Poor old guy. I wish him the best and thank him for his service to our country.

Poor old guy. I wish him the best and thank him for his service to our country.

Poor old guy? Why?

Semantics. "is arrogant and shown arrogance" are the same thing.

 

Fact is, America is arrogant, and as the #1 world "super-power", we darn well better be. Everyone at the top is arrogant, and needs to be or they aren't there for long. To have the commander-in-chief apologizing to the world for the success and status we've achieved is disgraceful IMO. Arrogance comes with the territory and if President Obama doesn't see or recognize that, then he's going to be a major contributor to the downfall of the country IMO.

 

It's not semantics, but we can certainly disagree on that.

 

What do you recommend, as far as mistakes that we, as a country, have made? Pretend that they don't exist?

It's not semantics, but we can certainly disagree on that.

 

What do you recommend, as far as mistakes that we, as a country, have made? Pretend that they don't exist?

 

Well, seeing as he was talking to Europe when he made those comments, I'd say we owe them absolutely nothing. Once they've paid us back for stopping the entire continent from being one giant German dictatorship, we can start talking about what "mistakes" we've made with them.

Well, seeing as he was talking to Europe when he made those comments, I'd say we owe them absolutely nothing. Once they've paid us back for stopping the entire continent from being one giant German dictatorship, we can start talking about what "mistakes" we've made with them.

 

That's not an answer to my question, but I'll withdraw it if you don't want to answer.

 

What should Europe do to "pay us back" for our part (we weren't the only ones, right?) in stopping Hitler?

Not at all to the original topic, but here are some questions I've been pondering for some time. These questions are not aimed at foreign policy, but at citizen mindset.

 

How long do we use the "we saved Europe in WWII" excuse to demand respect and rationalize arrogance?

When do we stop thinking "our way" is the always "right" way?

When is it appropriate to admit we've failed ourselves, and at times our allies?

At what point do we begin to shift the focuse from military dominance as equal to power?

 

Just some thoughts I've been kicking around.

That's not an answer to my question, but I'll withdraw it if you don't want to answer.

 

What should Europe do to "pay us back" for our part (we weren't the only ones, right?) in stopping Hitler?

 

I most certainly did answer your question. Again, we owe them nor any other country any explainations. Every country makes plenty of mistakes, but I've never once seen them apologize for them, especially for being successful.

How long do we use the "we saved Europe in WWII" excuse to demand respect and rationalize arrogance? Until they stop with the garbage "anti-America" rhetoric and sentiments.

When do we stop thinking "our way" is the always "right" way? When we are no longer a super power.

When is it appropriate to admit we've failed ourselves, and at times our allies? Our country seems to be continuously admitting it's shortcomings to ourselves. As for to our allies, see post #22.

At what point do we begin to shift the focuse from military dominance as equal to power? America isn't just a super power because of military dominance, so I'm not sure what you're looking for here.

Not at all to the original topic, but here are some questions I've been pondering for some time. These questions are not aimed at foreign policy, but at citizen mindset.

 

How long do we use the "we saved Europe in WWII" excuse to demand respect and rationalize arrogance?

When do we stop thinking "our way" is the always "right" way?

When is it appropriate to admit we've failed ourselves, and at times our allies?

At what point do we begin to shift the focuse from military dominance as equal to power?

 

Just some thoughts I've been kicking around.

 

 

 

I don't think it is a "we saved Europe" mindset or military dominance, but rather self preservation and defense of freedom, ours and others.

 

We invaded Afghanistan as retaliation for 9/11 and to fight Al Qaeda. We invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein was a threat to the Middle East, had already started two wars in the area, the possible proliferation of nuclear weapons (faulty intelligence), and oil. We were in Somalia to secure UN peace keepers distributing food, the Balkans to keep peace (in defense of Muslims). We were in Vietnam, Korea, and Europe following WWII to fight Communism. We entered WWII after being attacked.

 

All of these recent conflicts were not the United States trying to colonize or dominate other countries, but rather IMO to defend our freedom, our interests, and our allies. We are not trying to force our religion on others. Quite the opposite we attempt to foster people's right to speech, freedom, and religion. Of course some cultures don't believe in those principles and that is fine as long as is doesn't threaten our way of life.

 

Is our way the right way? Maybe not, but it's a heck of lot better than the way most people live. There are probably twenty or more countries that right now that would throw everybody in the P&R forum in jail just for posting on the internet.

I most certainly did answer your question. Again, we owe them nor any other country any explainations. Every country makes plenty of mistakes, but I've never once seen them apologize for them, especially for being successful.

 

Successful does not equate to "right".

 

You're explanation epitomizes exactly why President Obama is correct in his saying that we, at times, have been arrogant. Other countries have their faults, too, many of them by the plenty. But it diminishes no one by admitting your faults.

Successful does not equate to "right".

 

You're explanation epitomizes exactly why President Obama is correct in his saying that we, at times, have been arrogant. Other countries have their faults, too, many of them by the plenty. But it diminishes no one by admitting your faults.

 

To your first part, I say who cares?

 

To the second, you must have forgot the "IMO", because to a great many you and President Obama couldn't be more wrong. There is also a huge difference between admitting to past mistakes and apologizing like he did.

Successful does not equate to "right".

 

You're explanation epitomizes exactly why President Obama is correct in his saying that we, at times, have been arrogant. Other countries have their faults, too, many of them by the plenty. But it diminishes no one by admitting your faults.

What about Obama's arrogance?

To your first part, I say who cares?

 

To the second, you must have forgot the "IMO", because to a great many you and President Obama couldn't be more wrong. There is also a huge difference between admitting to past mistakes and apologizing like he did.

 

I care. If you don't care about the differences in definitions of words, that is your choice.

 

The second, is, of course, my opinion. Am I supposed to tack that on to all of my opinions? If so, I've missed seeing it in many of yours.

 

Perhaps, President Obama should have called out Europe for its anti-American sentiment and failure to appreciate the US for the good that it has done. Would that have helped?

What about Obama's arrogance?

 

 

IMO, President Obama has been demonstrated arrogance on occasion and has been wrong for doing so. Not admitting to it makes it even worse. The same was true for President Bush.

Perhaps, President Obama should have called out Europe for its anti-American sentiment and failure to appreciate the US for the good that it has done. Would that have helped?

At least should have included it in the speech...