Would you rather live in America or Japan?
- Thread starter mad pierrot
- Start date
Buddha Smoker
Finally Enlighted One
- 8 Dec 2003
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Chipi said:This may sound stupid, but somehow Im _so happy_ beeing here in Japan now, and I really feel like this would be my other home..I sometimes have these happiness attacks on the street and I cant stop smiling, and also allmost crying...
I know that Im an outsider here, and thats they way it should be..I really wish I was just like Japanese, and not outsider, but Im not, and Im content with my part.
And I dont mean to offend anyone, but living in the usa..no, right now it feels impossible. Im sorry but for me there are so many things that just dont fit into my "world"..
Sounds like you are going through the stages of Japan becoming your home....that's step 4 or 6, I forgot.
- 21 May 2003
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Gotta Say The Good Ol U.s.a. !!!!
At one time I was ready to give up my US citizenship
to stay in Japan;BUT after 2 full years, I had enough!
I missed a million little things I took for granted. Being
able to read a newspaper, watch TV, listen to radio, and understand everything.Finding the foods I loved to eat,
tasteing the way they should. Not really ever fitting in.
There was Sooo much I loved about Japan, but that saying, "There's No Place Like Home" finally got to me.
Frank
At one time I was ready to give up my US citizenship
to stay in Japan;BUT after 2 full years, I had enough!
I missed a million little things I took for granted. Being
able to read a newspaper, watch TV, listen to radio, and understand everything.Finding the foods I loved to eat,
tasteing the way they should. Not really ever fitting in.
There was Sooo much I loved about Japan, but that saying, "There's No Place Like Home" finally got to me.
Frank
Buddha Smoker
Finally Enlighted One
- 8 Dec 2003
- 901
- 15
Frank D. White said:At one time I was ready to give up my US citizenship
to stay in Japan;BUT after 2 full years, I had enough!
I missed a million little things I took for granted. Being
able to read a newspaper, watch TV, listen to radio, and understand everything.Finding the foods I loved to eat,
tasteing the way they should. Not really ever fitting in.
There was Sooo much I loved about Japan, but that saying, "There's No Place Like Home" finally got to me.
Frank
I can understand that...I kind of get the best of both worlds right at moment...bit of a long story. But, still...LONG LIVE JAPAN
- 10 Apr 2004
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I've lived in both places and they both have their pros and cons, but if Bush wins the next election I will seriously consider returning to Japan or possibly moving to Canada (no joke). If things don't change, I don't want to be a part of what's going on here anymore.
Buddha Smoker
Finally Enlighted One
- 8 Dec 2003
- 901
- 15
Brooker said:
That's the first time I've heard someone say that..but I can agree.
hey there new memeber here! I have to say that my family has lived in america since the late- 1700's but i find myself longing to live in a foreign country. the japease people interest me immesily and so does japan. Lateley (more spefically after bush came to power) i have become very angry with america. with the passing of both patriot acts i realized that it was very dangerous to have an opioion that opposed goverment policys, so because of that and the fact that i find americans very hateful and strange( no offense to you americans on here have nothing against you), and the lack of a culture, i have decided to begin prepatrations on moving abroad. i have to say that i would rather live in japan. I think eastern and japansense phiolosphy and culture and pretty cool. if you cant understand the radio there just get a satleite radio.
i agree totally as well. the dubya admistaration is getting out of control, for me its like being there for the roman conquering of the world, i am not intersted in this goverments goals of spreading our goveremntment and relgion around the world, they can do it bythemselves im gonna be in a truly free country! (well hopefully its free).
Brooker said:
i agree totally as well. the dubya admistaration is getting out of control, for me its like being there for the roman conquering of the world, i am not intersted in this goverments goals of spreading our goveremntment and relgion around the world, they can do it bythemselves im gonna be in a truly free country! (well hopefully its free).
Buddha Smoker
Finally Enlighted One
- 8 Dec 2003
- 901
- 15
CAPRICORN said:
Is it really getting that bad back there? It's been a long time since I've been in the States?
- 6 Mar 2003
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> im gonna be in a truly free country! (well hopefully its free).
There is no such place.
> Is it really getting that bad back there? It's been a long time since I've been in the States?
