When China is viewed more positively than you, you know you have an image problem...

[misscam]

(Why not take it yourself?)

UN accuses US of stalling Guntanamo Bay visit
Survey finds China more popular than the US

Sigh.

Now, I don't think the two are automatically linked, but Guntanamo Bay sure as hell is not doing the US image any favours. So here's a piece of friendly advice, Bush - once you start thinking human rights are okay to violate in some circumstances - for 'homeland security', say - it becomes easier to think it okay to violate in the next ciscumstance. And the next. And the next. And once you're down that path, you'll find it to be very thorny.

Guntanamo Bay gives me the willies.

And there's something seriously wrong when China - China! - is viewed more positively in a global poll. It's not like China has a great human rights record to slam down. But of course, they ain't the superpower of the world proclaiming loudly the glory of freedom and democracy - and yet the US still has Guntanamo Bay. The two images clash in a lot of people's opinion. And I cannot help but think sooner or later the US must make a choice between the two. Safety has a price. So has freedom. And each are paid by the other. You pay for safety in freedom and freedom in safety.

I wonder at the future, I do. As they say, "may you live in interesting times..."

Sometimes, I am very glad Norway is mostly boring and quiet.

Comments

[falena]

And there's something seriously wrong when China - China! - is viewed more positively in a global poll.

Something is very wrong inded. Come on, Mr. Bush, the writing is on the wall! Will you read it now?

Safety has a price. So has freedom. And each are paid by the other. You pay for safety in freedom and freedom in safety.

Interesting thought...You never fail to make me think. Thanks, Cam!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Knowing Bush, he'd probably read it wrong. *eyeroll to infinity* Though given some Rumsfeld comments of late, they do seem to have picked up on the US having an image problem. But what they're planning to do about it, one can only speculate.

:)

Who is the hot icon guy?

[falena]

It's Jason Dohring, who plays Logan on Veronica Mars. Told you the guys on that show are hot.

One more pic of him for your enjoyment

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y277/Falena84/TV%20Stuff/Veronica_Mars_1x22_525.jpg

As for the Us plans about their image problems...I bet they're idea of a solution is threatening to bomb all the countries that don't think the US is the home of freedom and peace!How about that?;P

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Not bad, not bad. Worth an ogle or two.

They'd half to bomb half the Earth. Now wouldn't that be fun?

[falena]

And he's a complete snarkfest...you'd learn to love him and gole him as much as Warrick!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Now that will seriously take some doing, I fear.

Mmm. Warrick...

But I'm always welcoming men to try :P

[falena]

Believe me, no matter how long it'll take you, in the end you'll do it.

But I understand, Warrick is always going to be number one for you. Nothing wrong with that.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. We'll see about that, oh yes.

Oh, I am a fickle being who changes the number one now and then. I am a shameless hussy after all. But Warrick shall take some serious hotness to pass, mmm-mmm.

[falena]

I'm kind of a sentimental fangirl, instead, so my first TV crush will always remain my number one (Noah Wyle, in case you're wondering). But I'm telling you, I'm quite taken with JD at the moment.

[velocityofsound.livejournal.com]

For my money, it is the hypocrisy of marching into sovereign nations behind a banner of freedom and democracy, and lately, practicing neither.

There is an overused quote by Benjamin Franklin, but I think Cam's words echo it well. "Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." As we (through our leaders, who are our representatives whether we like it or not) continue to subvert our Constitution internally, and the efforts of bodies like the United Nations, and hell, basic human rights all together globally, I believe we'll find it is a slippery slope. I'd rather have an enemy who knows who he is, than one that doesn't. George Washington said "Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." It worries me that over 200 years later we seem to have selective amnesia when it comes to true definitions of patriotism and liberty, and as a nation held together rather loosely by ideals, it is something we can not afford to forget.

[falena]

This is interesting and enlightening as well..Thanks!

(through our leaders, who are our representatives whether we like it or not)

And this quotes can so also apply to Italy!

[velocityofsound.livejournal.com]

Representative government is tricky business, I am afraid, and a responsibility. I just worry what happens when we forget that.

[falena]

You've got every right to do that.

OT note: Could you or Cam teach me how to properly attach a pic in a post?I tried to do that a couple of times but the pic wouldn't show up in the end. Just the link.
I think I screwed up with the html tags or something.

[velocityofsound.livejournal.com]

I typed this out recently (http://www.livejournal.com/users/velocityofsound/26811.html?thread=495035#t495035) for briasoleil. If you have any questions, bounce them back at me.

Basically, the tag is <*img src="http://blahblah.jpg"*> without the asterisks. Except on YTDAW, they have different tags that are explained in their FAQ. :)

[falena]

Thanks a bunch!You're a helpful little thing, you know?
Let's see if I can get it right this time



(Because a picture of JD is always easy on the eyes)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Indeed...

And you got it right :)

[falena]

Which means there' still hope, even for the severely technologically-challenged like me.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

If my dad can learn, so can you, trust me ;)

[falena]

Hope springs eternal, as they say.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I've always found it more bouncy, really.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I think we sometimes forget life has a price. No action without reaction. The Universe might not have an idea of justice, but there is still a scale at work. Scandinavia has chosen to be an open society, and this we sometimes pay for. The US chose to have freedom central. That too has a price. And fear itself is the greatest fear of all.

