What fresh insanity is this?

[camberiu]

Save your political views for another thread. Brainwashing kids in school ANYWHERE is ridiculous , and glad to see someone , be it politicians or parents trying to do something about it. That is what this thread is about. Not he US , Bill of Rights , or the US Constitution. Please vote in the US election. Then your voice will be heard where you voice you rants.

Oh, I see. Bashing Argentina is fair game. Bashing the US is...well, save any criticism for the elections. Got it, Just added you to my ignore list.

 

[nicoenarg]

Oh, I see. Bashing Argentina is fair game. Bashing the US is...well, save any criticism for the elections. Got it, Just added you to my ignore list.

Dude this is Buenos Aires expats forum. Its not about who you can bash and who you can't. In fact if you want to write about the US, there is a "World Politics" section.

Surely you understand that.

I don't get this need people feel to criticize "X" country just because Argentina is criticized. I mean, this is afterall a forum mostly populated by people living in Argentina, is it not? That is the reason we talk about Argentina.

 

[PhilipDT]

Oh, I see. Bashing Argentina is fair game. Bashing the US is...well, save any criticism for the elections. Got it, Just added you to my ignore list.

What? Talking about Argentina (and buenos aires) is what this forum is about. There are millions of forums out there if you want to talk about the pros and cons of the USA.

 

[cbonanni]

So cambiru,

How many kids do you have ? And , ANYWHERE , they may be , do you want the government coming into the school to preach/teach/brainwash whatever they wish ? I have three kids , all schooled in the United States , and NEVER , EVER , has any political body or organization ever come into to the school to BRAINWASH the kids to believe what they say. I will bash Argentina , the USA or anyone i feel that needs to be bashed. I am an adult , and will never , ever ,BRAINWASH children into believing anything. We are all ( I truly hope) intelligent adults who can make their own decisions and choices based on the information they are given.
!!

 

[camberiu]

Dude this is Buenos Aires expats forum. Its not about who you can bash and who you can't. In fact if you want to write about the US, there is a "World Politics" section.

Surely you understand that.

I don't get this need people feel to criticize "X" country just because Argentina is criticized. I mean, this is afterall a forum mostly populated by people living in Argentina, is it not? That is the reason we talk about Argentina.

Yes man, I understand that. However, what was the context of my initial comment? People were horrified by the news of the indoctrination in the schools and wondering how Argentina tolerate such madness, as if this was the horrors of the horrors? I just pointed out that, despite the fact that the news was indeed outrageous, Argentina does not have the monopoly on madness. Yes, Argentina has a lot of weird shit going on. But people make it sound like everywhere else was normal and dandy while people here are batshit crazy.
However, once I point out some the idiosyncrasies of American society, people start climbing on their horses and getting offended.

I am as guilty as anyone of sometimes coming down really hard on Argentina. And I think I am wrong when I do that too. It is understandable. Hell, sometimes I get frustrated with the way things are here and just want to vent too. But I think it is important to keep things in perspective. Yes, indoctrination in schools suck. So does having a Soviet sounding Dept. Of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act. An Argentinian might be as horrified about those things as we are of political indoctrination on their schools. You and your political views might have no issue with the Patriot Act or the Dept. Of Homeland Security. Many Argentinians also see nothing wrong with the "La Campora". Who is right?
I just find it weird sometimes that we can judge them so harshly while forgetting that a lot of the things we do in the US might seem weird or outright tyrannical to them. As an example, most Argentinians have a real hard time understanding how Americans can deal so naturally and calmly with institutionalized torture by the US government. For them, who dealt with years of military dictatorships and brutal state sponsored torture, it is very hard to comprehend how Americans in general can so easily tolerate and approve such practices by our government.
This is just one example, there are many others. I think we should just relax a bit and at least try to be a little less judgmental towards them. After all, our society is less than perfect too.

 

[camberiu]

What? Talking about Argentina (and buenos aires) is what this forum is about. There are millions of forums out there if you want to talk about the pros and cons of the USA.

