You asked a very good question in another thread. I am answering here because there seems to be no civility and no honest attempt to address what you said.
You asked:
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But what I don't understand is the need for some Americans to re-affirm to the world that they are "the GREATEST and most POWERFUL country in the world." Let the other countries decide that for themselves, and believe me, the people here in Canada are getting a little sick and tired of the overzealous displays of patriotism. To many Americans, the mere fact that they could probably take over the whole world with their sheer military might, is enough to justify in their minds that they are the "greatest" country in the world. If you think that miltary might and prowess makes you a great country, then you definitely need to get your priorities straightened out. Besides if you truly are the greatest country in the world, why do many posters here have to continually re-affirm that in their posts? Could it be that they believe the world needs more convincing? Because belive me, the world does need more convincing. Or perhaps these posters need to keep repeating that belief to themselves because they too need convincing.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Why constantly re-affirm?
I do it for 2 reasons.
1. I see Washington and politcians for what they are. I see the atrocities and backwards thinking they commit often in the names of justice.
I love this country and the principles on which it was founded. My affirmation is a self-medicating approach to the simple truth: "Despite the efforts of a bunch of self-serving criminals in Washington, America still shines bright as the greatest country in the world."
2. I say it because its true and because I am grateful I wasn't born in Russia or Pakistan or even Canada. I am grateful for this land and the opportunities it affords me.
America is the greatest country in the world IN-SPITE of the actions of our governments, not because of it. It also has nothing to do with our current ranking as the one and only super-power.
Perhaps my definition of "great" doesn't jive with yours.
Let me describe why I think America is the greatest country in the world:
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In our very young history, the United States of America has become the greatest country in the history of the world.
We've single-handedly improved the quality of life for the entire planet.
We gave the world the Airplane, the telephone/telegraph, the stove, the laser, the transistor and the computer chip.
We gave the world an assembly line process to mass produce automobiles. We discovered the nature of electricity, invented sports betting and gave the world The Internet.
The people below the poverty level in the United States have living quarters bigger than the middle income wage earner in France.
We live longer, better and more free than anyone every thought about living 200+ years ago before this great nation was founded.
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When I originally made the above statement, I forgot to mention a few other things that might define "great".
Anyone involved involved sports betting that shares your view might want to reconsider.
In addition to inventing the pointspread, the entire offshore sports betting universe revolves around American sports and American bettors (I am not including BMs in England and Soccer, Cricket, etc).
All of a sudden, all over the globe, bookmakers aren't making much money.
Yes, the same exiled Bookmakers are very much in debted to the very same country that exiled them.
You see, without the flow of cash from US Citizens to the operators of sports books offshroe and in Canada, there wouldn't be much left to this industry.
There is much I have missed. For instance, the free market system did something amazing last year:
We mapped the human genome. Our government sponsored "Human Genome Project" was faltering (like similar projects all over the world). The government sponsored program, downtrodden with bureaucracy, couldn't get funding and grants for some of the newer methods that were being tested.
Several private companies, free of these burdens, were able to improve effeciency, and got the human genome mapped in unbelieavable time.
This is the greatest medical accomplishment the world has ever seen. Its here faster because free market principals were applied. The ability to treat and prevent disease will be forever altered.
I could go on and on and on but hopefully I given you a decent answer.
Sure, your home country isn't a bad place. A couple of sports books are being allowed to operate in one of your provinces and we are grateful for that.
I wouldn't want to get sick in Canada, but it ain't bad. If it makes you feel any better, you probably live in the second greatest country in the world.
However, 2 buildings and 30,000 people were destroyed and the entire civilized world has almost stopped.
Why? Because those 30,000 people belonged to the greatest country in the world. Those 2 buildings sat in the greatest country in the world and were bright and shining beacons to the simple truths that have made this country what it is.
Commerce, trade, free-enterprise...
They stood as symbols for improved quality of life through capitalism. They stood for freedom, opportunity and empowerment.
Might not mean much to you. Maybe you don't understand it, but I think you do.
My government dissapoints and hurts me every time I turn on the television, but I've got to "dance with the one that brung me".
Maybe one day Canada will privatize health care (they already did that for Air Traffic Controllers) and quit taxing its citizens to death.
Maybe one day Quebec will quit engaging in Facism, racism, oppressive labor laws and controls on free speech.
Until then, 2nd place ain't all that bad. It ain't love, but it ain't bad.
Of course it ain't America either.
Heath
[This message has been edited by heath (edited 09-13-2001).]