There is a slippery slope and funny how often it starts by dehumanizing the enemy, whether it be real or imagined. I have no love lost for any terrorist, but once we start acting as if these are less than human, that slippery slope gets very slippery indeed.

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism

Even dead old white men get it right sometimes.

[velocityofsound.livejournal.com]

Scandinavia has chosen to be an open society, and this we sometimes pay for. The US chose to have freedom central. That too has a price.

Absolutely. And what scares me about some Americans is that they are much more willing to pay in the blood of others (their fellow countrymen and collateral damage around the world) than with their own hand. The one thing you can say about most modern terrorists - they are fanatical extremists, who cause endless amounts of destruction and heartache, but they are who they are, they can individually and collectively accept the ramifications of their actions. What frightens me is when a supposed irrational killer is more rational than what appears to be the typical American mindset.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Paying in the blood of others is easy. Paying it in your own... You can say what you like about Europe, but we paid the price for some massive fuck ups in our own blood, on our own soil. And that changes everything.

I hope the US won't get this lesson as painfully as we did.

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

What the hell... China?!... I have no words for that. But maybe it is because we (the US) do treat other countries like crap. China hasn't done anything in the last few years... except fight with North Korea and the US about NK's nuclear weapons. *shakes head*

Sometimes I just want to smack my country and it's leader. Why can't we have a president like Jed Bartlet, the West Wing. He wouldn't do this to us!

Anyways... *walks off muttering*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Fictional people can sadly not be elected. Sniff.

Yeah, China has been a bit restrained of late, and even donating to the tsunami aid effort, so I guess people haven't thought much about the rather nasty regime still being assy. Ah well. They do show signs of gradual improvement, so I have hopes for them.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

_{*waves very small flag for China, because heritage and blood can sometimes not be ignored*}

Seriously, though. China's a country of blood and torture and war, and has been for the past 5000 years. Although we (that is, immigrant Chinese) tend to hope that it'll wake up and go democratic and TAKE OVER THE WORLD become a force for good some time, but it's not likely in the near future.

But hey, give us credit: we were a full-fledged empire a century ago.

And yes, something is seriously wrong when China is more popular than the US. Funny, but seriously wrong.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I have hopes for China. Hard-working people with sense of beauty? I have fingers crossed for continued slow improvement. We wouldn't want the collapse of the Soviet Union all over again, so I will forgive a little slowness - though perhaps a little faster than a snail might be good.

And yeah, China does deserve some peace and general prosperity at last.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

Hard-working people with sense of beauty?

You forget the general bloodthirstiness and the corruption that's been around since time immemorial, literally. *dry* I have my fingers crossed, like everyone else, but a pinch of cynicism can't hurt.

Ah well. Better slow and steady than a huge freaking mess.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is more a human trait then specifically Chinese. We've all been bloodthirsty and corrupt at varying times.

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but *waves hands vaguely* non-stop through a few thousand years of empires? I mean, wtf?

[meeta.livejournal.com]

And China gives ME the willies! Hee. I'd rather live in the US than China, but that's just me. I really like Chinese food, though! LOL. But I can understand why people are not liking the US so much right now.

Sometimes, I am very glad Norway is mostly boring and quiet.
Hee. I used to say the same thing about Canada, but then all of the sudden tons of interesting stuff started happening. Humph. I have nowhere to turn.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Oh, I would rather live in the US too, if I had to choose. But the US is the banner waving one, which means they do get a lot of attention for the negative actions it does. China is more closed.

I think the survey says more about the US and their problems than that much about Chinese progress, to put it that way.

*invites to Norway* We're as dull as bricks.

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

OH CAM!

Just skimming Deleterius and well.. apparently, your smutty stick figure pictures might be illegal here....

http://www.livejournal.com/users/robkaiote/403043.html?#cutid1

Take a read.. Boggle at the idiodicy that is BUSH!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

I read. I was pondering an entry on it, cos... WTF?

My porn stick people feel oppressed.

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

I would. I found it very... interesting you know.

Your poor porn stick people. *pats*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

They will not bend! They will not be maligned! The stick porn people are not for Bush to step all over!

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

Free the Stick porn people!

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

Viva la Revolution!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*storms the barricades with the stick porn people*

Off with Bush's head!

[saxihighlandck.livejournal.com]

Get the Texan!

Free the porn!

[nirix5.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I just finished reading a book that was partially about Queen Maud of Norway.

The US has the School of the Americas, too. That's where we trained Osama Bin Laden and other despots, you know.

*is mildly disgusted with her own country*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Yeah? Was it a good book?

I know - to fight the Soviets in the 80s. Just as the US helped Iraq in the 80s too, against Iran. Yesterday's aly, today's enemy.

[karaotter.livejournal.com]

China is more popular than the US. Just one more reason why I want to move out of America and (hopefully) never come back.