I read something on Karen’s blog that reminded me of an online game I wanted to share with all of you.
Back in November last year I wrote a post I called ‘Children of the ruins‘ about the military action in Iraq, in particular the bloody battles on the streets of Falluja. At the top of my post were two pictures. One of a man holding an injured child, another of a small girl being frisked with a metal detector by an American soldier. As I wrote that I looked at pictures on the Arabic news network Aljazeera and considered how different the lives of American and Iraqi children are right now, and how an Iraqi child does not remain a child for long.
Karen commented in her post about how the owner of a shop had said in a conversation with her about the war in Iraq “How can you kill their women and children and then expect them to embrace our democracy?” Karen herself poses the question “Doesn’t it seem that our nation’s responses to 9/11 have all been motivated by fear?” This got me thinking about a game I found a while back online called ‘September 12th, A Toy World.’
The game is produced by a team of independent game developers who believe video games are not simply an amusement but also a tool to make us think about what is going on in the world. “Periodically, we will use games and simulations to analyze, debate, comment, and editorialize major international news.” They say.
Originally launched on Sept. 29, 2003, ‘September 12th, A Toy World’ analyzes the situation of the United States War on Terror. The game uses traditional videogame aesthetics to model a political paradox: current US tactics on the war on terror affect the civilian population and generate more terrorism.
The basic idea behind ‘September 12th’ can be described as violence generates more violence. As you try to kill the terrorists, you will always kill civilians (‘collateral damage’). Other civilians will mourn their dead and turn into terrorists. After a couple of minutes of play, the screen is full of terrorists, says Gonzalo Frasca, NewsGaming.com lead designer and former journalist at CNNenEspanol.com. “Our games are original because they are not meant just to entertain. Through this piece we want to encourage players to think critically about the efficacy of the United States current strategy against terrorism. Terrorism is a terrible problem and we think it should be fought in a more intelligent way.”
The game is actually a lot of fun. The player gets to blow stuff up with missiles aimed and fired through a target. The sound effects make the experience very playable but the point is dramatically proved when the player accidentally kills an innocent victim.
While the idea of American-style democracy might be attractive and logical to you and me, it’s nothing short of intensely arrogant to assume that countries throughout the world should follow our lead and embrace a culture that is as foreign to them as theirs is to us.
The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have far exceeded initial estimations. And curiously now the search for weapons of mass destruction has been replaced by the capture or extermination of terrorists who we are told are now fighting to destabilize Iraq in its newfound democracy.
But the wars have not just cost billions of dollars, there is also a far more tragic and sobering cost. In Iraq alone, nearly 1700 soldiers and a much greater number of civilians have been killed since the war began. A war that, people seem to forget, President Bush proudly declared was over and won on May 2nd, 2003!
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September 12th, A Toy World.
Newsgaming.com
Bush declares war is over in victory speech
Bush Victory speech gets mixed reaction
Aljazeera new network
The body count
Karens original post
Children of the ruins
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 7:23 am
Hey Patti, I appreciate peoples opposite views. You’re welcome to get into that here, we can have sensible conversations about them. Having said that I wonder what would make me change my mind on this point? I guess I formed my opinions after having grown up watching the UK’s war on terror against the IRA (Irish Republican Army) in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s. A war that was never won. I agree that the situation with al Qeada is very different, but I can’t see any possible way that bloodshed is going to bring an end to terrorism.
The other aspect of this war on terror is that it is very undefined and smudged around the edges. Iraq had nothing to do with 9|11, however now all of a sudden we’re lead to believe that it’s a hotbed of terrorist activity. A government want to bring in some new draconian security measure, that’s easy now, just rattle everyones cage by telling them there are terrorists out there trying to kill them. It just seems to me that this is a perfect tool by which powers can exert greater power upon the masses simply by crediting the need to the threat of terrorism, that unseen, unidentifiable, ungeographical, terrifying terrorist.
What concerns me is that people are being sold a threaton the back of disturbing images from September the 11th. And with that people are quite willing to allow some quite awful liberties to be taken.
