Why does America lead the world?

[statsman]

As for your question, in my opinion, yes. If you're born in one country, that's your nationality, regardless of whether or not you change your citizenship. There's nothing you can do to alter the fact that you were born in one particular place as opposed to another.

Having said that, I know plenty of Canadians who'd disagree, in part so that they can claim the telephone as a Canadian invention, as opposed to one made by a Scot who happened to be living in Canada at the time.

The question of where Bell invented the phone is a toss up. Americans claim he invented while living in Boston.
He did get a US patent for applying for a Canadian one.

 

[statsman]

Is the UK not part of 'the West' now, then? I grew up using 'jumper' for what North Americans call a 'sweater'.

The reference was to N American English and the fact that "jumper" is a long out moded term here but that Japanese who learn English in Japan are still taught this (and other somewhat dated terms).
I am not responsible for how the Founders use the language.

 

[statsman]

Have you checked out the naturalisation process in Canada? Would be interesting to see what pledges etc are required and whether you agree with them.

You are required to swear allegience (sp) to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada (and some other places as well) and to her lawful successors.

 

[Alc]

The question of where Bell invented the phone is a toss up. Americans claim he invented while living in Boston.
He did get a US patent for applying for a Canadian one.

Yes, I heard that.

He could have been living on the moon at the time, though. It was still Scottish ingenuity that came up with the idea.

 

[statsman]

Yes, I heard that.

He could have been living on the moon at the time, though. It was still Scottish ingenuity that came up with the idea.

Silly me, all these years I thought is was Bell ingenuity.

As I stated off the top, I was not trying to start an agruement, just trying to get some reaction to the question.

 

[Alc]

The reference was to N American English and the fact that "jumper" is a long out moded term here but that Japanese who learn English in Japan are still taught this (and other somewhat dated terms).

If they're learning English, not American English, then the term isn't 'dated' in the slightest.

 

[dan-cat]

You are required to swear allegience (sp) to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada (and some other places as well) and to her lawful successors.

Well there you go Alc. Shouldn't be too much trouble for you after all.

 

[statsman]

If they're learning English, not American English, then the term isn't 'dated' in the slightest.

But if they are teaching the Japanese fella English so he can help run the Toyota plant in Ontario you would think they would teach him the Canadian idiom. For example, it is spelled "LEAFS" in certain situations.

When was the last time you opened your paper and saw an ad for jumpers on sale?

 

[Alc]

Well there you go Alc. Shouldn't be too much trouble for you after all.

Unfortunately, I didn't care about here when I live in the UK and my feelings haven't changed much since leaving. It's a bit like swearing allegiance to the Tower of London - they both get tourists into the UK, but do little of any other value.

 

[Alc]

When was the last time you opened your paper and saw an ad for jumpers on sale?

Saturday (my parents are visiting the newborn and brought some UK papers over with them).
I get your point, it was just the initial comment that 'the West' doesn't use the term.

 

[puffer317]

Everyone attacks the leader

I'm always intrigued by the double standard. When we intervene in one country (Iraq) we're at fault because "we want to take over the world." When we don't intervene in another country (Zimbabwe) we're at fault for what happens there too. Any other country in history that had as much power relative to the rest of the world as the United States does today would have used that power a lot more ruthlessly than the US does. I challenge anyone to find a world power in history that has been more benevolent than the United States. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it's the best system the world has seen to date.

 

[Alc]

I'm always intrigued by the double standard. When we intervene in one country (Iraq) we're at fault because "we want to take over the world." When we don't intervene in another country (Zimbabwe) we're at fault for what happens there too. Any other country in history that had as much power relative to the rest of the world as the United States does today would have used that power a lot more ruthlessly than the US does. I challenge anyone to find a world power in history that has been more benevolent than the United States. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it's the best system the world has seen to date.

I wouldn't bother. This 'debate' has been done to death on other threads.

 

[puffer317]

The beginning of this thread was about this stuff. Sorry to get worked up, but I've come here a few times for work and have run into bash America day.

 

[Alc]

The beginning of this thread was about this stuff. Sorry to get worked up, but I've come here a few times for work and have run into bash America day.

Today, I don't think the States have had that much of a mention.

Although, you could pick a thread from the Watercooler or Politics forums at random and stand a good chance of hitting some US bashing. Since it's more often that not from the same posters, you could always just block their posts and save yourelf the stress.

 

[puffer317]

Sorry. I didn't realize it was from many days ago. I'm new at all this. I've been to a bunch of forums for information recently and keep seeing headings like that so I finally said something back. Too little too late I guess.

 

[Alc]

Sorry. I didn't realize it was from many days ago. I'm new at all this. I've been to a bunch of forums for information recently and keep seeing headings like that so I finally said something back. Too little too late I guess.

No apology required

Start a post along the lines of 'Milk chocolate or Dark - which tastes better?' and, unless it fizzles out after a short time, it will eventually be turned around to an argument about whether the US is the root of all modern evils or if Europe should be eternally grateful that we're not "all speaking German".

 

[puffer317]

Thanks, I almost logged off, but you're right. There's always some bad milk somewhere. As long as i've got you here, do you know of a site like this that has more to do with excel/access integration? Or maybe a book?

 

[Alc]

Thanks, I almost logged off, but you're right. There's always some bad milk somewhere. As long as i've got you here, do you know of a site like this that has more to do with excel/access integration? Or maybe a book?

To be honest, I've found everything I've needed on this site, so i haven't looked any further.
I use Access to import data from Excel sheets and to create various reports as spreadsheets. It sometimes takes a bit of searching, but there's usually one or two threads on whatever subject you're having problems with.

 

[ColinEssex]

However, because I'd lived in South Africa during the apartheid era I was automatically pigeon holed as a racist by a great number of people.

That'll be because most white South Africans were racist to the extreme.

Col

 

[ColinEssex]

The question of where Bell invented the phone is a toss up. Americans claim he invented while living in Boston.
He did get a US patent for applying for a Canadian one.

I heard Thomas Edison invented the phone.

Col