Happy World Independence Day!!

[intensepump]

the 4th of july is just not american independence day
it is the celebration that the american dream is alive and real

While I completely disagree with most of the founding fathers
I understand the context of their dreams for america
they weren't gods
they were true revolutionaries for their times

i understand...i have the luxury of living in an almost post everything society
i'm not wrapped in the red, white, & blue;
I'm wrapped in freedom...in white, black, brown, and yellow....

my father was a racist,
when i was a boy, he tried to teach me that "niggers" weren't as good as me
my father finally learned himself that he was wrong about race from the wonderful black lady who cared for him in his final days
she was an angel, not a black angel
my father was a member of the conservative republican establishment
a former republican US senator
my father died after voting for barack obama and
after accepting and blessing my conversion to the democrat party

my genetic makeup and ancestry history...
does makes me an american poster child
I am english
I am irish
I am scottish
I am native american
I am german
I am french
i am dutch
i am black
I am chinese
I am japanese
I am mexican
I am jewish
I am christian
I am muslim
I am buddhist
I am agnostic
I am atheist
I am str8
I am bi
I am gay

I truly am a mutt…I am a light brown skinned man...I am core american

I ask the world not to judge america by the human shortcomings of our policies
america makes mistakes…many mistakes,
but the true core american dream is real and americans want it for all the world

I embrace the lessons and struggles of the past as I look to the future with hope
and the real hope is..that if I can see the truth, so can everyone else

the truth is, the american dream is alive...
very much so and it is no longer just the american dream
the pursuit of individual happiness...
the pursuit of individual freedom ...
is now the dream of all the world

the price for the dream is simple....tolerance
but it really isn't a price...
i see the acceptance and encouragement of diversity delivering a far richer and a much more interesting society to live in
I can't image living in a monocultural society, it would be so damn boring

thomas paine's dream is alive
john adams's dream is alive
mlk's dream is alive
rfk's dream is alive
Ronald Reagan's dream is alive
berie mac's dream is alive
and yes..michael jackson's dream is alive

michael jackson was not an african american...
he was post racial...
he was global...
he was micheal, I think this is what he was trying to tell us

so celebrate all over the world on this day...
the 4th of july is no longer just american independence day..

it was the beginning of the declaration of individual freedom for the entire world...
my friends rise up and fight whenever you think this dream is in jeopardy...
fight for the truth...for the dream that started in america and spread over the entire earth to all mankind

 

[duckmysick]

Right On intensepump! I agree..and a Happy 4th to u! And all of u!

 

[XMan101]

Happy 4th of July

One day I will be back over there for another visit. There is a common misconception about Americans which I know from first hand experience is untrue. There is good & bad in every country, but from the little corner I discovered were an open, forward-looking, and very generous people

Happy Independence Day !!

 

[sweetuttsada]

Happy 4th of July !

 

[Thor]

My gosh pump...do you ramble on like that on the senate floor? hahaha

just teasing babe Happy 4th...lol

 

[intensepump]

If I was a senator.....i would
we need this understanding of what our country really is...

but who would elect a gay dingbat to the us senate?

 

[Thor]

if i was a senator.....i would
we need this understanding of what our country really is...

But who would elect a gay dingbat to the us senate?

meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[ritsuka]

I feel the need to say that many people don't want the American dream--many of us see it as one towards social inequality and the pursuit of unsustainable consumption; as, indeed, there are not enough resources on the planet for the entire world to live as (some) americans do--and since there are plenty of people in the US not making it, it seems more sad for people outside the US to imagine the 'american dream' is attainable or desirable, especailly when the principal parts of that 'dream,' being wall street, the housing market, and automobile manufacture (i.e. becoming wealthy, having a big house in a 'good' neighborhood and 2-3 cars), have all collapsed under corruption and relentless greed; the middle class is a dying species here.

Many countries would like independence, though--independence from US financial and military institutions that prevent them from achieving self-determination. And the US certainly isn't leading the way on tolerance and inclusiveness in the first world--it just isn't. I live in the US myself, but I don't harbor illusions as I look around at the place I live. I'd like the best country in the world, but the means to getting there is not conceit and not only thinking about whether you survive, but looking at what works well in other countries and being willing to try those solutions, willing to work for collective prosperity too.

