Is xenophobia a problem in the US or just the US government?

[mecharmor23]

Xenophobia maybe a problem in the whitehouse but I am wondering how the american populace are faring?? Are the "terror threat levels" affecting and preventing people from enjoying their daily lives like it used to back in 2001?? I am wondering because the news media mentions the threat levels every now and then and its effect on me is wearing off.

Is the use of the word "evil" really politically correct?? I mean is there really such as thing as a perfectly evil nation?? Do bush voters believe this is politically correct to say??

If a country(any country) does not have the same rules and ideology as the US. Then does that mean its evil to be different?? I remember that in another BBS some guy thinks its evil not to be democratic and that I would burn in hell and not be saved if I don't believe in democracy. Since when has it became a religon?? Actually I am a neutral guy so I don't want to choose sides. Democracy isn't bad but I don't like it when people go to extremes to force the belief on others. Extremists come in many shapes and forms but I doubt many would expect such atitude from a democrat. Doesn't happen too often but it happens.

Finally the reason why I used the word xenophobia is because of the patriot act. Some people unfortunatley are willing to sacrafice freedom for security. Put is it really a good way to counter fear? by giving the government more and more power?

[nik0tine]

Is the use of the word "evil" really politically correct?? I mean is there really such as thing as a perfectly evil nation?? Do bush voters believe this is politically correct to say??

Bush voters don't seem to care much about political correctness.

If a country(any country) does not have the same rules and ideology as the US. Then does that mean its evil to be different??

The government may label that country as "evil" to inspire resentment against it. When a politicians labels something as "evil" you can bet that they are lying, because they are.

Finally the reason why I used the word xenophobia is because of the patriot act. Some people unfortunatley are willing to sacrafice freedom for security. Put is it really a good way to counter fear? by giving the government more and more power?

The goernment inspires that fear for a reason - so they can gain power. In all reality, there is never anything to be afraid of. The government just makes you afraid, so you are easily controlled.

[Gnostic Yevon]

Bush voters don't seem to care much about political correctness.

Well, not exactly. Political Correctness is considered more something to oppose. A conservative calls people "politically correct" as an *insult*.

The government may label that country as "evil" to inspire resentment against it. When a politicians labels something as "evil" you can bet that they are lying, because they are.

Some countries *are* evil. Nazi Germany was evil. Pol Pot's Cambodia was evil (he shot anybody who wore glasses among other things). A country that kills innocent people is evil, or at least its government is.

The goernment inspires that fear for a reason - so they can gain power. In all reality, there is never anything to be afraid of. The government just makes you afraid, so you are easily controlled.

I agree with you there. Fear is great for making people give up rights and freedoms. All governments do that to some degree. watch the ads for congressmen sometime. The other guy is always "soft" on some criminal issue. Or going to take away SS and Medicare. It's the nature of politics.

On topic: There is some Xenophobia in america. It can be seen when a "patriot group" (Minutemen) wants to guard the border with Mexico (isn't it strange that no one worries about Canadian border issues?). I've been in chatrooms where Islam is maligned and insulted by people who think they're experts for having read some online thing about islam. I've also discovered that some people have invented a new insult for muslims as well -- "muzzies". I can't say as I see any of this comming from the top. It isn't widespread, but it is there.

[jrgen]

When politicians begin using terms like "evil", you should really beware of everything they say.
Lately, the politics of the USA has been terrifyingly similar to those in the novel "1984".
Especially how war is used as a tool for keeping the people controllable,
without letting the people know who they're fighting and for what reason as it is irrelevant.

[Heath]

Some countries *are* evil. Nazi Germany was evil. Pol Pot's Cambodia was evil (he shot anybody who wore glasses among other things).

Have you watched Ricky Gervais' Animals, by any chance? First thing I thought of when I read that.

Bush voters don't seem to care much about political correctness.

I think that's a bit of a broad generalisation. A certain number of Republican votes may not care about it, but I doubt the sweeping majority do. You could equally say that Kerry voters, or Gore voters, don't seem to care about political correctness.

jrgen, living in an Orwellian world would be a sad thing, indeed.

I suppose you could argue for days about what is "evil" and what isn't, and still have numerous people disagreeing. Something is only evil when you don't agree with it. Now, I'm not saying that what the Nazis did was not evil, what I am saying is that consider the Nazis evil because we don't agree with what they did.

I think we can all agree that the killing of innocent people is an 'evil' thing to do, though. But from a certain point of view, it's not. People consider the United States 'evil', the United States considers groups of people 'evil'.

I pretty much agree with Gnostic Yevon however. Though I don't think there is a great deal of Xenophobia in the United Kingdom (where I live), or at least not to the extent that people point out in the US.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

My area is pretty liberal (well, OK, REALLY liberal) so we aren't too bad.

[Sasquatch]

I wouldn't go nearly as far as saying that the U.S., or its government, is anywhere near xenophobic. The government isn't trying to keep us in fear, they're not even being realistic with their protection. But I do agree, fearmongering is a common tactic of politics--in this last election, the two most common arguments were that Kerry wasn't fit to handle the war (which by any and all means was true), and that Bush would rob old people of their Social Security and poor people of all their money and give it to his rich buddies.

Who does and doesn't think something is evil doesn't effect whether or not it is evil. Nazi Germany, and the Nazi ideals, were evil, period. No matter how many people agree with them, they were evil.

"Political Correctness" is all about not offending people. I don't know about y'all, but I don't give a damn if somebody gets offended by something I say or do. Ain't my problem. PC isn't strictly a Republican or Democratic stance, but liberals tend to strive for PC much more than conservatives do, because while conservatives try to be more independent, liberals work more towards group rights.

The border with Mexico is protected because it is much more of a threat than the border with Canada. Not often are "illegal Canadian immigrants" heard of, or hundreds of tons of drugs being shipped from Canada to the U.S.

[Jebus]

Yes. The United States is extremely Xenophobic. Those that aren't, are either normal, or think that the United States is simply superior to other countries.

I think it stems from America's original desire to be it's own boss and have other countries out of its business, but it's spiraled out of control. We're so full of ourselves and worried about other countries that we jump at a chance to blow them up with 80% backing by the populace. You barely even need a reason to do so anymore.

[The Captain]

I agree entirely as I too think part of this discussion stems from the roots of American foreign policy, where for the longest time we wanted to just be left alone and stay out of world affairs, yet lately we've witnessed a paradigm shift in policy.

Take care all.

[DocFrance]

I don't think xenophobic is an appropriate description. Xenophobic would mean that we're afraid of other countries and cultures, and I'd say that's far from true.

[Gnostic Yevon]

Yes. The United States is extremely Xenophobic. Those that aren't, are either normal, or think that the United States is simply superior to other countries.

I think it stems from America's original desire to be it's own boss and have other countries out of its business, but it's spiraled out of control. We're so full of ourselves and worried about other countries that we jump at a chance to blow them up with 80% backing by the populace. You barely even need a reason to do so anymore.

Well yes, most Americans think that their country is the best at everything. I was actually surprised that America wasn't statistically no. 1 on anything. I always thought it was the same in all countries. I thought France or England thought that their country was the best.