My Vacation Dilemma. How can I be an ethical tourist ?

The obvious question to ask is "Why don't you go and ski in Europe then ? There are some pretty good flight deals at the moment due to the Sept 11th terrorist attack, and God knows our airlines could use the business".

This is what a unintelligent co-worker of mine actually said to me the other day while we discussed my dilemma by the water cooler.

Obviously anyone who asks a question such as this is not very well versed in politics or history but I am, which is why the vacation issue is such a sensitive one for me.

I really want to go and sample the delights of Europe's top ski resorts. They are widely regarded by skiing experts as being the best in the world. They offer vast interlinked ski areas combined with top-notch upscale European fine dining, and a vibrant night life. The Austrians can out-party even the most boisterous frat-boys, and the Germans can drink just about anyone under the table.

What I don't want to do is to support racist, fascist regimes or people. I believe my government has done enough of that on my behalf already without me adding to the oppression. Our European forefathers committed genocide in order to found our great nation I like to think that by being aware of racism and being very choosy about where I spend my dollers, I can do my bit to make amends for all the atrocities America has inflicted on many different races throughout the years. As a white man, I realise that I am racist by definition, but this will not prevent me from challenging my own racism on a daily basis, and trying to live responsibly, attempting to make personal reparations in whatever way I can, no matter how small or trivial it may seem to others.

But enough about my personal struggle against racism, I was explaining my dilemma. The five countries I mentioned as potential ski vacation destinations all seem to have problems with racism. I am not comfortable with any of them. Lets take each country in turn

Austria.
Austria's main claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of Herr Adolf Hitler. More recently however Kurt Waldheim has hit the headlines for his Nazi connections and currently Jorg Haider is singing the praises of Naziism. What more can be said of the country that welcomed Hitler with open arms in 1938, managed to avoid the full-scale de-Nazification program which the Allies applied to Germany, and then proceeded to elect Nazis and Fascists as though there were nothing wrong with it. I think you will agree I cannot go here and keep a clear conscience.

France
Home of Jean-Marie Le Pen, Brigit Bardot, and the Front Nationale. The recent death of François Mitterand (who was once decorated by Vichy Nazi collaborator leader Philippe Petain) does nothing to reduce the endemic racism and anti-semetism of the French nation. I cannot bring myself to vacation in this right wing racist haven.

Switzerland
Those thieving profiteering scumbags who stole Jewish gold and lied about it. What more can be said ? The Swiss were dealing with the Nazis for a long time. Why would I want to go there and spend my American dollars which are representative of freedom and democracy, something these Nazis will never understand ? So Switzerland is out. Which is a pity, since I hear that Zermatt has some particularly good runs.

Germany
Germany the country's name will forever be synonymous with Naziism. Nothing more needs to be said. I won't forget. Nor will the history books.

Italy
Now we come to perhaps the most difficult problem. Italy was never really a Nazi state, its leader Mussolini was a fascist true enough, but it wasn't him who initiated the holocaust. We all know whose idea that was (Hint: he was Austrian). However there are many disturbing right wing trends in modern Italy. Silvio Berlusconi has gone on the record as saying "We should be conscious of the superiority of our civilisation, which consists of a value system that has given people widespread prosperity in those countries that embrace it, and guarantees respect for human rights and religion. This respect certainly does not exist in the Islamic countries". These are hardly the words of someone who respects diversity, are they ? And then there is the Nothern League led by Umberto Bossi. It seems you cannot turn a corner in modern Europe without running into a xenophobic racist neo-fascist. Which is a pity because Italy has some great skiing, and some even better food and drink.

The European Union
Let us Americans hold no illusions about the EU. What appears to us to be a friendly bunch of people who speak lots of different languages, and are prone to getting over excited at football matches is actually the nascent fourth reich.

