Comments on: Americanism 101

Weekly Standard: We Are Americans By Choice, Not Birth

[rudy654-2009]

From Human Rights Watch regarding Singapore:

Singapore opposition leader Dr. Chee Soon Juan is being arbitrarily detained for exercising his right to free expression and should be immediately and unconditionally released, Human Rights Watch said today.

"Once again, the Singaporean government has reacted to public criticism by jailing the critic," said Brad Adams, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. "Dr. Chee should be released immediately, before his health deteriorates further."

"It%u2019s as if Singapore%u2019s draconian restrictions on free speech apply to Dr. Chee%u2019s doctors," said Adams. "The government seems to think that the less that anyone other than the relevant authorities know, the easier it would be to contain public attention to the message he carried. But a vibrant outspoken civil society is just what the doctor should order for Singapore."
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/12/08/singap14792.htm

[rudy654-2009]

Excerpts from Amnesty International regarding Singapore's human rights record for 2005:

"However, a broad array of restrictive laws remained in place, curtailing the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly."

"Despite an apparent decrease in the number of executions, Singapore continued to have the highest rate of execution per capita in the world."

"strict government controls on civil society organizations and the press continued to curb freedom of expression and were an obstacle to the independent monitoring of human rights."

"The ISA violates the right to a fair and public trial and the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law."

"At least four conscientious objectors to military service were imprisoned in 2004, and 20 others continued to serve prison sentences...There is no alternative civilian service in practice for conscientious objectors to military service in Singapore."

[rudy654-2009]

"From where do you get your information? Singapore does not let any religious doctrine to influence its' laws. Since there are roughly equal numbers of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians that make up Singapore, the government actually very carefully crafts its laws to be religion neutral."

Please follow the link I gave you. I have known for some time that Singapore doesn't completely allow freedom of conscience and that religious freedom is not complete, regardless of what you think. I'm sure that you are seeing some positive things, and I'm glad that you're pleased. However, it is not all beautiful roses as you are trying to paint it.

If you don't believe me, then check out Amnesty International's report on this country's human rights record.

http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/sgp-summary-eng

[brianbwb-2009]

to rudy654,

From where do you get your information? Singapore does not let any religious doctrine to influence its' laws. Since there are roughly equal numbers of Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians that make up Singapore, the government actually very carefully crafts its laws to be religion neutral.

They do allow and indeed encourage the members of the respective religions to follow their respective tenets, Muslims can follow Sharia if they want, but even they are not forced to under law.

I find rather than from government meddling, Singaporeans tend to be self-censoring by nature, and somewhat fearful of taking even perfectly legal risks. As it still is a young country, they still have memories of the country's birth, when the government established power by silencing opposition. Even though this has not happened in the memory of the new generation, and government is actively encouraging new thinking, old habits die hard, the lack of willingness to embrace new risks and ideas is often blamed on the government, but is more often a result of a Chinese named concept called "kiasu" (afraid to lose, afraid to be left out, afraid to be non conforming)

Like I said, come see for yourself, rather than believe lies told to you by those with nefarious agendas.

[rudy654-2009]

I invite you to come to Singapore and see for yourself how it can be done right, or to a place like Indonesia, where they struggle with ethnic division, but the direction is plainly towards unity, rather than division, and also see how you have been lied to regarding Islam.
Posted by brianbwb at 12:07 AM : Jul 01, 2007

I'm sorry, but reading your praises of a country that is not a respecter of conscience, and with great hypocrisy allows Islam's Sharia law to influence women's rights, well..what can I say? There are far better countries in this regard than Singapore. Personally, I wouldn't set foot in a country that meddles in everything you think or do.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2005/51529.htm

[brianbwb-2009]

to janem4, and monkfellow,

I invite you to come to Singapore and see for yourself how it can be done right, or to a place like Indonesia, where they struggle with ethnic division, but the direction is plainly towards unity, rather than division, and also see how you have been lied to regarding Islam.

I am not a Muslim, but majority Muslim countries like Indonesia (by the way, the country with the largest population of Muslims in the world) and Malaysia still treat me with respect, because I treat them so, and religion is no impediment to my ability to make friends and do business.

In fact, the only reason I contemplate returning to America at all is to help in any movement that will impeach and hold the Bush administration responsible for crimes against humanity, before some future despot (or even the current one) uses recent precedents and tactics to try to solve America's "race problem", which would affect my family members who are still there.

