StreetScooby 5 #1 June 23, 2008 Thoughts, comments?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 June 23, 2008 It means you were born in either northern, central or south america. Duh.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #3 June 23, 2008 So, you know the gist of the question. How would you phrase it differently, then? BTW - My understanding is the others prefer to be referred to as Canadians, Mexicans, Latinos, etc.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #4 June 23, 2008 Well, I think it's kind of an ambiguous question at best. Do you really mean a citizen of the US? Ya know, that might not account for a fairly large number of people that live in the US. So, is that what you mean; people that live in the US? What are you really getting at, that we should some how have some nationalistic pride simply because we were born here? I certainly didn't choose to be born here; I simply was. Am I happy I was born here than some POS 3rd world country? Yeah, I am. Would I be "happier" someplace else? Hard to know. My guess is most US citizens have never lived further than a few hundred miles away from where they were born. Most probably don't have passports and never have seen another country. It will be interesting to see what kind of responses this thread gets, but ultimately I think that if you polled the entire country you'd could get 300 million different answers; all valid yet at the same time, all meaningless.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #5 June 23, 2008 Quote So, is that what you mean... I have always, and will always consider myself American. A proud patriot. When you go overseas, and say you're American, they know where you are from. They don't think you're from Canada or Mexico. I would die for my country, defending what I consider to be my culture. If my kids choose to enter the military, they will know that is one of the noblest ventures you can choose, in my culture. This is where I'm going with this. So, what does it mean to you to be American?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 June 23, 2008 QuoteI would die for my country, defending what I consider to be my culture. Would you die for -our- country to defend -my- culture? How about the culture of the folks in California that just got the right to marry? Or the folks in Texas that want religious freedom? Would you be willing to die so a guy and his family from a 3rd world shit hole might have a better life here? If you are willing to die for that, then does it really matter how he gets here?quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Botellines 0 #7 June 24, 2008 QuoteThoughts, comments? It means that you parents decided to have a good time 9 months before being on the U.S. Nothing to be proud of, and nothing to be ashamed of. Do you think that you are better than me because you are from the U.S and i am from Spain? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #8 June 24, 2008 QuoteDo you think that you are better than me because you are from the U.S and i am from Spain? This thread is stillborn, but I have to say- one can be proud of their nationality without having to feel superior to your's. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #9 June 24, 2008 Quote Would you die for -our- country to defend -my- culture? How about the culture of the folks in California that just got the right to marry? Or the folks in Texas that want religious freedom? Would you be willing to die so a guy and his family from a 3rd world shit hole might have a better life here? If you are willing to die for that, then does it really matter how he gets here? If they're citizens, striving to keep our country great, you bet.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #10 June 24, 2008 Quote Do you think that you are better than me because you are from the U.S and i am from Spain? No.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #11 June 24, 2008 Quote This thread is stillborn,... You may be right, but I personally think this question is very relevant today.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #12 June 24, 2008 QuoteQuote This thread is stillborn,... You may be right, but I personally think this question is very relevant today. Why? Why does it matter where one is born? (serious question)Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #13 June 24, 2008 Quote Why? Why does it matter where one is born? (serious question) Here you have the right to pursue a better life, mostly based upon your personal abilities. Where you are born, and who your father is does not matter.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rynodigsmusic 0 #14 June 24, 2008 freedom and opportunity?"We didn't start the fire" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #15 June 24, 2008 Quote freedom and opportunity? Definitely part of it. Here's my simple answer: 1) Work hard, and take part in the risk/rewards. 2) Take care of my kids, my wife, my family. 3) Be a good person. I expect everyone around me to do the same.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #16 June 24, 2008 QuoteQuote Why? Why does it matter where one is born? (serious question) Here you have the right to pursue a better life, mostly based upon your personal abilities. Where you are born, and who your father is does not matter. Economic mobility with respect to the economic status people are born into is actually very low in the US. Nearly every western European country except Britain has greater economic mobility than the US. Britain's is similar.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #17 June 24, 2008 Quote Economic mobility with respect to the economic status people are born into is actually very low in the US. Nearly every western European country except Britain has greater economic mobility than the US. Britain's is similar. Where are you getting this from?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #18 June 24, 2008 QuoteQuote Economic mobility with respect to the economic status people are born into is actually very low in the US. Nearly every western European country except Britain has greater economic mobility than the US. Britain's is similar. Where are you getting this from? I posted about it in greater detail here. (Link to source) Edit: Apologies, I said Britain when I should have said UK.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #19 June 24, 2008 Quote You may be right, but I personally think this question is very relevant today.Not to meYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #20 June 24, 2008 Be sure and give a shout when you're in New York. Let's go drink some beer We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #21 June 24, 2008 Interesting links. I'll read through them. Thanks for posting them.We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #22 June 24, 2008 Quote Be sure and give a shout when you're in New York. Let's go drink some beer Ummm … you haven't been following all the threads in SC today, have you? Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcd11235 0 #23 June 24, 2008 QuoteInteresting links. I'll read through them. Thanks for posting them. No problem. I found it pretty interesting when I read it.Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #24 June 24, 2008 QuoteQuote Would you die for -our- country to defend -my- culture? How about the culture of the folks in California that just got the right to marry? Or the folks in Texas that want religious freedom? Would you be willing to die so a guy and his family from a 3rd world shit hole might have a better life here? If you are willing to die for that, then does it really matter how he gets here? If they're citizens, striving to keep our country great, you bet. Oh? Why do they have to be citizens? You are aware that most of the people born in the US are descended from people that weren't citizens for at least several years, yes? I'm guessing most of them weren't citizens for at least 10. Some of those people even fought in the US military. There are non-citizens currently serving in the military in Iraq. I find that a pretty large commitment for a non-citizen and I think that's great.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #25 June 24, 2008 My thoughts are that if you had posted the same thread before Iraq this thread would have had wings. It seems to me that Americans are subdued about being Americans these days.When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
