I apologize for "Screwing up America"

[lazysmurff]

so i work at Target. and every tuesday is "new release day" when all the new books, movies and cd's come in. And im in charge of putting them on the shelves. a lovely job that starts at 4am, and today lasted until 5 pm. anyway...

in the process of stocking books, i came across one new release entitled "100 people who are screwing up america". i thought to myself "rather interesting title...wonder what party cheerleader wrote that." turns out it was written by a republican. the extended title is "100 people who are ssrewing up america (and al franken is #37)" michael moore is of course #1, and the list also includes such people as eminem, michael jackson, every liberal hollywood star (sean penn et al) and the rest of the constant targets of republican hate bombs. (not to say democrats dont lob those bombs either). though he does throw in a few requisit republicans to try and show that he's not being biased....

so i was intrigued. i decided to see why the author, one Bernard Goldberg, considered these people to be ruining america. so i read the introduction. turns out, he thinks these people are ruining america because, well, they are what he calls "america bashers". "the elite who look down their noses and always try to find things wrong with america" those "priviledged coastal americans who, whever something goes wrong in the world, they are the first to blame america, and point out americas wrong doings and how america should have done a better job" blah blah blah.

so id like to apologize to Mr. Goldberg. if he had had room for one more name, im fairly certain mine would have been worthy. i am sorry Mr. Goldberg, for:

*expecting my government to live up to this countrys reputation. if we are truly the greatest nation in the world, we should begin to act like it. it is through action that we will make or break that reputation. not cleverly crafted speeches and careful PR

*holding my government to the same high standards that were expected of it when it was created some 230 years ago. too many people have sacrificed too much for too many years to see this country be turned to shit by corrupt officials and politicians, who are more concerned with obtaining reelection and padding their pocket books than with actually accomplishing anything meaningful for their constituents.

*demanding only the best. we have the best technology, the best military, the best form of government (beyond silly ideals that i still cling to) and the best infa structure to accomplish our goals. therefore, i expect nothing but the best results. is that too much to ask?

*expecting my personal freedoms to be respected by not only my peers, but my governmentamericans were granted an unheard of amount of personal freedoms when the original bill of rights was ratified. but as it happens, those rights are slowly and steadily being lessed if not outright removed. like i said before, too many people have given too much.

*desiring that the government own up to this countries mistakes and folies, and do everything in its power to not only right them, but also not repeat them our country is responable for some pretty heinous things in its history. its high time we owned up to them. and when one of our fuckups causes international catastrophy, we need to accept it, admit it, and do everything to right it. our country has not been a shining beacon of right in the past, but that doesnt mean we cant turn around and start trying to be.

im sorry Mr goldberg, for expecting and accepting nothing but the best from this great country of ours. and if that means im "ruining america" for you, then i invite you to leave. i will not tolerate mediocrity. niether should you.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

al franken is #37

He is a little bit of an asshole but come on the guy was hilarious on SNL.

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

michael moore is of course #1

As he should be.

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

and the list also includes such people as eminem

Eh, there are worse rappers out there than him.

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

michael jackson

Yeah he did some bad stuff but I don't think it's a problem in America's household.

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

every liberal hollywood star (sean penn et al)

So everybody from the Film Actors Guild? Sorry I couldn't help myself.

The thing I have a problem with here is hollywood stars don't have a right to be telling people what to think. They act like they understand, but they don't.

You do raise good points though. Though our views may be different I think everybody from liberals to conservatives all the want the same basic things from their country like you listed.

One thing I stand by though is what George Washington said and I think it's 100% true. He said he didn't want political parties because he said partisan politics would tear this country apart. BINGO!

[Mustangman25]

Just out of curiosity, was Ann Coulter one of those Republicans he listed?

[KustmAce]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

As he should be.

You're giving him far more credit than he deserves. He is a film-maker, and someone not afraid to speak his mind, not some anarchist, anti-rights, anti-America, anti-everything hate monger. He criticizes our government, as people should do. Heaven forbid we tolerate free speech.

