What makes your blood boil?

[whosinpower]

As a friendly canuck, I have the privilage of viewing America up close and yet seperate. I love you guys and I don't love ya. Perhaps it is my upbringing, my moral compass including social democratic programs, bettering society, blah, blah, blah.

Where I start to scratch my head is America's blind love and pride of its military. Or, to put it into context - its connection of the military with what America stands for. Freedom, liberty and the pursiut of happiness - is this what America stands for? The American dream - what is it? Because, while America dreams, its eyes are firmly shut against the realities of war. And make no mistake - the military has one function - to fight and win wars...anything else is wishful thinking and the stuff of fluff.

And so, I finally get to my question - What makes your blood boil? For me, personally, it is the hypocrisy of a nation that stands for so many things - so many great, positive, uplifting things - and yet the realities of the day drag you down to the depths of war crimes, rape, torture, murder. It absolutely makes my blood boil to read and hear the accounts of what is going on at Abu Ghraib, Gitmo and others.

And finally, I figure and wonder this - what has made America the great nation that it is? Was it visionaries who reasoned a fair constitution for the benefits of all man would lead a nation of power and prosperity? Or....is it really just conquest - either economically, militarily or a combination of both that allowed America to grow into the giant it is today? Because if it is the latter - then ask yourselves how far would you go to ensure your standard of living and quality of life? Maybe that, in the end is what this all comes down to.

[melissinha]

1. its why I'm a democrat

As a dual citizen, I perhaps have a different perspective from most Americans, perhaps not. But most definitely I fall under the no war, no reason category.I understoof the consequences of class and race at a very young age, but luckily was not subject to the undertoe of the missionary philosophy I was exposed to in Brazil. (Incidentally I have friends whose parents were missionaries and they are all Republicans)
I think this country is SO big and diverse that all the below statements are true, however contradictory they may be:

Was it visionaries who reasoned a fair constitution for the benefits of all man would lead a nation of power and prosperity?

Or....is it really just conquest - either economically, militarily or a combination of both that allowed America to grow into the giant it is today?

yes and yes. I think that the former allows the people of this Nation to feel ok about how they treat foreign and domestic labor. I think this country was founded upon equality, thats how you draw all the immigrants that built and continue to build the country.

As you may well conclude, I feel that is PRECISELY why I am a democrat, I am in favor of labor unions and what they do, and I am in favor of extending a helping hand to those were are less fortunate BECAUSE I know that this prosperity was built upon the backs of their forefathers (and even upon the backs of the lower class of today). We OWE it to them.

Answering your question. It does make my blood boil that the GOP leaders tout their Christianity while they ignore and abuse the less fortunate for power and greed. I hate the hypocrisy.

[wookie294]

2. America's mass denial of reality makes my blood boil

The incredible torture and abuse of Iraqi prisoners has been met by a big YAWN here in the states. It seems nobody is talking about the Iraq war and nobody gives a shit. Seriously! People outside of the USA care more about the Iraq war than average Americans.

[melissinha]

4. Precisely

That is also something that angers me. This country is SO BLIND and apathetic ... by no means would I say we.. we democrats know that global concern is quite important.

Sometimes I just want the UN to come in and arrest the Bush crime family, and subpoena the records in OH and hand the reigns to Kerry.

[Burma Jones]

3. Well, our attitudes toward the military are largely shaped by two

events, WWII and Vietnam.

Prior to WWII, we were a middling imperial power, nothing compared to Britain, Spain or France. In the 20's and 30's, our military was pretty weak. WWII showed us that if you aren't ready, you can get into trouble. After WWII, the folks that made enormous amounts of money producing armaments did not want to give that up. Hence, the Military-Industrial complex was born.

The military that fought in WWII included the sons of wealthy families as well as a cross-section of everyone else - this was the pre Military-Industrial complex military. The wars fought subsequently have not featured the same composition of classes. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and even Afghanistan, not to mention a handful of other engagements, have not had the substantial participation of the scions of the rich, powerful or educated.

So, folks that do not want to admit and embrace the employment of lower classes in the military, with the promise of advancement, hold on to that WWII attitude toward the military. I think that's the one that bothers you. It bothers me too, because it rings false due to the uneven spread of sacrifice in the post WWII military.

The folks that see through the BS, as particularly evidenced in Vietnam, have the same problem you do. Of course, THIS 50% of the people see it as hypocrisy of the other 50%, not all Americans. You will find some of the 50% that sees the military as a sick and twisted jobs program here on DU....

