Young americans = Brainwashed??

[ayanepuck]

Hooray for the south!!!!

[CalibreneGuru]

I live in the south (Georgia), and I have learned quite abit about other places in the world. I know where British Columbia is. Jazzmosis, many of your comments are extremely ignorant. As for an uncommon fact that I learned in school (at least most people don't know this): Indonesia has the largest muslim population in the world. Not Pakistan/Syria/Egypt. I'm glad you know so much about people in the south though Jazz. You must be very informed.

[Verruckter]

He said that 20% or so of southern ppl didn't know that. He never said that EVERYBODY from there where ignorant

[The_Q]

Let's stay on topic, folks.

[Moogy]

99% of the people down here in the south suck.

[CalibreneGuru]

"The fact that half (probably not that much, but I'd 20-30%) of your population"

That lead me to believe that he was talking about the total population of the country. And yes, 99.9% of the people in the south do suck, though they aren't all stupid.

[The_Q]

EXCUSE ME! I am not from the south but I live in it. This does not make me a moron.
Back on topic with ye!

Q

[Laharl]

Gee. I seem fully capable of thinking. I happen to believe that the United States is the best place to live, too. What do you know. Maybe I was brainwashed, too.

Or maybe I happen to believe that the Constitution, when properly used, is the best governing document on earth. Just because the people that happen to like politics and become political leaders suck doesn't mean the country sucks.

All children are brainwashed, in some form. Just as the people here in the United States teach the kids to love the country, there are just as many that teach kids to hate the country, and other countries teach kids to hate our country. It's just the nature of humanity.

[LEGO]

it's not called the american dream for nothing

[TheTypist]

Look at what the American history books say about post-WWII America. Even those admit that for a lot of the country things were dull, simple and brainwashed. Now if we think and ask ourselves honestly, will be be proud of what the history books say about turn-of-the-century culture in the U.S., 50 years from now?

People have been predicting that the younger generation would be the downfall since early in the 20th century. I'm hoping we can at least have one more without the nation collapsing, but I have my doubts. I think the only difference now is that we WON'T be moving to Paris.

Those who say this is the best country to live in, just wait until you get older. I mean, older-older. The way our culture's going, I'd suggest planning your retirement in a country where people see elders as more than a burden.

[ramonesfan]

Originally Posted by Moogy

99% of the people down here in the south suck.

i live in the south too it sucks balls im in alabama, anyone u see is a redneck(sucks here too because there all rich)
racists/homophobes+money= bad because they're so rich they can do anything if they werent so lazy theyd make our town all straight white people

[fusi0n]

usa rulz canada drulz lolo

what another retarded america vs canada flame war.

[Verruckter]

And it was clearly said that this topic wasen't meant to start a flame war....

Hey let's blame the Americans!!

lol j/k

[The_Q]

Should I declare this post officially dead or are we going to repeat ourselves into oblivion?

Q

[jewpinthethird]

Originally Posted by Verruckter

And it was clearly said that this topic wasen't meant to start a flame war....

Hey let's blame the Americans!!

lol j/k

If you are going to blame something, blame something no one can get mad about...like not enough juggling in P.E. I am sure that if children were taught to juggle the world would be a better place because everyone would be too busy juggling to care about stupid things like Holy-Wars.

[Sabina-san]

*Sighs* Yes. We're all brainwashed in some form or another. I'll admit that I'm brainwashed in a way, but I'm not ignorant of what's going on outside my cozy little house where I live with my parents, three sibs, and a dog. I believe that I'm being brainwashed by today's media...being told what to think, how to dress, what music to listen to...hell, that's even re-enforced in high school by the preps and rich snobs who go to my school (Actually, I just graduated last month, so...used to go to my school).

Saying that Americans don't learn about any other country but America is just an ignorant statement. In 9th and tenth grade, we learn about every other place on the planet. We learn absolutely nothing about America unless it has to do with exploration or the world wars. We spend those two years learning about Europe, Asia, Russia, Africa, Latin America, and other nations. Not so much Canada because they're kinda quiet up there, but America is almost completely ignored.

And, you know, there's nothing wrong with feeling pride for your country. Every country has it in some form or another. Look at the Irish and their war with England and...each other. Look at the British and their huge empire where the phrase, "The sun never sets on the British Empire" came from. Look at India, Japan, Russia, Scotland, Germany, Italy, and so many others. At one point (or several) they all thought to be superior to other nations. It's a part of human nature.

As for the slavery thing, don't forget about the British. They had slaves, too. But, as someone already said, that was a different way of thinking back then. And, see how we tried to change it? I admit that we haven't got it totally fixed and perfect, but we're still working on it...at least, for the most part. Right now, it looks like we're taking a huge step backwards with this new amendment that's just been tabled, but I believe that for the most part, we've made progress over the past few decades.

Another thing to think about: other nations brainwash their people, too. Think about it. We're not the only guilty ones. And, not everyone responds to the brainwashing as everyone else does. I know, I like to get all the facts before making a decision. I don't just say, "Oh, I give up! It's too confusing...I'm just gonna believe whatever people tell me or what I read in the tabloids."

Sabina

[Verruckter]

Yeah Russia is pretty good in brainwashing too. Or at least was....

[Sabina-san]

Well, I don't know how it is now. I've never been there.

[The_Q]

How are we brainwashed, though. I hate taking down someone's point, expecially when the wrote so much, but that had nothing on how we're being brainwashed. The only mention was liberal media, which not everyone watches/listens to. Of course, my point was essentially that not everyone got brainwashed, but that could be put as a minority.

In the long run, yes. Every country recognized to have a government and marked boundries is brainwashing it's inhabitants. One major proof of that is the patriotic fight that some people will put up. Many soldiers will die in the name of their country, wanting the best for the already superior. "For King(Queen) and Country" and "Por Dios y Espana" were two slogans of such countries. Because people die for America, they must have been brainwashed as well.

This post was intended to play devil's adovocate on my other post.

Q

[Sabina-san]

That's okay, Q. I reread my post and realized I didn't expand. Thanks for catching that.

Yes. The media is one way we're brainwashed. They slant some of the stories they tell to try and get the public to think a certain way. In fact, this was something we discussed in English. So, here's an example I used.

The media likes to get a rise out of the people, which makes them think a certain way. An excellent case in point is stories involving the police. If the police do something good, like stopping a drug ring by raiding a house, they're hailed as heroes, and everyone feels good.

Where I live, we had a problem with the police and their health benefits. Because they weren't getting any benefits, they decided to protest by putting up a roadblock and checking every car. They were doing their job, but it had another meaning behind it. The media portrayed the police as a nuisance.

Our families brainwash us. I know it's a horrible thing to say, but it's true. My father wants me to think a certain way, so he tries to instill certain morals and ways of thinking so that when it comes to something important like voting, I'll vote for something that's in his favor. Why? Because he wants me to be like him and think like him. He doesn't want me to be a Liberal, Independent, Democrat, or anything else. He wants me to be Republican and think exactly like he thinks.

But, there's a problem with that, and this isn't the topic to get into that.

Like I said, we are all subjected to different forces trying to get us to think a certain way, act a certain way, and dress a certain way...otherwise, we're ridiculed. And, unfortunately, that's what makes being a teenager so hard. At the time when we're trying to identify who we are, we're being forced to be something that maybe we don't want to be.

Sabina