General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCZECH REPUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO REMIND AMERICA BOMBING SUSPECTS ARE NOT FROM THERE
The Czech Ambassador to the U.S. issued a statement Friday clarifying, for geopolitically-challenged Americans, that these two countries are not interchangeable just because they have similar names.
http://www.mzv.cz/washington/en/czech_u_s_relations/news/statement_of_the_ambassador_of_the_czech.html
Statement of the Ambassador of the Czech Republic on the Boston terrorist attack
As many I was deeply shocked by the tragedy that occurred in Boston earlier this month. It was a stark reminder of the fact that any of us could be a victim of senseless violence anywhere at any moment.
As more information on the origin of the alleged perpetrators is coming to light, I am concerned to note in the social media a most unfortunate misunderstanding in this respect. The Czech Republic and Chechnya are two very different entities - the Czech Republic is a Central European country; Chechnya is a part of the Russian Federation.
As the President of the Czech Republic Milo Zeman noted in his message to President Obama, the Czech Republic is an active and reliable partner of the United States in the fight against terrorism. We are determined to stand side by side with our allies in this respect, there is no doubt about that.
Petr Gandalovič
Ambassador of the Czech Republic
LisaL
(44,962 posts)Sounds like something that should be in the Onion.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)virgogal
(10,178 posts)Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Americans aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)Two or three -- out of Three Hundred Million PLUS?.
Look in the mirror and don't speak for the rest of us.
Maybe it's you who aren't "the sharpest tool in the shed".
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)Of course the attacks are wrong, but 23 out of 300,000,00 is still
an infintesimally small percentage -- not much of a "sample"
of American knowledge on the issue.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)(the number of Sikhs in the United States is about a quarter of a million)...which means a random Sikh in the US had a one in ten thousand chance of being victim of a violent attack committed by racist morons. Which is about double the chance that any random American has of being murdered.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)and while we're on the topic of "racist morons", let's take a look
at some of those in other parts of the world, shall we? Europe,
especially Greece, has had an uptick in racist, nationalistic incidents
and certain things I see and hear about Israel and their treatment
of Palestinians, make me sick.
Bucky
(53,795 posts)is still an act of discriminatory intimidation of the whole group. This is why hate crimes get a special category under the law. Like terrorism, they don't just deprive an individual of his/her rights to liberty, property, & life. Acts of public terror also undermine the social fabric that holds a civil society together. The very nature and intent of these crimes is to destroy the status quo of a peaceful society. And this is true even if the targeting of Sikhs is rooted in ignorance about who the attacker intends to hate on.
I think your points about Greece and Israel underscore the problems of terror I describe. It doesn't really matter if the terrorizor is a member of a minority or a majority. A modern civil society depends on tolerance of pluralism and to attack any group--Sikhs in America or Palestinians in Israel or sports fans in Boston--is to attack the society itself.
Thus it doesn't matter if only a couple of dozen Sikhs were attacked after 9/11--the point was to make an example out of them, similar to lynching during the days of Jim Crow, to intimidate and drive down people whom the terrorists found to be too different to deserve life.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)Is the US...Now, I'm sure you're not going to tell me we alone are guilty of such things,
because if you are, I'm going to have to send you to Google to check out things like "nationalism"
"racism" and "The rise of the right wing in Europe". As one who's been there, I can assure you that
You won't come up empty -- not by a long shot.
So why don't we, in the spirit of something like fairness, not to mention perspective,
put the microscope on some other countries regarding these types of discrimination?
Funny, how the enthusiasm for doing that seems SO much less than it is for the U.S.
I can't imagine why.
Spider Jerusalem
(21,786 posts)we're talking about the USA.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)improve one's perspective.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)There were and are plenty who do not commit hate crimes, but still think that way. Never underestimate ignorance or stupidity.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)for those who get off on regularly shitting on the US, and there are LOTS of them here,
I'm sorry to say, foreign and domestic.
"Never underestimate" ignorance or stupidity"?...Yeah, I might agree with that were
there any chance of it being applied even handedly, rather than selectively.
cascadiance
(19,537 posts)... I think. All it takes is enough idiot low intelligence but highly emotional idiots to take it out on innocent ethnic Czechs around the world to create more messes. I think they are right at going after the idiots right now, and not assuming that the terrorists aren't going to be idiots and not make such mistakes.
And for that matter, I hope people don't just attack other people because they are Cechens as well. There are a lot of innocent Chechens that probably hate these a-holes even worse than we do, knowing that they will feel the pain of what these bums did from the idiots out there that go after people just because they are "Muslim", "Chechen" or "Czech" (thinking they are Chechens), who themselves might subsequently invite more hate unfairly towards the groups they belong to as well (maybe whites and Christians?).
