My Idea = Add 'banishment' to prison sentences.

[xoxoxoBruce]

OK, I'm not going back and count them, even the ones I vividly remember. I'll just point them out in the future. You might not realize how much you do it. But you're all aflutter when it comes back at you.

I'm not talking about expressing an opinion in a discussion. I'm talking about snarky remarks for their own sake. I'm not the only one that's seen it.

Then again, you've made a couple nasty asides about Strines too, like I'd expect from someone that sees them self as better than the proletariat.

[Aliantha]

Like I said earlier in this thread Bruce, whatever you say. Just remember, people in glass houses are better off not throwing stones, and if you find my comments in some way offensive, then you're no better than I am after some of the things you've said to me.

As to being all aflutter as you put it, if you need to put things that way then go for it, but as far as I can see, I've addressed the issue without resorting to personal attacks, which is more than I can say for some people on this site.

[zippyt]

oh get over it Linta !!!
ifn' you are opinionated you WILL be called on it , FACT !!!!!
That is what makesthis place so much fun

[Aliantha]

I don't mind being called on it. Apparently intellectuals think that you grow through discussion and argument (I'm pretty sure they don't mean the name calling kind of argument). I just don't like being accused of USA bashing. FFS, there's plenty of people who're US citizens who do a shit load more of that than I ever have.

Yes it is an entertaining place to hang about.

Where'd you get Linta from? Most people just use the first few letters of my handle instead of a few from the end.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Like I said earlier in this thread Bruce, whatever you say. Just remember, people in glass houses are better off not throwing stones, and if you find my comments in some way offensive, then you're no better than I am after some of the things you've said to me.

As to being all aflutter as you put it, if you need to put things that way then go for it, but as far as I can see, I've addressed the issue without resorting to personal attacks, which is more than I can say for some people on this site.

No, it's people in glass houses should always wash their hands before leaving the bathroom.

I don't remember attacking you or Australia. Can't think of any reason to attack Australia...ever. If I attacked you, it was certainly without malice, possibly responding in kind. But that said......Don't take it personal, don't make it personal. I still believe that. If you or anyone for that matter, feels I'm violating that, call me on it. I may or may not agree, but if not, I'll explain why.

I didn't say you were making personal pokes at me, if you had, I'd have been all over your ass. I was referring to pokes at the USA or it's general population, over and above discussing the topic at hand. There are plenty of opportunities to justifiably criticize, without that. It gets tedious.
I wouldn't interfere with your right to say anything you want, just promising to respond in kind. I think that's fair.

Nobody asked, but let me make something clear. In my opinion, a moderator here removes spam and tries to keep the board reasonably straight, throws out the empty bottles, picks up the trash and gets to empty the litter pan. Not to censor posts. Anything I post is a personal position, not an official one. Nobody is going to be cast out for disagreeing with me. I feel I can hold my own without resorting to claiming diplomatic immunity. Clear? OK, bring it on. :p

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by bluesdave

Because they like to keep their heads in the sand. It makes the Yanks (and the Poms), feel good to continually say that we Aussies are all descended from convicts, in spite of the fact that this is not true - as you know, convict descendants are a minority of the Australian population. All of my ancestors were free settlers - not that this matters. I don't hold people accountable for what someone did 200 years ago, and many of the convicts were guilty of being poor. Not being guilty of committing a serious crime.

I can see where the same old point would get tedious. I don't think you are a bigot for saying so. But cut us a little slack, what else are we going to criticize about Australia? Oh, I know, you drive on the wrong side of the road. And you've got too many poisonous snakes. That's all I've got....pretty slim pickings, so you don't leave us much choice. If you don't like it, then go do something bad, will ya? Kick a puppy or something.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I feel I can hold my own without resorting to claiming diplomatic immunity. Clear? OK, bring it on.

Bruce ate all the popcorn.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Ate the popcorn? I gobbled it.

[cowhead]

and don't forget the toilets flush backwards!

[Aliantha]

'I was referring to pokes at the USA or it's general population, over and above discussing the topic at hand. There are plenty of opportunities to justifiably criticize, without that. It gets tedious.'

Bruce, I refute this. It is simply not true. Yes I disagree with US foreign policy and as a citizen of the world I think it's my right and possibly my obligation to voice that opinion to you or anyone else who lives in the US and has the power to change US foreign policy. Maybe not individually, but en mass. Again, I don't think I'm the only person who does this, and if you take it personally when it happens, then I apologise on behalf of myself. I simply feel that the world is in a precarious position because of decisions and actions put in place by the recent administration/s of the US.

As to historical facts. It's quite obvious that there is a discrepancy here although it's interesting that no one else has really voiced an opinion on it. To let you know, I have asked practically every person I've spoken to in the last few days what their thoughts are on this matter, and without fail, they've all given the same answer I have given here.

Maybe this sort of thing is something that needs to be addressed by both/all countries. My main question about this particular issue would be, why do Americans think one thing about their history when Australians (and possibly other nations) think another?

Don't you think that's interesting?

I agree, we should pull our troops and cash out of everywhere and let the rest of the world have at it, while we take care of our own.
See how long we are the "evil empire" after that happens.

[Aliantha]

lol...you'll still be evil in some peoples eyes. That's the problem with pretty much everything. No one will agree with everyone all the time and you can't ever possibly please everyone either. BTW, in case I need to clarify, I don't think the US is evil.

I think it'd be great though if your government spent more money on social services for example, to help those citizens who are at a disadvantage, and less money on war. You have so much potential as a nation, and it's a shame to see the values the average person holds to being thrown down the toilet by the current administration.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

You might think we come from less than favourable beginings, but I can assure you that most Australians are fed up to the eye teeth with the colonial views of our 'allies'.

Pardon us for saying so.

Does it matter where Aliantha is from when this was posted? Of course not. Also not forgotten is why the ultra secret Keyhole satellite program was exposed. The United States government tried to subvert Australian elections for self serving extremist American purposes. One should not forget that history either when throwing stones.

Aliantha's comments are justified. Opinion is based in facts. Whether anyone agrees with that history is no reason to discuss 'high horses' - especially from Americans who too often have a double standard.

When it comes to having an opinion on other people, Americans - who traditionally don't even know what is happening in Mexico and Canada but have opinions - are so quick to have those opinions. One need only see how many non-Americans saw "Mission Accomplished" as wrong when over 70% of Americans had a 'big dic' syndrome. Why is the world so right and Americans so extremist as it ignore reality and promote "Freedom Fries".

Much of what Aliantha posts is justified by history such as story called "Falcon & the Snowman". And yet so many Americans like to forget that history to feel superior to the French, Germans, Turks, S Koreans, Saudis, Chileans, etc.

[bluesdave]

Look, everyone is right (or wrong), depending on your perspective. I agree with Bruce, just let the previous comments (including mine), die a natural death, and everyone get along with one another and enjoy The Cellar. Tony puts a lot of money and time into providing this service for us, and I think one way of repaying his kindness is to be polite to one another. I apologised earlier, so I am not going to repeat myself (and give LJ another chance to be sarcastic ).

Originally Posted by Aliantha

lol...you'll still be evil in some peoples eyes. That's the problem with pretty much everything. No one will agree with everyone all the time and you can't ever possibly please everyone either. BTW, in case I need to clarify, I don't think the US is evil.

I think it'd be great though if your government spent more money on social services for example, to help those citizens who are at a disadvantage, and less money on war. You have so much potential as a nation, and it's a shame to see the values the average person holds to being thrown down the toilet by the current administration.

We spend more on helping other nations and the poor than any other nation. Far more.