Sobekeus, the problem is 1. that it's only some of you (I'd say 1 in 15). This may surprise some Americans (it actually would, sadly), but politics, different policies and philosophy are a worldwide thing. American domestic issues are simply examples of implementation of one philosophy, approach or doctrine compared to others and what's so typical is that Americans tend to dismiss others without knowing why.
It's like people dismissing a good tv-show with ace acting, simply because it's not in english and therefore "cannot be quality". The utter retardness of the argument is what brings people like me, Canadians and others to indicate they're not backwards and typically even more advanced in certain areas.
So this thread is not about 'Dutch Pride', I understand how it may seem that way, but it's more a historical lecture to, well, teach the ignorant a lesson.
I simply take issue with the rose teinted goggles that certain people use here. These people claimed on several occassions things about foreigners and countries that are simply not true.
For instance, when we look at wealth, Malorn will tell you the US is the wealthiest nation in the world. On a nominal GDP level, it's right behind the EU indeed, but the EU
is not a country, so that's not entirely fair. So yes, the US is the biggest consumer economy in the world on a country by country basis. That doesn't make it the wealthiest though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...al)_per_capita
For on a per capita level, it's behind much smaller nations (only 15th), where a lot of European countries are well, well ahead of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...al)_per_capita
The same is true for a lot of other statistics that people like Malorn do not wish to see, since it does not conform with their worldview that the USA is top at everything.
Saying the Netherlands is wealthier for instance is not pride, this is fact. In fact, Canada is wealthier. ZOMGNOES.
Yes, Denmark > USA in a lot of things. Is that "Dutch Pride"? Is it "Dutch Pride" to look at Luxembourg, a completely different country (as is Denmark btw) and objectively state it rates better than the USA in a lot of fundamental and important areas? (Energy, housing, wealth, security, etc). The only ones basing their argument on pride in these forums, are very specific Americans who claim that any disagreeing has to be based in jealosy. How can we be jealous on a nation that has less than we have and worse happiness ratings, worse crime ratings, etc? The argument is simply dumb and trolling.
If an American wants to compare country-peens, he's in for a rough ride. If an American wants to claim that more social countries do not use or understand capitalism, do not know what freedoms are or makes other stupid remarks, this person is simply an ignorant fool.
This thread is aimed at putting these specific Americans in their place, when they want to argue another nation is irrelevant. Even a country such as the Netherlands over the past 6 centuries has made a HUGE impact and difference in the world.
If you want, I could make a similar thread or post about the French influence (another often ridiculed country) and would gladly do so. Nothing to do with pride, everything to do with correcting false claims.
Originally Posted by Hamma
Pot, Kettle.
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Not really, I do not tell people based on geography to butt out of politics or philosophical debate on the internet, just because they monopolise the issue by presuming it's a national topic.