My Stupid WOVO trip to FSU

[Shostakovich]

Shosti here to fan the flames in the stupid American debate -- here are a few of our countrymen exercising their right to free speech!

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5I4oY7zj-w[/youtube]

'course if you asked the same Q's anywhere you'd get the same responses

[Gylden]

LOL Shosti, That is a good one, it was making the e-mail rounds a while ago.
It is true, as a rule Americans are not so good with geography. I remember when I was courting my wife, we were discussing Europe and she asked me if I knew what constituted the eastern boundary of Europe, I took a wild guess and replied the Ural Mountains (lucky guess, but I am sure someone will pop up now to say that it isn't true). It was a lucky guess and it impressed her, we both had a good laugh about it.
 

[Seeker]

And yet you call the map above (USA = #1) a "distorted" view of reality of some people.  Yet, "USA = Evil" is the ultimate truth, according to you.  Where's your famous acceptance of opposite opinions?  My truth is no more distorted than yours, then. 

Wow, you all let me off pretty easy.  I expected the flames to be a lot hotter.   

I do not think "USA = Evil".  Just as I don't think "USA = #1".  These are just perceptions people have.  Neither are truths.  A lot of it depends on which side off the fence you sit... or which side of the gun barrel you are looking at.     (that is a joke)

And Glyden, of course you are right about what 'we' are called.  But it was something that used to annoy my friends from Central and South America and was the subject of many lively discussions.  None of it was taken too seriously though, we weren't trying to start a war... it was just political conversation among friends.

You are also right about "United Statesian"... it just doesn't have the right sound to it.   

[Seeker]

Huh?!? 

This particular character in the movie 'Mystery Men' always come to mind when I read your posts, man...too funny!

That was hilarious!  Thank you for the laugh.  Yes, I can see why that might come to mind reading my posts. 

Hey, you have to be able to laugh at yourself.  And in my case, that is pretty easy to do.   

[Daveman]

... These are just perceptions people have.  Neither are truths.  A lot of it depends on which side off the fence you sit... or which side of the gun barrel you are looking at.     (that is a joke)

Truth is mostly a myth in human terms.  There are mostly only perceptions in this world... is use 'mostly' because I guess on the macroscopic level there is but one reality, but the fathoming of it is colored by viewpoint and cultural/parental/experiential programming.

...
You are also right about "United Statesian"... it just doesn't have the right sound to it.   

"Superians" has a very nice ring to it...  :evil: :evil: 

[Seeker]

Truth is mostly a myth in human terms.  There are mostly only perceptions in this world... is use 'mostly' because I guess on the macroscopic level there is but one reality, but the fathoming of it is colored by viewpoint and cultural/parental/experiential programming.

"Superians" has a very nice ring to it...  :evil: :evil: 

Very true.  Pun intended.   

Watch it Daveman... or you might end up being Sphinx Jr.

[Shostakovich]

Truth is mostly a myth in human terms.  There are mostly only perceptions in this world...

If anyone really believed that, or rather believed that all life could produce nothing more than perceptions and existential vibrations, they would slit their throats or go down in some sort of flame.  Many do; the hot kova adventure seems like a possible variation on the theme.

If there is any hope it is in the paradox that, somehow, through the prison of perspective that 'truth' does indeed emerge: Neti, Neti, Neti say the yogis.

[I/O]

Shosti here to fan the flames in the stupid American debate -- here are a few of our countrymen exercising their right to free speech!

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5I4oY7zj-w[/youtube]

'course if you asked the same Q's anywhere you'd get the same responses

I like the bit where ol' mate wanted to make "a big f*****g crater out of the middle east"...........

To be fair, I've probably been almost too much of a staunch supporter of America / Americans over the years but I admit, like any country, USA has a few exports which would have been better retained on home soil. The funniest one I've seen was in Kishinev airport in 2004 (I think it was) where an "American" family was becoming frustrated with the two long lines at the visa desk. When the officials decided to close one line and merge them into one, it was too much for the lady of the family and she exploded. "This is not acceptable, we are American" she shouted...................................yes lady, like anyone gives a flying f**k.

[Seeker]

I like the bit where ol' mate wanted to make "a big f*****g crater out of the middle east"...........

To be fair, I've probably been almost too much of a staunch supporter of America / Americans over the years but I admit, like any country, USA has a few exports which would have been better retained on home soil. The funniest one I've seen was in Kishinev airport in 2004 (I think it was) where an "American" family was becoming frustrated with the two long lines at the visa desk. When the officials decided to close one line and merge them into one, it was too much for the lady of the family and she exploded. "This is not acceptable, we are American" she shouted...................................yes lady, like anyone gives a flying f**k.

 

You have such a way with words...   

[JR]

Truth is mostly a myth in human terms.  There are mostly only perceptions in this world...

 

I dare say truth is absolute. I don't care how many witnesses of a bus hitting a person there are or from what view point they may have seen it from, the person getting hit by the bus is just as dead. And that's the thruth

[Daveman]

I dare say truth is absolute. I don't care how many witnesses of a bus hitting a person there are or from what view point they may have seen it from, the person getting hit by the bus is just as dead. And that's the thruth

I would say that reality is absolute (though probably most often clouded by perception, there really can be but one), however truth is more of a human concept. 