From the outside looking in, it rather seems that Americans are now being controlled by fear, a far cry from the home of the brave. Fear the unseen enemy. He could be the guy who you work next to, the drives your bus, who lives in the apartment over the road, who services your air conditioner, anyone could be a terrorist. You’re told to get a kit together, make a plan because you are under biological threat, chemical threat, threat of explosions, nuclear attacks, and radiation threat.
Couple this with wars with no clear objectives or motives in far off lands and a president who has alienated and insulted his allies trashing his international credibility as a reasonable, honorable and most of all trustworthy world leader.
Turn the tables on the war in Iraq and imagine, if you will, that it was a massed army from an Islamic state, coming to instal a new government and political system in the United States because they felt YOUR government were not trustworthy. I’m not asking you to imagine thats feasable because clearly it isn’t. What I am asking you to do is to imagine how you might feel about having a foreign power from half way around the world come to America in massed force and change everything you know.
I just think things are being handled in, at the very least, a bad way, or at the very worst a suspicious way. From where I am sitting America looks to have closed its mind. Something that makes me very sad as someone who has long loved the land.
Having said all of this of course, I can appreciate that there are those who would come from an entirely different point of view, who would feel that America is right and has the right to behave the way it does. History will be the judge of this time, and believe me when I say that I sincerely hope that I am wrong and that Americas actions today will bring about peace.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 6:07 am
I have so many thoughts that I am thinking of adding to this ongoing commentary, but because most are diametrically opposed to your thoughts I hesitate, worried we will not be able to have an intelligent conversation, but that it will fall into the category of an all out war on stance. You there, and me here. I appreciate your views, and respect your ideals. Mostly, I appreciate the opportunity to think about what you are saying, as I ponder my own beliefs. Lata.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 3:00 pm
That is a damn good question.I suppose what a lot of outsiders would like to see first and foremost, is America act in a far less gung ho wild west fashion, less arrogant. Sadly for America, and Americans, it would seem to me that America has lost a great deal of the respect it had (not so long ago) upon the world stage. And all since Bush won the Whitehouse in court. That incident made America look daft. A country that calls itself the home of democracy, in court over a very messy election. Not a shining example by any stretch of the imagination.
So step one would be for America to be less ‘John Wayne’ and arrogant. Stop acting like the bully because NOBODY likes a bully.One of my frustrations with the way America reacted in the aftermath of 9|11 was the fact that the primary question that was asked again and again and again was “How did this happen to us?” I heard no major news or media outlets asking “Why did this happen to us?” I’d like to see a change in the way Americans are fed news. Right now your news is fed to you like fast food, like a frapachino full of sugar and topped with plenty of whipped cream. Your news is McNews, prepared in easy to swallow chunks that contain very little content but plenty of filling fat. Watching the news in America is infuriating for me as it is always so massively inward looking and sensationalized, yet there never seems to be any in depth thought provoking fact finding or soul searching done. It’s just repeat after repeat of the most sensational clip of footage. And if there’s no footage then there’s no story. I’ve said before but I often feel like Americans are being entertained to death, and that’s though no fault of their own, but through the fact that the networks are in a purely commercial environment where everything is about how much money can be made.
It’s very difficult though for me to sit here and suggest practical measure America as a whole could put in place to start fixing it’s international issues. The truth is there is no quick fix. It’s easy and understandable for Americans to be selfish as you’re all so far away from the rest of the world and watching your TV news one could be forgiven for thinking America IS the world.However please don’t feel that I am just some Brit sitting in judgement of your country. We are FAR from perfect here, but before you shoot me down for being critical of your countries political and cultural state I’d ask you if you could be equally as critical of Europe of just the UK, and if not I’d ask why, then I think I’d sit back and rest my case.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 12:44 pm
Curious if you have any ideas that you believe would benefit us as a country. Any solutions that you would like to see implemented?
