18 months down, 30 to go...

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Subsitute Denmark for almost any other European country, many Asian countries, some South African Countries, maybe a South American country or two and Canada and you have the same answer...sometimes US, sometimes not.

It just always seems odd to me that so many people have a pathological need to feel their country is "the best." It just seems weird.

I went to the University of Missouri for my undergrad. I loved it. I met the best friends of my life there. I think it is a great university. I cheer like hell for their sports teams every year, and own a bunch of Mizzou "gear." I guess I'm "proud" to be a Tiger. But I don't always feel the need to go around saying it is the best university in the world. I don't think alums of any other school do either. I'm not sure why it isn't like that with countries. People want to be proud....hey go ahead. But don't tell me what the best thing to ever happen to me is. I think I'll decide that for myself.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

It just always seems odd to me that so many people have a pathological need to feel their country is "the best." It just seems weird.

I went to the University of Missouri for my undergrad. I loved it. I met the best friends of my life there. I think it is a great university. I cheer like hell for their sports teams every year, and own a bunch of Mizzou "gear." I guess I'm "proud" to be a Tiger. But I don't always feel the need to go around saying it is the best university in the world. I don't think alums of any other school do either. I'm not sure why it isn't like that with countries. People want to be proud....hey go ahead. But don't tell me what the best thing to ever happen to me is. I think I'll decide that for myself.

Turn back the clock 40 years or however old you are. And have your seed planted in a village in India. Or any country in Africa. Or Mexico. You'd be begging to have been born in the USA.

comparing countries to universities & pride is freaking hilarious. When people start fighting and dying for the University of Arizona, then maybe your analogy would make the tiniest bit of sense.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Turn back the clock 40 years or however old you are. And have your seed planted in a village in India. Or any country in Africa. Or Mexico. You'd be begging to have been born in the USA.

comparing countries to universities & pride is freaking hilarious. When people start fighting and dying for the University of Arizona, then maybe your analogy would make the tiniest bit of sense.

Alright...philosophical...would you rather have been born in the US with CP confined to a wheel chair or been born healthy in Mexico. I know which I would pick. And this is only because you are saying it's the best thing that ever happened to you.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by GBBob

Alright...philosophical...would you rather have been born in the US with CP confined to a wheel chair or been born healthy in Mexico. I know which I would pick. And this is only because you are saying it's the best thing that ever happened to you.

if you are unfortunate enough to be born with CP, than US would be the best place to try to live your life.

thats a tough question.

I guess I'd rather be born in Mexico with a functional body.. and than illegally immigrate into Tucson & sell blow and pot.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

if you are unfortunate enough to be born with CP, than US would be the best place to try to live your life.

thats a tough question.

I guess I'd rather be born in Mexico with a functional body.. and than illegally immigrate into Tucson & sell blow and pot.

NASCAR in 3-2-1

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by GBBob

[/b]

NASCAR in 3-2-1

[Cannon Shell]

I would say that arguing against the US in the theoretical greatest country in the world poll would be pretty poor bet.

Denmark? LOL

yeah if you are lily white and dont get sea sick.

plus the US already has a Denmark. We call it Connecticut and Rhode island.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

plus the US already has a Denmark. We call it Connecticut and Rhode island.

College education in Connecticut and Rhode Island is free? I didn't know that. I also didn't know Forbes ranked Connecticut and Rhode Island as having the best business environments in the world.

[Danzig]

i think everyone completely missed my point. it wasn't whether we're the greatest or not...it's why we can't get better talent where it's needed. are the sarah palins, george bushes, barrack obamas of this world the best we can do?? one's smarter than the other two...but is our current president really up to the task? i don't think he is. i don't think he's got enough 'bottom' to him. if he were a racehorse heading into the spring classics, we'd bet on others. he'd be the one who's talented, but short on seasoning. it's not just the president, who fills the cabinet and potentially several spots on the court. look at our reps, our senators. is this the best we can do?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I guess I'd rather be born in Mexico with a functional body.

So being born with a "functional body" is a better thing to happen to someone than being born in the U.S.? Are you retracting your earlier statement?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

So being born with a "functional body" is a better thing to happen to someone than being born in the U.S.? Are you retracting your earlier statement?

considering Cerebral Palsy is one of the worst disorders a human can have.. sure.. you win.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Turn back the clock 40 years or however old you are. And have your seed planted in a village in India. Or any country in Africa. Or Mexico. You'd be begging to have been born in the USA.

comparing countries to universities & pride is freaking hilarious. When people start fighting and dying for the University of Arizona, then maybe your analogy would make the tiniest bit of sense.

I assume you do realize that the fact that people DON'T fight and die for universities illustrates MY exact point.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

I assume you do realize that the fact that people DON'T fight and die for universities illustrates MY exact point.

are you saying people dont die and fight for countries?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

are you saying people dont die and fight for countries?

No, of course not. Patriotism is one of the biggest killers in the world. It is right up there with religion.
You missed the point entirely.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by miraja2

No, of course not. Patriotism is one of the biggest killers in the world. It is right up there with religion.
You missed the point entirely.

I really did miss the point. I've even re-read the post a few times and just cannot figure out the point. Much too complicated for my Pac-10 education.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I really did miss the point. I've even re-read the post a few times and just cannot figure out the point. Much too complicated for my Pac-10 education.

The point is....why can't people just be "proud" of their country the way they are of their school....or their city....or whatever else? Why do they have to take it to the level of declaring it "the best" in such an emphatic way. I'm not just talking about Americans here either. This would be a much better world if nobody loved their country enough to kill another person for it. I love Mizzou and "hate" Kansas and their fans. But nobody (usually) gets killed over those disputes.
Obviously this is purely phisophical and completely outside the realm of actual possibility but honestly, nobody should love their country - any country - so much that they not only are willing to kill someone else over it, but also think it is a great and noble thing. If patriotism vanished from the world entirely, and took religion with it, the world would be a better place.