[wtbymark]

5. Liars

and I don't know if you've noticed but our 'standard of living' and thus 'quality of life' have been diminishing steadily for the past 30 years. There is virtually No middle class anymore, and with the passage of the bankruptcy bill, the middle class will surely be extinct. The GOP/Corperate coup that has been lying and swindleing the American public for 30 years is what pisses me off. The military just does what it's told -period. If you're looking for hypocracy - look at the bold face lies coming from the traitors in Washington. The good people of this country may be able to rescue it, we are trying, but it's 50/50, 'touch and go' at the moment. The world is only seeing the beginning of this battle now, and it probably wont be pretty. So your country (anybody's) should prepare for the consiquences of the fallout of this battle. Have a nice day! : )

[On the Road]

6. What Makes My Blood Boil? Condescension.

and a sense of entitlement.

As far as American militarism goes, it makes more sense if you realize that most Americans believe it's used in the service of good causes. I know what you mean, though. My German cousing visited DC a few years ago and we saw the mall and Vietam memorial. He said "The nationalism is shocking."

[getmeouttahere]

7. Puritanical jingoism...

lack of understanding of the world and its people...

too many people in this country have never ventured outside of its borders and are completely ignorant of the outside world...of course, these people vote for BushCo...empty symbolism is big with these people...protecting a piece of cloth isn't a big deal in other countries, but here these people want to amend the constitution to protect it...the leaders they blindly follow want perpetual war and destruction of the social safety net...and if there is one thing I have discovered in my travels abroad, it is that you can't have a just society without a social safety net...and to these people that is communism, or at least that's what their leaders want them to believe

I will never fully understand these people, and therefore, I will never fully understand my country. A country like Canada, that speaks to what is in my heart, what is right and just and good about people and community and brother/sisterhood.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

8. A list...

Abu Ghraib
Guat. Bay
Other toture prisons we don't know about
Iraq
War for Oil and Corporate profits
Right Wingers
Corruption within our Party
Centrists (see above)
Corporate World not giving a damn about anything but profits
Poverty
Republicans (just the normal "whatsinitforme" Attitude)
Apathetic Attitudes of American people
Health Care Crisis
Power
Education in America being so bad
Fear Factor (not the show)
Numerous other items like cancer cures not being available to US, sigh.....I could go on and on but it is too depressing.

[Bellamia]

9. HUBRIS

makes my blood boil. The excessive pride and arrogance of this Administration.

[Lannes]

10. Americans seeing that they have been misled

and still backing the people that misled them because they dont want to admit they were gullible or that they were wrong.

They would rather see this country turned into crapola first.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. Heartlessness. n/t

[Zorbuddha]

12. Pompous pretenders

They are everywhere.

[KansDem]

13. This...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4191559

[melissinha]

15. OMG

I can't read anymore... This government has to be stopped!!!

[whosinpower]

16. Yep

That is why I wrote this post - it was after reading that very story.

I'm having a hard time understanding.

When Canadian soldiers were found to have tortured and murdered a somali boy - the whole regiment was disbanded by Chretien. It created an uproar here in Canada - and while I sympathize with the innocent soldiers in that regiment - it sent a powerful message - torture will not be tolerated - period. I guess, at the end of the day, I am satisfied that Chretien did what he needed to do. I am sure there are those out there who would condemn Chretien for this....but we are better than that. We know better. And hiding ugly truths will not dismiss them to the world, to ourselves, our neighbors, friends or enemies.

We react differently to stories of torture - apparently. I freely admit our tiny weak impotent military is nothing compared to yours, but I cannot help wonder how it is that you got to this point. This point of turning the other cheek and hoping like hell nobody will care enough to notice, dissent or care. It is this apathy that enrages and frightens me the most. We are not the same as you - and yet, we are not so different, not so different at all.

[MsTryska]

14. what makes my blood boil?

greedy ass working stiffs who think somehow the anti-poor free-market agenda they espouse works for them.

[JHB]

17. High temperatures and/or low air pressures...

Sorry, just had to give a literal answer :spank:

[Just Me]

18. Exploitation of people. n/t

[Sparkly]

19. Purple-heart bandaids

They symbolized so much of what I hate about the Republican party, and everytime I think of that woman at the convention, cheering and waving a flag, wearing a purple heart bandaid, I get furious all over again. :mad: