⭐️ Social ⭐️ Get to know your neighbo(u)rs from across the pond

[felix]

What's the deal with the flagpoles? How many of you actually have one and insist on hoisting up 'Old Glory' proudly on whatever weird occasions you Americanese commemorate?

Or is it like here, where national flags are only usually displayed by marginalised racists, damaged veterans, civic buildings or the clip-on versions that people who drive family saloons like to stick to their cars during football tournaments (soccer to you).

Come on, enlighten us. Please.

To SamhainGrim-----------------
I think it depends on the person in regards to the flag pole question (sorry thats a bland answer). But my father is a retired air force vet of 20 years. we have 2 houses here in good old massachusetts. At our year round house, with heat, town water, and all the other amenities to deal with the harsh winter months here, we have a flag pole that we basically take down for the winter because it doesnt really make sense to fly the flag in the cold months where it gets dark by 430pm anyways. but in the summer we put the flag up on nice days, weekends, and basically all holidays (july 4th, memorial day, labor day, then other nonspecific state holidays too. At our summer house on the lake, we basically do the same. its boarded up during the winter and in the summer we pretty much put the flag up on nice days, holidays, and sometimes when our german and swedish friends come over we will hang their countries (also our ethnicities too) flags. I'm proud to be brought up in a military family even though I never joined and its not like we are all military with daily salutes and all that jazz. I respect my father for his service to the country and anyone else for that matter and try to make sure he knows it by taking him out to lunch on veterans appreciation days or even just saying thank you for your service. i think a lot of people in this country have too many misconceptions about military personal and think that they should take more time to appreciate sacrifices these people have made in keeping us safe in our little lives here. Also with all that said, as stated I live in massachusetts in the suburbs and would say that roughly one in 8 houses has flagpoles that i see with our proud flag hoisted on top. At my lakehouse that number probably goes up to 1 in 3 houses or so but that probably just goes for the summer and weekends......

sorry to ramble on about all that since u were just asking about flags.........

much more interesting than all that boring cannabis-related rivalry!

so you explained what you do in your family. but not *why*.

do you sometimes forget where you are, so you need a flag to remind you? it just seems a bit odd to outsiders, sometimes. your country (like all the rest) does some good things, but it also does some unforgivably evil things too. so it seems rather bizarre to almost worship this symbol of the USA as if it represented an infallible religious icon. the flag doesn't represent the sacrifice or heroism of your military during WW2 any more than it represents the genocide of Native Americans or the sale of clusterbombs to [bad people].

but hey, we have different definitions of patriotism, no doubt. and i like seeing flags anyway, even though you should by rights still be using the Grand Union Flag.

when I take my motorcycle on holiday abroad, i must admit there's a few small scottish stickers. but they're solely to give the message "I am not ENGLISH" haha.

 

[okz snorter]

ya sometimes i forget where I am....... depending on how many oxy's I've done that day haha. to tell you the truth i dont really have a reason why we hoist the flag. Its basically my father that does it and we either do it for him just to help him out or just so he sees it up. Of course my country isnt infallible but even though i've only lived here and Germany for a few years, I believe it is the best place to live. Not that a look down at any other country by any means but i would expect everyone to think the same way about his or her country. So all in all there is no finite reason to put the flag up except to feel a little bit of pride for your country and show support for it. Plus when I was a kid out in my boat, my parents would always put the flag at half mass (halfway up the flagpole) to let us know if lunch was ready or any other reason they wanted us to come in. Other than that, I think it looks good flapping in the wind on a nice sunny day. Shows you which way the wind is blowing too.

 

[jspun]

Charlie Clean

If you've visited the UK, what do you think of the standards of service in our restaurants? "Eggs over easy, please" " Fried or scrambled only, dear." - I overheard that conversation between an American visitor and an indifferent waitress. Do Americans complain at the slightest excuse or will Brits put up with any shit rather than raise a fuss?

These days, of course, we've the mid-Atlantic man combining the best, or worst of both cultures. But in what situation would stay-at-home, middle Americans react differently to their small town UK counterparts? How does the US handle multiculturism and integrate its Moslem immigrants? Are expat Americans and Brits motivated by different reasons?

When I first visited the U.S, I couldn't get over the size of the produce. I'd never seen apples so big. Or, I soon found, so completely without taste or flavour. What was called a 'breakfast steak' was big enough for two British dinners and an average dinner stateside would feed a UK family all day. Has that changed? Back when UK visitors were still a West Coast rarity, I recall the disappointment of a Puerto Rican stacking the cues in a pool hall off the Haight when he learnt we're all very poor, drive small cars and live in tiny houses. But he was real impressed we didn't have to pay for medical treatment. Since then, the policy of successive UK governments has tended to ape US, 'free market' fashion, to the extent where we now even have your charming 'contract prisons'. Is it progress?

