Saw this, wanted to share

Jstas

Maybe it's political, I dunno. I don't see it that way and I'm not trying to start a political war but I know some assclown here will turn it in to that. But with all the anti-American stuff flying around the news media since the election last November, it's easy to forget just how special this country is. So, this is just a reminder of sorts based on actual numbers and facts, not emotional, patriotic rhetoric. Actual numbers that show how special America really is.

Enjoy.

http://www.pjtv.com/v/2378

Pauly

America, FU%K YEAH!


Pauly

nooshinjohn

Jstas wrote: »

Maybe it's political, I dunno. I don't see it that way and I'm not trying to start a political war but I know some assclown here will turn it in to that. But with all the anti-American stuff flying around the news media since the election last November, it's easy to forget just how special this country is. So, this is just a reminder of sorts based on actual numbers and facts, not emotional, patriotic rhetoric. Actual numbers that show how special America really is.

Enjoy.

http://www.pjtv.com/v/2378

I fail to see why you would post this here if you know in advance it will start a flame war. We all know how exceptional this country is already, and as far as the healthy debate taking place about the course the country is on currently, where we have been and where we are headed is the foundation upon which a free society stays free. From reading the words of your post, are you saying that to vehementy disagree with this administration is anti-American? I guess when you dis-agreed with the previous administration, you were being un-American? I did not watch your video as Bill Maher is enough to make me want to loose my lunch.

Jstas

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I fail to see why you would post this here if you know in advance it will start a flame war. We all know how exceptional this country is already, and as far as the healthy debate taking place about the course the country is on currently, where we have been and where we are headed is the foundation upon which a free society stays free. From reading the words of your post, are you saying that to vehementy disagree with this administration is anti-American? I guess when you dis-agreed with the previous administration, you were being un-American? I did not watch your video as Bill Maher is enough to make me want to loose my lunch.

And I present to you, the first assclown. :rolleyes:

Thanks.

Fongolio

Interesting spin. From an outsiders perspective a lot of it makes sense, but I wish he'd given more than just movies and music in the cultural category. As a good Canadian I lean a little left but even I find Bill Maher to be very caustic at times. Thanks for the clip.

hearingimpared

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I did not watch your video as Bill Maher is enough to make me want to loose my lunch.

You should watch the video as it discusses how truely exceptional America really is.

everpress

Fongolio wrote: »

Interesting spin. From an outsiders perspective a lot of it makes sense, but I wish he'd given more than just movies and music in the cultural category. As a good Canadian I lean a little left but even I find Bill Maher to be very caustic at times. Thanks for the clip.

No, Bill Maher is an idiot. I'm caustic.
The thing is though, I agree with the idea of modern patriotsm and that we need to be proud of the US. I love the country and want so much to be proud of it. I couldn't stand the moron that was in office before. Or the moron in office before him. Or the moron that was... wait a minute... I see a pattern!

And I think JFK started it... See, we don't need our leaders to be personable and human; we need a figurehead. Now, I know that jackass that was before Kennedy ruined a lot for the country (or he almost did), but it was turning a leader into a celebrity that really kills patriotism.

I love that we are Democratic. That we vote for regional representatives and can call those guys and gals up to speak our mind (didn't do much when I called and wrote several times against the idea of the Bailout the Bush administration passed, but I was at least able to speak to the representatives) is important. But a popularity poll shouldn't mean ****.

Take the end of WWII. Today, if we were faced with drawing out an expensive war costing countless lives or ending it with a bomb that we know would have calculated civilian casualties (lower than many places the bomb could've landed), how would that fly in today's society?
In the Bush administration, well... we'd draw that out for as long as it takes.
In the Obama administration... we're drawing it out, right?

Don't get me wrong. Innocent life should be the first and foremost obligation of anybody and every world power. And the 'bad guys' haven't exactly invaded in typical military style globally like the Axis, so I know in this war, a bomb would solve nothing except sending a bunch of Martyrs to their virgins.

BUT

Neither administration would have the balls to end WWII the way we ended it. Those polls would suffer too much. The celebrity status, the character-played-on-TV... Would suffer too much.

