For all you boycotters. .

[BambiTamby]

Sorry to say this.....but, some of ya'll need to get a LIFE !


Believe me...it feels SO GOOD !

 

[Disney Doll]

You know, it's been a little tiresome being an American lately. You know, with our country being attacked by one terrorist a couple of years ago and all the mess that created, and our country being attacked (verbally, not militarily)now by THE LEADERS of countries that were previously our allies, many of whom(with the exception of Canada) we have saved in wars past.

It's a little tiresome, especially in light of the news that has been coming out of Iraq lately, that there are people and goverrnments in the world that do not "get" the reasons for being there. It has nothing to do with oil...if it did, we'd have taken the oil 12 years ago when we were there. It has to do with the overall protection of #1-our country and #2-other countries and #3-the Iraqi people. Depending on which channels and stations you watch, you see their "spin" on the war effort. I try to watch various channels, so I do not get a completely liberally-biased view or a completely conservatively-biased view of the war effort. What I have seen is some Iraqi people welcoming the troops, I have seen the troops giving a large amount of humanitarian aid to a people who have obviously been oppressed. I have also seen the devastation wrought by war, and it isn't pretty either. I have seen other Iraqi people who have fought vehemently against the coalition troops.You may or may not like President Bush...that is your right. But my belief is that the President is doing what he thinks is best to protect the United States. That, after all, is his job. Perhaps history will prove him wrong. But perhaps it wil prove him right. None of us has a crystal ball, and so we make decisions based on the best information and resources available at the moment.

As for you fellow DISers who feel offended by anti-"your country" sentiment, obviously it is not meant to be a personal attack against the people with whom we have all developed relationships. But remember, every night on the news, there are shots of protests all over the world, including France,Canada etc.
deriding the USA. Just like you, we are people with feelings, and our feelings get hurt.Every night I can read several anti-American statements from international DISers(PM me if you'd like specific examples-I won't open a can of worms by publicly posting them on this forum), so it is not just Americans who are making anti-"your country" statements. I would recommend that the advice given to the American DIS posters be heeded by our international DIS posters as well...watch what you say and try to be kind. But do remember, if you attack my country, I will not sit idly by and allow you to do so.

Finally, keep in mind that this is an Internet bulletin board. If something is distressing you, take a break from it. I myself spend some days away from the CB, the DB, just because it gets a little "heavy". On the days, I happily pop along on the DVC board or the Resorts board, and have a grand old time!

I will leap off my soapbox by saying that I heard a interview on CNN with an Iraqi man now living permanently in the USA who said "When this is all said and done, the stories that come out of Iraq about what Saddam has done to his people for years will make Hitler look like a choirboy." That is from an IRAQI native, not a politician, not a military man, from someone who I assume has as much love for his home country as I do for mine, from someone I assume had as hard of a time permanently leaving his home country as I would if I had to permanently leave mine.

For that reson alone, we should be in this war. No one regime should be allowed to treat its people in that fashion.

 

[DawnCt]

Disney Doll, I agree with everything you said. I was also shocked to receive a PM full of vitriole and hate. I have never gotton a message like that since I have been on these boards, so it was a new experience for me.

 

[Kelsie]

Originally posted by BambiTamby
Sorry to say this.....but, some of ya'll need to get a LIFE !


Believe me...it feels SO GOOD !

I'm not sure why it always has to be assumed that people who post on the DIS (or other BB's) or have strong opinions need to "get a life"? The great thing about America is that if we choose to spend part of our life posting on an internet BB, we can

By the way, welcome back!

 

[madonna31]

You know, it's been a little tiresome being an American lately.

Believe me - its not ANY easier being a Canadian right now!

Do you have any idea what's its like to be for this War more then anything, yet your leader has kept you from having that choice?

Do you have any idea what it's like to be ridiculed on these boards because of your nationality just because of the decision of 1 man?

Do you have any idea what it's like to have Canadian soldiers fighting on the frontlines with US and Britian in a war that *were not in*?!?!

But remember, every night on the news, there are shots of protests all over the world, including France,Canada etc.

I trust that you didn't forget the protesters in the US did you?

Every night I can read several anti-American statements from international DISers

Lucky you - be thankful that they decided NOT to place them in public as some posters did to me and other fellow Canadians!!!

...and for the record - Disney Doll is 100% right...if this war was about oil? Let's see now...Canada has FAR more oil then Iraq, we lack lots in the military department, we share the largest land border in the world and the US wouldn't have to fly halfway around the world to fight us!!! So WHY didn't Bush just decide to *invade Canada* for oil? Simple - because this war is NOT about oil!!!

 

[glo]

This war is not about oil, and never has been. It is the spin that has been put on it by some, so the US and President Bush look greedy and like we have something else to gain.

