Kiss my ass Joey Tempest...

[ashaman7122]

Man...just so peeved I can't stand it...

After a whole tour diary entry praising their time in America (http://www.bravewords.com/news.html?id=27459) and (specifically) their NY experience, Joey has to fuck it all up with this (supposedly) witty and insightful closing (regarding our beloved country)...

Still, being a young country it behaves like a teenager trying to fit in the world. It has its tantrums but still a sense of peace. It’s very sure of itself still insecure enough to make mistakes only to get back on its feet again. With that familiar pride.

Say what you will...but I have always been a fan of Europe throughout the years, even though I think The Final Countdown is the biggest piece of shit ever released in rock history. I have always maintained the utmost respect for these guys and continously support (and crank) all of their other releases.

Now...not knowing shit about Sweden...do I comment on the snow and bleakness and utter (supposed) desolation that their country has to offer. No!...cuz...what the fuck do I know?

Don't piss on my back, Joey! For that last piece of gratuitous commentary...I will say...FUCK YOU!

(the rest of you can...) Rock on!

 

[metal71]

It's about time others start seeing what I've known all along.... Europe (the band) sucks. I'm sorry, but take away the killer John Norum solos, and they were just late 80's era Starship all over again. Queeeeeeeer. One great album theat most people don't even know about (the S/T debut), and all hairspray and makeup cheese after that. I respect that others dig that, but I'd respect the band a lot more if I sensed they were really being 'honest' with their later albums, and not just cashing in on the 80's glam popularity. Just like Def Leppard, putting out 2 of the most killer hard rock guitar albums, only to follow with Pyromania and all else afterward. Never got the sense they were really fans of their own music, like they were just telling some big, sappy, Aqua-Net lie....

Oh yeah, and FUCK Joey Tempest. Gay name anyway.

 

[metal71]

See Mattias Of The Night, you have competition, now that I'm pissed off.

 

[adaher]

It's so tame by European standards, I'll let it go. At least there's compliments buried in there.

I'm just amazed that no one has said anything on the Progpower stage yet to offend half the audience.

 

[AMBR]

Still, being a young country it behaves like a teenager trying to fit in the world. It has its tantrums but still a sense of peace. It’s very sure of itself still insecure enough to make mistakes only to get back on its feet again. With that familiar pride.

Awww, I think that was kind of sweet and not so far off the mark. Stop being so uptight. A lot of truth there and not really wrong or insulting. We DO have our tantrums yet always try to promote peace, our failings show us to be insecure, yet despite making mistakes, we jump back up with pride. Not a diss, just an honest assesment. Lighten up.

Yep, Joey, we don't have it all down, but we be trying! Come back any time!

 

[adaher]

I would note that being called a young country is off the mark. We actually have the oldest consistent government in the world next to the British. The rest of Europe only just recently became democratic, having lived under monarchies for the previous hundreds of years. It would seem that we matured well before they did. The America of the 21st century can find much common ground with the America of 1776. The spirit is still the same. What relation to 18th century Europe do modern Europeans have? None that I can see. They are a completely modern culture that just sprang up out of the ashes of WWII, mainly as an imitation of American and British culture. They are young societies, not us.

 

[AMBR]

Can you really negate all their history lessons prior to their current status? Many lessons have been learned, which our country benefited from before this continent was discovered. "Smart" history didn't just begin in the 1700's.

 

[adaher]

True enough.

We also benefit from having so many cultures here. The US really isn't a predominantly European nation anymore. We're looking more towards South America and Asia in the future. And I do think that's part of the source of the recent enmity between us and Europe. They haven't really gotten used to their diminished role in the world. Of course, this isn't a problem for the Swedes, because they've been happy to just be Sweden and neutral for a couple centuries. But France, Germany, Italy, etc. are used to being players.

 

[AMBR]

And I do think that's part of the source of the recent enmity between us and Europe. They haven't really gotten used to their diminished role in the world.

Neither have we. Better get used to it.

 

[metal71]

An exercise in perspective:

It's Thanksgiving. YOUR family has invited me over for dinner, and all I have to do is sit on my ass and watch football after eating. I've never met these people, and my only connection is through you. After I leave, I go home and tell my friends, "Yeah, the food was pretty good, but I've had better. I mean they're OK people and all, but the one was an annoying jerk, and man was her Grandmother a fat pig! Oh well, at least I got to eat some free grub!"

NOW - flash forward to reality, and go back and read Tempest's statements and see if he doesn't look like a bit of a prick. I've travelled overseas, and while I certainly didn't like all of my experiences, I always was mindful of my role as the tourist, representing my own country through good behavior and gestures of gratitude. I kept my complaints to myself, rather than insult others on their own turf. That sissy ass poser should do the same.

