What are your thoughts on this video?

[Ruepart Hoaxley]

We're not.

When someone can sue a corporation for being a moron and spilling coffee on themselves, that's a sure sign to me that the country's lost sight of what it was, and what is means to be an American.

[92xjlaredo]

That shit almost brought a tear to my eye. Profound and meaningful, and the word stagnant, I like it. Just like this forum sometimes. Stagnant. Like a spawning pool once teeming with life, then catastrophe came and the flow of fresh water was severed, life within slowly suffocated because of the lingering algae. The smell of rotting flesh and stale decay, carrion strewn upon the ground thriving with maggots and bacteria.

Regardless, in a way the video itself is pure propaganda in the terms that it backs up none of the facts presented. It's a hard hitting, emotional roller coaster in a four minute span that tells us what we, sadly, already know, but never explains anything. We are left with the same empty satisfaction of learning something from the underside of the cap on a Snapple bottle. People say those facts are fake, only because they aren't explained.

One is not a set of laws, those are rights, and those rights are what separate us from the rest of the world and that 'declaration of war' is what actually did separate us from the rest of the world and the British Empire at the time.

The NEA is a loser, unions have now outlived their once prosperous moments as they were quite literally a unified people who rose up against oppressive businesses that paid nothing for hours of hard labor. In the times of today, they control voted, they control politicians, they are a huge lobby in the United States government. Were Unions always bad? No. Unions served their purpose and they served their purpose well. My Grandfather was a staunch defender of the Unions after he served 4 years in the Navy before WWII and as a Merchant Marine for another 4 years during the second world was. My grandfather was instrumental figure in getting Black and Indian Americans INTO the unions of Connecticut. He fought for true equality back when the unions were strong and it only came back to bite him in the ass. The unions prevented him from ever owning a home and the very people he fought so hard to get into the union, turned out to be lazy and apathtic as they easily and fruitfully exploited the system back in the 1960s and 1970s. The union he fought so hard for he cursed to his grave. The hayday was over then and it hasn't changed.

As for freedom in other countries, those freedoms are merely a matter of opinion. Have fun trying to own a rifle in Italy, or even a knife in England. When I think of Freedom, I do not think of any of the other countries he listed at all except for Canada. Europe is plagued with laws that restrict so many freedoms it is actually insulting to hear him rattle off those countries as if they share the same basic freedoms as we. We in America are guaranteed the freedoms given to us in our Constitution and that cannot be said for almost every other country in the world.

The facts he then rattled off afterwards I cannot account for, those are the heart and soul of what I was saying earlier. He has no basis for the arguments he is presenting and they are the true propaganda of the clip itself. I cannot go against those facts, the educational system in America is very relaxed, no one is forcing you to become a genius, no one is forcing you to be able to read and write the English Language with ease, in fact, we set a minimum standard, a minimum bar that we must pass in order to achieve the next level of education, or the next grade. The passion in education is gone, too many bad teachers and bad parents are poisoning the children's minds that mediocrity is great.

But now, Defense spending, that's a great one. I just read an article the other day that the US Army blundered away 5 billion dollars on their current camouflage scheme and uniform only to realize a few years later that it was a complete joke and didn't actually work. The Marines showed up with MARPAT and, while I have no experience with it, the Army was jealous of how cool it looked, so they rushed into production their own digital schemes only to fall flat on their faces. The Army couldn't stand to be outdone by the Marines it seemed, and now 5 billion dollars later, the Army will temporarily use the CIVILIAN DESIGNED Multicam.

What he didn't mention thought, which I will go into is our Space Program. Go ahead, tell me you don't care about it, I know most of you don't. We as Americans and our once Russian enemies CREATED the Space Programs. In ten years we went to the moon multiple times, we've sent space probes into the cosmos for decades, satellites, now surround out planet linking us all together because of what WE, AS AMERICANS, PIONEERED and now look at us, we are starting to lose at our own game. If we had kept up the momentum that we had in the 1970s, we would have been on Mars years ago, but we aren't. We've lose that sense of discovery, we've lost that sense of pride of knowing that we as Americans can in fact go anywhere we want, all it took was the will to explore and the willingness to sacrifice for the future of our own race and culture. Call it irrelevant and a waste of money all you want, but I am intrigued and passionate about what Curiosity has to tell us when it lands there on Mars in a month. What if it does find something? Europa, the moon of Jupiter has the same amount of water under the thick surface ice as the Earth does covering it's entire surface and I will continually believe that there is microbial life in that water, however impossible it may see on that barren ice world, until I am proven wrong. We have found life at the depths of our darkest oceans, why not believe there is something on Europa.

The problem with America is that we have stopped being America. Will said something drastic has to happen, and he's right. We can all call for a revolution and nothing will ever become of it. We are too lazy to unify, too apathetic to change, and will humbly accept our rights being stripped away from us. Apathy reigns these days, I see it all around me. Closed minds, failure to communicate, advice given only to be cast away as if it were nothing, helping hands battered away and ignorance truly defining us as people. I, for one, will continue to be passionate for it is who I am and who I ever strive to be. Ever learning, ever improving, I'll be the American we all should be and I hope many others do so as well because it is those unspoken characteristics that created this country and brought us to the greatness we once were.

