SCUD1974 wrote:
imdead wrote:
I think it was because of the movie everyone watched.. "Team America"
Just kidding. Because we are supposedly the big boss or the superpower if you will. WE are the bully of all nations. Think about it -- who's comes to the rescue if another nation is in turmoil, who comes to the rescue when a natural disaster happened. But yet who comes to our rescue when Katrina hit? People want our loyalty but they don't want to give it back. Basically someone from Vietnam War told me "The reason everyone hates us is because of the freedom our people have" -- in another sentence he said "we have the freedom of religion and many countries despise that" Hmm. Makes me wonder and think to myself that I am proud to be an American.
When Katrina hit many countries donated what they could to assist. My country was as generous as possible and my workplace alone managed to raise and donate over $250,000 Australian dollars.
During WW! and WW2 Australian troops fought, suffered and died on soil far from their homes and loved ones for reasons and causes they did not know or understand.
My family lost loved ones in both conflicts as well as having my father serve in Vietnam. I myself served in the peacekeeping mission in East Timor and numerous relief efforts after natural disasters.
I have worked many times alongside US troops and whilst we good naturedly "bash" each other I believe we have a great deal of mutual respect and admiration.
In saying that please be careful when you say that the US are always the ones to assist with no return, no loyalty shown toward them, spend some time understanding your allies and understanding what they have been through by themselves and with the US. You do have friends, you do have allies and you do have loyalty.
Whilst the Australian military is small I'm sure if you research the topic you will find our troops and our training is second to none in the world and we take our alliance and world responsibilities very seriously.
After all...I'm proud to be Australian
Scud...I think Ausies are the exception to the rule in this case, and so are the Brits for that matter. The US and Australia have a lot in common and have always had good relationships. I have always admired the Aussies and their grit and determination. I have always been impressed with their efforts to effect change in tandem with the superpowers of the world throughout history.
I think the meat of the matter is that the US is big and rich and powerful and consumes/produces more than any other nation on the planet. That generates a lot of fear and jealousy because it's difficult to understand or comprehend something you've never seen, felt, or experienced. What many fail to see is that we give a lot of that away to countries and peoples in need. It always amazes me at the negativism that suddenly falls away when a country is in crisis and then again how quickly it is picked up because America can't solve everyone's problem at the same time or to everyone's liking.
America is not perfect. America is not always right. But its intentions have always been good and it has always extended that good will to others regardless of their opinion of America. Freedom is every man's and woman's God given right and America(ns) have a problem when petty men and women infringe on that right.
To all of you who have a negative opinion of America - Excuse the hell out of us for trying to make this world a better place. We're sorry you can't see past your own fear of the unknown to liberate yourselves or others because of the dire consequences that may ensue. Our forefathers dared to believe and acted on those beliefs and even though we have lost much of what made those men great, their legacy lives on in those of us who take on that belief and lay our lives down for those who don't understand freedom.
What the world really needs is for the US to become isolationist like the Chinese and to impose trade restrictions equal to those imposed on us. The world needs to see what would happen if we quit the UN and pulled all our troops and resources out and brought them home. The world needs to see a decade without US disaster aid, without a big brother to quell the warlords, without a big hammer to oust a tortuous dictator.
This is what the world needs, but it won't happen because we won't do it. We can't bear to see a world in need and not do something to meet the need. Like it or not that's what we are about. Hate us or love us, we won't go away. Democracy is far from perfect, someone once said, but it's closer than any other system on the planet. And to that I say Amen.
BTW Scud +1 for you!!!