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This is definitely worth a read!
48 replies
Brian said on February 18, 2003 10:42:
— A great, civilized nation democratically elected a fanatic demagogue,
who preached war. Actually, he did not really receive the majority of votes,
but, somehow, his ascent to power was arranged nevertheless.
— Soon after assuming power, he manipulated a dramatic incident in order
to tighten his grip upon the country and prepare for attack on smaller
nations. An immense propaganda machine turned “enemies” into devils, the
incarnation of evil.
— The call for war enabled him to unite the whole people behind him, to
silence all opposition, gradually abridge human rights, overcome the
economic crisis and embark upon a voyage towards world dominion.
— He loved being photographed, walking along lines of soldiers, pretending
to be a great military leader —
I mean, of course, Adolf Hitler.
The German people, which gave him power and followed him with closed eyes
even when he committed heinous crimes, paid a heavy price. It has learned
the lesson. Now it abhors war, any war, from the depth of its soul. Hundreds
of thousands - young people, children, grandchildren and grand-grandchildren
of that generation - march these days through the streets of Germany to
protest against Bush’s war. Their leader, Schroeder, was reelected solely
because he expressed this deep longing for peace. The most warlike people
has turned into the most anti-warlike.
That’s great, isn’t it? Not at all! American and British leaders condemn
Germany for its refusal to go to war. The Israeli government heap scorn on
its head. Wet rugs, these Germans! Damn pacifists! Cowards! Pitiful people
who refuse to fight!
All this less than 60 years since Hitler’s suicide. Who would have believed.
And this is not the only miracle that is happening these days. Not by any
means.
A personal memory (excuse me if you have read it before): when I was 8 years
old, two years before my family fled Germany after Hitler’s coming to power,
I was a pupil in the third class of an elementary school in Prussia, a
Social Democratic bulwark at the time.
Once the teacher told us about Hermann, the national hero, who had succeeded
in 9 AD to lure the Roman army into a trap and annihilate it. The Roman
commander, Varus, fell on his sword and Augustus Ceasar uttered his
despairing cry: “Varus, give me back me legions!” On the spot where the
historic battle was supposed to have taken place, there stands now a huge
statue of Hermann.
“Hermann stands with his face towards the Erbfeind (hereditary enemy)!” our
teacher proclaimed. “Children, who is the Erbfeind?” All the pupils in the
class shouted in unison: “Frankreich! Frankreich (France)!”
Now Germany and France, the hereditary enemies, stand together, shoulder to
shoulder, against Bush’s war plans. The Americans curse and abuse them, but
they stand firm: Enough of war. Enough of destruction and bloodshed. Other
ways to solve problems must be found.
That is another miracle. But even this is a minor one compared to the third,
historic miracle that is happening in front of our eyes:
President Putin appeared in Berlin and Paris, embraced Chirac and Schroeder
and added his voice to theirs. One front from Cherbourg on the Atlantic to
Vladivostok on the Pacific. That has never happened before.
>From earliest times, European history is full of alliances of some states
against others. Germany and Russia divided Poland between them. France and
Russia allied themselves several times to contain Germany. Napoleon tried to
unite Europe and did not succeed. The Texan cowboy is succeeding where the
Corsican emperor has failed.
Bush has invented the childish term “Axis of Evil” to group together Iraq,
Iran and North Korea. That’s nonsense. But in the meantime a
French-German-Russian axis has come into being and is facing the United
States.
(The term “axis” to design a coalition of states was also invented at the
time of Hitler. The original axis of evil included Germany, Italy and Japan.
When using this term, Bush intended to recall that memory.)
It is too early to say if this new axis will hold on and if it will be
strong enough to face the enormous might of the United States. But even if
it will be broken this time, its very birth is a harbinger of things to
come.
These three countries, contemptuously called by the American Secretary of
Defense “Old Europe”, are, on the contrary, united by considerations
pertaining to the New Europe. This Europe worries the Americans. It is
becoming an economic superpower, able to compete with, and perhaps overtake,
the United States. A symbol of this is the fact that the euro has indeed
overtaken the dollar.