We don't need any religious, ethnic, or nationalistic wars thank you! Let's get back to being responsible communities and isolate hate-filled jerks like those that are causing them, not celebrating them and responding in kind the way they've acted.
progressoid
(49,827 posts)There was a report that he didn't know the difference either.
I think Cali Dem was referring to the general population more than us learned DUers.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)Last edited Sun Apr 21, 2013, 09:15 AM - Edit history (1)
Bush was "selected" the first time, won by a Hair the next, while Obama won both elections by large margins.
You see, unlike some others here, I refuse to propagate the elitist, self-serving
idea that all Americans, except the "learned" on DU of course, are "stupid".
I detest Americans who broad brush the rest of the country that way.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)with 9/11.
That was bad.
If I were from the Czech Republic, I'd be sending out some geography lessons to us Americans too.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)and you think that the Czechs are doing the same?
Sorry, but the invasion of Iraq was a cynical move by that administration that had nothing
to do with a lack of geographic skills and I don't think that you or the Czech prime minister
should be drawing inferences about upcoming government policy on the basis of some chatter on the social media.
Anyone doing that has their own issues with cluelessness.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)Be sure to get in touch with the Czech prime minister and yell at him too.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)If so, you've probably been hit by a common ailment called "sore loserdom".
It's fairly common on DU, so if you've none handy, you might want to ask around.
Squinch
(50,774 posts)you decided to blat onto here. You don't seem to understand that.
Proportion, dear, proportion.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)Self-awareness, dear, self awareness.
AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)According to the 9/11 Commission, the "terrorist" who did 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. When did we bomb them? It's like bombing China over Pearl Harbor. Americans ain't too bright. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, same color, same religion, bomb someone.
JackN415
(924 posts)backscatter712
(26,355 posts)If he doesn't straighten people out, before long, the GOP will be demanding we bomb Prague...
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Al Qaeda do not operate on the behalf of any nation state and they are against the Saudi government. They refuse to even call it "Saudi Arabia" because to do so acknowledges the Saudi royal family's legitimacy.
Brother Buzz
(36,217 posts)virgogal
(10,178 posts)GiveMeFreedom
(976 posts)limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,217 posts)WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)undeterred
(34,658 posts)Yes, there are.
HooptieWagon
(17,064 posts)That was merely their ethnic background. They were born in Kygryzstan, I don't think they ever even lived in Chechnya.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)of what makes me cringe at times.
Beartracks
(12,761 posts)Don't get me wrong, all of my best friends are Americans. Some of them are conservatives and Republicans, and none of them happen to be stupid. But this country does raise and harbor some radical ignoramuses.
=========================
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Wow.
Zorra
(27,670 posts)fleur-de-lisa
(14,616 posts)KharmaTrain
(31,706 posts)...all events are filtered through the "how does it affect America" viewpoint. When it doesn't it's ignored...such as Chechnya. Amazing how people are already claiming "terrerist" connections based on profiling...not a shread of hard evidence, yet, that either brother had any association with any seperatist movement...
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)I am not surprised this had to be said though
FarCenter
(19,429 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)fleur-de-lisa
(14,616 posts)and a warmonger philosophy!
Squinch
(50,774 posts)tests so that their teachers can be fired and the schools privatized. Because Union thugs!
The kids aren't allowed to actually learn anything! That would be counterproductive! Where are your priorities???
LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)past-tense. Who needs cursive when one can learn how to write on the internet's?
Our education is screwed by the "teach for the test" model of learning!
treestar
(82,383 posts)When I took Spanish, I learned some about South America.
Ilsa
(61,675 posts)The stupidity left office January 2009.
Hekate
(90,202 posts)Also still in Congress. >shudder<
reformist2
(9,841 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)Because unless he learns of attacks on czechs here, he should keep an
eye on his own country's social media -- Unless, of course, he intends to
play teacher-nanny to the world.
Heywood J
(2,515 posts)before doing something as simple as publishing a press release to head it off before his citizens are attacked.
Some internet commentator with a massive chip on his shoulder upthread told him so.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)and even if they're not, it's pretty hard to to tell a Czech from any other European, or Eastern European
should his language or "accent" indicate that side of Europe.
If they're tourists, I really can't imagine a "search and destroy" plan for that, can you ?
I know many here are heavily invested in the "big 'murican bigot" narrative
but a lot of us think it's overstated. Maybe those who do need to dial down the paranoia
and knee-jerk anti-Americanism a bit.
Heywood J
(2,515 posts)The issue is not who is going to attack Czechs, or where, or why. It's a press release put out as an effort to prevent anything from happening before it starts, given the misinformation that's appeared in several places.
