Comments on: Peaceblogging

By: nunya

nunya — Sun, 13 Oct 2002 01:58:48 +0000

INSTEAD OF BICKERING, LETS TRY 2 MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. DO WUT U CAN AND THATS ALL U CAN DO. AND I AM ONLY 12. WUTS THAT MAKE U?

By: miguel

miguel — Tue, 09 Jul 2002 17:22:16 +0000

Bart, no offense, but I don’t trust anyone. Every country has these, or other, problems. People are people. But no other country enjoys the power or riches, currently, that the US, as a country, does – consuming, and wasting, such a large share of the world’s resources.

Look: just for the hell of it, let’s compare per capita income, literacy rates, and infant mortality rates in four countries: US, Austria (where i live), Japan (where i once lived), and Sweden (where that other American dude lives)
Per capita income (GDP):
US $33,586
Austria $23,441
Japan $23,311
Sweden $20,737

Literacy rates:
US 97%
Austria 98%
Japan 99%
Sweden 99%

Infant mortality (deaths per 1000 live births):
US 7.2 [5.0 (pacific islanders) 6.0 (whites) 8.7 (Native American) and 13.7 (African American)] Austria 5.10
Japan 4.07
Sweden 3.91

The US has a lower literacy rate than other countries with lower per capita GDP, and higher infant mortality rates. For example. American children consistently score lower on standardized tests than children in other rich Western countries. I just find this comparative lack of regard for health and education sad, is all I’m saying.

By: Bart Motes

Bart Motes — Tue, 09 Jul 2002 16:42:06 +0000

Actually, I love the 4th of July. My parents always have a big party, tons of interesting people come and bring delicious food, we have a big bonfire and fireworks and some of my best memories are of the 4th. The 4th of July represents the birth of the country and a time when Americans were considered to be rebels and terrorists. It commerates a time when we bravely stood up to the greatest power in the world and fought it to a standstill. All of the flaws that you mention of the United States are shared by every other country in the world. However, our accomplishments are unique. Even if conspicious consumption, bigotry and intolerance, ignorance, and illiteracy drive you nuts remember—all countries have these problems. You may not realize it, because as foreigners abroad one generally interacts with a higher echelon of society, but, trust me, all countries have these problems. Of course, the United States is perhaps unique in making someone who embodies its principle flaws its leader, but maybe that’s a honest outcome of democracy. I came to this weblog through the Guardian which directed me to that American dude living in Sweden. Bang on!

By: miguel

miguel — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 10:41:57 +0000

tasha: mass media.

By: mary

mary — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 09:56:52 +0000

No one is questioning Dubya because the idea of the media being liberal is a myth. If it makes you feel any better, we didn’t actually elect him.

By: andrea

andrea — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 08:59:13 +0000

Michele, Mig: welcome to my world.

By: tasha

tasha — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 06:08:55 +0000

are you primarily talking about tv or print media?

By: miguel

miguel — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 03:25:47 +0000

and i’m sitting at home, getting drunk on prosecco with my wonderful wife. which is also cool.

By: kd

kd — Fri, 05 Jul 2002 02:29:01 +0000

things are pretty fucked up aren’t they? eh. i’m sitting at home, getting paid. that part’s pretty cool.

By: francis s.

francis s. — Thu, 04 Jul 2002 21:36:06 +0000

Happy Fourth, Mig.

Why does this holiday always make me feel, uh, yucky? (Is that the opposite of cute or cool?)

I wrote my own rather nasty post in honor of the day. And I couldn’t help linking to you.

By: michele

michele — Thu, 04 Jul 2002 18:32:59 +0000

Don’t you know? Most bloggers are terrorists, as defined by the triumvate of evil – Ashcroft, Cheney and Rumsfeld.

I stands to reason that bloggers are, by nature, outspoken about their feelings. Soon we will be reading about a crackdown on blogging, we will find our websites are being spied on, our hosts will be pressured to take our sites down, and we will have a hundred or so “peaceblogs” sprouting up, with waving flag gifs, midis of the national anthem, and lots of kitten pictures.

The only way to make change is to keep talking, keep questioning and keep dissenting. We are still allowed to do that in America, aren’t we?