No, it's not that bad. People are just too wired, that's all. Looking back, I don't see any eras in which I would rather be. The Vietnam era? I don't think so. The recession/energy crisis seventies? Uh uh. The 60's (well yes, lots of free love & no AIDS has appeal but...) living in a severe cold war thinking you could be annihilated by nuclear war any day. No. The 50's a generallly prosperous era but a strait-laced society with a despicable racial divide. I'll pass. The 40's war & shortages? No way.
Not that there isn't room for improvement. But the situation is far from dire.
There is no such place.
> Is it really getting that bad back there? It's been a long time since I've been in the States?
No, it's not that bad. People are just too wired, that's all. Looking back, I don't see any eras in which I would rather be. The Vietnam era? I don't think so. The recession/energy crisis seventies? Uh uh. The 60's (well yes, lots of free love & no AIDS has appeal but...) living in a severe cold war thinking you could be annihilated by nuclear war any day. No. The 50's a generallly prosperous era but a strait-laced society with a despicable racial divide. I'll pass. The 40's war & shortages? No way.
Not that there isn't room for improvement. But the situation is far from dire.
good point, however throout all of those decades by law you had the right to express yourself without being persucted. (it didint turn out that way kent state and such)but even though you would be persecuted for beleiving anti-governement things at least you could say " by the law and constition i have a right to my beliefs" where as now it is agianst the law to do many things. the situation in america is dire or the best depending on your point of view and beleifs. for the people that love george bush and idioticly send our troops overseas to be killed for oil, sure its a wonderul time. but for the person that wants peace, the govermentemnt to stop meddling in foriegn affairs, and belives in liberty and freedom for all even for anarchists, muslims, and anti-governement,people well its preety dire.
Buddha Smoker
Finally Enlighted One
- 8 Dec 2003
- 901
- 15
mdchachi said:
I've been out of the States but not that long.
- 6 Mar 2003
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> where as now it is agianst the law to do many things.
Like what, specifically? What's different now?
> the situation in america is dire or the best depending on your point of view and beleifs.
Or, in my opinion, not that much different than it has been for most of this century.
Neither dire nor the best.
> for the people that love george bush and idioticly send our troops overseas to be killed for oil, sure its a wonderul time.
> but for the person that wants peace, the govermentemnt to stop meddling in foriegn affairs, and belives in liberty and
> freedom for all even for anarchists, muslims, and anti-governement,people well its preety dire.
Most of the people that have these sentiments are the same people that whine that,w hen there's some major genocide going on somewhere in the world, that the U.S. should go in there and do something about it. You can't have it both ways.
Now, if we can get gas down to $.99 / gallon again, maybe I can finally buy that Hummer I've been eyeing.
Like what, specifically? What's different now?
> the situation in america is dire or the best depending on your point of view and beleifs.
Or, in my opinion, not that much different than it has been for most of this century.
Neither dire nor the best.
> for the people that love george bush and idioticly send our troops overseas to be killed for oil, sure its a wonderul time.
> but for the person that wants peace, the govermentemnt to stop meddling in foriegn affairs, and belives in liberty and
> freedom for all even for anarchists, muslims, and anti-governement,people well its preety dire.
Most of the people that have these sentiments are the same people that whine that,w hen there's some major genocide going on somewhere in the world, that the U.S. should go in there and do something about it. You can't have it both ways.
Now, if we can get gas down to $.99 / gallon again, maybe I can finally buy that Hummer I've been eyeing.