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 5:27 pm
OK, just my two pennies worth. I agree that there is no simple answer to what’s going on in our world today. I admit that our country has definitely made it’s share of mistakes in the whole mess. While I understand the point of what you’re saying about an Islamic state coming in to install their method of government in the US, it’s difficult to make that comparison in Iraq. If George Bush had been gassing thousands of his countrymen because they disagreed with him politically, it might be a little more of an apples to apples deal. But, again I agree, we’ve made mistakes.
Also, in regards to the question of “Why did this happen to us?” It is my opinion that the Why of this is that al Queda hates the freedom that the western world has… the empowerment of women, freedom to have different beliefs, to rise above our beginnings and work hard to make something of ourselves. The “Why” is simple… they hate us and want to kill us… period! Not just the US, but anyone who believes differently from them. While I may disagree with Islamic beliefs, I’m not making a sweeping generalization here. On 9/11, men, women, children of all races and religion died. Why… because one group of people, Al Queda, hate freedom.
Anyway, one more point on the “Why”… the cost of this war has been huge – financially and in human lives (on all sides)… but the cost of doing nothing has been greater. We were attacked in the early nineties by the same group, at the same buildings, but under a different administration…. We did nothing. We watched as bases overseas were bombed, the USS Cole hit, and we did nothing. The “Why” of 9/11, in my humble opinion, is because we spent the 90s drunk on our “Worldwide popularity” doing nothing to take care of this when the costs on all sides would have been less… before they had the power to take down the WTC.
Sorry for the long post! I think I owe you several more pennies. :-) Thanks for your thoughts Simon, I really enjoy reading your posts and the comments you’ve made on others that I read. I appreciate open discussion.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 5:56 pm
The Americans I know, and I know many, do not think that America IS the world. We are a well read, and self-opinionated bunch. The network news is looked upon by the majority as fluff, and we, as a large majority, are distrustful of the accuracy. We understand there is an agenda behind the money…which is more money.
I think you underestimate America on the whole. There is not one person I know of who gets all, or the majority, of their information from the liberal left, nor from the radical right. We do think of what is happening. We do debate the war. We do think our leaders are human, and question their leadership.
As far as the John Wayne thing, well, the best I can say is that Texas is still very much it’s own country (as it actually was at one time in our history). We tend to be loud and obnoxious here. We don’t operate on fear. What most interpret as fear is action to kick someone’s ass who has crossed us. We who have lived in the severest conditions that Texas can bring develop a crusty exterior that has helped generations to survive here. It is a cultural difference, while serving us well, that you wish to change.
And, yes, I know by just writing that, that you will think I have made your point, but I disagree. My husband was in Manhatten, a few blocks away from the towers, on 9-11. We know what it felt like to possibly lose all that we had together. For me to lose a husband, for my son to lose his father, for his parents to lose a son, for America to lose one of her own. And it wasn’t something I want to ever experince again. I was mad as hell. I wanted my revenge for all those people who weren’t coming home again. For all the innocent lives that were taken, or touched that day. We, and I will go out on a limb here to include all of America, don’t like to be fucked with. I feel, that by no fault of your own, that you cannot begin to understand that which bothers you most deeply about us. Ironic, I feel.
As far as the matter of the election that had to be called by the courts, while not the ideal solution, it was the only one left to us. That’s why America has a Supreme Court. To be the last say when we, as a country, cannot agree. That election could have gone either way…my guess is that the noise that was made about it was because it was Bush who was decided the victor. We do not let it bother us what the world thought of us as it played out. What mattered to us was that it did play out. When you have a decision to make, do you allow the world court help you make those desisions…or do you do the best you can within the context of your what you know to be true?
In my personal life, I don’t think about earning the respect of others. I look at my options, mull over the directions I could go, weigh the pros and cons, and then, I, make the desison. And, I believe, so goes America. We are not perfect, but I am blessed to have been born on this soil, and I will always love this land. How we are portrayed to the world is just as skewed as how the network news is skewed. Who are the people disseminating that information, and what is their agenda?
