• The most honest three and a half minutes of television...EVER
    100 replies, posted
[QUOTE=vagrant;36714507]well that was melodramatic[/QUOTE] not really, he's factually correct and he delivered it in a way that communicated the meaning behind what he was saying that's not melodrama, that's good acting with great writing
[QUOTE=SystemGS;36714570]that's good acting with great writing[/QUOTE] pretty run of the mill docu-drama
yeah to be honest even though i liked the fact that the show was questioning americas greatness (in the first half) the actor wasn't that great and it was a bit cringey at times with how try-hard and desperate he was to seem confident and emotional [editline]11th July 2012[/editline] whoa he answered people's questions before they finished asking them, hardcore!
[QUOTE=NoobSauce;36702338]I don't want to live on this piece of land people call a country anymore. Too much drama, fat people and little kids doing drugs.[/QUOTE] Thanks for sharing. [QUOTE=megafat;36702201]America has stunted itself. It might not be the worst, but they're not even trying anymore and have become comfortable with that.[/QUOTE] I agree with you and what I think is that basically there is no challenge. The reasons for America's success in the past were things such as WW2 and the Cold War in the past century. These events led the American people to rise to a challenge. Since the end of the Cold War, America has had no real motivation to succeed in anything. That is at least how I see it. In order for a country to keep succeeding, it has to keep meeting challenges or challengers. The same can be said about anything really. To keep innovating, there has to be competition. While I'm not saying that there isn't competition in the world with the US, I am saying that it isn't the type that typically motivates the American people to act. [QUOTE=TedStriker;36702183]I'm feeling touched by that. I think american citizens are slowly realizing that this country is fucked up really bad and it's getting worse day by day.[/QUOTE] I believe that this is a silly sentiment. The country is fucked up really bad and getting worse? I'd take modern times over Civil War era, Revolutionary War era, or Great Depression era any day. We live in a paradise right now compared to those times. [QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;36702387]Not exactly. It isn't as if America led every category ever back in the past, but they did lead in quite a few. Examples: Highest HDI in 1975: [URL]http://www.photius.com/rankings/human_developement_index_1975-2005.html[/URL] (Note: This graph ranks them on the combined score from 1975 to current - however in 1975 specifically the U.S. lead by 0.016). Highest GDP per capita in 1950: [URL]http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_gdp_per_cap_in_195-economy-gdp-per-capita-1950[/URL] Lead the world economy and education system through the 50's and 60's: [URL]http://www.ihr.org/other/nov10weber.html[/URL] [URL]http://www.neha.org/pdf/JEH/columns/JEH3.11_MgED_World_Rankings_of_the_U.S_Education_NEHA.pdf[/URL] et cetera. Now however, as was pointed out in the video, we don't lead in any of those areas any longer.[/QUOTE] This ties in to how I replied to someone else, there really isn't any reason for us to lead in those areas right now if that makes sense. We have no huge challenge to overcome which leads to no innovation. That allows other countries to surpass us. It's as simple as that. Nothing really to be ashamed of either which is why I think this whole thing is silly. Also I'm not trying to argue or anything, I just wanted to share my opinions on the subject since you see so many people giving up and going "yup this country's fucked up I'm moving out of this shithole." Just trying to give some differing opinions. EDIT: One last thing. Generally you don't motivate someone to do something by saying "Oh you USED to be so good at this but now you suck and you're terrible!" That's why I dislike seeing this kind of sensationalism on TV or anywhere really. It really doesn't help anyone.
He mentioned people believing in god somehow being bad for the country. What the fuck?
[QUOTE=werrek;36716248]He mentioned people believing in god somehow being bad for the country. What the fuck?[/QUOTE] He said us Americans lead the world in the highest amount of people who believe in Angels, which is sad. I don't know where you heard the word "God".
i'm reminded heavily of god bless america and not in a good way
Awesome writer awesome actor awesome segment of a show. Man if they keep this up for the whole show it deserves all the ratings. ALL of them.
[QUOTE=werrek;36716248]He mentioned people believing in god somehow being bad for the country. What the fuck?[/QUOTE] He said that belief in Angels was one of the only things we excelled in, not that the beliefs or that we were excelling in them were harmful. Surely you must agree that there are far more meaningful things to excel in than that?
I'm not so sure about how America used to be this "heaven on Earth" type of place. The ignorance led to so many things like racism, burning people for being "witches", and all that crap. Sounds worse to me.
[QUOTE] and we never beat our chests...[/quote] When haven't we been beating our chests
Another thing that is wrong with today's society; EVERYONE FILMING IT WITH THEIR MOBILE PHONE CAMERA'S, WHEN THERE IS A FUCKING SHIT TON OF ADVANCED FILMING CAMERA'S IN THE AUDIENCE.