The common European currency was Hitler's idea, which is why older Austrians are finding it easy to use. The worrying thing for me is that the Europeans (all 300 million of them) seem to be joining together as a super-state. And that super-state is using a Nazi currency model, and appears to aspire to take over the USAs #1 nation status. And they are about the only nation on God's Earth that could pull it off. You only have to think about their superior automobiles and domestic appliances to see that they are a force to be reckoned with. And let us not forget that were it not for Werner Von Braun and all the other Nazi scientists America would not be #1 nation today. It seems that fascism and Naziism are on the rise again in Europe but this time there is a thin veneer of respectability to make it all seem palatable to the masses. I do not want my vacation dollars going toward funding a fascist super-state with ambitions of world domination...

Which brings me back to my problem. Obviously now is a really good time to travel because flights are so cheap, but I don't want to give my support to any racist or neo-fascist governments. It seems I am out of luck.

I've tried looking further afield, but the only other places I have come up with are Chile and Scotland. Chile does not seem to have a history of racism per-se, but then Chile seems to have played host to a whole load of human rights abuses which ensure it will never gain a place on my skiing itinerary.

Scotland looks to be OK, but the men there all seem to be slightly effeminate, wearing dresses and 'Tossing' their 'Cabers'. Whilst I respect diversity as much as the next man, I have no wish to spend my vacation in close proximity to a bunch of effeminate 'tossers'. So Scotland is out of the question.

Which leaves me with nowhere to go. I guess I could stay in the USA, but to tell the truth, I'm getting a bit sick of all the mindless knee-jerk flag waving and gung-ho militarism that characterises our nation at the moment.

I need to get away from it all. All this fake patriotism and the strain of 'watching what I say' is starting to tell on me.

Do any of our more politically aware readers have any suggestions as to where I might go ? Somewhere where I can sleep easy in the knowledge that I am not supporting some nasty political regime, and preferably somewhere where I can get a cheap deal on a flight!

	There are other options. (none / 0) (#1)
	by RobotSlave on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:09:09 AM PST

	In particular, the west coast of South America has some absolutley astounding opportuities for the alpine sports enthusiast. Look into Argentina and Chile, modern nations with none of the political difficulties that seem to give you pause. Alternately, I'd suggest you head up to Alaska and hire yourself a helicopter pilot. You won't find brochures or descriptive inter-webly adverts for this sort of service, but it will knock the socks off of anything you might find in the Old World. If you've got that extra itch for nightlife, then you can always stop in Vegas at the beginning of the trip to hire yourself a few companions for the outing. © 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	This isn't slashdot. Read the story before posting (none / 0) (#5)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:31:50 AM PST

	If you read my article to the end you will see that I mention the resort of Portillo. Likewise if you had read the article you would see that I am looking to get away from the USA and its hysterical 'patriotism' Hence Alaska hardly qualifies, although I have seen the heli-skiing website and I definately intend to do it one day, finances permitting. As an editor, I could have deleted your post. But I didn't. If you intend to post a response to an article here in future, please do us the respect of reading it first This is not slashdot. There are no prizes for 'first posts'. Just take your time, and reply when you have something useful to add. Don't take this too hard, old slashdot habits die hard. time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	Well he may have a point though. (none / 0) (#21)
	by elby on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 07:16:12 AM PST

	Alaska has not been noted for it's desire to continue on as a member of our great union. Perhaps this could be a good place to get away from the excessive patriotism. -lb

	Sure he has a point. (none / 0) (#22)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 07:21:47 AM PST

	Alaska is a very cool place (literally) and I will go heliskiing one day. But right now I just need to get the hell out of the USA before I start to go insane. time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	Have you though that (none / 0) (#30)
	by walwyn on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 11:55:12 AM PST

	perhaps the harshness of mountainous regions leads to a harshness in the inhabitants? I would have suggested Kenya as your destination, as their behaviour towards women has started to improve but unfortunately other human rights issues remain to be done . May be you should think of taking up water skiing.

	You might be on to something here (none / 0) (#45)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 07:15:59 PM PST

	perhaps the harshness of mountainous regions leads to a harshness in the inhabitants? I did wonder if the mountainous territory somehow promotes a fascist outlook on life, but then I realized other countries have mountains but are quite socialist in their outlook. time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	Where were you think of? (none / 0) (#65)
	by walwyn on Sun Dec 16th, 2001 at 09:46:58 AM PST

	Here or here.

