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Originally Posted by Ulysses
the internet argument that America saved everyone single-handedly in WWII, as a result made the world safe in it's self-appointed role as policeman of the world.
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Yeah, in such discussions American tend forget a few things.
Firstly old friend Russky did a hell of a lot more in combating and countering Nazi expansion than America did and it was only really by merit of the logistical headache and geographic stretch coupled with bitter winters that the Germans weren't able to be more decisive on the Western front.
Secondly up to the second world war the European powers were exceptionally powerful. It was as a result of the second world war this power was lost with industrial centres and entire cities decimated, which America barely got a glimpse of themselves, and the backbone of European economies collapsing as entities within the empires sought self declaration.
Thirdly, America was very clever (I doubt intentionally or maliciously so) in waiting so long to engage because it enabled the European powers to decimate each other while Germany got it's war machine into full swing. If America had entered the conflict much sooner it would have led to a much more decisive opposition to Germany, Japan may never have even had a chance to get involved and the scale of the war arena would have been much smaller.
Not that I have to tell you personally, but a common espousal of American national pride is the "yeah well we saved your ass in the war" so I thought I'd throw in on that chip.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ulysses
Compare it to the Eastern World where expressions of Nationalism, whether it's from Russia, China or North Korea &c., are somehow 'wrong' or 'threatening' to the West and in particular America.
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This is quite simple: expression of nationalism from the listed states (albeit not so much Russia these days) is because the parades and such are organised propaganda fests largely involving people who are hired to be there and people who are forced to stand there waving a flag. They're not true displays of the sort of nationalist sentiment that, for example, you'd see at a Presidential inauguration. They're brainwashing.