America: The Great Lie

[unhappycamper]

I am one of those who once believed that America was beyond imagination and that one would never witness there what we find in the Third World in terms of poverty, want and unemployment.


America: The Great Lie
Sot al-Iraq, Iraq
By Yasin al-Rabia`i
Translated By Christopher Marrs
5 January 2011
Edited by Jessica Boesl

It is called the world’s police. It is called the greatest nation in the world. It is called a nation of freedom and democracy. It is called ... It is called ... It is called ... Each of these names has been given to the United States of America by its allies abroad and repeated by the wealthy within.

I am one of those who once believed that America was beyond imagination and that one would never witness there what we find in the Third World in terms of poverty, want and unemployment. Some imagine that America is merely the food and shelter that come through aid (and which actually are deducted from the wealth of your nation in one way or another). They imagine that life is food and shelter, and it does not matter whether one works or not. This is what the opportunist wants for us; they are those who don’t want us to progress and don’t want us to learn, lest they lose their place in the world.

America, which Hollywood films have depicted as a dreamland or paradise, is nothing more than a collection of petty states scattered here and there, unconnected by social, racial or cultural ties. There is no history connecting them and no roots. America is a number of states coming forth from various parts of the land to participate in establishing a country in which they have no stake. America, which is now experiencing the worst stages of its economic life, still lives and thrives on the wealth of the people, so it takes taxes from absolutely everything in life. When the émigré or refugee comes to America, all of these taxes are deducted during the more than 5 years in which he essentially buys the nationality that enables him to enter the nations of the world without restraint or condition. The general public does not know that there are many nations more beautiful and better than America in a number of ways.

At times, an Arab country denies issuing a visa to an Arab from another Arab nation while granting one to the Arab who carries an American passport, not knowing that this Arab makes America and not America that makes him Arab. In doing so, these Arab states fail to grant each other respect and preserve any honor for their sons before the nations that were built by Arab minds and hands.

If only the world knew the amount of poverty, vagrancy and crime that America is living under and the extent of the social cleavage that defines America in this era. America has dominated the world through arms and economics thanks to Arab, Asian, European and African minds. America attracted these minds by arming itself with the policy of freedom and democracy while many of the world’s nations were losing it. America offers much to those who seek it but always under its own rules and conditions.

[Tutankhamun]

1. This is a great sentence:

"The general public does not know that there are many nations more beautiful and better than America in a number of ways."

This is why we're so strongly encouraged to dislike Europe. This is particularly true now that European nations are filled with protesters who could give the American people ideas.

[raccoon]

2. C'mon, yall, one more Rec puts this on Greatest! nt

[blindpig]

3. k&r

[Stargazer99]

4. I agree wholeheartedly the comments regarding the US

If only the world knew how much poverty and loss its lower classed citizens are enduring. Born an American I am fed up with this nation. My daughter died from a completely preventable death because the doctors won't serve sick people who are poor and cannot pay.
The 99er's don't know it but they are road-kill. A man with cancer is living in the woods in Seattle area because he does not have enough income to live in a home. The weather has been very cold here recently. I can only imagine his cold night and being ill.

The poor and the lower classes serve in the army. 20% rejected due to poor health or dental problems.One of the more monied made the comment after being told about the death of a soldier "that they knew what they were getting into". I'll bet while her son will never see the front line.

20-25% of the nation's children live in poverty.There are decent caring people in the US..its just that they do not have the political power...only money does.

I never thought I'd come to this almost hate of the nation. Europe takes care of its own but the US can only hide and cover up the reality for one quarter of its citizens.
How can one person have medical coverage and the next person beside them die from lack of care?
Where are the churches in this nation? I thought we as a nation were moral. What is moral about 20% of its citizens living in hell? Apparently money has shut the mouth of religion.

This nation is sick and thinks nothing of destroying the physical body and the spirit of 20% of its citizens. Take a good look at yourself, America, with an unbiased eye. You might be shocked.

[raccoon]

5. Great post--this should be shouted from the rooftops:

"How can one person have medical coverage and the next person beside them die from lack of care?"

