Dakota,
I totally understand why others come to this country, especially from 3rd world countries. This is the land of opportunity, etc. etc...that's great, it really is. You don't know how fortunate I feel to live here - not once have I ever had to worry about where my next meal was going to come from, nor have I had to be concerned with rebels rioting, kidnapping, looting...I live a life that millions of people would LOVE to live, and that's because I was born in America and raised by parents smart enough to instill in me from a young age good work ethic. But again, the fact that this land is so prosperous has nothing to do with it's "greatness." So many "great" people have gotten to the "top" by sacrificing their ethics, and I believe that's what's happened with America. Yeah, we're at the top of the world, but look what it took to get here.
I don't have the time or honestly the most accurate recollection of how the USA was established, but I know it's not a pretty picture. This has always been an aggressive nation, and when people don't see things the way we do, we try to force them, and if that doesn't work, we kill them. The Native Indians were WISE people that taught respect for the Earth, and the way they were slaughtered is a sad sad story. Now look..we've advanced tremendously, but look what we've done to the Earth at the same time. The changes that will happen within the next 50 years will be drastic, all due to GREED and lack of foresight. Just as I don't think the Nazis were "great" for what they did to the Jewish people, I don't think America is "great" for the injustices it incurred on the Native Americans, not to mention the racial prejudice that was instigated by Slavery. We've come a long way, thank goodness, but still this Superpower with all it's might can be taken down over night. I'm not saying I hope that happens, but if and when it does happen, I'll be the first to say "You had it coming."
What's up with the need to feel proud of the country you live in? This is all THE EARTH. Every human lives on the earth. Why the need to be proud to live on one particular land mass? I don't get it. I was born in America - so what? Does that make me greater than someone born in Sudan? Italy? Russia? Iraq? All should be able to enjoy where they live, and if they don't we should all pull together to make their conditions easier for them, but unfortunately it's not as simple as that, and that's what really sucks.
The very ones who openly condemn us and harbor all the ill will against us are also the very same ones who openly accept our aid and assistance and expect us to rescue them if they are invaded by unfriendlies. They are also the same ones who freely flood our markets to sell their wares and support their economies and yet, deny our wares to be sold freely in their streets.
What choice do they have? America has control over so much of their well-being. Unfortunately what makes other countries so desolate is the climate. The rains that take out the rice in Asia. The deserts of Africa that don't allow crops to grow very easily. Therefore these countries have no choice but to rely on other more prosperous countries for support. But if the hand that feeds you abuses you at the same time, what are you to do? Not talk bad about them just because they help you out? That's like a kid not coming out about sex abuse because it was his daddy, who provided for him as well. It's hard to come out with the truth, but we can sure as hell understand why they do. A lot of times America's "acts of help" are simply ways to disguise making and/or saving money for them.
Case and point - Nike builds a plant in a small Mexico town and hires children to work for $2.00 a day. Nike feels good about this because they're bringing work to a desolated area, whereas the REAL motive was cheap labor, thus saving them thousands of dollars. This is driven home by the fact that when establishments are set up like this, they don't take into consideration the same town irrigates their crops with untreated sewer water. If they were REALLY concerned about the people, wouldn't it be far more beneficial to aid these people in establishing proper irrigation so that every kid has more than a 20% chance of not dying from disease before the age of 9? At least take care of the irrigation problem first, then build your plant. (These numbers are not factual, but the example is). This is the way America exploits other countries, the so-called assistance sometimes is laced with auterior motives of the financial gain type.
I have no problem in giving props to the organizations in America that are truly trying to help others. However, I totally understand why a lot of people, American and non-American, have negative things to say about this country. There's just too much dirt on the floor that can't be swept under the carpet or behind the door without someone seeing it. And because of that, I have a very difficult time seeing where God comes into the picture, with this country or any country for that matter. If God approves of the ways countries kill each other in His name, maybe we're worshipping a different god than we think.