For a long time, America was the great hope, the beacon of freedom and opportunity for Europe's huddled masses. Now, we feel like a 51st state, natives under a colonial master across the big ocean. Do Americans see us that way and themselves as the rulers of all they survey? Are Americans less inclined to vacation here than they were previously? What's putting them off?

Of course, we're all brothers under the dope here and on the same side in that big, unstated war. May the blue light of liberty shine on you all.

Compared to Europe, I think that Islamic immigrants are very well integrated, with the exception of some of the rascist states in the south. A large majority have become successful and either they themselves or their children have gone on to get University educations and beyond. One difference I see is that much less immigrants from Muslim countries form criminal syndicates compared to their European counterparts (a recent raid of a Iraqi (Chacedonian) orginization that was working with the mexican Sinaloa Cartel being a notable exception, that was smuggling drugs and arms criminal sydicates in detroit.)

Charlie, I think that your average American is more apathetic and less informed on World afairs than their European counterparts. I think that American women are more inhibited sexually than their European sisters, we have alot of vestiges from our puritanical past. As for regarding Britain as our 51st state, I think its our government which we don't rein in- Americans, though this is changing, are more apolitical than Europeans. Many of us do work 12+ hour shifts. Americans, save some on BL are more easily brainwashed, often despite am excellent University education. We don't regard Britain as our 51st state- thats our Government which we don't keep on a tight enough leash. Thank God for the internet. I listen to the BBC news on the way from work- it beats any of our media outlet and I would have to say the same for Al Jezeer (though they may have an anti-iraeli bias). My parents watch Greek TV to get the news. I think the Wall Steet Journal is a fair source of info domestically and national public radio (Knpr), which hosts the BBC world services.
And there is alot of diversity state to state and person to person but you get more open mindedness, generally by the coasts, in Hawaii, and Alaska.

Felix the flag you posted looks almost identical to the Hawaaian state flag, by the way, one of the coolest flags in the Union. Many Americans are unaware that in addition to the 50 states, there are territories, like Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, The Marianas Islands, and down bellow, The American Samoa (that has its own unique status).

Canadians would be mortified to be called Americans and seem to emphasize that point on trips abroad. They are the ones we regard as our 51st state.
What shocked me about many I've met that came to work as traveling nurses to this country is out of probably 7 or 8 that I asked, not one knew that france had a territory, their last vestige of their historic pressence in North America (excluding the Carribean) near the Atlantic Provices- St. Pierre and Miquelon:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Pierre_and_Miquelon

Mexicans are often treated unfairly, here. But the majority come here seeking a good life. I don't think they are as sensitive to the stigma of being called Americans (then again they speak a different language.) As far as health care, they are marginalized but when they have to be hospitalized they get the same high degree of treatment as US citizens, insured, or not, essentially for free because they can disappear afterwords and the hospital ends up eating the bill ($5-10 thousand dollars is the base rate/24 hrs, not counting physician fees and tests, procedures, or medications.)

But speaking, Charlie, of why not many American travel to Europe- now its because of the economy and if you do have a job, usually you only get 2 weeks paid vacation. Lucky families can acrue vacation hours, save up, and go to Europe. I would like to do that in a few years. We have family in one of the EU nations, and I've been to Greece 4 times and traveled through Europe with my Dad twice. One time we took advatage of our Eurail pass. This time I want to go to the UK and Eire among other countries (I do speak the language, after all). But one needs a month minimum, preferably 3. But I know lots of Americans that wish they could travel their- and in hour case we are comming from the West Coast. Athens is a 14 hour plane ride.

As far as flying flags- many of US do. We are patriotic and one needs not love their government to love their country. When I lived in the Bay Area, in the house I grew up, our Neighbors were German immigrants but he Flew a flag proudly outside his house. before comming to America, he worked for a German company in Basra. They day we invaded Iraq in 2003, he took his flag down in protest.

Their is a study linking flag flying a gun ownership. Apparently theives know this so houses flying flags are less likely to be burglarized- true story.

One final observation, comparing the NADD heroin availability thread with the European one, there are way more females on compared to the American one. Also heroin seems more mainstream and my sence is you have more people smoking gear that are proffesionals, middle class, or employed in some capacity.

Anyway, thanks Tommy Boy, love this thread! (The Europeans were probably trying to find a way to get this crazy yank out of their forum).

One last thing, the question was asked about sland terms abount Americans: The most popular ones the Limeys use is Yanks or Seppos.

