ProNihil

I was just thinking, after reading the newsweek section on msnbc.com, (the one that talks about why the world hates and fears us) that MY country, the one I was taught to love with all my heart, the one I literally get tears in my eyes over when I think of what opportunities it provides me, could well be going the way of some kind of modern "world dominatory" (I don't know if dominatory is a word) force.

There are a number of ways that it could do this. We really do have more money than god, and are full of recources. We could control the world through financial means, (I know this one is simplistic, but I simply don't have the vocabulary to go deeper on this one) or we could do the good old rape and pillage thing of those countries that, in the overall scheme of things, have either militaristic or resource related depots.

I really wish the rest of the world had the chances that we do here in America though. I'm thinking about my dad right now. He owns a two section ranch out in Wyoming. (a section is something like 640 acres) He was forced to work at Wal-Mart to make ends meet. He was used to being the boss, but at Wal-Mart, he had bosses that were 30+ years younger than him, and dare I say, much dumber. But he did it anyway, and when he had enough money, he started his own art gallery and made money that way. Then, once again, when he had enough money, he bought his first ranch and enough cattle to barely make it. And make it he did. He is not a rich man, but he works very very hard, (66 yrs. old and puts in a good 14hr. day of ranch work, 7 days a week) and enjoys what he has because it is his. His land, His animals, etc. etc.

I say that my Dad is the kind of man that founded America. The kind of person who doesn't have some kind of wacky sense of entitlement. Who doesn't look at his neighbor and say to himself, "I should have it as easy as him, it's just not fair." He sees what he wants and works for it no matter what until he has it. These kinds of people are so few and far beteween these days that I am fearful for our country. As I said above, I am thinking MY country could be the one to break the spirit of those not as fortunate. I believe that this is due to a false sense of entitlement and greed.

I also believe that there are people in Iraq who are like my father. Honerable, hard working people who would do what needs to be done. It isn't a culture thing, it's about personal pride and integrity, no matter where in the world you go. I hope that someday, I will be able to live up to the example my father gave me. I know for a fact that there are sons in Iraq now who feel the same way. I don't think it's hopeless, even if we are going to go to war in two days. The only thing that will build the world into a place of peace and generally mutual understanding is working at it. Day and night, not stopping whatsoever. Working until the job is finished. I hope that I can figure out what to do to help. Were I in a position, I would at least attempt to make lemonade with the lemons we've got here. Not just pout over the fact that we have lemons. I want to be proactive, and I am totally open to suggestion.

Zar

For having a name like ProNihil, you carry an awfully idealistic view of America around in your pocket. Anyway, as you may be realizing, that your father seems like a good guy who works hard has precious little to do with the rest of the country. If you think this country is fighting a war between one proletarian who is scraping by and another one scraping by on the dole, then I think you're just looking in the wrong direction. You father isn't the president. Your father doesn't run Boeing, Pfizer, or Enron or any other massive national or transnational corporation. In short, your father isn't the United States, and niether are you. He may represent something good about the U.S. but he is not identical to it.

When I look at my father, I see many of the same things you see in yours. But people like this are astonishingly alien to places like Washington, D.C. and Wall Street. My father has worked very hard in his life running his own business, but that doesn't mean he identifies what he is with the nation as a whole, or with the power structures that, in his view, often rule him illegitimately. This is what allows him to complain unceasingly about the U.S. government even though he is as good an American as you're likely to find.

lunachick

ProNihil, your father sounds a lot like my father. Except he's a New Zealand Maori.

Middle white America doesn't have a monopoly on morality, honesty, integrity or opportunity in the world; despite what your nationalist propogandists have told you.

Oh, PS - the South Pacific don't need no New American Century. - just thought I'd add that.

Doubting Didymus

Look out folks! just when the international arena was least expecting it...

NEW ZEALAND rises like a phoenix from the ashes to claim sovreignty over all! Who'da thunk it?

lunachick

LMAO! Who'da thunk it, indeed?

ProNihil

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Zar
For having a name like ProNihil, you carry an awfully idealistic view of America around in your pocket. [QUOTE]

I wondered when someone was going to bring this up. The story behind it is that I was, at the time, involved in reading Schopenhauer and the like. I could not, due to probable excessive consumation of "rum and cokes" think of a better tag for myself. The Secular Web has, however, been a source of inspiration and information in that I have oft wondered if that name actually fits me.

[QUOTE][i] If you think this country is fighting a war between one proletarian who is scraping by and another one scraping by on the dole, then I think you're just looking in the wrong direction. You father isn't the president. Your father doesn't run Boeing, Pfizer, or Enron or any other massive national or transnational corporation. In short, your father isn't the United States, and neither are you. He may represent something good about the U.S. but he is not identical to it.[/B][QUOTE]

No, you're right. I don't think that my father is the United States, etc. My point was to magnify their differences in fact. Undoubtedly, most if not all of those who run the corporations who seek to get rich off of other fellow human beings blood are very smart, because they have fooled the masses into believing that they are, indeed, not part of the problem. That they have nothing to do with it. [/B][QUOTE]


Well, in the overall scheme of things, at least both your father and mine have the government granted ability to complain, and perhaps, the means to actually do something about it! The old days of revolution by way of simple warfare are gone. Any minority (political) group doesn't stand a chance against the might of OUR current regime. But thanks to the freedom of education and the access to learn about thinking and reasoning, perhaps we can after all change the majority mindset to reflect what I can only call "true, or proper thinking."

I actually used to be quite the pessimist, but due to my fathers teaching and prodding, I have found that optimism holds greater sway insofar as the actual changing of the world and our fellow man.

Thanks for your insights Zar.

ProNihil

Well, I fucked up that post royally. Hopefully you can tell where Zar ends and I begin. Damnit, how do people post those multiple quote replies? :banghead:

ProNihil

Didn't mean to say that Middle white America has a monopoly on anything. I was just using my dad as an example. I realise that there are men (and women) all over the earth who have the same predispositions. But I still maintain that they are few and far beteween.

lunachick

I know. I could tell that by the tone of your OP. I was just pulling your chain.

ProNihil

lunachick...