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**MeanGreenStompa**

http://www.vimeo.com/23836285

This is a short promotional film seeking a budget to be made into a full film documentary.

I myself, as a person who believes strongly in tolerance and cultural exchange, have my own problems with Islam with regards it's treatment of women and it's extremist applications in parts of the world.

But this level of intolerance leaves me boggled, what happened to the separation of church and state? And why is there such a rabid hatred of liberal views in the US, having moved to PA, I have been told by people who never stopped to ask me my own views, that liberals 'should be rounded up and shot', that environmentalists 'are all backed by the communists and are enemies of the nation'.

The vast majority of the population of the US are descended from immigrants of the last 300 years, it is a mixing bowl of peoples from across the planet.

I said to my wife the other night, that the US is at it's most amazing and beautiful when it unites, when it uses that hybrid vigour to do great things and when it leads the rest of the world into doing great things and it is at it's nadir when it finds it's self so absolutely divided, much as I have seen recently over politics and faith.

I moved over here, rather than my American wife moving to the UK, partly because of the bright optimism I had encountered in the US, the people believed in their country and in doing 'the right thing' and in 'freedom for all'. It was a refreshing change to the jaded post-imperial cynical hangover that we have in the UK. But that brightness has dimmed a very great deal in the past couple of years and the country feels so deeply divided and at loggerheads.

I saw a pickup truck yesterday with a bumper sticker that read 'Don't Re Nig in 2012 Get him out!' and can't really believe that not only does some ignorant bastard manufacture that, but that some other ignorant bastard would proudly display it. At first I was my usual vitriolic self and angry, then, just saddened and tired by it. It made me want to go home to the riots and class divisions of the UK.

Whether from the right or left, you are so much better than this. Will we see a return to more agreeable politics and a less divided nation or should Mrs S and I start looking into moving to Canada?

**Frazzled**

MeanGreenStompa wrote:http://www.vimeo.com/23836285

This is a short promotional film seeking a budget to be made into a full film documentary.

I myself, as a person who believes strongly in tolerance and cultural exchange, have my own problems with Islam with regards it's treatment of women and it's extremist applications in parts of the world.

But this level of intolerance leaves me boggled, what happened to the separation of church and state? And why is there such a rabid hatred of liberal views in the US, having moved to PA, I have been told by people who never stopped to ask me my own views, that liberals 'should be rounded up and shot', that environmentalists 'are all backed by the communists and are enemies of the nation'.

The vast majority of the population of the US are descended from immigrants of the last 300 years, it is a mixing bowl of peoples from across the planet.

I said to my wife the other night, that the US is at it's most amazing and beautiful when it unites, when it uses that hybrid vigour to do great things and when it leads the rest of the world into doing great things and it is at it's nadir when it finds it's self so absolutely divided, much as I have seen recently over politics and faith.

I moved over here, rather than my American wife moving to the UK, partly because of the bright optimism I had encountered in the US, the people believed in their country and in doing 'the right thing' and in 'freedom for all'. It was a refreshing change to the jaded post-imperial cynical hangover that we have in the UK. But that brightness has dimmed a very great deal in the past couple of years and the country feels so deeply divided and at loggerheads.

I saw a pickup truck yesterday with a bumper sticker that read 'Don't Re Nig in 2012 Get him out!' and can't really believe that not only does some ignorant bastard manufacture that, but that some other ignorant bastard would proudly display it. At first I was my usual vitriolic self and angry, then, just saddened and tired by it. It made me want to go home to the riots and class divisions of the UK.

Whether from the right or left, you are so much better than this. Will we see a return to more agreeable politics and a less divided nation or should Mrs S and I start looking into moving to Canada?

For those who can't open it, what is it about?
EDIT: just from reading, you do know that PA is militia country right?

**Cheesecat**

MeanGreenStompa wrote:

Whether from the right or left, you are so much better than this. Will we see a return to more agreeable politics and a less divided nation or should Mrs S and I start looking into moving to Canada?

