Nationalism is nauseating

[Andrew-Austin]

Last time I was at a base-ball game, and everyone got all religious during the national anthem, I felt like I was suddenly thrown in to a nut house. Its just creepy, and sad, and yeah.. nauseating..

Sorry if I'm turning anyone off by saying that, but you can always go to this thread to become red-white-and-aroused again.

 

[cubical]

matt, thanks for this message board. it does a heart good to see that all of America isn't filled with sheep waving American flags.

 

[Badger Paul]

"Celebrating an end of war and troops coming home. I see neither of those happening today. "

We have to make it happen because the people out there celebrating believe its happened and want it to happen. I have no problem celebrating OBL's death for what it can do to liberate the country's mindset from the fear its been under for the last 10 years. And with this mindset free from fear, perhaps RP can influence more people to say "It's over. We've won. Let's come home."

 

[nate895]

Well, it was blow back from the oil embargo but, I agree it was an act of war.

I agree with you. Like I said, when the bombs drop, you just have live with your mistakes and defend yourself. You shouldn't make those mistakes again, though.

 

[BlackTerrel]

Yeah there was one huge asshole who even released a statement:

“I commend our troops, the intelligence community, and the military leaders involved in both the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for their perseverance and courage in pursuit of this most grievous enemy of the United States of America.”

What a tool whoever that is.

 

[Badger Paul]

"Celebrating an end of war and troops coming home. I see neither of those happening today. "

We have to make it happen because the people out there celebrating believe its happened and want it to happen. I have no problem celebrating OBL's death for what it can do to liberate the country's mindset from the fear its been under for the last 10 years. And with this mindset free from fear, perhaps RP can influence more people to say "It's over. We've won. Let's come home."

 

[goldencane]

Speaking for nationalism in general, not necessarily toward the military, I don't think it is bad at all. Although I would like the country to be freer, I do take pride in the fact that I do live In one of the freest countries. Plus I love watching international sports and I love rooting for the USA!!

 

[BamaFanNKy]

 

[dude58677]

It is only temporary. It is only temporary. This will die down when people cannot afford to pay their bills.

 

[dude58677]

It is only temporary. It is only temporary. This will die down when people cannot afford to pay their bills. Give it some time!

 

[heavenlyboy34]

This gratuitous display of nationalism is beyond nauseating. Nationalism is of course defined as the worship of one's government, usually accompanied by an aggressive impulse toward other countries. Patriotism on the other hand is the love of one's people and land.

The best post you've ever made, Collins.

 

[Chomsky]

This whole thing is so embarrassing. 10 years after the fact we get a symbolic figurehead that was no longer running day to day operations according to most. Do we come out the winners in this situation or just looking pathetic and desperate, I would have to say the latter. I've been watching Al Jazeera English and the arabs watching these crowds in front of the White House have to be scratching their heads. I mean imagine if in 1956 Walter Cronkite breaks in and announces US military forces just killed Hitler who had been living in a mansion on the outskirts of Berlin, would that be cause for celebration. Most of this country is incredibly out of touch and this whole reaction to bin Laden's death is just the most recent example of the detachment and stupidity.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

Hardly

WWII occurred because the British and French wanted to punish the Germans despite U.S. objections

True, but the war in the Pacific was completely avoidable and unnecessary. And the US regime didn't HAVE to get involved in the European theater. Plenty of war profiteers and arms suppliers did make money, though.

 

[goldencane]

This whole thing is so embarrassing. 10 years after the fact we get a symbolic figurehead that was no longer running day to day operations according to most. Do we come out the winners in this situation or just looking pathetic and desperate, I would have to say the latter. I've been watching Al Jazeera English and the arabs watching these crowds in front of the White House have to be scratching their heads. I mean imagine if in 1956 Walter Cronkite breaks in and announces US military forces just killed Hitler who had been living in a mansion on the outskirts of Berlin, would that be cause for celebration. Most of this country is incredibly out of touch and this whole reaction to bin Laden's death is just the most recent example of the detachment and stupidity.

Thats what happens when the media makes out Bin Laden as some sort of demi-god terrorist. Many of these people think that HE was terrorism and thus we have defeated terrorism as a whole.

 

[Matt Collins]

WWII occurred because the British and French wanted to punish the Germans despite U.S. objections

WWI was a stalemate when the US entered. The US had zero legitimate reason to enter the conflict except that the Brits cajoled our government into it. I'm sure there were some banking interests involved as well as mystery surrounding the Lusitania.

If the US government had minded it's own business and stayed out of the conflict then who knows, WWI may have fizzled out. If that had happened then Germany wouldnt've have had the screws put to it by France thus giving rise to Hitler.

It's all about unintended consequences.

 

[Matt Collins]

Well, it was blow back from the oil embargo but, I agree it was an act of war.

Exactly. The oil embargo was an act of war. The US government had ZERO business being in that part of the world. The Japs were threatened by us so the tried to take out our government's fleet.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

WWI was a stalemate when the US entered. The US had zero legitimate reason to enter the conflict except that the Brits cajoled our government into it. I'm sure there were some banking interests involved as well as mystery surrounding the Lusitania.

If the US government had minded it's own business and stayed out of the conflict then who knows, WWI may have fizzled out. If that had happened then Germany wouldnt've have had the screws put to it by France thus giving rise to Hitler.

It's all about unintended consequences.

Yep, more than likely, IMO. Germany had a rather sizable empire back then, and was in the process of collapsing. One of the reasons Hitler came to power was because the Germans wanted their sense of national pride back, which had been taken from them by the Brits and Yanks.

 

[cindy25]

Were the celebrations on VE DAY patriotism or nationalism?

VE Day was different; it signaled an official end to the war (in Europe) . I have never read about celebrations when Hitler, Mussolini or Tojo died.

 

[Brooklyn Red Leg]

It is indeed nauseating. Just as people screeched at the "Death to America" protests where they burned US flags, so too are people doing in another part of the world as they watch our fellow countrymen act in the most sickeningly jingoistic fashion.

 

[Vessol]

WWI was a stalemate when the US entered. The US had zero legitimate reason to enter the conflict except that the Brits cajoled our government into it. I'm sure there were some banking interests involved as well as mystery surrounding the Lusitania.

If the US government had minded it's own business and stayed out of the conflict then who knows, WWI may have fizzled out. If that had happened then Germany wouldnt've have had the screws put to it by France thus giving rise to Hitler.

It's all about unintended consequences.

In 1915, peace treaties were already being drawn up. French soldiers were mutinying enmasse and the British were not in that good of a state. It would've been a stalemate if the U.S never entered.

The U.S however had lended tons of money to both France and the UK. And there was no way they would get paid that money if those countries could not loot Germany dry.