Contemporary Young American Culture

[kingblaze84]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/05/us-targeted-killings-eric-holder_n_1320515.html

U.S. Can Kill American Citizens Without Trial: Eric Holder

--Just a small example of what I am talking about.

 

[janklow]

I criticize the disgusting policies of Israel all the time. I've also criticized the sexist nature of many Islamic nations, including many in the Middle East.

i grant you the Israel part, but then given that it's very easy to make that about the US... and really, the sexist nature of Islamic nations? i am sure you have, but this seems like something that happened once.

...and then, the rest of the post is oddly about America once again. i think i wanted to know when you were railing against the immorality of a specific nation that's NOT America?

ps. when considering the morality of America, i don't find it odd that a selfish nation that is the most powerful nation has the biggest footprint of being a jerk. what i DO find odd is thinking that America's influence makes it more immoral than all the other countries out there.

 

[kingblaze84]

I criticize the disgusting policies of Israel all the time. I've also criticized the sexist nature of many Islamic nations, including many in the Middle East.

i grant you the Israel part, but then given that it's very easy to make that about the US... and really, the sexist nature of Islamic nations? i am sure you have, but this seems like something that happened once.

...and then, the rest of the post is oddly about America once again. i think i wanted to know when you were railing against the immorality of a specific nation that's NOT America?

ps. when considering the morality of America, i don't find it odd that a selfish nation that is the most powerful nation has the biggest footprint of being a jerk. what i DO find odd is thinking that America's influence makes it more immoral than all the other countries out there.

What difference does it make how often I've criticized a nation that isn't America? You already have admitted I've criticized Israel, so there you go. In either case this topic is talking about YOUNG AMERICAN culture. Let's try to stick to the subject Janklow....if it bothers you that I criticize America so much, just know I have given America much credit for many things. Americans for the most part are good people, I say this very safely. It's not all bad here, but American govt is crooked to the core and based on what I am hearing politicians say these days, it's likely a war with Iran will take place sometime this year. That will be a disaster for the world, and as usual, America is always first in line to sign up for bloodshed and trillions spent on war while cutting back on help for the middle and working class. Sickening.

 

[kingblaze84]

Reason why I love Occupy Wall Street.......one of the great things about this movement is that so many young people are in it....
http://www.presstv.com/detail/229985.html

Occupy AIPAC demonstrators have held a rally outside the pro-Israel lobby group’s annual conference in Washington to voice their opposition to potential war on Iran.

The protesters, part of the nationwide Occupy movement, held placards reading “No War on Iran” and “They Lied about Iraq, They’re Lying about Iran” as they rallied outside the Washington Convention Center on the first day of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on Sunday.

“After 10 years of war, the American people need a foreign policy that focuses on diplomacy, not military intervention,” said Medea Benjamin, one of the protesters.

“We are rallying to demand that our current leaders not take us down the same patch as past leaders did in Iraq,” Benjamin said.

The protesters also called on US President Barack Obama to reject Israel’s push for war on Iran.

However, while addressing the conference, Obama recalled a number of occasions in which Washington had stood by Tel Aviv no matter the atrocities it had committed, adding that “When the chips are down I have Israel’s back.”

In addition, the protesters slammed the atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, calling for Tel Aviv to end its occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Protesters have vowed to remain outside the convention center until the last day of the conference on Tuesday.

 

[kingblaze84]

Reason why I love Occupy Wall Street.......one of the great things about this movement is that so many young people are in it....
http://www.presstv.com/detail/229985.html

Occupy AIPAC demonstrators have held a rally outside the pro-Israel lobby group’s annual conference in Washington to voice their opposition to potential war on Iran.

The protesters, part of the nationwide Occupy movement, held placards reading “No War on Iran” and “They Lied about Iraq, They’re Lying about Iran” as they rallied outside the Washington Convention Center on the first day of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on Sunday.

“After 10 years of war, the American people need a foreign policy that focuses on diplomacy, not military intervention,” said Medea Benjamin, one of the protesters.

“We are rallying to demand that our current leaders not take us down the same patch as past leaders did in Iraq,” Benjamin said.

The protesters also called on US President Barack Obama to reject Israel’s push for war on Iran.

However, while addressing the conference, Obama recalled a number of occasions in which Washington had stood by Tel Aviv no matter the atrocities it had committed, adding that “When the chips are down I have Israel’s back.”

In addition, the protesters slammed the atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, calling for Tel Aviv to end its occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Protesters have vowed to remain outside the convention center until the last day of the conference on Tuesday.

Here's some really irony - I've seen you posting within this site for years & you are far from being disadvantaged....& you've got hard working parents that love you and have provided for you.....IE instilled values and work ethic etc. BTW so Y are playing both sides against the middle and playing the victim. Imo you're a sniveling little two faced punk and if those who are really so bad off knew this...they would probably run you off or worse? Oh how's that NEW job of yours working out?

