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Ashamed to be American
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Ashamed to be American |
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EagleScorpion Senior Member
since 2000-03-08
Posts 1644Here, Now, Forever 
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I'm sick of looking at all these people in thier BMW's and thier M-class Mercedes Benzies. I hate everything about them, from thier Rolex watches to thier designer suits and dresses, to thier stupid Gucci sunglasses. Why are people like this allowed to live? What gives them the right to flaunt such wealth? It's bad enough for someone like me, somebody who works full-time for a living, to have to observe such self-absorbed schleps; how do think some starving mother in a third world country would feel if she saw someone like this? And what is with all these people who get plastic surgery done? Why do so many people hate themselves? Why do so many people feel they have to fit into a certain shell that society prescribes them so they can feel good about themselves? I feel sorry for people like that. I feel sorry for the wealthy. For the most part, they are lost, empty people who are better off giving all of thier money away and throwing themselves in front of traffic. And dont try to tell me that I'm jealous. If I had the money I would be just like them, you think? Well, hey, maybe. When it all comes down to it, we are Americans; Fat, greedy, consuming, lazy, perverted Americans. I am ashamed to be breathing the same air as the rest of you. I am ashamed to be an American. Why are we so lucky? What did we do to deserve all the food we could ask for and clean drinking water? Why cant the rest of the world have any? Are our forests and natural ecosystems more valuable than the rest of the worlds? We make the rest of the world destroy the planet for US? So coke-addict businessman can drive around in thier Aston Martin's with prostitutes all day? To what end? Where is this world going? God help us all. And God save our children. |
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| © Copyright 2005 Joseph Alexander Knob - All Rights Reserved | |||
Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Hey Joseph, Feeling a tad cynical today? Dang. I do believe you nailed your point. However,there is little about life that is fair. And for me, if I'm going to be here I'd rather make the best of it. I like that the wealthy love to spend their money so freely. It's good for the economy. As for plastic surgery I guess I'm stuck with my double chin, since I'm not rich. Guess I'll stick to my diet plan. Regardless, I'm taking my lemon and making lemonade. Can't even say I'm jealous of their wealth 'cause God has a better plan for me. Peace dude. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I'm sick of all these people who hold others to standards they cannot even meet. Those people who wear their unqualified, biased opinions and flaunt their inability to see past labels to the people behind them. Why are people like this allowed to write out their opinions? What gives them the right to judge someone who has done the same thing with their lives as this self-appointed morality critic; live it the only way they could have? It's bad enough for someone like me who consistently works hard to develop a tolerance for inanities, to have to read such self-absorbed drivel; how do you think a starving mother in a third world country would feel if she read some tirade like this that had absolutely no bearing on her life whatsoever, other than to serve as a platform from which to whine about other people's success? And what is with all these people who condemn those who have plastic surgery done? Why do they hate so many people who have done nothing to them save exist? Why does someone say they worry about everyone fitting into a shell, when the whole point of his tirade is to put them in some sort of shell - just one different from the one they're in? I feel drained by people like this. I feel sorry for those who feel sorry for the wealthy. For the most part, they are lost, envious people who are better off giving up their biases and not suggesting others commit some kind of redemptive suicide. And I would tell this person that they probably are jealous. If he had the money they did, he would have had to work hard for it and would probably then understand that those that have are really only different from those that don't in the matter of motivational drive. When it all comes down to it, we are Americans; Fat, greedy, consuming, lazy, perverted Americans - and then there's the other 99% who are people living their lives and doing what it takes to get them through it and hopefully find some happiness and meaning along the way. I am ashamed that I'm breathing the same air as these people. I am ashamed that someone like this can bypass the true meaning of being American (tolerance, respect, drive, freedom) and attempt to lump everyone into a nice, tidy, wholly unrealistic and self-flagellating package. Why are we so lucky? What did we do to deserve all the food we could ask for and clean drinking water? (Probably because of a virtual lack of the aforementioned negative traits). Why can't the rest of the world have any? Much of it does. Those that don't could certainly use some help - while you're on your bandwagon, why don't you jet it on over to one of those countries and put your bias to work on something real instead of fabricated nonsense? I was going to hit the rest of it, but you get the point. I have rarely read such a pile of unrealistic drivel as I have here. I almost deleted this thread because of its complete lack of respect for people in general. I may still do so. The reason I haven't yet, though, is because the very reason i'm leaving it up here contradicts the entirety of your post; we have what we have (as do the aforementioned successful people) because we live in a country that we fought for in order to gain the freedom, the food, the drinking water, and, oh yeah, the Astin Martin's as well. You can write something that sounds as ignorant as this, BECAUSE none of it's true. Think about it on your way to Botswana. |
