What do you think of the US?

[Trevor]

the war on iraq that kicked him out happened because the CIA whispered into Bush’s ear about weapons of mass destruction that didn’t exist and was further justified by 9/11 m8 it wasn’t because of that 12 year thing. if you want another, more recent example btw, take a look at the iran nuclear deal, instated to be going for 10 years only went on for three because the president changed, makes us look like we can’t keep our promises, especially with this particular president we currently have who in reality doesn’t really have a foreign policy beyond a wall and china tariffs

[vfinnigan]

I'm saying that the second war with Iraq would have eventually happened anyway regardless of the pretexts we had for going in in '03.

I also know people who were there who said that they definitely had the capabilities. And we didn't have much other ways of knowing considering Saddam was playing coy with the UN weapons inspectors from late 1991 through 2003 in violation of the terms of surrender. He also had reason to want some people to believe he had WMD capabilities, namely the Kurds he gassed and Iran. Also, common sense would seem to indicate that if he could gas entire villages, he must have had some WMD capabilities. The pretext wasn't just any WMD capabilities, though those, being violations of the terms of surrender - terms he agreed to! - would have eventually led to another war, but yellow cake uranium and the highly exaggerated fears of Saddam creating dirty bombs. The gas he used on the Kurds was considered meh by our media.

[ratscout]

I love the US! Of course it's not perfect, but it's one of the best countries to live in in the world, I think! Like any other place, it has its economic and political problems, but I think they are far fewer than in most other places. America is a very safe place to live in comparison with some other countries, too. Plus, it's home, and there's nothing quite like home.

Like, I went to Japan, and it's an absolutely beautiful country! It's incredibly green, the people are incredibly kind and well-mannered (they are so quiet there! It's like being in a room full of introverts. Bliss), but it's just not home. Especially since I would be riding the bus everywhere which takes a lot longer than just driving yourself around. Plus things are pretty pricey over there XD

[joannekwan]

Speaking as a native citizen

Cons:
The politicians, certainly. Can't they just accept climate change is real and is happening? For fuck's sake. Among other political topics that I don't feel like getting into.
The over-emphasis on capitalism.

Pros:
It's fairly easy to become a citizen, particularly compared to a lot of European countries. I appreciate the 'born here, you have citizenship' rule regardless of your parents' standing.

THE DIVERSITY: Even with the nation's checkered past with how it's treated immigrants, slaves, and native peoples, I appreciate it's even there at all. In the end I live in a very colorful country. It's made me more aware of the cultures surrounding me and with the past as a tool, I'm more knowledgable of what's ok and what's not when it comes to talking about other races/ethnicities.
For example: God, I've seen a number of stories in which the writers casually describe Asian-based characters as having 'slanted' eyes and I cringe every time. I'm sure it's mostly out of ignorance. (for those who don't know, 'slant' is a pejorative used to call east-asians.)

just a few of my own thoughts.

[skicoak]

As an American, I like to point out to my international brothers and sisters that we're still, in terms of world history, a very young nation that's in a constant state of being judged on it's growing pains.

[Cavechan]

The security when passing through US customs is insane compared to with entering other countries.

When I was flying home from Japan, I didn't have to take off my shoes during the security checkpoint and thought it was the weirdest thing. I'm so used to doing it!

Though that's security, not customs, but yeah.

Having to say the pledge of Allegiance in School every morning

To clarify, you don't have to say the pledge of allegiance. Yes, they do say it every morning, but you can sit/not say anything during that time. Actually, when I was in high school my friends and I didn't really bother much with it.

praising Soldiers left and right

Well, I do think they deserve it considering they are risking their lives and all while I'm sitting at a comfy computer all day.

[Maps]

Aw man... I got detention in 8th grade for not saying the pledge of allegiance (I was talking to my friend instead). Maybe because it was a private school and they sort of liked to discipline us.
But I didn’t feel like we were being brainwashed or indroctrinated into patriotism by having in recited out of routine every morning kinda like Merle seemed to gather. I didn’t recite it and suddenly feel like I was gonna bleed red white and blue and thought America was the greatest gift to earth.
I actually enjoy learning about other countries and cultures over my own and I don’t see the US in higher regards to other countries.

[Cavechan]

I got detention in 8th grade for not saying the pledge of allegiance and talking to my friend instead. Maybe because it was a private school and they sort of liked to discipline us.

No, not saying the pledge of allegiance is part of your protections under the first amendment. So if they forced you to say the pledge of allegiance, even in a private school, they would be infringing on your rights and they could honestly get in trouble for it... and they definitely should.

