# America : Shut yer hole about being the "Land of the Free". **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 29, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436 "2004-07-29T14:12:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/261 "2004-08-02T12:10:06Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > Do I surmise correctly then, that at least one of those mentioned has a womb? If not there’s a hell of a surprise come the wedding night. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/262 "2004-08-02T17:31:58Z")
> [@Achilles](#): > > [In Ireland] … Jonnies and Lube coming out the wazoo. I’m in Washington and my wazoo greatly appreciates the freedom from “Jonnies and Lube.” ---
**Author:** ![jsleek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8dc957/32.png) [@jsleek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsleek)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/263 "2004-08-02T18:16:35Z")
I visited Ireland a few years ago. Very pleasent place. I wish I had taken a picture of the Guiness tanker trucks. Looked like 5K gallons of ale, maybe more. There was a national police strike when I was visiting. I saw a police supervisor trying to find a B&B for a tourist who had car trouble. Otherwise there was no police force and it didn’t seem to matter. I don’t see how a person living in Ireland can be so grumpy. I’m looking forward to staying longer, next time. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/264 "2004-08-02T19:17:27Z")
For future reference, remember to spell Guinness correctly. And remember that it is a stout, not an ale. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/265 "2004-08-03T12:28:27Z")
> [@booka](#): > > HAHAHA! > > “Ireland was neutral.”. …although Ireland DID lean towards the Allies. I see. > > Hilarious! I can just see it now. Ireland stands back and seriously considers its position at the start of WWII, and in spite of the clear ability to remain stong and neutral and handle whatever outcome occurs, they grudgingly side with the Allies. You do realize that WWII wasn’t a open and shut case back in the late thirties. Ireland had just come out of our War of Independence with the UK and had a nice and ugly Civil War after that ([Anglo-Irish War](http://www.fact-index.com/a/an/anglo_irish_war.html)) Politically it would have been almost impossible for the leaders to side with Britain in this war. Hell we were getting guns from Germany not too long before to fight the British with. During the war we traded with the UK but not Germany. German soldiers/spies caught on Irish soil were locked up, British ones were not treated the same and there is anecdotal evidence of some being dropped off on the other side of the NI border by Irish police. Ireland rightly or wrongly made the decision it felt like it needed to at the time. Maybe if you guys had of joined earlier we would have too as it would have been a easier sell to the public with the US involved. > [@](#): > > And after Germany conquered England, they of course would have allowed Ireland to remain neutral, and afforded them all the freedoms that were previously held. > > Uh-huh. Pull your head out of your ass. Ireland is free because it was afforded to you by others, NOT because of something you did or do everyday. Actually Ireland is free because of generations of Irishmen and women fighting and dying for self determination. The men that finally achieved it used it and decided in the interests of their newly formed country to stay out of the war but as I said a lot of Irish fought nonetheless. One of them being my grandfather who fought in Burma. ---
**Author:** ![Achilles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dc4da7/32.png) [@Achilles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achilles)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436/266 "2004-08-03T13:08:45Z")
Well, after taking a 4 day break from the thread, I see that there are a lot of opinions - almost exclusively on the _other_ side of the OP. Various interesting points from various people are very well taken. The less illuminating comments shall have to be endured. That notwithstanding, I have learnt a lot about what Americans and Europeans think their freedoms depend upon, and represent. I obviously disagree with some of these comments, and agree with others, but by-and-large it was a useful semi-rant. Thanks guys. It just goes to show “There’s nothing like a prejudiced rant to get the defensive juices flowing.” Peace to all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/america-shut-yer-hole-about-being-the-land-of-the-free/257436.md?page=13)