02-03-2009, 11:45 PM | #466 | |
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Of course the USA is also the most generous country in the world, and gives more in charity than any other nation on earth. I very much appreciate you bringing that up. A great point. |
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02-04-2009, 01:04 AM | #467 | |
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Heh, I've had a few glasses of biodynamic wine, so my senses might be a little dull, but this is kind of like saying, "If the fat stupid bible-thumping rednecks, have seen what I've seen, and have learned what I've learned, then they might have something to say on the subject." Last edited by Sonist; 02-04-2009 at 01:46 AM. |
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02-04-2009, 01:14 AM | #468 | |
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America (as you refer to it,) would still be a great country, and at the forefront of of science and technology, without the trailer-bred, mini-mall bible thumpers. We'll also have less welfare recipients, lower taxes and higher standard of living. And our kids will be smarter, our gene-pool will be leaner and healthier, the land will be more ecologically sound, and genetic research will be more advanced, to the benefit of the rest of us. I am only half joking.... P.S. Oh, msmith, if you think I am out of line, I am merely paraphrasing your idol Vox Day, except that his similar pronouncements are directed at non-whites. Last edited by Sonist; 02-04-2009 at 01:33 AM. |
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02-04-2009, 05:31 AM | #469 | |
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I'm glad somebody from the States said this |
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02-04-2009, 08:08 AM | #470 |
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02-04-2009, 08:15 AM | #471 | |||
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http://kriswager.blogspot.com/2007/0...aid-donor.html Quote:
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02-04-2009, 09:46 AM | #472 | ||
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Do you ever wonder why so many people around the world think that we Americans are pig-headed, egotistical morons who think the world revolves around our country and that the rest of the world be damned? The era of Bush made it that much worst, but when people read things like that, do you really wonder why we're not well liked outside our own borders? Open your eyes. Have you ever even been outside the country? What basis are you trying to use that says the US trumps France (or other countries) in anything? I note that while you state it as fact, twice, you don’t bother to offer any type of supporting links or anything to back up your point. Perhaps because there aren’t any? I’m not an economist, nor am I going to pretend to be, but you say that the US is above in economy…then why is the US dollar below the Euro (of which France uses), the British Pound, and even the Japanese Yen? (Which Japan, as a side note, is 96% Buddhist). Isn’t the exchange rate typically used as an indicator for a country’s economy? By GDP we’re not in the top either, but being I don’t fully understand GDP (nor do I care to waste the effort reading up on it just to argue to the point), I’ll just leave it at that. Sure, we’ve invented a lot of things, had a lot of technological advances, etc. Sure, we seem to have a bit more influence, but keep in mind how big of a country we are. We’re also the only country that’s ever dropped a nuclear weapon, and twice at that. Must be because we’re so smart and advanced, right? I just can’t believe that you’re trying to argue that the US is better in every “meaningful” measure, as well as smarter, by just stating it as a fact. Truth is that you have nothing to back these claims and are just spouting off the typical America-must-be-the-best mindset because you’ve learned that you should be proud to be an ‘Merican –insert Bush accent here-. You also are not doing well to argue the point that those that believe in god are not dumber than their non-believing counterparts. The following of your posts has been quite interesting, starting off with hey, Sony is evil and don’t you all agree, to hey, don’t attack the newbie who was just trying to politely point something out, to now spewing off biased viewpoints without backing. Your actions are proving alone the argument you are trying to disprove. Before you go off on the fact that it says on the side that I’m in Korea, let me make a few things clear. I was born and raised in the US, by a mother who outside of a trip to Canada when she was a little kid has never left the country. I am a US citizen who chose, like many other fresh college grads, to go abroad for a year and teach English, which is why I’m here. When I’m done, I’ll go back to the US. So don’t bother with any arguments about me not being an American and so my points aren’t valid or worth listening to (as if that should matter anyway). And if you’re wondering why I steer away from saying America and American, it is because while it is a common phrase that we use, it’s also another example of our egotism. Keep in mind that the continent we’re on, as well as the one to the south, are Americas, and it can be offensive to all the other people on the two continents that we claim it all as our own. One of those things you pick up on if you look beyond our borders and all. You said: “Are you actually attempting to argue that the French as a whole (or any other country that you mentioned) are "smarter" than Americans?” Are you actually attempting to argue that Americans are smarter as a whole than any other country? Don’t you see how absurd that is, that you just assume we are the smartest and make it seem like someone is lacking in mental capacity to even suggest that such a thing isn’t true? You’re one of the reasons why every Canadian I saw in Europe had a very prominent Canadian flag on their backpack, why a girl I met in Greece who moved to the US from England when she was little would use an English accent when asking the locals for directions and such, even though she didn’t have one in her normal speech. Take the incredulity you have at someone daring to suggest that the US isn’t the best, brightest, most fabulous country in every way and imagine how they feel with you saying the same thing about their countries. You don’t have anything to back it up, so stop claiming that it’s gospel (no pun intended). Quote:
I like how you call them “godless” as opposed to atheists, non-believers, or a myriad of other options at your disposal. But then again, that’s how you see them, isn’t it? |
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02-04-2009, 10:18 AM | #473 |
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Ladies and gentlemen, let's keep things "civil", please! We've managed to discuss this somewhat controversial subject in a polite and calm manner thus far. Let's try to maintain that.