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Soulfisher Member
since 2005-01-07
Posts 226where ever the fly fishing is good |
WELL IF YOU HATE AMERICANS SO MUCH MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO GO SAVE A RAIN FOREST. YOU WRITE PASSIONATLY ABOUT IT. YOU SAY YOU DONT HATE THEM BUT YOUR EVERY WORD CONTRIDICTS YOU FRIEND. MAYBEE THE HATRED YOU EXPRESS IS YOUR GREED FOR THIER MONEY. MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING LOOK AT DONALD TRUMP HE IS NEVER SATISFIED,NEVER HAS ENOUGH AND PUBLICLY ADMITS HE IS UN HAPPY. FURTHER MORE MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU DESCRIBED AS COKERS ARE MERELY PEOPLE TRING TO ESCAPE THEIR SHALLOW EXSISTANCE THRU THE SUBSTANCES THEY ABUSE. |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Hi Soul, could you please refrain from using all caps in the future? It's more polite. Thanks!  As for the post... I personally think the subject matter is pretty harsh, and your problem is with capitalism more than with a nation. You don't like that rich people do what they want with their money. If they earn it, they can do what they want with it. The writing style is just very rantish, going from one point to another, just kind of like you threw this on a page and posted it. I guess it works for the subject matter though. I'm really glad you decided to share, but if you want to start a political discussion, I can move this to the alley. If you wanted to post a piece of work that you want to be critiqued for writing skill, or just shared as a creative creation, this is the place. I don't know which you wanted, but I'm leaning towards the former. Oh, make me Thine forever |
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Juju Member Elite
since 2003-12-29
Posts 3429In your dreams |
Well, You know what? What % of americans drive BMWs? I grew up around self made millionairs. While Some of thier peers, bought cable networrks and premade dinners, and leasing brand new cars, The self made Millionairs scrimoped and saved and sacraficed and gambled. Now that they have the money they bled for, are they not alowed to reek the benifits? Why can't they buy the car they always wanted to, because for the last twenty years they have had the same car since they were married. For example. My parents were poor to the point where they weren't sure if there would be food on the table. They lived in a trailer home. My6 father decided that the pay of an engineer stunk, so he and my mom saved and scrimped untill they had enough money for my dad to go to law school. My mother had two full time jobs "She ran a day care" and worked as a Blood drawing person. She also had kids. That pulled my father though law school. But even then every bet of money was saved and invested, so they could live on thier own when they get old and put 5 kids through collage. I am not sure if you're implying forced philimprathy or what ever. I know if my parents and those other self made millionairs knew that every thing they worked for would be taken away, that they wouldn't of done it. My mother often says that if she had to do it all over again, she would want to. she wouldn't. I get tired of give moneyt stuff. They best help is education. Because of education, the rain forest in central america in one contry is now perserved, instead of raising cattle, honey is now produced as a great means of extra income. It is because of poeple who went out and saw the problem and aproached it with a scientific methode that are making a better place. money is paper,. it comes and goes, but knowlage and education is something that those poeple can use over and over. I think that conries like brazil should charge those pharmies that go in and rape the forest paying nothing. Think of the money those poor governments would get if they did. it could support better schools and forest preservation.... Just a thought. Juju - 1.) a magic charm or fetish 2.)Magic 3.)A taboo connected woth the use of magic |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
It does no good to rant like this in public, and probably not even in private. It isn't fair or just, the inequities of some starving while others stuff themselves. But ranting doesn't change the balance. Find some way to help change the situation. Work at a food bank once a month, or visit shut-ins, or contribute what you can to help someone else with a $ problem or food, for even when you are wearing super tight shoe strings, you can still walk a generous path in some capacity. Ranting? I've done more than my share of ranting, and it rarely solves a darn thing, except OCCASIONALLY to raise awareness of some hidden issues...and is especially unproductive when you lump the subject matter into stereotypes and distorted snapshots. |
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Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
quote:Well you just don't do it anymore, okay ? That should solve that problem ! ~*When the heart grieves over what it has lost, |
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EagleScorpion Senior Member
since 2000-03-08
Posts 1644Here, Now, Forever |