As I remarked in a previous article, the war in Iraq is primarily a war
against Europe and Japan. The American occupation of Iraq will ensure
American control not only over the vast oil reserves of Iraq itself, but
also of the Caspian Sea and the Gulf States. The hand on the oil tab of the
world can choke Germany, France and Japan, because it can manipulate at will
the price of oil throughout the world. Lower the price, and you choke
Russia. Raise the price, and you choke Europe and Japan.
Therefore, preventing the war is an essential European interest, in addition
to the profound longing for peace of the European peoples.
Washington does not even hide its desire to bring Europe to its knees.
Lately, there is a crude American effort to create a coalition of peripheral
countries in order to oust Germany and France from the leadership of the
European Union. America is organizing a bloc of the former Communist
nations, who are about to join the Union, together with the UK, Spain and
Italy. The Paris-Berlin axis, aided by Moscow, is designed as a defense
against this ploy, too.
This war, then, goes much beyond the Iraqi problem. It is not a war against
Saddam’s microbes. It is, quite simply, a war for world dominion, economic,
political, military and cultural. Bush is ready to spill a lot of blood to
achieve this (as long as it is not American blood).
Israel is involved in this game without quite knowing what it is doing
there, a boy in a game of world-league bullies. It has nothing to gain, it
can only lose.
sweet_stalker57 said on February 19, 2003 00:44:
heard all this before, one guy remarked: um, Hitler wasn’t rich and his daddy never bought him a baseball team. =p
advice from the ghetto: “life aint nothin but bitches and money!”
powerpoplarry said on February 19, 2003 06:23:
Well, if that is indeed Bush’s goal, I want to move to Europe, cuz he is completely evil!! I never voted for Bush, I am not a Republican (I hate right-wingers!!), and I am anti-war. If I could, I would burn the American flag, as I am against what Bush stands for. But no, I don’t want to stoop to his low level, nor do I want to go to jail for 2 years for flagburning....see that topic.
lonely_girl said on February 19, 2003 06:46:
Ha, finally someone who dares to speak out what a lot of people think in the ’old Europe’. I’m proud to be a part of the old Europe when I look at the behaviour of the ’new’.
Roxrider_USA said on February 19, 2003 06:59:
It will always be like this! History has shown us since the time of the Roman Empire.
As soon as a empire falls another one rises rapidly and takes the role of its predecesor. It’s a never ending cycle. The Roman Empire lasted for hundreds of years and the US is only about 300 hundreds years old. So, many more hundreds of years from now whatever superpower or empire is around will follow the same steps other superpowers and empires took years earlier. It’s our history! It’s our nature! It’s our world! Just hope this war has a just cause and a legitimate world protection cause as it’s claimed.
Carlos E., New York!
Th_Th said on February 19, 2003 08:55:
Last night, in the news, Blair said, America and Europe joined together, could solve all the Worlds Problems... First of all, I think that is just simply impossible! Secondly, lets say I have got a fight or an argument with someone, I wouldn’t want a Person I don’t know, or someone I even dislike or hate, come in and solve the argument for me.
Why don’t Germany, France and Russia just attack America? They would have reason enough, coz in America people are dying on the electric chair or Gas Chambers or whatever new methods they have got now. People put to prison for burning a flag...
Obviously Germany, France and other European Countries do not agree with that, why don’t we just attack America??? Don’t we have reason enough??? They are killing their own people!!
Let’s face it, they have even tested nuclear weapons on their own soldiers.... Shouldn’t we go in and stop them now?? You guys might think I am mad now... or am I just thinking the same way as Bush???
Obviously I wrote this with a lot of sarcasm...
vaxjoe said on February 19, 2003 09:14:
WHY CANT WE DESTROY ALL WEAPONS AND WEAPON FACTORIES AND LOCK ALL OUR CRAZY WORLD LEADERS IN A NUTHOUSE AND THROW AWAY THE KEY? AND THEN JUST PARTY AND HAVE SEX???
WHY????
*but then again..its just me...Love is All*
Stormkeeper said on February 19, 2003 09:50:
...or send them to a deserted island without a return-ticket... :D
coyboyusa said on February 19, 2003 15:06:
actually if you have been following eu politics germany is secretly trying to rise as a world super power again. they are trying to get back regions of the baltics and poland which they were removed from post ww2...they now command peacekeeping forces in both afghanistan and the former yugoslavia , they have been able to persuade the eu to put aside fines they were to be asessed after failing to meet Eu national bidget standards and they are making eu farming restictions so hard that many english farmers are falling on hard times...so who is the greater evil?
