It’s basic history Harry. You might not like to face the facts, of course, but the American military is highly criminal and responsible for the death of millions.
And that has what exactly to do with the average American person? Sounds like you’re trying to assign collective guilt upon every American.
There is an element of truth to that, but if you are going to self-identify “American” then one is choosing to be affiliated (loosely or tightly) with the acts of the American state, authorized by the consent of mass of the American people.
In that case, my use of the term ‘American’ is merely recognizing reality as it stands today. My usage of the familiar demonym shouldn’t lead one to jump to the conclusion that I am a de-facto representative of the American state.
I’m being pathetic because I don’t fit into your paradigm? Honestly, I think that is petty. Do you think I am lying that I wouldn’t cross the street just so I can hide my racist undertones, or perhaps it has not occurred to you that I have been so inspired by individualism that I see individuals as individuals and not as groups.
How gleefully you skirt along the edges of Marxism with this statement. ‘Racial consciousness’? What does that even mean? That there can be collectivist thought among races? If that be true then why not working classes? If you have no sufficient answer for that question then perhaps you are reading the wrong material and I being a generous individual will point you in the direction you implicitly affirm:
No…I would just be like tripping a blind man…
To paraphrase myself from last week, in a style favoured by Byzantine,
“Try telling that to the mother whose child was blown to porridge by a bomb with an American flag painted on the side.”
I am completely disgusted with my country’s involvement in Afghanistan, so much so that I am going to pursue renouncing my citizenship at one point. I would rather live without a nationality than self-identify with a group of murderers I despise and loathe. But that is me. Some people might call themselves socialist, while insisting they don’t support communism ideologically, but I think if we get down to brass tacks, it’s a case of wanting to have their cake and eat it as well.
Who exactly do you think make up and support the military ? Perhaps the ‘average’ American person ? Or maybe the martians ? Bush got 62 millions votes in 2004. Who voted for that scumbag and his ‘policies’ ?
No it doesn’t.
So are the germans…still they do not have a gun culture intrinsically related to the birth of their country.
You are mixing two different topics.
Right. I wasn’t one of his supporters nor have I been in the military. Neither have been a majority of Americans.
Yes, a collective judgement is what you’re making. By that logic, since your countries national ‘heroes’ are a fascist and his wife, I guess I can safely assume you subscribe to similar views.
Not only color…also race,ethnicity, nationality…
So are most western democracies. The point is, if someone wants to claim to be an American but not accept all that entails, then maybe they shouldn’t identify as an American.
Likewise, I don’t agree with, nor am I proud of what 10s of millions of people in my country do. So just because I was born here, and have the paperwork declaring my slavery (citizenship) doesn’t mean I must identify by nationalistic circumstance.
Nationalism is the enemy of freedom because it is entirely state-centric.
I’m talking about American militarism and its popular support, not about culture…or myths about gun ownership.
To expand on my last post, libertarians are generally for decentralization and localization via the voluntary association process.
So by the virtue, why don’t more people identify as Saskatchewanians? Or Montanans? Or Californians?
They do, but overwhelmingly, they seem committed to this stuff about being “American” or “Canadian” even when they overwhelmingly acknowledge that the Institution that forms these larger unions are corrupt, evil and murderous. Not exclusively, but substantially more so than the collective states/provinces under those national unions.
I’m always confused (and scared) when someone says, “I am proud to be X” (American, Canadian, British, Chinese whatever).
What is it about the government’s accomplishments, fueled by violence and theft are we so desperate to attach our identity to?
Ethnicity, nationality and culture fall under prejudice, not racism.
Don’t be too worried about it. America is a subjective social construct with an objective name.
It is not a myth, but a fact.
What is? I am missing something. In your mind is ‘gun culture’ (a term I see frequently used by gun grabbers) a good or bad thing?
‘Europe’ will always exist because that is the common name for that area of the world. ‘Ireland’ (the place) existed long before ‘Ireland’ (the state) did, as another example.
This in my mind is another area where libertarianism (as preached by some) has something in common with Marxism. Some people here seem to think that upon the (hopeful) death of states that people would no longer identify with regions, cities etc.
Neither nor.
I am not a gun grabber, but I do like guns, if that is your question…