My parents have provided a lot for me and I am forever grateful for them (although I give more credit to my mother for raising me right). My new job worked out good but I am moving on to an even better paying job soon. I support Occupy Wall Street because they are standing up against the corrupt and disgusting political system in place in America. American govt is a disaster at this point and has interests strictly beholden to the rich and military industrial complex. Occupy Wall Street isn't a perfect movement, but many young and old people have joined this beautiful movement because we know something is wrong with the system. I will support it with every ounce of my being, and if that bothers you, join an anti-Occupy Wall Street movement. For now, I will march with my brothers and sisters in the movement and work to get change done. If change doesn't happen, it's ok, I can go to sleep happy knowing I tried.

 

[janklow]

What difference does it make how often I've criticized a nation that isn't America?

i've said this before: it undermines the argument if you only make the argument about the US when it applies more widely.

You already have admitted I've criticized Israel, so there you go.

i think i also noticed that this is not a true example of expanding the scope of the complaint.

In either case this topic is talking about YOUNG AMERICAN culture.

a fair point, but at the same time, my position that saying "only America is turbo-immoral" is wrong applies to ANYONE making that argument.

-based on what I am hearing politicians say these days, it's likely a war with Iran will take place sometime this year.

we've also been hearing this claim for something like six years, so...

 

[Plutarch]

Sex and all sexual relations are reserved for married partners (male and female). This is the case in Judaism and Christianity also, I believe. I am not saying me or anyone else living is fit to judge anyone else, and we all do stray from our paths, but abstinence (until marriage) and piety are elements of walking the right path and what have you.

I can agree with you here. Sex, like many things in life, should be done in moderation and with prudence. And so sex exclusively for marriage is ideal for many reasons. However, as you insinuated, life is a lot more complicated and we can never truly be perfect judges nor should we try to. If you throw in the real-life forces of temptation, pressure, hormones, and freedom (which imo is a bad and good thing), then you can clearly see how the ideal approach to "morality" is extremely difficult. Thus, you have the current state of "decadence" in American that is not only repulsive but in many ways only logical.

Even in terms of secular "morality" , chastity is a desired trait.

For women, yes (even though men may act upon the opposite idea). For men though? I'm not sure. And from there, we can get into double standards, but I'd rather not.

Anyways, what I am trying to get an opinion on is what is up with America's culture? I dunno if it's just me, but it's like everywhere I look, including colleges, workplaces, streets, television, and music especially, everything is so sexual. Is it just my skewed perspective? I am pretty good with noticing nuances in peoples' actions which speak for them (actions speak louder than words and what not). I don't mean this as in I judge people or anything, it's just that if you meet someone with a swatsika tatted on their temple, then you already know what's good. So in that sense, I am an observer (not a creeper though...lol). It's like everyone is jus tryin to sex everyone.

You've either lived a sheltered life, or I'm misunderstanding you. Because sex is as American as apple pie. Whether it's used to sell products or for pleasure or for money, it's been used very successfully because human beings are sexual creatures. The media or whoever obviosuly knows this and just exploits this fact. Look at repressed societies where immoral sex is forbidden and I bet you that you can find all instances of it. It will just be hidden underground.

Is it just my age group?

I would agree. That much of it is about young people. Young people have thier hormones, sociability (like college!), freedom (like college!), and it's become the norm to have casual sex so there you go. Not only that, but I believe that young people are easy targets to be influenced by corporations, the media, etc. Older people tend to have more stable lives and even if they don't, they can go about things in a more sound and mature way. Or hopefully they can at least. Though some are still stuck in their young days or in immaturity. Or that's how I see it anyway.

Power is also a key factor. Those with power, regardless of age, are more prone to temptation simply because they either can afford it or they beleive they are above morality. Just ask Tiger Woods.

It can't be, because there is so much adultery also.

Yeah, but people commit adultery for other less "immoral" reasons too. Such as choosing the wrong spouse but not having the courage to get out of it. Or being unsatisfied. Or even just being bored or having a mid-life crisis. Or being stupid-drunk. I wouldn't say that these are as "bad" as commiting adultery just because you wanted it that badly.

Adulterers pretty much have their own little niche communities (seriously).

If you're referring to swingers then I don't know. I would guess that many swingers don't see themselves as adulterers because in their eyes they may see it as a lifestyle compatible with monagamy and something that can even help thier marriage. But I don't know.

Search any recent divorce rates or trends, and they are ridiculous. Teenagers on drugs having unprotected (on top of it all) sex. Young dudes sniffin pills. So much alcoholism also. Its so disgusting at times, and the innocence of a child is just so much more pure when you think about all this. I hope I didn't get too far off, but just droppin some real thoughts, whatchu guys think?

This is nothing new and shouldn't be shocking. And let's not exxagerate. We know that not all young people are like this or are that extreme. But I think that you're very right in saying that this is a culture. And we know all how powerful cultures can be.

But I don't buy the whole "innocence of a child" idea. Children can be just as deviant in their own ways. They just graduate to bigger things when they get older. It's all human nature.