Enjoy your Sunday. You'll live longer.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)I think this is called "moving the goal posts".
Your concern for my lifespan is duly noted, lol, but since it's well known,
that those who harbor grudges and hatred tend to live LESS long, I'd say it's misplaced.
With that in mind, I'm urging you to enjoy your day as well.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)if I could believe he'd do same if it happened in another country.
Sorry, I guess I'm just not as as gleeful and/or self-hating
as the US Bashers here.
eridani
(51,907 posts)AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)"California is about as far away from Pennsylvania as Pennsylvania is from you".
My response to a nice, but geographically challenged man in the UK, who wondered
if the California earthquake he'd just heard about was "near" me in Pennsylvania.
"No, all Americans do NOT get married four or five times" This was my answer to a seemingly
bright young woman who owned her own small business, but was surprised to learn
that my elderly parents, despite some problems, never divorced, because, as she said:
"I thought ALL Americans got married four or five times"
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)(joke)
JackN415
(924 posts)Yavin4
(35,357 posts)The drones would be on their way.
LiberalFighter
(50,504 posts)CTyankee
(63,771 posts)other countries...which is why we believed all that bs about France during the Bush years...
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)LovingA2andMI
(7,006 posts)Warranted and correct! Good for the Czech Republic!!
madinmaryland
(64,920 posts)caseymoz
(5,763 posts)are in a similar fix all because the Czechs' wouldn't stay with Slovakia.
Just kidding.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)Last edited Sun Apr 21, 2013, 09:48 AM - Edit history (1)
in "Yugoslavia" and he constantly has to correct them.
Of course, McCain referred to "Czechoslovakia" during the 08 campaign...so, there's that...
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,789 posts)winter is coming
(11,785 posts)AnotherMcIntosh
(11,064 posts)backscatter712
(26,355 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)worldwide.
Please...You don't want to know the level of dumb assery and prejudice I encountered
in Europe, not only about America, but about other countries and ethnicities, including Muslims,
when I've lived in and visited there.
WinkyDink
(51,311 posts)And I'll bet many more Americans of various descents (Hungarian, Yugoslavian, Romanian, etc.) ARE NOT CONFUSED.
"Czech" does not sound like "Chechen" any more than "stick" sounds like "stitch."
But it all sounds apocryphal to me.
Donald Ian Rankin
(13,598 posts)N.T.
JHB
(37,133 posts)...I'd still like to get a sense of what portion is actual ignorance vs. what portion are uncorrected autofill errors.
whathehell
(28,969 posts)You see, these are people who seriously ENJOY shitting on themselves and other Americans.
To say that they are self-loathing would be like saying water is wet.
Their insecurity is such that they need to suck up to the euros here on a regular basis.
It's almost literally sickening.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)makes beautiful postage stamps. That's all I know.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)Sad but true. Whoever made the quote about Americans not knowing much world geography until something happens that smacks us in the face (war, and now terrorism) was right, sadly.
I knew, but only because some of my family supposedly came from Czechoslovakia, back when that was what it was called.
At least he was patient with us and not insulting about it. I thank him for that.
jsr
(7,712 posts)CHECHEN:
CZECH:
Bucky
(53,795 posts)Petr Gandalovič just called us all dumbfucks.
This makes me want to go beat up one of his countrymen.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)and I'm sorry, but I really do NOT believe that "only in America" would some people,
make a mistake between "Chechen" and "Czech" as Chechnya, even with its not
so recent "war" with Russia, does NOT have the highest national profile in the world,
having only relatively recently emerged, as it has, from The Soviet Union.
Had this incident happened elsewhere, I believe the Czech prime minister may well have sent it there.
It's really just another excuse -- the very lamest will do -- for the haters
and self-loathers to try and wring another laugh out of what they view as "stoopid 'muricans".
Daninmo
(119 posts)I've read that some people in the USA that don't realize there is a difference between the state of New Mexico and the country of Mexico.
I hope that is not true.
Heywood J
(2,515 posts)A drunken lady yelling that she needed her passport to get into New Mexico.
treestar
(82,383 posts)PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)help us .. we're a nation of "F" in geography
I grew up with maps on the wall -- this should be encouraged!
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)that is, if you are keeping up at all with current events. And Australia is not Austria.
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)TimberValley
(318 posts)whathehell
(28,969 posts)not that you're likely to hear about that here.
DU is a Mecca for Self-hating Americans. Fortunately, it attracts
less pathetic, more self-respecting people as well.
kwassa
(23,340 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)thank you
Socal31
(2,484 posts)n/t