But it begs the question: Are we the greatest? We don't need to be. So long as there is pride within us for our homeland and our country, for our brethren near and far, for our families and friends, we will be a great country. As long as there is passion for what we love to do, we are a great country. It sometimes takes the worst of times to bring out the best in some people, and I await for that moment when we become the greatest again, as we once were. As horrible as these times may be, this is my home and I'm never living anywhere else.

I just took some time out of my life to read that and i can only say this much. i am at a loss for words Phil that is horrifyingly truth right there, that last part brought on a tear... props to taking the time to share that.

[Nick]

Of course its the greatest country in the world, what other place in the world carries the same cachet as America, what other country inspires such radical emotion in billions of people around the world, be it awe, love, hate, jealousy.

Sure the country has its flaws, that's going to happen when you have a place that contains 330m people and covers 3.7m sq miles. Its a lot easier to have a hunky-dory state when your basis is smaller, like countries in Europe, which are like gnats when compared to the United States.

The country is getting back on its feet, after a 5 year stumble, if you don't believe that then you don't have an accurate depiction of whats going on around you. Across the nation, people and businesses alike are beginning to find themselves in a better place than they were a few years ago. Considering we were on the brink of an economic apocalypse, things are going rather well.

The US is also beginning to put together the foundation for a stronger economy than ever before. Manufacturing is coming back to the US, we're going to be energy independent by the end of the decade, and corporations are doing better now than ever before. America is still the innovation capital of the world, we can do things faster and better than anyone else. Phil, you brought up the space program. While its true that the government aspect has fallen off in recent years, just recently a private US company built and launched a rocket that successfully docked with the ISS, and it was conducted in a cheaper and more efficient manner than the government could have done. If that doesn't convince you that America is still the best place going, I don't know what will.

People are also dying to come to this country to better themselves, literally. Pakistanis locked themselves in a cargo container and sailed for weeks in order just to get into the US. Students from all over the world come to study and live in America because they know they will have opportunities here that they never will in their homelands.

Now, I'm not some flag-waiving, american flag-tattooed, idealistic patriot; I acknowledge that there are problems here, significant ones at that. But I firmly believe that the American people have a deep, latent drive to be enthusiastic and patriotic, but they need something to spark it. The reason this drive lies dormant, in my opinion, is because of the lack of faith in the government. When an American sees their elected leaders just bicker, and bitch and moan, and do absolutely nothing, they lose their faith in the country. Now you can say that they elected these people and they can vote them out, but the problem lies in both the structure of the governmental process, as well as the people that run for office. To get that American spark lit, you need to start at the top.

Now, where would you rather live than the United States of America?

[tjramplebump]

beautifully put phil...im almost speechless..you are correcton every account, and i will use that post to be more aware of what being an "American" truely means.

this is why i love this forum...cause nobody else i know would excrete such a statement asthat one

[Zullock Holmes]

I don't have the energy to give the response i'd like to.

[Buffalo Phil]

Of course its the greatest country in the world, what other place in the world carries the same cachet as America, what other country inspires such radical emotion in billions of people around the world, be it awe, love, hate, jealousy.

Sure the country has its flaws, that's going to happen when you have a place that contains 330m people and covers 3.7m sq miles. Its a lot easier to have a hunky-dory state when your basis is smaller, like countries in Europe, which are like gnats when compared to the United States.

The country is getting back on its feet, after a 5 year stumble, if you don't believe that then you don't have an accurate depiction of whats going on around you. Across the nation, people and businesses alike are beginning to find themselves in a better place than they were a few years ago. Considering we were on the brink of an economic apocalypse, things are going rather well.

The US is also beginning to put together the foundation for a stronger economy than ever before. Manufacturing is coming back to the US, we're going to be energy independent by the end of the decade, and corporations are doing better now than ever before. America is still the innovation capital of the world, we can do things faster and better than anyone else. Phil, you brought up the space program. While its true that the government aspect has fallen off in recent years, just recently a private US company built and launched a rocket that successfully docked with the ISS, and it was conducted in a cheaper and more efficient manner than the government could have done. If that doesn't convince you that America is still the best place going, I don't know what will.

People are also dying to come to this country to better themselves, literally. Pakistanis locked themselves in a cargo container and sailed for weeks in order just to get into the US. Students from all over the world come to study and live in America because they know they will have opportunities here that they never will in their homelands.

Now, I'm not some flag-waiving, american flag-tattooed, idealistic patriot; I acknowledge that there are problems here, significant ones at that. But I firmly believe that the American people have a deep, latent drive to be enthusiastic and patriotic, but they need something to spark it. The reason this drive lies dormant, in my opinion, is because of the lack of faith in the government. When an American sees their elected leaders just bicker, and bitch and moan, and do absolutely nothing, they lose their faith in the country. Now you can say that they elected these people and they can vote them out, but the problem lies in both the structure of the governmental process, as well as the people that run for office. To get that American spark lit, you need to start at the top.