Th_Th said on February 19, 2003 16:36:
Coyboy:
You do not even have a clue what you are talking about. Obviously you have not been following EU politics. Now, please give me some facts how Germany is trying to become the world super power again. And please be really specific now, what regions the Germans are trying to get back at the baltics?? And Poland??? Don’t be ridiculous!! Give us some facts! I have been in Germany lots of times and have studied years on German History. Things that happened in Germany during the last world wars were bad and the things that happened were unbelievable awful. But let me tell you, Germany had been destroyed almost completely after the last world war. The German Nation suffered a lot too. After the second world war, they rebuild Germany within like no time. But Germany was and to this day still is weakened. At first Germany got divided into two, even though today they are reunited, it still is not really one country. The Western Germans and the Eastern Germans still do not get on perfectly. They have got two different mentalities living in Germany now. But Germany is still weakened, as to this day, lots and lots of American and British Army Bases are based all over Germany. The reason for that was, to keep Germany under control. Germany is not even allowed to have a big Army, they have got a limited amount of Soldiers, which really is not a lot. The German strong points are, they have got such a strong economy, they built the best cars and roads in the World. They are such hard working people. After having suffered so much when WW2 was over, they have recovered and found their real strengths. But still today Germany suffers a lot, for example, Millions of Millions of Turkish people live in Germany. Seriously, it is Millions over Millions, every Town or City in Germany has parts, where only Turkish people live. Germany has to take them, or else they would be told to be Nazis, not wanting foreign country men in their country. And the Germans have to pay for the Turkish. As Millions of Turkish in Germany are unemployed, don’t even bother to get work, so they live on social welfare, which the German Tax payer has to pay.
Germany is Europe’s strength, a lot of Roads all over Germany, or buildings, bridges etc. get funded by the EU, 75 Percent of that money comes from Germany. Another way to keep the Germans weak and under control.
geez, before you give such stupid comments, think about what you are about to say.
Oh, and don’t forget, Germany is paying TRILLIONS of Euros, to fight against Terrorism. (Keeping in mind that the Euro is stronger than the Dollar, it really is unbelievable how much Germany pays...)
I can not believe that some American’s, like Coyboy here, still believe Germany to be evil. To say Germany is trying to secretly become super power again is the biggest joke I ever heard. That is simply impossible, as Germany is probably the most controlled country in the World.
Schmetterling said on February 19, 2003 16:47:
If I’m correct Germany is in economic crisis..more than 10% are out of work. It’s rather difficult to become a superpower with internal political crisis, economic crisis AND in addition beeing a peacekeeper. Germany has only just LEFT its position as Europes “superpower”...
As to George W Bush... He’s the only one who reprieves more turkeys each year than prisoners if I’m correct informed. Thats talks for itself. It scares me that he can imprison a bunch of guys at Guantanamo without even charging them for anything. I’m not saying they’re all not guilty. But..he at least needs to charge them for anything and give them a trial! What scares me the most is that people (including me and most of you I guess) look and shake our heads and disapprove...but without really doing anything.
Santi said on February 19, 2003 16:50:
We went out on the streets last Saturday to make them know we don’t want a new war.
lonely_girl said on February 20, 2003 06:51:
@coyboy: You don’t have a clue of European policy, do you???? *shakesheadindisbelief*
zeeshan said on February 20, 2003 07:14:
Excellent article!!!! THANKS A LOT for sharing us. IT DOES brings a lot of facts in front of us.
coyboyusa said on February 20, 2003 09:47:
i have a big clue about eu politics germany is in ecnomic fallout due to its inability to go along with eu budgeting demand and a high influx if immigrants AKA the rise in neo nazism in germany yet again. there is a magazine printed in the eu in my country called the observer which tells a whole lot as to what is up with the eu and its idea of creating a european army
Roxrider_USA said on February 20, 2003 16:05:
What i see:
Since the US is the only superpower in the whole world, it greatly influences every other country. It’s been placed as the world’s “watcher”, meaning that the US willng or unwilling has been turned into the world’s financer, protector, culture exporter and even food donor. (Turk has just asked the US $30 billion dollars in financial aid).