Of course no one will ever agree. Left will say #1 belongs to W, Right will say Michael Moore. Its all talk, and its all just slanted shit-slinging. No one ever produces overwhelming evidence, and even if said evidence was produced, everyone is too entrenched in their "beliefs" they wouldnt care.

Someone produces a video of W snorting Coke while selling nukes to Osama, the Right would just say its just the Liberal Media trying to tear this country down. Same person produces a video of W personally arresting Osama the Left would find some excuse to call it a fake or a setup.

Its not even worth arguing anymore, since there are very few people with minds open enough to hear both sides.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by KustmAce

You're giving him far more credit than he deserves. He is a film-maker, and someone not afraid to speak his mind. Heaven forbid we tolerate free speech.

Yes going over to Europe and bashing America is tolerated free speech.

[KustmAce]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

Yes going over to Europe and bashing America is tolerated free speech.

Our citizens are not allowed to speak to the rest of the world now?

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by KustmAce

Our citizens are not allowed to speak to the rest of the world now?

Are our citizens allowed to do again what Jane Fonda did? NO, when they go over to some place and put America down and then come back it's wrong.

[lazysmurff]

Originally Posted by Mustangman25

Just out of curiosity, was Ann Coulter one of those Republicans he listed?

eh, i didnt flip through the whole thing...but i doubt it. Ann Coulter is the bastion of all things neo-con. but she'd be top of my list, right up there with the guy who wrote University of Destruction, but i cant remember his name.

[illegal_eagle187]

michael moore says alot of shit that isnt true in his documentary "farenheit 911" some stuff might be to some point true, but he wasnt making a movie to tell the truth he was making a movie to bash Bush, but i did like Bowling for Columbine......

[lazysmurff]

oh michael moore.....where have you gone. where is the funny, intellegent, bad ass, independant journalist with a camera that i once knew and loved? where did you lose your passion for the truth? where did you lose your drive to bring down the man, and replace it with a drive to bring down A man?

i long for the days of the younger, wiser michael moore.
--------------------------------------------------
but thats all really off the topic of this thread, lets try to avoid turning this into a michael moore piss fight.

[Tehvisseeus]

Originally Posted by lazysmurff

*expecting my government to live up to this countrys reputation. if we are truly the greatest nation in the world, we should begin to act like it. it is through action that we will make or break that reputation. not cleverly crafted speeches and careful PR

*holding my government to the same high standards that were expected of it when it was created some 230 years ago. too many people have sacrificed too much for too many years to see this country be turned to shit by corrupt officials and politicians, who are more concerned with obtaining reelection and padding their pocket books than with actually accomplishing anything meaningful for their constituents.

*demanding only the best. we have the best technology, the best military, the best form of government (beyond silly ideals that i still cling to) and the best infa structure to accomplish our goals. therefore, i expect nothing but the best results. is that too much to ask?

*expecting my personal freedoms to be respected by not only my peers, but my governmentamericans were granted an unheard of amount of personal freedoms when the original bill of rights was ratified. but as it happens, those rights are slowly and steadily being lessed if not outright removed. like i said before, too many people have given too much.

*desiring that the government own up to this countries mistakes and folies, and do everything in its power to not only right them, but also not repeat them our country is responable for some pretty heinous things in its history. its high time we owned up to them. and when one of our fuckups causes international catastrophy, we need to accept it, admit it, and do everything to right it. our country has not been a shining beacon of right in the past, but that doesnt mean we cant turn around and start trying to be.

im sorry Mr goldberg, for expecting and accepting nothing but the best from this great country of ours. and if that means im "ruining america" for you, then i invite you to leave. i will not tolerate mediocrity. niether should you.

Im pretty sure that most republicans would agree with you on all of those points as well

[carrrnuttt]

I offer my sig as a response to this thread...

Clint said it best.

Red's quote was ok too...

[AlmostStock]

Just because your idea of what is best for America may be different than our country's leader or the author of a book is certainly no reason to be sorry. After all, you (or anyone on that list) may turn out to be right.

[drewh4386]

I gotta see that book to believe the thread hype for myself.

[Nicole8188]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

There ya go.