Chizazz 0 #26 February 3, 2004 I personally find Ethiopia quite pleasant in the spring time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZL60 0 #27 February 3, 2004 Good poll I've been lucky, I've been fortunate to travel and live in numerous countries and experience different cultures. Not all of them of course, no where near a large number but 12 different countries over the course of the last 20 years and 6 of those in this, most definitely IMHO great land that is the United States. What makes it great? well, numerous reasons, some of which expressed here.. For me, in my case, its the idea one often hears discussed of the American Dream. I do believe in this and believe it to be alive and well, flourishing from coast to coast and everywhere in between. It's the notion that one can be whatever you want to be and that the only real tangible limits are limits one places on oneself. If you want to be a volunteer, go for it. If you want to serve your community or country, go for it. If you want to be a corporate executive, go for it. If you want to be a tandem instructor.. well umm.. you nuts? j/k.. go for it !! I can't imagine a situation where I'd want to leave this country. Who said Kiwis can't fly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Muenkel 0 #28 February 3, 2004 I think America is the greatest country because we can beat the shit out of any other country. Except maybe China...I hear they are stockpiling MSG. Chris _________________________________________ Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racer42 0 #29 February 3, 2004 I have travelled extensively mostly Europe and the Middle East, both of which I liked a great deal. It was a great learning experience. I wish everyone, especially Americans, would spend some extended time overseas. It might help temper some of our baser attitudes. Having said that, I still get a chill when I see the American flag. They didn't call this the "great experiment" for nothing. America's biggest "problem" is it's biggest asset. We're just not finished yet.L.A.S.T. #24 Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team Electric Toaster #3 Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor Co-Founder Team Happy Sock Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GroundZero 0 #30 February 3, 2004 My second favorite country is Mars. This is why I strongly support exploration. But, like everyone else, my favorite country is Earth. Just look at all the fun inhabitants. Many of the ones I know like to do things like gravity challenging events. Most of those think they can fly in a gravity that is measured on Earth 1.0! ... oh sorry... I thought you said planet... Chris Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkydivingNurse 0 #31 February 3, 2004 I travelled pretty widely when I was in the Navy, and I think that this is the greatest country. Sure, our people are great, but there are fantastic people everywhere. I think what sets us apart is our level of freedom. We can worship how we want, speak fairly freely, protest our own government, act like a complete nincompoop if we want to, vote, enjoy the fruits of our labors, things like that. Are we perfect? No. I honestly believe that this is the greatest country that the world has ever known. I love this land, I love her people, I put my own tender body on the line to do what I could to protect her, but I would never say that we are perfect. Oh, and our beer kicks much butt as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #32 February 3, 2004 I am not as well travelled as many on a worldly scale. I've been to Canada a few times, Barbados too. I have lived, or visited, in nearly every state in the Union (all but, ND, SD, IA, NE, KS, OK, MS, and NM) and through that I have met people from all over the world. I've not encountered much in the way of "anti-American" attitudes, rather, it's been criticism (to varying degrees) of our leadership, and our role in the world. Fine with me. The very fact that people can come here and do that says wonders. Besides, I tend not to let political disagreements screw with my interpersonal relationships (most of the time anyway, besides, Quade knows I'm just kidding ). It's just politics, ideas. I don't need to go to China to know that the leadership there slaughtered 8,000+ of its own citizens. I don't need to go to North Korea to know that most of them are starving. I don't need to go to Paris or Berlin to know that there are many people critical of the US (for whatever reason). Fine. What I know also, without the benefit of worldly travel (a matter of choice and circumstance) is that there are not droves of people fleeing the US in search of opportunity, in fact, it's just the opposite. There are very few countries that can make that claim I think.So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vonSanta 0 #33 February 3, 2004 I think what sets us apart is our level of freedom. We can worship how we wantSo can we., speak fairly freelyso can we, protest our own government so can we, act like a complete nincompoop if we want to so can we, vote so can we, enjoy the fruits of our labors so can we, things like that yah, same here. To truly know another culture, you must spend a couple of years and be fully intregrated into it. A quick stop and splash ain't enough. We'll favour what we know over what we only have a brief understanding of. Our criteria for selection will be different. But in, say, any northern European country, the basic freedoms Americans enjoy are present. There are minor differences, but by an large it's the same. There ain't "more" freedom in the US than in northern Europe if one sums up all the pluses and minuses. The original question is overly broad and impossible to quantify, I think. Your mileage may vary Santa Von GrossenArsch I only come in one flavour ohwaitthatcanbemisunderst Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrose7 0 #34 February 3, 2004 QuoteI don't need to go to China to know that the leadership there slaughtered 8,000+ of its own citizens. I guess I just don't think a government is all a country is made of. Don't forget the people, the land, etc. I, personally, have not been to China either. I sure would like to go though. There is rich culture (and I am not talking about currency), and much beauty to be found. I couldn't say what the greatest country in the world is. I do have my favorites though. I love the U.S. because it is home, and it is familiar. One of the most beautiful countries I have been to is Hungary. The coolest culture I encountered was in the Netherlands. I have so many more places to go though, so who knows.