Ukraine conflict

The Ukraine Internation Legion released their first commercial:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKrReH_UQFw&t=1s


It was clearly put together with haste, because you can see the "application" portion shows stock footage of somebody doing a loan application.

But, I would encourage everyone who is a veteran and legally eligible to consider:

"The world needs a hero, become a hero, use your military experience to fight against evil, no doubts, no politics, the battle against Russia, is the battle for your future". (Pretty good slogan).

The more veterans from a diverse set of countries to more skills to be amassed in one place. And, people who want to be there (unlike Russian soldiers who are clearly already lacking motivation).

Quote: Gandler

If we go into Belarus, we will make Belarus a nation for the people of Belarus. If Russia goes into Belarus, it will shortly be Russia (like they are trying to do with Ukraine).

So yes we have justification and exceptionalism by the simple fact of being the greatest country on the planet, and being a global shield for peace.

Russia has been justifying their action by saying its because they feel like they are being surrounded. But, this action shows why Russia needs to be surrounded....

It seems like rhetoric to me to say we are the greatest country and everybody should be like us. We may be a little biased.

Quote: DRich

It seems like rhetoric to me to say we are the greatest country and everybody should be like us. We may be a little biased.

I didn't say everyone should be like us, but we have the power to put people in a place where they can choose their own destiny.

Sometimes this will backfire (as it sometimes does with the examples we all know and hear endlessly about), that does not mean the initial action of removing a totalitarian dictator was wrong.

But, it is true that we are the greatest country in world history. In fact, its beyond debate (highest GDP, most powerful military, most access to voting for all adults etc...)

Quote: Gandler

But, it is true that we are the greatest country in world history. In fact, its beyond debate (highest GDP, most powerful military, most access to voting for all adults etc...)

Debatable.

Ancient Athens, Rome, Egypt under the Pharaohs: all surpass the USA today, at least in the context of their times.

World to USA: "What have you done for us lately?"

Quote: missedhervee

Debatable.

Ancient Athens, Rome, Egypt under the Pharoahs: all surpass the USA today, at least in the context of their times.

World to USA: "What have you done for us lately?"

That is just false historically and currently. Greece was never a global powerhouse (at best it had a solid defense force and academic advancements). Rome was, and it did a lot right (some of what it got right was similar to America, allowing diversity, etc...), but even that struggled to control territory outside of its boundaries.

As for Egypt, it can barely supply clean drinking water to its citizens (and save yourself before you bring up Flint), so there is no comparison.

America was the first secular country in the world. It embraced democracy and local rights (over centralization -even if I personally disagree with that approach-).

America was the first country where some random person in the streets could mock the top leader and literally urinate on his portrait with no repercussions. Even today this is not as common as you realize. There are many countries (right now, forget the bronze age) where if people on this site posted what they post about Trump and Biden would, posted about their leaders, be long gone (I am not talking forum suspensions, I mean gone gone, and they would find out who you are in real life, save your VPN nonsense). People do not realize how important freedom of expression is (or understand how rare it is globally). For example, WOO and WOV are actually banned on the internet in a significant chunk of the world because it "encourages immoral behavior" (despite not being allowed to even write a swear word). I don't think people realize how totalitarian much of the world is, and on that front alone there is no comparison to America.

America is a blip on the map of human history, and yet it has defined the world in ways that the greatest empires of history could only fantasize about. We went from a rebellious Colony that nobody took seriously and even the French looked at as a high-risk proxy war, to a galactic powerhouse in less than 300 years. I don't think most people understand or appreciate how impressive America is. Its simply amazing.

I have no problem in saying that I love America.

Quote: Gandler

That is just false historically and currently. Greece was never a global powerhouse (at best it had a solid defense force and academic advancements). Rome was, and it did a lot right (some of what it got right was similar to America, allowing diversity, etc...), but even that struggled to control territory outside of its boundaries.

As for Egypt, it can barely supply clean drinking water to its citizens (and save yourself before you bring up Flint), so there is no comparison.

America was the first secular country in the world. It embraced democracy and local rights (over centralization -even if I personally disagree with that approach-).

America was the first country where some random person in the streets could mock the top leader and literally urinate on his portrait with no repercussions. Even today this is not as common as you realize. There are many countries (right now, forget the bronze age) where if people on this site posted what they post about Trump and Biden would, posted about their leaders, be long gone (I am not talking forum suspensions, I mean gone gone, and they would find out who you are in real life, save your VPN nonsense). People do not realize how important freedom of expression is (or understand how rare it is globally). For example, WOO and WOV are actually banned on the internet in a significant chunk of the world because it "encourages immoral behavior" (despite not being allowed to even write a swear word). I don't think people realize how totalitarian much of the world is, and on that front alone there is no comparison to America.

America is a blip on the map of human history, and yet it has defined the world in ways that the greatest empires of history could only fantasize about. We went from a rebellious Colony that nobody took seriously and even the French looked at as a high-risk proxy war, to a galactic powerhouse in less than 300 years. I don't think most people understand or appreciate how impressive America is. Its simply amazing.

I have no problem in saying that I love America.

Great post
I agree
Love it, warts and all :-)

Quote: Gandler

That is just false historically and currently.

I was a history major in college and still read scholarly books on ancient history for fun, so I will stick to my well-oiled guns on this one.

I also very much enjoy reading the plays of Aristophanes (check out "Lysistrata;" it's a real hoot).

Sure, America is one of the better countries in the world today, but not the best.

Sweden, Norway, Switzerland are better, at least in my mind.

As for Egypt, I made it clear I was talking about ancient Egypt, i.e. "the pharaohs."

I also made it clear that the three empires I listed were better than America in the context of their times.

All three of them made lasting contributions to the world in oh so many ways.

We give the world, what? Rap music, Facebook, NFL and America's Got Talent?

Quote: missedhervee

We give the world, what? Rap music, Facebook, NFL and America's Got Talent?

Now that is funny stuff…

Quote: missedhervee

I was a history major in college and still read scholarly books on ancient history for fun, so I will stick to my well-oiled guns on this one.

I also very much enjoy reading the plays of Aristophanes (check of "Lysistrata;" it's a real hoot).

Sure, America is one of the better countries in the world today, but not the best.

Sweden, Norway, Switzerland are better, at least in my mind.

As for Egypt, I made it clear I was talking about ancient Egypt, i.e. "the pharoahs."

I also made it clear that the three empires I listed were better than America in the context of their times.

All three of them made lasting contributions to the world in oh so many ways.

We give the world, what? Rap music, Facebook, NFL and America's Got Talent?

Thucydides is where you need to look for Ancient Greek wisdom on national strength.

Quote: Gandler

Thucydides is where you need to look for Ancient Greek wisdom on national strength.

Ancient Egypt was top dog in the world for 3000 years, Rome for about 1000 years, The US is a blip at 100 years as a top dog.