[Maps]

Damn, if I could go back 15 years it’d be game over . To be fair I got a “double check” for not saying the anthem and morning prayers (checks were marks for doing bad things and if we got three a day we’d get detention). Then I got my last check for eating a mint in class, hence the detention. But I was mad bitter about that double check for chatting to my friend at the morning “recital” lol. Double check ... pretty sure my teacher made that up on the spot.

[Cavechan]

Oh my gosh, a mint! haha Actually, I had detention when I was in middle school or maybe still elementary school once for something almost equally stupid. Only time I ever got it.

I went to a Catholic school at that time and it was during Advent when they would light the candles and I think say a prayer or something? Some students always got wicked excited to blow out the candles for some reason and the teachers hated it. I never cared, but the ONE time the teacher decided to act on it, was of course the time I was at the front of the crowd and a bunch of classmates shoved forward and I went with them and got detention for it. e__e

I think during the mornings, we would always say a prayer and the pledge of allegiance. Even though at that time, myself and another friend were questioning our faith, we always said the prayer and pledge. Then in my public high school, of course it was just the pledge of allegiance and I was able to think more for myself then and saw I had the option to not say it so I didn't.

I also come from a very liberal state so people here aren't generally hugely patriotic like in other areas.

[Maps]

Omg . Your classmates let you down!
It sounds like we probably had very similar childhoods (I went to Catholic school too and remember all the shenanagins that came along with that ).
Yeah, definitely once I was out of Catholic school I was able to be more of a free thinker and I was able to meet more free thinkers. So I guess in a way my schools did sort of hold me to standards that didn’t necessarily align with my personal beliefs. Once I was out I could be myself.
Wouldn’t take any of it back though. I am happy how I’ve turned out from all my experiences!

[Rodimus13]

Just wanted to mention for everyone who brings up the diversity of US cultures, a thought. Below is the size of Texas, compared to part of europe.

And that's just Texas, which granted is our second biggest state but still. Not hard to see how we have so many differences across our country.

[Kura]

The last conversation where America came up.

It was mostly just a whole bunch of us (Canadians, a good amount of which were born outside of or had parents born outside of Canada) talking about how scared or concerned they are for everything that is currently happening down there.

Election wise, they trust that there are too many smart Americans so are not worried about the election.

This tweet did not age well.

[skicoak]

This tweet did not age well.

To be fair.... he LOST the popular vote.

[Trevor]

it’s not necessarily the size of it that made it diverse, but rather because it’s population was built entirely of immigrants and slaves the immigrants bought from Africa combined with 200-300 years of social evolution and procreation that made it as diverse as it is. After the different cultures came over, the only thing there was left was manifest destiny that made the US stretch “from sea to shining sea” that allowed us to not only take immigrants from the atlantic, but also the pacific. The US could be a third of its size and i’m certain it’d still be as diverse as it is now so long as it sits between the two oceans like it does

[skicoak]

Gonna have to disagree.

Not to say the factors you mention aren't a part of it but cultural diversity was heavily magnified by the bio-diversity of climates in North America.

[LordVincent]

To be fair.... he LOST the popular vote.

WHICH IS ANOTHER BULLSHIT THING ABOUT THE US

Why, oh fucking WHY do you manage your elections in such a blatantly illogical and corrupt way?!
You lose the popular vote, you LOSE THE FUCKING ELECTION, END OF STORY. Why is that NOT how it works with you people?!

I just cannn'ttttt

[Westshore]

omg, this cracked me up!

The thing about diversity in the US is that it's only really culturally diverse in the larger cities like NYC and LA. I grew up in NYC, and I went to a college update NY that's considered sub-rural, not even rural, with 12% of Asian population, and that's considered diverse. One of my white classmates said it's the most Asians he's seen so he thought we were at a really diverse university. I was like, it's the most white people I've seen in one place in my life. Even my high school was more ethnically diverse than my university. Actually, I would say Caucasians were in the minority at my high school in NYC, except for the teacher population.

I think it's important to keep in mind that America is a big land, and not all parts of it is diverse. Most places are actually quite rural. When I was take on a drive near my university, it was the first time I saw so many farmlands, and I realized that's actually what most of the US is like. Yeah, I'm totally a city person.

[skicoak]

It was set up to protect states with lower population/agricultural concerns from not getting equal representation in comparison to heavily populated/industrial concerns.

It's not a horrible concept on paper... we just need to tweak the execution.

[skicoak]

I think it's important to keep in mind that America is a big land, and not all parts of it is diverse. Most places are actually quite rural.

Rural people aren't one big culture though. You can't even remotely compare the Appalachians of German decent to the Creole people of the deep south.