But there is alot of Good in this country. We can again become a beacon of freedom but a may take generations- though the protesters in the midwest were influenced by what they heard comming out of Europe and the Arab spring, in particular.

 

[felix]

Felix the flag you posted looks almost identical to the Hawaaian state flag, by the way, one of the coolest flags in the Union. Many Americans are unaware that in addition to the 50 states, there are territories, like Guam, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, The Marianas Islands, and down bellow, The American Samoa (that has its own unique status).

I did not know that about the Flag of Hawaii, interesting stuff! (to me anyway). I knew about the territories though - the UK still has a few: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Overseas_Territories.

 

[jspun]

Charlie Clean

But he was real impressed we didn't have to pay for medical treatment. Since then, the policy of successive UK governments has tended to ape US, 'free market' fashion, to the extent where we now even have your charming 'contract prisons'. Is it progress?

Contract prisons are an abomination. When this wave of tea partiers swept into office, there is a sort of orientation for Congreesmaen new too office that is kind of a seminar for governance- they explain the political process and how to vote. What is scarry is that this crop of Freshman Congressman attended one such session (during a recession) that was based partly on the Island of Kuai and partly in Maui, in the state of hawaii. Who paid for it? the Prison Guards Union.8( The silver lining- California, this so called liberal state with fairly tolerant Cannabis laws had a 3 strikes 25- life law. Before the current medical MJ regimen, growing cannabis was a strikeable offense. Probably this is- and California is a pioneer in the private prison bussiness. A silver lining, our prisons had become so overcrowded that a couple months ago the US Supreme Court, in a rare excercize of judicial wisdom ordered the state of CA to release a certain number of prisoners. Its nice to a our system work, when it does, that rulling suprised the hell out of me. The Prison Union makes HR and legalizing Cannabis difficult, since cannabis offenders and non-violent drug offenders are their bread and butter. Former Police Chief (of San Jose, CA- this states 3rd largest city after LA and San Diego and what comprises, along with its suburbs "the silicon valley" that make the internet, microchips, ect possible, and anti prohibition opponent, warned during his long tenure of the ascendency of a prison industrial complex. During his tenure San Jose (then 850,000- larger than San Francisco (720,000)- San Jose had the lowest violent or property crime rate. It was Americas safest cities under his enlightened policies, which put serving and protecting people at the top of the list and going after drug users, and secondarily drug purveyors (though there were high profile bust during his 15 years- I had a cop return my weed twice). Point was he had his priorities straight. Darryl Gates felt drug users were traitors that should be executed because this is a war. Socioeconomically they were 2 different places but we got Rodney King and the Rodney King riots. I wonder how different things could have been had he adopted a less heavy handed approach. Just listen to 80s NWA and you'll get a taste of what such heavy handed tactics- the angst they generated- we see a similar thing in Syria, Libyia, Egypt, Tianamen Square, Red Sqaure (91')ect...- you can push people around just so long. Anyway, the sensible policy seems obvious. Speaking of Harm reduction and sensible Policy, our European brothers and sisters enunciated it in the Frankfurt Decleration http://www.ukcia.org/politicsandlaw/frank.html a short concise, landmark decleration of HR principles- historical one of the important HR landmark that several European cities were signatories of. Maybe in time these cocepts will be incorporated in the UN's staements of international drug policy.

America's got rotten apples but we have Ron Paul, Joseph D Mcnamara, Curt Schmoke, Marion Barry (one of my personal favorites). A propent of drug law reform as mayor of DC in the 80s he was arrested for Going to a hotel and smoking crack with hookers. An argument he had with McNamarra and Schmoke is that he would draw the line with PCP. At least he wasn't a hypocrite. After an FBI sting, the Mayor of this nations capital did a 6 month prison stint. Like I said, this country has good and bad stuff, but after prison he was elected for, i think, a third term as mayor under the slogan (Marion might not be perfect but he's perfect for DC.) Then he served on the city council were he still might be serving.

I read once that the Swiss modeled their system in 1840s after the USA's- look at how good they are doing, they have 3% unemployment and inflation because investors are buying Swiss Franks alongside Gold as a safe haven- causing them to suffer from inflation and their goods to increase in price on the world market- despite the social decay that Heroin Rx and other HR policies were supposed to lead to according to "experts" in the US and a few other countries. In fact, it seems to be a resounding success. The USA started departing from the principles the Republic and now we find ourselves in the current mess, helping to bring the world down with us- though the blame doesn't lay solely with us, we play the largest role.

