# America for Americans! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 12, 2003, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174 "2003-04-12T02:19:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/21 "2003-04-12T17:13:21Z")
Yes, it is satire and an intelligence test. (Just kidding!) Thanks for your comments – and for taking the time to read. The OP was a little long. To me, the heart of American patriotism should be embracing our diversity of thought. Eva Luna, there was no particular post that prompted the OP, although many could have. I see this conflicting attitude almost everywhere. Just yesterday, I was driving through a state with its own call in radio show. I heard a lot of words about pride in being an American and appreciating the freedoms that we have. I also heard suggestions that those who oppose war should “shut up” or be “slapped around.” And these opposing ideas were from the same people! I respect their right to say these things, but I personally don’t think they reflect a lot of depth. I am baffled by the irony. I’m glad that not all people who support the war are like this. Space Vampire, I originally posted it in Mundane Stuff – or whatever it is called. And I was a little surprised to see it moved to the Pit. (I really don’t hate all of those that I mentioned. The list includes me!) Peace and liberty to all… ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/22 "2003-04-12T19:06:28Z")
**Zoe** , reading that made me giddy. You really nailed it. 😉 [hijack]When seeing the thread title, I couldn’t help but think of _“Le Québec aux québécois”_ (Quebec for Quebecers), which is an oft-used chant of Quebec separatists.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/23 "2003-04-12T19:30:44Z")
**Delayed Humor Awareness kicks in** BWAHAHAHA!!! ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/24 "2003-04-12T19:39:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Audrey Levins \* > \*\*_applause_ > > Zoe is making a very tongue-in-cheek and clever commentary on the state of modern America and the “conditions” we place on who we think belongs here, if I’m not mistaken…and anyone who’s taken her “rant” at face value isn’t picking up what she’s laying down. > > Bravo, Zoe, on making everyone who’s paying attention feel a little, or a lot, more guilty than they felt before they read it. \*\* So she is satirizing what a few idiots think? If that is the case, good job. But I hope everyone realizes that America is not the garden of eden before the apple incident. It seems to me that blacks , homosexuals, women, and anyone else who has been discriminated against in the past, has it better than ever in America at this time. Not perfect, but better. Believe it or not, MOST people are tolerant of others as long as those people don’t REALLY bother them in some way. We all shoot off our mouths out of frustration, but when it comes down to it, most Americans are fair. What IS disgraceful in this country (bordering on evil) is how we parole convicted child molesters and rapists from prisons every day somewhere in the country. And that the most dangerous drug is both legal and its use promoted everywhere in America. Oh , and astroturf is still used in some ballparks. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/25 "2003-04-12T19:56:45Z")
> [@](#): > > And that the most dangerous drug is both legal and its use promoted everywhere in America. Girl Scout cookies? ---
**Author:** ![NaSultainne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NaSultainne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NaSultainne)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/26 "2003-04-12T20:18:09Z")
We had “ethnic cleansing” in the Balkans. At this moment we have a new worry about Iraq descending into religious rivalries between the Shi’aa and Sunni Muslims, and, oh yeah, don’t forget the Kurds up north. We have hotspots all over Africa with ethnic cleansing, racial hatreds, _and_ religious rivalries. Yet somehow, someway, it’s always the U.S. that is painted as having some humongous, horrific, insane, unique and one-of-a-kind\* gosh-darned problem of “us v. them”. Pardon me if I think this is another in a over-long list of near-sightedness in the ranks. ☹ \*Yes, I know _unique_ means _one-of-a-kind_. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/27 "2003-04-12T20:50:39Z")
I agree with every word in the OP. It’s time to take America back for the _real_ Americans. Which, according to my list, is pretty much just me. So all you oppressive godless homo commie fundie bourgeouis fascist minorities can just get the fuck outta my country! ---
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/28 "2003-04-12T20:59:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*I agree with every word in the OP. It’s time to take America back for the _real_ Americans. Which, according to my list, is pretty much just me. > > So all you oppressive godless homo commie fundie bourgeouis fascist minorities can just get the fuck outta my country! \*\* Will I need a passport? ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/29 "2003-04-12T23:52:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > \*\* > Space Vampire, I originally posted it in Mundane Stuff – or whatever it is called. \*\* ?? I must be going stupid… I almost never read MPSIMS. Despite the lack of profanity I think it’s basically a Pit thread, it’s pretty biting. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/30 "2003-04-13T00:40:08Z")
