"I know we are the greatest nation in the world" - Page 7

DanS · August 14, 2002, 16:41

"Glad to see not all Americans think violence is the only answer."

Only answer? Shoot, the IRA was a total disaster. Britain could have claimed a right to occupy staging areas in Ireland. Then the IRA just moves on to another area, giving Britain the claim to a right to occupy the other area. Before you know it, Britain has reoccupied all of Ireland.

Anyway, in hindsight, it seems that the "deal" was in place ever since the UK agreed to give back Hong Kong. This is a slightly more troublesome issue, so that's why the referendum fig leaf has to be there, I guess.

"I really hope Scotland declares independence soon. When they do, NI will become their problem again. As an Englishman I hate my country having to be in the Province."

Interesting take.

You never know. Americans might be funding protestant terrorists in NI before too long.

As AH is so fond of pointing out, there have been more protestant Irish emigres to the States than catholic.

Solly · August 15, 2002, 07:46

I agree with Red_jon, Americans don't even realise that they are being arrogant and nationalist. They think those are two positive attributes anyway.

Ethelred · August 15, 2002, 07:56

We learned that from our founders, the Brits. Now your just jelous.

Solly · August 15, 2002, 08:00

Jealous of a banana republic?

Ecthy · August 15, 2002, 08:12

God bless America.

Ethelred · August 15, 2002, 08:20

Quote:

Originally posted by Boddington's
Jealous of a banana republic?

We have companies that OWN Banana Republics. Well the United Fruit Co. once owned Guatemala anyway.

I have a nice photographers vest from Banana Republic. Does that count? (Its a clothing store assuming its in business).

Dauphin · August 15, 2002, 12:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Ethelred

We have companies that OWN Banana Republics. Well the United Fruit Co. once owned Guatemala anyway.

Having a company that ran India is a far better acheivement than having a company that ran Guatemala. America must do better.

Ecthy · August 15, 2002, 12:50

Could someone finally explain me the relevance of United Fruit?

Dauphin · August 15, 2002, 12:51

They liberated the banana from the shackles of slavery.

Ethelred · August 15, 2002, 13:04

The United Fruit Co. was a large monoply (it was broken up I think) that owned a VERY large percentage of the bananna market. They controlled at least some of the governments of the nations involved. When Guatemala tried to regain control of some of their resources UF Co. asked Eisenhower for a small little favor. Thus started decades of civil strife and the death of at least tens of thousands of Guatamalens.

This summary is pretty much to the point. For more click on the link(I only glanced at it).

http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilre...ted-fruit.html

A site specializing in the United Fruit Co.

http://www.unitedfruit.org/index.html

The main thing I remember about the company was the Chikitta Banana adds on TV.

Ethelred · August 15, 2002, 13:07

I have always thought of the British East India Co. as more of a quasi Crown Governor than an actual indepent company. I suppose I could be very wrong on that since I haven't looked in to it. United Fruit was on the stock market.

Verto · August 15, 2002, 13:20

God Bless America.

Seems to me that you foreigners just want to prevent the US from doing what you did.

Fearful of the day when the sun never sets on the U.S.?

Besides, everyone should be proud of his/her own country.

USA USA USA USA

Kepler · August 15, 2002, 13:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Sagacious Dolphin
Glad to see not all Americans think violence is the only answer.

But it is invariably the most entertaining answer.

Dauphin · August 15, 2002, 18:57

America is a the greatest nation presently on Earth. I only hope your descendants are more gracious in realising that you have been surpassed than the present generation of displaced Europeans.

Ethelred · August 15, 2002, 20:21

I would guess that Americans would still consider the US the greatest country on Earth as long as we were suprassed rather than went the dumper. We didn't like it when it looked like Japan was passing us and it was because we weren't at our best.

Its not the nations present power that makes Americans think it such a great country. I suppose its at least partly self-brainwashing. Which is OK if we don't get complacent like we did in much of the 60's. Detroit is still paying for that error.

notyoueither · August 16, 2002, 03:10

Che Why are you so concerned with how I express myself? And why are you trying to tell me how to do so? This isn't the first time you've said something of the sort, I think. Spink launched a thread with some outrageous claims, I answered in an outrageous fashion. Are you POed you missed the fun?

Harrison, read the thread. You are FOS. I never said or argued half of what you say I did.

Spink, red_john, TheStinger, Gary, MOBIUS, and others... love ya. Twas fun. Let's do it again some time.

Tolls · August 16, 2002, 03:52

Ethelred:
"United Fruit was on the stock market."

So was the East India Company...most of our colonial efforts came from attempts to secure trade advantages for various companies, and to keep the locals pacified while we took advantage of them...which is why it looks like the companies were simply an arm of the colonial office, whereas it was really the other way around.

Sprayber · August 16, 2002, 04:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Boddington's
I agree with Red_jon, Americans don't even realise that they are being arrogant and nationalist. They think those are two positive attributes anyway.

Blah blah blah blah.

I do give you credit for starting a thread about a non event and turning it into a discussion that ranges from United Fruit Company to British atrocities in Ireland.

Tolls · August 16, 2002, 04:58

"...British atrocities in Ireland."

Nice one...

notyoueither · August 16, 2002, 05:00

or lack thereof...

Sprayber · August 16, 2002, 05:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Tolls
"...British atrocities in Ireland."

Nice one...

What, you dont like people taking a small grain of truth and expanding upon it until it is exaggerated beyond recognition? I was just getting into the sprit of the thread.

Solly · August 19, 2002, 06:33

Quote:

Originally posted by notyoueither Spink launched a thread with some outrageous claims, I answered in an outrageous fashion.

The only outrageous claim I posted belonged to Bush.

Bereta_Eder · August 19, 2002, 07:07

Quote:

Originally posted by MOBIUS

I'm sure the UK and the US didn't intentionally kill civilians in Dresden - what are you saying!!?

Just because the UK and US dropped over 3,500 tons of High Explosive and Incendiary bombs on a city with many wooden building doesn't mean they were targeting the 600,000 civilians, wounded and allied POW's - no, they were aiming for the buildings. That those civilians were there was merely an unhappy coincidence...

I don't dispute the fact that US doesn't intentionally kill civilians - what I do dispute is whether they overly care if they happen to kill civilians...

There is far too much anecdotal evidence that the US really doesn't care if civilians happen to die when they're attacking military targets throughout WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Nicaragua, Laos, Cambodia, Panama, Iraq, Serbia and Afghanistan just to name a few off the top of my head...

THAT is why the US doesn't want to be held accountable to international War Crimes Courts - they know they kill thousands of civilians needlessly, even if they don't specifically intend to!

In that regard, we are not like the US and don't intend to be - why is also probably a good reason as to why we've never had 4 passenger planes hijacked and rammed into several of our national landmarks...

Nicely said. I take 1/4 of my trolls against England back.