What is wrong with americans?

You know it occurred to me today that, compared to other western nations, the united states is the ONLY one in which a large amount of the citizenry sits around wondering who they need to fear.

What? Russia isn't a good harbinger of death anymore? I know! Iraqis must want to invade us! Yea, what if they have nukes. OMG what if they have chem weapons? OMG what if they come in my house while I'm sleeping.

Americans actually sit around with nothing better to do convincing themselves that a people who want nothing to do with them are plotting their destruction.

Anyone ever been to canada or europe? That shit is unheard of there except for a VERY small right wing minority. (we're talking 1% minority) With the states it seems to be something of 50% - and even some of the left seems to do it.

My god - does it occur to americans that perhaps, just MAYBE, most people in the world just want to live their lives and be left alone?

When you wake up in Germany you don't think "Oh gee I have a feeling the Iraqis are going to come and kill me with no evidence at all to logically lead me to such a conclusion". No, you think "I am going to enjoy life today" It's not NORMAL to think otherwise. And I can assure you prior to the Iraq invasion most Iraqi's did not wake up thinking "Oh yay! I can't wait to invade the states today!".

It's INSANE to build up your military (to the point of being able to destroy large sections of the world several times over for imaginary threats) at the expense of even your own well being. Likewise, americans seem to be much more willing to use military force first. There also seems to be a glorification of all things military.

This is not a recent phenomenon either. It seems to have been going on for decades.

Apparently it won't be a phenomena that is over anytime soon.

ever since 9/11, the government and its media organs with nearly incessant references to "under attack," "war on terror," "war," etc. have pretty much distracted many into compliance and acceptance of the "official story."

the truth does not enter into this governmental myth-weaving. if they did not consistently pound us with lies, more people would think that the war in iraq is ACTUALLY WRONG.

And one way they accomplish this is through military mite. Using fear as a way to justify their need for an even stonger military force. And half of Americans are watching Fox which instill in them that we NEED more control over the world, and justifies their imperialistic domination over other countries.
When I was in Canada, and Germany, I never felt unsafe.. I felt free and happy, and didn't think of such things. When I am in the States, just turn on local news, and you see murders, first thing.. some bozo with a gun went out and shot up a bunch of people.. I didn't see this in Canada or Germany..

of the sustaining myth that the military is to protect American lives. The military is a mercenary force by which the elite, who own no national allegiance as we understand it, accumulates wealth.

but bu$hCo will have none of that.

My god - does it occur to americans that perhaps, just MAYBE, most people in the world just want to live their lives and be left alone?

Apparently not! It's amazing how many ignorant and paranoid people there are in the USA. People in many countries must be SICK of the USA meddling in their countries.

And they don't understand why American people have let their government to get so totally out of control, and why don't Americans VOTE?? They're happy with just going to the Mall! They're so complacent, and feel so isolated from the rest of the world and the problems we are the cause of.

that there are threats to america. I would love for someone to come of with ONE real instance of violence against us.

when you're the big man on campus everyone wants a piece of you.

So, when were the Iraqi's going to come for a "piece of you"? Did they set a date?

More paranoia I see.

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i use that "rhetorical device" when making a parody of conservatives.

you were joking right?

dealing with the parrots. They ain't in the Hannity handbook. You only cause confusion and a lack of responses.

centers for paranoid behavior - churches.

But that doesnt change the fact that the US is decidedly behind.

Look at our stance on the death penalty. We put children and mentally disabled people to death in this country because we are so scared of crime. We look past torture because we are so scared of terrorism. We watch corporations destroy our government and economy because we are so scared that they will just do it faster if we try to stop them. (Bush has literally argued that we should let corporations get away with things because if we try to limit them, they wont comply.)

America has been convinced that we are special and we are privelidged and that we enjoy an astounding quality of life, but that at the drop of a hat it could all fall apart.

mean and stupid.

It's ironic that Japan is less afraid of North Korea than Americans are supposed to be.

I hadn't thought of it that way before. You're right.

Welcome to DU :-)

We have had a sizeable number of fear mongering militaristic RWingers for a long time but the fear factor has never been so profound until this Administration chose to exploit 9/11 and ratchet up the fear for political reasons. But even people like me who have not been overly fearful and saw through the politics are now worried that with his re-election, Bush's arrogant policies and criminally misguided ill-fated invasion of Iraq have sown the seeds for an attack worse than 9/11 and a dangerous escalation of nuclear arms around the world.

Oh right.

Rheinheitsgebot - the German beer purity law of 1516.

Just think of what we could have here in Amer. if our govt. didn't waste our tax $ on an insanely large military -- universal health care, a healthier, more productive work force (that last part is supposedly what bosses want).