I hate to do it, but there is too much here to respond in just one block. My apologies.
Sixxness said:
You know, it seems that you think you know exactly what I mean, but you have read into it wrong.
I didn't say change happens over night. You assume that's what I mean. I know it takes a LONG TIME for changes to happen, but that's the point. If you leave and don't do shit, you're running away from something that you could potentially make better. I don't have to go to Argentina to figure out that our country has problems. Every country has problems, we just happen to have a shit load of fucking people which makes it worse (in my opinion).
And this right here is why its impossible to talk to you on the internet: you just don't get it, unless someone is standing right there, beating it into your head.
If you are a NOBODY (and we BOTH ARE), it makes NO DIFFERENCE if you leave the country for a year or two to check things out, ESPECIALLY if you go somewhere where a lot of that country's host culture is involved in ours. (In much simpler terms, I went to Mexico because we have lots of Mexicans in the United States. I didn't go to Spain, because there aren't many people from Spain here).
"Running away" has nothing to do with it. Its about expanding your horizons, and realizing your pampered ass don't have it as bad as you think you do. What you call "problems" are more like small issues, and what these people call "problems" is some life-threatening, you-could-die-tomorrow-from-a-common-cold type shit.
I've seen it. Have you? If you haven't....you should. Its no joke. Its beyond the politics of Left vs Right. It is some grown-up shit.
As far as where to go, you can stop adding onto your list of places now. First it's, "go somewhere else" and now it's, "go to a 3rd world country or 2nd world." Which one is it? I thought that no matter what it would open my eyes, I mean that's what I took from what you said, correct me if I'm wrong.
I was expounding, sir. My second and more elaborate post, I clearly included: "Once you do this, you'll find this country isn't as fucked up as your spoiled ass thinks it is,
especially if you go somewhere other than Europe or Canada." -- Surely you realize that most 1st world countries are in Europe, whereas almost all of South America, Africa and Asia is 3rd world.
You should be happy to know that that shaping process is done now. I just want you to understand that if you take yourself to England or France (after taking 1-2 semesters of French) or some bullshit like that, you ain't gonna learn shit about shit. You need to go to a 3rd world, Non-English-speaking country to really understand what makes the USA so special.
You can have your ideals, but just cause those are yours doesn't make them right for everyone else. In my case I'd slap the fuck out of myself if I thought the same way you do (if I knew better). But that doesn't mean you're wrong, I just don't agree. I just dont' insult you for disagreeing like you do to myself and others.
To each his own. All i know is, I love my country and have all kinds of goals and business plans, and most of what I know about you is that you're an Atheist America-basher who likes to complain and wants to go live in Europe.
As far as the word pretty, I didn't mean it as in looking better. I'm saying that every country has shit that's wrong with it, but just cause other places are fucked up, doesn't mean ours is better cause it's a little less fucked up than other places.
AGAIN! THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF BETTER:
LESS FUCKED UP! -- Holy shit dude, I know what you're getting at, but you've got to learn to word it better.
The problem with people like you is that you don't understand what progress really is. You (as in Liberals) sit around complaining about ANWR and other trivial shit, and meanwhile, people are getting left behind and not taking advantage of what they can get from Uncle Sam or their State. You cry wolf about 50 times a day, and frankly, people are getting sick of it.
2006 is the Democrats' last chance, IMO (Liberals too, since you're the type that refuses to admit to being a Dem). If they don't pick up some Senate and House seats, its game over. Stop being such a radical and a prescriber (instead of a moderate and a DEscriber), and maybe your side would start getting some shit accomplished.