	Argentina. (none / 0) (#31)
	by RobotSlave on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 11:55:57 AM PST

	So I forgot your reference to Chile amidst the hysterical frothing over the inadequacies of the Old Country. Ho hum. Bariloche is very nice, you know, although this is not the proper time of year for it, of course. If you really must get out of US territory, then an expedition to Antarctica with your helicopter can be organized that ought to be just as rewarding as an Alaskan foray. You will, of course, have to bring your own night life with you, but that's just a matter of planning. Paul Allen's people can probably give you a suggestion or two if you're not accustomed to this sort of entertaining. On another note, I am, frankly, shocked that an adequacy editor lacks the finances for a bit of routine helicopter rental. I didn't realize that the poor were even considered for editorial positions. The thought is quite distressing. I will, consequently, assume that you are merely "slumming," putting on the guise of the impoverished in order to guage the state of the broader public. This, after all, would be a prudent (if somewhat unpleasant) research technique for an expert in marketing science. © 2002, RobotSlave. You may not reproduce this material, in whole or in part, without written permission of the owner.

	finances (none / 0) (#161)
	by elby on Wed Dec 26th, 2001 at 06:37:41 AM PST

	No worries, kind RobotSlave. The comforting truth is that despite dmg's vast financial resources, he is really grounded by something as simple as a fear of helicopters. Any other reasons are just excuses. -lb

	dmg... (none / 0) (#2)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:13:11 AM PST

	since when has pointing out the grave inadequacies in islamic states been "disrespectful of diversity"? Berlusconi is correct. Those freedoms he referred to don't exist in Islamic countries. (Bear in mind that terms like "respect" and "disrespect" have been co-opted to mean something more along the lines of "just accept everything that comes your way".)

	a specious argument. (none / 0) (#6)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:44:34 AM PST

	> the freedom western women have to dress in revealing clothes? I understand. `Freedom' to wear specific types of clothing is really `slavery'? Or, "Freedom is slavery". Sound familiar? > do mens jobs like construction even though they are not physically equipped to do the job? Not equipped? Perhaps more a case of women by and large not wanting to pursue careers in construction. However you haven't presented a convincing case of why those few women who do wish to pursue such a manly occupation should be precluded from doing so. It could be a case of you affirming the consequent (turning bricklaying-men are all strong/well-equipped-for-the-task into people-who-are-well-equipped-for-the-task are bricklaying-men). > Hardly surprising Why would that be? On a related note, is asking religions freedom of islamic states another freedom that you think they should be able to blithely dismiss?

	Point taken. (none / 0) (#13)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 04:57:13 AM PST

