Why I Love The Us - Life Is Too Easy Here!

[Shahan Araradian]

I completely agree with you Sip. I know that you're all talking about how easy it is to get technology in this thread, but I'd like to add that it's very easy to get anything in the U.S., like music scores! Talking to my mom I always appreciate that we don't live through the hardships they've seen in the Soviet Union. The U.S. is the land of plenty, and (to Shahan) no, most countries in the world don't have the same luxurious living standard as the U.S. After living in the U.S. for so many years, we begin to take things for granted, like the ability to buy anything we want, like walking into a store and purchasing a beautiful dress to go out in the evening, like running out of toothpaste and thinking you'll just get it after work. Life is easy in the U.S. and it was easy even 50 years ago even without cell phones.

That is true if you're coming from Armenia or Bangladesh. And then you stay in the U.S. and don't see any other countries...

[Shahan Araradian]

There is absolutely nothing to indicate to any rational thinking fellow that in 40 years man will be independent thanks to robot helpers like something out of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot.

Yes there is...

 

Watch this http://www.singinst.org/media/thesingularity

[Shahan Araradian]

How do you justify this claim?

That is a long topic. But the evidence is clear both internally (within the U.S.) as well as externally (e.g. war in Iraq)... Ask any European.

 

This comes best through experience, though, so join a Fortune 100 to find out

Edited August 25, 2007 by Shahan Araradian

[Sip]

That is a long topic. But the evidence is clear both internally (within the U.S.) as well as externally (e.g. war in Iraq)... Ask any European.

 

The war in Iraq is a political war. You are going to justify lack of humanity in "society" by a political war (a VERY unpopular one at that)?

[Shahan Araradian]

Maybe, if we are lucky, people will figure out who Shahan Araradian is and his message and elect him to the throne of the new World Government and you can slowly begin to implement your new new new 5-year-plan. Goal: in 5 years, man will have robot helpers (a.k.a. a euphemism for Mexicans) working and tilling the fields for free, so we can achieve our goal of removing the shackles of evil capitalist American oppression.

The revolution has already begun; indeed it's been going on since the beginning of time, and there is no "leader." It is an inevitable consequence of evolution, like the spontaneous jump from inanimate to animate matter.

 

Today, it is profits that are driving the creation of these technologies, and the global economic system is not likely to change within 40 years.

[Shahan Araradian]

The war in Iraq is a political war. You are going to justify lack of humanity in "society" by a political war (a VERY unpopular one at that)?

That was just one example. What does a "political war" mean? Does that justify the bad karma the U.S. is spreading there? At the end of the day, it's Americans waging the war, and the American people are doing a good job of keeping silent on their "unpopular" view toward the war don't you think?

 

Indeed, war is business. That's why everyone is in on the game (by everyone I mean the power elite who run the show; the masses are just fed some fear over CNN and the rest of the media over the fictitious "terrorists" -- it's just like in the Cold War -- you NEED to create an "enemy" and it doesn't matter if it's real or not, just create one to justify several hundred billion dollar defense budgets -- do you know how many companies that supports?; indeed, all the while, the Soviets weren't "enemies" they were business partners! Rockefeller funded the USSR's military program).

 

If Americans (really the power elite among them) had any humanity, they wouldn't be an empire. It is just like the Turks. Empires by definition must be inhumane, and seek to devour more resources and trample anything -- including humans -- that get in the way. (at the end of the day, though, it is the power elite who benefit.) What is being created today is a one-world government.

Edited August 25, 2007 by Shahan Araradian

[Sip]

Shahan, how do you justify the FACT that anytime there is any disaster in the world, the US is usually the first to send aid and usually the one that sends by faaaaaaar the most?

 

You went back to talking about the power elite and their lack of humanity. I don't see how that has anything to do with your claim of how the US "society lacks" humanity. Yes yes yes we know CNN brain washed everyone blah blah ruling elite bad. But that does NOT change the fact, yes THE FACT, that the people in the US are some of the most HUMANE and giving people in the world. Just by the fact that you are saying they had to be brainwashed into thinking the war in Iraq was somehow humanely justified (to fight terrorists) is testament to this!!! The people in the US don't support a war for territorial expansion, conquering, or oppression ... they initially (and currently) support the war because they thought (think) it is for the better good. Now in reality the reasons given to them may not be accurate for the war but this doesn't change the FACT that the society was in support of the war for HUMANE reasons.

