Originally Posted By barboy2 /// LOTS of places that are significantly safer, /// Safer??? Safe from what or whom? Do you mean safe from physical harm?
Originally Posted By DAR Man even singing the National Anthem, Marvin Gaye makes you want to turn the lights down and grab a bottle of champagne.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///I always stand, put my hand over my heart, and sing along/// NOOOOOO.......... paint me as shocked!!!
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Safer???*** Yes, safer. The violent crime rates in America are astronomical.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///The violent crime rates in America are astronomical/// But the USA's aggregate violent crime rate has nothing to do with ***YOUR*** physical safety. For instance I seem to remember that you have a connection to the Boston area, right? And the surrounding areas of Boston tend to be quite affluent, thus far less violence than say something like South Central LA or San Ysidro or inner Oakland. If you were to live in Aspen, Co I just don't see a likely chance of someone sticking a knife in your gut over your wallet. Because the USA is EXTREMELY vast you are not allowed to rely on its overall violent crime rate(yes, there are strict rules for that ). One should be looking at local first and then regional stats. when evaluating personal safety. If you'r walking in Inglewood after a Laker's game at 12 am I see where you might feel a bit uneasy but if you are skiing in Breckinridge why wory so much.
Originally Posted By Mr X Doesn't change the fact that many other countries are, on the average, much safer places no matter WHERE you choose to go. If you're making the argument that one should stick to places of affluence thus improving your odds, I'd counter with asking you what kind of freedom do you think THAT is? Oh, and Boston has plenty of crime and it's not exclusive to the city either.
Originally Posted By barboy2 ///Doesn't change the fact that many other countries are, on the average, much safer places no matter WHERE you choose to go./// Sure, I'll concede as long as you admit that any given risk of violent attack is directly related to where in the USA you are talking about and not the aggregate rate since the place is so huge. What I'm getting at is that when one says "I could never live in the USA because of the crime rate" he is talking foolishly since there are plenty of safe areas, very safe actually.
Originally Posted By Mr X Except that I didn't say "I could never live in the USA", I simply stated that other places are safer. By the way, interestingly the crime rate in Aspen is SKY HIGH, more than double the national median. <a href="http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/co/aspen/crime" target="_blank">http://www.neighborhoodscout.c...en/crime</a> Sure, you probably won't get shanked in the ribs, but you're more likely to be robbed it looks like.
Originally Posted By mawnck >> And Ray Charles sang the best version of America the Beautiful.<< You obviously haven't heard this version. Listen in stereo if at all possible: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEIV0whsrGU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...V0whsrGU</a>
Originally Posted By barboy2 And here I would have thought that Aspen is for the rich and basically free from violent crimes----don't movie stars make their second(or 3rd) homes there? I guess I was way off. OK, OK how about Pleasanton, Ca(East Bay Area) then. Now that place I can attest to as being safe since I live there when I am in the USA
Originally Posted By Mr X No, I was careful to say "not violent crimes" (I think??). Apparently there's tons of theft in Aspen. Whether that's theft of tourists, or house break ins or whatever, I dunno. But it's double the national average, in any case. Where I live, there is virtually no crime in comparison to America. You simply can't argue with THAT! ;p
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Back to the national anthem - I don't think there's any right or wrong answer here. Thankfully, we haven't seen any "You've got to put your hand over your heart and sing along or you're not a real American!" nor any "If you put your hand over your heart and sing along with all that's wrong today, you're not a real American!" Rather, we've seen a lot of "well, I understand why you'd feel that way, but I feel THIS way..." Are you sure we're in WE?
Originally Posted By barboy2 As far a I am concerned anyone who doesn't stand and sing along is not a red blooded American but a 'commie lovin' traitor. Hey Pal, "LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT"
Originally Posted By Labuda ">>But I've never been to me.<< Stop. It. Right. NOW!" Wow, 2oony. Calm down, man. It's not like she tried to get you to watch The Goonies.
Originally Posted By Labuda "Best song titled America-Neil Diamond" That song always makes me proud to be an American. As does our "Star Spangled Banner." Not so much that Lee Greenwood song, though... As for when I hear the SSB, most times if in public I'll put my hand over my heart and quietly sing along at a volume only I can hear. If at home, I'll just remain quiet and not necessarily do anything outwardly to recognize it.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder "As for when I hear the SSB, most times if in public I'll put my hand over my heart and quietly sing along at a volume only I can hear. If at home, I'll just remain quiet and not necessarily do anything outwardly to recognize it." Well, what you do in the privacy of your own home is your business. Except in the bedroom, the most private of places, where the far right GOP (who ostensibly are for much less government, you know, those tea partiers and the like), want to regulate just about everything you might do in there.