As for being Amercian or Canadian, French or German, WE CAN NOT keep punishing people for the reactions and words of a few. Even if not a few, we can not judge people by the acts of others.


I feel like we have discussed this topic pretty much to the end. I think that many of us can just agree to disagree. Something that should not be to difficult among friends. As to Real Life or internet board, I agree Kelsie....isn't it great that we do have the option to come here and complain

 

[madonna31]

Well said glo...thank you!

 

[CRB#33]

Originally posted by DawnCt
Disney Doll, I agree with everything you said. I was also shocked to receive a PM full of vitriole and hate. I have never gotton a message like that since I have been on these boards, so it was a new experience for me.

Please forward that to a webmaster.

That's sickening.

 

[Nikole]

Ok to clarify something because you asked CC....... of course I don't blame the Canadian people for a statement that Chrétien made. He made it. It would be like YOU blaming ME for an asinine comment that Bush makes. And lord knows he's made plenty. Bottom line is that his speech where he stated that the US was partially to blame for the events in 9/11 were hurtful and he can well.......I'm sure you can imagine.

As I said before there was an oversimplification in the original post as far as I was concerned. People who disagree with the politics of a country, who disagree with the government of a country don't necessarily hate the people of the country. The two SHOULD be separate. Yes there are narrow minded individuals in this world who will say they don't like what the French government has done so instead we're going to bash everything French. That's just childish and yes bigoted is correct. However, to imply that all people who boycott, or have a problem with a country's leader, or their government or politics are bigots or what not....is not accurate IMO. (Note I said "imply").

There SHOULD be a line between the two. If someone can't draw that line then IMO yes a bigot is probably the appropriate word for them. To state that an entire country is not capable of using a computer is an ignorant remark. To state that someone hates all things from an entire country is an ignorant remark.

Cath.............don't let these narrow minded ignorant individuals make you sad to be who you are or to make you feel uncomfortable or out of place. Don't let them have that power!

 

[Saffron]

However, to imply that all people who boycott, or have a problem with a country's leader, or their government or politics are bigots or what not....is not accurate IMO. (Note I said "imply").

Sorry Nikole -- no where in the orginal post did WillyJ imply that anyone who has a problem with a country's leader or their government or politics are bigots. He said if you feel in your heart that boycotting is right, then go ahead and do it, but if not, knock off the bigoted and racist nonsense. You may have taken the word "nonsense" to mean something about political views or views of other governments or politics, but it did not. If you read the second post that WillyJ wrote on page two, you'll see that he clarified his oringinal post so there would be no mistake in what he meant. He said boycotting in and of itself is not bigoted but there have been bigoted and racist remarks made on the boards and if you single out one or two countries to slam, then it is bigtory. The orginal post was never about politics or governments or leaders of countries. It was always about racism and bigotry in hurtful posts here on the boards.

 

[Nikole]

Saffron I do believe that was how it was meant. However, in the original post that was what I felt was implied. I think a few others felt it as well. As I said that was what I FELT was implied. And please don't get me wrong I don't think it was said with harmful intent except against those who have said hateful vile things. As I stated originally, I felt it was perhaps oversimplified as I do see some good in boycotting certain things and the RIGHT to be able to boycott.

 

[Jenzebelle]

Sure, everyone has the right to boycott. I don't have a problem with people boycotting whatever they wish. Sure, I might roll my eyes at some of the stuff they are boycotting, but that's my right as well.

What I have a problem with is how ok it seems to have become lately to say the nastiest and most horribly uncouth and offensive things possible about the French and about Canadians.
I'm French, I use my maiden name often (which happens to be the same as the Prime Minister of Canada), and I am against the war. Talk about being made to feel like a second class citizen.

For the life of me, I don't understand how it's ok for people to tell me they feel bad for me because I need to be ashamed of my heritage, or call people names so bad that if they said similar things meant for different nationalities - they would probably be offending more than the person they were hurling the insults to.

Think what you want about different countries and the people that have that heritage, but please have some common decency before you open your mouth to call someone a "filthy frog" etc... because how would you feel if someone said something derogatory about your heritage?

 

[C.Ann]

Many Americans - particularly the older generation - have a personal policy of only purchasing items that are made in the United States.. What does that make them? Is it considered boycotting or racist?

It's a personal decision - based on personal reasons - and quite frankly, is no one elses business..

 

[glo]

Guys, I am going to close this thread. I think we have discussed that Willy did not really intend to group racist and boycotts together. We all have our own opinion on this and everyone is entitled to it. It just seems we are going around in circles here and nothing is getting accomplished.


I know I have said it before, and I am saying it again. These are difficult times for everyone. We are all very emotional and all have reason to be. Please, be careful of what you say and how you say it. Thanks, and let's try to have a good day.


GO visit the CB today and get caught up in the FLUFF day antics...remember that we are a community and enjoy.