 

Your claim that the US society is inhumane is completely baseless according to anything you have said so far.

[Shahan Araradian]

Shahan, how do you justify the FACT that anytime there is any disaster in the world, the US is usually the first to send aid and usually the one that sends by faaaaaaar the most?

That is laughable. Remember hurricane Katrina? Who is sending aid to Iraq? Who created the Iraq disaster?

 

You went back to talking about the power elite and their lack of humanity. I don't see how that has anything to do with your claim of how the US "society lacks" humanity.

They are inter-related, as 1% of the population controls 95% of the decision-making. They set the policy of the U.S. and they create American "culture" through the media they own and control.

 

Yes yes yes we know CNN brain washed everyone blah blah ruling elite bad. But that does NOT change the fact, yes THE FACT, that the people in the US are some of the most HUMANE and giving people in the world.

Right. Genocide of the native Americans, funding of the Israeli apartheid fascist state, toppling of governments abroad -- often placing dictators who are enemies of the local people -- creating debts slaves out of developing nations (and their own domestic population), and on and on.

 

Just by the fact that you are saying they had to be brainwashed into thinking the war in Iraq was somehow humanely justified (to fight terrorists) is testament to this!!!

Those "terrorists" don't really exist; they were created by the American power elite; bin Laden is merely an actor in the giant play. Why do you think there was never a trial to find out who really was behind 9/11? A day before 9/11 bin Laden was being treated in a U.S. hospital run by the CIA in the Middle East. How do you explain that? Who were the dancing Israeli spies who were employed by an Israeli moving company who were photographing the burning twin towers from NJ and celebrating? Why did the U.S. government release them after three months in prison?

 

The people in the US don't support a war for territorial expansion, conquering, or oppression ...they initially (and currently) support the war because they thought (think) it is for the better good. Now in reality the reasons given to them may not be accurate for the war but this doesn't change the FACT that the society was in support of the war for HUMANE reasons.

U.S. society is what the power elite create it to be: highly-specialized/trained workers who have a memory of 2 weeks, are practically wage slaves, and take any orders given to them. They are quite nearly Universal AIs that lack all humanity; this is what the power elite have trained them to be... (for the most part; there are exceptions)

 

Your claim that the US society is inhumane is completely baseless according to anything you have said so far.

Judge a group by its actions, not by what they say. Judging by the actions of the U.S.A. (and if it is "led" by "the people" as they claim) then U.S. society both internally and externally is very inhumane. Humanity is taking a step backwards in the U.S. today both in the corporate world which dominates the lives of most Americans as well as in the foreign policy of the U.S. which is spreading far too much bloodshed and bad karma. That is what I call inhumane. You might call it a "political war."

[Sip]

That is laughable. Remember hurricane Katrina?

 

Absolutely! If it wasn't for the generocity, kindness, and humanity of the average Joe in the US, faaaar more people would have suffered and perhaps died in that disaster as the government proved to be completely inept in this case. How many did the city of Houston take in? Heck I seem to recal several hundred of those poor bastards ended up here in Wisconsin and were taken in with wide open arms. Trucks and truck loads of goods left Madison with food and supplies (donated by private citizens out of the goodness of their hearts) to help Katrina victims. I dontated too ... did you? So how is remembering Katrina any sort of support for what you are claiming?

 

Who created the Iraq disaster?

 

Sadam.

 

The rest of your post deals with the 1% "decision makers", CIA, power elite, government funding of Israel, and your typical b!tching about those who have to work to earn money (oh my what a dreadful concept). None of this has much to do with the "humanity" of its society. Once again I will remind you that you yourself are making this distinction between 1% vs 99%. The "society" is the 99%. If you are going to discuss this, stick to that part

 

Judge a group by its actions, not by what they say. Judging by the actions of the U.S.A. (and if it is "led" by "the people" as they claim) ...

