A question to Americans

[Boobinator]

First off, a little disclaimer. When I say "you" in my post, I mean Americans in general. Don't get offended by my ideas if they don't apply to you (as explained in the last paragraph.)

If there is one thing that never seizes to amaze me when comparing American to European culture -- it has to be how you idolize certain people and your dogmatic view on normal, mortal human beings. Like yeah, Elvis Presley made some best-selling records, but certain people wanted him on the Times 100 most influential people of the 20th century list. I mean, you have to be pretty fucking stupid to actually believe that a guy shaking his arse and playing guitar will ever have any major impact on the world (except for maybe making women cum in their panties.)

Or another example. People hailing this or that president as a messiah. Unless America is a dictatorship, no man can't honestly be given as much as attention as your prez does. The president is a representative of his/her party, which in a democracy means that he/she, just like anyone else, has to submit to majority rules and not just boss around like some Stalin or Hitler. That's how a democracy works. As a side note, having a single person being given as much attention as the US president kinda goes against what America was supposed to stand for back in the days -- when Europe was the continent filled with snobby monarchs "chosen by god". So question is, do you really believe in the president's power as much as it appears?

Anyway, like I said, my intention with this thread wasn't to bash the US or Americans in general. There are many positive things about you folks too, and I'm not stupider than to understand that the vast majority of you are normal people like myself, in fact I've gotten a pretty good impressions of Americans overall online (especially through this board.) So lastly, don't turn this thread into an anti-Europe agenda either. Just try to explain to a curious European how America works

Cheers

 

[feller469]

Honestly, i feel it is part of a smokescreen by the powers-that-be to keep our attention off what is really important. there was a time when senators were as "celebrated" as the president. Now it is all about the prez so the senators are not held accountable. It is tragic that what started out as a great idea has now become a corporate bankroll.

Europe has its issues too. Italy is on its 95th government since the war. If the wind changes direction, they change leadership. England has its royalty, and they serve what purpose? other than to rake in money?

No anti-Europe from me. We could learn from you as you can from us. Dialogue, what a novel concept.

 

[Hot Mega]

Fortunately or unfortunately even entertainers wield allot of influence....Even beyond the personal sense but some of these people are responsible for shaping industries worth billions and billions of dollars....in some cases that influences the lives of MANY, MANY people in the world.

I don't know why you seem to attribute it to an American versus Europe distinction....As if there aren't examples of Europeans being just as "bad" or worse in this regard.

It's just human nature for some people to derive inspiration in various forms from others...it just how we're wired. In some case, it's warranted other times not so warranted.

 

[ArabJames]

commenting on the elvis topic

yes in retrospect...him shaking his ass wasnt that big of a deal

but that was very extreme for that time....and shaped america into the sex driven country it is today

 

[Hot Mega]

commenting on the elvis topic

yes in retrospect...him shaking his ass wasnt that big of a deal

but that was very extreme for that time....and shaped america into the sex driven country it is today

WOWW. No disrespect but....you can't be serious. Are you?

 

[Will E Worm]

I agree with Feller469 about the smokescreen to keep people's attention away from what happens behind the scenes.


I agree with ArabJames about Elvis.

Elvis was definitely one of the top if not the top entertainers of that era.
Or, any era.

"People hailing this or that president as a messiah."

That has to stop and we need to look for better representatives that actually care about the people.

America is and always has been a Constitutional Republic.

 

[titsrock]

Yes, the President has power and influence over the world. America's Aristocrats are ********* entertainers, like Elvis, and sports stars. Our tech and military power makes the president more similar to a Monarch than a servant of the people.

Our Constitution was written before Capitalism and Corporations. We need to rethink how power and influence flow from Corporations to our Government.

Should the American people have the right to remove CEOs from power?

 

[Hot Mega]

"People hailing this or that president as a messiah."

That has to stop and we need to look for better representatives that actually care about the people.

But we fought a 2nd world war in part because a European state elevated one of it's leaders to the level of a deity.

It may in fact need to stop or be scaled back but it's not an American thing.

Many Americans look to their leaders to inspire because we've had leaders who have inspired in the past....that's not a bad thing unless they're inspiring you to do bad things.

 

[Elwood70]

. Like yeah, Elvis Presley made some best-selling records, but certain people wanted him on the Times 100 most influential people of the 20th century list.

No;he shouldn't be on that list.



......but Chuck Berry should.

 

[Gordar]

No;he shouldn't be on that list.



......but Chuck Berry should.

I think you meant Chuck Norris .

 

[Elwood70]

I think you meant Chuck Norris .

....still meant Chuck Berry,though....

 

[chase horner]

These most influential lists are made to stir up conversation.

 

[marquis2]

Honestly, i feel it is part of a smokescreen by the powers-that-be to keep our attention off what is really important. there was a time when senators were as "celebrated" as the president. Now it is all about the prez so the senators are not held accountable. It is tragic that what started out as a great idea has now become a corporate bankroll.