From the Standpoint of drugs, It was downhill when Teddy Roosevelt appointed an "opium tszar" and conyened the opium confrence in Shanghai under pressure from women's temperence and missionary groups, which led to fliterting with alcohol prohibition, and the madness of continuing Narcotics prohibition- exactly analogous to not learning the leassons' of Vietnam. Well the Mexicans are reaping the missery of drug prohibition on a scale of death and brutality surpasing the lattest Iraq conflict.

Aside from the Commonwealth of Nations, who the Queen can excercize emergency (don't want to say dictatorial powers)- Turks and Caicos being recent examples were she dissolved parliament and deposed the PM, if i got my story straight...anyway, I guess with the British Overseas Terriotories the sun only rarely sets on the British Empire? I've been to the BVI, so I guess I have been blessed to step on British Soil. It is interesting. Apparently the last Hawaiian Queen really respected the British Monarchy and wanted her rein to be modeled after them. So before the revolution fomented by Haole decendents of missionary plantation landowners revolting and the subsequent annexation by the US, there is a place on the Big Island. It was the bay that Captain Cook anchored in and made contact with the natives, who venerated him thinking he was a god. Anyway, they changed their minds and to make a long story short, he was killed. A piece of land in this bay was ceded to the Queen of the british Empire. Contracts that were made before US rule have to be honored going back to revolutionary war times rullings. So at any rate, their is an obelix monument to Captain cook on this land. Moreover, their is a piece of British Sovereign soil in the USA, on the big Island of Hawaii. Outside of Consulates and the British Embasy, that is the only piece of sovereign British soil owned in her former colonies. Its a beautiful spot, suprised the crown didn't move the monument and build a little vacation bungalow in paradise. Anyway just a little trivia.

Anyway, Charlie, would you say that Thatcher was biggest culprit in apeing US policy. I think her quote was "the problem with socialism is you run out of other peoples' money." Or Majors getting conned by Bush. Howabout Cameron.

I'm a life long Libertarian but have had several fundemental beliefs shaken. One thing I believe is that this economic mess isn't helped by the inherent corruption in both parties and political action groups (lobyists). Anyaway, the current economic downturn is hurting the world. In Europe socialism seems to have been working prety good but the wests economy save Poland that has been doing ok, switzerland, Sweden, ect.. needs to rebound. Unfortunately economic stability in Europe is tied to that in the US...mony is either running out or being concentrated and hid by a select group of the super rich like in the third world. But I don't know whats happening...seems like Europe had a good thing going when I visited in 96' and when I lived in the bay area in the 90s, there was fabulous wealth. I worked next to Yahoo- shared a parking lot and there 22-23 year olds (probably with philosophy degrees) with blue mohawks we get out of Austin Martins and skate across the parking lot to their work. We were their poor cousin but those were heady times before the internet bubble burst and it was still releatively prosperous befor I moved back to San Diego in 2004.

Thoose boom days are over- California had become too crowded- atleast theirs more elbow room.

 

[chinky]

They don't sell those here. Malt liquor and handguns neither.

Then they can roll a joint however they like.

they dont sell any type of cigarillos or just swishers? my point was getting a box of your favorite cigarillos

a brand of cheap cigar. They're more popular now then any dutch or swisher I'd wadger... at least in the north eastern USA... As apposed to a blunt wrap, like a Royal or True Blunt.

here no one smokes games or dutchies..its all swishers, vega's and white grape WOs..my favorite persoanlly is vanilla dutchies,but no one sell them so i have a local hodge order them for me personally..but really everyone smokes plain swishers if they are a blunt smoker..the kids will moke the flavred shit but i cant stand it

and about flagpoles...theres not a single person on my block(30houses maybe) that has a flag pole..and the only flags that there is a little one my neighbor uts up for the bulls,haws,bears,and sox durin their repected seasons.. i guess we rent as patriotic

 

[Johnny blue]

Mostly Vegas or WO here too but, too many people use blunt wraps.

 

[chinky]

blunt wraps where popular when they first came out and with little kids who cant crack open a cigar with their hands...the flavor is good on them and they are alwasy fresh and they burn slow..i just feel like i rollin up chemicals though

just like how i never use those clear cellulose papers

 

[Tommyboy]

So what do you all think of Russell Brand? Is he really that big of a star in the UK? He seems to be one of those people that are famous for being famous.

He did have a hilarious interview on Conan O'Brien found here.

It seems pretty fitting given the basis of the thread.

 

[chinky]

i love russell brands comedy..dude is funny as shit

 

[jancrow]

I think he's considered to be a cunt by most citizens of the UK. Nearly everybody I know thinks he's a cunt, anyway.

