The Real America???

[Dr Spaceman]

There's been a lot of talk lately, most of it emanating directly from the McCain campaign, that there exist two Americas: the REAL America, and well... the "fake"(?) America. This kind of campaigning really makes me upset. I'm not from a small town or rural community. I have a college degree. I like reading books. I decided a few weeks ago that I was most definitely voting for Obama.

And, you know what? I love my country. I think it's great. I am a patriot. I have been upset about accusations like this, that I am in fact NOT a patriot since the Iraq War broke out. I've been opposed to it since it started, but have been steadfast in my support for the troops. I have friends overseas in the military.

While I have been more or less in the Obama camp for some time now, I have no doubt in my mind that if I were on the fence at this point I would definitely not vote for McCain. It is unbelievably insulting to single out stereotypical supporters of the Republican party as the only ones who are "Real" Americans. Call it a campaign tactic, but I don't care.

I went on much more of a rant than I planned on, so I apologize. But I would like to open this topic for discussion. Do you identify with the Real America? Is there a Real America and a "Not Real" America?

 

[Alex_P]

The Daily Show yesterday basically said all that needs to be said about this topic.

You really should see it.

-- Alex

 

[Azeban]

At this point, I find it downright unbelievable that 50% of this country are going to vote for them. All the more reason the education system requires renovation. The GOP has made it pretty clear that they're more interested in protecting big business than you.

But I digress...the real America? I doubt anyone in this country wants to see it die. Loving something does not mean ignoring its flaws.

That episode of The Daily Show was one of the funniest Stewart has done in a while.

 

[Labyrinth]

The term "Real America" is aimed at the nationalist not the patriotic. I'll draw the line between the two as those who blindly follow their country because it's their country, and those who are proud of their nationality but can criticise and assess its policy and outlook.

I can't say I have much sympathy for either.

On the note of the Iraq war, I've long held a moral point of supporting the troops and despising the choice of my nation's leaders to go to war. It's part of what irks me about these people who tell me to shut up because I'm calling the people on the ground a bunch of murderers. I don't admire them for stepping up to the Military, it's true, but I don't believe it's their fault the war is going on. Again, bring the troops home to their loved ones and to a safe place. Toss the bureaucrats back in their place.

 

[ellimist337]

I'm in the camp with labyrinth in pretty much everything that's there. i really like george carlin's (rip) bit about patriotism and being proud to be from a country. basically, he says you should only be proud of something you've actually accomplished, like a college degree or a family, not something that just happened to you by chance. you can be happy to live in the us, but not necessarily proud. by the same token, we should always be trying to improve our country through criticism and changing what needs to be changed.

also, don't worry too much about what a dope like sarah palin says. she's not really qualified to make judgments on anybody, so i'm just letting it slide

 

[WhitemageofDOOM]

Being that most of america chooses not to live in a small town. It is clear that real Americans are city dwellers and suburbanites since they are the majority and this is a democracy.

 

[Azeban]

The term "Real America" is aimed at the nationalist not the patriotic. I'll draw the line between the two as those who blindly follow their country because it's their country, and those who are proud of their nationality but can criticise and assess its policy and outlook.

I can't say I have much sympathy for either.

On the note of the Iraq war, I've long held a moral point of supporting the troops and despising the choice of my nation's leaders to go to war. It's part of what irks me about these people who tell me to shut up because I'm calling the people on the ground a bunch of murderers. I don't admire them for stepping up to the Military, it's true, but I don't believe it's their fault the war is going on. Again, bring the troops home to their loved ones and to a safe place. Toss the bureaucrats back in their place.

I completely agree with you here. Love the soldier, hate the war. Recognizing the flaws of your country and wanting to correct them does not mean that you hate it.

Despite the fact that you'd rather die than become my next door neighbor, we Americans can be very polite from time to time. =P

 

[Brett Alex]

Being that most of america chooses not to live in a small town. It is clear that real Americans are city dwellers and suburbanites since they are the majority and this is a democracy.

I think it would be aiming at guilt though, like trying to make the suburbanites and city dwellers feel like they should be living in a small town, driving a pick up truck and shooting wild deer.

When you're told that you're not the Real people of your country, the reactions you have will be rejection of this opinion, or a feeling that yes, thats what it should be like, personally I'm not, but I should vote for someone who will support that.

 

[Labyrinth]

Being that most of america chooses not to live in a small town. It is clear that real Americans are city dwellers and suburbanites since they are the majority and this is a democracy.

I think it would be aiming at guilt though, like trying to make the suburbanites and city dwellers feel like they should be living in a small town, driving a pick up truck and shooting wild deer.

When you're told that you're not the Real people of your country, the reactions you have will be rejection of this opinion, or a feeling that yes, thats what it should be like, personally I'm not, but I should vote for someone who will support that.

"It's good to see someone keeping up the American Dream..."