[Catherina]

6. Rec'd! n/t

[svsuman23]

7. if only America was never founded, then most of us would still be

Living in Europe. :). If only...

[LeftinOH]

8. I strongly disagree with the tone of the entire piece -especially this:

"...America, which Hollywood films have depicted as a dreamland or paradise, is nothing more than a collection of petty states scattered here and there, unconnected by social, racial or cultural ties. There is no history connecting them and no roots."

--This is the same old tiresome anti-American diatribe we've been hearing forever. Nothing new here, and the piece even predicts the eventual downfall of America -which Europeans and others have been predicting since the late 18th century.

We actually DO have plenty of 'history' and 'roots', and a strong sense of national identity which has nothing to do with "Hollywood" (the "Hollywood" card is always played in diatribes like this- it's really getting old). I don't believe this country is 'better' than some other countries (but it's better than a lot of them). The fantasy that America's streets are paved with gold, or that this country is a "paradise" (seriously??!) was not created by Americans. As far as to the extent that "Hollywood" has given a false impression of America...consider this: Does anyone really think that Japan is full of sword-wielding samurais and giant radioactive monsters? Please.

The writer is an Iraqi -and most likely a young one. His bitterness towards the US is understandable, and, this an (understandably) angry rant -but his notions about what the US is really like are as bogus as the "Hollywood" image he's complaining about.

Note- I spent a college year abroad in Europe (Spain); it was an eye-opener. I learned that the quality of life is indeed better in other parts of the world. I also learned to better appreciate many aspects of American life that are not found elsewhere.

[Stargazer99]

9. Apparently you have medical care, can eat, do not live outside

is that the only important thing? You?

[LeftinOH]

12. There are poor people and crime everywhere - the US is not unique. For a democratic

nation of 300+ million we're doing pretty well. Universal Healthcare would be a tremendous improvement (it'll happen someday) but I'm not going to jump on the anti-American bandwagon because there are people in the US whose lives are miserable.

I live in the city of Cleveland (one of the poorest in the country). I see the faces of homeless people every day. I get it. I will not be branded an 'ugly American' because I view original article mainly as an angry screed written by someone who had a bad experience here. America is not "paradise" - it's a country in North America. The writer has himself mostly to blame for believing that the USA he has seen in (some) films really exists. Please.

[el_bryanto]

11. I agree. I mean he's entitled to his opinions, and I kind of understand where he is coming from

But my experience with America can't be explained by a collection of pety states, unconnected by social, racial or cultural ties.

He should watch Ken Burn's Jazz series, which, while flawed, has a lot of good examination of America in it, from the perspective of Black America.

Bryant

[L0oniX]

10. They don't call it "The Great Satan" for nothing.

[mdmc]

13. ..

[Obamanaut]

14. And yet, people continue to come to America in droves. Some of them

legally, others not so much.

And when the 'not so much' ones are about to be returned to their country of origin, they fight tooth and nail.

Now, why is that?

[chrisa]

15. I don't think many people are coming to America anymore.

There's no more opportunities.

[Obamanaut]

16. There are millions already here, but according to this article, illegal

entries are down to ONLY 300,000 per year.

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/02/report-illegal-immigration-at-lowest-level-in-2-decades/


“…From 2007 to 2009, the number of illegals entering the country shrank to about 300,000 per year, down by nearly two-thirds from the estimated 850,000 per year from March 2000 to March 2005.…”

No more opportunities, and yet they come. Why is that?

[Berserker]

18. They come for

the money. Talk to some of them I do everyday and that's the first thing out of their mouths.

[Obamanaut]

19. I guess it ain't as bad as some would have the reader believe. They

continue to come - legally as well as illegally - and if caught as illegal fight to remain, and if sent home, many try to return.

Perhaps the great lie isn't as great a lie as indicated in the rant in the OP.

[cowcommander]

17. Ok, so where should we move to then?

No other country wants to take in Americans. We're stuck here, whether you like it or not.