Originally posted by Dowding:
Britain might have changed just a little in 300 years. 
Britain founded your little country anyway, back when we had one of the largest empires on Earth. People shouldn't be disparaging of their roots, anyway. 
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It seems to me the US was founded by the people who LEFT your country both by force and choice. Lets not EVEN think about Australia shall we. And BTW we did it WITHOUT your permission too. Seems your country objected and LOST.
Yep and you very well oppressed the Majority population of India, other countries in the far and middle east, not to mention Ireland and Scotland. The advantages you brought to those poor peoples with your weapons and military were simply so wonderful you had to spread it around even if it killed them.
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And besides we gave democracy a foothold in modern government (for our sins). And that's a word you americans a quite liberal with. Oh, and no country can really claim to be whiter than white - to do so is pure, unadulterated naivety. America has done some pretty nasty things in the past, on a par with anything you might level at us brits. I don't want to go into that - its pointless. [/b]
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Aren't you a bit behind on releasing some terrorists or some such stuff. Don't you have a few murderers left in prison or have you turned them all loose yet? Perhaps another massacre of mourners in a cemetary will provide some more "victims" of British society that can be released from custody. How about that poor aged gentleman serving a life term in your prison for defending himself from burglars that were IN HIS HOUSE. We won't EVEN mention the Crusades and the slaughter of those nasty heathens will we.
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BTW - by conforming to your country's laws you are already being 'told what to do' surely? [/b]
OUR country governs with the CONSENT of the governed. We started out that way. We did not have to hold the KING up and by FORCE of weapons cause the government to recognise our rights. BTW wasn't posession of waepons outlawed for the general population at the time of the Magna Carta?
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Socialist disease? Jeez, you obviously align yourself with the McCarthy school of thought, mietla. Nationalism has had some pretty horrific effects too you know (and continues to). If you are from a former Eastern Bloc country - sure that was a terrible situation, no-one can credibly deny that. But look at how blacks were (openly) treated in America just 30 years ago. I think to a black person in Birmingham, Alabama in the 60s, Black Death would be a more attractive alternative too.[/b]
You know, I don't recall seeing any blacks in photos of your parlaiment lately but I know you have a segment of your population that IS black. I recall seeing a documentary on blacks in England. They felt oppression there too. It seems it wasn't quite as out in the open there as it WAS here but I haven't seen any moves by your government to make sure all peoples have equal rights there. Unless of course you call the forcefull governing of Ireland and Scotland spreading equal rights around British style. Wasn't that based on some such trivial thing like religion or something????
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America turning commie? Socialism leads to communism? Thats utter crap and you know it!!!! It's comparable to saying than patriotism leads to nationalism which leads to faschism. Patriotism is something that America is very proud of and has been since its inception - but this hasn't led to fascism. Or has it, you tell me? [/b]
The funny thing about several of the socialist organizations that are in the US. They seem to have as a main tenent the overthrow of the ELECTED government of the US. That seems to make them a little bit of a threat to me.
Yes patriotism IS a strength of the US. It can also be a detriment. There have been many who avowed patriotism and freedom then used the same breath to deny others their liberty. They want to be more free than others I suppose. Perhaps like the "royals" in your country seem to have more priveledges than do the "common" folks there. Now they are special by sonmething called "divine right" correct?
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You should be more afraid of big business and the grip it has over government - when money becomes more important than anything democracy hold dear. [/b]
Now tell me about this petroleum problem the oil companies have in Britain right now. You say the country just about ground to a halt??? Is that not an example of business power in Britain????? Just who IS in charge there? BP??? Texaco????
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I hope your last comment is a (breath-takingly unfunny) joke mietla. Or do you agree with oppressing minorities? What are your thoughts on the black rights movement? Just a bunch of jumped up cupcakes, eh? [/b]
Here's a clue Dowding. IT WAS SARCASM. Duh.
Tell me again how the "empire" was so great and that it did it all while respecting the rights of the native people in the area. Oh and by the way, I suppose you are going to tell me Britain did NOT profit from buying slaves in Africa, sailing slave ships and selling slaves. I think most of the ancestors of the blacks in this country were transported here in "good British Ships" were they not? This doesn't even mention the press ships where "good British subjects" "enlisted volunteer sailors" in American ports and on the high seas. Ordinarily that MIGHT be considered kidnapping and piracy but not if done by the "crown" right?
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Oh, and well said StSanta. Well, kinda. (Image removed from quote.) [/b]
StSanta is welcome to his opinion, it has no bearing on reality but he IS welcome to it. He can take it out and play with it all he wants. It is merely noise and we recognise it as SARCASM.
Please Dowding, don't throw stones, you'll break all the glass in the walls of your house.
To others in the UK, I submit my apology for what you MAY have construed as an attack on your country. I do not dislike the UK. I just dislike UK subjects who feel they were given some right to criticise other countries for the same or lesser problems they themselves have.
Mav
[This message has been edited by Maverick (edited 09-18-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Maverick (edited 09-18-2000).]
