Thread: Massacre at Virginia Tech

Originally Posted by jaegerhund

---- I don't know if I've read one thread on this forum that critiques any other country than the U.S (maybe I'm wrong).

Have you checked here? I posted one little quote from Charles de Gaulle and unleashed a slough of insightful observations about our friends the French…

Other than that, I would observe that people from other countries like to complain about us because everyone likes to play David & Goliath. That was the advantage of the Cold War; when the Soviet Union was around, they made a much more ideal enemy for a significant portion of the world, but now we are the only ones left to complain about. At the same time, I have noticed that complaining about the direction our country is or is not going is a preferred past time for American nationals as well, so maybe that just goads the rest of the world on, too. Heaven knows I do it often enough.

-Michael

[QUOTE=izlat;106308]One has to acknowledge, though, that most of "civilized" Europe has moved away from violence - more so than USA (if only because USA is a young country, and Europe has had more time to do it).

Moreover, the above argument doesn't explain Canada - which also has European roots."

Yes, I can agree with that. After two world wars within thirty years it's understandable that Europeans are not terribly keen on violence. I suppose that we Americans would feel much the same way had we experienced the same thing here at home. We've been quite fortunate that, up to now, we've had only one major conflict and that was more than a century ago. HOWEVER! The unwillingness of western Europe to use force was a factor in Hitler's conquests as the European nations knew he was disobeying the Treaty of Versailles and had stated his goal of conquest in "Mein Kampf". Instead of meeting the threat head on in the mid nineteen thirties when Germany began its' rearmament and expansion, the European nations stuck their heads in the sand in hopes that the threat would just go away. This only postponed the conflict and when it came it was at a much greater cost. This scenario was played out again in the Balkans in the previous decade. Everybody knew what was happening but nobody was willing to take action. As far as Canada is concerned.... who in his right mind would want to go out and be violent when it's sixty below zero outside? Besides, they don't need street violence as they have HOCKEY!

I am not sure I follow because it seems now that you say:
1. Europe is not keen on violence because it has suffered 2 WWs
2. WWII was a result of Europe's unwillingness to use violence, which scenario also played out in the Balkans

Coming from the Balkans myself, and spending more than a fair share of time studying history - I don't even want to start on the topic... but in a simplistic way - the big dogs have always thought of preserving their interests and zones of influence. A number of sacrifices / compromises were made to that effect.

Hockey rules!

Cheers
Ivo

GO RED WINGS !!!!!
GREATEST HOCKEY TEAM IN THE WORLD!!!


Oh, and this made me think of a quote, crap, wrong thread, oh well.

Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion. Norman Scwartzcoff