My Idea = Add 'banishment' to prison sentences.

[Aliantha]

I meant for your own citizens rkz.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by bluesdave

I apologised earlier, so I am not going to repeat myself (and give LJ another chance to be sarcastic ).

yeah,....cuz i'm always soooOOOOoooo sarcastic.

[tw]

Originally Posted by rkzenrage

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

Which has always been the myth that so many Americans believe. Top five nations that accounted for most all of US aid - Israel, Egypt, Phillippines, Turkey, and Greece. Most of that aid is in or attached to military aid. Americans now where near the top of generous aid providers per GNP.

[Undertoad]

Americans now where near the top of generous aid providers per GNP

...when measuring only official government assistance through government budgets, not including private giving such as the Gates Foundation.

Private donations in the United States, for example, are estimated to be at least $34 billion dollars a year

which is almost twice what the government officially gives.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

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.

I disagree with much of US foreign policy, also. The majority leave that to the government. I heard something recently about a pole saying something like 60 % don't think we should be in Iraq. I'm fuzzy on the numbers but remember it was a clear majority. But we are there.
Changing foreign policy by the power of the people takes decades. You don't change the course of the ship of state quickly. When there isn't a war on, probably most people's concerns would lean toward issues that affect them personally, when choosing who to vote for. The president is the only candidate for office that touches on foreign policy during the campaign, with any regularity. Congressmen usually defer to the executive branch, and move on to making false promises about issues the voters are most concerned with. We vote and hope for the best.

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.

No you are not. But you're the one that got pissy at my retort that you were taught wrong and showed you why. I've gone at disputes with several foreigners without them taking it as a personal affront. I assure you, it's not about you. Remarks like, "you're going to go on believing in this magical noble begining you've been taught. is asking for a comeback to your sarcasm, so don't be surprised when it comes. And the statement, "Why is it that some members of this forum are admired for stating the facts as they see them (calling a spade a spade I think is the phrase of choice) while others are condemned for it?", is simply, "poor me", bullshit to elicit sympathy. Always expect a comeback to that false reasoning. If you're surprised by magnitude or ferocity, hey, it's the American way.

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.

Duh. If that's what the Aussie schools are teaching, it's what the response from Aussies would be, wouldn't it?

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?

Yes it's interesting although not terribly important in the grand scheme of things.
My position is that convict does not necessarily mean criminal. At that time very few were. And there were no penal colonies here. I gave you the definition of penal colony in case you were speaking of something else.
My failure to agree with your statements spawned all kinds of tangential complaints about US/AU relations that are not my fault or even necessarily my views. I may be rude and crude, but honest and cute....did I mention cute.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

Americans now where near the top of generous aid providers per GNP.

Why does "per GNP" enter into it? If everyone else gives you a nickel, and I give you $10, I'm a dick because I earn more than they do?
Well then just give it back, you ungrateful bastard. :p

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Americans now where near the top of generous aid providers per GNP

...when measuring only official government assistance through government budgets, not including private giving such as the Gates Foundation.

Private donations in the United States, for example, are estimated to be at least $34 billion dollars a year

which is almost twice what the government officially gives.

It is a funny idea of generosity that relies on government (mis)appropriation.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

No you are not. But you're the one that got pissy at my retort that you were taught wrong and showed you why. I've gone at disputes with several foreigners without them taking it as a personal affront. I assure you, it's not about you. Remarks like, "you're going to go on believing in this magical noble begining you've been taught. is asking for a comeback to your sarcasm, so don't be surprised when it comes.

Whatever you say Bruce. Believe whatever you like.

And the statement, "Why is it that some members of this forum are admired for stating the facts as they see them (calling a spade a spade I think is the phrase of choice) while others are condemned for it?", is simply, "poor me", bullshit to elicit sympathy.

Nope, it was a serious question which I've asked before as have others with no reasonable response other than insult.