	>One person's freedom is another person's slavery. The Islamic religion expects its male and female followers to dress modestly. This is for a reason. It prevents lustful behaviour and licentiousness. This is a very practical rule. Likewise Islam prohibits alcohol because it leads to fornication. >In a society where women and men are not constrained in their behaviour, negative consequences will result. The USA with its mindless pursuit of material wealth and immediate sensual gratification is seen as 'free' while more conservative states which place a higher value on human dignity, are criticised for not being free. What a joke. You have been truly brainwashed by the American media. I do not live in the Americas, nor do I equate the United States with "America" as you so naively do. Your claim of Islam being a maven for "human dignity" is a joke, as as the the lectures of Bat Ye'or should adequately inform you (http://mypage.bluewin.ch/ameland/LecturesE.html) > Women are not equipped for hard physical labor. That is a simple statement of fact. You affirm the consequent in the same fashion as the original poster by presuming that all women are ill-equipped for "hard physical labor". Are they? I know of butch women. The criteria for being "equipped for hard physical labor" is obviously going to be based on one's muscular strength. The fact that the set of people with sufficient muscular strength is (almost) a subset of the set of men is merely one of the wide-ranging effects of testosterone. > Why is it that women play three sets of tennis and men play five ? Do you see a lot of butch women playing tennis? Those that aren't butch, don't have the endurance more muscular men would have. Those women who are butch, probably could. > Or do you really believe that men and women are physically equal ? Straw man. I never asserted that men and women are physically equal. I assert that the criteria for being "equipped for hard physical labor" includes muscular strength. Women are not necessarily precluded from having the sufficient muscular strength. > Its hardly surprising that the leader of a Catholic state would harbor anti-Islamic beliefs. You never justified that Berlusconi's beliefs were "anti-Islamic"; a very strong case could be presented for lack of freedoms for certain groups in Islamic countries and hence his statement would be factual. While some of these freedoms may actually be slaveries (as you assert, and I can certainly see your point), some can't be waved away so simply (openbook: religious freedoms). > Catholics and Christians have been amongst the main instigators of violence for at least the last 500 years. (Catholics are Christians -- I take it you've been swallowing too much fundamentalist rubbish recently?) So precisely how did the entire Middle East fall to the Islamists? Islam has as much, if not more, blood on their hands than the Church, not to mention the Church has apologised for violent incursions, plus the fact that the incursions are sufficiently far in the past to demonstrate a change in attitude from the Church, as opposed to Islamic persecution occurring right now. > Islamic states do not 'blithly dismiss' religious freedoms. Oh, don't be daft with blanket comments like that. Which adequacy reader wouldn't be able to see past that transparent garbage? http://www.domini.org/openbook/, although Google should yield many more hits should you be interested. > Indeed the main problem is the kufr women from the West who visit Islamic countries and then display they bodies in a most immodest way upsetting the local Muslims. I fail to see how Muslim outrage in these Islamic countries rebuts my charge of countries which blithely dismiss religions freedoms. > If anything the non-believers are given too much freedom in Islamic states. http://www.domini.org/openbook/sau20011003.htm In any case, your charge of "the non-believers" reeks of religious fascism. Unlike immodest dress, religious freedom cannot be waved away as easily as you would like it to be. > You may be aware that in Saudi Arabia, they even turn a blind eye to alcohol consumption (in the foregner's compounds). How terribly kind of them.

	Thanks for defending my rights, pig! (2.50 / 2) (#11)
	by Robert Reginald Rodriguez on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 04:34:38 AM PST

	But no fucking freudian cigar for you. The idea that Western wymyn dress to please men is a product of a patriarchal mindset. If you actually respected wymyn as people, you'd know that wymyn dress to express themselves or because they enjoy the feeling they get from dressing up and looking good. It has nothing to do with being gawped at and drooled over by testosterone-drunk savages. To claim that wymyn who dress in revealing clothing do so for the sake of men is to claim that wymyn can aspire to be nothing more than objects of men's pleasure. In conclusion, your statements reflect an extremely sexist attitude, disguised as left-minded relativist do-gooderism. Berlusconi may be a bigot, but you are a crypto-bigot. --wymynyst

	Get off the slopes! (none / 0) (#4)
	by zikzak on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:27:50 AM PST

	Dear Sir, you are an Adequacy editor. As such, you have absolutely no business hurling yourself down some cliff face in a pathetic bid to prove your manhood. We are an advanced breed, distinct from the pedestrian recreations of our inferior brethren. If you must tear yourself away from your scholarly studies during the wintertime, I suggest you do so with a more appropriate sport like cross-country skiing, or perhaps snowshoeing. You can not truly appreciate the grandeur of nature when it is whizzing past you at 60 miles an hour.

	Western freedom is Islamic slavery. (none / 0) (#3)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:27:15 AM PST

	Like the freedom western women have to dress in revealing clothes for the enjoyment of men ? Like the freedom to go to work and do mens jobs like construction even though they are not physically equipped to do the job ? Islam does not recognise these Western concepts of freedom. And who is to say that we are right and they are wrong ? That is precisely what is meant by respecting diversity. You do your thing and I will do mine. No pressure, just mutual respect. Berlusconi was simply being a bigoted fascist. Hardly surprising.