 

Stop RIGHT there. You can't have it both ways. Either it's "led by the people" or not. So far in every post you are claiming it is NOT led by the people. Now all of a sudden you want to turn the table around and try to make a case that the society is leading the way and through the actions of its government, it is inhumane? Sounds like a very convenient 180 on your part rather than trying to back up your rediculous claim on your own terms (which is not really possible).

Edited August 26, 2007 by Sip

[Anoushik]

That is true if you're coming from Armenia or Bangladesh. And then you stay in the U.S. and don't see any other countries...

I've seen other countries, thank you very much. Nothing compares to the U.S.' "plentiness" and affordability.

[Anoushik]

Great post above, Sip.

 

Shahan, the U.S. has a lot of humanity. The Americans born and raised here from generation to generation have a lot of humanity. Tell me what experience you have with the Americans (not newcomers but those whose parents and grandparents were also born here and who are primarily Anglo-Saxon or a mix of West Europeans)? I don't think you have spent much time with the true Americans. Tell me if I'm wrong.

[Shahan Araradian]

Great post above, Sip.

 

Shahan, the U.S. has a lot of humanity. The Americans born and raised here from generation to generation have a lot of humanity. Tell me what experience you have with the Americans (not newcomers but those whose parents and grandparents were also born here and who are primarily Anglo-Saxon or a mix of West Europeans)? I don't think you have spent much time with the true Americans. Tell me if I'm wrong.

Way wrong. Of course there are differences between white Americans between regions of the U.S. and across socio-economic lines. It is a large country, after all. (For example, "Anglo-Americans" in the S.F. bay area have a reputation for non-violence, sustainable living, elements of humanity. I wouldn't say the same vibe exists in NY or LA or most of the rest of the US.)

Edited August 26, 2007 by Shahan Araradian

[Shahan Araradian]

Stop RIGHT there. You can't have it both ways. Either it's "led by the people" or not. So far in every post you are claiming it is NOT led by the people. Now all of a sudden you want to turn the table around and try to make a case that the society is leading the way and through the actions of its government, it is inhumane? Sounds like a very convenient 180 on your part rather than trying to back up your rediculous claim on your own terms (which is not really possible).

You misread. What I meant to say is that EITHER way you look at it -- whether society's behavior is created by the power elite or "the masses" -- you get the same result.

[Shahan Araradian]

Sadam.

HAHA! Saddam was the U.S.'s man! He was planted there!

[AK-47]

HAHA! Saddam was the U.S.'s man! He was planted there!

Yep, Saddam was nothing but another USA installed dictator (along the lines of Noriega, Pinochet, Ceausescu, Duvalier etc) who tortured and killed his own people as well as waged a useless 8 year war against Iran, all the while being funded and armed by none other than the USA. The 1979 Islamic Revolution was a disaster for the States' foreign policy and secular Saddam was perfect to help weaken it. I wonder why the States had nothing to say or do when the Kurds were initially gassed in the 80s and only come up with this issue now. I love the irony behind the Rumsfeld-Saddam handshake picture, its just "worth a thousand words" as the old saying goes.

 

In 1982, Iraq and Saddam Hussein were taken off the list of "terrorist supporting states" in order to be eligable for US aid. In 1989, one full year after ending the war with Iran and gassing of the Kurds, Bush I declared : "normal relations between the US and Iraq would serve our longer-term interests and promote stability in both the Gulf and the Middle East".

 

In 1991, Saddam stepped out of line and invaded Kuwait and the rest is history.

[Anoushik]

Way wrong. Of course there are differences between white Americans between regions of the U.S. and across socio-economic lines. It is a large country, after all. (For example, "Anglo-Americans" in the S.F. bay area have a reputation for non-violence, sustainable living, elements of humanity. I wouldn't say the same vibe exists in NY or LA or most of the rest of the US.)

Shahan, you have a tendency to write about what you've heard of or read somewhere about certain things. Again, I ask you, what personal experience do you have?

