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Nation Bashing Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next

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Author	Message
Patrick01 Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Posts: 49 Location: Tennessee, USA	Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 8:56 pm    Post subject: Nation Bashing Ok, OK, OOOK! So none of us live in a perfect society. I'll be the first to admit that I live in a self-centered country that doesn't appreciate or realize what it has. However I have never been anywhere that I would'nt want to return for another visit. When I visit another country I don't visit Governments I visit people. I don't purposely visit tourist areas unless it's part of a day to relax and "see the Sights". The people I visit for the most part are the "salt of the Earth' and every country has them and most , from my experience, of the people from those countries are that way. Of course I realized that some are just friendly because they view me as "rich", But the majority jsut want to be friends. Isn't hospitality the norm worldwide rather than the exception? Please know that I don't visit bars (I don't drink ) , and clubs and expensive resorts. I don't work through government agencies. The people I meet for the most part are the common folks that work and raise a family and try to do what is right. So why is there so much nation bashing?
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brandalpayne11 Talk Show Host Joined: 09 Sep 2004 Posts: 245 Location: NC, US	Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:04 pm    Post subject: putting up barriers & putting down other people is a lot easier than putting yourself out there to win friends & be nice because there is always the fear of rejection. When you put down other people your expect rejection which means that there are no "Unknowns" which equals you are a coward.
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Dr-Fauste Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654	Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2005 9:41 pm    Post subject: Quite simple if we feel low, we bash someone for something that cannot control or improve upon and we feel better and in this case we feel more patriotic for such a thing. It is easier to put someone down then bring yourself up. People forget there is a difference between the government and the people. I do not like Canadian Government where they are almost pushing churches to allow Adam & Steve to get married and criminal law is awful
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Intourist Talk Show Host Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 245 Location: Moscow	Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:25 pm    Post subject: I think that cultural adaptation plays a large role as well. It's easier to get frustrated and angry or spiteful at what we don't understand on a day to day basis. All to frequently, I've seen expatriates criticize ordinary Russians for something that, locally, is perfectly logical, but foreign to how we live and work at home. Adapting to foreign cultures doesn't mean necessarily having to like it, but at least understanding the reasoning behind it. Once people start examinging the reasoning behind those items that frustrate us, then we'll have more understanding.
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vitalsigns Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784	Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:50 pm    Post subject: Good bye! Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:58 am; edited 1 time in total
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cyndy22 Lounge Wizard Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 1076 Location: massachusetts	Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 9:39 pm    Post subject: Interesting example. Food has a huge reference to culture. I agree the polite thing is to try foods from other countries especially when hosts provide you with their food or you are traveling or living in a foreign country.. But people can be very fussy about what they eat,. I have a friend. She is Japanese and was dating an American. Well believe it or not- it was food that essentially ended their relationship. Neither one could appreciate each others eating habits. I find trhat kind of funny.
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vitalsigns Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784	Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 10:08 pm    Post subject: Good bye! Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:58 am; edited 1 time in total
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Dan23 Frequent Guest Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 53 Location: Davis, CA	Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:14 pm    Post subject: Dr Fauste wrote: People forget there is a difference between the government and the people. I think it's easy to forget this here, where we generally think of government as being "of, by, and for the people." Not that I think it's really going that way in the US, or that every country is like that, but there can't be a complete disconnect. In any country, people form the government, and I would argue as well that the government forms the people. If a country is not a complete dictatorship, there could be a revolution if the government is too far off. The main source of a disconnect between the people and the actions of their country is ignorance - not knowing the impact they have on the rest of the world, being shielded by the media from the actions of their government, etc. For example, most Americans constantly buy clothes and other goods made in China or the third world, often under sweatshop conditions and shipped halfway around the world. But I don't think most Americans would explicitly support outsourcing, spreading working conditions to other countries that they themselves would never stand for, or the environmental damage that comes from all that poorly-regulated factory production and global shipping. Most Americans don't actively seek out products made in the USA. They don't think about how the energy they use results in the US supporting dictatorships in other countries (like the Middle East, the 'stans, South America) for the sake of their natural resources. Yet this is the impact we have. Similarly, I'd guess that Russia's visible actions aren't a reflection of the people's will. I don't think the people got together and agreed to intervene in the Ukraine election, support Iran's nuclear ambitions, or support flattening Grozny. But controlled media pull the wool over people's eyes. In both countries (The US and Russia) there is a big problem with political apathy. I get the impression that in Russia people are less likely to discuss politics than in the US. I'd guess that the media are partially responsible for this, but does anyone have other explanations? Sorry about the rant, but it's interesting to me. -Dan
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Mogsfan WayToRussified Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 490	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:32 am    Post subject: Good reply, Dan. I think you could add the point that it's a good thing to criticize the government and not be so apathetic. Some people tend to get wound up on such issues and even though it appears to be an insult or even if it is, you have to remember what it's all about. Countries (i.e. their governments) do things that others totally disagree with and some of us are passionate or emotional about it. We feel strongly and object to something so it's frustrating when no one seems to listen, perceive our side or understand why we're complaining or critiquing it. It seems worse when a government is allowed to vote in that government which is responsible rather than if the people were oppressed and would have to collect themselves in order to stop it rather than voting the said government out. P.S. I love sushi and sashimi! What's wrong with those guys?
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Mogsfan WayToRussified Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 490	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:37 am    Post subject: Quote: I do not like Canadian Government where they are almost pushing churches to allow Adam & Steve to get married and criminal law is awful Doc, why do you and so many care about that? I mean, marriage is a joke, isn't it? What's the divorce rate again? Some women leave their country to get married to obtain a visa. Others marry several times. When you get over three, is there any more sense? If I sympathize with anything any Christian organization says it would be the decay of family values and the basic idea of marriage.
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Dr-Fauste Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:56 am    Post subject: Quote: Doc, why do you and so many care about that? Because it is one special interest group imposing their beliefs another group. If a church and its congression do not want to marry gays, then they should not be forced.
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DennisF Lounge Lizard Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 97 Location: Texas	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:09 am    Post subject: pumpkin pie? yuck!! To Cyndy, I have lived in the US almost all my life and I still hate pumpkin pie. I don't care for anything else made from members of the squash family. Add in okra and you have the totality of my vegetable "hate list". All others are good when prepared certain ways. I agree with Dr. F that a church should not be legislated to by the government. In Texas (probably considered by most people to be a redneck state) the issue of gay marriage is very unpopular. It won't happen here anytime soon and not without a huge controversy. I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could! DennisF
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Dan23 Frequent Guest Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 53 Location: Davis, CA	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:18 am    Post subject: Re: pumpkin pie? yuck!! DennisF wrote: I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I could! DennisF And I will make sure to avoid it as long as possible!
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DennisF Lounge Lizard Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 97 Location: Texas	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:24 am    Post subject: Whoa there, pardner! So, is this thread moving form "nation bashing" to "state bashing". I would expect a provincial comment like that from a Californicater. Seriously, I know some very nice people from California, but they all came to Texas. DennisF
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Dan23 Frequent Guest Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 53 Location: Davis, CA	Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:28 am    Post subject: I guess that depends on whom you consider nice. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Dan P.S. I guess you could call me a "blueneck." P.P.S. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
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