You speak as though it's only America that has these problems. Dead end towns of high employment can be found anywhere. Kids shooting up schools happen across the globe. While it's unspeakable that New Orleans hasn't gotten the proper help it deserves, many other American cities have been thriving culturally and economically, and have been becoming increasingly safe since the mid '80s, most notably New York City and Los Angeles (give LA from the mid '90s).
You speak of our bankers and wall street executives with shame and distaste, and we do to. You should have seen the reaction against Bernie Madoff around here. But before you go pointing fingers at the greedy and the unjust, make sure one is pointed squarely at a great many of your politicians who have been in the news recently.
I also don't want to make this a USA vs UK incident, these corruption, greed and indulgence can be found in a great many places. It isn't only capitalism and republicanism that houses these characteristics either. From Communist Russia to Militaristic Uganda, from America's capitalism to UK's parliament it is apparent everywhere. Women are required to walk 5 paces behind men in certain Muslim countries. Who is going to scale which unjust action is more severe than another? Is it the lack of women's rights or is it a manipulation of the law and justice system to cheat people out of their money and savings?
As a response to 9/11, however, my reaction is clouded by the fact that I live in New York, less than 15 minutes from the city. I've witnessed first hand the death and destruction of that day. I was also in Oxford the day of the terrorist bombing of London in 2005, and visited London only a week after the attack. It was amazing (for lack of a better term) to see the dichotomy of reaction. The amount of casualties notwithstanding, both attacks are identical in my eyes, but not in those of my countrymen nor in those of the British (and specifically Londoners).
I've been yelled at in French, Dutch and Italian for the actions of my country. I've been spit at by Italian disc jockeys for being American. I've been told by a British woman that Americans are pussies and that if the 2005 bombings had happened in New York, the city would have been shut down for weeks. It takes a lot of energy to withstand those comments and accusations, especially when there is a language barrier. I know what the world thinks of the US, and that is only of Western Europe, our supposed friends.
To judge is to be judged, and do not lest the eyes of judgment be cast upon you. We all do it. But to generalize and list all of the things that you (Gildy) have just listed, and say that this is on "home soil" is to assume the norm and common. Have you witnessed these things with your own eyes? Do radical Christians allow gay couples to marry in your town? Should we examine the foreign policies of the United Kingdom? I have a great respect for you as a poster, but your most recent post sounded so much like the jargon that's been cast upon me (as though I am an extension of my countries politics) from domestics and foreigners alike.
EDIT: I'd also like to point out that isn't a response directly to your post, Gildy. Merely a reaction to my experience with what you're saying and to 9/11 in general. Please don't assume any accusatory tone, it wasn't my intention.
Edited by user 13 July 2009 16:45:50(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
