To all British servicemen and women...

[gash-hand]

[quote=" Oh and if the British don't like the killing in NI, they could end it today by leaving. Your problem is self Perpetuating. "quote]

The fact you said the above simply goes to prove that you have absolutly no understanding of the situation in NI at all - which was my point in my fist post - it wasn't aimed at you but your country in general.

Actually I have a question why is it there is not such thing as an american through and through - every time i've been to the states everyone is either irish, scottish or welsh (only found the one though) - thing is, that was all about 5 generations ago. For christ sake give it up - after 5 generations you are not irish, scottish, welsh or whatever you are american, i can probably trace my ancestory back to ireland but theres no way i would consider myself irish as it was eons ago - why do you always try to be something you are not?

[Mike]

A different salant on things

Intresting is'nt it that some of our colonial friends here, keep on stating that they are proud of being 4th,5th,6th, or what ever generation, Irish, Scotish and again what ever.
My name is O'Rourke, my great grand father was a Protistant living in the republic with a Catholic name?! and he lived in PEACE.
I am ENGLISH.......and nothing but, no 3rd, 4th or 5th with my liniage.
It appears that our friends need to attach themselves to family roots, no matter how far back that is.....I also believe that that is why they allow Hollywood to change the truth of history..... I know.... you do it to make it intresting........for whom, certainly not those who made the history in the first place.... but its funny how a good majority of americans believe what is produced in hollywood as entertainmeny/History.
Aye

[Chris]

you would be Ireish,Scotish,Welsh if your mum and/or dad is Ireish Scotish or Welsh not if your great great great gran is Ireish Scotish Welsh

and if only one of your folks are Ireish Scotish Welsh and the other is American you would go by what Country you are born in

for Example my Dad is Ireish my Mum is Welsh but i dont call myself Ireish cos i was born in Wales

and if you knew anything about NI you would know pulling out is not an option

Thay Wanted us to take it over and most of the people in NI want to be Briton

[USARMY_]

Okay since some posters here made some remarks about American's saying they are this or that, anything but "American". Keep in mind the phrase "Uniquely American." So I will try to explain this the best I can. I'm going to break down how Americans divide and categorize them selves. So here goes in no particular order...

1. Ancestory-When immigrants came to the shores of the "New World", they seeked out to be Americans. How ever they found that acceptance was only found in one place, in the localities where people of like ancestory resided. So if you were Polish, you lived in a Polish neighbor hood and most likely you went to work for a Polish employer. So the seeds of racial and ethnic seperation were planted very early in America's history. Americans do not say they're English, the way you would say you're English. It's more like they're saying "this is the gang I run in". ( To understand this better, read the book "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair or view the Movie "Gangs of New York". Yes it's a movie but you'll get the idea.)

2.History- Americans are extremely proud of our history as a country and as individuals. So that mean's long memories. We remember the struggles and victories our ancestors went through, and some wounds may never heal.

3. So here goes a little flow chart...

First off, when dealing with other Americans, regardless of what Optimistic people will tell you, Skin color is the biggest divider, religion, language, shade of skin color, family heritage, neighborhood you grew up in, local town, city, State, region, then which side of the Mason-Dixon line you're from. This is how Americans pick which "crowd" the gravitate towards. This is because of our HISTORY.

4. When it come's to dealing with immigrants or foreigners, Americans are Americans, if an individual is trying to naturalize he or she is welcomed like a brother if they A. speak English, B. Contribute to society
C. Come to be an "American" and take on the American culture. If an American divulges to an immigrant or foreigner their lineage, it is to make that individual feel welcomed. It is to say, "I know where you are coming from".

So inclosing, an American say's he or she is this or that to relate. It immediately tells someone fathoms about you.

5. Americans can't win- In the World Wars The USA was criticized of an isolationist stance and acting to slowly, since then The USA has taken on a policing role and get criticized for that. So most Americans don't want to hear jack from any body any more.

[USARMY_]

...In NI is handled how your goverment wants it handled. Terrorism against the USA is being handled in the way our government wants it handled. Has your government ever asked our state department if they can go after the criminals responsible with in our borders? If it was up to me I'd say go ahead, it free's up our police and intelligence agencies to fight crime else where.

Any way this grows tiresom

[USARMY_]

DelD, what can I tell you, life is rough.

[gash-hand]

Hey USARMY,

I've just had a thought.

If your country is harbouring known terrorists does that mean we can go to the UN and get a resolution to invade?

I guess if we did though we'd only go as far as Texas so we'd at least get some oil out of the deal as well.

That is how the system works isn't it?

[Sully]

Is it true that the only thing the Septics charged in WW1 is interest on the money they lent us to fight it?

[USARMY_]

DelD-, listen I am sympathetic to the suffering going on in NI. But you're barking up the wrong tree. I have no control over the situation. The US Government is going to protect it's citizens the way it see's fit. We are gonna hit the people who are responsible for this, directly or indirectly, so hard they will never recover. I suggest your government do the same.

Your comment about The American people's President show's two things, one, your over all contempt for the American people regardless of the facts and two your complete lack of understanding about what is going on right now in the Gulf and the history behind it.

Sully- I'm gonna stay cordial here. But I'll put it you like this, alot of Americans are dead so your nation could remain free. America sent her young men to fight for your futer.Show so respect.

Gash-hand- Our country is not harbouring terroist. There is a certain crime element here as in any country. I suggest your government do what is necessary to protect it's civilians. Cause mine is. If you think you want to take on Uncle Sam, common on over. We could use another landing strip in the North Atlantic. Other wise...

[Sisyphus]

I'm getting brassed off with all this. Instead of lobbing brickbats across the Atlantic can't we find common ground and move forward?

We're both supposed to be democracies (of a sort). Unfortunately, we're run according to the whim of politicians. In the UK, at the last general election less than 60% of the population turned out. Less than half of those voted Labour. So we have a govt elected by less than 30% of the people.

I guess the same goes for the US. Main difference seems to be in the US you need to be a millionaire to run as President but can manage to become elected Prime Minister in the UK with much fewer financial assets.

Anyway, back to my first point. Can we have balanced discussions about differences without resorting to sophistry and rhetoric? We are where we are. We can't do anything about the past, we can only change the present.

[USARMY_]

Sisyphus- the voice of reason emerges...I'll play nice from now on.



How about those Swedish Swim Suit models!!!!

...oh, and we are a Republic!