LittleSpooky said on October 7, 2002 06:30:

I’d like to thank Markuz, Denny, Vix, and Jas for being here for me. This was done because of you.

Hello, I’m an American. While not many of you may care, I’m posting this in light of the many things that are going on. The United States is not a popular country right now, and I’ve known it for quite some time. However, there’s nothing I want to do to change the fact that I’m an American and proud of that fact. But, like almost every American here, I am not a “native product” of this land. You trace my family history back far enough, you will find that my family starts in Russia and then migrates to Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Ireland, before finally settling in America. I am a 25th generation American.

But this is not why I’m posting. I am posting because it seems there are folks here, that no matter what I say, I’m wrong because I am an American. My ideas are “stupid, ignorant, or just plain wrong”. While some information MAY BE inaccurate, I can tell you from experience that most of what I say in regards to things are fairly right on. My comment on another topic about it not being “safe” out in the world for Americans is actually right on. But that’s not why I’m posting either.

I’m not saying that the US is better or worse than any place else, not by a long shot. We have our problems, just like every other nation. We have leaders that make promises and don’t keep them. But at the same time: Why the hell do people keep coming to the US, legally or otherwise if it’s that bad?

I don’t claim to know everything about all the different cultures of my country, let alone the world, but I do know that putting everyone into one stereotype or another is what has gotten this world to the sorry state that it is in. Just because I’m an American, doesn’t mean that I’m an idiot. I’m not. There are people that are supposed to be “older and wiser” than I am, that I find to be just plain idiots. Just because someone is from one of the many states of the former Soviet Union doesn’t make them a Communist.

Because someone is from Germany, doesn’t make them a Nazi or SS. And just because someone is from Afghanistan, doesn’t mean that they are a terrorist. I made the comments that I made in another topic in hopes that it would cry out to someone’s intellectualism to maybe get them to stop and say “Wait a minute. The things that are being said aren’t right. They’re messages full of anger and hate, and for what?” Unfortunately, it only served to fuel the paranoid and the hatred further.

Subsequently, I’ve been called an idiot, a moron, stupid, and many other things because all I did was point out that this is EXACTLY the type of behaviour that has brought the world to the brink of yet one more war. This war’s not about freedom or justice. It’s about intolerance, money, power, and revenge. Everyone is so quick to judge and to blame, but if you would step back and take a look at your own actions and words, you might be able to do things differently.

I’m not innocent in these matters, I let anger cloud my judgement on numerous occassions. I am big enough to stand up and say I am wrong. Can you? You cry for peace, yet you continue to throw stones and then have a fit when someone defends themselves and throw stones back. It’s time to let topics like “War” and this ones go to rest. It’s time we focussed on something else other than the fact that I am a “dumb American”.

The different replies that I’m sure this will get, will show what kind of people we really are. Let’s prove ourselves wrong. Let’s prove that we really CAN get along.

nelina said on October 7, 2002 13:47:

Little Spooky, what I can tell you for sure is that quite a few people will call you idiot simply because you are american. I also diasagree with you in many things, but I believe it’s completely natural, because you live in the States and I live in Greece and we were raised in a different mentality and culture. The point is if we, the new generation can get along without fighting, without letting our differencies or even our prejudices to control our behaviour towards people we have not even met. I still hope that we can.

LittleSpooky said on October 8, 2002 00:57:

vaxjoe: Thank you.

Jude: Yes you did, didn’t you? You’re on my Hit List (that’s my name for my contacts list on MSN, AIM, Yahoo!, and ICQ).

To everyone else: Take some time to think. Look around where you live and see what is good. I know it’s not easy, especially if you are passionate like vaxjoe and myself. While we were at each other’s throats earlier, I think that by letting go of our passion just a bit, we were able to reach a common ground. At least I hope so.

Denny: FILES RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey... think you can sneak some GOOD tea to me? Lurves ya!