Recent Comments By EJ / USA

To Ted: you are a good example of why foreigners have a bad impression of Americans! And what's more, it is always ignorant people who are the most vocal. Don't you think that the 52 or so % who re-elected Bush are idiots and ignorant and arrogant? That's a pretty amazing number. Saying the Germans are this, the French that, etc., is just the same rhetoric that you comdemn from foreigners.

To the person who thinks China will crumble: China holds the biggest part of America's debt. They just need to ask for payment, and the USA crumbles.

Regarding elections, as Stalin said: it is not who votes that counts, it is who counts the votes. And please, people, don't crown Obama, before he has even started, to be the greatest president. I voted for him myself, but I wait to see. There is a big machine called the "System" and few wonderful people have beaten this system. Large corporations, multinationals, are part of this system. So let's see what they allow Obama to do.

I praise this site for letting people debate their point of view in a respectful manner and criticizing it as anti-American is just plain stupid. Discussion has not always solved everything but conflicts or wars certainly don't. You'd think people and governments would have learned by now.

To all, at Berkshire and online, have a Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Solstice, or whatever Holiday you honor, and a Happy New Year (which everyone on earth does celebrates).

This happens also with political criticisms if it doesn't agree with the views of the owner of the paper). You must read, read a lot, all sides, and then make up your mind. Americans are very poorly educated in high schools, and college Degrees offer a good specialized education, but not a 'complete' education.

Lots of Americans are nice, but lots are so gullible that they act like sheep and follow the leaders, right or wrong. They affirm lots of opinions without knowing anything about them, just they heard it said and liked the sound of it.
(2119 votes)

There is a lot of talks right now on TV, radio (npr) and press about the Super Delegates and their effect on the elections in America. They were at it since the foundation of this country, but only now do I finally realize that it does not matter who you vote for, the Super Delegates decide everything. There is a book that came out last year without much fanfare. It is called "STEAL THIS VOTE - DIRTY ELECTIONS AND THE ROTTEN HISTORY OF DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA" by Andrew Gumbel. It is worth reading to learn how the voting is manipulated and how many people employ themselves to corrupt the system. On Morning Edition on NPR in the last week there was this Super Delegate from Utah where Obama wan the primaries and she was wondering who she was going to represent, Clinton or Obama: a dear friend wanted her to vote for Obama, but her mother wants her to vote for Clinton! So the Utah voters's voice does not count for anything? She has not made up her mind. So the Democrat candidate to face McCain will be elcted by +/- 980 Super Delegates (Congressmen, corporate CEOs, and other people who return favors).

Beautiful Democracy! And we criticize Mugabe in Zimbabwe?? Or Venezuela? etc. etc. What a role model...sometimes having been called the beacon of democracy.

Will I ever vote again? I sincerely don't know. Stalin said it is not who votes that counts, it is who count the votes.
(2245 votes)

Nine-times Wimbledon champion Martina Navratilova has retaken Czech citizenship, which she lost when she defected from the former Czechoslovakia as an 18-year-old. Although she intends to retain her US citizenship, last year she told a Czech newspaper that she was now as ashamed of George Bush's America as she once was of the communist regime of her homeland. "The thing is, we elected Bush," she said. "That is worse! Against that, nobody chose a communist government in Czechoslovakia."

Strong words, but can one really compare the Czechoslovakia of 1975 with the United States of today?

Czechoslovakia, 1975: Despite widespread discontent with the oppressive Husak regime, a 1974 study finds active support for the government in 15% of the population, identified as pensioners, party bureaucrats, careerists, "parasites", extremist ideologues and persons involved in the Stalinist repression who fear that liberalisation might force them to account for their crimes. US, 2008: George Bush's approval ratings generally hover around 30%, although one recent poll put it as low as 19%. Czechoslovakia, 1975: Free healthcare available to all citizens. US, 2008: 47 million Americans (16% of the population) have no health insurance. Another 16 million are "underinsured". Czechoslovakia, 1975: Despite an increased standard of living and the widespread availability of material goods, consumerism is failing to placate a population fed up with draconian political controls. US, 2008: Despite a rise in the cost of living, consumerism continues to placate a population largely oblivious to the curtailment of its freedoms. Czechoslovakia, 1975: Growth of "net material product" is at an annual average of 5.7%, exceeding the target rate of 5.1% set out in the fifth Five-Year Plan. Full employment. US, 2008: Energy Information Administration this week predicted negative growth in the two forthcoming financial quarters, the official definition of recession. 101,000 private-sector jobs were lost in February alone. Czechoslovakia, 1975: The granting of visas to foreigners is "arbitrary", with denials justified under the "defence of national security", according to dissidents. US, 2008: The American government uses the Patriot Act to bar entry to foreign visitors on the basis of ideology, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Czechoslovakia, 1975: Torture, though not officially sanctioned, has become a covert tool of state policy. US, 2008: Torture officially sanctioned.
(2213 votes)

Geez, lighten up fellow! Can't take criticism can you? At least it is on a site you do not HAVE to visit. It is not on thousands of bumper stickers that get in your face as you drive everyday, like all these anti-French ones that sprouted all over in 2003 and are still stuck on their car-bums. Nice little americans can do no wrong... so why are you hated so? All over the world, not just by Europeans. Get introspective and read a good book on the History of America.