Thanks. |
02-04-2009, 10:40 AM | #474 | |
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02-04-2009, 11:39 AM | #475 | |
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http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf Buddhism is a religion, not atheism or agnosticism. The U.S. dollar is essentially the world's reserve currency, and it has actually strengthened dramatically in the current financial crisis. However ALL currencies fluctuate and do not determine the size of an economy. GDP is the metric that economists use to measure it. The only point I was trying to make was that it was absurd and ignorant for a previous poster to infer that atheists are "smarter" that people of faith. They used France as an example of a country that is predominantly secular/atheist/agnostic, and my example was the United States where approximately 90% of the population believes in God. You certainly cannot argue that France is "smarter" or more successful than the USA based on many various metrics of accomplishment. I was attempting to defend my point, not dismiss other nations accomplishments, or be an arrogant "American". And my apologies to all other members of Central, South and North America for my reference to the USA as "America" if they were offended. It is common practice here, but I certainly can see where it could be a bit offensive to our friends and neighbors to the north and south. Thanks for correcting me. |
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02-04-2009, 11:55 AM | #476 |
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The US population is also about 5 times larger than France's, putting their per capita GDP nearly at the same level. Statistics are meaningless with no context.
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02-04-2009, 12:33 PM | #477 |
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02-04-2009, 01:15 PM | #478 |
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It seems this thread has devolved into "my country is better than yours".
Aside from keeping it civil, let's keep it rational as well. |
02-04-2009, 01:17 PM | #479 | |
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Also as I have read the evidence it is the case that for example the higher eduction the less religiosity. For example http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/intelligence.html claim that in the general population in US belief in god is 90% but for scientists with B.S it is 40% and for eminent scientists it is 10%.. |
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02-04-2009, 01:29 PM | #480 | |
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Oh I do (live here in the buckle of the bible belt)... but I don't really associate with people who tend to believe those things. Not purposely, we just don't travel in the same orbits or they are not talkative about their beliefs in those areas. I have a cousin who is a Southern Baptist minister and we have certain regular disagreements but I don't know him very well. So I know of them, but what I meant is the people I know well don't believe those things. The people I grew up around certainly did and the people I'm casually around certainly do. You should hear some of the things that get said in our classes.
Also, I'm an Episcopalian. So... you know.. there's that. Which is not to say there are not some very "conservative" Episcopalians, but generally it's a pretty big tent and there are lots of beliefs about these things. But generally the Anglican tradition takes reason pretty seriously. Even this great "schism" that was in the news so much lately over ordaining a homosexual bishop and having a woman as our presiding bishop was like... 2% of the church. Personally, I'm happy to have them gone. The church will go forward better without people like that. It can be dressed up better for ecumenical purposes but as far as I'm concerned a bigot is a bigot. But even so.. I don't think what people believe matters terribly much. I'm only concerned with how people act. They can believe in Zeus for all I care. Quote:
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