The greatest country in the world
-
No, not the US, but India. That is what a lot of people here seem to believe. If Americans or Russians or even the Chinese made this claim, it would be reasonable, but WTF are we great at? The greatest political corruption? Its not that I dislike my country but this is ridiculous. It makes us look like a bunch of delusional narcissists. Does this happen in other places too? I bet the people who make such claims are those who have never stepped out of their own country even once. I'm sure everyone from India will now jump on me and tell me why I'm wrong. -- moved from the Lounge
Holland is probably one of the greatest, second to that England I would say. I say this for their influence on the planet over the last 500 years. The US is great because it stems from these two, and its sheer size adds to that. It has also, through its black culture, become globally dominant (oddly that fed back to England and it too became globally huge in this area). But India? Its culturally very rich, very old, and has continuity, but its influence iant global so I dont think it can be called 'great'.
-
aaryan42 wrote:
a bunch of delusional narcissists.
Most countries, and the people who govern them, have faults a-plenty. However, there is nothing wrong in believing that your own country is still better than all the others.
Richard MacCutchan wrote:
there is nothing wrong in believing that your own country is still better than all the others
WWI, WWII?
-
Richard MacCutchan wrote:
there is nothing wrong in believing that your own country is still better than all the others
WWI, WWII?
WWI was a family row between Queen Victoria's (great) grandchildren. In any rational world, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand would have been the cause of mourning in his country, but not of war. WWII was brought on by a certifiable lunatic who believed that not only were Germans better than all others, but that they therefore deserved to rule and/or exterminate all other peoples. There is nothing wrong in believing that you are better than other people; the problem starts when you believe that this denies them their Human Rights.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill
-
Holland is probably one of the greatest, second to that England I would say. I say this for their influence on the planet over the last 500 years. The US is great because it stems from these two, and its sheer size adds to that. It has also, through its black culture, become globally dominant (oddly that fed back to England and it too became globally huge in this area). But India? Its culturally very rich, very old, and has continuity, but its influence iant global so I dont think it can be called 'great'.
-
WWI was a family row between Queen Victoria's (great) grandchildren. In any rational world, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand would have been the cause of mourning in his country, but not of war. WWII was brought on by a certifiable lunatic who believed that not only were Germans better than all others, but that they therefore deserved to rule and/or exterminate all other peoples. There is nothing wrong in believing that you are better than other people; the problem starts when you believe that this denies them their Human Rights.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill
Daniel Pfeffer wrote:
In any rational world
Do let us know when you find one!
Daniel Pfeffer wrote:
There is nothing wrong in believing that you are better than other people;
Well, apart from it being patent bollocks and carrying the inevitable corollary that you also think other people are inferior to you. On balance I'd say there's nothing right about it, in which I'd be in agreement with the United Nations and a lot of national Constitutions.
I am not a number. I am a ... no, wait!
-
-
Daniel Pfeffer wrote:
In any rational world
Do let us know when you find one!
Daniel Pfeffer wrote:
There is nothing wrong in believing that you are better than other people;
Well, apart from it being patent bollocks and carrying the inevitable corollary that you also think other people are inferior to you. On balance I'd say there's nothing right about it, in which I'd be in agreement with the United Nations and a lot of national Constitutions.
I am not a number. I am a ... no, wait!
9082365 wrote:
Well, apart from it being patent bollocks and carrying the inevitable corollary that you also think other people are inferior to you.
I would bet that most CPians are of superior intelligence to most non-CPians; Most Olympic athletes are in better shape than most CPians, etc. etc. We are only "completely equal" in the legal sense, and even there - having large amounts of cash available will often get you justice more to your liking. Note that I don't mean bribery; even the ability to hire a better lawyer can make a big difference to the outcome of a trial.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill
-
9082365 wrote:
Well, apart from it being patent bollocks and carrying the inevitable corollary that you also think other people are inferior to you.
I would bet that most CPians are of superior intelligence to most non-CPians; Most Olympic athletes are in better shape than most CPians, etc. etc. We are only "completely equal" in the legal sense, and even there - having large amounts of cash available will often get you justice more to your liking. Note that I don't mean bribery; even the ability to hire a better lawyer can make a big difference to the outcome of a trial.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill
Daniel Pfeffer wrote:
I would bet that most CPians are of superior intelligence to most non-CPians
I doubt that that is even close to the truth but even if it were it doesn't make any one of us 'better' than other people. There's no credit in being the recipient of a gift. The ability to win particular 'life-games' says nothing about you as a person. It makes you different to others, possibly even unique. It in no way makes you better than them. And, in fact, if you think it does, it is proof positive of the exact opposite. The saddest thing about this falsehood is that it is held to be true by people on both sides of the 'divide'. The 'halo effect', one of humanity's many innate psychological delusions, means that we are all inclined to see someone who is better than us in a single area as superior to us in every area. This is a particular problem for adolescents and is the root of many psychological disorders from anorexia to depression and every point in between that can become lifelong and life-threatening. The last thing our young need is to see approval, even tacet, of any view of our relations to each other which supports notions of superiority. Sadly they see almost nothing but!
I am not a number. I am a ... no, wait!
-
WWI was a family row between Queen Victoria's (great) grandchildren. In any rational world, the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand would have been the cause of mourning in his country, but not of war. WWII was brought on by a certifiable lunatic who believed that not only were Germans better than all others, but that they therefore deserved to rule and/or exterminate all other peoples. There is nothing wrong in believing that you are better than other people; the problem starts when you believe that this denies them their Human Rights.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack. --Winston Churchill
The mutual defence alliance between France and Russia had nothing to do with Victoria's grand children, and neither did Russian support for Serbian independence nor the view Germany had that Austria was really part of it, and nearly was if Bismark's 'greater germany' had succeeded. Anyway, my example still stands. Nationalism lead to WW1. The desire for a Serb nation, supported by Russia, lead directly to the German preemptive attack on France and Russia's failed attack on Germany.
-
Holland is the seven states isn't it? Its what we call your country anyway. ;P
-
Holland is the seven states isn't it? Its what we call your country anyway. ;P
Holland are two of the twelve states. The country is called "Netherlands". If we'd conquer the world, and the Dutch flag waved on every continent, we'd be living in the Netherworld :laugh:
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)
-
I may just have to agree with you there. Enough of a reason for me.
-
Holland are two of the twelve states. The country is called "Netherlands". If we'd conquer the world, and the Dutch flag waved on every continent, we'd be living in the Netherworld :laugh:
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)
Yeah, thats what it was. Funny that in the UK we still call the country 'Holland'.
-
Holland are two of the twelve states. The country is called "Netherlands". If we'd conquer the world, and the Dutch flag waved on every continent, we'd be living in the Netherworld :laugh:
Bastard Programmer from Hell :suss: If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^][](X-Clacks-Overhead: GNU Terry Pratchett)