Re: US Democracy nearing an end?
It just bothers me that we, as Canadians, take the time to be courteous and learn about countries that we are neighbours with, or visit to learn about cultural differences, languages and customs and that some of our American neighbours don't feel that the effort is worth it. It tends to make one feel like there is an arrogance that silently indicates that all the world needs to bend over backwards to meet the needs of some of these Americans. I have heard similar complaints from residents of other countries. I have a few American friends, who spend some time here in Canada, and some time in the States. I can't with good conscience lump all of 'em into one basket and say to hell with ya. But it makes it hard to defend ignorance in light of the many issues that have arisen in the past three to four years. With all of the world waiting for someone to blow up the first unaccounted for nuclear weapon, don't you think that maybe we as Canadians, have the right idea by pursuing peace-keeping, humanitarianism, pollution reduction, and health care? War mongering is an age old practice, but it hasn't worked in the past, and pisses off too many left wing radicals who are more than too happy to strap on a backpack full of explosives and jump on a bus full of girl guides or drive a fully fuelled plane into a building full of innocents. Needless, mindless destruction and death. The people responsible have long said that these have been actions in retaliation for American presence in their countries. No one deserves the kind of disasters that I spoke of earlier, but perhaps it is a risk that American politicians should consider when they inflict Americanism on other countries.
Being courteous, polite, and learning about other countries, people and cultures is something that I haven't witnessed too many Americans doing. There's an old saying that goes, "Keep your friends close to you, and your enemies even closer." If I knew someone was out to get me, I would learn as much as I could about them, because then you know their weaknesses. It's that arrogance in not bothering to learn that makes some Canadians resent Americans. Democracy nearing an end in the US? I am pretty sure that it ended with the conspiracy to assassinate JFK. Since then it's all stage make-up and figureheads, a farce really. :?:
