Do we care what the Brits think?

[GibbsRules!]

Take a look...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1329858,00.html

[Axegrinder]

Some of those folks are described in the insane thread in the Apache' Forum.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

Some very harsh remarks...some of which are perfect examples
of why the "World" hates us.

[akhhorus]

One of them, the one who wrote in all caps, sounds like our old friend: I Love Bush!

[Spence]

There are so many people like that in America. So so many. All of 'em bone ignorant and proud of it.

[tommahawk]

The more Bush f's up the sicker his blind followers sound.

[GibbsRules!]

The more Bush f's up the sicker his blind followers sound.
You must mean the blind leading the blind?

[tommahawk]

You must mean the blind leading the blind?

It is obvious to me, the actions of the US has an effect on all the people of the world. When the people of the world, or anyone not following 'party' lines, express thier views we are met with the nasty attacks witnessed above. How can we remain the worlds only superpower if we shirk the responsibilities that come along with it.

[Axegrinder]

It is obvious to me, the actions of the US has an effect on all the people of the world. When the people of the world, or anyone not following 'party' lines, express thier views we are met with the nasty attacks witnessed above. How can we remain the worlds only superpower if we shirk the responsibilities that come along with it.
Well said!!!

[GibbsRules!]

It is obvious to me, the actions of the US has an effect on all the people of the world. When the people of the world, or anyone not following 'party' lines, express thier views we are met with the nasty attacks witnessed above. How can we remain the worlds only superpower if we shirk the responsibilities that come along with it.
Good point. While I agree with your statement, sometimes it seems those in the minority speak the loudest. In this case, I can't agree with a foreign nation influencing our election. They should concentrate on ousting Tony Blair!

[Booser]

There are so many people like that in America. So so many. All of 'em bone ignorant and proud of it.


:lol1: too true. a woman called in to Hannity's radio show the other day complaining about bush. when hannity asked her for specifics, she did not kno who the vice president of the united states was. partisan or not, hannity pointed out (correctly, i think) that if she was uninformed enough to have no clue who Cheney was, then she really wasn't entitled to call in with a political opinion. she was very upset and didnt seem to think the VP mattered very much.

[IndySkin]

Wow, how much more hick can we sound? Nice to know that the world probably views me as a redneck.

[flave1969]

This is the only newspaper I read back home, and even then I can't stomach it sometimes. They decided on sending an email/letter to people in the U.S telling them why they should not vote Bush. At first I thought it was a joke, but judging by the resulting tirade coming back it was not.

First things first. The upcoming election whilst having big implications for many countries, is absolutely nothing too do with us. The thought of trying to influence how a U.S voter may vote seems preposturous too me, it also smacks of arrogance.

I don't know if it because the U.S has such a huge influence on the world that some people feel they have the right to undertake such tasks, but certainly I know it would not be appreciated if we all received letters from the U.S telling us to vote Blair, because it suits you. I dislike Bush an awful lot, but not enough too do anything more than express my opinions too you guys. As you can see the letter had an adverse affect judging by the responses and simply confirms the stereotypes that middle Americans have of Europeans and vice-versa.

If we really wanted too do something about George Bush in this country, then we need to vote in a Government who will have nothing too do with him. Otherwise by all means voice your opinion, but do not go around telling people how they should vote. It seems too me that in this case the Guardian got exactly the kind of response it expected, but if they were really genuinely trying to stop people voting Bush, it probably backfired.

From a personal point of view, I hope you care about my opinions, I value all of yours. I certainly do not want to come across holier than thou on these pages. You can put all the disclaimers you like in, as the Guardian did, but at the end of the day there is a line and I think it was crossed.

[flave1969]

THE AMERICAN TAXPAYERS HAVE SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROTECTING THE PEOPLES OF THE EU, AND WHAT DO WE GET IN RETURN. BETRAYAL, BETRAYAL, BETRAYAL. I HAVE BEEN TO YOUR COUNTRY, THE COUNTRY OF MY ANCESTORS, AND I KNOW WHY THEY LEFT.