 

[Thor]

I feel the need to say that many people don't want the American dream--many of us see it as one towards social inequality and the pursuit of unsustainable consumption; as, indeed, there are not enough resources on the planet for the entire world to live as (some) americans do--and since there are plenty of people in the US not making it, it seems more sad for people outside the US to imagine the 'american dream' is attainable or desirable, especailly when the principal parts of that 'dream,' being wall street, the housing market, and automobile manufacture (i.e. becoming wealthy, having a big house in a 'good' neighborhood and 2-3 cars), have all collapsed under corruption and relentless greed; the middle class is a dying species here.

Many countries would like independence, though--independence from US financial and military institutions that prevent them from achieving self-determination. And the US certainly isn't leading the way on tolerance and inclusiveness in the first world--it just isn't. I live in the US myself, but I don't harbor illusions as I look around at the place I live. I'd like the best country in the world, but the means to getting there is not conceit and not only thinking about whether you survive, but looking at what works well in other countries and being willing to try those solutions, willing to work for collective prosperity too.

mankind governs itself, and men/women are often wrong...

show me a perfect place...please:x:-*

 

[intensepump]

I feel the need to say that many people don't want the American dream--many of us see it as one towards social inequality and the pursuit of unsustainable consumption; as, indeed, there are not enough resources on the planet for the entire world to live as (some) americans do--and since there are plenty of people in the US not making it, it seems more sad for people outside the US to imagine the 'american dream' is attainable or desirable, especailly when the principal parts of that 'dream,' being wall street, the housing market, and automobile manufacture (i.e. becoming wealthy, having a big house in a 'good' neighborhood and 2-3 cars), have all collapsed under corruption and relentless greed; the middle class is a dying species here.

Many countries would like independence, though--independence from US financial and military institutions that prevent them from achieving self-determination. And the US certainly isn't leading the way on tolerance and inclusiveness in the first world--it just isn't. I live in the US myself, but I don't harbor illusions as I look around at the place I live. I'd like the best country in the world, but the means to getting there is not conceit and not only thinking about whether you survive, but looking at what works well in other countries and being willing to try those solutions, willing to work for collective prosperity too.

It is clear...you don't know what the american dream is...
it's not about money and possessions...
it's about individual freedom...freedom to pursue...
the freedom to speak...such as...
YOU CAN SUCK MY BIG FAT AMERICAN COCK:-*

if it weren't for the americans and the brits (all uk actually)......
there would be no individual freedom at all in this world.

but I suppose you think the nazi way was a better way to collective prosperity. ok, the nazi thing didn't work out...but there were the soviet communists...oh yeah..that didn't work out, did it comrade. i guess working in a chinese sweat shop would be along the lines of collective prosperity your talking about.

so why is it that still today...more people immigrate to the us than any other country?
guess they are all wrong and you are right??

tell me where is it so much better than here?....
why aren't you immigrating there?
i'm willing to buy your plane tickets.

you seem to have such a big chip on your shoulder, you didn't even read what I wrote.

I said nothing about america being the perfect society without issues. that's exactly why i do what i do, to try to make it better. what i wrote about was the truth and celebrating that truth...
real individual freedom was born here and has since spread through out the world

And the question I always love to ask someone like you....
how many countries have you traveled to outside the us?.....
I have been in over 100 countries now and I know the world....do you?

 

[Thor]

It is clear...you don't know what the american dream is...
it's not about money and possessions...
it's about individual freedom...freedom to pursue...
the freedom to speak...such as...
YOU CAN SUCK MY BIG FAT AMERICAN COCK:-*

if it weren't for the americans and the brits (all uk actually)......
there would be no individual freedom at all in this world.

but I suppose you think the nazi way was a better way to collective prosperity. ok, the nazi thing didn't work out...but there were the soviet communists...oh yeah..that didn't work out, did it comrade. i guess working in a chinese sweat shop would be along the lines of collective prosperity your talking about.

so why is it that still today...more people immigrate to the us than any other country?
guess they are all wrong and you are right??

tell me where is it so much better than here?....
why aren't you immigrating there?
I'm willing to buy your plane tickets.

you seem to have such a big chip on your shoulder, you didn't even read what I wrote.

I said nothing about america being the perfect society without issues. that's exactly why i do what i do, to try to make it better. what i wrote about was the truth and celebrating that truth...
real individual freedom was born here and has since spread through out the world

And the question I always love to ask someone like you....
how many countries have you traveled to outside the us?.....
I have been in over 100 countries now and I know the world....do you?

hey pump, what ever ppl think is ok!! isnt that what we belive? or shouldent we be open to all?

 

[intensepump]

of course....but that doesn't stop me from telling them how wrong they are.....lol))

 

[Thor]

what makes you so sure?

