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Originally posted by ljossberir@28 October 2003 - 12:32
Geez... seems like every forum I go to in every other thread I visit, an anti america rant goes on - nice to know how you all feel :(
Anyways, I live on long island (about 30 min west of New York city) and I can tell you that practically no one here owns a gun. I guess it really depends on what part of the country you're from, down south and southwest there are more gun owners. Here in New York it's hard as hell to get a gun. The only way to get a gun really is if you're lucky enough to know an illegal seller (which few are, really..) Legally it's hard to obtain a gun, and even harder to avoid being in trouble whenever someone fires a gun off (police usually check who own guns in the neighborhood legally, and few do) I live in a pretty bustling suburban town of about 50,000 and I don't remember ever seeing a gun, hearing a shot, or even hearing about a murder in my town in the 21 years I've been here. Maybe America's gun laws are wrong, maybe they're not.
I'll tell ya one thing though, I'm not at all jealous of Canadians like some of you say, I'm glad I live here. I mean, I respect Canadians and all, and I've visited and it's OK but I didn't nearly enjoy it as much as my country. I don't know why many of the people in countries that are typically our ally hate us blatantly, but I think it's wrong... I mean, I don't hate you. No matter where you come from. As far as our foreign policy goes, we do what we think is right, generally. If you don't like it, then OK but I don't see it as a reason to hate every US citizen, who has never even met you. I don't come out here and say things like I hate all saudis and all afghanis even though some of them did what they did... because, not every person in those nations supported what was done, I'm not going to make a blatant statement of bigotry like some of you have, I just don't feel the need.
Although obviously before and after the war, the majority of Iraqis hated the US and what it stood for, back when the war in Iraq was starting (which I slightly opposed), many Americans were conciencious objectors who went to Iraq as "human shields" because they didn't believe in the war. I saw people wearing shirts like "We love the Iraqi children". Though I don't have enough exposure to claim this without a doubt, I haven't heard a similar idea from any of the countries we believe support terrorism. So, I just don't think it's common sense, this view that all americans are "bloodthirsty", or whatever.
I despise french foreign policy, but still I don't come here on these boards looking to bash the french, so why do people have to do the reverse? The vast majority of Americans respect countries like France and the French people, we've even shed blood with them - I can't think of a more enduring tie that would instill respect. But, I've seen so many french articles and talked to many french people online who have an immediate angry and negative reaction when they find out you are American.
Granted, these things may be just attributed to the ignorant few of a respective nation. Obviously America has those types of ignorant people, too. No one is without those people. Sometimes ours are more flamboyant, or maybe they ever represent a greater portion of the country than the average. Still, all I'm saying is stop the hate and respect people for who they are... that's the important thing.
Just to set the record straight: