When will Americans Learn?

Oh, really. The entire premise here, starting with the title of this thread "When will Americans learn" is one of condescension and some attitude of superiority - as in scolding an errant child.

It's offensive and far too frequent an attitude displayed by Canadians. Feel free to consider yourselves better and more "advanced" than Americans - feel free to spurt that out on forums whenever you want. But know that many of us won't silently take the insult. We also have the right to tell you to take your opinions of our rights and our culture and put them where the Arctic sun never shines.

 

"Where the Arctic sun never shines". Alaska?

American's are 5% of the worlds population and own 50% of the world's small arms. The comparative number of deaths in the U.S. compared to the rest of the world is staggering. Only 15% of gunshot victims in America die from their wounds. That's a huge number of firearm victims.

So, yes, some people, looking from the outside, are going to come off condesending. Do you think it's condesending when Americans call themselves "The greatest nation on Earth" or remark about a rags to riches story with "Only in America"?

When we, in North America, hear about some African families washing the bodies of Ebola victims before burial, exposing themselves to infection, we think they are nuts. But that is their long standing culture. They would probably thinking we dishonor our dead, not doing it.

It's naive to think others don't have opinions about you and it would be dishonest to say you don't have opinions about others.

Personally, I think you 1st Amendment, Free Speech, is far more important than your 2nd.

That said, I stand by my statement that most Canadian's motive behind their opinion is simply concern about the innocent lives that are lost and wanting their American friends and their families to be safe.

 

Some good points there.

I liked what Tom Sellick said, a few years back, when interviewed on the Rosie O'Donnell Show. Rosie attacked him saying he was a spokesman for the NRA. Tom made the point that Americans had guns 30-40 years ago. But kids weren't taking them to school back then. There is more to what is happening today than simply access to guns.


My guess is that it has more to do with the current attitudes in popular culture (Gangsta). And, as you said, the media's attention and almost glorification of tragedies. Lots of copycat incidents.

America has the highest incarceration rate in the free world already. So I don't think the answer lies simply in law enforcement and punishment. I think it's very complex. Killings in the projects in Chicago aren't happening for the same reasons as school or movie theater shootings, for instance. I think the solutions to violence lies in addressing the root causes.

 

I have lived in the Nevada's High desert small mining towns all my life. The per capita gun ownership in rural Nevada is probably as high as anywhere on earth. My friends and I learned to shoot when we were about 10 years old and we were all hunting big game at 12. So I cant speak for all Americans but for me and the kids I grew up with we learned about 40 years ago. Just to answer the original question.

 

Gangsta rap made me do it!

 

Guns

I thought this site was someplace to go to find information, meet people going on vacation some dates etc etc etc.

This is not a political site!

I, for one, will stay clear of political, religious discussions as they will lead to hard feelings and disappointment.

Suggest we end this and move on to HAPPY thoughts!!

TTR and BOOBS Cruises are two that come to mind!!

:deadhorse:

 

Actually, this site is not just about TTR!
And this particular forum is reserved for off-topic discussion, including controversial subjects such as politics and religion.

I, for one, am enjoying the strong passionate debate on this topic.
I suggest you steer clear of this thread if it is not to your liking or what you want to read.

But don't try to stop the exchange of ideas, dialogue, perspectives and thoughts!

If you just want to talk and read about, TTR and boobies, then there is the Temptation forum, for you to fill your boots.

 

I like the "Beating a dead horse"... lol

Some folks enjoy discussing these touchy topics. This section was set aside for them.

I think it keeps smart ass political shots, etc out of the "Fun" areas of Cancuncare. If you want to chat about that stuff here's the place to do it.

 

This is the Free for All section. I believe that means that we are free to talk about "all". I use this forum to avoid having to work. I also enjoy answering questions for new guests, and also setting up the next trip with friends. Sometimes there isn't much activity going on in the main board, and the constant countdowns can get annoying(I'm more jealous then annoyed), hence the 'free for all section' where we can talk about other things.

Some topics I will defiantly avoid commenting on, but will defiantly read. If you are only looking to read/talk about the Temptation stuff or boobs, just stay in that area, or look at porn. Seems pretty easy to me.

 

21 sleeps and then its HO HO HO time @ TTR for us!
lol