My hope and prayer is that we are on the right path, but that hope does not blind me to believe that all is well, just because we are America. I think you will find all through history, that when America errs, her people revolt and right the ship. If you are right, then history is on your side.
Thanks for the debate. Peace.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 5:58 pm
Sorry, I tried to make paragraphs, but I failed…damn America!
Wrote the following comment on Jun 6, 2005 at 6:30 pm
That game is utterly depressing.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 4:11 am
Some good responses there. Good stuff to chew on.Okay, let me first start by saying this. The so called ‘War on Terror’ (renamed because the original title ‘The War Against Terror had a funny acronym :-) ) is different to the war in Iraq, or at least it was always supposed to be. Going to war with Iraq was not officially part of the response and revenge for 9|11, however now people seem to consider it all as the same thing.
1. The war on terror.This WAS a war that America decided to fight because a group of Islamic terrorist effectively declared war on you. The world had HUGE amounts of sympathy when America was bought to it’s knees back then. Prime Minister Blair said famously that Britain would stand “shoulder to shoulder with our American friends’ and so we did.
In a show of sympathy here people flew American flags and for a few days one could have been forgiven for thinking this place WAS America. It was nice to see such support, strange for me too because lots of people I knew would call me to express their sympathy because I was the nearest thing they knew to an American. They were strange days indeed.
Stepping up airport security happened around the world very quickly, and I welcomed this, as did most people. But then worrying things started to happen while the wounds were still fresh and the flag waving masses were still ready to ‘kick ass’. The shocking ‘patriot act’ that among other things allowed authorities to search your house covertly without the need of a court order, you to be present or anyone to ever know they had been there rifling though your things. That’s the one I remember, but at the time British papers listed the far reaching implications of this act with a title that just made Americans wave their flags that bit harder. It was an obscene act that disregarded the freedom that America hold so dear.
There followed many other sweeping and seemingly unconstitutional acts, most of which I read about in British and indy press, and much of which I bought to the attention of my American friends.
As part on the War on Terror America invades Afghanistan and removes a government that years earlier it effectively helped install. The world didn’t say much in objection though, because after all, there wasn’t much good you could say about the Taliban. But nonetheless it did rather look like America was somewhat staggering around like a dazed boxer, shooting from the hip. But everyone wanted binLadens head, not just you guys.
Australians was then attacked and killed in the Bali bomb. Madrid was the next and Europe suddenly felt very uneasy with the real threat that anything could be next. But through unusual co-optations at the time (which have continued) many suspects were caught and plots were foiled. For the first time it felt like we were winning the ‘war’ and there have been no real significant attacks on home soil since then. But of course our unified efforts must continue.
2. The War in Iraq (declared over and won by Bush on May 2nd, 2003)Now, this war was suspect from the start. Huge anti-war demonstrations around the globe amounted to nothing when allied troops began bombing the crap out of bagdad. Much has of course been made of Saddams weapons of mass destruction, so much so that people are now curiously ‘bored with that’. But we must not forget that it was THIS that was the cornerstone indeed the SOLE REASON that bombs were reigned down in Iraq.
Now I won’t argue that Hussein was foolish to not be more cooperative. His actions made the decision to go in an easy one to make. But the war was NEVER EVER sold to us as a humanitarian struggle. We were told that we needed to go in there to disarm a man who not only had WMD in the possible form of nuclear weapons, but that he was also planning on using them on us. However after a few weeks a new story came from the government machine. Now apparently we went there because he was planning on selling his nuclear weapons to terrorists, despite the fact that Hussein has a well documented dislike for Islamic extremists for his own reasons. Of course, no weapons were found and that was all brushed under the carpet because in actual fact we went to Iraq to liberate the people and bring them freedom. Remember the kurds, we were told.
However while this seems to have been swallowed whole by America, I know many many people who simply do not believe that because that simply was never ever the case. It was NEVER about liberating the people and bringing them freedom. It was ALWAYS about finding the WMD. Although most agree in reality the war was about oil, pure and simple. If it was about liberating an oppressed and threatened society, then perhaps I could ask why America and the allies sat back and watched Hussein gas the kurds and abuse them for many years before that too?