I don’t see Germany as a danger at all, at least for the next 20 years. I actually don’t Germany as becoming a danger ever again since it’s always being monitored and kept in check. However, i believe that Germany along with the UK are the main economic powers in Europe.
I can easily see China years from now as a new superpower along side the US. We just have watch if China actually can surpass the US or come in second place behind the US.
Peace out, friends! Respect each other. Respect each others countries. That’s being a wise person. :-) !
Carlos E., New York!
zeeshan said on February 20, 2003 19:14:
Yeah lets play the screw-the-bashers game. Let SCREW the BASHER! Lets Screw BUSH and all past/future American government!
:D
coyboyusa said on February 20, 2003 22:34:
and screw all the peopel who can’t manage their own countries then beg the americans for help then 10 yrs down the line try to bomb us screw them too
zeeshan said on February 21, 2003 07:29:
sweet_stalker: that was too kool man! hehehehe
coyboyusa: Americans are always forcing others to let them use their land so think again who asks for the so-called “help”.
Th_Th said on February 21, 2003 08:23:
Can someone tell me please how America is helping Germany financially??
And another thing you American should not forget, of course America is strong, how many people live in America? 300 Million or so?? Now, compare that to either Great Britain or Germany, the UK or Germany are only the size of the State Idaho!! Isn’t it amazing how such small and insignificant country is almost as strong as America?? America is about 50 times the size of either Great Britain or Germany...
But one thing I am proud of is, that the Europeans do not have slums like the ones you find in the US. At least we give everybody the possibility to at least not live on the streets.
Okay, America is what all ignorant Americans would like to call it: “Superpower”. Bush even said, he wishes, the rest of the World would see America as the big brother watching over them! If that is so, why does America take advantage of the weak countries in the World??
Roxrider_USA said on February 21, 2003 18:41:
@TH TH: Have you stopped to think how the US would be if it used all the money it lends to other countries and all kinds of assistence it gives other countries to itself ?
Just think of the possibilities of using all those huge amounts of lent resources for itself rather than lending it to many other countries. ;-)!
I strongly beleive that if all those resources stayed here in the US and were used right, the american people would be the wealthiest in the planet and many more times than citizens of other countries. (Wealthy implying health care, education, security, entertainment, financial power, transportation and many others). Just think about it, friend.
Take care!
Carlos E., New York.
StillFar said on February 25, 2003 14:40:
Hussein challenged President Bush to debate the need for war. Interesting, however, for sure Bush will find a way to get around it :(
Th_Th said on February 26, 2003 08:39:
Roxrider USA:
You truly must think the USA is that great... shame on you. I could say the same for Germany, sure Germany spends Trillions over Trillions for the European union, to have a stronger Europe. But if they would keep it all to themselves, wow, they would be the richest in the World. But I do not see anything wrong with it, because Germany can afford it, but the USA can not afford to give their money away, sort out your slums and educations systems and social security systems first!!
Roxrider_USA said on February 27, 2003 05:04:
@TH_TH: I completely agree with your allegations. However, i still believe that if the world depended much less on the USA for almost everything, then it would be even more prosperous than it already is. I don’t understand why loving the place you live is a shame. Are you implying that if you live in a place that has major or minor problems that you are supposed to hate or dislike that place? I honestly believe that’s not the way to think even though some people may do that. Also, although my country of birth, Brazil, has many political and social problems, i still love it very much. It was the place i was born, grew up through my childhood and early teen years, met my best friends and had many awesome moments in my life. Concerning the USA, i also love it very much even though its not my country of birth. I love it, ’ cause it has given me many things i never thought i’d achieve. Here, i’m getting my higher education in the field i adore, i live a much better economic life, i live safer, i have access to better healthy treatment and i can see ahead of me a brighter future. Additionally, my family lives happier here due to the above mentioned reasons. For me, that’s one of the most important things.
So tell me, friend, why for you, is it so awfully shamefull to love or even adore the country, land or garden i or anybody else lives in ? Tell me?!
