[SOC] Fwd: It is very Strange, isn't it?

Sun, 2 Feb 2003 09:19:42 -0800

One, not an American, may understand our laws and our
federal form of goverment in theory as taught academically.
But that does not necessarily mean that such person
understands the unique practices of US government any
more than native Americans come to understand the same
from their own academic study of it.

The study of government, including comparative governments
of many foreign nations, has been a favourite passion of mine.
For instance, I closely follow UK Monarchy, Government
and Politics.  But I certainly wouldnt presume to say that I
know it as well as a Briton who has followed his or her own
system as I have followed mine.  Not having ever lived under
that government I can really follow its subtle nuances which
are ever so important for one to fully understand it.

Lest I be misinterperted I am not suggesting that any non-
Americans cease talking about US government and politics.
Far from it I encourage discussion on this subject in order for
all interested or concerned to learn more as there is not one
of his who can not learn something new on this or any other
subject of importance.  And that is, at the bottom line, an
expression of an important often subtle, and misunderstood,
nuance of American politics, that is our love for unfettered
expression and questioning in this area arising from the First
Amendment to our Constitution.

73 de tim kg6irh.
of imp

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian C. Purdie" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 5:05 AM
Subject: Re: [SOC] Fwd: It is very Strange, isn't it?

> Carlos J Caro wrote:
>
> > I have found that many non-americans are ignorant of the separation of
the
> > powers of the Federal
> > and State Governments. They assume that our government operates the way
> > theirs do
> > and can not understand the different layers of ours.
>
> With respect Carlos, the biggest mistake any American ever makes about
> non-Americans is assuming that we are ignorant about both your country,
its
> culture and, its laws.
>
> I can thoroughly assure you we are definitely not.
>
> Most of us well educated citizens of the world are very well schooled in
the
> USA and its laws, customs and so forth.
>
> Sadly for the world at large, the converse is not true. The same can not
be
> said of Americans, no real world exists beyond its borders.
>
> Most people from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany or wherever
have
> not only a more than a rudimentary idea of your system of government but a
far,
> far wider appreciation.
>
> On the other hand, the average American couldn't point out France or
Britain on
> a map, let alone Australia [that's somewhere between Germany and
Switzerland].
>
> Even more sadly, the same can not be said of a cross section of the
American
> population when it comes to understanding.
>
> There is for most, only one world, the USA. Nothing else seriously exists
> beyond its borders.
>
> Over a prolonged period of time, I've come to the view that America's
media is
> really at fault, it appears to consistently present one single point of
view of
> the world for home consumption and, it has done so for generations and now
> world society reaps the benefits of that myopic view.
>
> The average American in my personal and close experience is kind, generous
and
> above all no different to the rest of us, just misinformed.
>
> For decades, successive American governments have condemned numerous
regimes
> around the world while sitting upon a propaganda machine that Josef
Goebbels
> would have given his right arm for.
>
> Our American cousins only ever get presented with the 'home team" story.
There
> was never any other participant, in anything, anywhere, in anything else,
ever.
>
> However, others from Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany or
wherever we
> come from consistently see a variety of differing views. Yep, our news
services
> give us all shades of grey, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
>
> We believe:
>
> America didn't save Europe in WW11, didn't save Britain in WW11, didn't
save
> Australia in WW11, or heck even win WW1. The USA was just another
participant
> when it was either advantageous or thrust upon them.
>
> But, however the USA did make a lot of money, reduced Britain to pecuniary
> circumstance and achieved their biggest goal ever in its history. It's the
> truth...
>
>
> 72/73's
>
> Ian C. Purdie
> Budgewoi N.S.W. Australia - Co-ords S33�14', E151�34'
> VK2TIP "I'll give ya the TIP mate" QRP-L #1978. SOC #171 FP#91
> http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/
>
>
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