 

[Jabberwocky]

i think he's a cunt, but that doesn't mean he's not funny. kinda childish but i'm sure i've heard some gold from him.

 

[Vader]

How many of you 'merkins have guns? How many of you sleep with one under the pillow?

 

[Welderman]

I have a few guns and yes I sleep with one under my pillow.

 

[Tommyboy]

How many of you 'merkins have guns? How many of you sleep with one under the pillow?

When I went to school in a rural area, everybody owned a gun, but for hunting purposes. Many of my friends/mates would go hunting before class, so would have their guns with them in their cars on campus.

 

[Welderman]

Back in the early 90's when I was in high school we would bring shotguns to school so we could go hunting after class. We left them in our trunks though.

 

[Vader]

I have a few guns and yes I sleep with one under my pillow.

Yeah, I have heard that Detroit is reasonably rough.

 

[Johnny blue]

How many of you 'merkins have guns? How many of you sleep with one under the pillow?

Totally depends on where you live. You can get an FID card anywhere but that'll just get you a rifle or a shotgun. In order to carry a handgun you need a class A or B license (I believe anyway) and getting one of those is damn near impossible in a big city. Down south is a totally different story as they are typically "will issue" states as opposed to Massachusetts which is a "can issue" meaning they don't have to. In a lot of the big cities(Chicago NY etc) it's hard to even carry a knife legally depending on blade size and how it opens.

Out of the people I know that can legally carry a handgun maybe 2% actually do. You're much more likely to get stabbed IMO. Do you guys carry anything?

 

[jspun]

Johnny Blue: it might be worth pointing out to our European bretheren that their are states, one comes to mind in particular, the great state of Alaska were carrying a firearm is a neccessity- you might be confronted by a brown bear or angry mouse. In Arizona the federal government impeded the imposition of the law were the state of Az would be empowered to supplemet the US border partrol. Aside from Guzman et al (the Sinaloa Cartel)- seemingly favored by Calderone- kidnaping and ransome were on the rise. To counter the threat, the State of AZ changed its liberal gun laws to allow for the possession of concealed firearms, either without a permit or one that is easily obtainable- before you could legally carry a firearm in public so long as it was in a holster in plane view.

At any rate, the 2nd Ammedment to the US Constitution , "In order to manintain a well regulated militia, the right to bear arms shall not be infringed." Taken literally, it would provide a Swiss style defence were a well armed populace would be a deterent to a foreign powers invasion.

But there are some that say the 2nd ammendment make all the other ammndements possible (implying that armed citizens are a check on government tyranny). I would argue the ballot is mightier than the sword (or firearm in this case). At any rate, if the US government got more tyrannical and the populatilon less apathetic, if orders were issued to the well disciplined US military to put down an insurrection...if it came to that I have a feeling that the military would stand down analogous to how they stood down in Red Square during the military coup that ended the USSR and brought Yeltsin to power.

At any rate I don't see large scale demonstrations happening, atleast not this year...but when people get desperate and have little to loose?

As for the UK, I know that many constables (aside for quick reaction forces), are unarmed. Could one say the same for carrer criminals, and how prevalent is the use of firearms in a home invasion? Does UK law prove to be a deterent for the criminal element?

In Mexico, possession of firearms by citizens is illegal unless you have connections. The US ATF had a "straw buyer" buy 1,000 arms that were distributed to Cartels to identify the cartel leaders, ostensibly. The laudability of the op, called fast and furious is that everyone in Mexico knows who the cartel leader are and were they live. Most likely it was an operation under Hilary Clinton to destabalize the government of Mexico. It wasn't until whistleblowers in he ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms), that came forward after a US border patrol agent was fatal shot and wounded by arms traced back to this op did it become publically known. This did wonders for US-Mexican relations.8(

 

[Jabberwocky]

how prevalent is the use of firearms in a home invasion? Does UK law prove to be a deterent for the criminal element?

i've asked around about this cos people keep trying to break into my house WHILST I'M CLEARLY AWAKE IN IT. from what i understand, straight burglary has much much lesser penalties than home invasion, so home invasion is rare. i have heard of people being held at knife point whilst being burgled, but never at gun point. i suspect its in part due to guns being so much more difficult to get hold of. i don't see that the petty criminals who do breaking and entering would have the connections to easily get firearms. i may be wrong but i hope not!

sorry to bring it to politics.... do you guys think that the republican party's tactic of treating the american public like utter idiots, and making actual political dialogue between parties near on impossible, is downright offensive or a good tactic for garnering support? i am getting more and more disturbed every time i see american politics in the news as its increasingly devoid of policy or even facts, is this a polarised view or is this genuinely how it is now?