[FL335]

This thread has lots of win!

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by Ashley Schaeffer BMW

Funny how you look just how I imagined you based off your smug hipster posting style.

America is the #1 super power in the world. There's no debating that.

It's popular to hate the best. Same reason why Lebron and Mayweather are hated by those with lesser to no talent.

No most people are hated because of their arrogance not their talent. People respect and admire talent but hate arrogance. Lebron is pretty well liked and Mayweather is respected in the ring but hated on because of his antics out of the ring. Then you have guys with ego's that dwarf what little talent they have; guys like Kayne West. These people pretty much just invite the hate in. "Showing off is the fools idea of glory"-- Bruce Lee

As far as empires go, they are kind of like athletes. They start out hungry, reach a zenith, and eventually collapse. The difference is that athletes know that their time is limited so they capitalize on it but empires develop the false notion of immortality. In the end most empires collapsed because of greed and arrogance. The Romans probably believed that they were number one, right up to the moment when the Germanic tribes put the boot to their throats.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

If I'm watching a Michael Bay movie I almost want that to happen.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA





Dude that was good!!!

[DieselDiner]

Originally Posted by rr006rbc

I think we're great, but not the greatest lol.

Who do you think is greater?

[LinkA8A0A]

Because I live there...."Uh, yeah, we're in the Rockies"

[csu87]

Originally Posted by DieselDiner

Who do you think is greater?

The great country of Texas

[KlausPA]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

HEY CANADA!!

For how long are we going to ride on past co-tails? For how long are we going to base or pride on shit we did a few decades ago?

[KlausPA]

Originally Posted by csu87

why are you here?

Why wouldn't he? See? this is what I don't get... It seems like self criticism makes you unpatriotic. It feels totalitarian-ish to me.

Open your eyes dude, the best democracies are built on self criticism and humbleness, nationalism is what allows the government to stick it to us.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by KlausPA

For how long are we going to ride on past co-tails? For how long are we going to base or pride on shit we did a few decades ago?

Yup exactly my point..

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by KlausPA

Why wouldn't he? See? this is what I don't get... It seems like self criticism makes you unpatriotic. It feels totalitarian-ish to me.

Open your eyes dude, the best democracies are built on self criticism and humbleness, nationalism is what allows the government to stick it to us.

Again you hit the nail on the head.

Funny thing is too when someone says something positive about their country, without insulting us in anyway; we quickly slam them and immediately claim about how much better we are. It's almost as if the US is some sort of a paradise and the rest of the world is a post Apocalyptic Mad Max universe. Soviet Union believed that the USSR was paradise, everything made in the USSR was best (no matter that it broke down after one use), and that the rest of the world sucked and envied them. North Korea subscribes to that same belief system.

[KlausPA]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Greatest economy
Strongest military
Largest maintainer of world peace
Greatest producer of food
Most free
Etc etc etc. The only time we aren't the greatest is when the government gets involved.
Cutrent administration is on an active campaign to downplay American exceptionalism and spread our wealth around the world to raise their standad of living vs spread out system around the world so they can raise themselves. It's welfare on a global scale. Won't work domestically why think it will worldwide. We need another Reagan.

Holy shit!

Greatest economy? just because we are the biggest economy does not make us the greatest economy.

Strongest Military? Again, the largest for sure. Strongest? Why? Because we are everywhere?

Largest maintainer of world peace? LMAO... We cause wars dude.

Open your eyes, we are not exceptional anymore.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by KlausPA

Why wouldn't he? See? this is what I don't get... It seems like self criticism makes you unpatriotic. It feels totalitarian-ish to me.

Open your eyes dude, the best democracies are built on self criticism and humbleness, nationalism is what allows the government to stick it to us.

I was using it as a point. He is obviously from another country and immigrated here with his family. If it wasnt so good here, then why did he come?

Its all fine and dandy to say USA isnt the greatest, but if you immigrated here, you had to have a reason you chose the US over another country. All I am getting at.

Also,

[KlausPA]

Originally Posted by csu87

I was using it as a point. He is obviously from another country and immigrated here with his family. If it wasnt so good here, then why did he come?

Its all fine and dandy to say USA isnt the greatest, but if you immigrated here, you had to have a reason you chose the US over another country. All I am getting at.

Also,

Got your point now...

There are plenty of reasons to immigrate to the US and for sure thinking that it is the greatest country in the world is not one of them. Go ask any immigrant, most of them have come to the US because of work.

[bmwmsport]

Because we have Abe Lincoln riding a grizzly holding the Declaration of Independence and an AR15.

Your other points are invalid.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by csu87

I was using it as a point. He is obviously from another country and immigrated here with his family. If it wasnt so good here, then why did he come?

Its all fine and dandy to say USA isnt the greatest, but if you immigrated here, you had to have a reason you chose the US over another country. All I am getting at.

Also,

No country is the greatest. Every Western country today has some pluses and minuses, America is no exception. We are a great country but we could do way better. Saying we are the greatest in a true determent because it creates a false notion that we have no flaws and issues to work on.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by KlausPA

Got your point now...

There are plenty of reasons to immigrate to the US and for sure thinking that it is the greatest country in the world is not one of them. Go ask any immigrant, most of them have come to the US because of work.

Right, and the amount of opportunity is what makes the US the greatest imo. I have seen people go from nothing to something so many times, that I know couldnt happen in most places in the world. I have family/friends that live all over Europe and the opportunities that they have vs what I have is much smaller. In fact, most of their kids have ended up moving here to pursue those opportunities.

Originally Posted by Delta0311

No country is the greatest. Every Western country today has some pluses and minuses, America is no exception. We are a great country but we could do way better. Saying we are the greatest in a true determent because it creates a false notion that we have no flaws and issues to work on.

Yes, thinking we have no flaws is a detriment to our country. However, being confident in our greatness, and working to perfect ourselves and stay great, will help.

Take one of the many great athletes out there (My example will be Deion Sanders, one of the greatest, if not the greatest DBs to play). He was overly confident that he was the greatest, and every day worked hard to prove he was better than any other player. When a new guy would challenge his claim, Deion would practice and work to perfect his game even more, until there was no doubt.

Nowadays, it seems people are either content saying we are the greatest, without doing anything to prove it, or claim America sucks, and not do anything to improve it.

And...

[bmwmsport]

Originally Posted by csu87

Nowadays, it seems people are either content saying we are the greatest, without doing anything to prove it, or claim America sucks, and not do anything to improve it.

This +100, mostly the nothing to improve it..

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by bmwmsport

This +100, mostly the nothing to improve it..

Part of the problem is the two party system of no change. Can't expect things to be different when we keep electing the same useless whack jobs every time.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Part of the problem is the two party system of no change. Can't expect things to be different when we keep electing the same useless whack jobs every time.

[bmwmsport]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

Part of the problem is the two party system of no change. Can't expect things to be different when we keep electing the same useless whack jobs every time.

Same useless whack jobs with different viewpoints just to ensure nothing gets done.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by csu87

LOL yeah South Park nailed it.. Unfortunately many of our problems stem from the fact that we have a democracy but there really is no one to vote for. If that is to be the case then we mind us well create a dictatorship and call it a day. I guess the nice thing about a directorship is that you can get used to the dick that's bending you over. In a BS version of a democracy (much like the one we currently have) the dicks change every 4 to 8 years so you never really get used to the pounding.

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by bmwmsport

Same useless whack jobs with different viewpoints just to ensure nothing gets done.

No things get done.. Just not for a select group of people.... The rest just get the shaft.