Did you read, this weekend, about all these Indian doctors (hundreds) leaving America and very high salaries to go back to India to practice medicine there for 30,000$ a year. Obviously there must be a reason, no? And they are not Europeans either.
(2810 votes)

state what they think of this country and its people, places, etc. If it was "what the world thinks about Russia", or, lets be current: "what the world thinks about Iran" (haha), WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU-ALL WOULD BE SAYING ON THAT SITE THEN??? Another idea: let's talk about states: California versus New York or Illinois. That would be interesting wouldn't it? Do you think the Californians would be all that charming about the New Yorkers? I can tell you I live in California, and I find the New Yorkers who visit here quite rude and loud and sooo selfish. In fact I have some neighbors who moved here who are New Yorkers and are absolutely in everyone's face. A person took a parking space I was waiting for once last year and you know what he said to me afterward: "I am from New York - N-E-W-Y-O-R-K and I f--- you!". Nice, hey??? (Actually it is very funny).

So, you see: If you ask, you will get.... If it bothers you that much to read criticism, don't come here then. If you do, learn from it. Arrogance is not nice. That is what nationalism brings. It is universal.
(2592 votes)

I came to the USA in 1979, very enthusiastically, with my family, as my husband was transferred here for his job. Disillusion came quickly. By 1981 I was desparate to go back, to anywhere else - not my own country necessarily - I would have been happy to go to any continent. But my husband's job was in the balance and we were not all that young anymore to start over. (Also my husband is of a different nationality than me, from a country which has more affinities with this one). He had already invested many years in his company by then. We always thought we would move back somewhere in Europe when he retired. By then, it was too late for us. Our children are established here now. Grandkids.

In nearly 30 years, countries in Europe have changed, habits, places, ways of doing things are all different and we would have to adapt to all this newness at our age when it is difficult to change. But that really does not mean we enjoy it more here than if we had not come in the first place. In fact I dislike life here more and more, to the point where I do not wish to go and meet new people. I read a lot. I take care of my garden. We do go out and have foreign friends, who do not like it here either and we all tend to "find" each other somehow!

My feeling is that I have acquired a knowledge of this country that would be valuable if I could use it, but in doing so, I have ruined a part of my own life. My children are pretty happy here: they don't remember much else for comparison. I say part of my life only because this is not something I think about most of my time. We do do things we could be doing anywhere in the world here. One has to live somewhere, no?

Why is it that Americans cannot take criticism? My own opinion on this is that since infancy they have been fed propaganda on a large scale. History books in schools don't tell the real story and never tell other peoples' story. US kids grow up thinking everyone in the world is American! When they finally discover there are others, they imagine them as savages, and when they are grown up they make it their mission to "teach" the world.

It would be so interesting for American people visiting this site to have an open mind to what others have to say of their perception here or from abroad. Instead it is another battle front. Why is it that Americans are so confrontational, so allergic to criticism? I think it is because they are so insular. In Europe's many countries, children travel at an early age to each others countries, learn languages and the history and customs of these countries. They know other people don't do things the same way or think the same thing. They may laugh but they accept it.

Also Europe has seen many wars between these countries and they dislike war. In America "war is a word that gives us meaning" (part of the title of a book). War on drugs, war on poverty, war on terrorism, war on smoking etc. America has never had an invasion war. Its inhabitant have never gone through being invaded or bombed and having to live for years on rutabagas. It has had a bloody civil war but that was so long ago. Yet the re-creation of battles each year baffle me. People seem to enjoy war. That is all I have to say, little C23.
(2488 votes)

"Tout le monde il est beau, tout le monde il est joli"! American optimism at all cost does not do it for me. I don't give a fig about America rushing downhill in a handbasket. The faster they get there the better. Everything they do is always for their own benefit, in the guise of altruism! They have interfered with elections in every country in the world, including all the European countries' elections and the various labor groups, like in 1947 for instance in France.

American Imperialism started way back in the 19th century with President McKinley. And it hides behind the mask of idealism. Look what they have done with Iraq! And Iran before that, starting after the democratic election of Mossadegh. Yes, he was democratically elected but that did not please the Americans so they did a coup. I wish people would research history and not gobble unquestioningly the pablum their schoolbooks (or newspapers) offer them. With the access to information now, through the Internet, lots of people throughout the world find out the reality behind America. "America, my country right or wrong" sure rings funny. This is the most absurd quote in the American lore.
(2950 votes)