[Anonymouse]

HAHA! Saddam was the U.S.'s man! He was planted there!

 

Woah!

 

I NEVER KNEW THAT!

 

You mean, planted, like as in I planted some cannabis in my backyard? JESUS!

[Shahan Araradian]

Shahan, you have a tendency to write about what you've heard of or read somewhere about certain things.

No, Anoushik. They're all from personal experiences. I don't read much about such issues...

 

Again, I ask you, what personal experience do you have?

They are innumerable. Though I've had better experiences with some Bay Area Anglo's which are not representative of the rest of the U.S. (especially not L.A. society)

 

This is a long issue which spans numerous topics and I've touched upon them elsewhere.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Shahan Araradian

[Sip]

This is a long issue which spans numerous topics and I've touched upon them elsewhere.

 

You keep bouncing back and forth between LA and the Bay Area. You do realize that neither is really "representative" of the US as a whole, right? The feminized bay area culture and the Hollywood "fascade" are parts of the US but represent the extremes rather than the means.

[Shahan Araradian]

You keep bouncing back and forth between LA and the Bay Area. You do realize that neither is really "representative" of the US as a whole, right? The feminized bay area culture and the Hollywood "fascade" are parts of the US but represent the extremes rather than the means.

That is true; I'm not all-knowing and I haven't interacted with every American from every city and small town.

 

But the collective behavior of America is clear in both the value system (or lack thereof) of American media (including TV shows & other "entertainment") which manufacture/create American "culture" as well as foreign policy -- e.g. the Iraq war for fabricated reasons -- not to mention internal inhumanity towards its own citizens and the double-standards of keeping "migrant workers" from Latin America which are effectively modern-day slaves; while most of the rest of the population have been reduced to debt-slaves (alternatively, wage slaves) with ridiculous problems of affordability in most cities.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Shahan Araradian

[Anonymouse]

That is true; I'm not all-knowing and I haven't interacted with every American from every city and small town.

 

But the collective behavior of America is clear in both the value system (or lack thereof) of American media (including TV shows & other "entertainment") which manufacture/create American "culture" as well as foreign policy -- e.g. the Iraq war for fabricated reasons -- not to mention internal inhumanity towards its own citizens and the double-standards of keeping "migrant workers" from Latin America which are effectively modern-day slaves; while most of the rest of the population have been reduced to debt-slaves (alternatively, wage slaves) with ridiculous problems of affordability in most cities.

 

If I could make one request, kind sir, is that if you may, for at least a few seconds, pull your head out of your arse, and wake up from that Marxian dream of how "culture" and "consciousness" are produced and implanted into the minds of people. That this phenomenon exists, does not defeat the notion that it is also a product of the people.

 

There are many false assumptions and loaded phrases in all of your posts, and I got a taste of this when debating you about the U.S. in the International forum.

 

First, you make a bold claim that the media (including TV Shows & other "entertainment") produce American culture. Do you have any evidence of this other than a mere assertion? It can just as well be stated that the television shows and entertainment are nothing more than a reflection of Americans' values, and not the other way around. After all, in order for something to be successful there has to be a market for it, i.e. supply must meet demand. It's a basic principle of economics, and that you do not understand this and make such erroneous statements that these TV shows "produce culture" is indicative of your economic ignorance my friend. As horrible as the show Friends was, it appealed to a large cross section of the white liberals who made the show popular. And why is it that shows get canceled in the first place? Lack of ratings. Wow, that's some culture producing power right there!

 

Second, you state that the media produced the justifications for going to war in Iraq. While the media is no innocent darling in America, and no sane mind listens to Faux Snooze or CNN, the media merely supports what it gets from the official insiders and administration hacks. In that sense, the media is guilty for collusion, but not for fabricating the lies. They originate from the politicians and planners and senior analysts and think tanks, etc.

 

Third, your assertion that migrant workers are slaves is another leftist-socialist-Marxist cliche. There is nothing to indicate that and you have not proven they are slaves by merely stating they are. You do not describe the way things are, but the way things ought to be, and it's similar to Marxism. Things ought to be a certain way in order to come out with a validated theory, or world view or paradigm.

