Nationalistic feelings?

[Zed]

nigger was the black labrador belonging to the commanding office of 617 squadron wing commander Guy Gibson, the dog was killed in a car accident the night before the dams raid and gibson asked that the word nigger be used as the trasmission signal indicating that the Monhne dam on the ruhr had been successfully breached (which it subsequentially was), he also asked that nigger be buried at midnight on the night of the raid on the grounds that that was the apporx time that he might be getting shot down and they woudl enter the earth together (so to speak)

barnes wallace didnt have a pet mentioned - although he had a pet test pilot called "mutt"

i musta readthe book a hundered times as a kid.

here endeth the lesson.

[ryanarcher]

wasnt that "sailing american" against the mexican who wanted to come over here ? Excellent example of "the ugly american". as far as i'm concerned SA can stay where ever he is..... no need for him to visit! (but thats just my opinion...)

Is SA (i never saw what he wrote) an "ugly American" or just an "Ugly person"? do you see a black man or a man?

-Ryan
(who refuses to quit stirring )

[ryanarcher]

I'm glad I started this thread. It drives home the point that citizens of the us have a lot of ground to make up the world over. and the only way we can do this is individually.

I think that if any of you traveled to the US (or US forums) you would find a host of people that would welcome you with open arms and warm smiles. I gather this is quite opposite of "the stereotype"? My sister almost married an australian fitness coach. I was proud to know him, but had no thoughts of nationality. He was simply an awesome guy with a cool accent.

Is this post an example of American Egotism? I honestly believe it to be the truth. Sometimes it is the smallest cultural differences that create the biggest rifts.

We have a saying that "the squeeky wheel gets the grease". This is so true, and is why (i think) that folks like "Joe" and "matt groening" are whom the conclusions are drawn from.

even if this thread is only good for venting, keep it going. I'd rather have it out in the open, than muttered under one's breath.

[Zed]

Is SA (i never saw what he wrote) an "ugly American" or just an "Ugly person"? do you see a black man or a man?

-Ryan
(who refuses to quit stirring )

shame really under the ani-mexicanism he coulda offered a lot to the forum with his experience...

[Sturdee]

I'm glad I started this thread. It drives home the point that citizens of the US have a lot of ground to make up the world over. and the only way we can do this is individually.

Hear, Hear, a sensible american.

I think that if any of you traveled to the US you would find a host of people that would welcome you with open arms and warm smiles.

I have been there and yes the natives of LA and Vegas were very friendly it is just that others spoil it for them.

I'd rather have it out in the open, than muttered under one's breath.

Don't you worry about that I'll let you know what I think.


Peter.

[ernknot]

Hi Everybody,
Bigotry does not become us, nor does any hint of racism or ethenscitiy and gender discrimination.
Name calling or type branding is the first sign of inadequacy.

[ozwinner]

Hey.......if hes got a biggertree, I want some.....

Al

[journeyman Mick]

Is SA (i never saw what he wrote) an "ugly American" or just an "Ugly person"? do you see a black man or a man?

-Ryan
(who refuses to quit stirring )

He's a loud ugly person who happens to be an American. He hasn't been around (AFAIK) for a few days now, ever since I disagreed with his welding expertise. From memory I disagreed with him (I can be very disagreeable ) about a year ago about American woodworking machinery being the best and he absented himself for almost a year. Hmm, maybe I'll keep disagreeing with him

I've got some very good friends who are Americans, and I have American family (he's an architect, but not a contractor or tool and die maker ). I've also met some truly abrasive and obnoxious Americans, but they're not qualities exclusive to Americans. On the whole, like the others say, I don't think it makes a bit of difference what a person is, what's important is who and how a person is.

Possibly there is a bit of a cultural cringe in Australia regarding Americans. They have the dominant culture and economy and much of our society (and many others) is being flavoured by this. There's probably also some on this forum (not me, just a little bit before my time) who can remember when the US servicemen were "overpaid, oversexed and over here". There was, I gather some ill will between our boys and theirs when on rec leave in Sydney.

Ryan, seeing you're such a stirrer I reckon we should make you an honorary Australian, that is if you're not stirring and you're not really an Aussie anyway who's just stirring

Mick, who has a pretty multicultural collection of friends and family and who is pretty multicultural himself.

[AlexS]

There was, I gather some ill will between our boys and theirs when on rec leave in Sydney.

I think it was the battle of Brisbane you're referring to Mick. I remember when I was a little kid, my dad showing me the statue he tried to burrow under when a yank fired off a few shots.

As usual, the rest of your post is full of commonsense.

[ryanarcher]

shame really under the ani-mexicanism he coulda offered a lot to the forum with his experience...

How is Anti-mexicanism any different than Anti-Americanism? I'm sure that SA thinks:

"such and such Mexican is, was, and probably shall remain a lazy, greasy, no-good wet-back.

shame 'cause he was a hard worker"

I didn't choose to be american just as a black man does not chose to be black. I do choose however to be a loving husband and father. to have a strong work ethic. to make the best furniture I can. to have the chip on my shoulder balanced very precariously. Are these then not the atributes upon which one should be judged?

If we continue to take the "guilty until proven innocent" mentality (or if you like the "you must prove the stereotype false" mentality) then we are no better than teenage punks that fight other teenage punks simply because they are from another school (although that was kinda fun).

it's time we all grow up and realise that people are people no matter where they are from.

there it is. I've had my say. now let loose boys. I never would have started this thread if i was too much of a coward to listen to the replies...or say my say.

-ryan (a union firefighter who, as such, wears a distinctly hard hat, and has an american flag in the driveway)

P.S. SWMBO is standing behind me saying "well i think Bush has made us all out to be a bunch of jerks." once again she has proved herself to be the succinct one in the family.

[Grunt]

well i think Bush has made us all out to be a bunch of jerks.

Yup. Sad but true.

[ryanarcher]

Ryan, seeing you're such a stirrer I reckon we should make you an honorary Australian, that is if you're not stirring and you're not really an Aussie anyway who's just stirring

Mick, who has a pretty multicultural collection of friends and family and who is pretty multicultural himself.

An honorary Australian? I am the one who would be very much honored! Thanks for the sentiments, and discussion.

-Ryan

[Sturdee]

An honorary Australian? I am the one who would be very much honored! Thanks for the sentiments, and discussion.

-Ryan

Welcome mate, but now I can't call you a seppo anymore.


Peter.

[Wood Borer]

Ryan, seeing you're such a stirrer I reckon we should make you an honorary Australian, that is if you're not stirring and you're not really an Aussie anyway who's just stirring

Mick,

I'll second that we make Ryan an hononary Aussie, his attitude and thinking qualifies him.

[DanP]

Welcome mate, but now I can't call you a seppo anymore.


Peter.

Yeah we can.

Dan