Now, where would you rather live than the United States of America?

Excellent post, Nick, and thanks for chiming in for I hold your opinion very high.

[Nick]

In a surpising action, the Supreme Court upheld Obama's Health Care law. -1 for freedom on that move.

[92xjlaredo]

In a surpising action, the Supreme Court upheld Obama's Health Care law. -1 for freedom on that move.

yes i read this in the morning, quite disturbing actually.

[Zullock Holmes]

I just watched the full first episode over on HBO's website. This show is excellent. I feel alot of you will really enjoy it.

[Buffalo Phil]

I just watched the full first episode over on HBO's website. This show is excellent. I feel alot of you will really enjoy it.

Going there now...

[Buffalo Phil]

Watched the first episode.

Damnit. I just finished two seasons of Deadwood, now I have to watch the second season of Boardwalk Empire...then I'll get back to this.

It's funny seeing Jeff Daniels go from Dumb and Dumber to something like this.

Though I will say this: I hope the show lives up to all expectations. I've only seen the one episode so far, but I have to say, that first episode set a very, very high bar for itself with that opening scene. You can't just have something so controversial open your show up only to have the show die down in intensity after a few episodes...

[Carlleen]

The generation after 1995 is what is wrong. Most of us are old enought to remember what america was like when we were growing up. 9/11 happened and the united states will never be the same again. It has nothing to do with the act or fear fromthat day its the chain reaction and the fallout. The young crowd is growing up like a new born child to and old father. I remember my father as a powerful athletic and awesome person and i am 27. My little brother and sister are 7 and 8. They wont grow up to see my father do the awesome things i did. When i was 7 my dad was a goddamn superhero. The new generation of american havent seen the america i have. The worst part is than many dont care to learn. Veterans day is a day off of work and the 4th is a day to blow shit up. As a kid i use to sit and watch the history channel when they had the old WWII stroies. I was taught that those men were the reason i was albe to live in this country. Now a days People ask if i joined the military because i couldnt find a job or because i didnt goto right to college. Why is it no long because I love my counrty. Why is it that today loving america is lame and your just a dumb republican if you say it. I dont want change. I just want americans to lace up their boots and be americans. Build a future for yourself. Stop asking for handouts. Dig in and sign up for the long haul. If we are ever going to be what we were it starts with the citizens and not the government. We make our future.

[Zullock Holmes]

The "Me generation" does only that, cares only about themselves. Their college, their future, their lives. We weren't taught the value of a country, of working towards something bigger than ourselves, and that is truly what is lost and what is wrong. In today's schools, the pledge of allegiance is no longer said, Civics and American History are electives, and educators are so worried about teaching to diversity they forget that the sole binding force that holds america together isn't that we are different, but that we are all the same. We are Americans. A nation that once provoked one to dream and to solve the great problems of the world and to reach for the stars. But somewhere in the not too distant past, social interaction took a front seat to moral responsibility. Just like mentioned in that clip, it's plain old "not cool" to be intelligent and to be involved in the goings on around us. At the end of the day, we're the reason our government is failing. We let media outlets sugar coat our source of information. I love America, i love everything it stands for, our history, our soldiers, the principles by which this nation were founded upon. And the more dire our nation's and our society's situation gets, the more I believe people who truly care; like you Ryan, or Phil, or Nick or I are the very breed of people capable of making our voices heard, of bringing the people together, swaying elections, and fixing real problems.

"to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government"

I'm not calling for a revolution, but I am saying I feel the time is coming nearer that a major point in the history of this nation will be upon us. Will we triumph or will we fail?? This question undoubtedly will be answered in our lifetimes.

I think it's great that there are producers/writers/actors willing to make a show like this to get the dialogue rolling and hopefully to continue it. As a former journalism major, I truly believe that a misinformed public is the worst possible thing for preserving a Democratic nation.

[Nick]

We weren't taught the value of a country, of working towards something bigger than ourselves, and that is truly what is lost and what is wrong.

Bam.

That's the whole problem, the conduit for transmitting intelligence, pride, and patriotism from one generation to another has been broken. In fairness, its hard to blame a generation for not caring, when in reality, society failed them in never bothering to instill in them the virtues that are necessary to support American exceptionalism.

In my opinion, the real troubles began with the end of the Cold War. Once the Soviet Union was disbanded, the US had no real adversary to work against on the world stage. That led to a complaceny in which the country went about their lives in considerable comfort, and lost a lot of the personality that had driven the country to "win at all costs" since its inception. The nation plateaued, thinking it had reached the pinnacle of civilization. Meanwhile, everyone else kept working and striving to achieve, as they viewed the US as their threat to greatness. Hopefully, now that its not as easy going as it used to be in this country, some people will have that competitive spirit rekindled.

[Nick]

This show has been absolutely torn apart by every TV critic

I've seen 2 episodes so far, still undecided