I apologize if this piece of prose has offended anybody. For what it's worth, it has definately served the purpose I had intended it to serve. Larry. Yes, I was feeling a TAD cynical that day. I also felt like writing something that would have replies besides the boring, usual , "Great work I liked it" or "Nice. Enjoyed your read." because you know what? I'm sick of it. Everyone is in need of some good contructive criticism in the way they view the world. This is something that should be addresed. Nobody is perfect. Christopher, I am grateful that you could answer me with such passionate objection, HOT DAMN that is what I wanted. People who have been on piptalk long enough *might* know me as that cynical jersey brat that likes to stir the chicken coop with annoyingly cynical rants. I wrote a few doosies like this one here in my time, boy let me tell ya. Christopher, I agree with just about everything you said. Remember, I dont necessarily mean the things I write, so please acknowledge that. It's more of a stress-releiving type thing. Could you also acknowledge that, as midnite sun points out, people DO engage in alot of ranting, but when it comes down to ACTUALLY doing anything about the things THEY CLAIM to care about, they aren't doing anything. Can you tell me that you care about those people suffering in Thailand, or Sudan, or wherever? Can you?! Join the Peace Corps then if you REALLY gave a flying turd about them! Because I got my last dollar bet on the fact that you DONT care! And neither do I! If anyone REALLY cared, the world wouldn't be in the situation it's in now. If Angelina Jolie REALLY cared, maybe she COULD save the world. They are just carrying on with THIER lives, doing whats best for THEM. I do not mean to generalize. Trust me, I am not as stupid as you think I am. Sometimes it's nice to have a little bit of a sense of humor. Maybe it's the title that offends you. "Ashamed to be an American". I know that many people feel very strongly about thier country. They may have sons or daughters overseas and/or take heavy active involvement in thier civic duties as American citizens, and thats great for them! I'm happy for people like that. The point that is being made here is that alot of people (and i dont mean EVERYBODY!!) are self centered. It's only natural isnt it? I'm self centered! I'm probably one of the most self centered, hypocritical people there is! JuJu. I am proud of people like your parents. SELF MADE people. That is what I aspire to be. It's those people, like President Bush, who are born with a golden spoon in thier mouth, who I am talking about, and trust me, there are many people like this. Trust me, I know what it's like JuJu. It took 6 months of being homeless in downtown Philadelphia for me to realize that life isnt FREE! I know what it's like to not know when the next time I'll be able to eat is. Luckily, there always seemed to be a friend there for me to help me through my really bad times. It sucks, you know? It sucks for all of those people (and boy, there is a hell of a lot of them) who can BARELY provide for thier families. People who pick through trash to survive and take drugs to escape (yes, the poor do it too, but they call it "Crack") Then you have people like me who overgeneralize to much, and procrastinate. My best friend is joining the Peace Corps. He wants me to come with him. I dont really want to go.. but, then again, What the HELL am I doing here? What good am I doing for society? What the hell are we doing? I go to my job. Go to school. Come home. Go to my job. Go to school. Why am I going to school? Why am I paying to learn things I am just as capable of teaching myself in a library? Why do I want to get a job, a career, in America? Well, DuH! Obviously to live! Why would I want to hoard all of my money into a huge pot and be a millionaire? Is that supposed to make me happy? Is Donald Trump happy? And now, ladies and gentleman your moment of Zen: ONLY A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS IS WORTH LIVING Thank you very much please drive up to the next window CONFUCIOUS SAY: YOU STAND ON TOILET, YOU HIGH ON POT! |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
"Christopher, I am grateful that you could answer me with such passionate objection, HOT DAMN that is what I wanted." Exactly how this whole thread came across to me as well... Oh, make me Thine forever |
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Juju Member Elite
since 2003-12-29
Posts 3429In your dreams |
Well ranting is productive. For me any ways. My rants atre me to blow some steem, so I can think clear and sharp. I Think that "people like president Bush" Thing is horrible. WHether its old money or knew moneyits still unfair to take it away. I think to judge them is once again unfair. -Juju |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
"WHether its old money or knew moneyits still unfair to take it away." I agree... but I'm sorry if I've come off a bit harsh... I'm glad you're sharing, Eagle, for whatever reason. Oh, make me Thine forever |
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Local Parasite
since 2001-11-05
Posts 2527Transylconia, Winnipeg |
Rock on, brother! But this should have been in the alley. "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:8-9) Keep your fingers crossed--- "God becomes as we are that we may be as he is." ~William Blake [This message has been edited by Local Parasite (02-05-2005 08:17 PM).] |
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LoveBug
Moderator
Member Elite
since 2000-01-08
Posts 4697 |
Hey Brian, remember the story of the Talents? Did you read that one? There, He's saying if you don't use what you have, you'll be punished. Charity is a wonderful thing, and everyone should give from their own hearts. If you go around MAKING people give up what they have earned, what they have, then you're taking away the free will that God gave them. No matter what you think the Bible says, it doesn't condemn capitalism. Sorry. Oh, make me Thine forever |
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