[OT] [PW] [Long] America Bashing

OK, this is probably totally inappropriate for this group, but other rants
are allowed and this one has been building for some time now.

I'm getting tired of America bashing. I'm getting tired of Americans
agreeing that we should be bashed.

Are we, as a nation, perfect? Of course not. Have we done things that we
should be ashamed of? Of course. But so has every other country that has
ever existed. To quote a popular guy, "Let ye who is without sin cast the
first stone." We are *NOT* a nation of evil, greedy, stupid, egotistical
maniacs who are out to conquer the world.

Here are the things I'll concede:

Does America put its own interests first in its policy making?
- Of course, ALL COUNTRIES DO!

Is America "selective" about its economic and military support
internationally?
- Absolutely. The U.S. is not a "bottomless well" of financial aid and good
will.

Does American foreign policy contain some prejudices and favoritism?
- Naturally. Lawless regimes or those opposed to the U.S. will not be viewed
favorably.

Will America manipulate a country or political situation to advance its
goals?
- Necessarily, as world politics are a dangerous chess game. Remember the
U.S.S.R.?

Are some of the many "conspiracy theories" about the U.S. government true?
- Probably one or two of the more "sane" theories are in fact true.

All that being conceded, that does *NOT* change the following facts:

NOT ONE MAJOR NATION could truthfully answer "NO" to any of the above
criticisms either. Only in a perfect world without rivalry is this
possible, and we are most certainly NOT in a perfect world.

Only America can say it has liberated many countries from occupation or
oppression and "COLONIZED NONE!"

America is still the "land of dreams" as evidenced by people of ALL the
world's nations immigrating to America, including those nations professing
to hate the U.S.

America is a positive force in the world as recorded by its actions
throughout history which have propelled mankind forward.

America, a young nation of just 228 years, achieved economic superiority
ultimately because of it's many tolerances for the ways in which a person
may pursue life, liberty and prosperity.

To quote journalist Neil Cavuto:

"This whole foreigners versus the U.S. thing brings out strong feelings.
And I won't lie to you: I have clear biases here. I love this country, so I
take exception when people criticize this country. I'm no fool. I know
we're not perfect. But I know we're still the last, best hope on this
planet. So to those foreigners who question us, some questions for you:

# If we're so greedy, why do you crave our money?
# If our culture's so base, why do you seek out our movies?
# If our people are so tacky, why do you hunger for our tourism?
# If our fast food is so passé, why do your countrymen rarely pass up going
to a McDonald's?
# If our people are so stupid, why do your people seek out our universities?
# If we're so backwards, why do you buy our computers?
# If we're so unconcerned about the world, why did we commit $15 billion to
wipe out AIDS in this world?
# And if we're so selfish, why are we always there when you need us?

Maybe it's just me, but I cannot -- for the life of me -- remember the last
time I saw peasants in rickety boats, risking life and limb to come to your
country. They risked it all to be in "this" country. Now, I'm not asking
you to love us all days. But maybe think about us this Normandy anniversary
day. Dead men do tell tales. Hear them.

Someone said I had a problem with foreigners. That's not true. I just have
a problem with lying and ungrateful ones."

Back to my own comments...

America has been responsible for most of the inventions of the modern world
that make life easier, more enjoyable, and including medical inventions,
longer and more satisfying.

America is always there when disaster happens anywhere in the world - how
many other countries send *us* help when a major hurricane hits or an
America city is hit with a devastating earthquake?

OK, I could go on like this for pages and pages, but I think you get my
drift.

I'm not asking that everyone else in the world praise us, or even give us
our due, however grudgingly. I'm only asking that you quit taking every
opportunity to criticize, "bash", and sneer at us just because it's
currently the fashionable thing to do. I'm asking Americans to quit hanging
your head and agreeing with those who bash us.

No, we're not a perfect nation, but I don't know of any other nation,
present or past, that has been so caring, so generous with it's money and
volunteers, so willing to try to "save the world", so adamant in trying to
spread freedom, wealth, and happiness, and so willing to sit back and take
the criticism without ceasing that help in retaliation.

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. In fact I'll sit back and wait for the
firestorm (even from some Americans, I'm sure) that this will surely
generate for the gall of me for being proud of my country and tired of being
demonized just for where I live.

Hugs,

CatNipped

I'm proud to be American.

-bonbon

bonbon wrote:

I'm proud to be American.

I WAS, until our moronic majority actually ELECTED the
current idiot to the White House for a second term! What's
to be "proud of", now? Does the loss of the Bill of Rights
mean NOTHING to you? Or being systematically lied to by our
country's chief excutive, who insists upon the "truth" of
his own self-righteous preconceptions, in the face of all
objective evidence to the contrary? (Said evidence being
frequently ignored by the allegedly "impartial" news media,
except for the true believers in a free press, like Bill
Moyers - before PBS fired him.)

Until the election, I at least had faith in the American
PEOPLE, but now I think we deserve what we get. (And if you
honestly believe "it CAN'T happen here", read the Sinclair
Lewis novel by that title - or any number of other
cautionary tales, like Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third
Reich".)

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
bonbon wrote:

I'm proud to be American.

I WAS, until our moronic majority actually ELECTED the
current idiot to the White House for a second term!

Last night I roasted a very nice pork tenderloin. It was nearly 2 lbs. in
weight rather than the usual smaller 1/2 pound hunk of pork. I brushed it
with olive oil, slathered it generously with minced garlic, sprinkled it
with a bit of lemon-pepper, currey powder and just a pinch of salt. I
roasted it at 400F for a little over an hour. Sadly, my meat thermometer
broke last year and I neglected to purchase a new one. I don't like
over-done pork but I didn't want it to be undercooked, either.

The roast was perfect; nice and juicy. I will be able to gently reheat
slices of this to eat for a couple of days. Accompanied by my favourite and
that often bashed vegetable, Brussels Sprouts.

Jill

"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
bonbon wrote:

I'm proud to be American.

I WAS, until our moronic majority actually ELECTED the
current idiot to the White House for a second term!

Last night I roasted a very nice pork tenderloin. It was nearly 2 lbs. in
weight rather than the usual smaller 1/2 pound hunk of pork. I brushed it
with olive oil, slathered it generously with minced garlic, sprinkled it
with a bit of lemon-pepper, currey powder and just a pinch of salt. I
roasted it at 400F for a little over an hour. Sadly, my meat thermometer
broke last year and I neglected to purchase a new one. I don't like
over-done pork but I didn't want it to be undercooked, either.

The roast was perfect; nice and juicy. I will be able to gently reheat
slices of this to eat for a couple of days. Accompanied by my favourite
and
that often bashed vegetable, Brussels Sprouts.

Jill


I *love* brussels sprouts. I was supposed to go out today, but my *7^% car
broke down for the first time ever. I was looking forward to spending the
day with some of my family 11 miles away. So I couldn't go.
I ate a fish pie (which was nice) and some peas/sugar snap peas/mange tout
and beans. Not much of a Boxing Day Meal though, eaten alone. Ah well,
that's cars for you.
I'm cold too, nearly out of wood, and no chance of a delivery until after
Jan 4.
Brr.
Off to bed now. At least my electric blanket is on :-)

Good night all

Tweed
(12.30 a.m.)

In article , "jmcquown"
wrote:

EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote:
bonbon wrote:

I'm proud to be American.

I WAS, until our moronic majority actually ELECTED the
current idiot to the White House for a second term!

Last night I roasted a very nice pork tenderloin. It was nearly 2 lbs.
in
weight rather than the usual smaller 1/2 pound hunk of pork. I brushed
it
with olive oil, slathered it generously with minced garlic, sprinkled it
with a bit of lemon-pepper, currey powder and just a pinch of salt. I
roasted it at 400F for a little over an hour. Sadly, my meat thermometer
broke last year and I neglected to purchase a new one. I don't like
over-done pork but I didn't want it to be undercooked, either.

The roast was perfect; nice and juicy. I will be able to gently reheat
slices of this to eat for a couple of days. Accompanied by my favourite
and
that often bashed vegetable, Brussels Sprouts.

I suspect that some of the secrets of making decent Brussels Sprouts are
far more sensitive than most political strategies. I find that halving
and blanching them, so they just turn bright green, is an essential to
get out the bitterness before using the main method of cooking.

The primary cooking method can be a saute, steam, or braise, usually
some thought given to the sauce. I tend toward the Asian, but am not
dogmatic about it. Sauteing them in a ginger-soy-garlic, preferably with
toasted sesame seeds rather than sesame oil, is one approach.
Stir-frying with hoisin sauce, sherry, five spice powder, perhaps a bit
of ground beef, and then lightly tossing with noodles.

I dehydrate celery and powder it, and then make a light sauce with milk,
pepper, and celery powder. This tastes like a white sauce made with
chicken stock, but, for some reason, using actual chicken stock doesn't
work as well.

Whatever the cooking method, the degree of doneness is critical.
Undercooked sprouts won't take up the flavor of the sauce, while
overcooked are mush. Blanching definitely helps with early sauce
absorption.

Last night I roasted a very nice pork tenderloin. It was nearly 2 lbs. in
weight rather than the usual smaller 1/2 pound hunk of pork. I brushed it
with olive oil, slathered it generously with minced garlic,

That sounds great, Jill. Pork loin is actually on the heart-healthy diet. I eat
so much chicken now I swear sometimes I'm going to lay an egg.Your post made me
want to try that recipe.

Sherry

Sherry wrote:
Last night I roasted a very nice pork tenderloin. It was nearly 2
lbs. in weight rather than the usual smaller 1/2 pound hunk of pork.
I brushed it with olive oil, slathered it generously with minced
garlic,

That sounds great, Jill. Pork loin is actually on the heart-healthy
diet. I eat so much chicken now I swear sometimes I'm going to lay an
egg.Your post made me want to try that recipe.

Sherry

Yeah, I have a friend who is low-carbing and the sheer amount of chicken
he's eating is utterly beyond my comprehension! Another good seasoning for
pork (tenderloin or lean chops) is a sprinkling of dried crushed rosemary.
Of course keep the garlic and the olive oil, a little pepper. I don't add
much salt when I'm cooking but a light sprinkling is okay.

Jill

jmcquown wrote:

The roast was perfect; nice and juicy. I will be able to gently reheat
slices of this to eat for a couple of days. Accompanied by my favourite and
that often bashed vegetable, Brussels Sprouts.

My Mum did something very nice to go with our Christmas lunch which I'd
never had befo sprouts with roasted chestnuts. Mmmmm. The sprouts and
chestnuts had slightly softened and were mixed together in the cooking
and it made a delicious alternative to sprouts on their own.

Deb.
--
http://www.scientific-art.com

"He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would;
He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield

Debbie Wilson wrote:
jmcquown wrote:

Accompanied by
my favourite and that often bashed vegetable, Brussels Sprouts.

My Mum did something very nice to go with our Christmas lunch which
I'd
never had befo sprouts with roasted chestnuts. Mmmmm. The sprouts
and chestnuts had slightly softened and were mixed together in the
cooking
and it made a delicious alternative to sprouts on their own.

Deb.

Now that sounds delicious! Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible for me to
find chestnuts (roasted or ones in the shell I'd have to roast myself). I
gather they are more commonly available in the New England states.

Jill