Marco Rubio quote

[Adam]

Interesting chart.  I do pretty well in helping others and donating $.  Not so much in donating time anymore but think since getting older I am losing the energy. 

 

I'm definitely most selfish with my time. :/ 

[wopphil]

Know doubt the U.S. has made mistakes. It's still the. best country and does the most good. I'm not sure sure why some libs won't stand up for a statement like that.

My feelings exactly.

[wopphil]

The U.S is also a far more tolerant and accepting nation than most others, despite so much of the crap that occurs on a daily basis.

[red321]

Shitting all over the country worked well for Obama

 

Interesting comment. How has he shit all over the country?

[Adam]

Interesting comment. How has he shit all over the country?

 

I saw it in a FWD: fwd: Fwd: FwD: from Glen

[Angelsjunky]

I think there is a whole lot of middle ground between "America is the greatest force for good that the world has ever seen" and "America is evil and terrible."

Interesting how the conservatives here are having one hell of a time discerning that middle ground.

 

Conservatives generally have a hard time with discerning middle ground. They're not big on nuance.

 

Know doubt the U.S. has made mistakes. It's still the. best country and does the most good. I'm not sure sure why some libs won't stand up for a statement like that.

 

What do you mean by "best country"? And "does the most good"?

 

I saw it in a FWD: fwd: Fwd: FwD: from Glen

 

Nice use of humor to slip away...kind of typical for you, no?

Edited April 14, 2015 by Angelsjunky

[Spirit]

Best - of the most excellent, effective, or desirable type or quality

 

Most - greatest in amount or degree

[fan_since79]

Rubio's comments are refreshing after six years of American self-loathing and recriminations by Obama and his associates.

[Blarg]

Please study "American History."

Please study world history.

[mtangelsfan]

Conservatives generally have a hard time with discerning middle ground. They're not big on nuance.

 

 

What do you mean by "best country"? And "does the most good"?

 

 

Nice use of humor to slip away...kind of typical for you, no?

 

Nice edit:  Typical AJ, condescending and humorless.

[Crampknees]

Rubio's comments are refreshing after six years of American self-loathing and recriminations by Obama and his associates.

So it is only self-loathing and recriminations now instead of Armageddon, Socialism and complete innihilation.  Thanks Obama. 

[red321]

Rubio's comments are refreshing after six years of American self-loathing and recriminations by Obama and his associates.

 

Here we go...same line as Adam...what self-loathing and recriminations would that be? Identifying that the US is a great country...but isn't perfect and needs to improve? Realizing there are sometimes consequences for our actions and we haven't always made the best decisions?

 

Patriotism is not blind allegience...america **** yeah right or wrong...patriotism is love of country with the realization that there are opportunities for improvement.

 

I like this quote by Syndey Harris

 

Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. — Sydney J. Harris

[Glen]

Has anybody making comments here actually travelled or spent significant time in other countries, so as to have a basis for comparison?

[mtangelsfan]

yes but the whole good/bad debate to me is silly.

 

The U.S. has done a lot of good and a lot of bad.  You have countries like Switzerland or the Nordic countries but they don't do much good outside of their own arenas.

 

Not to mention that Europe is so racist it makes the south look tame.

 

Bottom line is that good/bad is pointless but Rubio's quote was nothing more than what most all candidates for president have said in some form or another.

[red321]

I've spent a fair amount of time elsewhere...measured in weeks/months...not years.

 

Love places like Bavaria, London and Ireland...New Zealand. Places where the culture is built around the local pub are very cool...and New Zealand...there is nobody friggen there...that is paradise. Probably wouldn't take up residence in India - though you could certainly live like a king. Not nearly attractive enough to live in Amsterdam. Chile is an interesting proposition. Could I survive in Patagonia? Not sure...they overcook all their damn food. Did you know you cannot get Chilean Sea Bass in Chile? Too much money to be made shipping it to Americans.

 

But all of that is a tourist, and not living there. You can't get the feeling for a place until you work there is my view.

[red321]

yes but the whole good/bad debate to me is silly.

 

The U.S. has done a lot of good and a lot of bad.  You have countries like Switzerland or the Nordic countries but they don't do much good outside of their own arenas.

