A thread wherein guys rant, complain, and chat about MANLY MAN THINGS page 480

[Alex Good]

Yeah people can look at history and say Islam conquered all this by the sword, and christianity did this too. The fact is, today, every country with an Islamic majority treats by law the rest of the citizens like sh*t. People in non-Islamic countries fall over themselves to show how accepting they are, and even those who are non-accepting generally do nothing more than pout.

China isn't accepting. Neither is much of the dictator ruled part of africa. I think a better way to say it is most western cultures are nice, the others are mean.

[wildwabbit]

Lived overseas for ten years, learned the language, have visited lots of countries. Difference being that I made it a point to find out about the cultures I visited and figure out why they are the way they are, as opposed to taking a narrow minded Euro-centric view.

Don't know about you, but I learned the languages (note, plural, as in, several) and lived on the terms of the other cultures, the way they lived, and operated completely by their rules and expectations. And I lived long enough to be really able to see the inherent racisms and social injustices harbored internally within these countries towards their own citizens, something few westerners will see even after 1-2 years in country.

So I didn't just "visit" and like a laboratory scientist observing mice "figure out why they are the way they are" I lived the way they were to understand on their terms, not mine. Now tell me what is narrow minded?

[Chaohinon]

The U.S. has its own pockets of authoritarianism. It's just easier to escape depending on where you move around the country.

Moving from Pennsylvania to Colorado has been like night and day, culturally.

[Blackcatbone]

Don't know about you, but I learned the languages (note, plural, as in, several) and lived on the terms of the other cultures, the way they lived, and operated completely by their rules and expectations. And I lived long enough to be really able to see the inherent racisms and social injustices harbored internally within these countries towards their own citizens, something few westerners will see even after 1-2 years in country.

So I didn't just "visit" and like a laboratory scientist observing mice "figure out why they are the way they are" I lived the way they were to understand on their terms, not mine. Now tell me what is narrow minded?

So you're sooooo sure that it's the religion that makes them the way they are, and not something else driving the cultural mores? And yeah, I lived like the locals as well. Was married to one. And yes, I very definitely saw the flaws in the assorted cultures. I'm not saying that all these cultures are sweet and lovely and Kumba-fucking-ya. I'm saying every one is shit, but from a historical perspective of religions x-tianinty has the shittiest track record. Predominantly white-Europeans/Americans have the worst record of conquest, colonizing, taking a dump on the locals, propping up violent regimes until it no longer suited them then letting the locals clean up the mess. To say that Islam is responsible for the mess is incredibly fucking ignorant. Do I think that what is done in the name of Islam is all hunky dory? Fuck no. But pointing your finger and calling them barbarians only serves to futher the damage being done.

[spakesneaker]

spake and Raiken, have ya'll learned anything or feel any better equipped to handle adversary after all this drivel we've fed you? ha

yeah... i learned to not take advice from strangers on the internet, haha

You might just find the good ole USA is one of the least racist, most tolerant countries around.

+1

(next to canada of course)

Multiculturalism works real fine in multi-neighborhoods. Sometimes leads to problems in one environment.

When I was a youngster, there were all types in my neighborhood, but it wasn't multiculturalism. Everybody was an American and lived like Americans. Maybe at home they ate matzoh, spaghetti, or beans and rice, or corned beef and carrots, but outside everybody was still an American.

No hyphenated types back then.

I grew up entirely around immigrants, but I think that for the most part, even if we self-segregate it's an a hybridized american context. it's hard to live here and not become part of the economy, especially since that's what most people come here to do. what sickens me is when people hang on to backwards traditions and beliefs (or adopt new ones) and, worse, the legal system permits it or politicians pander to it, which thankfully hasn't happened in the U.S. yet like it has in europe or canada (but they do do this for regressive and bigoted traditions/beliefs that are already popular in the u.s.)

[wildwabbit]

+1 (next to canada of course)

Yeah, Canada, the "nice guy" of the world

[BillyGoat4130]

yeah... i learned to not take advice from strangers on the internet, haha

You learn fast...haha

[wildwabbit]

To say that Islam is responsible for the mess is incredibly fucking ignorant. Do I think that what is done in the name of Islam is all hunky dory? Fuck no. But pointing your finger and calling them barbarians only serves to futher the damage being done.

Woot, there you go again, putting up straw men and words in my mouth. Its one thing to disagree, but why do you insist on making sh*t up?

Back to what you say (novel concept try it some time, basing something on what someone says, not what is convenient for you to put in their mouths), you are spouting pure ignorant american "intellectual" brainwashing (I am expressing my own opinion here by simply stating it, again not loading it into your mouth)

If you want to blame the fact that a majority culture treating their native born minorities like crap on the fact that europeans landed on their shores some time ago and "taught" them this behavior, you are one naive little girl.

[kenn]

Woot, there you go again, putting up straw men and words in my mouth. Its one thing to disagree, but why do you insist on making sh*t up?

Back to what you say (novel concept try it some time, basing something on what someone says, not what is convenient for you to put in their mouths), you are spouting pure ignorant american "intellectual" brainwashing (I am expressing my own opinion here by simply stating it, again not loading it into your mouth)

If you want to blame the fact that a majority culture treating their native born minorities like crap on the fact that europeans landed on their shores some time ago and "taught" them this behavior, you are one naive little girl.

[Blackcatbone]

If you want to blame the fact that a majority culture treating their native born minorities like crap on the fact that europeans landed on their shores some time ago and "taught" them this behavior, you are one naive little girl.

You obviously don't understand how colonialism works. Not surprising. Not that I thought being old made one wise . . . .