but why

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/04/scu....ap/index.html

--
MarkW

nospam to scuba to reply

"Mark Williams" <mark.nospam.williams@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:2q5grgFrphgmU1@uni-berlin.de...
> http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/04/scu....ap/index.html
>
> --
> MarkW
>
> nospam to scuba to reply
>
>
>
To get away from the wife?

Because he's american and has shit for brains!

"Mark Williams" <mark.nospam.williams@ntlworld.com> wrote

> http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/09/04/scu....ap/index.html

Don't knock it - at least it stoped him cross posting to this group. It's
not the diving bit that was difficult, being a yank it was keeping his gob
shut that caused the problems.

K

TonyH wrote:
> he's american and has shit for brains

KeithL wrote:
> Don't knock it - at least it stoped him cross posting to this group. It's
> not the diving bit that was difficult, being a yank it was keeping his gob
> shut that caused the problems.

Gentlemen,

While I would be lying if I claimed never to have allowed a dig at our
American allies to slip past my lips, can I ask you to consider how it would
be seen if comments similar to the above had been made about, for example,
Jews, Asians or Africans.

As you know, this group has at least one regular American participant. I
challenge anyone to specify the last time he was anything other than
completely civil and sensible.

While the current President of the USA does not seem overly keen to do
himself any favours on the international stage, I think long term
participants of this group ought to know better than to make overtly racist
comments. If this is the way UKRS is headed (and there does seem to be
something of an unchallenged anti-American streak becoming increasingly
prominent) then I, for one, will not be here for much longer.

Iain

> Gentlemen,
>
> While I would be lying if I claimed never to have allowed a dig at our
> American allies to slip past my lips, can I ask you to consider how it
would
> be seen if comments similar to the above had been made about, for example,
> Jews, Asians or Africans.
>
> As you know, this group has at least one regular American participant. I
> challenge anyone to specify the last time he was anything other than
> completely civil and sensible.
>
> While the current President of the USA does not seem overly keen to do
> himself any favours on the international stage, I think long term
> participants of this group ought to know better than to make overtly
racist
> comments. If this is the way UKRS is headed (and there does seem to be
> something of an unchallenged anti-American streak becoming increasingly
> prominent) then I, for one, will not be here for much longer.
>
> Iain

Ian,

IMVHO, as a Jewish atheist who has spent many years fighting all types of
prejudice, I feel that I must comment on your response.

Firstly I very much agree that any prejudice or sectarian view should be
refuted, however, one must be judged by ones actions, thus (and I think that
this is backed up by many facts, and personal experience), on the whole, the
majority of americans have been duped into believing the crap that is pushed
down heir throats daily by their media, and that, apart from a small
minority, many americans don't realise what exists outside their city or
state, let alone the rest of north america.

Therefore their 'world' is tiny in comparison to the rest of the true world;
something I have found to my own experience.

A small fact that reinforces this is that less than 5% of americans even
hold a valid passport!

For a country that purports to be the most christian county in the world it
holds some of the most unenviable records:

1. Highest per capita prison population in world.
2. Non-signatory of the Geneva Convention (as demonstrated by Guantanamo
Bay)
3. Refusal to sign Kyoto agreement
4. Largest standing army in world
5. One of the worst human rights records outside of third world.
6. Lowest spending on social issues per capita.
7. One of last western countries to stop slavery and apartide.
8. Genocide committed in several countries outside its own border or
jurisdiction since WW2
9. Destruction of English language


I wont bother going on (although I could).

"Iain Smith" <iainmsmith@btinternet.com> wrote ...

> Gentlemen,

> While I would be lying if I claimed never to have allowed a
> dig at our American allies to slip past my lips, can I ask
> you to consider how it would be seen if comments similar to
> the above had been made about, for example, Jews, Asians or
> Africans.

Some of the best Jewish jokes I've heard have been told to me by Jews, some
of the best racist jokes by people of ethnic origin. For an explanation see
http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-...=1&word=banter

Keith L

"TonyH" <tony@samesamediving.com> wrote in message
news:chl23f$agn$1@sparta.btinternet.com...

> 1. Highest per capita prison population in world.
> 2. Non-signatory of the Geneva Convention (as demonstrated by Guantanamo
> Bay)
> 3. Refusal to sign Kyoto agreement
> 4. Largest standing army in world
> 5. One of the worst human rights records outside of third world.
> 6. Lowest spending on social issues per capita.
> 7. One of last western countries to stop slavery and apartide.
> 8. Genocide committed in several countries outside its own border or
> jurisdiction since WW2

Only country in the world whose government refuses to ratify the Convention
on the Rights of the Child because they believe it's right to execute
children.

Big one that, IMO.

> > While I would be lying if I claimed never to have allowed a
> > dig at our American allies to slip past my lips, can I ask
> > you to consider how it would be seen if comments similar to
> > the above had been made about, for example, Jews, Asians or
> > Africans.
>
> Some of the best Jewish jokes I've heard have been told to me
> by Jews, some of the best racist jokes by people of ethnic
> origin. For an explanation see
> http://www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn?
> stage=1&word=banter

Keith,

Last time I looked, you were neither Jewish, nor of other than Caucasian
origin, nor American. It seems generally accepted that self-mockery can be
considered humorous. Coming from others, it is racist. I think I can say
with certainty that you would not have made similar comments about coloured
individuals regarless of how amusing those comments might have been, neither
would anyone else have stated that those of any specified non-caucasian
origin would automatically have, "shit for brains."

Lee may or may not wish to comment - he's probably got better things to do,
like dodging hurricanes - but I think we should remember that not all of our
regular participants are based in the UK. Not that it would make insulting
them any more acceptable if they weren't.

Anyway, as I said, if I am in the minority on this one, I will simply leave
quietly.

Iain

Iain Smith wrote:
> Anyway, as I said, if I am in the minority on this one, I will simply leave
> quietly.

Despite the slight feeling that Americans are fair game I normally
restrict my ire for the English, men and Baptists. Three groups I
feel reasonably qualified to know the faults of. Well, and divers
who really must come across as the daftest bunch of anoracks to
outsiders.

nigelH