you are incorrect. i obvioulsy do not like genocides and crimes commited against people but the US should not intervene in forgin affaris regarldless of the situation because it does not help the situation any, and since the US has commited some of the worst crimes in history we are in postion to judge other countries for what they do. and now on to the things we cannot do because of the patriot acts. i donot have them in front of me at this time but this is what i remeber. if ther are 50,000 people protesting something and one person gets arrested for say thorwing a rock at a cop, then the entiere protesting crowd gets arrested. also the patriot acts alows police to arrest you for saying anything they deem "anti-american" and therefore terriost like. it allows the authortys to track you and bug your home and office because of whatever they want leiterally. it is true now that cops can pull you over for waving a confedarate flag, shoot and kill you and not a damn thing will happen to him, perfectly legal. before the patriot acts these crimes still occured but it was illegal and they kept it very quiet. they do not need arrest warrants no proabable cause nothing to arrest you, you then get sent to a prision camp where you are denied trial and interroagted. this happens often with muslims in this countrty, they are routinely arrested with no charges. everyone hates muslims now in this country and they are being denied basic human rights and rounded up and put into camps, just like the japanese were during WW2. these are just a few of the many rights we have lost because of the patriot acts. again if you love the governemnt and its policys these have no affect on you and your happy, just like communits symapahetherzers that benefit from whats going with communism were happy. its the people that disagree that get burned.
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
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Does that include when we are asked by the people or government of that country to intervene?
Pretty bad example...I would love to see 50,000 people get arrested!
I never understood this one...if you aren't doing anything wrong, then they have no reason to bug your home. What are you worried about? If you are breaking the law, then I could see why you would be against this.
All Muslims have been put into camps? Where did you get this information? Maybe you should do some research and post some stats for everyone!
You can still disagree, you just have to use your brain now! I spent 13 years in the military and it is against regs there to badmouth your officers and Government officials, but you could still speak your mind if you use common sense and didn't just spit out things off the top of your head. Make intelligent arguments about what is wrong, not just insults. You mentioned earlier about a protester being arrested for throwing a rock. Well protesting is not against the law, but assault is. See what I mean?
Lina Inverse
後輩
- 29 Apr 2004
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Well, living in the US would be pretty much the last thing I'd ever want 
It probably would be better than living in crisis areas like Iraq, or living in countries with an unproportinal high amount of rude people like Ireland, but that's about it.
So, Japan wins by default. Now that doesn't mean that Japan wouldn't have it's own fair share of problems (every country has, including my own), but it stands in absolutely no comparison to the US
It probably would be better than living in crisis areas like Iraq, or living in countries with an unproportinal high amount of rude people like Ireland, but that's about it.
So, Japan wins by default. Now that doesn't mean that Japan wouldn't have it's own fair share of problems (every country has, including my own), but it stands in absolutely no comparison to the US
Elizabeth
先輩
- 22 Apr 2003
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- 135
That may be, but I've yet to meet a Japanese national actually living in the US who feels the same. Most seem to embrace the greater social and economic freedoms here, increased job opportunities, quality of life and the chance to improve their English. And even among those who do eventually return, it is mostly for personal reasons or to work towards improving their own country. Certainly the Bush administration isn't making these decisions for them like it seems to be for some of it's own citizens.So, Japan wins by default. Now that doesn't mean that Japan wouldn't have it's own fair share of problems (every country has, including my own), but it stands in absolutely no comparison to the US
Keiichi
Hi
- 9 Mar 2003
- 1,023
- 19
That's a pretty bold statement to make. Is this based off of what you've heard about the US or have you actually lived in both Japan and US to base this off of?Lina Inverse said:Well, living in the US would be pretty much the last thing I'd ever want
It probably would be better than living in crisis areas like Iraq, or living in countries with an unproportinal high amount of rude people like Ireland, but that's about it.
So, Japan wins by default. Now that doesn't mean that Japan wouldn't have it's own fair share of problems (every country has, including my own), but it stands in absolutely no comparison to the US
- 10 Apr 2004
- 1,398
- 81
CC1 wrote....
Some fundamental rights that America is (supposed to) give everyone is DUE PROCESS, AND APPROPRIATE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. You can't just search people, detain them, bug them, etc. without going through the appropriate steps. They do this to limit the possibility of abuse of the system and corruption. Without these rules you run the risk of overzealous officials (remember McCarthy?) holding their own personal witch hunts.
If you believe these rules are just, then you should have a problem with the detention of the Afghanis in Guantanamo (sp?) Bay, Cuba by the American government who have been held for years without any charges filed against them. If they're guilty, then file your charges, give them a chance to speak in their defense, and, if they're found guilty, lock `em up. At least then they've been given their due process. I don't like the idea of having a jail off American soil just so that they don't have to follow the rules there.
