First,
What the fuck? You talk about how Americans should use the declaration of independence and Constitution, then tell me to shut the fuck up when I'm stating an opinion USING rights I'm guaranteed by freedom of speech??? Really, I had thought higher of you before you made that comment
Is America falling on hard times? Yes. But does that mean we should stop doing what makes us americans? No.
One of the things that makes America such a great country is the fact that we don't turn away requests for help. We give aid to those who need it and will help just about anyone who requests it. Be it a small african country, or Libyian Rebels who are fighting against a dictator who is executing them in the streets.
Like it or not, problems in countries like Libya aren't just their business. They are the worlds business, and they can effect the entire world if left alone. If you remember, the rebels were posting on the internet and begging for help because the leader of their country was TURNING TANKS ON THEM. Literally, he was having tanks roll down the street killing innocent people who were just in their homes, in their yards, or just looking at what was going on. They called for help from anyone, and while the rest of the world was still trying to figure out who was going to lead the NATO Ground forces to assist them, we hit critical targets with airstrikes which impacted the ability of Gadaffi's military to continue to execute thousands of people. And, what if there had been no UN coalition? After Gadaffi is toppled, the country could break into a bunch of splinter-states and all be fighting for control. With a UN coalition, they will have some control and be able to stabilize more quickly than if everyone breaks apart and there are another 15 years of in-fighting.
What surprises me, is how your acting like what I typically see as a "Spoiled American Citizen". Someone who has taken their freedoms for granted and only complains about the current situation and tries to tear down anyone who defends our country. But you know what, you have that right. And I have no problem debating or discussing politics or anything else with you. But there is no reason for you to get so hostile or turn this thread from a civilized discussion into personal attacks and disrespect by telling me to shut the fuck up because your opinion is correct. It's an opinion not fact.
But it's people that have the "I don't care about it if it doesn't effect me" point of view that is whats wrong with America today. That's why we are in the situation that we are in. Because it might not be the same type of greed that politicians exhibit, but it's still greed.
Putting yourself before others, ignoring the plights of others, and not looking out for your neighbor. Sitting back and doing nothing as people are hurt around you. THAT IS NOT THE AMERICAN WAY.
Our country has changed much in the 200+ years since the Declaration of Independence was signed. But some things have stayed the same. We still look out for each other. Now, We stayed and minded our own business concerning the rest of the world for the first hundred of so years, and what happened? The Nazi's almost conquered the entire world. Imagine how many lives could have been saved and how much damage could have been prevented if we had joined the fight sooner than when the British were trying to push them back. That was when our point of view changed. We realized, we can't just be an introverted xenophobic culture, we have to look at whats happening in the rest of the world because if we can make a difference, we should. If we can help someone, we try.
Back when I was in the Army, me and some friends were at a Sonics in Atlanta at an intersection when, a lady driving her minivan smashed into someone on a motorcycle. His bike went flying down the road, and he rolled over her van and smashed onto the ground. Right away, we jumped out of my truck and grabbed the CLS (Combat LifeSaver) to go render aid. Do you know what the people that were behind the van and in the nearby lane did? They started honking.
Because that's what is wrong with America. Greed and putting yourself and your comfort above others. Me and 2 other people were sitting with this guy as he was laying down on the ground bleeding all over the place with many broken bones (he had been not moving in a turn lane, and she was probably going 35+ miles an hour) and the people right by us were honking and yelling for us to get him to get out of the road. Why? Because they were slightly inconvenienced by the fact that he was laying there slowly dieing. Luckily, an ambulance arrived before he died, and they took him to a hospital. Last I had heard, was that he ended up surviving, but was in recovery for a long time. Imagine how inconvenienced he was? He almost died in the middle of a road, and if he had, one of the last things he would have heard would have been people swearing and honking their horns because someone driving their kids home got distracted and hit him.
That is our problem. Everyone is so self-centered that they don't want to deal with a little bit of hardship. They'd rather just bitch about the system and complain that we are still trying to do one of the things that sets us apart from other countries, help those in need.
And finally, as far as the British shooting that guy, I wasn't condemning them for it. Hell, if he had a gun and was a gang-member, he DESERVED to get shot. I was simply pointing out that the public was so quick to respond without the full story and I was making a point that a small event such as that, could cause wide-spread effects.