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Originally Posted by Stealth Hunter
...consider everything else the United States has given the world....
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I think that sums up how thing are. Whatever your point of view on the US you can look at that sentense and affirm your feelings with it.
What I see in this thesis about America bashing is a fundamental failure of logic. It is assumed that any critical eye towards the US is not about a reasonable disagreement but rather about an emotional envy. This reminds me of everytime the hardliners disagree with socialism on this board. Its not that socialism can't work, its that the motives for wanting it are ignoble! This isn't about facts. This is about a propogandistic style of thought. The 'with us or a'gin us' idea. It simplifies the nature of nations and geo-politics into something that should be more like bible study than social studies.
The second flaw in the logic is that there is no distinction made between criticizing American policy and America as an abstract symbol or nation. If I disagree with policies in the Middle East I hate freedom, the constitution, white people, christians, babies that live in Wisconsin, methodists from Texas, and the stars and stripes. You're the one that goes on and on about the evils of government WG, yet apparently when I don't like what your evil federal government does I'm 'bashing'.
It doesn't make sense because the same emotional accusation made against critical opponents of American policies or behavior feeds those who make the argument. We're all envious of America... why? Cause we owe so much to them! We're all a bunch of ingrates. You see it all the time. Implying that our own nations are not as important. This option in the poll is particularly enlightening as to this argument:
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Yes, my country will become more relevent in the world
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So what do I really think ? Within America itself its a wonderful place, mostly. They have the greatest constitution in the world. A true symbol for democracy everywhere. However America's external policies are no different than any empire before it. Failing to see the parallels in the policies and the apparent blind spots about American atrocities in regard to toppling free societies leaves me with little hope for real discourse on the subject with anyone other than those that already agree with me. Democracy within America is great, but where the boots hit the ground they might as well be wearing Red Coats instead of MARPAT.
EDIT. Also I didn't vote in the poll because none of the options left me with the choice of saying bashing isn't actually whats happening.