What's your favorite thing about the US?
Apr 15th 2012, 9:48 pm
#181
Heading for Poppyland
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: North Norfolk and northern New York State
Posts: 14,540
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
I guess I just don't understand. Why shouldn't we whine and complain? We're British for God's sake. And the US has to be one of the world's best targets for complaint, maybe that's why we came to live here.
Apr 15th 2012, 11:25 pm
#182
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 19
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Getting back to the original topic ... A couple of things I like about the US . . .
The First Amendment -- free speech and no establishment of religion:
No prior restraints on speech, no "super injunctions" or lucrative libel cases for put-upon celebrities, no one jailed for "hate speech," "holocaust denial" or other politically incorrect speech, no prayers and religion in public schools, no government-sponsored church (no "C of A".)
Fantastic musical heritage
Delta and Chicago Blues -- Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters etc. -- the roots of rock & roll -- Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis etc. -- folk music -- Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan etc -- Motown -- Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye etc. -- jazz -- Duke Ellington to Miles Davis and beyond. And that's just scratching the surface.
The First Amendment -- free speech and no establishment of religion:
No prior restraints on speech, no "super injunctions" or lucrative libel cases for put-upon celebrities, no one jailed for "hate speech," "holocaust denial" or other politically incorrect speech, no prayers and religion in public schools, no government-sponsored church (no "C of A".)
Fantastic musical heritage
Delta and Chicago Blues -- Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters etc. -- the roots of rock & roll -- Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis etc. -- folk music -- Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan etc -- Motown -- Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye etc. -- jazz -- Duke Ellington to Miles Davis and beyond. And that's just scratching the surface.
Apr 16th 2012, 12:06 am
#183
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
I don't mind bad things to say, but when everything you say is bad, it gets old. Especially when you post condescending remarks every few posts. If its that bad, go back.
I've quite enjoyed my time here, and I don't see how someone could be so miserable as to always post negative things...
You must live in Newark.
I've quite enjoyed my time here, and I don't see how someone could be so miserable as to always post negative things...
You must live in Newark.
Yeah that's right I live in Newark...how did you guess?
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Apr 16th 2012 at 12:29 am.
Apr 16th 2012, 12:50 am
#184
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
There are pros and cons for living here and living in the UK...or anywhere else. I've been here for 16 years and if it was that easy to go back permanently I would...but it's not. Just because you enjoy living here doesn't mean we all should...or that we should only post what you want to hear.
Yeah that's right I live in Newark...how did you guess?
Yeah that's right I live in Newark...how did you guess?
Apr 16th 2012, 12:58 am
#185
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
The First Amendment -- free speech and no establishment of religion:
No prior restraints on speech, no "super injunctions" or lucrative libel cases for put-upon celebrities, no one jailed for "hate speech," "holocaust denial" or other politically incorrect speech, no prayers and religion in public schools, no government-sponsored church (no "C of A".)
Errrr really?As for the libel one, in the UK the onus is on the person making the statement to prove they are right whilst in the US it is on the accused to prove the libel, which is a bit back arsewards.
I do like the idea of separation between religion and government, but that isn't the reality. Look at the whole joke of science, evolution and sex education to see that it doesn't hold at all in many parts of the US.
Definitely got the music thing right though
Apr 16th 2012, 1:17 am
#187
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Seal Rock, Oregon
Posts: 842
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Because it's polite? Would you rather let it go into someone's face? Of course, it's also polite to say "thank you" which is the part that seems to escape most of the populace in my part of the U.S.
Apr 16th 2012, 1:43 am
#188
.
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Where bad things rarely happen in movies
Posts: 8,933
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
!
Apr 16th 2012, 1:56 am
#190
Banned
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: N/A
Posts: 27
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Apr 16th 2012, 2:08 am
#191
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Huh?
Can't see anything wrong with being polite.
Apr 16th 2012, 2:20 am
#192
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 23
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Anyway, please let's just stay on topic now?
If you have negatives, or condescending remarks, please post them elsewhere.
If you have negatives, or condescending remarks, please post them elsewhere.
Apr 16th 2012, 2:21 am
#193
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,535
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
I'm English, and I hold doors open if I see someone heading for it behind me, let cars in front of me into traffic, wave thank you if another driver does that for me, greet strangers in the street if we make eye contact, and numerous other small gestures of politeness and consideration because they make the world a better place. I can't remember, and don't care, which of these customs is English and which American, or even if they belong to both countries. Being polite is free and the simple use of good manners can defuse all sorts of potentially stressful situations.
Apr 16th 2012, 2:22 am
#194
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,535
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
I'm afraid you can't control the discussion to this extent, particularly on this board. People here are used to freewheeling discussion and trying to stop that will just make you unhappy.
Apr 16th 2012, 2:29 am
#195
Are we there yet?
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: 31 miles from Cool (California)
Posts: 2,467
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Getting back to the original topic ... A couple of things I like about the US . . .
The First Amendment -- free speech and no establishment of religion:
No prior restraints on speech, no "super injunctions" or lucrative libel cases for put-upon celebrities, no one jailed for "hate speech," "holocaust denial" or other politically incorrect speech, no prayers and religion in public schools, no government-sponsored church (no "C of A".)
The First Amendment -- free speech and no establishment of religion:
No prior restraints on speech, no "super injunctions" or lucrative libel cases for put-upon celebrities, no one jailed for "hate speech," "holocaust denial" or other politically incorrect speech, no prayers and religion in public schools, no government-sponsored church (no "C of A".)
As for no prayers or religion in public schools, that's one thing, but I feel I'm subjected to more religion here in the US than I ever was in the UK. People are far more likely to talk to me about their religious beliefs here than in the UK, either that or they are more devout. Either way, I hate the amount of religion I face here on a daily basis. I try to be tolerant, but there are some times when I just have to be rude. People are incredulous that I don't believe in god, and if they persist, I have to tell them I don't believe in Father Christmas or the tooth fairy either.