I’m sorry but i don’t see why.
Take care!
Carlos E., New York.
ixtlaner said on February 27, 2003 16:22:
USA is not alone on this planet.
You cannot produce too much goods without having anyone to buy them (a.k.a. market). When a country produces more it can consume that’s a problem.
Giving money and wanting *nothing* in return is sacrifice. Who does it? No one.
Anyway, it’s natural to defend the country you live in and admitting a few mistakes doesn’t make you a betrayer.
Tho you’re also free to like it or not.
It’s natural that things look one way from the inside, and completely diffrently from the outside. Nothing is just black or white, and we do not know soooo many things!
Santi said on February 27, 2003 16:36:
“You cannot produce too much goods without having anyone to buy them (a.k.a. market). When a country produces more it can consume that’s a problem.” You’re very RIGHT!!!
This is the reason the EU keeps on growing!
Roxrider_USA said on February 27, 2003 21:27:
@ixtlaner: I have seen both sides. I have seen what’s out there and what’s in here. I am not defending anything friend. I know to say it’s wrong or bad and it’s right and good whenever i have to. I simply want to understand why for some people it’s so shameful liking, loving or even adoring the place you live in even if the place has problems, be them minor or terribly major. I hope you understand me.
@everyone: Are you supposed to like or love the place we live in only when everything is going wonderfully nice? (I do not believe so). :)!
Take care, friends.
Carlos E., New York.
Santi said on February 28, 2003 09:27:
I think it’s interesting how biased people can be when defending something that they really like. :D In case you don’t see, Carlos, Th_th really loves Germany.
But anyway, I also thing it’s interesting how both of you seem to like to think your country is a kind of “charity provider”. Let’s start with Germany, since I live in the European Union and I know more about this:
I think and know and studied in the university that you’re wrong, Th_Th. It is true that Germany invests in the European Union (just like all the other countries!) but you seem to think it’s... to help us? :O That’s a wrong approach, but I think still it’s not your fault, it’s what the media tell you. In case you don’t know investing in Europe the first that are helping themselves are Germans. In international politics a country that “helps” never losses a cent. They’re investing in creating a big powerful market to sell their own products in it!!
The bigger the market, the more powerful German economy will be. That’s why Europe expands.
Do you think it’s easy for a new country to become a EU member? Well, perhaps you should study a little story and read again what happened in Greece in the 1981-1982 or Spain and Portugal during 1986-1987. Their economy needed protection because of entering the new big market, since with the loss of tariffs for foreign product the national products could not compete. This happens everytime a new country enters the Union. So what does Germany investing (and not only Germany)? :O They spend the money assuring a better level of consum for the new country market so that they CAN BUY GERMAN (and other countries’) products!!! They do it for themselves, not for us! We wouldn’t need your help, if your products didn’t invade us! So please forget about the “German charity provider” because that is as false as a wood-made euro!!
Now about the USA. When there is not a big international agreement like the European Union things are even outrageous. Bilateral agreements for economical “help” are everything but giving money away! I mean, do you live in wonderland or what? Such an agreement for “economical help” means a credit which a country has to spend in buying thing from companies of the “help provider” country and then they have to give the money back!!! :O So it means they double the benefit!!! You should look at the news with a critical approach, because this is what explains the external debt of most countries in the world. They just can’t give back that money after having spend it in that very same country.
If you know what G-7 and World Country are, you’ll realise they do “no concessions”. Why? Aren’t they our Germans and American “big brothers” “help providers” too? OF COURSE they are!!! But it’s the only moment when news can not be distorted.
ABout the USA world watcher, how can I explain... USA is an economical power, the headquarters of many transnational firms are there. Since these days empires are economies (and not national, but this companies) THEY NEED (the USA NEEDS) to put a stable and suitable environment all around the world for their multinational companies to work right. Multinational companies rule the world and most of them are settled in the USA! They do big pressions to USA Government and many times politicians are involved in them. No country needs a USA watcher army more than the USA! We don’t depend on them because we’re “weak”, it’s the USA that makes us depend on the USA. We don’t want the help from that country, but they impose it.
When you look at the world situation thru an economic point of view, actually the situation is not hard to explain, because you all (we all) like to think we’re free, but just think of it, no one is free since we’re moving in a world full of rules.