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The mind is like a parachute--it works better when it is open. JUMP. MaryRose Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scratch 0 #35 February 3, 2004 Bwhahahahaha. Been to China, not as a tourist and spent over a month working in the Shanghai docklands. Cool people. Cool culture. Great food. Awesome gamblers....don't do it, you will lose. I met a few Americans there. Too afraid to leave the city block where their hotel was situated. Too afraid to eat the food. Too afraid to socialise with people different than them. All this while I was out painting the town red with buddies who's language I did not vaguely understand.Visiting a foreign culture is one thing. Immersing yourself in it is another. BTW........Dog is yummy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peacefuljeffrey 0 #36 February 3, 2004 The only time I was ever out of the U.S. was when I went to England for a semester as a senior in college. Yes, I had a good time, but the English way of life is not for me. I remember thinking that everything was sort of like back home in America, but not quite as good. The cars and roads: not quite as good. The food and restaurants (and variety): not quite as good. The movie theaters: not quite as good. The amenities in the typical household: not NEARLY as good. In particular, many homes seemed to have mini-sized "cookers" instead of your typical kitchen stove/range/oven thing. Washing machines are smaller too. (Maybe not as a rule, but, the small versions of everything are quite common, but when was the last time you saw such a thing in any house or even apartment in the U.S.?) For me, what I think makes America the indisputable best country in the world is no other country takes freedom and rights so seriously and tries as hard to guarantee them. Yes, we have had problems. Yes, at our inception we did have slavery. Yes, we took a long time to guarantee blacks equal rights. But there is no other country with a Constitution anything close to ours, guaranteeing SO much freedom to the people. Many other places (like England and France) say that the power is inherent in the government, to give to the people. Here, ultimate power is the people's, and we give portions of it to the government to keep order. But we always retain the right -- and the duty -- to take it back if it is abused. Look at England: there are literally several MILLION cameras keeping tabs on the public in all areas. It is not "like" 1984, it IS 1984. The presumption is "everyone must be watched because at any time the average citizen could and will turn criminal." If that's not the premise, then how do they rationalize having all the cameras keeping the population under surveillance? Are they admitting that crime is so incredibly prevalent that it necessitates a constant watch? I mean, go read 1984: everyone was kept under constant video surveillance! How eerily familiar,and people just lay down and took it. I can't see living like that, but we're headed that way already. So yes, Freedom, and our attitude toward it, are what make America the best country of all. In that respect, no other country even comes close. All have curtailments that we would not countenance. The only area we could improve to be like some others is to ditch this idiotic idea that prohibition of drugs is solving any problems whatsoever. I don't do drugs and never have, but I know for certain that we have huge problems not because of their use or abuse,but because we keep them illegal. Peace, ---Jeffrey-Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #37 February 3, 2004 Why'd you think its called "Great" Britain? I heard on the radio the other day said to an American "Great Britain - you know, the country that used to run the world before you guys took over". LMAO Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #38 February 3, 2004 HAHAHAHAHH..........HAHAHAHAH............HAHAHAH...........The ROADS and the CARS!!! You have to be joking, I've just come back again from the states and while it has alot going for it ,the roads and the cars suck! I don't know anywhere outsdie of Africa that I've driven on such poorly surfaced and constructed roads (Actualy most of the roads in South Africa put the ones I drove on in Florida to shame.) As for the cars, they may be big but you cant go around a corner faster than 15kmph because of the wet sponge like suspension which then continues to rock the car for a couple of hundred foot just to remind you went around a corner. The engines are oversized and and noisy for no apparent reason. When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scratch 0 #39 February 3, 2004 Hey Skyrad It is not the cars fault. Look at the loads they have to haul. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skyrad 0 #40 February 3, 2004 Nou net die vlam kom......When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy. Lucius Annaeus Seneca Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scratch 0 #41 February 3, 2004 QuoteNou net die vlam kom...... Nah. They just ignore it. They go to your profile, see where you come from and if it is not part of the 'real bigist, best, most free, huggy kissy world' your opinion will be passed over. After all opinions like that cannot possibly exist <> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