	You miss the point. (none / 0) (#10)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 04:17:44 AM PST

	One person's freedom is another person's slavery. The Islamic religion expects its male and female followers to dress modestly. This is for a reason. It prevents lustful behaviour and licentiousness. This is a very practical rule. Likewise Islam prohibits alcohol because it leads to fornication. In a society where women and men are not constrained in their behaviour, negative consequences will result. The USA with its mindless pursuit of material wealth and immediate sensual gratification is seen as 'free' while more conservative states which place a higher value on human dignity, are criticised for not being free. What a joke. You have been truly brainwashed by the American media. Women are not equipped for hard physical labor. That is a simple statement of fact. Why is it that women play three sets of tennis and men play five ? Or do you really believe that men and women are physically equal ? Its hardly surprising that the leader of a Catholic state would harbor anti-Islamic beliefs. Catholics and Christians have been amongst the main instigators of violence for at least the last 500 years. Islamic states do not 'blithly dismiss' religious freedoms. Indeed the main problem is the kufr women from the West who visit Islamic countries and then display they bodies in a most immodest way upsetting the local Muslims. If anything the non-believers are given too much freedom in Islamic states. You may be aware that in Saudi Arabia, they even turn a blind eye to alcohol consumption (in the foregner's compounds). time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	On the contrary (none / 0) (#7)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:45:34 AM PST

	I support fully his efforts to hurl himself into a tree at the highest of velocities.

	My insurance covers me. (none / 0) (#9)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 04:00:28 AM PST

	Even when I ski things like this at Whistler: The alpine reaches of Blackcomb feature a series of intimidating runs -- with names like Couloir Extreme, Big Bang and Blow Hole -- that veteran skiers rank with some of the most extreme terrain in the world. Like the guy said on the web page it just drops straight down. You don't ski it so much as fall down it. I would rank Blackcomb glacier as one of the best places I've skied in North America. I will go to Valdez one day (assuming they don't elect any Nazis) time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	The words... (none / 0) (#8)
	by m0rzo on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 03:45:59 AM PST

	idiot and hypocrit spring immediately to mind. Having scanned over this page for the last couple of months you just compelled me to sign up for an account. Now, either this is an incredibly good piss-take or you're just a self-hating, opinionated, dogmatic prick! By your own logic you have just discriminated against a whole continent. It is obvious that you have been reading too much Malcolm X type propoganda, and you obviously subscribe to the "kill the blue eyed devil" doctrine. It's people like you that stoke the flames of race relations. I'm guessing that you'd be hounded out of the countries you've mentioned - you're only crime being that you are a tit.

	How exactly am I hypocritical ? (none / 0) (#14)
	by dmg on Sat Dec 15th, 2001 at 05:17:31 AM PST

	Being a white man, how can I subscribe to the 'killing the blue eyed devil' doctrine. That would be foolish of me don't you think ? And anyway, the Nation of Islam no longer advocates that anyway. They have come closer to orthodox Islamic teachings. Far from 'stoking the flames of race relations' I am doing my own tiny bit to reduce the amount of racism in the world, by boycotting those states which promote racism and fascism. Far from being hounded out of these countries, I am being bombarded with tourist literature inviting me to go there, and very tempting it is too. But I have to make a stand and put principles before pleasure. After all, where would America be if we all mindlessly pursued our own happiness to the exclusion of everything else ? time to give a Newtonian demonstration - of a bullet, its mass and its acceleration. -- MC Hawking

	hmmm, maybe someone else has this dilemma also? (none / 0) (#62)
	by philipm on Sun Dec 16th, 2001 at 05:17:00 AM PST

	After all, where would America be if we all mindlessly pursued our own happiness to the exclusion of everything else ? Righ Here. Oh, I'm sorry. That was rhetorical. dmg, I think you need to get in touch with your inner Russian. The Russians have had your vacation dillemma for years. After all, they are right next to europe. What would a Russian do? Remember, the answer will probably involve suffering and drinking. --philipm

