What the hell is wrong with America

I think the fact that slavery in america is actually recent, the fact that racism still is very real from that time and its much more of a "my great-great grandfather died on the plantations" sort of thing that makes it alot more discussed. Not to mention that human rights didn't really exist in the time of the Egyptians.

 

Great grandfather, psh, Great great great grandparents for me, for that time of history anyway. My family has always had kids young, though my generation is a little slower.

 

i said great-great grandfather, a guess because i can't be bothered working it out.

 

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schooladventures/slavery/
read up : P

 

That's a lot of info to read kurai, I don't think I will be reading it all atm.

 

Um... I kinda said, "NOT TRYING TO BE RACIST HERE..." I don't want to have to write out Caucasian and African American every single time. Black and white is just faster... And why so mean to me?

As to address the real topic of the thread, America's problem is the inability to accept change. There I said it.

 

Just because you say 'not trying to be racist' doesn't mean anything. It's not really a disclaimer : P

Also, agreed. People are unwilling to change. But that's not just the US's problem. It's a problem everywhere. People are so sued to their society that they don't want to accept anything different or change their way of life. And, why would they? People have seen it work, and they aren't sure of where else to go or what to do in the end. People are afraid of change. After all, change often takes things away, or distorts things. People are used to their standard norm, so it's hard to change people. It's not just that, it's that people become narrow minded. they become used to one thing, which is why they are unable to accept anything else in their lives.

Take for example, gay marriage. I don't consider it marriage just because in laws it states marriage is between a man and a woman. Yet, this does not mean i do not see gay couples as legitimate. I think it should be something else for them, another name but the same rights. For after all, who has the right to say people in love don't have the same rights if the genders are different? So many marriages, like marriages some popular stars have, are a mockery. Why give them the rights if you wont give them to a legitimate couple. In other countries, like Holland (where ijffdrie is from) gay couples are accepted because it's perfectly normal there. Yet, in America, first founded by very religious people, homosexual people weren't so common. So people do just not want to accept any other way of thinking.

The same was true for slavery where the South said they could never work their agriculture without slaves It was the basis of their economy, why would they want to change something that was working perfectly well?

Now, with the economy the way it is, people are going to be forced to change. And maybe it will be for the better. I agree with Kerwyn, it's a very developed area, and lots of other places have worse problems. But there are also a lot of issues here. though often not as bad, we must remember the US is supposed to be open doors to anyone. and it rather shames its name in the end when thing like this happen, even if they happen other places as well.

 

Then don't say it darktemp.


Change is hard, most ppl don't like change. However, I am wanting a specific change for myself atm.

Norrow minded is bad, people don't grow when they aren't open minded, soceity just stagnates, and it's horrible.


The name, really doesn't matter, love between two people should be treated the same as everyone elses. You believe against it? So what, you're not in any position to judge anyone. Who died and made you king? Live with it, and just hope that the god you believe in will punish them, if you so choose to believe. Don't put them down for it now.


About the slaves. Well, the south has managed, can you imagine southern states being as slow as they were then with slaves? They were fast for their time, but compaired to now days, just slow.


And the economy, I believe that Obama will do wonders for our economy. Maybe then I can convince someone to come back with me someday. Till then, I probably won't be here.

 

Yes, well change often only benefits certain people. People who do not think they will benefit abhor it and are opposed to it. After all, if people see other people prospering and not them, why would they want to agree with it? It's a backyard mentality. Why worry about other people's wants/problems when I have my own to deal with?

Yes, it perfectly reflects the US right now. People unwilling to change their views, not wiling to accept new things.

And I know the name does not matter. but by law, it says marriage is between a man and a woman. certain people will not budge on this fact. I'm not against it, but many people are because ti threatens their own way of life. It scares them because it is something new. And people will always want to put people down. in a competitive society like the US, where mocking and demeaning the other is the way to victory (look at political campaigns, slogans and commercials) people will always use it. It's hard to fight for what you believe in if you are demoralized. As for who died and made them king, It's rather, who voted and made the representatives. People like that get bills from being passed that would allow same sex couples the rights as heterosexual couples.

and ofc. but back then, it's all they knew. The 2% population that owned slaves in the south did not want to give up their wealth. What was it their concern they were treated bad or things were going slow? They were getting rich, it did not matter to them, That is still today's mentality in America: Every man for himself.

And, we will see. I didn't want Obama elected, but what is done is done and I can only hope for the ebst from there.

 

Well, yourself and your loved ones come first obviously. However, wanting the other to fail simply cause he is doing better then you, is harmful to the species as a whole, with enough people doing it that is. Humanity won't grow with that sort of mentality.

Nothing ever changing, I don't know about you, but that seems boring to me.

It shouldn't hurt them, Just because you are straight, and two men want to get married, how is that effecting you at all? Are you afraid of your children seeing this and thinking it is ok? That's descrimination. I don't want to be descriminated against, do you?