What about that Portland, OR lawyer who was held because they said his fingerprints matched those found on a bag near the bombing in Spain? Turns out his fingerprints didn't match at all, but they were suspicious of him because his fingerprints were only slightly similar and he had converted to being a Muslim. After being detained for several weeks he was released because there was no link between him and the bombings.
If we give up these rights the entire country could become Guantanamo Bay.
Some fundamental rights that America is (supposed to) give everyone is DUE PROCESS, AND APPROPRIATE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. You can't just search people, detain them, bug them, etc. without going through the appropriate steps. They do this to limit the possibility of abuse of the system and corruption. Without these rules you run the risk of overzealous officials (remember McCarthy?) holding their own personal witch hunts.
If you believe these rules are just, then you should have a problem with the detention of the Afghanis in Guantanamo (sp?) Bay, Cuba by the American government who have been held for years without any charges filed against them. If they're guilty, then file your charges, give them a chance to speak in their defense, and, if they're found guilty, lock `em up. At least then they've been given their due process. I don't like the idea of having a jail off American soil just so that they don't have to follow the rules there.
What about that Portland, OR lawyer who was held because they said his fingerprints matched those found on a bag near the bombing in Spain? Turns out his fingerprints didn't match at all, but they were suspicious of him because his fingerprints were only slightly similar and he had converted to being a Muslim. After being detained for several weeks he was released because there was no link between him and the bombings.
If we give up these rights the entire country could become Guantanamo Bay.
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
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- 93
I suspect that I will get a rash of "attacks" for what I posted earlier. I understand dur process and the such. I am not condoning someone bugging your home without a warrant. I fully see and support that argument as well. However, I also see the argument of the people who feel violated after 9/11. On one side you have people blaming the gov't for not doing enough. Then they attack the officials when they implement changes. America will never be the Utopia that everyone wants. The main reason is that you will never be able to show where one person's rights ends and another begins. There is always a "grey area". That goes for the right to free speech, bear arms, religion, etc... You can make numerous arguments for each!
I agree with your comment that the prisoners at Gitmo should be given their due process. There is no sense holding them without doing so.
to your first question. yes it includes people that are asking or begging us to help them. its simply not worth thousands of soldiers lives to free some people, they can escape there country and move to another if its that bad. obviosuly 50,000 people wouldnt get arrested it was a bad example ill use something smaller. like 30 people get arrested because one of them thows a rock. i wish that you could peacefully protest but thorout american history they have shown us that if they feel there power is threated they will strike. example, kent state shootings, 1870's worker strikes shootings and there are plenty more i cant remember at this time.
to your 3rd question. like i said earlier if you do something they consider "anti-amercian" they will do what they want with you including spy or whatever they want. this has happend to multiple people in this countryu. and obviously protesting isnt illegal but the governement doseant care they will shoot you down when they feel it is nessary. dont start insulting me because your unhappy with what i have to say, if you cannot have an arguemnt without insulting people then its time for you to shut up. america claims it has freedom of speech an liberty and civil rights for anyone but i have yet to see any evidence that supports that claim, from my research it seems just the oppisite.
to your 3rd question. like i said earlier if you do something they consider "anti-amercian" they will do what they want with you including spy or whatever they want. this has happend to multiple people in this countryu. and obviously protesting isnt illegal but the governement doseant care they will shoot you down when they feel it is nessary. dont start insulting me because your unhappy with what i have to say, if you cannot have an arguemnt without insulting people then its time for you to shut up. america claims it has freedom of speech an liberty and civil rights for anyone but i have yet to see any evidence that supports that claim, from my research it seems just the oppisite.
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
- 2,193
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Did I insult you? Hmmmm? I don't think so. Maybe you took something out of context. Let me go back and re read my post...Nope, nowhere in my post did I insult you. Sorry if you thought so, maybe you should go back and re read my previous post. If you still feel like I did, please quote the part that insulted you.
DoctorP
先輩
- 3 Jun 2004
- 2,193
- 93
No, Just as I thought. You mis read my post.
You wrote:
I wrote:
The you in this text refers to the people that disagree with the government or administration as indicated in your post. It was not directed at you personally! Obviously you had already forgotten what you posted. What was the purpose of my quoting it?
