StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Darth Raptor wrote:I'm so accustomed to the first one it doesn't even bother me. Though I always seem to associate it with airshows. The second one? Gah. I couldn't take more than a minute of that. Holy hell, what a piece of shit.

I think it says a lot about the incredible overexposure of American "we are the best, our country rules, even the creator of the entire universe actually thinks we're special" propaganda that so many Americans here don't find it shocking or even jarring at all. Hence, the second video, which says basically the same thing but without all of the programmed catch-phrases, strikes you as jarring while the first one doesn't.

Darth Wong wrote:I think it says a lot about the incredible overexposure of American "we are the best, our country rules, even the creator of the entire universe actually thinks we're special" propaganda that so many Americans here don't find it shocking or even jarring at all. Hence, the second video, which says basically the same thing but without all of the programmed catch-phrases, strikes you as jarring while the first one doesn't.

Well, in my case it's more about the overexposure to that one specific song than it is the omnipresent "America uber alles" propaganda. I think it's a state law that airshows be required to play that song at least once or something. My parents also own the album it's from and play it regularly. I guess it's like the song "London Bridges". It's so thoroughly ingrained in you from childhood that you never stop to realize it's about a disastrous engineering failure.

Darth Wong wrote:

Bubble Boy wrote:Could someone please explain why artistic endeavors aimed at expressing one's devotion and love for one's country is a bad thing?

As many have pointed out, there's a difference between "expressing devotion" and wanking.

There's also a difference between wanking and wanking to mood music. In fact, you might as well go full bore, light some candles, and make an evening of it.

Ugh. I can't stand the first one. I don't know who made the image slide, but it's very telling that in its little tour through the Glory of America it had to put so many military images. Though super patriotism and worship of the military goes hand in hand, really.

The second one is hilarious.

I know I can't stand the Lee Greenwood one. Ever since the song made a comeback after 9/11 I've found it rather vomit inducing.

Before that I use to refer to it as the "Bootcamp Brainwash song" because it got played regularly by my drill instructors while I was in bootcamp. Usually it was while they had us all standing at attention in the barracks.

Darth Raptor wrote:

Darth Wong wrote:I think it says a lot about the incredible overexposure of American "we are the best, our country rules, even the creator of the entire universe actually thinks we're special" propaganda that so many Americans here don't find it shocking or even jarring at all. Hence, the second video, which says basically the same thing but without all of the programmed catch-phrases, strikes you as jarring while the first one doesn't.

Well, in my case it's more about the overexposure to that one specific song than it is the omnipresent "America uber alles" propaganda. I think it's a state law that airshows be required to play that song at least once or something. My parents also own the album it's from and play it regularly. I guess it's like the song "London Bridges". It's so thoroughly ingrained in you from childhood that you never stop to realize it's about a disastrous engineering failure.

Just the opposite for me. Overexposure of songs that I find annoying or otherwise don't like lead to me hating it with a passion. Since I hate country the first one is much easier to loathe, especially with the sappy imagery trying to be profound. Another thing I find I hate.

The singer (and writer) of the second one is, in real life, a stunt coordinator.

Knowing that his job involves falling a crashing a lot should help explain the video.

The first one just annoys me, but the second one is so bad it's funny. Why can't people make songs about the ideals that make America great? "I'm proud to be an American, because at least I know I'm free" -- what does that even mean? That in America, you're guaranteed freedom? Try being an illegal immigrant sometime. Trying to express patriotism in a song is difficult because you can't get any subtlety and therefore you can't go past a jingoistic "Yay America!".

EDIT: Now if you want real patriotism, try this.

Freedom in America has become a mantra. To people like these, America = FREEDOM! If you criticise America, then you hate FREEDOM!
They have forgotten what freedom really means, and how it's applied. It's tragic, really.

The ironic thing is that the very same people who constantly wank over American "freedom" tend to be very much against certain American freedoms, like the freedom to have an abortion, the freedom for gays to marry, the freedom for consenting adults to have sex with each other with or without money changing hands, the freedom to be "immodest" in public, etc.

The second one's worse.

They're saying the same thing, but somehow, the second one comes off as being even more sappy.

but all roads erm I mean internets lead to the USA. Here watch some american idol and fotage of saddam being hanged, while we churn out another tax cut. After all bread and circuses are good old fashioned american values. (never mind Nascar vs. the chariot races)

Darth Wong wrote:The ironic thing is that the very same people who constantly wank over American "freedom" tend to be very much against certain American freedoms, like the freedom to have an abortion, the freedom for gays to marry, the freedom for consenting adults to have sex with each other with or without money changing hands, the freedom to be "immodest" in public, etc.

When I was in Italy, we consistently saw people kissing heavily and making out in public. The only people who actually stared and commented were the Americans I was with; the Italians might have glanced and smiled a bit, but they didn't pay it any heed. It was an interesting commentary on how different the cultures were; even the Europhiles in the group were a little bit weirded out.

I can't stand either, the 2nd atleast has the dubious plus point of being so hilariously over the top you assume that rather like Conservapedia it has to be a hoax though I fear it isn’t, the 2nd is simply nauseating.

The thing is the second one is just a terrible song and a terrible video American wanking notwithstanding. The second, however, really masturbates all over the flag.
"If I lost everything and shit at least I would be living in USA"
"Thank God I live in this super duper country"
"Where at least I know I'm free!"

So I voted the first one.

EDIT: Oh and yes I can stand to watch them to the end. In fact they are so hilarious I'll watch them several times over laughing my ass off.

Eww. Will someone please removed the semen stiffened flag carcasses from our beautiful wilderness? I hate them both, but the first is more nausea inducing for some reason. Possibly the overly sappy instrumentals versus the sheer lack of talent in the second. Though, on a tangent, is the lady in the second one looking at the headstones the actress that plays Lyta Alexander in Babylon 5?

The second one is far worst. Nothing turns you off a music video like an ugly long-haired singer using crappy visual effects to play Jesus, or something.