MAY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TOOTH CAPPED. I UNDERSTAND IT TAKES AT LEAST 18 MONTHS FOR YOUR GREAT MEDICAL SERVICES TO GET AROUND TO YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.




This is perhaps my favourite example of just how many misconceptions there are between the U.S and Europe.

I am not sure what the trillions are he was referring too. Perhaps he means the many military bases around Europe used to front up against Russia in the Cold War. There is no doubt that had the Soviets so desired they could have steam rollered Europe but for American strength. But what does this have too do with having our teeth capped?

For the record. if I want to have my tooth capped I can go two routes. Private for which I have to pay, or NHS which I also have to pay for but at a significantly cheaper rate. How long does it take to wait? No time. I make an appointment and get it done. He is mixing his facts. Perhaps he is talking about a major operation. Very few people wait 18 months these days, but guess what in the UK at least no one has too fork out for that operation, or medical insurance to cover it.

There is a really serious issue here. These misconceptions are very damaging and this whole Guardian campaign is a prime example of where we should be building bridges not burning them. Maybe many people in the U.S are ignorant of how things are in the EU, but you won't get them to understand by effectively telling them they were stupid for voting Bush, we think you should vote this way. Some may understand, but others will feel BETRAYED as this guy above did. This was a letter writing campaign based on the assumption that every UK citizen would write an articulate, factual, friendly letter to a US counterpart. Let me tell you your average UK citizen is little different from his/her US Brother or Sister. They will be just as blinded by their point of view and just because they read the Guardian does not make them bright.

I hope the people of Springfield can see past the BS and take this exercise in the spirit it was intended, but somehow I doubt it.

[flave1969]

Take a look...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1329858,00.html


Hey GibbsRules,

You wrote North Kakalaki as your place of residence. I have not heard anyone except my wife use that, she is from NC. I love that name. Do they call SC, South Kakalaki.

[akhhorus]

Hey GibbsRules,

You wrote North Kakalaki as your place of residence. I have not heard anyone except my wife use that, she is from NC. I love that name. Do they call SC, South Kakalaki.

Ive heard North Kakalaki, I've never heard South Kakalaki. We call it South By-God Carolina.

[MrWiggles]

:lol1: too true. a woman called in to Hannity's radio show the other day complaining about bush. when hannity asked her for specifics, she did not kno who the vice president of the united states was. partisan or not, hannity pointed out (correctly, i think) that if she was uninformed enough to have no clue who Cheney was, then she really wasn't entitled to call in with a political opinion. she was very upset and didnt seem to think the VP mattered very much.


Hannity is wrong (surprise, surprise). Everyone is entitled to an opinion regardless of how uniformed they are. In someone's famous words, opinions are like @ssholes, everbody has got one.

[GibbsRules!]

Hey GibbsRules,

You wrote North Kakalaki as your place of residence. I have not heard anyone except my wife use that, she is from NC. I love that name. Do they call SC, South Kakalaki.
I was stationed in Charleston, SC in the mid 80's and first heard that term there from some good friends of mine. They were native Kakalakis. I figured if they could use it, so could I. Now that I'm in NC, I realize it is just one big Kakalaki, so I apply it here too. I had a blast in Charleston, and other than that dreaded "Blue Law", I can't say anything bad about it. I like NC too, but Maryland is still my home away from home.
Later.

[GibbsRules!]

First things first. The upcoming election whilst having big implications for many countries, is absolutely nothing too do with us. The thought of trying to influence how a U.S voter may vote seems preposturous too me, it also smacks of arrogance.

I don't know if it because the U.S has such a huge influence on the world

Hey flave, one more thing. As much as I hate to admit it, your sentiments above are how I feel when I read about the Bush administration trying to influence the people of Venezuela to oust Chavez. But that is a whole different can of worms.
Take Care

[flave1969]

Hey flave, one more thing. As much as I hate to admit it, your sentiments above are how I feel when I read about the Bush administration trying to influence the people of Venezuela to oust Chavez. But that is a whole different can of worms.
Take Care


I totally agree, two wrongs do not make a right. It can be argued that the US has hand in many elections down the years, but it still does not make this a valuable process in my opinion.