Europe has its issues too. Italy is on its 95th government since the war. If the wind changes direction, they change leadership. England has its royalty, and they serve what purpose? other than to rake in money?

No anti-Europe from me. We could learn from you as you can from us. Dialogue, what a novel concept.

What do you mean by the Monarchy existing to rake in money?
We have a Head of State who is above politics and whose only loyalty is to the country.She has represented the nation faultlessly for 57 years and is widely respected around the world.She is patron of over 600 charities and although 83 next month she has hardly reduced her workload with over 400 public engagements this year.
Also she must be the only Head of State who pays in more revenue than is spent on her upkeep.

 

[feller469]

So being a royal is a money-losing situation? I think not. What is her role in the country? If she is in charge, what recent political decisions did she made? What is their role in England? Is the country a monarchy or a democracy?

 

[ChefChiTown]

First off, a little disclaimer. When I say "you" in my post, I mean Americans in general. Don't get offended by my ideas if they don't apply to you (as explained in the last paragraph.)

If there is one thing that never seizes to amaze me when comparing American to European culture -- it has to be how you idolize certain people and your dogmatic view on normal, mortal human beings. Like yeah, Elvis Presley made some best-selling records, but certain people wanted him on the Times 100 most influential people of the 20th century list. I mean, you have to be pretty fucking stupid to actually believe that a guy shaking his arse and playing guitar will ever have any major impact on the world (except for maybe making women cum in their panties.)

Are you serious? Do you have any idea how powerful music can be?

Music is the universal language that everyone can understand. Music is a powerful tool that can be used to send strong messages of faith, hope and love. Music is so powerful that people often turn to it in times of need, despair and depression.

People connect with music and relate to the feelings and emotions that it produces. Go to a concert and just watch the people in attendance. The simple stroke of a C chord can make tens of thousands of people scream at the top of their lungs in excitement.

Music is heavily connected with memories, both good and bad. When someone hears a song, they almost instantly get a rush of emotion flowing inside of them. Music makes people smile. Music makes people laugh. Music makes people cry.

Billy Joel's "Only The Good Die Young" might remind someone of their ******, who ****** away at a young age. Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" might remind someone of their high school friends. The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" might just remind someone of simpler time. Music creates and controls emotion.

A lot of the time, when someone feels like ****, they will turn on the radio or put on the favorite CD to make themselves feel better. I don't know if there are statistics on this, but I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that music has saved a wonderful amount of lives throughout the world.

Simply hearing a song can be enough to make somebody put down the ***...

If that's not considered a "major impact" on the world, then I don't know what is.

:2 cents:

 

[GeseppEisonhawk]

first came New World's discoverers when pirates & vikings that took, traded from greater land, Mexico or Guatemala to the south, with the meek christianised North American indigeonous indians to the north after the pilgrims betwixed their personal relationship of trinity upon them, then railroads, then the east coast's needy competition unessecary utillities. Instead of somewhere along the line, before the big chill soundtrack but after or during 'be bop', without teatime, our nation's younger generations, were'nt selfish enough with our blessed country's 200 year age & too selfish with the way we continue to sound & look after 100 years in still, or motional celluloid... & no one is making statues of Guatemalans or Canadians this year but luckiy a guy like Dali arrived over here & networked with some young assistant of Warhol who said tape it! people forgot to think for themselves, government by robot has taken over big *******, not enough western poeple from broken homes can still pride & boast chivalrey for community vessels & 6 degrees of joy division among townhall leaders or royal ****** members when anniversay of marriage to heritage & CEO leadership is lost. One man's translation of liberty maybe askwed. Clinton became instantly remembered as that bood prez from the south & he never did actually have those sexual relations, the cigar actually did! Mexcio's is such an awesome country still, do that & it's probably the safest country to actually dwell & live in by now that's all the mayans were probobly trying to tell us...
Mexico in 50 years will probably have 20 times better places than the total number of nice places in Europe by then... or maybe that was what the Mayans were trying to get me to tell you... we really all should be hurricane-proof building there now together, what are the mexican porno film agencies like there, or is Venezuela actually better?

 

[Jagger69]

Are you serious? Do you have any idea how powerful music can be?

Music is the universal language that everyone can understand. Music is a powerful tool that can be used to send strong messages of faith, hope and love. Music is so powerful that people often turn to it in times of need, despair and depression.

People connect with music and relate to the feelings and emotions that it produces. Go to a concert and just watch the people in attendance. The simple stroke of a C chord can make tens of thousands of people scream at the top of their lungs in excitement.

Music is heavily connected with memories, both good and bad. When someone hears a song, they almost instantly get a rush of emotion flowing inside of them. Music makes people smile. Music makes people laugh. Music makes people cry.