 

[intensepump]

what makes you so sure?

I've been all over the world... experienced it first hand and I know history. Again...I didn't say america was the best place in the world to live...what i said was...we are the birthplace of individual freedom...and that is something to celebrate.

There are many places i would live...the uk for sure. I can't say this place or that place is better than here, but I can say that if a place does give its citizen's individual freedoms...america probably had a hand in it somehow, directly or indirectly.

 

[Thor]

ok

 

[garth33]

I've been all over the world... experienced it first hand and I know history. Again...I didn't say america was the best place in the world to live...what i said was...we are the birthplace of individual freedom...and that is something to celebrate.

There are many places i would live...the uk for sure. I can't say this place or that place is better than here, but I can say that if a place does give its citizen's individual freedoms...america probably had a hand in it somehow, directly or indirectly.

big fist-pump to IP! Yeah FREEDOM is the best...the US is withdrawing in Iraq and regardless of how you feel about that situation (I opposed it but almost 5000 Americans have lost their lives HOPEFULLY showing the Iraqi people they don't have to live under an asshole dictator EVER AGAIN)
- the REAL difference will be their ability to STAND UP for true democracy and defend themselves and I hope they can do that.

Just look at the recent "election" debacle in Iran...now supposedly "validated" by a recount...what a JOKE! I feel bad for any country that rules by theocracy rather than democracy...the people TRULY DO know best!

 

[XMan101]

big fist-pump to IP! Yeah FREEDOM is the best...the US is withdrawing in Iraq and regardless of how you feel about that situation (I opposed it but almost 5000 Americans have lost their lives HOPEFULLY showing the Iraqi people they don't have to live under an asshole dictator EVER AGAIN)
- the REAL difference will be their ability to STAND UP for true democracy and defend themselves and I hope they can do that.

Just look at the recent "election" debacle in Iran...now supposedly "validated" by a recount...what a JOKE! I feel bad for any country that rules by theocracy rather than democracy...the people TRULY DO know best!

There is a downside to everything. Did you know that since the fall of Saddam Hussain hundreds of gay & bisexual people in Iraq have been tortured or executed and a lot have fled the country! Odd that an evil dictator was so much more tollerant in that respect!

If you're interested to hear more there is a doentary on BBC Radio 5 this evening at 7PM UK time. You can listen over the net if you're not in Britain.

 

[intensepump]

yeah...iraq is not a good example...it is a bush bastardize mistake...

I'm not really talking about democracy either....democracy is the view of the majority which is wrong much of the time....

what I am talking about is the protection of personal freedoms and personal liberties. many times the majority in the us was wrong and against this...but eventually our country finds its way and corrects the mistakes it makes. Yes, our society has made many mistakes...but I don't know of any place that has done a better job of finding its way in this very difficult journey.

 

[ritsuka]

No, actually, the accepted dictionary definition of the american dream is one cheifly centered on financial prosperity and ascending to the middle or upper classes; you can look that up. But no, the entire world was not celebrating US nationalism yesterday, and certainly not your dimwitted conception of it. And actually, for 'individual freedom' you have to look much earlier, to the age of enlightenment and the rights of man, drafted in France; much later to the universal declaration of human rights, which includes things like healthcare and housing, which some countries, such as Germany and ones in Scandinavia, have fully recognized. I need not talk about how in practical legislation and internationally recognized statistics and indices, US is not listed as 1 for personal liberties or a lack of POVERTY; something that a rich senator's son from a right wing family obviously didn't have to deal with. It is possible to have a million different opinions as a world traveler, but since you are obviously so emotionally and intellectually immature that having a rational conversation about this is impossible with you, I will leave it there; but it is funny how you seem so apologetic and patronizing until you meet a fellow citizen who actually wants to stand up in solidarity with the people of america and the rest of the world; all you have then are stock answers and insulting, stupid questions that you repeat over and over. International members of this community will easily see how easy it is to disagree that everything american is the best and what the entire world wants to be like; so perhaps you should learn to celebrate our holidays with more humble speeches.

And yes, xman, you are right; life was better before the US invaded, and even better before the UN sanctions in the 1990's that starved half a million children to death. They will be lucky if the US ever truly and completely leaves (not a current part of Obama's plan), ever stops dictating Iraqi policy from afar, ever completely leaves the entire middle east.

 

[XMan101]

Love your directness ritsuka . I like a man with strong views. I could reply with a lot of my own but it's too late here to think it out.

All I will say is that please don't get too personal with each other. Keep it friendly please