posted January 02, 2007 12:28 PM            

In a world of protesters shouting and holding banners and signs screeching "Death to America", "America Go Home", "Yankee Imperialists Go Home" and other classy slogans, exactly what is it that America NEEDS from the rest of the world?

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to lay out reasons...from the "perspective" of Americans.....why America NEEDS the rest of the world. Notice, I specified NEEDS.

Why shouldn't America withdraw our troops from around the world, close all foreign military bases, sever all trade and diplomatic "treaties", remove the "welcome mat" and firmly close the door?

posted January 02, 2007 12:56 PM              

Jwhop

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted January 02, 2007 01:14 PM              

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted January 02, 2007 01:43 PM            

I think of America as the Peace Keepers of the world.
We stand beside the weak, feed the hungry, educate the poor and generally make sure that no other country rises to our level of power to ensure that no dicktator gets ahold of world domination.
We stand for the common man, for the people, by the people.
We conduct ourselves with integrity and humility.
We do not compromise our ethics or morals.

As for your question, why does America need the rest of the world?
Because that is what our lifeblood is all about, we are the big refugee camp of the world. This is the blueprint laid down by our forefathers.
Just because we are not real popular right now does not mean that we should relinquish all that we have worked hard for.

GWB's term is almost up and we will get another president. George has made this war look like a personal vendetta. We need to disassociate the personal part and rise above. We are not bullies and it bothers me that we look like that.
Hate to say it Jwhop but we need another person like Clinton with a more pleasing personality and the ability to make others feel like we are genuinely trying to uphold these standards.

posted January 02, 2007 01:54 PM              

quote:

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Can you imagine our culture without influence from the Beatles, Led Zepplin, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, or U2?

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no i couldn't imagine it, america relied on those artists influential in the 80's to fuel the pop culture of 90's and today. Oh, don't forget about BonJovi!

*Living On A Prayer*

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Virgo Rising 8'57, Sagittarius Sun/4thH 3'26, Pisces Moon/6thH 8'22

"Our passions are not too strong, they are too weak. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

posted January 02, 2007 01:54 PM            

quote:

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Hate to say it Jwhop but we need another person like Clinton with a more pleasing personality and the ability to make others feel like we are genuinely trying to uphold these standards.

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posted January 02, 2007 02:01 PM              

Hehe that means something bad here, like you are the lowest etc. I love the differences between the nations, it makes life so interesting doesnt it?

Do you guys in America revere sh*t.....I heard it you dream of it, it means money!!!!!

Anyway....

Why does American need the rest of the world?

posted January 02, 2007 02:28 PM            

We are a nation of 300 million people with a highly skilled workforce. We are more than capable of producing all the consumer and other goods we need.

Secondly, our "balance of trade" deficits are running about 3/4 of a TRILLION DOLLARS a year. Every dollar of that is a dollar flowing out of the United States, putting profits in foreign manufacturers pockets, propping up the economies of foreign nations...some of them enemies or potential enemies and putting their citizens to work at the expense of our own.

Perhaps some of our corporations NEED trade to enhance their own profits by setting up manufacturing plants in foreign nations with lower pay scales and export those goods to America where they're more expensive to produce. However what corporations NEED and what America NEEDS are two different issues.

posted January 02, 2007 02:53 PM            

I'm not going to blast you

The very things you mention are the things citizens of other nations resent most. The idea of America as the policeman of the world.

The idea of America "doing good" is seen as American imperialism, forcing our ideas of government, ethics, morals, education and culture on citizens of foreign nations is resented.

The idea of American "goodness" itself is seen as arrogant and misguided. The idea of protecting citizens of other nations is seen as meddling in the affairs of other nations, upsetting the balance of power in some regions and most upsetting to governments in some areas of the globe where representative government of the people is despised.

Do we NEED to do these things anyway?

posted January 02, 2007 03:14 PM              

...am feeling a little left out

posted January 02, 2007 03:17 PM              

why does America need the rest of the World?

America is the melting pot..of all mixed
we are all connected to the World..
we need the rest of the World
to bring Peace
Heaven on Earth

for all our Karma..since the beginning
which is the end, which is the beginning
the end of a cycle
and the beginning
of a new One

each person on this Earth, in this World
connected, sisters and brothers..
Children of
MOther and Father God

we need to Unite..to save this planet
from destruction..war and nature wise

the melting pot
a brew
mixed

this was the beginning prophecy for the end
for at this point in time
we are all mixed
all equal

all born with the same mystical gifts
and Our Free Wi11 to choose
what to do. ...

we all need each other...

The World
21 Crown on MOther Earth
Harmony and Balance

it can be achieved now or later
but one way oth the other

it will be so...

alter the probablilities

imagine if each person, took personal
responsiblity to choose to do the right thing,
with LOve and Light in their Heart

that would change, alter the course
we are on.....

posted January 02, 2007 03:17 PM              

I think maybe America could do with some Irish craic to relax some of ye a little.....

Will call on ye jwhop when I fly into Miami and show you how to do an Irish jig.....lol!

What was your address again....

posted January 02, 2007 03:19 PM              

Sue

posted January 02, 2007 03:34 PM            

Ancestral ties:
"IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

Trade:
Foreign trade is a big net loser for America.

Money (so we can keep taxes down):
Taxes are down and would be much lower if the profits from manufacturing were going to America in the form of taxes and taxable wages. Foreign Aid, maintaining foreign military bases and maintaining our obligations under treaties for defense and trade are other big net losers for America.

Responsible planet sharing:
Are you suggesting foreign nations and their manufactures would be less responsible if America withdrew to within our own borders?

Cooperation in pursuing enemies and outlaws:
Well, if they come to America we can capture or kill them. Otherwise let those whom they offended deal with them.

Copyright and Patent enforcement:
American Copyright and Patents are and have been under assault for many years. Need I mention Chinese knockoffs among others?

Culture:
Whatever your taste in food, you can find it in America. For the Beatles and others mentioned, I give you...the Beach Boys, Elvis, Pointer Sisters, Diana Ross, and a host of others. Besides, licensing music to American record companies and royalty payments wouldn't necessarily be curtailed....but it would be taxed...in America.

So, whose culture is dominant in the world and bitterly resented by the French and others?

Wouldn't the rest of the world be better off if America backed off and let the rest of the world develop in their own way and at their own pace? They think they would be, so who are we to oppose their ideas?

Sue, Lotus

posted January 02, 2007 03:34 PM            

Bon Jovi's American, so we'd still have them if we were avoiding the world. I was picking artists from outside the United States who've had major influences on us artistically and culturally.

Jwhop, trade can go either way. Yes, it helps foreign countries, but it also helps us. Gives American people jobs, and loads of money, right?

I also believe in Stephen Covey's (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) idea of synergy being the most effective way of achieving goals.

quote:

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syn·er·gy

1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects.
2. Cooperative interaction among groups, especially among the acquired subsidiaries or merged parts of a corporation, that creates an enhanced combined effect.

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posted January 02, 2007 03:45 PM              

And not forgetting this guy of course:

posted January 02, 2007 03:51 PM            

quote:

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Are you suggesting foreign nations and their manufactures would be less responsible if America withdrew to within our own borders?

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I'm saying that it's everyone's responsibility regardless of where you live in the world.

quote:

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Cooperation in pursuing enemies and outlaws:
Well, if they come to America we can capture or kill them. Otherwise let those whom they offended deal with them.

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What if they offended us and left/got away? We'd want the international community to cooperate in our pursuit of justice.

posted January 02, 2007 10:03 PM            

quote:

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Hehe that means something bad here, like you are the lowest etc.

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