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So, it's incredible, but I got a message from an american who read my site and needed to comment. Normally, comments from americans are along the lines of "Fuck you America is the best country in the fucking world!"
Well, convincing as that is, perhaps it explains my opinion of americans in general. However, this message was different, and I felt the need to share so that everyone knows that yes, there is hope for america. Maybe. Behold!
Or, in a less melodramatic manner, check it out.
From: eric
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 12:37 AM
To: wildsong@presidentbushviolently-happy.net
Subject: On the Canadian Casualties and other things
Hi there. I am a 20 year old American living in Las Vegas, NV and am in the air force. I just happened upon your site and read the post about the friendly-fire incident and the Canadian casualties. I also just got done watching the local news in which I just heard that the two American pilots involved are being charged with 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter, 8 counts of assault, and derelection of duty. They are facing up to 65 years in military prison (not a very happy place). The point I am trying to make is that this is not simply getting brushed aside. These men's lives are screwed and from what I have read rightly so. See unlike most American's I judge based on the facts and in case these men deserve what they are going to get. I also read some of the posts from fellow American's on your site. The problem is that you are judging all of us off of these people. We are not all like that. There are some of us who aren't brain-washed by our propagandised news and media believe it or not. I happen to like Canada very much and hope to live in Calgary for a few years when I get out of the military. I suppose the problem lies in this damn arrogant attitude that the majority of us have. Where the hell it stems from I have no idea. I know that me and my friends certainly dont carry it though. You might be happy to know though that a lot of the people I have met that are around my age also dont have this attitude. I guess its our generation or something. America for a long time was the strongest and most powerful country in the world but that is no longer the case. We are simply one of the most powerful countries in the world now and I think that is very hard for the American people to come to terms with. I personally think that it is a great freakin thing and hope that maybe we will start getting a more cultured view of the world finnally. And I hope maybe other American's will finnally start listening to some good music (like thats ever gonna happen)!!! I think that what we were supposed to be and what we have become and two very different things also. If you read the constitution closely you will see that there is debate wheater or not we are even supposed to have a standing army. We were supposed to be a land where people were free to do what they wanted so long as it didn't infringe upon others rights and what we have become is arrogant consumer sheep with no individual thoughts. But what I wanted to make clear was that we are not all like that. I hope that one day I will never hear people say dumb-ass things like calling all people from Asia Japanease and assuming that all Canadian's like hockey. I assure you that these things are changing though. Just try not to dislike the whole based on what you have heard from some of us. Some of us are pretty cool. I know that we could be such an awesome place if we would just let go of all these damn prejudices and assumptions and lies and realize that in the end no one is the best and we are all just trying to get by. If there was one thing I could teach all of my fellow American's it is that no one is special. That would pretty much cure the lot of it. But anyway I just wanted to let you know that we are not all the way it seems like a lot of the people who email you are. Just the way not all Canadian's are the way you are. And I know that for a fact because I have been there a few times. I will say though that there is a lot more like you. Anyway bro try to give some thought to what I have said. Maybe you too can let go of some of your prejudices.
Peace,
Eric
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From: Wildsong [wildsong@presidentbushviolently-happy.net]
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 1:36 AM
To: eric
Subject: RE: On the Canadian Casualties and other things
Hiya
I'm afraid that I don't have time just at the moment to write a full response to the message that you've sent me, and I do apologise for that, but I wanted to let you know that this is probably the most enlightened, intelligent thing I've ever heard (well, figuratively) an american say. Wow.. I'm seriously impressed. I know that might come across as condescending.. it's really, seriously not meant to be.
I've actually quite a few friends who have left america to come here, and I've quite a few friends in america, largely IRC peoples, so I know what you mean. I do tend to grossly generalise, but I think it's not so much a prejudice as it is a perception. In my experience, there are two types of americans. There are the sort who are loud, obnoxious, rude, fanatically patriotic, etc etc, and then there are the ones who are more thoughtful, intelligent.. the ones who don't believe everything they're told, who realise that there is a world outside their country. People like you, it seems. :) And that's absolutely wonderful. This will sound stupid, but it the fact that there are such people gives me hope that america might not turn into the scary beast I picture it becoming, given the way it's heading. You're in the vast minority, or so it seems, but that you exist at all is such a positive sign I can't begin to tell you. Of course, in any country, the people aren't going to be uniform, all the same in the way they think. But the problem is that the quiet, thoughtful ones don't really get seen. It's the loud, obnoxious ones who do, and thereby create the image of their country through their representation thereof. And that's what it is that I rant about. The government, and the obnoxious americans. For example, the easiest way to spot an american in Vancouver, aside from the accent, is the attitude, and the rudeness. The trouble is, that means that you don't spot the polite ones. So the only representation that america has, really, is rather negative. Combine that with the constant propaganda by the american government that leaks out into other countries, and you can certainly see where the negative view of america originates. And not just here, but the world over. It's starting to change, of course. The Internet has seen to that. Borders seem to be coming down all over the place, as it were, and the rest of the world is becoming more accessible. Kind of dilutes the propaganda.
Listen, would you mind if I post your message? I don't bother to ask the ranting freaks, but you, I think, deserve far more respect. I'll remove your address, of course.
Thank you for taking the time to write. You're right. Some of you are pretty cool.
-wildsong
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From: eric
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2002 2:35 AM
To: Wildsong
Subject: RE: On the Canadian Casualties and other things
i would love it if you would post the message so that people can get another
perspective from us americans in the minority. thanx bro.
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There you have it. Cool, huh?
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