Very sad......

[Yngvai X]

How many people are risking their lives by land and sea to get into Brazil, Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Iran, Viet Nam, or North Korea? Is this the best place to live or not? I know why I'm here, why are you?[/COLOR]

Well there actually is a reason for this. Many immigrants (not all but many) come here seeking opportunity because they couldn't find it in their country. Look at the countries you just named. Mexico, Haiti, Russia...these aren't exactly the richest countries in the world here. Because of America's extreme free market economy, it makes it extremely lucrative for the poorest of the poor to want to come here because here they might have a chance for survival. Many of them don't even have that great of a life here...I see the Guatemalans around my area...they pile themselves into trucks, put 9 families in one apartment building. I know they're getting paid next to nothing off the books to do menial shit kicker jobs like landscaping or scrubbing dishes in a kitchen that no one else wants to do besides 15 year old kids looking for a summer job. But for them, even this is more than what they could have gotten in their own countries. As my friend from Ecuador told me once...its not that there aren't rich well educated Mexicans...you just don't see them coming to the US because they don't need to.

Its not just with America either...all rich western nations get large amounts of immigrants from poorer surrounding nations. Ask a Western European how they feel about Turkish immigrants coming into their country. Turks are the Latin Americans of Europe. A Swedish friend of mine was telling me how in Sweden there is a problem with middle eastern immigrants. So its not a case of America being "the best country to live in" because we get lots of immigrants coming in. For many of them, its a case of...this is a last resort of finding a decent life, and this is something *all* rich western countries face, not just us. We see the most of it because we're the largest of all the said rich western countries and also because we have the most open arms approach to immigrants than other countries do.

And Metalheart, after reading that you are an immigrant to the US, I can understand your very defensive stance on criticism to the US. Because I know if I was going to make such a large life change as move to a different country, I'd want to believe very strongly that that country was the best fuckin place to live in.

 

[jaimek]

Doc... America-bashing is the trend because the current administration (and a lot of its people) is full of power-hungry assholes, wreaking havoc in the name of some vague definitions of freedom and democracy, violating every principle on which the country was founded on in the first place.

The two kinda go hand-in-hand.

 

[adaher]

There's some pap if I've ever read it. What was this country founded on and how has it been violated? At least in ways it wasn't already(such as the New Deal, which overturned 150 years of Constitutional law).

 

[AMBR]

It's ridiculous to consider finger printing an infringement of civil liberties, when the government already has everything it needs to post your wanted poster all over the world.

I have to agree with that. I've been fingerprinted in order to get a job. Thousands of towns offer fingerprinting programs for children to make it easier to find them if they are lost or kidnapped. It's just not that big a deal and I think a lot of people are over reacting. With the millions of prints on file, the government isn't going to be spending a whole lot of time tracking the actions of musicians and other ordinary people. They just need to have the records for reference if acts of terrorism do happen.

 

[General Zod]

I'm personally in favor of anything that keeps PoS from playing another ProgPower.

As for the fingerprint issue; I have no idea what value it adds to national security. I'm all for personal freedoms. I believe that we must be careful not to infringe upon them in the name of national security. However, I'm unclear as to how someone's principles are being compromised by being fingerprinted. It's not like he's being asked to leave a sperm sample and endure a full cavity search.

By the way, has anyone considered the possibility that Daniel is a terrorist, and that's why he doesn't want to be fingerprinted? Perhaps it's all part of some evil plot, to distract us with really annoying music, while taking over the country.

Zod

 

[AngraRULES]

To the poster AngraRULES: I see you typing alot of bullshit such as:

Dear friend, in absolute no moment I stated that those were facts that could be proven by mere statistic. If need be, consider my statements pure opinion. If that's bullshit to you, then I don't give a shit really.

Regarding you gangbang comment, I will remain quiet. If you happen to be a fan of gangbangs to touch on the subject like that, it's not my problem. Anyway, thanks for sharing...

 

[AngraRULES]

Uh huh. Nothing to do with Nazi's? Do you have any idea how many Nazi war criminals retired to Brazil post WWII, living out their years there? For that matter just plain old criminals? http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=595426

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=595426

By that link you don't have an idea of how many either. Nor should you base your knowledge to one link. Brazil has served as a place of "retirement" for criminals in the past, yes. So has many other countries in the whole world. And you talk as if we got thousands of Nazis everyday...pfff...