(I ask again why America hasn’t felt the need to send troupes to Zimbabwe to bring peace and freedom to the many hundreds of thousands who are being murdered and abused there? If freedom is the motivation for war then why only the freedom of people with oil? Or is that just a coincidence?)
In all of this too, somehow the lines between the search for weapons of mass destruction, and the war on terror became utterly smudged. Americans talk of the war in Iraq in the same sentence as revenge for 9|11, but the two were never related.Of course, not that it would matter to America, but since the war in Iraq, America has lost much of the support and sympathy he had. Some might say a valuable opportunity to unite countries in an effort to stamp out terrorism was scuppered. Allies start pulling out of Iraq. Bridges built over many years between America and their European friends are now well ablaze, so much so that Bush himself is sent to try and put the fires out.
And then of course there is the way that America is now treating those ‘friends’ who wish to visit the country. Finger printing, photographing, Irish prints etc. The end of the visa waiver scheme for ALL countries, including the one country that has thus far been Americas only unwavering ally, Great Britain. I, and many others, were especially appalled when America announced that Britains would now have to apply for Visa’s to enter the United States as we were no longer considered friendly or entitled to any kind of special treatment like the visa waiver. It sounded like an arrogant “Thanks for your help guys, now fuck off.”
It makes me very very sad to see a country I love behave in such a way. To sneak in draconian rules and measures, to close its mind and promote a feeling of feeling of fear for the use of control.
I know that some people get angry when they read what this Brit has to say about their country. But again I would ask you if you could be equally as critical of the UK or indeed Europe as a whole, and if not then I ask why.
It might not matter to you how the world see your land, but consider how much you liked the bully at school and how willing you were to ever help him if he needed you. I suppose the bridges that are on fire will be able to be built again in time. However, lets all of us hope and pray The United States doesn’t need anyone else’s help anytime soon.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 7:39 am
Hey Simon…. looks like you got yourself a great topic. I’m pretty sensitive about war. Mostly because I come from a long line of Veterans and consider myself to be pretty patriotic. Then there’s the spirtual side of me that feels broken and torn over the death and destruction of it all. Biblically, well, old testament, there was a lot of war, a lot of death. Some of it was man’s doing and some of it was God’s. It’s just our world. This is what we live in. We live in a world that is filled with hatred, anger, revenge, fear, destruction and death.
This is probably a totally irrelevant comment… but as I was reading and as my brain drifted away… it’s all that I thought of. Plus… I do wish that our government would try to do something to improve our image. I’m hate it that so many people hate us. It saddens me…
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 4:36 pm
Patti, I’m pretty tired right now. But maybe you’re right, maybe like many many millions of people around the world I’ve misread all the facts about Americas three wars at the moment, misunderstood the seemingly outrageous things America has done and is doing, and have reached a “misguided” opinion about their actions. Maybe that is the case. But it’s interesting to me that after all I wrote the only line you comment on is the one in which I suggest America looks like a bully.
