SkyDekker

How about the immigrants who enter their own communities, work hard and never learn the language? How do they fit in? Life isn't black and white.... Public school or private school? If it is public school, sounds like your friends are either part of the problem...or profitting from the problem. Neither should be a good thing in your book.... Immigrants have nothing to do with that....though they are easy to blame, specially those who clearly stand out due to a different skin tone. If you are worried about becoming a 3rd world shithole, you should start with your own administration. They are squandering money all over the world killing people...sadly enough there is no money left to care for the people in your own country....that's how you become a shithole..... yes it is different....I am sorry that nuance is lost on you, but then it is evident from your other arguments in this thread. Bullshit...just go take a look at Switzerland, or Belgium.

And some people believe it's the other way around. Just turns into a chicken and egg argument.

What a joke.... For one thing, the definitions of pizza are many and varied. Putting stuff on flat bread as a meal certainly goes back as far as ancient Rome. The word "pizza" itself appears just before 1000 AD, in the area between Naples and Rome, meaning "pie."

I couldn't agree more. Further, is the subject art or is the medium art?

No But smoking should be banned from the work place.

Yes, the tourist who doesn't take his hat off when going into a church. Who assumes everybody just speaks english (most do, but effort is usually appreciated), wears running shoes to a high end restaurant. You are right, those are american mannerism. The part you aren't realizing is that some of those mannerisms are considered very obnoxious to the cultures being visited. In my 24 years living in europe, I have to say that american tourists weren't known for what they were wearing. (standard disclaimer since many of you are so touchy....yes I know not all americans and I know europeans can be obnoxious too. Yes I understand that at its core this is a perception issue and not necesarily an actual reality)

Funny, you counter your own argument multiple times in this one paragraph. So, then what is a new immigrant (and I am talking about legal immigration here) allowed to keep? What part of their culcture are they allowed to hang onto and who decides? I never hear much ranting and raving about Italians who never really learn to speak english...or Irish who don't lose their accents. Secondly, it is the combination of all those cultures that make current american or canadian culture. So why should that be stopped now? Thirdly, early immigrants (who technically would have been illegal immigrants) came in, took the land from the Indians (mainly cause they outnumbered them in the end) and started building their own culture. Turn around is a bitch isn't it....better start learning spanish or chinese. No, culture in its essence is something that continually changes, cause it is shaped by time. Look at the culture in the southern states as a prime example. Did it change or was it destroyed? Was it a good thing or a bad thing? I didn't say that America doesn't have a culture. Read it again. Who is doing the dividing and conquering? Who is the invading force?

I agree....but ask around in Europe why American tourists stand out.... There are also a lot of American toursist that don't stand out, I agree. but Trent was specifically talking about those that do. I have this feeling you are talking about illegal immigrants. There is also such a thing as legal migration.

fair statement, but are the numbers wrong?

destroy or change? Same thing experiences by different people. Some Iraqis think their country has been destroyed. Most Americans think it is just regime change. Writing, architecture, thinkers, inventors, art. In my very humble opinion America in it's current state isn't old enough to start talking about any culture of any significance. There was a much older culture in place, but our ancestors destroyed it...pretty interesting considering the rant of some on here. Why, your ancestors (and mine) didn't. What makes us so fucking special that we didn't have to, but those coming after us do. Because being obnoxious doesn't necessarily make a culture. No it doesn't bother me that it isn't PC. It bothers me cause it isn't honest nor accurate.

Right, cause I am sure that all mexicans in your town are illegal. I am not sure how I can take any of your other statements seriously when it is followed by "logic" like that.

And in the US the government watched as its soldiers slaughtered students who were protesting. And the rest of the country acted like nothing ever happened. Trent, In answer to your question, no I don't agree with the article. Actually I think it is a bit of a joke. What really would American culture be? A diet coke with your supersized cheeseburger? Rap music? Irish-Americans? Pizza? Personally I would hate to see China town disappear cause some short sighted dick doesn't feel comfortable with people who don't look like him. The article provides a nice rallying cry for those who want to scream...yeah fuck them pakis and give me back my country....

Not the same. As a skydiving instructor you are willingly partaking in the dangerous behaviour. Not identical to inhaling second-hand smoke. A bouncer in a night club has associated risks, though still has the right to work in a safe environment. i.e. one he does not have to inhale second hand smoke in.

I wonder how Switzerland or Belgium have been doing this.

That would be entirely incorrect

but I read in the book...the Da Vinci Code that they are really evil....

I am not sure that holds true. If it was a national protest against street racing...would he have the same feelings towards this?

That really should read: can protest something the employer doesn't agree with.

Bull shit. If some one gives you $10,000,000 would you ask him who else he is giving money too before accepting....I didn't think so.

Another waste of money. I can already tell you what the end result (if ever even published) will be of the probe.

You really think people only disapprove because of the high price of gas? You really don't think people might be slightly upset about some of the other things?

So Bush's approval ratings are at an almost historic low because the average American is stupid? That article is some fair and balanced reporting....it read like a Jerry Springer transcript.

and therefor you believe it holds true that if currently severely restricted or banned substances are governed like beer, this would be identical. I would have figured both of you to be smarter than that. Even in Holland, where marijuana is condoned, the coffee shops are generally run by criminal organizations. But, it is a nice utopia based on feelings and assumptions. No wonder the party can't get any real support.

and you base this on what evidence?

yeah, but his name should be Master