Billy Joel's "Only The Good Die Young" might remind someone of their ******, who ****** away at a young age. Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days" might remind someone of their high school friends. The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water" might just remind someone of simpler time. Music creates and controls emotion.

A lot of the time, when someone feels like ****, they will turn on the radio or put on the favorite CD to make themselves feel better. I don't know if there are statistics on this, but I can say, without a doubt in my mind, that music has saved a wonderful amount of lives throughout the world.

Simply hearing a song can be enough to make somebody put down the ***...

If that's not considered a "major impact" on the world, then I don't know what is.

:2 cents:

WOW!!! Awesome post Chef!! I was about to post something similar but you said it all. I nominate your post for POTW!!!! :bowdown::thumbsup:

There's no way the influence of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Dylan, The Beatles or any of a hundred other artists can be overrated in social importance!!

Neil Peart of Rush wrote the words to this song that pretty much sums it up for me....the world would be extremely dull and lifeless if not for music.

Begin the day
With a friendly voice
A companion, unobtrusive
Plays that song thats so elusive
And the magic music makes your morning mood

Off on your way
Hit the open road
There is magic at your fingers
For the spirit ever lingers
Undemanding contact
In your happy solitude

Invisible airwaves
Crackle with life
Bright antennae bristle
With the energy
Emotional feedback
On a timeless wavelength
Bearing a gift beyond price ---
Almost free...

All this machinery
Making modern music
Can still be open-hearted
Not so coldly charted
Its really just a question
Of your honesty

One likes to believe
In the freedom of music
But glittering prizes
And endless compromises
Shatter the illusion
Of integrity

For the words of the prophets
Are written on the studio wall,
Concert hall ---
Echoes with the sounds...
Of salesmen.

 

[No_Man]

Or another example. People hailing this or that president as a messiah. Unless America is a dictatorship, no man can't honestly be given as much as attention as your prez does. The president is a representative of his/her party, which in a democracy means that he/she, just like anyone else, has to submit to majority rules and not just boss around like some Stalin or Hitler. That's how a democracy works. As a side note, having a single person being given as much attention as the US president kinda goes against what America was supposed to stand for back in the days -- when Europe was the continent filled with snobby monarchs "chosen by god". So question is, do you really believe in the president's power as much as it appears?

Since about the Great Depression, the power of the Presidency has gradually grown more and more. First it was FDR's "New Deal," which set American economic policy in a way that Presidents previously hadn't attempted. Then it was WWII and the expansion of wartime powers for the Commander-in-Chief. Then it was the Cold War and the expansion of "Executive Privilege" to justify secrecy in the White House. And finally, we have Bush, who may be the worst ****** of executive power, but really is just inheriting a legacy that the American people have endorsed for the last 80 years. Combined with an equally disturbing expansion of judicial power in the federal courts, the public sees Congress (which is where the Constitution really invests power) as virtually impotent. The President can do what he wants as long as the Supreme Court doesn't stop him. That easily leads to Monarachial reverence for the office, even if its really completely unfounded.

The U.S. desperately needs to move power back to the legislature and back to the states. However, Obama loves manipulating people with his "messiah" public image, so I don't see it happening anytime soon.

 

[alfred packer]

Or another example. People hailing this or that president as a messiah. Unless America is a dictatorship, no man can't honestly be given as much as attention as your prez does. The president is a representative of his/her party, which in a democracy means that he/she, just like anyone else, has to submit to majority rules and not just boss around like some Stalin or Hitler. That's how a democracy works. As a side note, having a single person being given as much attention as the US president kinda goes against what America was supposed to stand for back in the days -- when Europe was the continent filled with snobby monarchs "chosen by god". So question is, do you really believe in the president's power as much as it appears?

As to the above quote, you had fanatics on the left, those not on the left that were either fascinated by him or you had people on the right, like Rush Limbaugh who gave him that moniker in jest. Either way it both dumb.

Speaking as an American who tries to keep up on the news and be an independent thinker, you large portions of the population that either don't care, or are very gullible, or they believe anything someone tells them or anything they see in a commercial.

I argued with people during the campaigns, because we judge our potential presidents and vice presidents more on their presentation and debate skills than experience they could bring to the table.

Secondly, during the campaign we get their plans, that they have no power to implement without congress. Obama and McCain and more power and influence in helping to resolve the problems they were campaigning on by actually pushing legislation, since they were both sitting Senators.

There a lot of people that either give the president credit or blame for things they have little control over. To some degree the rest of the government gets it as well.

I think the perceptions you made in your above statement reflect a portion of the American public that have a voice in mass media outlets.

 

[D-rock]

What I don't get is the distinction between Europe and us. There is more than a fair share of people over there, whether they are politicians or athletes, that seem to get idolized. If anything it might only seem worse over here because much of the world's entertainment industry is located here and they and the media can continually feed on each other.