Renata, I hear ya. But something you said reminded me of how annoyed I was when people who were anti war in America were being branded as unpatriotic. That must have annoyed you too I guess.For now, this “misguided” soul need to get some sleep. ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 10:04 am
The US does more than any other nation on earth to build up, feed, and care for those not cared for by their own countries. We are a giving and selfless people. I gladly pay taxes that go to these funds. We know our wealth and reach out to others in need, even if they are not American brothers and sisters. You see us as bullies; we see you as misguided.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 5:01 pm
Sleepy Simon, the reason I commented on that particular line was because it wasn’t the first time you have accused us of being bullies. Plus, I was a bit tired too. So many words need to come from my mouth and not my fingers…sleep well.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 7, 2005 at 7:41 pm
Cant we all just get along?I think both sides ( Simon and Patti ) have valid points. But you both play a dangerous role when you say “americans feel…” or “the brits feel…” because you always end up lumping people into a majority,when the reality is that there are no majorities anymore. Just people with money and the politicians they own.”I” didnt go to war on terrorism. An elected official did. And given the way the Electorial College system works in america during voting time, the reality is, the majority of voting americans could vote for a candidate and they could recieve more votes( vote for vote ) and that official who had MORE votes could still lose per electorial college.Can we just talk about sex or music now? Please?, propaganda gives me a headache.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 8, 2005 at 12:10 am
You know I’m not really a very political person but to this discussion I would add this. My general view over the last couple of years is that I think it’s fair to say that the vast majority of Brits don’t like or trust Bush and that he has basically ruined the way people here and across Europe see ‘America.’ But having said that I think people here do make a distinction between America and American politics. Via xanga I have come across many really nice American people and I do plan to visit the country one day. I don’t judge Americans by their president just as I wouldn’t want to be judged by our prime minsiter, and not that Simon needs me to say this, but as half his friends are Americans, clearly neither does he.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 9, 2005 at 6:09 am
Bless you Pam!!! And Simon for that matter! Our President doesn’t speak for me individually. Yes he does speak for America collectively due to being an elected official, though he is elected by a select group of people called the “electoral college” but I’ll save that for another time (a little beef I have with so-called democracy). He is a figure-head and cannot make decisions without consulting and receiving approval from the respective bodies of government. Well I must go, my infant daughter is crying and needs attention. Thanks Simon for a platform to sound off!! Good stuff to chew on!!!
Wrote the following comment on Jun 9, 2005 at 1:24 pm
We’re actually a republic, not a democracy. A democracy has majority rules voting. A republic elects officials to vote for the people.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 9, 2005 at 1:48 pm
I agree buyit. That’s part of my beef. We call what we have in America democracy but it’s not.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 9, 2005 at 5:53 pm
Then I am confused. Your president keeps banging on about being a democracy yet here you are saying it’s not. So he’s lying about this? (As well as those pesky weapons? :-) )
Wrote the following comment on Jun 10, 2005 at 8:13 am
An intersting question Pam. Indeed I don’t know, but I wonder what kind of ‘democracy’ is being istalled in Iraq?
I know it’s gove quiet here as the post I wrote is now relatively old, but maybe a few people will be interested to know that I posed Patti’s statement to a few friends and on a forum that I frequent. I’ll be reviewing the comments made on there shortly and I shall either post them here as comments, or I may post them in a whole new entry.
In the meantime though I hope you’ll forgive me from quoting Richard Clarke, the former White House counter-terrorism czar under both President Clinton and President Bush when he said “So much of the US government’s attention is on Iraq that they are really not thinking conceptually about the war on terrorism.” In a BBC news article from last November he was outspoken about the so called ‘war on terror.’ “President Bush has conflated Iraq and the war on terrorism into one thing, and therefore when they’re working on Iraq they think they’re working on the war on terrorism – which of course they’re not because it’s a very different thing.”The article also goes on to say that Mike Scheuer, a former head of the CIA’s Bin Laden unit who resigned from the agency in November last year, says there is a dangerous lack of understanding in the United States about what motivates Bin Laden and those who support him.
While most Americans simply catagorize al-Queda’s reasons for attacking America with simple statements like “because they hate us” Scheuer points out that America is a target “because a specific set of US policies that have been in gear for 30 years and haven’t been reviewed, haven’t been debated, haven’t been questioned,” He cited the apparently unquestioning US support for Israel; America’s presence on the Arabian peninsula; and support for regimes perceived as oppressing Muslims and for Muslim “tyrannies”. Mr Scheuer doesn’t necessarily argue for a change in policy but says there needs to be a greater awareness of the roots of the problem in order to appreciate the potential longevity of the threat.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 10, 2005 at 2:02 pm
Was it this statement of mine that you posed, “Sorry, I tried to make paragraphs but I failed….” ? Cause I liked that one best.
Wrote the following comment on Jun 12, 2005 at 9:32 am
Are you ever going to post again Simon?