 

Lastly, Americans are debt slaves because of a fraudulent institution known as the Federal Reserve and the fractional reserve banking system. There is nothing just about it and it is a scam. By allowing people access to cheap and easy credit, people naturally take it. What is cheap or free is always going to be abused. The grossest example of this is all things that are publicly owned, such as freeways. Because they are publicly owned (which I am guessing you're an advocate of judging from your leftist-socialist views), there are abuses and overuse, i.e. tragedy of the commons.

Edited August 27, 2007 by Anonymouse

[Sip]

But the collective behavior of America is clear in both the value system (or lack thereof) of American media (including TV shows & other "entertainment") which manufacture/create American "culture" as well as foreign policy ...

 

Shahan, you have GOT to stop watching TV. I'd suggest you take a round trip drive from SF Bay to New York City. Allocate maybe 4 weeks ... spend a couple of days in different cities ranging from small to medium. Try to avoid Vegas and other "tourist" resorts. You are already quite familiar with the west coast culture so don't waste any time on that side on this trip.

 

A nice 16 hour (straight) drive through the corn belt should at least convince you that this country produces an amazing amount of stuff -- and I mean AMAZING -- and the true sense will only come by seeing things in person to really appreciate what the "production numbers" really mean. There are actually places with corn farms for as long as your eyes can see in any direction just flat for hundreds and hundreds of miles in ANY direction. But you don't even have to get to the corn belt to appreciate this as you can also simply take a drive around CA outside of the major metropolitan regions (but what's the fun in that? ) ... try maybe Grand Junction in CO and Dubuque in Iowa ... spend some time in Chicago (go have some Argo Tea -- the Armenian guys who own it are super guys) ... heck come spend a few days in Madison (if you haven't been, this place WILL amaze you, especially if you spend any time interacting with the people and try to get a sense of the culture) ... make your way through the Midwest towards the east coast. Get to New York but don't spend too much time in the city itself (that should be a separate trip by itself) .. explore the east coast ... spend some time at some local motels (avoid staying in big chains so you get exposed to some real people).

 

On the way back, stick to a more southern route ... you don't have to go straight into the bible belt but that wouldn't hurt either. Take a break in Cincinnati and check out the river. Make your way down to Nashville by maybe going through North Carolina and spending some time there. Spend a day or so in Nashville. Talk to people. Go to local bars and restaurants (not to any restaurant name you recognize from home). Heck go check out New Orleans (not if there is a threat of Huricane). Try Bourbon street (I said avoid the touristic resorts but this is an exception ) ... and make your way from Louisiana into Texas. As much as I think the people in Louisiana (the true locals) will amaze you, Texas is where I think you will be most shocked with the kind of people you will meet. Not at all what you would expect I imagine. Then try Santa Fe and make your way back through Arizona. While you are driving, just make an effort to go through Sedona but that's not a must.

 

By the way, as much as I love the people and their humanity in the Midwest, some of the most "culture" and real humanity in the US you will probably find in those southern states that often get a bad rap as being "red neck". Of course I'm not saying go LIVE in back-water Alabama as obviously someone who enjoys the "finer" things in the SF Bay Area would have some trouble adjusting. But at least go spend SOME time in some of these places before making any claims about them -- especially if your only exposure to those places has been US "Media".

 

After all this, I REALLY doubt you will claim the media you are exposed to is at all representative of what US Society is all about.

 

-----

PS to the mouse ... GOOD post!

Edited August 27, 2007 by Sip

[Anonymouse]

By the way Sip, the guys who own Argo Tea are my cousins best friends. I happen to have some Red Tea and Raspberry Tea as we speak! Damn that stuff is good!

[Anonymouse]

I wonder if the media is influencing Shahan Araradian's mind and perception about U.S. "culture". Hmmmm? Wow, that would be irony!

[Anoushik]

I was just thinking that. No matter how Shahan would like to believe that he's a free man, he's the exact opposite of free. He's allowed himself to succumb to the various conspiracy theories, which in itself shows that he's no longer a free man.