>Terry,
>
>>>>I missed any message that claimed the U.S. bailed Europe out of charity. That was never the case. I will agree that the U.S. did not suffer to the same extent that Europe did during WWII. After all, the battle was not raged in our homes. It was not our war until we were attacked. While Americans did NOT want a war, we were not 'dragged into war' after two years. We went to war with Japan first after Pearl Harbor and then Germany declared war on US midmonth. Up until then, it was not our war and most Americans saw it that way. There is NO denying U.S. contribution once the U.S. joined the fight. What I resent is the belittling tone towards the U.S. in your message Walter when it comes to WWII.
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>>>Well, I might feel belittled too, when I hear arguments that we should be loyal to anyone who helped us in the past and ensured us freedom expect us not to raise any critisism at all. And yet that is the tone towards my critisism. In fact I think friends should be critical, but supportive.
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>>But all you EVER do is crticicise them!
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>It might come accros that way (and I know it is), but that is not the intention. Giving compliments seems to be harder than to be critical, esspecially in these times where there we seem to take the positive for granted and really hate other aspects which are comming to us in large quantities.

Look. If you want to say to America "You're wrong in doing what you're doing in Iraq", there's been reams written on it, and I guess a lot of Americans would put their hands up and agree.

If you say that about Vietnam, I'm not so sure; I see that as a genuine wish to stop the spread of the evil that is that style of communism (as opposed to the ideal of it). Same same for Korea.

But you made the sweeping criticism that the US just doesn't learn, always wants to fight, while the sage grandfather Europe just looks on tutting and shaking its head at its wayward great nephew. Never mind the fact that the great nephew was around chasing the burglars out of his house (albeit after they'd also tried the US house). That's just a load of tripe.

On top of this, I get the sense that you're sitting over there looking disapprovingly at EVERYTHING that the US does, firing off the odd salvo at regular intervals - you're the wise old European yourself, and it just isn't true.

Now, you can critcise your friends - OK - but if you do nought but pick on them then you're going to lose them - maybe make enemies.

Nuff said.

Terry

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>>>And what it makes it more embarraging is no-one here mentiones here that The netherlands was liberated by the Canadians, yet we talk the dutch should thank the US and not mention Canada at all, in fact indirectly belittling the rest of the allied forces.
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>>No-one says you should kow-tow to the Americans. Maybe Canada DID liberate the Netherlands, but they couldn't have done it on their own, without the support of all the allies in the common fight, at their back so to speak. And it's just a case of who was appointed what region to tackle. It could just as easily have been the Poles.
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>Yes, it could.