The easiest way of assessing whether the United States would have been better off without its revolution is to look at those English-speaking countries that rejected the American Revolution and retained the monarchy, particularly Canada, which experienced an influx of American refugees after the British defeat. The U.S. performance should also be assessed against the ideals the new country set for itself — namely, advancing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The new republic started advancing life and liberty by keeping a substantial part of its population enslaved. (This, at least, proves the frequent British put-down that Americans don’t have a sense of irony.) By contrast, in British-controlled Canada, the abolition of slavery began almost 20 years before the War of 1812, sometimes called America’s “Second Revolution.”? A good number of free blacks fought with the British against the United States in that conflict, even participating in the burning of Washington. And if, as some scholars argue, the Civil War was the unfinished business of the American Revolution, then Americans — like the Russians — paid a very high human cost for their revolutions.
The British did outlaw slavery before the United States did. For sure. But then again, the British were the ones who introduced slavery to the American colonies in the first place. Hooray for Monarchy!
MediumTex wrote:
Violence is a core American value. Our fascination with all aspects of violence is probably something that most Canadians will never understand.
MediumTex wrote:
Violence is a core American value. Our fascination with all aspects of violence is probably something that most Canadians will never understand.
Except maybe for the hockey fans.
Excellent point.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
MediumTex wrote:
Just look at our war machine.
Canada could never do that.
Violence is a core American value. Our fascination with all aspects of violence is probably something that most Canadians will never understand.
A people as violent as us could never live as anything but a sovereign nation.
I was just perusing the Mecca of intellect that is the imdb discussion board for the movie 'Deadfall', which made me come back here.
From IMDB ( I added the boldface type ):
The Boxing Lead Up To Fight Was Awsome
by Viper998 (Thu Feb 28 2013 11:28:44)
You just knew that being a pro boxer and badass himself when he finally got his hands on him hed kick his ass. You want a longer fight scene but it was more realistic with his training he'd demolish him.
Re: The Boxing Lead Up To Fight Was Awsome
by bootblack987 (Mon Mar 11 2013 19:31:57)
You want a longer fight scene...
Are you American by any chance?
Re: The Boxing Lead Up To Fight Was Awsome
by Viper998 (Fri Mar 15 2013 04:18:33)
Canadian unfortunately lol.
Re: The Boxing Lead Up To Fight Was Awsome
by bootblack987 (Sat Mar 16 2013 12:08:50)
Okay, hang on while I take my foot out of my mouth... ;-)
Re: The Boxing Lead Up To Fight Was Awsome
by Hollastar (Wed Mar 27 2013 20:30:13)
UPDATED Wed Mar 27 2013 20:30:37 Lol As an American I'm glad you took responsibility for that forced stereotype.
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn/
your hands are cold but your lips are warm _ . /