*Twitch.*

 

[742]

yes the daily show got it right, the segment that ended with the clip of the firefighters. but they are technically a comedy show so it doesnt count. i honestly prefer fictional america.

but, while im here in fictional america... i want a unicorn. thats one problem our leaders havent adressed, a severe lack of unicorns and dragons, talking cats, flying pigs, merfolk, genies, wish granting fish, and, of course, the fact that we do NOT have fountains of youth in every public park. and why do our public schools not teach conjuration, an essential school of magic? thats a big problem to be adressed in the upcoming election, its the twenty first fucking century, why do out schools not teach ANY spells? why do we even HAVE schools not a matrix style information download system? why do we use filthy coal burning busses not magical unicorn driven carriages. or teleportation devices. i dont care if the AI on my teleporter is gay or not, i just want it already. at least a flying car.

 

[Brett Alex]

Being that most of america chooses not to live in a small town. It is clear that real Americans are city dwellers and suburbanites since they are the majority and this is a democracy.

I think it would be aiming at guilt though, like trying to make the suburbanites and city dwellers feel like they should be living in a small town, driving a pick up truck and shooting wild deer.

When you're told that you're not the Real people of your country, the reactions you have will be rejection of this opinion, or a feeling that yes, thats what it should be like, personally I'm not, but I should vote for someone who will support that.

"It's good to see someone keeping up the American Dream..."

*Twitch.*

Haha, yep, I can see them sitting down with their TV dinners, seeing the commercials and saying just that.

 

[742]

Well, if the Real Americans vote Republican, i'd rather the Fake Americans by a mile.

-edit-

Wouldn't the Real Americans be the Native Americans!

... no we gave them casinos, theyre all fake now.

but seriously, theres a simple way to tell if someone is a real american or not, ask if they are registered to vote, if they say "no" "independant" "*any 'third party'*" or "democrat" it could go either way, if (*current year*>1900 and)they say "republican" they arent americans and should be deported, perhaps to alaska...

 

[vxicepickxv]

The primary problem with major political parties, especially a two party system is the polarization of a country. If you can get two people to conceptually hate each other based on a simple, minor issue, then you can get away with all kinds of bad things while they refuse to work with one another for anything at all.

 

[GCM]

It's a bloody food fight, is what it is.

So Barack Obama uses the phrase "lipstick on a pig" and the GOP discovered that sometime in the recent past Palin also used the word "lipstick," so they somehow manage to connect the two and let REAL Americans know that Barack Obama called Palin a pig.

There. I rest my case. Basically, screw the issues; what's important is how patriotic you are, what your skin color is, what religion you belong to, and your background.

 

[poleboy]

...Iraq War broke out. I've been opposed to it since it started, but have been steadfast in my support for the troops. I have friends overseas in the military.

I hear this a lot from Americans, and I still don't quite understand it. Maybe it's just that I don't have friends in the millitary or that I have stronger views on these issues, but I have trouble grasping the concept of supporting soldiers but opposing the hand directing them. One cannot exist without the other. But nevermind, I don't want to de-rail this too much.

In my opinion, the more a reasonably intelligent person critizises their country in a sensible way, the more they show that they care about said country. People who believe that their country is the best in the world and its leaders can do no wrong are blind. All socieites have flaws. A tight-knit community risks becoming xenopohbic. A very liberal community risks being exploited by egoists. A completely safe community breeds more lazy people, and so on... no man and no society is perfect.

 

[Labyrinth]

A completely safe community breeds more lazy people, and so on... no man and no society is perfect.

Speak for yourself. I have no Y chromosome, I am perfect.

 

[poleboy]

A completely safe community breeds more lazy people, and so on... no man and no society is perfect.

Speak for yourself. I have no Y chromosome, I am perfect.

Since all fetuses (fetii?) start out female, I hereby claim that you are an underdeveloped man.

 

[Labyrinth]

A completely safe community breeds more lazy people, and so on... no man and no society is perfect.

Speak for yourself. I have no Y chromosome, I am perfect.

Since all fetuses (fetii?) start out female, I hereby claim that you are an underdeveloped man.

No, I am free of the pollution which comes from having testosterone pumped through me as a foetus.

And now back on topic. America seems to be sustained by the Great Glass Teat and sheer egoism. It's actually funny, if you like morbid and ironic humour.

 

[Redlac]

'The Real America' sounds daft to me. It's so big and the people and customs so diverse you could get any number of people telling you that where they are is the 'Real' America.

I wouldn't pay much attention to politicians anyway, from what I've seen over the years they don't seem to pay much attention to us.

 

[vxicepickxv]

I have trouble grasping the concept of supporting soldiers but opposing the hand directing them. One cannot exist without the other.

It's also nice to see that the hand that misdirected them decided to do so with a completely unforgivable farce and pile of lies that at the time seemed so subtle that there wasn't really a choice but to go.

It's not their fault that the lies presented forced them there. All we can do now is help provide for their safety and well being until either we leave, or are thrown out at the end of the year.