 

[Kenneth R.]

sorry but i side with AMBR on this. i'd rather hear the truth than "good behavior". the way he said it, and what he said don't seem far off the mark. a fair assessment i'd say. and yes, i am american.

 

[adaher]

Neither have we. Better get used to it.


I wouldn't count on that in this generation at least.

sorry but i side with AMBR on this. i'd rather hear the truth than "good behavior". the way he said it, and what he said don't seem far off the mark. a fair assessment i'd say. and yes, i am american.


One thing I love about this country is that we can take criticism. Try criticising Europe to Europeans.

 

[metal71]

Spoken like a truly biased Europe fan....

 

[AMBR]

Neither have we. Better get used to it.


I wouldn't count on that in this generation at least.

sorry but i side with AMBR on this. i'd rather hear the truth than "good behavior". the way he said it, and what he said don't seem far off the mark. a fair assessment i'd say. and yes, i am american.


One thing I love about this country is that we can take criticism. Try criticising Europe to Europeans.

Do it all the time over many bottles of whatever. They "get it", too many Americans don't. It's time to consolidate with our European buddies not shore up the "American Agenda". Don't fool yourselves with American Superiority. Time to work with our European Allies in assessing and joining with the natural growth of our Chinese and Indian "allies". Do it now, or regret it later, pompous fools.

 

[booB]

at least Joey didn't call us cunts.

 

[adaher]

I don't think they really "get it", personally. Seems that every action they take is in response to what we do, not what those who are trying to kill them do. I see very little in the way of initiative on their part. Even in their own backyard(the Balkans), Clinton had to drag them kicking and screaming into a war to stop genocide.

 

[AMBR]

at least Joey didn't call us cunts.

Ha ha. I almost wish he had.

Seems that every action they take is in response to what we do, not what those who are trying to kill them do. I see very little in the way of initiative on their part. Even in their own backyard(the Balkans), Clinton had to drag them kicking and screaming into a war to stop genocide.

I'm very glad to see you trying to look at this closely, adaher. but I don't quite get your point. More facts, please? I've seen a lot more negotiation on the part of the Europeans. A lot can be accomplished that way. A lesson, cattle-riders like Bush need to learn. A strong union with the European Nation and the US will accomplish more than the Texan kick-ass politics he's employing. Can anyone say, "D-I-P-L-O-M-A-C-Y?"

 

[adaher]

Putting Bush aside for a moment, since he's such a polarizing figure, let's talk about how Clinton handled this stuff. He was a great diplomat. But he also knew when diplomacy had to stop and when force had to begin. When Iraq stopped cooperating with inspectors, Clinton dropped about 1000 tons of whoop-ass on Iraq over four days, and kept bombing at a lower level for the rest of his term. Only Britain stood with us, once again. Clinton led the way in stopping the genocide in Kosovo once he realized that Milosevic was a butcher who couldn't be reasoned with. I'm not sure Europe "gets it" when they let this stuff happen and then either didn't back up the US or did so only halfheartedly.

 

[metal71]

Ha ha. I almost wish he had.


I'm very glad to see you trying to look at this closely, adaher. but I don't quite get your point. More facts, please? I've seen a lot more negotiation on the part of the Europeans. A lot can be accomplished that way. A lesson, cattle-riders like Bush need to learn. A strong union with the European Nation and the US will accomplish more than the Texan kick-ass politics he's employing. Can anyone say, "D-I-P-L-O-M-A-C-Y?"

OH PLEASE!!! Who the fuck are you kidding? France couldn't negotiate their way out of a wet paper bag with a loaded shotgun. Spain 'negotiated' their way into throwing their own elections to appease al Qeada after the Madrid train bombings, and Germany, along with so many of our other 'friends' in Europe negotiated a multi-lateral peace agreement with Saddam after the first Gulf war that they had no balls to actually enforce after a decade plus of infractions. The only success any of these countries have had in recent negotiations was in negotiating lucrative oil for food deals under the table at the UN. THERE ARE YOUR DAMN FACTS.

Put down your Kool-Aid, and go read a newspaper for a change.

 

[metal71]

Incidentally, there's a way to fix all this nonsense. ISOLATIONISM. You don't like the US? Fine. Feed your damn selves. Protect your damn selves. Find your own damn disease cures, build your own damn infrastructures, etc, etc, etc. We'll just park our heavily armed asses at our borders and dare you to screw up. In 10 years when these backstabbing 'allies' are mired in poverty and terrorism, we can all drink lemonade in Arizona.

Just one option.