What percentage of conversatives in this forum have travelled outside the US?

[PatPatriot]

I thought 0 meant pick 'em.

If your question is to imply that conservatives must be dumb bastards because they don't want to depend on goverment programs to wipe their ass, call me a dumb bastard....You fxckin dumb mother fxckin smarmy ass intellects don't even realize that your socialist way of life is more corrupt than anything imaginable, the bigger the goverment the bigger the corruption.It operates under the false righteous premise that they are "sharing" when what they are doing is robbing from the rich and giving to the poor...what they deem necessary.It is full of patronage and favortism....Most countries are hurting from their own self inflicted wounds.

 

[Oceans11]

Its not as simple as travelling abroad, its a cultural thing IMO.
The isolation of the continent might be a part of it, a relatively restricted media etc but it runs deeper than that IMO.

Americans take themselves EXTREMELY seriously, to the point of being humourless and analy retentive about it.
When others do not, this makes them very upset.

The weird bit is if someone (foreigner) decides to take them very seriously too, and shoots back at them, this also makes them very upset.

In defence of the USA, It can also be bloody annoying trying to police a world full of idiots who keep trying to kill each other.

 

[Brazil4Worldcup2002]

Conclusion to hypothesis:
Maybe I was wrong afterall to make such a bold assumption. I am just having trouble understanding what may make conservative Americans so xenophobic and ignorant about other countries, not saying that liberals are not but I suspect they are less so. Maybe travelling doesn't open up one's mind as much as I may have suspected. Maybe it all come downs to the American education system.

By the way, I'm not anti-Americans, I have been to over 20 States in the US and lived in Canada for a number of years. I happen to admire many things about Americans, for example, great business minds, something Europeans may be lacking. Furthermore, I am not here to criticise the US, I am trying to learn about it more. If anyone has any intelligent questions about Brazil (or even Britain) I will be happy to answer them.

 

[lander]

I think there are a number of factors involved with American tolerance

1. Education
2. Culture diversity of one's surroundings (heritage, area of residence, etc ..)
3. Family tolerance (learned behavior)

 

[KMAN]

Lander - It is nice to agree with you on something.

1) Education - No doubt. The more educated people become the better off the country will be. I was lucky, my parents enforced a good education. The parents out there who could care less about their kids education really piss me off. I could care less if people want to waste themselves away, but DON'T HURT YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE by not taking some responsibility.

2) Culture Diversity - If it is true that you live in NY city then I can see why our opinions can be so different. I am not exposed to the underpriveleged, the uneducated or minorities that often so I don't get to hear all of their stories. I only know what I experience.

3) Family Tolerance - My parents did a great job raising me. They did get divorced when I was 26 but by that time I had been on my own for a few years and knew right from wrong. I do understand that not everyone had the benefit of 2 parents who they could rely on and I feel badly for them. However, I don't believe in lowering our standards in life to meet these people's needs. I believe in personal responsibilty and helping those who genuinely want to help themselves. I don't have tolerance for lazy people who are just looking for handouts.
I was not born with a silver spoon. I got my first car in college, it was an 82 Olds. (This was 1991). I had to work for what I wanted. I expect everyone else to have to work hard also.

KMAN

 

[Oceans11]

Why is it always me that winds up asking these flippin questions....

What factors contribute to American intolerance?

 

[wilheim]

The Republic of South Vietnam in the mid to late 60's was a fun spot. I can't remember a certain prominent conservative being over there at the time. Oh yeah, thats right, he was busy defending South Texas.


wil.

 

[chonce]

Moneybags, I agree with your assesment that one can get mislabeled a lib or a consevative based on just one issue.

FOr example, I was opposed to iraq, and the patriot act. Often times people will resond with, "well clinton said there WMD's, you commie" insinuating that I am a democrat or something.

If Affirmitive action, or welfare was the nations hot topic, then I am sure many ardent liberals would unfairly call me a heartless conservative.

THe word liberal is far too ambigious anyway. I consider myself liberal in the classic sense, as in an advocate of rigths, and an open-minded person.

However, the modern definition entails way more than that. It sweeps a whole mryiad of issues including spending, taxes etc...

I am opposed to many of the modern liberal stances, so I hate to be thrown to either catagory. We all have (or many of us do)our own mix of ideals. I wish more were independent of parties, the bi-partisan think is so ugly these days.

 

[lander]

"Lander - It is nice to agree with you on something. "

Haleleuia Haleleuia!! There is a God

So much for my theories on being agnositic.

KMan,
I'm actually surprised but we seem to have VERY simliar backgrouds outside the fact that I lived in NY (although I might be leaving in a few weeks - I don't particularly like NYC that much).

1. I went to a HS ranked 99 out of 103 in the area, but my parents made me work hard. I ended up with two very needed scholarships to a fine University (one because our county was dirt poor, and the other based on my grades).

2. My hometown was a vastly white Christian area with little to no tolerence, but when I came to NYC it blew me out of the water. I used to blame America's troubles on the immigrants, blacks, asians - I'm not going to lie I was racist. Living down here really opens your eyes though. My best friends now are Philipeano, Indian, British, Chinese and Latino. It's weird, but I didn't have any friend or family and these other culture are so warm .. they would treat me like family. Amazing stuff Kman - I never in a million year would have predicted how much I would change.

In fact, my wife is even from South America.

3. My folks got divorced when I was 22 & it was slightly different that your story, but also very similiar. It was always two seperate families in a sense - my mom taught me compassion and instilled a strong ethical foundation in my life, whereas my dad is the hardest working guy I know ... so it all worked out for the best.

I can understand you position - and honestly, I'd like to take a bat to some of the fuks that fake job disability or just sit back and rely on the system ...

but there are truly very good people that cannot work - illness, disability & extreme trauma, old age ...

I think if you ever meet some people in those situation then you'll see my POV too.

I know socialism isn't the answer, but you have to remember that most of the rich did NOT earn there money - they INHERITED it.

There is no explanation for why Anna Nicole or Paris Hilton can have health insurance, but my grandma has to dilute medication to save every penny.

It's a little fuked up if you see it first hand.

 

[UncleMoneybags]

Alex,

I have a question about Brazilian women. Why do so many of them get plastic surgery?

 

[Brazil4Worldcup2002]

Firstly, Brazilian women traditionally are not born with large breasts, instead they are born with a big round ass (this is from Brazil having a large African ancestry). Therefore, some Brazilian women want a super curvy body with large breasts and a big ass.
Secondly, Brazil is a tropical country, with all-year sunshine. Although getting a tan may look great, it actually destroys one's skin and speeds up the aging process. Brazilians spend too much time on the sun and by the time some women are 30 they may look 40.
Thirdly, it's actually something the middle classes can afford.

 

[KMAN]

Lander - I hear exactly what you are saying, and I know that there are people out there that can't afford medication. Hell, I have a full time good paying job and my insurnace went up more than my yearly raise. It sucks ass.

It's just that every politician is the same, they say whatever they think the public wants to hear to get in office and then they find out that it's not as easy to get things done as they thought. One thing that I know for sure though is that Bush is going to do EVERYTHING he can to protect our country. And not just certain people in our country...EVERYONE. From what I've heard the Democrats don't have that same philosophy and it scares to think that they might take office and let every other country run over or perhaps bomb the hell out of us.


KMAN