

ETC.

 

[Bugfatty300]

From above ...

PHILIPPINES, 1898 - 1910: seizes from Spain, 600,000 Filipinos killed
PUERTO RICO, 1898: seizes from Spain

ETC.

You might have a point with the Philippines except that they were GIVEN independence over half a century ago.

And Puerto Rico seems happy to be part of the US or else they would VOTE for seperation.

 

[la cosa nostra]

You might have a point with the Philippines except that they were GIVEN independence over half a century ago.

And Puerto Rico seems happy to be part of the US or else they would VOTE for seperation.

PUERTO RICO, 1950: independence rebellion crushed

 

[bhsup]

PUERTO RICO, 1950: independence rebellion crushed

Yeah well, my State's rebellion was crushed in 1865. Get over it. Since then, they have been allowed to vote on whether they want to seperate from the U.S. or not and it has failed.

Frankly, I think they should be forced to vote on either Statehood or independence. No territory option anymore.

 

[Bugfatty300]

PUERTO RICO, 1950: independence rebellion crushed

2004: Peurto Rico Pro-union VOTES crush the PR independence party

If the poor Peurto Rican people are such victims of the Galactic US Empire then why don't they VOTE for nation hood?

 

[la cosa nostra]

2004: Peurto Rico Pro-union VOTES crush the PR independence party

Obviously 100 years of US occupation have taken their toll on morale

 

[bhsup]

Obviously 100 years of US occupation have taken their toll on morale

Hrm. Let's see. 100 years as a U.S. Territory and they want to stay, because you claim it's been bad for their morale.

Let's compare that with 75 years under Soviet rule and look back at how fast those "S.S.R.s" boogied out from under Soviet domination. I guess the U.S.S.R. should have just lasted another 25 years and then it would have been able to keep all that land.

 

[la cosa nostra]

Hrm. Let's see. 100 years as a U.S. Territory and they want to stay, because you claim it's been bad for their morale.

Let's compare that with 75 years under Soviet rule and look back at how fast those "S.S.R.s" boogied out from under Soviet domination. I guess the U.S.S.R. should have just lasted another 25 years and then it would have been able to keep all that land.

Occupied peoples are occupied peoples, believe me, there are no destinctions.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Obviously 100 years of US occupation have taken their toll on morale

Sure. The Puerto Rican spirit has been crushed by mass executions and man-made famines.

Do you seriously believe that that or are being sarcastic? Just making sure so I can go ahead and cut this conversation off before anymore of my time is wasted.

 

[la cosa nostra]

Sure.

Do you seriously believe that that or are being sarcastic? Just making sure so I can go ahead and cut this conversation off before anymore of my time is wasted.

If America is such a great country, howcome almost all of the world dislikes you?

 

[bhsup]

Natural aversion to a superpower, I suspect. They seem to think there HAS to be a counterweight to our current supremacy, so there is an automatic desire to oppose the U.S. because of that.

-alternate jingoistic answer-
Hey, I'm the first to admit that it's mind boggling how wrong the world is about us. You'd think just by statistics that the world would be right from time to time and the U.S. would be wrong, but somehow the U.S. beats the odds on that one.

 

[Bugfatty300]

If America is such a great country, howcome almost all of the world dislikes you?

If were such an Evil Empire then why does half the world like us?

 

[amadeus]

Obviously 100 years of US occupation have taken their toll on morale

Puerto Ricans pay nothing in federal taxes and get billions of dollars in aid every year, plus they have U.S. citizenship and full access to the U.S. economy.

I wonder what's holding them back.

 

[amadeus]

If America is such a great country, howcome almost all of the world dislikes you?

Because that's the fantasy that you created in your mind.

 

[silver 2039]

Just because a country is a democracy does not mean it cannot be an Empire. America fits the criteroian of an Empire. If you look at the dictionary definations and have knowledge of history it is very difficult to deney that America is an empire. You are thinking of empire in far too much of a classical sense.

A

political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.
.
Imperial or imperialistic sovereignty, domination, or control: “There is a growing sense that the course of empire is shifting toward the... Asians” (James Traub).

im·pe·ri·al·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (m-pîr--lzm)
n.
The policy of extending a nation's authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony over other nations.
The system, policies, or practices of such a government.

n 1: a policy of extending your rule over foreign countries 2: a political orientation that advocates imperial interests 3: any instance of aggressive extension of authority

There have been many instance where America has parcticed imperialisim. Philliphines, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, forcing Japan to open to trade, Conquering half of Mexico, annexing Texas, Puerto Rico, invading Canada etc.... and it has excersiced its influence and power to benefit itself from propping up dictators in Pakistan, the House of Saud, Saddam etc...

 

[Darkness]

If were such an Evil Empire then why does half the world like us?

Which half would that be?
All member states plus Brittain?

Now don't get me wrong. I've got nothing against the people of the US, it's just that I think that the US government sucks....
Bush's government has very effectively alienated large parts of the worlds' population (though our governments still walk in line and still jump when Bush says so (well, mostly anyway)).
The contrast between Clinton (cooperation with allies) and Bush ("do it my way, or I'll just ignore your protests") has just rubbed a lot of non-US citizens the wrong way.

 

[Bugfatty300]

Which half would that be?
All member states plus Brittain?

Since when does population of the UK and the US "member states" amount to 3,200,000,000 people?

 

[Che Guava]

If America is such a great country, howcome almost all of the world dislikes you?

Many have legitimate greivances, some are jealous, and some were taught not to like america.

Funny thing: go to any developing country and ask what they think of america. Most will produce a litany of offense that America has committed across the world and in thier own country. Ask them if they would like to go to america with you, and I'm sure most would be on the next plane out with you. As much as many people don't like america's money and power, where else in the world can you get your own money and power?

A lot of Puerto Ricans might dislike americans and what america does in the world, but right now they get money, jobs, and security from uncle sam, and upsetting that relationship could cause them a few problems.

 

[Darkness]

Since when does population of the UK and the US "member states" amount to 3,200,000,000 people?

They don't, which was my point...

But please do tell me which other countries constitute your definition of half the world?

 

[Zany]

Someone has been watching the Simpsons...

Beat me to it, but I have to expect about 20 people thinking of that.

"Soviet Union? I thought you guys disbanded?"

"Yes, that's exactly what we wanted you to think!"