Uh huh. Would you care to tell that to the victims of Eric Rudolf who died or were injured in Atlanta's Cenntenial Park during the Olympic Games? It was just a backpack, you know. No big deal. Right?
There's a big difference between living in fear, and being alert.
Naturally it's a stupid over reaction when it's only cloths. And naturally it's the autorities fault for not doing their jobs if it blows your head off.

Okay dude, you have a point. I believe that if a terrorist were to plan another attack in the USA, it'd be something in a much larger scale. Not a stupid backpack with some explosives in it...

Uh huh. Brazil lived under a Military dictatorship for over a generation, but you don't think you can call it new freedom? People don't just "disappear" in the US for political reasons, nor are they assassinated by political enemies. Happens in Brazil to this day according to AI.

Yes, we do deal with that. Are we the only country in the world that suffers with that? No we're not. Are the politicians a bunch of corrupt bastards? Yes. As well as in the rest of the whole fucking planet. Keep in mind that these crimes are not the majority. The majority of crimes in the country happen simply because of the fact that people have to actually steal or kill in order to feed themselves and their families. We're a POOR country afterall. We deal with a lot of bullshit. I've never seen, though, in my country a 9 year old girl murdered by her school friend who was 9. Or a guy who murdered his own daughter and her school friend, both 8 years old. Or two idiots who bring guns to their school and shoot over 10 people for no reason.

Ask your self this: If you HAD to be a prisoner at Guantanimo Bay, or in a Brazilian prison, where would you rather be?

Fuck Guantanamo, that's all I have to say. Being Brazilian myself, I would prefer be in a cell back in my country.

How many people are risking their lives by land and sea to get into Brazil, Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Iran, Viet Nam, or North Korea? Is this the best place to live or not? I know why I'm here, why are you?

Those are poor countries, for God's sake. Of course people are not trying to get in there. That was such a dumb comparison... I know why I am here, I am not stupid.

 

[lady_space]

By the way, has anyone considered the possibility that Daniel is a terrorist, and that's why he doesn't want to be fingerprinted? Perhaps it's all part of some evil plot, to distract us with really annoying music, while taking over the country.

My God, I believe you've hit the nail upon the head. Not only is Daniel Gildenlöw a genius, he's an *evil* genius!!! Takes one to know one, eh?

Shaye

 

[Bear]

Its funny how people livng in the US that are from other countries try to justify their own beliefs and points of views while condeming the US policies and procedures that have had to be put in place because of what happened on 9/11. Simply put and I will say it until I am blue in the face, if you don't like what you see here, get the fuck out. Your lucky to be living , working and going to school in the US.

Bear

 

[AngraRULES]

Bear, you don't have to like the country in every aspect to deserve the right to be in it. I like many aspects in the US and at the same time I hate many as well. I'm sure the same thing happens to you, doesn't it?

Since this is a "free" country, I guess I have the right to justify my beliefs and condemn US policies that I don't agree with, whether people like ir or not.

 

[booB]

My God, I believe you've hit the nail upon the head. Not only is Daniel Gildenlöw a genius, he's an *evil* genius!!!

*in best Dr. Evil voice* "You're quasi-evil. You're semi-evil. You're the margarine of evil. You're the Diet Coke of evil. Just one calorie... not evil enough!"

 

[Bear]

Bear, you don't have to like the country in every aspect to deserve the right to be in it. I like many aspects in the US and at the same time I hate many as well. I'm sure the same thing happens to you, doesn't it?

Since this is a "free" country, I guess I have the right to justify my beliefs and condemn US policies that I don't agree with, whether people like ir or not.

Is the same aspect of I went to Brazil and did that I would shot or put in prison. The fact of the matter is we need to do whatever it is , however extreme to protect our borders because one day someone will get a dirtybomb in and set it off, its going to happen and fingerprinting isn't shit. I don't agree with most of our governments policies, all I can do is vote to try and change it, it still does little to affect the overall outcome.

