[This post was deleted by Metacritic Games Editor as inappropriate in the Lance Armstrong thread due to it "political nature." I reposted it here for those interested.]

It is a sad reflection on the state of the world and our place in it that any standard bearer for America will reap the benefit of George Bush's foreign policy.

It isn't fair. Or just, after all, the achievement and effort involved is individual - just the way the world is.

Remember three years ago? We had the hearts and minds of the world. And we squandered that capital. That is sad too.

The legacy of 9/11 is not a people who prevailed over tragedy with greatness and generosity, but an empire made fearful and stampeded into vengence.

When we first went into Afghanistan, I remembered an interview by Christine Amaphore (sp) on CNN of some Afghan villegers who had sustained family "collateral" casualties from an American attack against suspected Talibans. "We feel for what happened to you in America, but we have pain too," one of the men said.

I think there is always the perception outside of the United States that Americans care only for their own, but blithe to others and their suffering. In the Arab world, the sense that our government holds them in contempt is fairly commonplace: they see what we do on global media, and they hear the pious platitudes that comes from our government.

In the 50s there was the stereotype of the "ugly American".

We have come full circle.


[My explanation to Metacritic Games Editor follows:

Obviously we disagree how germane my remarks were.

All three of the posters expressed shock and dismay that Lance Armstrong is getting negative press and brickbats instead of uniform adulation.

I though I'll explain something that is obvious to me. After all, none of us just fell off the turnip truck yesterday.

I simply made the point that's he's America's hero, but others may see it differently: that any standard bearer for the United States at this point in history will get negative press simply for being American. Clearly we don't like it and think it unfair and unjust. Just so. But as sophisticated people, we should keep in mind that there are things they care about deeply that we don't give a damn about.

If you believe that a political context on a sporting event is politics and not sport, fine with me. I just hope that not everything that happens in the world is a shock to us, like some deep hidden mystery.]

Wong, you're such a ---- sensitive -----! [GamesEditor: Watch it there, SM. Keep it clean.] I agree with MGE. Your Bush-Bashing gets old. Believe what you want, blather on all you want, but don't let it bleed into every freakin topic on these boards. "Bush is a monster" "Halliburton is the Fourth Reich!" "Republicans will eat your children ALIVE!" Take a freakin chill pill and address the Lance Armstrong issue as it was stated.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Metacritic Games Editor,

SparkleMontion,

Hahaha, as Bogie said, "You want me to stutter?"

But seriously, SparkleMotion, I despise the guy and everything he stands for, but I never said the things you said I said:

I did asked philosopherEric the question, "Does this make Bush a monster?" Because if you're considering the ethical and moral issue of political leadership in regard to the idea of "dirty hands", this seems to be both a legitimate and useful example. Is Bush's action for the greater good? Does Bush have a will to power? And if he is an empty vessel, as some of his apologists have claimed, does this exculpate him?

All fair and useful questions in the universe of moral and ethical judgment, don't you think? It would be useful - if not instructive - for us to think along these terms every once in a while, don't you think?

Even I know that Halliburton is NOT the Fourth Reich. It is the multinational corporation formerly CEOed by Dick Cheney and it is making head-over-heel tons of money in Iraq. And we're paying for it with our tax dollars.

I wished I said, "Republicans will eat your children ALIVE!" That would be somethin', wouldn't it? 20-point banners in the National Examiner on every checkout rack across America.

To be honest with you, SparkleMotion, you should see me bash Democrats.

(Okay, Lance Armstrong struggled with cancer, and STILL won the Tour de France six (6) times running [That'll show 'em frogs who's who!] and still don't get respect in those benighted un-free and anti-democratic countries that WE SAVED from the baby-eaters of the Third (3rd) Reich.

Now, you happy, SparkleMotion?)

How I See You----


Wong, must you really start a new topic EVERY time you want to argue with someone or bash on Bush??? I dont like Bush either, but dont clutter the boards with these irrelevant posts.

Eccentro,

I don't know that these are "irrelevant posts". Obviously I don't think so. And it's not like someone got a gun to your head. Zombies and scary CGI are there if you think they're "more" relevant.

By the way, Eccento, a content analysis shows only approx 35% of my posts are political, and of those, 92% shows an intense dislike and distaste for George Bush and his administration and its policies. AND the majority of these are in response to posts that are remarkable to the degree they appeared to be in lockstep with the propaganda fed us daily by an ideological administration utterly without scruple. I would think this would be a problem, no?

AND this particular thread was started because Metacritic Games Editor thought it inappropriate in Lance Armstrong/Sport and better suited here.

Gee, you wanna talk about the screen writing of Paul Schrader or the cinematography of Chris Doyle? Start a thread and we'll talk...

(By the way, Metacritic powers-that-be, I'm six (6) posts away from being a "Know-It-All". I was thinking, couldn't we just go with something more modest, like, "Well-Read"?)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wong828,

Wow, this wong person was pretty opinionated and often had his posts deleted. Does anyone agree/disagree with this?