Wrote the following comment on Jun 13, 2005 at 3:16 pm
Okay, I did pole my friends and work mates with what you said above about Aid Patti, and I asked them for their candid but polite views on America. The responses actually made me feel really sad. Kind of like watching your kid get punished but not being able to step in because… well, he deserved it in many ways.
I won’t post all the responses because I am, to be quite frank, really unwilling to set myself up for the flack that I would get. I would say that I am not shy on making my opinions known, and have done so on many occasions here. But here are some of the key opinions from just three people, but this is the general feeling. I would have posted a pro-America opinion if I had one. really, I hoped to find one person who was more pro-America but sadly I couldn’t find one!
It seems that the majority of the world see America as an arrogant, self-important nation who believes it is their responsibility to police the world in any way they deem fit.Environmentally, they’re a total disgrace. Their ignorance knows no bounds as they continue to pollute the planet with no thought for the rest of us. To be fair, most of them support this crass ignorance because they don’t really have any concept that there is any other part of the planet but the USA.
As she comes highly recommended by you, Simon, I’m going to leave US gun laws and the whole Iraq debacle.
I think rather worryingly that most Americans would genuinely feel the same way as your friend.They are deluded that the USA is the fairest, freeist etc. when they have little experience of anywhere else.However I don’t think the English can feel too superior about their knowledge of the world judging by some of the things I hear said on top of the Clapham omnibus. I think we sound less stupid because of our national trait of not wanting to boast, understatement, irony and all.
This should inform:https://www.vexen.co.uk/USA/foreign_aid.htmlUS gives 0.1% foreign aid whereas in Europe it’s around 1%. To make it worse ours is real aid. They count bombs as aid!
America military spending is currently around 500 BILLION dollars per year, as much as the rest of the world put together.It currently has somewhere in the order of 6000 nuclear warheads (each around 20 times greater in power than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima) aimed at nobody in particular.
Its current industrial policy will see an INCREASE in Carbon Dioxide emissions of over 30% in the medium term.I could go on…
I would put the burden on your friend [Patti] to give examples of how the US is helping the world.
I saw, I think it was Dick Cheney, on CNN saying something very similar to your friend. I nearly threw my cup of tea at the screen. But then if your world affairs diet was CNN, ABC and CNBC you would be as muted as your American friends Simon. I know you say they should be forgiven for their ignorance, but when has ignorance ever been a good enough excuse for anything?
Was your friend joking Simon?
Your friend may well be happy to pay her taxes in the belief that her money is going to those in need across the world, but I wonder if she has ever taken the time to actually research that. America is the richest and the most tight fisted country in the world. Proportionally it is not at all generous, and while your friend may well be giving and selfless it is her who is misguided Simon.
Simon, The Terminator runs California. Does that not tell you something? I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see President Micky Mouse or Ronald McDonald one day! I admire you balls to wnt to post our responses to an American, you’re going to lose some friends I think. Maybe this is a can of worms better left unopened my friend?
Americans might care about the world, but they do a sterling job of hiding that fact. They got kicked in the nads on 9|11 and all of a sudden they are going to “rid the world of evil” And so their first step is to go an invade two countries? What the fuck!?
America swaggers around acting like it has the God given right to set the tone for the rest of the world, a world it is hopelessly out of step with.
I know you love America Simon, and maybe I need to befriend as Americans as you have to develop that same love for a country that in every other way disgusts me and everyone I know.
Now I know that those statements will probably light a fire under a lot of you, and maybe the reason why I posted it here and not as a whole new post is because I am hoping that most of you don’t see it. But know this much, I am really torn over this because I truly do LOVE America, my American friends and visiting America. I love the way the country feels, I love how big it is, how much choice their is etc etc. I honestly wish I had never poled my friends and workmates because their responses show a really horrible truth about how the masses outside the US see that country.
I’d post these comments in a new post, but I’m torn because I don’t want to rock the boat, but on the other hand I do. Do you know what I mean?
Sorry people.