Hey - this one took longer, eh. Didn't want to tie up the editor. So I don't have any strong political beliefs on this one, eh. So here goes . . .

Well, everyone has to remember that the government of the US of A is not the people of the US of A. Bush . . . I don't know . . . I mean, I think it is good for everyone that a tyrant as bad as Saddam is taken out . . . thank you, our Mother Country England for helping. I love you .. . I love you . . . I love you. But I love all my cousins too . . . Canada although I hear that some where saying “9/11 or 11/9 for those who write the date backwards, that some were saying in Canada that it served the US of A right. Ah, excuse me. I ain't going to be celebrating when the next Ice Age comes down and totally obliterates Canada . . . I mean just because some Canadians got a big mouth? And nothin' but love to Australia, New Zealand, and the other members of the Common Wealth . . . all beloved relations. . . to me, eh.


And hell yes, the US of A as represented by commercial interests and government agencies push people and other countries around. Do I as an American citizen like it . . . **** no! It's not fair. It blackens the reputation of the US of A. But this is international politics . . . its not family dynamics. International politics is get the self-interest of your country served . . . every country does it. If you don't believe that then you are politically naive. It's what's in it for my country . . . . all the time. Power politics. Ya think a small country if they suddenly had a lot of power would not do the same . . . and until human nature changes that's the way it will be.


Now I think 33% of the population of the US of A not having medical coverage is too much . . . and it is a hot subject here in the US of A. And the next party in power better fix it or they will be out of power next election.


I don't know anthony's other posts on the US of A and I'm not sure I want to . .. . or anyone's bias on the US of A. I'm not very sensitive to barbs thrown our way . . . 'cause I know that America as represented by commercial interests, governmental interests, the CIA and other National Security Services of the US government are ****ing with other countries, and their internal affairs all the time. The question is, how many other countries are trying to influence the actions of the US of A with their commercial interests, governmental interests, and Security Services. This is still not a friendly world we life in folks . . . it's not only the Russians, the Cubans, and the Israelis who have agents in the country.


Lastly, and I'm sure you will be happy about that, the big kid on the block is the one that is sitting on the top of the hill. The cost for being the only Super Power left, is that it's really easy to take potshots at the US. That comes with the territory . . . so I live with it. Human nature. It doesn't make it easy to hear shit from up north from Canada that the “ . . . USA deserved 9/11 or 11/9 or what the ****.” Kind of hurts actually.


I would like to remind everyone out there that when the chips are down, and when the world is on the brink . . . the US of A will be there to defend it's “friends” of democracy if and when called upon as it has in the past century, and we will sent men/women to defend you, and die doing it. Ya, and you'll be askin' too I can tell that, eh.


Hey and ya know, wasn't it twice when the European countries were getting overrun by . . who was that now . . . America bankrolled the Allies and what was that . . . lost over 500,000 dead . . . after the Continental countries made a ****ing mess of the whole thing, Canada refused to institute the draft, and Ireland wouldn't send a man to help. And ah . . . if it weren't for the US of A how much of Europe would have been left after Uncle Joe had got done grabbing everythin' up to the channel, eh. What then . . And who was it the US of A sent to the South Pacific . . . wasn't that MacArthur, the best general the US of A had. And who was it that was protecting the Australian continent, and New Zealand? Wasn't those brave Aussie and New Zealand lads up in North Africa . . . they were fighting for the British and had more guts than any of us. And who's Navy was that . . . .
So .. . before ya kick around the US of A, maybe ya better think on it . . . the first Constitutional government, the model for every other one. Bloody English love their queen too much to make it a Republic . . god forbid. I love the queen too . . . BTW. The US of A was the only country that had the guts to take out Saddam . . . bloody bastard deserved it, eh. Rest of the world don't have the stomach for it. Ya, don't want to get you hands bloody . . . leave all the ****ing hard work for the ****ing America's. Ya, eh.

I moved your post Doug and began it as a new thread, as Herc had requested earlier that her thread return to the original topic.

Umm last time I checked, Canada and the various countries of Europe were all sovereign nations. Meaning, we are independent and should not feel bullied by the United States or any other country, about what wars we choose to participate in. Canada is involved in several overseas operations currently. Canada has always helped out wherever we can, but we are a small nation compared to the USA and have limited military resources. We reserve the right to choose which wars we serve in! A large number of Canadian troops are serving in Afghanistan currently, and many have died. My brother was just deployed there recently. My grandfather was in WW2 and Korea. My father has served in the Golan Heights, Bosnia, Rwanda and Afghanistan, to name a few over his long career as a lifer. Another brother of mine got PTSD from serving in Somalia, now he's dead from his PTSD.

I am proud of my family's long military service and I really don't appreciate my country being criticized simply because we have a backbone and want to act like the sovereign nation that we ARE!

Hey Batgirl

You go girl I am LMAO. Never heard you be so forceful! Good for you

Thanks Herc haha. It is something I feel very strongly about though, especially given all the personal sacrifices my family has made over the years.

TDurden,

First of all, most Canadians do not think that the US deserved what happened on 9/11...Indeed many opened their homes to Americans stranded as they were diverted to Canada on that awful day. And I certainly don't think anyone in Canada was celebrating.

Second, Canada did more than its fair share in both WWI and WWII (Can we say Dieppe? among many other places) as well as in Korea, etc. As Evie said, we are a sovereign nation and have a right to decide what we participate in and what we do not participate in. Certainly, our decision not to participate in Iraq was the correct one and I am damn proud of that. Had it been sanctioned by the UN, we probably would've participated because we actually believe in something called international law. Might does not make right.

Third, people are not taking potshots at the US simply because it's the only superpower left but because it, with the current administration, is acting like a bully. In fact, many people around the world used to respect and look up to the US as an ideal but what they see now is a bully that's not even taking care of its own citizens.

I certainly appreciate US contributions in WWII and I don't think anyone is questioning that. However, good actions of the past do not give America, or anyone else for that matter, a carte blanche to do whatever it wants. I very much hope that America will get it right and regain the respect it once commanded in the international community.

OMG I so agree with everything you said RD, though I could never explain it myself so eloquently as you did! Thank you so much for sharing.

Haha thanks Evie...one of the rare moments of clarity for me these days.

Well said Evie and RD. Good on you both

It's kinda sad really but I agree with RD and batgirl about us being bullies right now and I'm a GD veteran.
The war in Iraq is bullshit and I'm not the least bit proud of our involvement.

That being said, I hope y'all don't think all americans are as arrogant and idiotic as George W. and friends. Some of us do have some friggin' sense, I swear!

I say bring our soldiers home!
Morgan