Quote:

assuming that we are the best allows us to think that change isn't needed and it makes looking into the future and prepairing for it seem unnecessary.

---

SlashOZ said:

america is number one because most americans can get what they want when they want. in fact we have too much of it, look at all the damn fat people we have lol. we all have ps2, xboxs, xbox 360s, awesome computers, we all have a myspace, text each other, a car, most of us go to college, we all got vaccinated before we went to public school against diseases that are ravaging the third world today, clean water, houses, and pets. basically Americas have pretty much everything modern society has to offer and the lowest prices via wal-mart on top of it.

this mentality makes us apathetic towards government imo. assuming that we are the best allows us to think that change isn't needed and it makes looking into the future and prepairing for it seem unnecessary.

---

Ferris said:

It's number one in total GNP.

---

wilshire said:

#1 in what?

in terms of economic strength, military power, and cultural influence, the united states is #1. in terms of countries that historians will care about in 400 years when looking at this time period, the US is #1.

---

blackegg said:

Okay, a few years ago I was taking a US Government class
and the very first day of class the professor asks, "Who here DOES NOT think America is THE BEST country in the WORLD?"

Out of a class of perhaps 20 students (community college) ...NO ONE raised a hand or appeared ready to even question:
#1 in what?
#1 to who?
what does being #1 mean?
So I raised my hand.
(people turn and look)
Professor says, "Oh? and who do you think is #1 then?"
Stupidly I replied, "...uh...I don't know."
(murmurs)
Teacher looks satisfied and starts to go on and I say "...maybe Sweden or Denmark or someone..."
Classroom erupts!
Someone actually said later, "People who think that don't even deserve to be in this class."
I'm not kidding.
I felt like a leper for even questioning America's role as Big Boss Man of the world.

---

Quote:

Please listen, I want America to be #1 as much as anyone.

---

Quote:

but can anyone show me evidence that America is statistically the best country in SOMEthing?

---

BEGIN: rant

Well, first off, as I said, this was a community college class, not third grade as someone suggested...but it was in Texas so...

This was in San Antonio, BTW, which (as of 2004!) made it illegal to own a bong or pipe!

Quote:

And this man is teaching a younger generation, "educating" them to be stupid? Yikes.

---

This was the same college where we were told that peyote was something "you smoked...like pot." and my fellow students all sat there squinting their eyes and nodding their heads!

But I'm quiet and I don't say anything.

Then the prof. went on to say how pot is illegal and isn't likely to ever be legalized because of our culture and Judeo Christian values and etc etc and after listening to as much of this as I could I finally said, "well...in California and Oregon and some other states it's actually becoming DEcriminalized"......and he's saying the laws aren't important and aren't really used much and I'm like, (addressing the class) "No really, you can get on the Internet and find out for yourselves."

It wasn't like a blow-out argument and I didn't elaborate too much because I didn't want to be 'the drug guy' in the class.

Anyway, I came in a little late the next day and this professor says, "OH! Now the class can begin!"






Then there's Professor Fitzgerald, I'll never forget him, he's the History teacher I had who said, "Now a lot of people question, are the Spanish white? and I have to say: look at the conquistadors, look at the Inquisition... I think they are."

Now the class and really the whole college is 95% black and Latino and I'm white...so keep that in mind.

Anyway everyone just sits there murmuring agreement and I'm like "Wait a minute now... you're saying... that the Spanish are white *because* they tortured people?"

...and someone yells an insult at me from the back of the room and there's general chaos and the prof says, "Well perhaps.. yes. This is a whole line of study, What Is White..." but he had already made his point I guess... because I got cold-shouldered from that day forward. (wow. that rhymed.)

He's the same one who thought all white people were priveleged. He once even specifically pointed out a girl in class saying, "It's people like Ms.______ who live in Alamo Heights coming in and buying up the properties" when we were talking about gentrification.

...and when I walked into the class looking kinda crummy one day he says loudly, "you all know what I like? When rich people PRETEND to be poor!"

and he did it in such a way that I couldn't even respond but had to sit there looking around at all these eyes looking directly at me.

I could go on and on. really I could.

Suffice it to say:
I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut.

and

St.Philip's College in San Antonio Texas has to be THE shittiest community college on the face of the Earth.


END: rant

Quote:

Please listen, I want America to be #1 as much as anyone.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Why? Wouldn't it be better if the US was as good as it could be, and every other country was equally so? Would you be in favour of holding down others just to be perceived as #1 (something the US already attempts)? Why would being "#1" matter even a little? Vain pride?

---

Quote:

but can anyone show me evidence that America is statistically the best country in SOMEthing?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I think it houses the largest population of US'ers worldwide.

---

xFrockx said:

so then, why are we number one?  Because we say so, thats why. :p

---

And if you don't we'll come over there, overthrow your government and give you someone who will say we are

unbeliever said:

We've got a lock on inbred hill billies. Fuck yeah, America is #1!

---