	Simple hypocracy explantion (1.00 / 1) (#75)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sun Dec 16th, 2001 at 07:11:26 PM PST

	It is quite obvious from the following comment that you are not what you seem to be: After all, where would America be if we all mindlessly pursued our own happiness to the exclusion of everything else ? You ask, "how exactly am I hypocritical?" The fact that you still live in America is the first clue. You are SO concerned with spending money in "bad" countries, yet fail to look in the geographical mirror. Someone of your "intellect" should readily understand how "bad" America itself has become. Perhaps your comment that I quoted illustrates your "prior knowledge" of this "paradox". In your quest to be a "good little boy", you choose to spend money only in countries that meet your "ethical" criteria. How about everyone in the world act as "good" as you, sir? Let's all spend our money at places that have never done something "bad". That will teach everyone a lesson, right? It is indeed pompous to hold countries responsible for acts committed hundreds of years ago. Your claim to never travel to Germany is justifiable, BUT taken in conjunction with all your other "holier than thou" posturing, one might "accidentally" assume that YOU yourself are quite prejudgemental, even racist. Perhaps the word bigot does fit you better, as you don't seem to actively persecute those in other countries - you just hold their nationality against them. I guess that's not as bad, but it's not something for which you deserve a pat on the back. Your economic stimuli won't be missed by those countries who aren't "good" enough for it. At least you show some signs of a "clue", again in your statement which I have quoted. The United States of America, good old USA, we sure do know how to pursue happiness - but whatever happened to pursuing life and liberty? I guess that part of America will "return" once our country is done "acting" like a superpower. An maybe, just maybe, people from other countries will decide to visit America, IN SPITE of all the bad things OUR country has done in the last hundred years. I hope they aren't as ethically pure as DMG claims to be.

	I have rated the above comment "1" (none / 0) (#79)
	by T Reginald Gibbons on Sun Dec 16th, 2001 at 09:34:43 PM PST

	I found it shamefully unpatriotic, and quite inappropriate during this time of need. National strength will not be regained if we listen to these bitter, ignorant anti-americans, who prefer to blither their self-hatred at us rather than rebuild the only nation in the world that is pure, strong and free.

	Only Nation that is Strong, Pure and Free??? (none / 0) (#88)
	by Anonymous Reader on Mon Dec 17th, 2001 at 09:39:26 AM PST

	U talk about Canada don't u???

	Absolutely not. (none / 0) (#93)
	by T Reginald Gibbons on Mon Dec 17th, 2001 at 01:22:48 PM PST

	All nations, aside from the US, fail to possess one of those three qualities, usually due to something that their national spirit lacks that the spirit of the USA does not. Canada lacks all three. The socialist menace to the North is weak, polluted by the pseudo-french of Quebec, and I'm sure I don't need to explain why they are not free. Who doesn't understand that collectivist government is the enemy of the individual?

	absolutely bollox (none / 0) (#96)
	by PotatoError on Mon Dec 17th, 2001 at 06:07:36 PM PST

	Strong, Pure and Free. You make up 3 words which have zero meaning. Pure - what does this mean??? Are you talking racially or morally? (the US is neither - and neither is any other country). Strong - again, what does this mean? are you talking military power or citizen mentality? The american people arent mentally stronger than any other people around the world. Free - yes, of course the US is the ONLY country which is free (?). The kind of country where if I say "im going to kill the president" during a phone conversation id get the Feds knocking down my door within 12 hours. Your phones, your emails, they are all tapped. You have a bit of a secret police over there. So give me a break about free. Most western countries are as free as the US and seeing as you are about to introduce massive anti-terrorist/anti-freedom laws over there dont you think this was a bad point to pick? But then again werent you the bloke who wrote that topic on how Bonzi buddy was a hacker tool? <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	You kids don't know how good you have it (none / 0) (#99)
	by T Reginald Gibbons on Tue Dec 18th, 2001 at 12:01:10 AM PST

	I'm tired of reading your impotent recriminations against the greatest institution on Earth, the US government. If you think the rest of the world is so much freer and better off, why don't you go live there, and take your bollox with you (whatever that is). I'm sure you'll be delighted with your freedom while you're dying of malaria in a pestilent bog somewhere, while the bandits and warlords that dominate much of the globe are machine gunning your intestines with their inferior Russian weapons.