[QUOTE=imnotBPX;36736940]Another thing that is wrong with today's society; EVERYONE FILMING IT WITH THEIR MOBILE PHONE CAMERA'S, WHEN THERE IS A FUCKING SHIT TON OF ADVANCED FILMING CAMERA'S IN THE AUDIENCE.[/QUOTE] what how why How does a show showing a bunch of teenagers filming things with their mobile phones (hey, this might be crazy, but I really doubt the teenagers had access to these [I]advanced filming cameras[/I] and if I was there I'd probably record that shit) have to do with something wrong with today's society?
[QUOTE=Meller Yeller;36717978]I'm not so sure about how America used to be this "heaven on Earth" type of place. The ignorance led to so many things like racism, burning people for being "witches", and all that crap. Sounds worse to me.[/QUOTE] Compared to the rest of the world it was a pretty cool place to be. Lots of food, land, and work.
Tell a lie enough and eventually it becomes your truth. That doesn't just apply to america, but everyone.
[QUOTE=KommradKommisar;36739660]Compared to the rest of the world it was a pretty cool place to be. Lots of food, land, and work.[/QUOTE] Great Britain is the greatest country and always has been.
Hmm, humour with a sudden part of seriousness. It was good, but what that makes me think of is how everything pales in comparison to Blackadder the Fourth's ending. Most dramatic, depressing, emotional part/ending to a comedy series ever. [media][URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IglUmgYGxLM[/URL][/media] [editline]13th July 2012[/editline] It's when george goes "Sir, I'm scared". Totally fucks me up.
[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36751403]Great Britain is the greatest country and always has been.[/QUOTE] It's even in our name
[QUOTE=Marbalo;36751365]America wasn't "the greatest" at all at any point in its history. It was always plagued by something. (e.g racism, xenophobia, wars, etc) just like every other country. It was never 'great' and patriotism is generally stupid.[/QUOTE] I'm not much of a patriot, but America's excelled at quite a few things. They had one of the greatest representative governments when it had started, had some of the greatest innovators and inventors, and had an ASTOUNDING economy after World War 2. The thing is, America really was a great country prior to modern times and still is [B]the[/B] superpower. [editline]13th July 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=AngryChairR;36751403]Great Britain is the greatest country and always has been.[/QUOTE] When your government's done trying to censor everything you guys do, come talk to me. I mean, at least we have a Constitution and a billion checks and balances that help keep things free.
[QUOTE=AngryChairR;36751403]Great Britain is the greatest country and always has been.[/QUOTE] Ignoring how they treated India, sure it's a great country.
[QUOTE=Zally13;36752277] I mean, at least we have a Constitution and a billion checks and balances that help keep things free.[/QUOTE] england also has a constitution excuse me
[QUOTE=Zally13;36752277] When your government's done trying to censor everything you guys do, come talk to me. I mean, at least we have a Constitution and a billion checks and balances that help keep things free.[/QUOTE] The magna carta is older than america. Pls..
Seeing little things change for the better and people slowly becoming more open-minded, I think things are headed in a better direction than they are now for the US.
We are 34th for infant mortality, not "178th"...by the way
[QUOTE=BloodYScar;36703540]Cultivated the worlds greatest artists? Hahaha sure[/QUOTE] Old post but this is still "kind of true" depending on how you interpret art America is the top country when it comes to digital entertainment and arts (TV, Movies, Music, Games [though not as much as the former 3], etc). There are tons of opportunities for high-skilled creative professionals working in advertising, graphic design, etc and we probably produce the largest amount of "creative professionals" compared to any other country. A large chunk of world-changing inventions were invented in America too, such as the lightbulb, airplane, software/hardware reguarding the commercial success of computing, the automobile, etc. But we suck at about just everything else now, where before we were pretty good at other stuff too. Manufacturing has shifted to south asia and latin america because they can do it cheap en masse, engineering is done better in Europe, science/math/etc isn't nearly as good as other countries such as Japan, etc.
I knew it would be this scene when I read the title
[QUOTE=Scotchair;36703624]I dunno, he's kinda right. In the past America was the greatest country in the world.... everything he goes on to list is spot on. Granted it had a lot of problems too back then, but it also had a lot of really great things happening. Now it's just more and more issues.[/QUOTE] As people get lazier and lazier the country loses it's productivity. The way I see it, the only way we can return America to its former glory is to inspire and motivate the coming generations, we all need to commit ourselves to working hard and doing as best as we can at what we do. Too bad I'm too lazy for that.
Okay, so this is just another roundabout way for american's to feel good about themselves? Countries in decline always reach for the rose tinted glasses. Yes, lets hark back to the apartheid state, hypocrisy and delusions of grandeur. To call your country the greatest in the world, is ridiculous, as he so cleverly pointed out in the script, but to say it [I]used to be the greatest[/I] is equally ridiculous for the exact same reasons.
Not sure if it's been posted, but HBO has the entire first episode on YouTube. [video=youtube;1U4ZhFDFYvE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U4ZhFDFYvE[/video]
this guy is an awesome actor.
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