[brianbwb-2009]

to janem4, and monkfellow,

I am currently living in Singapore, after a decade in Indonesia and time before that in Holland, My career has blessed me with the opportunity to know different cultures and see most countries in the world, including such places as Mongolia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, most of western Europe, and parts of Eastern europe, and many Afrucan countries.

So many don't have certain conveniences like cable TV, or such, but some, like Singapore, where 90% of Singaporeans own their own home are more modern and convenient than any place in the US that someone less wealthy than Bush can live.

Most of the more successful countries like Singapore have enacted and strictly enforce anti discrimination laws to give all ethnic groups a voice in government, and a fair share of the economy.

Even among those who haven't, I, as a "Black" man, have been shown more respect and given more opportunities to achieve my dreams than ever could be imagined in America for a "Black" man.

The problem with America is she likes not only to colonize others, but she also likes to export her racist attitudes, so many times I have been told "You aren't like we thought at all, we were at first afraid because you know, we see on TV...,"
Now I am having contracts canceled because former associates are afraid to openly associate with Americans of any stripe, current US foreign policy has made such very dangerous.

[bennyblack1]

I agree that we should be teaching and demanding that students learn civics. It is certainly a down trodden tradition that many don't understand is important we hold up. Hence, the Constitution and its amendments become plaques on a wall, antique art in a gallery, a gadget in a wax museum for preservation. It is interesting to note, that Jews did the same thing to the scriptures in the Old Testament days. They wore them on their clothing, they hung them from the curls in their hair and beard, and wrote them on their doorposts. The bottom line is, it only became an excuse not to actually read and teach the scriptures since they actually wore them as clothing and used them as decoration. They forgot their heritage. So, the United States is doing the same. The Constitution hangs on every wall in the government buildings, displayed as art, and liberally translated in the schools...once. Then, it is forever lost in a book never to be read, and forever on a wall that is regarded as an out of date relic. It's a shame.

[nskduke]

God Bless America!

[uhf62]

Have a Happy July 4th America

From an American who had the great misfortune of being born in the wrong country.

[uhf62]

I can relate to Peter Schramm,for I was born in America too,but in the wrong country.Im in Canada but to me this place feels like a foreign country to me everyday.

[hypnotoad72]

I think we are lucky to live here.

Lucky to have jobs; ones that allow us freedom.

And freedom to disagree with our politicians, while still knowing that (a) we have the freedom to do so, and (b) knowing that there is a time, if we will remain as separated, sovereign countries that there is a time when we will have to make sacrifices for defense. Americans are too separated from one another these days, and that can be said for any number of reasons. Plus, the more the fringe element, the less true they are to their own ideals.

While I am unable to go into the military to fight (age, mitigating disqualifiers); there surely must be other ways I can help out my Country during this time.

[walt1944-2009]

The Great Emperor Bush has announced that on July 4, all Americans born in this country must reflect on how lucky they are living in this great country and under his unbounding benevolence. During the past 6 1/2 years, he has defended us from terrorists hiding beneath every rock and behind every bush (?!) and from weapons of mass destruction, even those that do not exist! He is fighting a war in Iraq to keep the terrorists there, rather than fighting them here, despite "improved" border security techniques, such as building a fence on Mexican land to stop such terrorists from coming into this country in the first place. He has aided in moving millions of jobs overseas, so that we may enjoy unlimited liesure at the unemployment office, and has stopped competition to promote higher prices so big monopoly companies can afford to move their corporate headquarters to the Middle East.

Above all, he has enlightened all Americans to the surprising fact that we do not need a Constitution, and that HIS word is the only word that counts, since he is, after all, the Great Decider and the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of the Universe (despite what Putin thinks)!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!

[gkc99]

Many of us born here love our freedom, love the America that is supposed to stand for freedom, love our red white and blue flag.

What we hate are the fascist neocons who have degraded our freedom and made the red white and blue a symbol of torture.

In Hungary, a Fascist government aligned with the Nazis ruled during WW2. Their Jews were exported to concentration camps at the behest of their Nazi masters.

Did your father hate the Nazis the way he hated the Russians, sir?

[stezzer]

As someone who would love to live in the USA, I really enjoyed this article. What an incredible country you are.