So bad mouth the current administration for bailouts set in action by the previous administration. Bad mouth the last administration for being a moron that helped oversee what was almost (and due to the commercial real-estate market crash that may be coming) may-yet-be the Second Great Depression. Bad mouth the administration before that one for secret blow jobs, and on and on... the fact of the matter is, we can blame anyone and everyone but ourselves; we constantly look to the Left or the Right... Maybe we should start looking down at the **** we've got ourselves in and looking up for ways to get out of it... Personally. If the government offers aid that they say you need when you don't, don't take it. Don't be part of the problem. If you need aid and the only place you can get it is the government... You are lucky it's there.


ALL THIS just to say... America is exceptional. I am proud of America. It's all the f*ckin' Proud Americans I have a problem with. All the Left and the Right and the sides I'm supposed to pick.

nooshinjohn

Jstas wrote: »

And I present to you, the first assclown. :rolleyes:

Thanks.

If you dissagree with my assesment, then please discuss it and show where I am wrong, or present facts that merit my attention. I did not resort to calling you names anywhere in my post, nor did I turn it political one way or the other. I will not call you names, and ask that you show the same respect:)

everpress

nooshinjohn wrote: »

If you dissagree with my assesment, then please discuss it and show where I am wrong, or present facts that merit my attention. I did not resort to calling you names anywhere in my post, nor did I turn it political one way or the other. I will not call you names, and ask that you show the same respect:)

I think he was just posting a video for discussion... When you said that you didn't watch it... Well, it kind of ruins the discussion. Especially since the video was basically a right-wing Obama-slam and a praise of the greatness of America (with exception to Bill Maher and Obama and Jenine Garaffalo or whatever).

Jstas

Fongolio wrote: »

Interesting spin. From an outsiders perspective a lot of it makes sense, but I wish he'd given more than just movies and music in the cultural category. As a good Canadian I lean a little left but even I find Bill Maher to be very caustic at times. Thanks for the clip.

Well what would you define as culture then?

Because honestly, culture is traditions, customs, ideas and knowledge passed on within a certain communal group or region. Two of the most common ways to pass that stuff on is through poetry/songs and story telling. Music is poetry set to music in very many cases. Movies are essentially story telling. They are hallmarks of popular culture throughout history and indicative of current times.

If you want to start going beyond that, you get into more centric and ethnic culture. But there the U.S. is both exceptional and unique because there are many ethnic cultures and backgrounds that blend together to create a unique American identity that is everything to every one but also only one thing and that is American.

That is not to say that other countries are not equally as deep in cultural representation. But, for example, there is a very deep and historical Canadian culture that parallels the U.S. culture due to many things, proximity being the biggest proponent. But much of U.S. culture influences Canadian culture overall. Yeah, if one visits the northern states and Alaska, there is a definite Canadian influence. But, head to Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver and look at popular culture. What designer clothing labels are there? What movies are showing? What music is selling? You'll probably see fashion from New York, musical influences from urban Los Angeles and movies coming out of Hollywood. Although Vancouver very well could have influences in movies also.

The culture is very much here and it is expressed through storytelling in movies and poems in music. Hell, we even made up our own kinds of music! Rock and Roll can be argued to have started in England as much as America but the Blues and Jazz both started here as well as country, bluegrass and creole. All of them have been influenced by other cultures assimilated in to this melting pot of a culture. But popular music including rock and roll and R&B and even rap find roots in Jazz, Folk and Blues.

So yeah, there is a culture here and it's very hard to put your finger on. The easiest way to do it is to discuss movies and music because there are numbers to analyze and interpret to show a picture. Since pretty much every culture has stories and songs, it's the easiest way to gauge cultural influence around the globe.