NaSultainne said: > [@](#): > > Yet somehow, someway, it’s always the U.S. that is painted as having some humongous, horrific, insane, unique and one-of-a-kind\* gosh-darned problem of “us v. them”. I don’t believe that the problems of “us v. them” thinking are at all unique to the U.S. Sorry if I gave you that impression. I disagree with you that it is _always_ the United States that is painted that way. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/31 "2003-04-13T00:46:16Z")
Space Vampire said: > [@](#): > > ?? I must be going stupid… I almost never read MPSIMS. Despite the lack of profanity I think it’s basically a Pit thread, it’s pretty biting. Maybe I should have linked to Rhino’sHoney’s thread “Do you like biting?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elza\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Elza\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elza_B)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/32 "2003-04-13T00:52:01Z")
Oh, this was fun. Thanks for the laugh, **Zoe**. Ava ---
**Author:** ![NaSultainne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NaSultainne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NaSultainne)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/33 "2003-04-13T00:57:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zoe \* > I don’t believe that the problems of “us v. them” thinking are at all unique to the U.S. Sorry if I gave you that impression. I disagree with you that it is _always_ the United States that is painted that way. Sure it is. The very next thread in the Pit as I’m typing this is titled “Is America ready for democracy?” Tell me this is a bit of a stretch, not entirely in keeping with the “down with America” voices we’re constantly hearing. In Sudan, Christians are dying in the thousands due to religious hatred. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe is expropriating land from white farmers and giving to blacks. Cuba conducted trials, appeals and executions in one week for crimes outrageously defined as “terrorism”. China maintains a “one-child” policy which results in forced abortions and sterilizations. The list goes on and on. Do we spend endless hours bemoaning the state of affairs for far too many people around the world? No, we bang the drum over the U.S. Are we perfect? Nope. Do we have problems? Yup. But, in the scheme of things, our problems are sporadic, not endemic. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/34 "2003-04-13T01:09:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NaSultainne \* > \*\*Sure it is. The very next thread in the Pit as I’m typing this is titled “Is America ready for democracy?” Tell me this is a bit of a stretch, not entirely in keeping with the “down with America” voices we’re constantly hearing. > > In Sudan, Christians are dying in the thousands due to religious hatred. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe is expropriating land from white farmers and giving to blacks. Cuba conducted trials, appeals and executions in one week for crimes outrageously defined as “terrorism”. China maintains a “one-child” policy which results in forced abortions and sterilizations. The list goes on and on. > > Do we spend endless hours bemoaning the state of affairs for far too many people around the world? No, we bang the drum over the U.S. > > Are we perfect? Nope. Do we have problems? Yup. But, in the scheme of things, our problems are sporadic, not endemic. \*\* this is the truth ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/35 "2003-04-13T01:29:06Z")
**Zoey** , your post so makes me think of a woman who belongs to a newsgroup I subscribe to. Only thing is, she’s serious. Just today she’s been lamenting how the Vietnamese are “taking over” her little town. Of course, she swears she’s one of the most open minded people that ever existed. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/36 "2003-04-13T16:25:42Z")
NaSultainne said: > [@](#): > > Do we spend endless hours bemoaning the state of affairs for far too many people around the world? No, we bang the drum over the U.S. Every example you gave of the horrendous conditions in other nations is chilling and painful. When we address a problem that _some_ of us have in America, that doesn’t mean that we ignore problems elsewhere. And it doesn’t mean that we are _always_ critical of what goes on within US borders. Pax ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174/37 "2003-04-13T21:43:53Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by NaSultainne_ > In Sudan, Christians are dying in the thousands due to religious hatred. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe is expropriating land from white farmers and giving to blacks. Cuba conducted trials, appeals and executions in one week for crimes outrageously defined as “terrorism”. China maintains a “one-child” policy which results in forced abortions and sterilizations. The list goes on and on. The difference is, none of those countries are democracies. The Chinese government doesn’t give a shit if people in England are protesting their forced family planning. The don’t give a shit if people in _China_ are complaining; that’s what all those tanks are for. Protesting about these countries various inhumane policies is a waste of time. But in the US, we’ve got a government that answers to the people. We’ve got mechanisms in place to address and correct injustice. People complain about the US because they know that there’s at least a chance we’ll listen and change. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-for-americans/168174.md?page=1)