[Booser]

Hannity is wrong (surprise, surprise). Everyone is entitled to an opinion regardless of how uniformed they are. In someone's famous words, opinions are like @ssholes, everbody has got one.


yes, but that is what is REALLY wrong with our country. Uninformed people that feel very strongly about their uninformed opinions. in the words of the great matt stone (southpark creator), "What was Janeane Garafolo doing on Crossfire? What does Janeane Garafolo know about the war in Iraq?"

[MrWiggles]

yes, but that is what is REALLY wrong with our country. Uninformed people that feel very strongly about their uninformed opinions. in the words of the great matt stone (southpark creator), "What was Janeane Garafolo doing on Crossfire? What does Janeane Garafolo know about the war in Iraq?"

I'm guessing that she was on because for the last six months (at least) she has been co-hosting a radio talk show about US politics and policy on Air America. I haven't heard it either.

I agree that their are a lot of uniformed people out there. I think that the majority of people have very little idea what they are talking about when talking about a candidates political views.

However, blaming the uninformed for feeling strongly about something is just silly. Do you think that the best informed voters in the world could really make a difference given all the money and corruption that exist in American politics? Furthermore, when both sides feel that the other is uninformed how do we decide who actually knows what they are talking about?

All citizens have a right to be heard, regardless of how stupid their message might be. Blaming them for the country's problems is over looking a very long list of much more likely culprits.

[Booser]

Furthermore, when both sides feel that the other is uninformed how do we decide who actually knows what they are talking about?



maybe i am overstepping my bounds, but when someone calls in to a political radio show without knowing who the VP is, then i feel confident calling them uninformed. i don't feel like that is a partisan statement.

[GeneralDisorder]

Good point. While I agree with your statement, sometimes it seems those in the minority speak the loudest. In this case, I can't agree with a foreign nation influencing our election. They should concentrate on ousting Tony Blair!

You guys have influenced our elections for as long as I've had a hole in my my arse. And then some...

If you guys can't even hold an election without it going to court, I'd suggest you might want clean up your own house, not to mention your foreign policy over the last 25 years, before having a pop at us Brits.

[GibbsRules!]

You guys have influenced our elections for as long as I've had a hole in my my arse. And then some...

If you guys can't even hold an election without it going to court, I'd suggest you might want clean up your own house, not to mention your foreign policy over the last 25 years, before having a pop at us Brits.
I feel you GD. Our government was doing it long before you and I were given an arse. Make no mistake, I understand! I don't advocate either side doing it!

[GeneralDisorder]

One more thing, since you're all up for telling us Brits where to go...

Any chance you can invade and bomb the feck out of Boston and elements of New York, being that they openly funded NORAID and terrorism on mainland UK during the troubles in Ireland...? Those same terrorist attacks the I, members of my family, and other innocent citizens have had to deal over the last 30 years.

No. I thought not...

War on Terrorism. You don't know the half of it...

[GibbsRules!]

One more thing, since you're all up for telling us Brits where to go...

Any chance you can invade and bomb the feck out of Boston and elements of New York, being that they openly funded NORAID and terrorism on mainland UK during the troubles in Ireland...? Those same terrorist attacks the I, members of my family, and other innocent citizens have had to deal over the last 30 years.

No. I thought not...

War on Terrorism. You don't know the half of it...

Hey GD, like I said, I understand! I won't go into it here but my father was born in England and raised in Cyprus. We all know what happened in Cyprus in 1974! And we know that Cyprus is illegally occupied to this day. My father lost friends and relatives and property. Hence, he taught us alot about foreign policy...

[Jimskin]

Yes, we care about what Brits think. We care about what the world thinks.

[PyroGenic]

gotta love all the tea and yellow teeth remarks.