When I go to europe I am sure that I will be asked alot of things that I will not like, but I will have to go along with them to enter the countries, right? How is that any different. If Daniel G doesn't want to come to the USA because of that little thing that is set up to protect all, then bye bye Daniel. I could think of worse things.

Bear

 

[Sautherom]

The only problem is that the US can't fingerprint middle-easterns only, as it would look terribly racist.. The easiest way out was to fingerpring all third world countries, which didn't look that good either, but was not as bad as profiling arabs only...

There are more people who wants to hurt USA in Europeans countries than latin america, Europe its full of middle - easterns immigrants

 

[DigitalMan]

So I would be curious to know how Daniel would recommend that the US protects themselves from another terrorist attack?

 

[AngraRULES]

Is the same aspect of I went to Brazil and did that I would shot or put in prison.

Bear

Are you trying to say that if you went to Brazil and started saying that you're against some of the Brazilian government policies you would be thrown in jail or shot ? Cause if you are, I have to say you have absolute no idea of what you're saying. Completely wrong, may I say it.

If you didn't mean that (cause that's what I understood) then ignore my comment.

 

[Yngvai X]

The fact of the matter is we need to do whatever it is , however extreme to protect our borders because one day someone will get a dirtybomb in and set it off, its going to happen and fingerprinting isn't shit.

Ok, then I propose this plan: Why don't we cut off the hands of all forgeiners entering the US? That way they won't have any hands to be able to set bombs, drive cars, etc. Pretty fail safe I think, and you did say we need to do whatever it is, no matter how extreme, right?

 

[ashaman7122]

Damn...you guys are giving me a headache...

...yada yada yada...


Rock on!

 

[Pellaz]

We're a POOR country afterall. We deal with a lot of bullshit. I've never seen, though, in my country a 9 year old girl murdered by her school friend who was 9. Or a guy who murdered his own daughter and her school friend, both 8 years old. Or two idiots who bring guns to their school and shoot over 10 people for no reason.

So, how accurate are the events and the overwhelming violence (mostly via firearms) shown in the movie City of God? That movie -- based heavily on actual events and written by someone who was there -- makes any US barrio or ghetto look tame in comparison. It was a hell of an eye-opener and an excellent film.

If your answer is something like "B-B-B-But that's one small area of our country, it's not like that everywhere!" then I have to laugh at the examples you put in your post.

So many overseas folks picture the US as this place where every person carries a gun, where car-chases happen routinely, where drug-deals go down on every corner....in short, they picture America as being something that Hollywood created because that's where their primary exposure to American 'culture' has come from.

I saw this sort of misperception of America while I was over in Europe and in the UK, over and over again. I live in a large US city and it just ain't like that here...let alone out in the more peaceful hinterlands.

America ain't Hollywood.....and thank all the gods for that!

 

[Kenneth R.]

that was an excellent movie, and it had a great message.

it was not all violence and killing, if you recall the ending with the one who became a photographer. it was a beautifully filmed, almost documentary.

don't pretend that there aren't places in the US where a similar film couldn't be made, or one of more shocking nature. though fictional, i wouldn't be surprised in the least if events similar to that in American History X actually occurred, because of the way people are brought up in this country.

unfortunately, american pop culture IS hollywood. ever heard of the "OC"? or "People" magazine? or how many people watch the "Grammy Awards"? i would venture to say the vast majority of america is addicted to television and celebrities, and their various exploits.

the rest of the world may see the US as it is portrayed in hollywood, but that is also because we reflect that portrayal everyday.

 

[AngraRULES]

The movie is accurate in many instances, but way too exaggerated in many others. Also, it was movie made exclusively to show the "dark" side of poverty in Brazil. You shouldn't use that as a base towards an opinion of what the country is all about.

I know that the events that I mentioned do not happen every day in the USA, everywhere. It was just examples of some shit that happens over here. Same thing with your example of the movie.

You say that people out there picture America as a place in which car chases, drug dealing and people carrying guns are part of a day by day lifestyle thanks to the movies. Don't be making assumptions regarding Brazil just by what you saw in City of God though. It's the same thing.

It's really sad to see how many Americans base their knowledge about Brazil by what they saw in the movie City of God. Pure ignorance.