@rocket48 Said 
Jennifer, please come see Texas some time. We have the best state and the best people here.
> Gun toting? Americans do have a right to bare arms.
> Redneck good ol' boys? And whats the problem with that?
> Extreme right wingers? Again, whats the problem?
Should everyone be liberal and gay for you to make this a perfect world? We accept others, but don;t forget, even us red neck, gun totin, right wingers have rights and should be respected.
Talk about being judged! I know you didn;t mean any disrespect, but there are good straight white men left in this world and we feel that we are the most discriminated people left in the USA.
Fair comment, Rocket and points taken.
You are absolutely right in your statement that Texans too, have rights. Nobody could object to that, and from where I sit, a long way across the big water I hope you wouldn't think I ever said they shouldn't have rights.
But can I ask you...... Do you really care what the rest of the world thinks of you....? There is a perception abroad, of Americans that is negative and I cannot believe that you actually like that. Or at least, don't care about it.
When you say I was being judgemental, what I actually did was to reflect this broad view. Yes, you do have the right to bear arms, and as long as you do so only in your own country and only use them to kill each other then who are we to complain.? And yet, the US gun lobby attempts to influence people beyond the US borders to adopt the American way. I have lost count of the number of discussions I have been involved in where some very forcible opinions are expressed about how we should also carry deadly weapons....... and use them..!!
I have been told that Americans use guns to protect their property. Well, out in the big wide world, many other people take the view that human life is more important than property. I can't ever imagine myself living in a country where it is considered acceptable to shoot another human being dead because he tried to steal my television. Perhaps it's just a matter of perspective, eh..?
The phrase "Red necked good ol' boys" is used abroad (particularly in Europe) as a perjorative. And yet, you seem to not only like it, but actually revel in it. Is this just bloody-minded defiance...? A case of "Nobody likes us, we don't care"...? it may be just me, but that is something I've never been able to get my head around.
I am in no doubt whatsoever that the vast, overwhelming majority of Texans are good people. It just seems odd to me that so little is done, by Texans, to challenge negative views. Why don't those people who are labelled as "red necks" ever attempt to change other people's view of them...? They just appear to carry on as they are and adopt a "Go to hell" attitude towards everybody else. Well, that's fine if you want it, but you can't be surprised if it creates negativity, can you..?
Extreme right wingers..? Well, that is a political viewpoint and everybody is entitled to their political views. I'm a liberal voter. Yes, we have a political party over here which has the word "Liberal" in its title. I certainly don't think everybody should be like me, but by the same token, I won't be silenced from condemning a political doctrine that I personally find abhorrent.
So, whilst I certainly respect your right to challenge my comments and to have your own political, social and cultural mores, I would expect you to show me the same courtesy. I regret that the culture you freely choose to adopt and live by creates a negative impression amongst many people of the world, but that is up to you to change..... if you want to. If you're happy to remain as you are and be viewed as such then you don't really have grounds to complain, do you..?
Regards
.
Dec 15, 2009 @ 06:39:23