(In case someone doubts about my authority to talk about geopolitics and EU, I just want to say I’m in the fifth course of Geography in the University of Valencia -Spain- and some of my teachers work for the European Union in Programs on Development of Rural Regions, while some others were politicians).
Take care and have fun! :-P :-D!!
Santi Rodríguez Ruiz
Valencia, Spain.
Santi said on February 28, 2003 09:53:
@Roxrider USA: About your question, you are not suppose to love everything. A good citizen is supposed to be critical and demand from her/his government, because conformism doesn’t make things go better.
If we all agree in what our president say: “España va bien” (Spain is going great), then Spain would go really bad. Because it’s a task of politicians to say that, but we MUST demand, all those politicians are making a living out of our money, in charge of providing us the best. If they don’t improve, they’re useless.
So when next time mister Aznar comes us telling “Spain is going great” showing us unemployment rates going down we MUST tell him those people that are working don’t have security, are underpayed, and bad-treated in their workplaced, and that happens in EU in the 21st century. So more than going great, it’s a shame, as it’s a shame that people went to demonstrations every week on Wednesday against the new education law and government didn’t want to change their point of view and modify it.
Citizens MUST be critical!
If you wonder if I love some place, yeah! I love “my” Basque Country. But I do hate some things going on there, like terrorism from them and Spanish policy against terrorism that restricts the freedom of press and speech almost as much as the terrorists do. Spain just closed the only Basque speaking newspaper just some weeks ago. I hate that, because there are not specific charges against them... You can love a place, of course, but that does not mean you have to agree with everything or like it completely.
Take care and have fun!! :-)!!
Santi, Valencia.
Th_Th said on February 28, 2003 12:18:
Santi, believe me, it is not the media telling me that about Germany, could you imagine the Irish media saying things like that about Germany??? LOL!!! ;-) I know there are other countries in Europe giving lots of money to the EU, and of course weaker countries benefit of it. Like Ireland for example. But the fact is, Germany is giving the biggest amount of money to the EU without gaining anything.
I have to agree with you on most points though. And you know, I am not saying I am always right, nobody can always be right.
Santi said on February 28, 2003 15:25:
But it’s more correct knowing the actual facts that you say “without gaining anything” between ” “. Maybe the benefits are not so visible for actual citizens, but for companies this “without gaining anything” means they sell a whole lot more, so they gain a lot with this policies. ;-)
Roxrider_USA said on February 28, 2003 16:00:
@Santi: Great short essay, man. Loved reading it very much. I can nicely agree with your points. As an example, i perfectly know that the more money the US or any other country lends to a certain country, this certain country will keep depending on the money lender as long as all the aid isn’t repaied. Also, the lender can manupulate how this dependency unfolds. Additionaly, it’s interesting in a way, as you stated, that today’s empires are countries with huge and far reaching economies which will do, in most cases, whatever it’s necessary to create the right conditions for their powerful companies and industries to operate in.
Yep, Santi, criticism is good. That’s why i keep coming back to this thread to read what people how have an open mind like you and TH_TH have to say. :)!
@TH_TH: Yep, no one can aalways be right, friend. Agree with you. I know you love Germany, and that’s what makes some people be so critical ’cause when we love, we care. :-)
Take care friends! NIce discussions. :-)
Carlos E., New York!
Roxrider_USA said on February 28, 2003 16:04:
@Santi: Hey, i know what you mean about the loss of some of our freedoms due to the terrorrism threat. Things here in the USA are pretty bad concerning that too if it’s not worse. For now, in Brazil, things aren’t so bad.
Peace out!
Carlos E., New York.
Th_Th said on February 28, 2003 16:17:
Roxrider:
You know, I don’t even know why I dislike America so much. I really don’t know why. I mean, I get annoyed about so many things that Americans do, I have got many American relatives you know, and thinking about it, the reasons why I dislike America are more childish reasons. Stupid reasons really. Not even worth talking about, as some of the reasons are just stupid and I have to overcome some of my pride on that. And I must say, I admire you and others that stand up for their Country. I think this is what you should do really. I believe, we should follow our Countries Leaders and support them, as I think, the worst that could ever happen is, war amongst your own people. So of course I believe, that following your Leader is right. I follow my Leaders, because I feel I should. Only this way, a country can be strong. At the same time I feel to voice my opinion, not just to be a blind follower, and I have always voiced my opoinion.
