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America Is Not the Greatest Country on Earth. It’s No. 28

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Re: America Is Not the Greatest Country on Earth. It’s No. 28

#7
When traveling in the US, I'm always amused at the reactions of disbelief, horror, aggression, and utter incredulity when I propose that their country isn't the greatest in the world.

After all, they likely hear or are told every day that they are not only "free" (unlike everywhere else?) but the "greatest".

Re: America Is Not the Greatest Country on Earth. It’s No. 28

#8
post #5

I thought it was interesting that according to their numbers the U.S. has fewer homicides than Germany (which is worse than Syria?!). That's quite surprising.

The graphs are a bit confusing. higher = better, actually (there is a small bit saying "safe levels/ unsafe levels" above the 1st graph). I was also confused why Saudia Arabia would have such high issues with alcohol, whereas in fact it is Russia that does...

Re: America Is Not the Greatest Country on Earth. It’s No. 28

#9
Reminds me of a Michael Parenti speech on "Superpatriotism" from 1988. There's no existing transcript I can find so I may be the first to do this:

"The superpatriots love of country seems predicated on the country being 'up there', stronger and superior to other countries.

What happens if it's gonna slip? What about people from ... lesser lands? What about somebody from...Luxembourg. I mean now, Luxembourg is #122, just barely ahead of San Marino in its military might.

So what does someone from Luxembourg do? Do they go around shame-faced? Do people tease them, "Are you from Luxembourg?", "No no, I'm uh...French". And you say, "Do you love your country" and they say "well wha..what is there to love ... I mean a few border police, no army, no navy ..."

Here's the mp3: http://9ol.es/luxembourg.mp3

The entire speech: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/23514

Re: America Is Not the Greatest Country on Earth. It’s No. 28

#10
post #5

I thought it was interesting that according to their numbers the U.S. has fewer homicides than Germany (which is worse than Syria?!). That's quite surprising.

The graphs are a bit confusing. higher = better, actually (there is a small bit saying "safe levels/ unsafe levels" above the 1st graph). I was also confused why Saudia Arabia would have such high issues with alcohol, whereas in fact it is Russia that does...

I did not mention the higher = better. I was wondering how can Russia be so great at handling unsafe drinking!
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