The reality is the guy is dead.  And that is a true statement according to your scenario.  The sky is "blue" -- true from  one perspective, and yet false from another.  Many 'truths' are similarly perspective based.  Of course, this is only my perception. 

[I/O]

You guys have "Truth" and "Fact" confused.  Religion is based on "Truths" (Whosoever's  they may be). Mathematics is based on facts (Provable over and over regardless of opinion). Wait a moment, perhaps I have "Semantics" and "Wordsmithing" confused? Anyone for "Weasel Words"?

[Shostakovich]

Of course, this is only my perception. 

There you go, if there were not a ground upon which perception could be formed, there could be no perception.  We say, "I am sick", "I am healthy" -- who is the one beyond sickness and health that can make the relative judgment?

"There would be too much darkness if truth did not have some visible signs" -Pascal

[Gylden]

I/O,
The truth is....it can get friggin hot down there in the outback! That's a fact!!

 

[Shadow]

I dare say truth is absolute. I don't care how many witnesses of a bus hitting a person there are or from what view point they may have seen it from, the person getting hit by the bus is just as dead. And that's the thruth

Hwever there will always be witnesses who saw him move, are sure he was drinking a beer in the pub the next day and taking a taxi driven by Elvis.  :evil:

[Gator]

I dare say truth is absolute.

I found that this concept does not work well with women because many women are driven by perception, not reality. 

An old joke.  A corporate committee is interviewing three candidates for COO position.  The committee asks the three candidates,  "What is 2 + 2?"

The candidate with an accounting background:  "It is 4.00, always has been, always will be."

The one with an engineering background:  "It is 4 or thereabout."

The attorney:  He gets up and pulls the shades down to cover the windows.  Then he locks the door.  He turns to the committee and whispers, "What do you want it to be?"

This old joke needs to be made contemporary by adding a female candidate.

[Shadow]

This old joke needs to be made contemporary by adding a female candidate.

Female candidate : that is an indecent proposal, I will sue you for sexual harassment.

[I/O]

sue you for sexual harassment.

How times have changed. 25 years ago women thanked us for sexual harassment.

[CanadaMan]

How times have changed. 25 years ago women thanked us for sexual harassment.

Yes how times have changed!
Just six days ago you were going to sue us for hijacking this thread. Now you are happily joining in with the rest of us. 

[Gator]

Female candidate : that is an indecent proposal, I will sue you for sexual harassment.

 

How times have changed. 25 years ago women thanked us for sexual harassment.

 

[CanadaMan]

...It is not arrogant to call ones self an American....if you really believe so I have a recommendation for you. Pick a place in the world (outside of the US) go there and tell them you are from the U.S.of A., they will say.....oh you are an American....

I am not sure why, but it may be it is too difficult to say United Statesian???

I have an analytical mind as some may have already noticed. So let's analyze this.

United States of America is the name of the country in question.

As often occurs in life, people tend to abbreviate names for convenience sake. Not for patriotic sake.

So U.S.A. over time was shortened to America. Some people will say they are from the U.S. but few will have the patience to say the United States of America or even the United States.
It just takes too much time and effort.

OK now we know how it came to pass that United States of Americans came to call themselves Americans.

Now lets talk about the _appropriateness of this term 'Americans'.

As others have pointed out, there are many other countries who also lay claim to the name American, namely; Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Savador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Columbia, Equador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uraguay, Paraguay, Brazil, French Guyana, Guyana and Suriname.


Hundreds of millions of people can rightly call themselves Americans if they so choose to do so.

This distinction or 'problem' arose simply because the United States of America chose to include America in their name AND also chose to become lazy about how they call themselves.

Had Canada chose to call itself Canada of North America or Canada of America, then they may well also have ended up calling themselves Americans at some point.

Now some may be scratching their head and saying why did the U.S.A even bother to include America in their name?
After all, how many other countries were named the United States in 1776?
But that's an entirely different story.

[Daveman]

Had Canada chose to call itself Canada of North America or Canada of America, then they may well also have ended up calling themselves Americans at some point.

Well, since Canada is comprised of Provinces... it could have been the U.P.A

and according to the map above, would be the Uninhabited Provinces of America!       near Santa!!

[Gylden]

LOL,
It was those bloody people of the crown who started all of this!!!

"The earliest recorded use of this term in English dates to 1648, in Thomas Gage's The English-American: A New Survet of the West Indies.[4] In English, "American" was used especially for people in the British America, and came to be applied to citizens of the United States when the country was formed."

 

[GQBlues]

Well, I believe it to be true that Il Tuk Toli Makdat, and all his Botswanan relatives are ignorant, arrogant, and stupid for even thinking that they can call themselves Africans!

The nerve of these people! Sheesh...

[Faux Pas]

Anyone on the North American and South American continent are free to call themselves "American" But, it is such an "arrogant" use of the term why would they?   

Canadians choose to call themselves Canadians. I can't imagine anyone defying a Canadian an opportunity to be called an American if they so chose.

The same for the South American countries. They chose to be called Peruvian, Brazillian or Argentinian. They are also referred to as South American but can just as easily be referred to as American. Americans from the U.S. aren't offended.

Of course many just hyphenate (insert here) - American. What's the difference?