Varjo wrote:1) just because you _think_ something doesn't make it true
A quote which applies to yourself concerning #3 below.
Varjo wrote:2) hyenas are no more dirty or smelling than, let's say, lions. People should be educated about this very common misconception.
All animals in the wild are dirty and smelly, although some like aardwolves and waterbucks stink more due to oils/glands. I've probably watched more hyenas (brown and spotted) in the wild than most people here and nothing I've seen contradicts the common perceptions that they are scavengers of carrion under most circumstances. Different sources will claim different ratios of scavenging to hunting for hyenas and I don't know which to believe. They will fight off vultures and jackals, but almost always flee from lions. This isn't a bad thing, it's just where they fit into the natural order. Lion's will certainly eat carrion if they find it, but they generally kill their own prey, probably because they both can and need to. I believe the spotted hyena has the stronger jaw and bite strength than the lion, better for crushing thigh bones of large animals and eating the marrow.
Varjo wrote:3) americans aren't exactly the brightest and most educated people in the world
For a country of almost 300,000,000 that tries to educate _every single_ person equally well, they have no equal. They don't channel students at an early age like the Germans, they don't fail to educate large percentages of the populace like India, and they don't ride their kids in incredibly stressful achievement-oriented environments like some Asian nations. Sure, students in Europe learn more languages, but that is a product of their geography (and the fact that they should learn English to increase their chance of success in the world today.) A Belgian can take a short day trip that encompasses four different languages. Most Americans could drive over 1,000,000 square miles of the continent without running into anything more than a different accent. Most Americans have almost nothing to gain by speaking another language.
Varjo wrote:(no, I'm _not_ telling you guys are dumb even though your presidents are and the last election were quite a farce).
Show me the government of any country that isn't riddling with nitwits.
The last American election pitted a moron against an idiot as far as the general consensus went. The idiot lost and has done nothing to change his image. The moron won and has proven himself less moronic and far more capable that previously thought. _Too_ capable for those hoping to not have war in Iraq.
Bush is not who I wanted to be in charge of America, but I believe the right man won.
Varjo wrote:And as sad as it is, this leads to the situation that in Europe, United States and americans are nothing but a big joke. And dangerous joke too, since too much power in the hands of hypocritical and arrogant nation eventually leads to serious trouble as we have seen many times before and it seems we are about to witness that to happen again quite soon.
Even canadians make fun of you because you don't seem to know a damn thing about the world outside u.s.
I can say for certain that such opinion is not unilaterally shared by all non-Americans.
America has more influence on the economy and culture of the world than any country ever has in the history of this planet. Other nations have been able to enjoy a semi-peaceful existence amid a world more riddled with devastating weapons than ever before because of America since they built up during WWII.
But now the U.S. finds itself at a precipice. The future of America as the dominant world superpower could be decided in the next six months.
If Iraq is building weapons of mass destruction and is not stopped now, those weapons will find their way into terrorist hands to be deployed against America. The potential damage could cripple that country and devastate the world economy, not to mention the resulting loss of personal freedoms everywhere as countries enact measures to protect themselves against terrorists.
Now if America takes military action against Iraq (especially without UN agreement) and either finds proof they were not building weapons or cannot find proof they were, then America would lose a tremendous amount of "face" in international affairs. They would be brought down in power and prestige close to the level of other influential nations...they would no longer be a superpower in politics.
And finally, if this situation draws out for months on end without going anywhere, America will lose as well. Russia and China know this and is why they are pushing for 'more time for the inspectors'. No great harm will come to Russia or China if America is attacked, so stalling for time is a win-win situation for them.
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Oh, I forgot Falcon, my favourite bird. 