U S Independence Day Celebration - July 4

[Mapguy]

First, I want to say I appreciate all the thoughtful and hard work being done by the American veterans of foreign wars. They are assisted by the American Consulate, but the VFW started doing some of the scut work last year. As such parties go, it is pretty nice; or at least it was when held on the consulate grounds.

What is a shame is that such extraordinary security precautions must apparently be put into play. This was also evident at the consulate parties. Indeed, I suspect that the reason that the party is being held off consulate grounds has to do with the Americans' continuing passion for security.

Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!

Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?

You'll notice the Chinese Consulate is also heavily guarded.

Yes, it is! Do you know anything about Thai-Chinese relations, diplomatically and ethnically, in the past?

[endure]

Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!

Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?

First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.

Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.

As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.

[cmdream]

Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!

Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?

First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.

Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.

As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.

Link please !

[endure]

Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!

Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?

First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.

Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.

As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.

Link please !

http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/reports/PDF/OCHA_R24_E14794.PDF

[endure]

I've also read, but I can't provide a link for it, that Japan is the only country that has actually coughed up every last penny that they promised.

Edited May 30, 2009 by endure

[Mapguy]

Look at the consulate itself. Ever visited there? It is like entering a fort!

Well, happy birthday, America, but perhaps it should be a time for reflection, not celebration. Why indeed the need for all this security? What is the face America presents to the world as it passes by the consulate or visits it? How did it come to be that?

First, for your information, the US Consulate Office in Chiang Mai once was the royal residence of the last prince of Northern Thailand, Chao Kaew Nawarat, the history of the Consulate allows its staff to justifiably say they work in a very special place.

Second, America need not be 'concerned' about how it is viewed. Where would Europe be without America, or many nations for that matter? Who offered assistance to the extent America did following the Tsunami, or any other natural disaster worldwide.

As a matter of information the US government pledged US$134 M for tsunami relief. The EU pledged US$154M, the UK US$137M and Japan US$502M.

Total US dollar tsunami relief figures here are not particularly convincing of American generosity. Express them on a per capita basis relative to the population of the donor, and America among various nations will probably come up down the list! Not to be cynical, but I think a more meaningful expression of helpfulness might be in comparing the number of tourists from each nation in that place --- or in Thailand generally --- relative to the amount of aid provided by that country. You might find that countries like The Netherlands and Sweden, for example, were a lot more generous per person than America and others.

Anyway, is there some flag waving going around here on this topic, or am I mistaken?!

[Dustoff]

And a bit more up to date:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6789555/

It is good to see folks working so hard to destroy this ridiculous thread.

And cmdream, it is posturing "American Exceptionalism" speeches like your's that put people off about America - and I am one of them - and I AM one!

Please take your ravings back home to the Ozarks, willya?

[Tywais]

Total funds pledged by the US including donations was over 1 Billion Dollars. Funds actually committed was 792,000,000.00.

//edit - Dustoff is right, we are steering off the topic of the party and being a bit too ultra nationalistic. Or was that sarcasm cmdream? So, back on topic and the hotdogs/hamburgers/budweiser please.

[sbk]

So, what does all this have to do with the inane rant against Americans being able to go the 4th of July celebration? Does the OP hold a similar grudge about Bastille Day?

I vote this one of the top ten most ridiculous threads ever for the CM forum. And you guys generally produce some doozies.

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