 

Not to mention that Europe is so racist it makes the south look tame.

 

Bottom line is that good/bad is pointless but Rubio's quote was nothing more than what most all candidates for president have said in some form or another.

 

In general I have no issue with Rubio's quote...it's a campaign speech in a primary where American exceptionalism is a must. If he admitted America did something wrong (not Obama...America)...he'd wouldn't make it to the Iowa state fair this summer.

[Glen]

When the opposite party is in power, America sucks and needs to be taken back to a better time.  When your party is in power, America is great and getting better.  

[Kevin]

I didn't say the US is "so bad," I just think his statement is ridiculous. It is hard to call any nation that has committed near genocide, had concentration camps, and dropped atomic weapons on civilian cities "the greatest force for good the world has ever seen."

I know this is semantics on my part but internment camps are not concentration camps. At least not in the definition of WWII terminology. Doesn't make it right but they aren't even in the same realm. Also "dropping atomic bombs on civilian cities" is too vague when describing everything that led up to it.

[Adam]

Conservatives generally have a hard time with discerning middle ground. They're not big on nuance.

 

 

What do you mean by "best country"? And "does the most good"?

 

 

Nice use of humor to slip away...kind of typical for you, no?

 

Very typical of me. I'm typically typical. 

[Adam]

Here we go...same line as Adam...what self-loathing and recriminations would that be? Identifying that the US is a great country...but isn't perfect and needs to improve? Realizing there are sometimes consequences for our actions and we haven't always made the best decisions?

 

Patriotism is not blind allegience...america **** yeah right or wrong...patriotism is love of country with the realization that there are opportunities for improvement.

 

I like this quote by Syndey Harris

 

Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. — Sydney J. Harris

 

My comments weren't intended to be in either a negative or positive sense. Obama has intentionally spoken about America's mistakes and done so effectively. 

[red321]

sorry for misreading the shitting on the country thing

[wopphil]

I know this is semantics on my part but internment camps are not concentration camps. At least not in the definition of WWII terminology. Doesn't make it right but they aren't even in the same realm. Also "dropping atomic bombs on civilian cities" is too vague when describing everything that led up to it.

Yep. By all accounts, interned individuals were treated humanely. Doesn't make it less of a black eye in our history, but does serve to demonstrate that Americans are generally humane people.

How did the Japanese treat POW? How did the Germans treat the Jews? How are non-Muslims (and Muslims, for that matter) treated today in Muslim nations? How are women treated today in many parts of the world?

The U.S. has made and will continue to make its mistakes, but is still far superior to most places in earth in terms of how it treats its people and other peoples.

[Jay]

I didn't say the US is "so bad," I just think his statement is ridiculous. It is hard to call any nation that has committed near genocide, had concentration camps, and dropped atomic weapons on civilian cities "the greatest force for good the world has ever seen."

 

Please don't remind me of atrocities committed by past Democrat administrations.

[Tank]

When you look at it as a whole the US government has done many atrocious things, it committed genocide almost immediately following its inception. Most of it is done in the name of freedom or whatever and gets a pass by the majority of Americans.

 

If Rubio is referring to the people of America I believe he is correct. Americans are generally very charitable people that make a difference for good throughout the world.

 

usually politicians, when making such wide-sweeping comments, are referring to the people and their indomitable spirit. we're very generous and have lots of ingenuity.

 

a lot of comments in this thread seem to see the US gov't - past and present - as one gigantic evil body. i'm surprised to see such a fatalistic view by so many.

[red321]

usually politicians, when making such wide-sweeping comments, are referring to the people and their indomitable spirit. we're very generous and have lots of ingenuity.

 

a lot of comments in this thread seem to see the US gov't - past and present - as one gigantic evil body. i'm surprised to see such a fatalistic view by so many.

 

You don't think that refers to American Exceptionalism? After how much the Republicans have harped on that, and suggested Obama doesn't love America...or has a "different" view of America. I can't imagine that didn't refer to the concept of Exceptionalism and not individual generosity/ingenuity, etc. I imagine a large part of the Republican primary is going to be who "loves" America, and Ronald Reagan, the most.

Edited April 14, 2015 by red321