Yes, you are right of course, my apologies. However, I cannot help but wonder why this "take this somewhere else" phrase only pops up when the topics are the US shortcomings. Talking about Fighter jets, video games, Santiago or any other thing off topic never brings up this kind of response. But once yo criticize the US, the invitations to go somewhere else seem to become very frequent for some reason. Oh well, I've said my peace anyways.

 

[cbonanni]

Ok. I said if before. keep your US political views on another thread. If you are not happy with the USA , why are you in Buenos Aires ? Vote , if you loose , suck it up. I will not regress into a US political rant , but , does anyone remember george bush ? I am judgmental towards bush and his WARS. In a most negative way.

Ok I have taken the bait !!! Please shut up and vote !!

 

[nicoenarg]

Yes man, I understand that. However, what was the context of my initial comment? People were horrified by the news of the indoctrination in the schools and wondering how Argentina tolerate such madness, as if this was the horrors of the horrors? I just pointed out that, despite the fact that the news was indeed outrageous, Argentina does not have the monopoly on madness. Yes, Argentina has a lot of weird shit going on. But people make it sound like everywhere else was normal and dandy while people here are batshit crazy.
However, once I point out some the idiosyncrasies of American society, people start climbing on their horses and getting offended.

I am as guilty as anyone of sometimes coming down really hard on Argentina. And I think I am wrong when I do that too. It is understandable. Hell, sometimes I get frustrated with the way things are here and just want to vent too. But I think it is important to keep things in perspective. Yes, indoctrination in schools suck. So does having a Soviet sounding Dept. Of Homeland Security and the Patriot Act. An Argentinian might be as horrified about those things as we are of political indoctrination on their schools. You and your political views might have no issue with the Patriot Act or the Dept. Of Homeland Security. Many Argentinians also see nothing wrong with the "La Campora". Who is right?
I just find it weird sometimes that we can judge them so harshly while forgetting that a lot of the things we do in the US might seem weird or outright tyrannical to them. As an example, most Argentinians have a real hard time understanding how Americans can deal so naturally and calmly with institutionalized torture by the US government. For them, who dealt with years of military dictatorships and brutal state sponsored torture, it is very hard to comprehend how Americans in general can so easily tolerate and approve such practices by our government.
This is just one example, there are many others. I think we should just relax a bit and at least try to be a little less judgmental towards them. After all, our society is less than perfect too.

I think that might just be your perception. When people criticize something in Argentina that exacerbates them, they are basically just criticising Argentina compared to nothing else but Argentina. I mentioned Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and the only reason I brought them up was to talk about dictatorships, that's it. Probably shouldn't have done it but at least I don't go railing against Saudi Arabia all random just because someone is sick and tired of Argentine bullshit.

And like I've said before, just because there are ills in other places doesn't mean people should just lower their standards and get along. Its like saying "We should let the rapist go because there are others out there who not only rape but murder as well!"

If there is something wrong in Argentina, it should be criticized as much as one feels like. And there are things wrong with other countries too sure, use an appropriate forum.

 

[earlyretirement]

Yes, Argentina has a lot of weird shit going on. But people make it sound like everywhere else was normal and dandy while people here are batshit crazy.
.

I don't even think people are saying that "people" in Argentina are batsh*t crazy. Mostly that CFK is batsh*t crazy!

I remember a few years ago some of the posters on this board used to post how great CFK was. Ironically, I don't see those people posting anymore....

 

[Joe]

The idea of indoctrinating kids is despicable and people should rise up and condemn it, oppose it with all they can muster.

At the same time, the USA recently passed the NDAA that allows the INDEFINITE detention of US citizens WITHOUT a trial - and barely a peep was heard from the general public (Google NDAA 2012).

What's going on in Argentina is disgraceful and fascist, what's going on in the USA is also disgraceful and fascist. But which is worse having your kid brainwashed for a day in school or learning that he was thrown in some military dungeon never to be seen again?

So my fellow Americans, it comes across as a little sanctimonious when you lecture Argentines about their crazy government and apathetic electorate.