Jstas

nooshinjohn wrote: »

If you dissagree with my assesment, then please discuss it and show where I am wrong, or present facts that merit my attention. I did not resort to calling you names anywhere in my post, nor did I turn it political one way or the other. I will not call you names, and ask that you show the same respect:)

I'm not going to respond because you're a moron. You looked at the title and that was it. I'm not going to get in to a political discussion with you because I really couldn't care less about your political leanings whether they jive with mine or not. So take BOTH of your asinine responses and stick 'em some place special.

audiobliss

Very awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Jstas

audiobliss wrote: »

Very awesome. Thanks for sharing.

Don't worry, I've already asked for it to be removed.

Face

You know better.

nooshinjohn

Jstas wrote: »

I'm not going to respond because you're a moron. You looked at the title and that was it. I'm not going to get in to a political discussion with you because I really couldn't care less about your political leanings whether they jive with mine or not. So take BOTH of your asinine responses and stick 'em some place special.

Very grown up response, but I would expect nothing less;)... I watched the video and agreed with it's contents. I appologize for my knee-jerk reaction to seeing Bill Maher in the title. Personally I cannot stand watching him for 90 seconds much less 15 minutes. Thankfully he was nowhere to be found. Please accept my appologies Jstas, and please drop the name calling as you are better than that.:D

DarqueKnight

That was great. Thanks.

potee

Glad you guys didn't make me pick sides It's hard enough to pick the side that one thinks will do the most good for our GREAT COUNTRY during all elections.

epiphone

At least I "feel" exceptional.

jimmydep

God bless America!!!!

Thanks for sharing

rayslifecycle

Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

The United States is Exceptional

Kex

Well, I can't stand Bill Maher either, including the statement quoted during the video:

I was so shocked I nearly dropped the Bible I was using to help me **** into my gun

He is a highly unpleasant individual IMO, regardless of his political opinions. Actually, I think I even prefer Michael Moore, but as has been pointed out, he is only referred to briefly. I am not sure many Democrats would want him used as their "voice" in this way, in any case, just as many loyal Republicans would be unhappy that Rush Limbaugh, or even Sarah Palin, should be used as theirs.

As for the video, it all hinges on the use of the word "exceptionalism", whereas the video only discusses the use of the word "exceptional".

It is impossible to argue, IMO, that the United States of America is not exceptional. Exceptionalism, according the Mirriam-Webster, is "the condition of being different from the norm; also : a theory expounding the exceptionalism especially of a nation or region". Then again, and perhaps this is the point the President was trying to make when he was questioned about it, it could easily be argued that countries such as France, Great Britain and Greece are equally "different from the norm". Perhaps not in the exact way described in the video to prove that the United states is exceptional, but exceptional nonetheless. Many countries are exceptional in that they possess something which is unique and worthwhile. In fact, according to Wikipedia (FWIW), it was a French political thinker and historian, Alexis Charles-Henri Cl

Kex

clarknova_666 wrote: »

Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

The United States is Exceptional

I don't think that can be argued as a "point of view". It's an undeniable fact, if you ask me.

Fongolio

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I watched the video and agreed with it's contents. I appologize for my knee-jerk reaction to seeing Bill Maher in the title.

But would you still be apologizing if you didn't agree with the contents?

rayslifecycle

Kex wrote: »

I don't think that can be argued as a "point of view". It's an undeniable fact, if you ask me.

I used this Obi Wan Kenobi quote to refer to the way he used numbers and statistics to make his points - you can make numbers prove anything...........and he was very good at finding ways to coral his parameters to make our "achievements" sound as exceptional as possible.

The United States is Exceptional........
I would just give completely different reasons then he did for why I think this.

Kex

clarknova_666 wrote: »

... The United States is Exceptional........
I would just give completely different reasons then he did for why I think this.

Agreed, and you could make just as compelling an argument without the political slant the presenter in the video chose to use as well.

nooshinjohn

Fongolio wrote: »

But would you still be apologizing if you didn't agree with the contents?

I would for the simple reason that I did not give his position fair consideration before posting my own views. I made an assumption based upon the names being cited in the description of the video, and it would have been the same reaction had it been Glenn Beck, or Rush Limbaugh listed in the same manner. There are certain voices within our political discourse in this country that are so far off the reservation on both sides that they illicit viceral reactions in many by just the mention of their names, and for me Bill Maher is at the very top of my short list. That said, if I did not agree with it I would stand by my original premise of why post this in the first place.