winsor 191 #42 February 3, 2004 In that I'm in Serbia as I write this, I suppose I can say "yes" to having been places other than the US of A. Asking what is the best in any group requires some standard against which to measure. If you want to know whether a Ferrari is better than a minivan, it depends for what purpose it is intended. For picking up Cub Scouts and schlepping around suburbia, the Voyager is the choice hands down. For wailing around curves at significant Mach numbers, the Quattrovalvole is the way to go. Where I am in Serbia (Vrsac) is a case in point for why our standards are not at all universal. Despite the economic damage inflicted by Wesley Clark's NATO alliance, this place has a lot to recommend it. People are well educated, well groomed, phenomenally hospitable and extremely family oriented. Booze is a part of the culture, but drinking to excess is not. The quality of life has it all over many more upscale rat-race locales. By some standards I would pick Vietnam, by others the South of France. I would settle in Southern Germany in a heartbeat if I could pull it off, and might go for Switzerland if I ever had more money than God. There are things about the US about which I am entirely chauvanistic, but I think some Americana is downright horrid. Then again, I've yet to be anywhere that I thought was 100% together. In any event, I don't think any place is all things to all people. Blue skies, Winsor Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
larry 0 #43 February 3, 2004 Like most things, none are the greatest. Like people some are better than others depending on what facet of the culture or geography or government you look at. Personally I loved the year I spent on a relatively small island in the Philippines the most. Wife and I will retire there as soon as kids are in college. (that's the plan anyway) Europe 4 years (1 civilian – 3 military) Korea 1 year (military) Philippines 1 year (civilian) If you are military or civilian definitely makes a big difference on how well you see the real culture.“Now click your heels together 3 times so you can return to Kansas to live in poverty with your teetotaling, dirt farming aunt and uncle!” paraphrased Prof. Farnsworth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcrocker 0 #44 February 3, 2004 I spent 10 days cycling around the south island of New Zealand and I absolutely loved it. Everything about that island is awesome. I would love to go back. My wife and I are passport stamp collectors, we want to go to as many countries as possible. So far for me its New Zealand Mexico Barbados Sint Maarten Short list but it will be growing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nbblood 0 #45 February 3, 2004 Being in the military, I've not only traveled to other countries, I've had the "opportunity" to reside for a length of time in a few. List includes, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, France, and currently Korea, for various lengths of time. Some of theses places I don't ever care to see again and hope I don't. Others have some fantastic qualities, particularly or brothers and sisters to the north!! However, when all is said and done nobody will ever get me to leave the US. Also, some of these countries bring rapid realization to just what freedom means. I won't point out which ones I particularly hate(d), but some on this list I would never willingly visit again for one reason or another. NathanBlues, Nathan If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
larry 0 #46 February 3, 2004 QuoteI've had the "opportunity" to reside for a length of time in ... Canada Come on, if you live in the US you know that Canada isn't a real country. Just kidding, pls hold the flames. Nathan, are you in Camp Casey by any chance? They had a DZ when I was there back in the early 90's. Heard it is long since closed though.“Now click your heels together 3 times so you can return to Kansas to live in poverty with your teetotaling, dirt farming aunt and uncle!” paraphrased Prof. Farnsworth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nbblood 0 #47 February 3, 2004 QuoteNathan, are you in Camp Casey by any chance? They had a DZ when I was there back in the early 90's. Heard it is long since closed though Actually, I'm at Camp Red Cloud, close to Casey though, and yes, sadly, the DZ there has closed. Blues NathanBlues, Nathan If you wait 'til the last minute, it'll only take a minute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pds 0 #48 February 3, 2004 hmmm.... i don't think it is the 'greatest' country in the world but i would be hard pressed to choose other citizenship. the least of many evils i guess. and we have cable tv.namaste, motherfucker. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meatmissile 0 #49 February 3, 2004 Your options assume everyone lives in the US I live outside the US, and have travelled all over the world, including the US. I have also met people who have travelled much, but might as well have stayed at home. It's not where you travel, it's how you travel. -- ZZZzzzz.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #50 February 3, 2004 QuoteYour options assume everyone lives in the US No. My question was directed towards people in America that believe it's the greatest country. I guess I could've had 8 more options ("I don't travel and don't think the US is the greatest," "I travel and don't think the US is the greatest," "I do not live in the US anymore since I don't think it's the greatest," "I have never been to the US and don't think it's the greatest," "I have been to the US and don't think it's the greatest," etc etc.) Really, I'm not naive enough to assume everyone on here lives in the US especially when the webmaster doesn't even live in the US anymore. This poll was for a specified group (those who think America is the greatest and have/have not traveled outside of it). Not everyone on here is in that group.There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