You know, I don’t even think that Americans are stupid, heck, one of the coolest Guys, my best mate is from America. And besides that, my mother is American anyway.
If I think, Bush is wrong, at the same time I feel, the American nation is right to follow him.
I probably didn’t make sense here at all... lol! ;-)
Roxrider_USA said on February 28, 2003 19:04:
@TH_TH: You make sense, friend. I perfectly know what you mean. As you say, a divided country is weak and that tends to cause many problems to that specific country. But yeah, there’s nothing wrong in voicing our opinion. As i said, when we criticize and worry about our country or a person, is because we care and want that country or person to do well. So, i know what you mean. Furthermore, unfortunatelly, not all the leaders we elect will always be flawless or right. As you said, no one can always be right. Forget about perfect. :-)!
P.S. (There are many German decendents in southern Brazil. They still practice all their german customs and traditions and also speak German). :-)
Take care, friend.
@Santi and TH_TH: Do you guys have any kind of instant messenger?
Peace out!
Carlos E., New York.
ixtlaner said on March 1, 2003 01:38:
@ Roxrider_USA : my admirations for loving your country no matter what! That’s really something not many people do, esp. here in Bulgaria! That’s fine!
(*That* exactly means you are not “obliged” to always try to defend it, and refuse to see the mistakes... :)
I have nothing to add to Santi’s post, very well explained! This is happening in my country now (trying to become an EU member), so I know.
Unfortunately this world is ruled by money and interests... So whatever the “empire” - history will repeat itself.
Wish we stopped thinknig about countries, but about the Earth as a whole...
“Har du lärt av dina misstag? / Inte jag... “
– GT - “Chrissie, hur mår du?”
Roxrider_USA said on March 2, 2003 21:21:
@ ixtlaner: Thanks very much friend. Seems like the world follows a historical cycle. Countries (“empires”) rise and fall as it has always happened. The only thing that may differ besides the economic aspect of today’s empires, is the length of time a country can manage to sustain its empire status. It all depends on the govermental skills and its people’s support and loyalty.
Yeah, i agree, we should consider more the world as a whole. But then again, seems that since the rise of the most primitive tribes we haven’t thought that way. In other words, we haven’t thought about the world as a whole in more than a millenium. Sadly in a way, we, in general, appear to be used to think exclusively of countries instead of the world as a whole. However, if we thought of the planet instead of countries, we probably wouldn’t call ourselves, Australians, Japanese, Italians, Brazilians, Germans, Americans and Russians, but instead “Earthlings” or “Earthers” or something along those lines. What does that mean? Well, we’d lose centuries of many cultural values specific to different groups and in a way part of our individual history. :-).
Take care, friends!
Carlos E., New York.
ixtlaner said on March 2, 2003 23:50:
:o)))
I read somewhere that history doesn’t move in spiral, as people usually think, but that we’re stuck in a whirlpool that only gives us a sence of moving, while we’re standing at the same spot....
I don’t mind being called an “Earthling” - even the sound of it is cool! :) (That’ll be even better in my case as my parents come from different countries. :) But we still could be called by the plase we live in - just a Geographical reference. And I think we would keep our cultural identity - I mean: there are many countries in the world that have different provinces, each with its own customs and dialects, aren’t there? I understand it’s impossible the world to become “one country”, at least not in the near future. But people have to think about the planet – we’re destroying it, destroying ourselves too! While there are state-interests, while a stronger country is imposing its will upon the smaller ones, we’re not going to be fine...
Do what you want but hurt no one :)
Th_Th said on March 4, 2003 08:54:
Roxrider: I do have MSN Messenger just add my email address: [email protected]
chat soon! ;-)
Roxrider_USA said on March 4, 2003 15:11:
@TH_TH: Thanks! You’re added. :-)
Take care!
Carlos E., New York.
Th_Th said on February 18, 2003 12:21:
WOW!!
What more can I say, never looked at it this way! Thanks for sharing that.