Now you know why I hate politicians, and why most commercials drive me nuts, you can't focus on your won good points, so you have to corrupt people against the other guy. The whole system is flawed. They're stopping laws, but does that give them the right to judge other people? Simply because they are an elected official, no.

Of course it is still that way, no one cares for anyone else. three-hundred million people in the country, and everyone only cares for themselves and a few other people. Think about it.

I did want to see Obama elected, and I did (obviously), I think he can do wonders for this country, that is yet to be realized, but hopefully he will make this country a place that I can be proud of coming from, even when I no longer live here.

 

@ Kurai on gay marriage.
There is something called a civil union which grants the same rights and responsibilities to same sex couples as a marriage does to a traditional couple. Basically marriage by another name.


On the rest. The biggest problem, and the main cause for opposition to change is the selfishness of people. Most people couldn't care less about the rest of the world as long as their place is secure, and the concept that THEY might be hurt or that others might be in a position to challenge them, frightens most people. Until we can grow past this selfish idea and work together as a group, nothing will change, people will be oppressed, civilization will stagnate, etc.

The other major problem we have is that people can't see past their differences to the similarities. That's how most of the wars were started, those people are different so we don't like them, thus they must be killed, and often it spirals out of control. A group is used as a sit in for a single person. That how the Yugoslav wars got so bad. A few people kill someone's family, and instead of holding those individuals responsible an entire (mostly innocent) group was held responsible and it went back and forth with each group seeking revenge on Th other until entire cities became war grounds between people who had never seen each other before. (the circle of revenge was also involved but that's another thread entirely)

We can't change until we stop treating people per their groups and start treating everyone as individuals. Yes there are black people and white people and Slavs and Jews, but those are just classifications, they can be good when describing someone (yeah Joe's the tall black guy I work with he's good friends with Paul), but in the grand scheme of things it is meaningless, most people don't think brown dogs are better than tan ones, so why should people be different? Everyone is a human being and each has potential. Some have more than others in different areas, but that has nothing to do with any of the descriptors we use to separate each other.

Racism will exist until people stop caring about race. Obviously we still care about race, or it wouldn't be on scholarship and job applications, so is it any wonder racism still exists? In fact the way I see it, some forms of racism and discrimination are sanctioned by the government itself. For example, affirmative action was made to give people of the lesser minorities a chance, but the fact that it is targeted specifically at minorities is the very problem with it. No one should get money just because they are black or hispanic or a woman in a male dominated field, they should get money because they need it, regardless of who they are. Helping minorities climb up the social ladder is an admiral goal, but discrimination is discrimination, and whether for good or ill, we can't hope to grow if it exists in any fashion. We should help people because the person needs help, the group that person belongs to shouldn't matter.

Gender is meaningless
Sexual orientation is meaningless
religious preferences are meaningless
race is meaningless
age is meaningless.
The only thing that matters is what you do, what you can do, what you don't do and what you can't do. If you don't know those four things then simply be nice to that person untill you know more about them.
Until everyone realizes this we will have problems with one another.

 

This was news? pfft, this happens on my block all the time never makes headlines. If he doesnt die, a mugging isnt news.


O and about slavery, guess what. If any of your are in dept, your in slavery. The Monitary system we live and the "Free Trade" are all just painted over pictures of Uncle Sam and Being a good countryman. As you sitt and are forced to vote for 2 electorial votes and are in the superpower of the world with one of the worst education systems instilled. As majority out vote you to lose more rights to "fight terror", while less then 3% Americans read and any media produced on TV are filtered by corporations. The US gets its funding from a pirvate owned bank, and this was the very reason we sailed to the US. It wasnt for religion or Pagens, it was cause Britian had a central bank. And when we established the Bill of Rights, we ruled a Central Bank will not be instilled.. since this is slavery! that is untill the great depression was convened and just like our war on terror, we were told the Federal Reserve was the answer. Ron Paul knows this and wanted to rid the US of the Federal Reserves, a private owned bank that funds the government. But he didnt have a multi-million campaign and people wanted "change". Pfft your all suckers.

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free"

 

Tell me, when have big buisnesses ever cared that the little buisnesses fail? When have little buisnesses wanted the bigger ones to get better? this is how the world is, it's competition and this is the way society is raised nowadays

things ARE changing. hence the failing economy.

it affects their 'rights'. They are used to one set thing, and afraid of change. It's how people work, it's true for me, too. I'm afraid of new things, afraid what things being different will bring. they think ti threatens the 'sacred' union between a man and a woman and makes it less important. not that stars have done that to marriage or anything /sarcasm

Thank you. Also, this is highlighted by the failing economy. People elected are all pretty samey except for little things like views on abortion, or the war. the main idea is the same, and it's not going to keep working.