(The accompanying photo, by the way, is amazing)

[modeey-2009]

In my lifetime I have learned more about America from those emigrated from communist countries than any heritage or family history.

[ioweign]

Posted by bennyblack1 at 02:35 PM : Jun 30, 2007

Most of you on this post are not pure bred, many of you like myself, are Heinz 57 Americans. It's a shame that when an American citizen has to fight his own country men just to BE a responsible American citizen. Mr Schramm and his family (many I'm sure lost their lives), came here for the same opportunities many of us only dream of. He learned how to be Americans, while born and bred Americans seem to be rather irresponsible with their freedom.

I am a veteran and 3 months younger than Schramm. In the 60's, males between the ages of 18 and 35 were obliged to give 6 years to our government. I gave 4 yrs active in the USN and 2 yrs inactive USN reserve. I did not run off to the Texas/Alabama Guard, Canada, become a CO or get 5 deferments because I had better things to do. I am sure Mr. Schramm's family had it tough in 1956 Hungary, mine had it tough in war torn 1850 Schleswig-Holstein (Prussia). You are right it is irresponsible when Americans Talk the Talk but don't Walk the Walk!

[bluestardad]

"Gen. William Odom discusses the %u201Cworst strategic disaster in American history,%u201D the war in Iraq: the view of most generals that the war is wrong, the failure of the politicians to see the consequences of their actions, the centrality of the neoconservatives and the Israel lobby in pushing for the Iraq invasion, the %u201Csurge,%u201D

www.antiwar.com/blog/2007/
05/10/gen-william-odom

WE DONT NEED A BUNCH OF ISRAELI PASSPORT HOLDING PRO-ISRAELI NEOCONS TELLING REAL AMERICANS WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO! IT IS BAD ENOUGH THEY HAVE BOUGHT OUR POLITICIANS!

YOU WILL SEE MORE AND MORE ISRAELI SUPPORTS SPEWING THEIR STAY THE COURSE BUSHIT ON THE NEWS AND IN WASHINGTON AS THE SUPPORT FOR THEIR POLICIES HAVE FALTERED IN AMERICA!

AMERICANS ARE WAKING UP!

CONFRONT OUR POLITICIANS AND THE MEDIA NO MORE MONEY TO THE MIDDLE EAST THEY HAVE NOTHING WE NEED
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/



ISRAELIS HIDE BEHIND PROBLEMS THEY HAD IN EUROPE 70 YEARS AGO! AS SOON AS YOU QUESTION THE POLICY OF THESE SLUGS THEY SAY A PERSON IS ANTI SEMITIC! I AM AMERICAN NOT ISRAELI AND OUR TROOPS ARENT EITHER!

READ AIPAC BRAG ABOUT THEIR INFLUENCE
ON AMERICAN POLITICIANS!

http://www.aipac.org/for
ms/join_aipacClubs.htm


IT IS NOT ALL THE REPUBLICANS FAULT EITHER AS CARL LEVIN, STENY HOYER AND JOE LIEBERMAN ARE SOME OF THE OTHERS WHO ARE BOUGHT BY AIPAC!

[bennyblack1]

Correction...
"...from the weakest to the strongest, and from the poorist to the ricest..."

[bennyblack1]

Most of you on this post are not pure bred, many of you like myself, are Heinz 57 Americans. It's a shame that when an American citizen has to fight his own country men just to BE a responsible American citizen. Mr Schramm and his family (many I'm sure lost their lives), came here for the same opportunities many of us only dream of. He learned how to be Americans, while born and bred Americans seem to be rather irresponsible with their freedom. Our country was founded on higher moral principles, and demands that people who live by those moral standards run the country, whether in the lowest paying job position or the highest. When we destroy each other with our words, we weaken the very foundation of the Constitution, which states that all men are free by a God given right, from the weakest to the strongest, and from the poorest to the weakest law abiding, American citizens. The problem lies in Americans who do not respect the God given rights of human beings and those who refuse to abide by the law, to include illegal immigrants. Being an American does not mean to live free while trampling on someone else's freedom. It means to live free while respecting others' freedom. Some of these people on this blog would certainly abuse their freedoms if allowed to rise in power, and the Constitution was designed specifically to prevent that. If we allow illegal immigrants to control this country, we will have a third world, communist reign, where criminals call the shots.