Duh. If that's what the Aussie schools are teaching, it's what the response from Aussies would be, wouldn't it? Yes it's interesting although not terribly important in the grand scheme of things.

So why do you think totally different historical facts are taught in Australia and the US? If you don't think it's important that's your choice, but I certainly do.

My position is that convict does not necessarily mean criminal. At that time very few were. And there were no penal colonies here. I gave you the definition of penal colony in case you were speaking of something else.
My failure to agree with your statements spawned all kinds of tangential complaints about US/AU relations that are not my fault or even necessarily my views. I may be rude and crude, but honest and cute....did I mention cute.

Bruce, if you interpret my responses in ways other than which they were intended, whose fault is that? Yes I do believe in the things I've posted, and I don't retract any of them because this is the way it is from the outside. People not from the outside do get the impression that American citizens do believe in a magical noble begining. So what? Be proud of your heritage. I am, and according to most, mine is not noble or magical, but to me it is.

Often people on this forum and others have asked why the rest of the world hates the US or similar types of questions. My answer to that is maybe they don't, but they're just fed up with alternate views of facts which when questioned are shouted down.

[tw]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

If everyone else gives you a nickel, and I give you $10, I'm a dick because I earn more than they do?
Well then just give it back, you ungrateful bastard.

Well at least I can melt that nickel down and get 6 cents for it.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The only countries with a, "magical noble beginning", are in children's books and fairy tales. Making that statement you are accusing me of telling fairy tales. There is no other explanation. You can't understand why I should take offense at that?

When have you been condemned for calling a spade a spade? How were you condemned, somebody didn't agree with you? Somebody told you were wrong? Why are you so sure that spade wasn't a rake?

History is taught from books. Book are written by people. People have prejudices, perspectives and have to be aware of political agendas if they want to sell books to schools.
Why don't your books jib with the history textbooks in Japan, Germany, or the old Soviet Union? If your not sure, no they don't.
That's why I ignored what the textbooks said and looked at facts. Show me where there was a penal colony in what is now the US. I have never heard of one and don't think there was one. Prove me wrong.
Don't tell me I won't accept facts when you don't present any.

Heritage is what it is. There is no reason to be proud or embarrassed by some thing I had no control over and no hand in. Slavery was a bad thing in my opinion, but I'm not embarrassed that it existed. I had nothing to do with it. It's just history to me. I am however, embarrassed by some recent happenings, because it's history I'm a part of. That doesn't mean I'm not proud to be an American or disapprove of everything the country does.

You feel disagreeing with you, questioning your accusations and your interpretation of what are facts, is shouting you down? Do you expect us to just accept statements we feel are wrong? Looking back through the thread, I'll bet money your posts are still there, so they couldn't have been shouted down very far.

The truth is, Americans are smarter than everyone else....heres proof; :p
http://www.lookatentertainment.com/v...tm?size=MEDIUM

[Aliantha]

I humbly apologise. I bow to your superior knowledge of the facts as they stand.

Enjoy your day.

out.

[Aliantha]

Actually, to be honest, that's a lie. I just can't be bothered arguing with you anymore. It's obviously pointless.

I am sorry you got into such a flutter over it though. I hate to think what it's doing to your health.

[xoxoxoBruce]

No penal colonies to show me?
As you could see from the link, we are clearly superior.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Show me where there was a penal colony in what is now the US. I have never heard of one and don't think there was one. Prove me wrong.

I was taught in junior high school that Georgia was founded as a penal colony. Wikipedia says so too.

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Most notably, the Province of Georgia was originally designed as a penal colony. Convicts would be transported by private sector merchants and auctioned off to plantation owners upon arrival in the colonies. It is estimated that some 60,000 British convicts were banished to colonial America, representing perhaps one-quarter of all British emigrants during the eighteenth century.

Is your disagreement based on the definition of "Penal Colony?" According to this site, the convicts settling Georgia were all debtors.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yes, the definitions in post 44.
We had none here than I know of.