Fongolio

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I would for the simple reason that I did not give his position fair consideration before posting my own views. I made an assumption based upon the names being cited in the description of the video, and it would have been the same reaction had it been Glenn Beck, or Rush Limbaugh listed in the same manner. There are certain voices within our political discourse in this country that are so far off the reservation on both sides that they illicit viceral reactions in many by just the mention of their names, and for me Bill Maher is at the very top of my short list. That said, if I did not agree with it I would stand by my original premise of why post this in the first place.

Cool. Openmindedness is what we all need more of. I do have to say though, that agree with the content or not, the video could be considered very inflamatory, and thus out of place on this forum. And furthermore, I don't need that guy or anyone else to tell me that the USA and Canada are the two best places on earth. And yes I include Canada because our culture and lifestyle are so similar to that of our closest neighbors.

Fongolio

Jstas wrote: »

Well what would you define as culture then?

Because honestly, culture is traditions, customs, ideas and knowledge passed on within a certain communal group or region. Two of the most common ways to pass that stuff on is through poetry/songs and story telling. Music is poetry set to music in very many cases. Movies are essentially story telling. They are hallmarks of popular culture throughout history and indicative of current times.

If you want to start going beyond that, you get into more centric and ethnic culture. But there the U.S. is both exceptional and unique because there are many ethnic cultures and backgrounds that blend together to create a unique American identity that is everything to every one but also only one thing and that is American.

That is not to say that other countries are not equally as deep in cultural representation. But, for example, there is a very deep and historical Canadian culture that parallels the U.S. culture due to many things, proximity being the biggest proponent. But much of U.S. culture influences Canadian culture overall. Yeah, if one visits the northern states and Alaska, there is a definite Canadian influence. But, head to Toronto or Montreal or Vancouver and look at popular culture. What designer clothing labels are there? What movies are showing? What music is selling? You'll probably see fashion from New York, musical influences from urban Los Angeles and movies coming out of Hollywood. Although Vancouver very well could have influences in movies also.

The culture is very much here and it is expressed through storytelling in movies and poems in music. Hell, we even made up our own kinds of music! Rock and Roll can be argued to have started in England as much as America but the Blues and Jazz both started here as well as country, bluegrass and creole. All of them have been influenced by other cultures assimilated in to this melting pot of a culture. But popular music including rock and roll and R&B and even rap find roots in Jazz, Folk and Blues.

So yeah, there is a culture here and it's very hard to put your finger on. The easiest way to do it is to discuss movies and music because there are numbers to analyze and interpret to show a picture. Since pretty much every culture has stories and songs, it's the easiest way to gauge cultural influence around the globe.

Some very good points indeed. I just think his definition is so narrow it's very self serving. The US also has a very unique inner city street culture that gets way too many people killed every day. Unfortunatley that culture is spreading to other countries, mine included and more people are being killed. Then there are the ethnic cultures: hispanic, chinese, east indian, american indian. And what about Opera, Symphony, stage? Many other nations share these cultural traits. Not to mention Canada's Britain's and India's film and music industries. The US is not unique in these area's. I just think that to define a nation's culture by Movies and Music alone to be very narrow sighted. That said I love American movies and music but I have loved much British Canadian Australian French German Russsian Itallian music and cinema as well. And yes I loved Slum Dog Millionaire.

obieone

Thanks for the vid. As it points out, liberals and math= oil and water:rolleyes:

You probaly couldn't get someone like Maher to watch that video, even at ***point:eek:

Fongolio

Keiko wrote: »

Eskimos?

Hula dancers?

kevhed72

Am I the only person who caught the fact the....neither Obama nor Bill Maher....stated in the quotes they DIDN'T BELIEVE in American Exceptionalism, but then the host went right into a statement that they "Didn't believe in American exceptionalism". Then the whole thing turned in a political spin-fest based on the host mis-quoting / spinning Obama's and Maher's.
Listen to the beginning again.....