They don't do it for their own personal views. Tell me, if you are against abortion, but all your supporters are against it, you're not going to vote for it, because it would turn all your support away. Officials vote for what they think will keep them in pwoer, not for what they believe in. Ofc, innit true all the time, but a lot of the time it is such.

ofc it's that way. why worry about people when people have their own problems? It's easier, more convenient to forget and not care about all the starving people in Africa, or all the dying orphans in China. People only want to think of their own problems, things that directly affect them. it's easier for people to live this way

therefore, allow civil unions. it will give gays rights and keep all the hetero crazy nazis from screaming about it. At least it's middle ground for the time being.

Agreed. In this world, as i said above, no one cares about their fellow man. Who cares about mr. beggar on the street, fighting to live, when you'll never see him again? When you still have bills to pay, who cares about others? It's every man for himself, and every person for their all. And what's the point of caring for others? People don't care because they feel no apathy, no affection towards others, no feeling to those who are suffering. And why should they? you're right, in a competitive world, people are almost bred with this in mind: every man for himself and whatever benefits me comes first.

Agreed. I don't want to quote your entire post, but you're 100% right. people argue all the time, and they don't want to ever take responsibility for themselves, so they just get into fights about everything.

eh. be careful how you word that. I believe people are individuals but we're all the same in a way. that's where the love your brother as yourself mentality gets to me. People all have their own skills and talents, and things to bring that are their own. But at the same time, we need to treat everyone -equal-, not just as their own person. I can see what you mean, but that leaves room for people to treat people different because who they are.

Ofc, each human does, hence even if they are individuals, we should respect them all.

Amen, amen, and amen. And sadly, in a world with people who are so easy to discriminate, judge, and mock others that will take a long time to happen.

@Tink: just because no one was killed doesn't mean it isn't important. It IS news because all the killings and beatings shouldn't be happening.

but agreed, we are all slaves to the govt, always paying off our debts, never really free. Thanks for your input, i couldn't agree more on the matter.

 

well.. being news and being important are obviously destinct lines only the media can determine.

It should be news, but like i said, happens alot near me, muggings.. violence, you wouldnt believe some stories and some stuff ive seen/heard happening even across my street. This doesnt make it news. It seems if only someone dies, does it make headliners. Sorry if my original description was vague.

 

No, I get what you mean, now. Sorry, I may have jumped the gun a bit. But yes, i agree, people die every day, it's not important news. But still, this stuff should stop, it happens far too much, in my opinion.

 

The media is screwed up majorly. That's one of the reason I don't watch news much, because they have a bad measure of important, fair, and especially true.

And yes we are slaves to the government, but people still vote on the crap that restricts their freedom, because we are also slaves to ignorance. Our school system sucks, but one of the reasons for that is that too many people are so greedy, that they don't want to pay a little bit more taxes to fund schools, and we elect politicians that care more about themselves than the people, and funnel that tax money towards themselves rather than public works. Of course one of the reasons that happens is the two party system. The lesser parties, some of which might actually have a good candidate, are crushed by the Republicans and Democrats leaving us with the choice of two horrible, self serving, bastards. This is partially the people's fault since a lot of people vote by part lines as opposed to picking the one they think would be better, and also the fact that most don't do any research before voting. Ignorance once again. And partially the government's fault, because they laws they have regarding funding and ballots essentially lock the third parties out of the vote. Even the most popular third parties never get on all of the ballots, so they have no hope to win, and the fact that campaigns are funded by corporations, third parties don't get enough money to advertise themselves.

It's a vicious circle. We are ignorant because the school system sucks and people are too greedy and ignorant to fix it, but we choose people who are too greedy to fix it, and are to ignorant to fix it ourselves because the school system sucks and doesn't teach people how to think for themselves.

As for the civil union thing, We already have that, the only thing same sex couple don't have is the word marriage. They have all the rights of marriage, but apparently they don't care about the rights, because they are fighting for a word. Their priorities seem to be a bit off.

 

interesting

i think even if the tax money went to the school system, the system would still fail how it is. Its the fact what we learn, even in school and current events, is filtered/censored, that ultimately fuels our ignorance in my opinion. And i dont mean censored in the traditional idea of, learning of violence or what have you. I mean censored in, they teach you what they want you to know, not whats needed to know. This is the same for History, Discovery, CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, ect news. Everything on TV is filtered and non of it should influence any part of your life. Only independent sites show the current events they need and books tell the history we need.

FYI: im 23 and its for this very reason i dont own a TV or (obviously) have no cable.

Offtopic: Kurai, what animeis your avi from?

 

VERY
good
choice

i would like to take this moment to suggest this to ALL americans on this forum. Your country is ****ed up economically, socially and politically.

 

leaving doesnt solve anything. though Ive felt the same way since Bush got his second term

 

"Leaving doesn't solve anything"

Damn straight.

No, the only thing that'll change this country is US. As in its citizens. I mean, your senator can yammer on all he wants about being for his constituents and crap, but nothing will change until WE change it.

It's important to remember that America is NOT a democracy, rather, it's capitalistic constitutional republic.