	Gibbons: (none / 0) (#118)
	by Anonymous Reader on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 12:22:38 AM PST

	yes, that or they could live in europe, canada, australia or japan and enjoy as much freedom as americans do, and without the high crime rates and petty, materialistic little people, both of which plague your "great nation". throw in there supressed racial tensions and total goddamn assholes, and i think you have a picture of the negative side of america. you obviously know little beyond your own borders. so please stop it with the higher than thou bullshit of course i recognize you're probably just trying to wind people up, just like everyone else on this page. and i'm sad to say, i am getting wound up. i congratulate you on that. as for your excellent "government" etc, please note you ripped almost all of the important stuff in your constitution straight out of the french books. i have no problem with the US. i think there could be far worse groups of people as the worlds soul superpower. but i do have a problem with some of its stupid, arrogant, self-centered little citizens.

	blimey that was a bit harsh old chap! [nt] (none / 0) (#142)
	by PotatoError on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 03:51:33 PM PST

	nope, no text at all, just like I said. <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	hehheh (none / 0) (#141)
	by PotatoError on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 03:49:21 PM PST

	Obviously im not talking about the sort of countries you mentioned. You know there are other countries in the world? apart from the US and the 'warlord' controlled ones i mean. Basically as well as the US, most of Europe is free. So is Australia and New Zealand. If you can give one good solid reason why all of the above countries are less free than america then maybe you can convince me. Yes Russian weapons are inferior nowadays but the AK-47 ruled in its time! <<JUMP! POGO POGO POGO BOUNCE! POGO POGO POGO>>

	You must be joking (none / 0) (#143)
	by T Reginald Gibbons on Wed Dec 19th, 2001 at 05:36:41 PM PST

	Most of Europe is dominated by socialism. Need I say any more? Australia and New Zealand are essentially monarchies, in which the head of state (or her antipodean representative) is granted almost absolute power over government. All of the countries you mentioned lack a bill of rights, limiting the power of government over the citizenry. Not one of them has a constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. USA wins again.

	o_o (none / 0) (#162)
	by Anonymous Reader on Sat Dec 29th, 2001 at 06:24:21 AM PST

	T Reginald Gibbosn, you are a fucktard, the most fucked up of all parents in the USA. o_o

	"inferior Russian weapons" (none / 0) (#165)
	by mjh01210 on Wed Jan 16th, 2002 at 10:13:56 PM PST

	I'd just like to make one point, the standard AK-47 Assault Rifle is in several ways better in CQB (close quarters battle) than the weapon of choice in the United States infantry, the M16 Assault Rifle. Both have similar specs, but in field use the AK-47 is much more rugged and reliable, and less prone to jamming.

	he does have a point (none / 0) (#167)
	by mjh01210 on Wed Jan 16th, 2002 at 11:10:48 PM PST

	One thing, PotatoError does have a point about the article you wrote about computer hacking, Bonzai Buddy is far from a hacking program, its an annoying, badly written program designed to help in all manner of internet situations. I personally find it to be annoying at best and a virus at worst, it took a real effort to remove it from my friends computer when he downloaded it. As for the rest of your comments, you are entirely mis-informed regarding hackers and computer's in general. And hackers do not dress in any one style. Saying you can identify a hacker by what they wear is like saying you can identify a jewish person by the size of their nose and bank account, its the worst form of prejudice facing the United States today, aside from the common prejudices regarding age. I think thats enough heckling for one day, I look forward to debunking your future comments, they certainly give me a good laugh! PS And if you start picking on me about my spelling or grammar I shall fall into a deep level of insanity, and I will take you with me. This is a post on a message board, who cares about spelling or grammar? There is a time and a place for everything, and this is not the time for pulling out a dictionary to check every single word and sentence.