It's aboot time, eh? But in all seriousness, Canada is a great place obviously there's still ignorant people (but what place doesn't) fortunately they seem to be few in number.

**MeanGreenStompa**

Frazzled wrote:
For those who can't open it, what is it about?
EDIT: just from reading, you do know that PA is militia country right?

It's a film that centres around the proposed building of a mosque in Mufreesboro TN and the outcry from elements of the population and the further questions this raised about the division of church and state and about the divisions of right and left wing political belief within the US.

And yes, central PA is all about shopping for a chainsaw whilst carrying a gun. I feel the odd one out because I don't wear a baseball cap nor drive a pickup. It is a great leap from inner city Bristol.

**Swordwind**

This is why I find it odd that Americans, descendants of immigrants, are so against immigrants.

It gets even more ironic when they complain about immigrants to native Americans.

I'm seriously glad I never met anyone like that while I lived in TX.

**streamdragon**

PA should certainly not be taken as representative of the US as a whole. Nor should a (rather vocal) minority group be considered as "what America believes". We have issues, every country does. We also have issues I would say are fairly unique to us with regards to immigration "control"; what other country sees as large an influx of foreign population as the US?

We also have a somewhat large divide within our own population; the North East and the West Coast are extremely different in both ideology and mindset than say, the mid-west. This owes to several factors including average education level, income, and religious influence (it's called the Bible Belt for a reason). Some states are considered "backwards", others are considered "progressive". Often times they are not very far from each other.

You're in PA. Take a day trip over to Maryland, one of your neighboring states. Maryland has rough areas near the PA border, but as you get to places like Annapolis or Columbia, I guarantee you'll see an entirely different mindset.

**Frazzled**

Tennessee makes good barbeque. I want to retire in the Smokies. I am sick to death of HOT.

Is this that giant mosque in Mufreesboro? There are like 20 people in Mufreesboro. How are they going to support a multimillion dollar mosque? I could see Memphis but Mufreesboro? Hopefully they took some surveys or something to see if its suffiicent population to support and its not a bust.

**Polonius**

Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

**Frazzled**

Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

**streamdragon**

Going to agree with Frazzled on this one. I lived in Baltimore City, and now live in rural Howard County Maryland. My neighbors here would never dream of ordering pizza, then beating the pizza guy to a pulp and driving off in a stolen car. (Fortunately not the Pizza guy's.)

**inquisitor_bob**

"Deliverance"

**Frazzled**

inquisitor_bob wrote:"Deliverance"

Thats not country. Thats crazy cracker. Southern Comfort was much better.

As an alternative:

"Colors"

**legoburner**

The sad reality in my opinion is that there is no real one wonderful place to live, it simply comes down to what you are aware of when you are out there. The US (as a horrible, aggregate statement) does push the bright optimism that you describe, but it is more out of believing that their way is the best way, and so any conflicting evidence tends to get pushed out by group cognitive dissonance and things become very us vs them in many facets of daily life with politics and religion being the two worst by far. The UK has the horrific 'look how bad things are' media that seems to exist to make people feel miserable. Japan has amazing dynamism and personal honour, but one of the most restrictive lifestyles you'll ever find. And so on...

Ultimately, there are wonderful people in all countries of the world, as well as plentiful morons, moaners, etc. It's just a case of making sure you are not isolated and fed information by the loudest, and ensure that you have plenty of reasonable people around to talk to. It's just a combination of compromises until you find where you are most comfortable, or at least less bothered by others. Ultimately though, it only takes a couple of bad neighbours or highly visible bumper stickers from one idiot among thousands to annoy those thousands and bring down the perception of pleasantness an area.

**streamdragon**

inquisitor_bob wrote:"Deliverance"

Was a movie.

**olympia**

Ah, good old central PA. Known as one of the few growth areas for the KKK in recent years. I was once on a long bike ride in the country and spit on a confederate flag some redneck had outside his house. The hillbilly saw me and but for a passing state trooper we would have had a proper scrap. Good luck to you MeanGreanStompa.

**MeanGreenStompa**

True enough, unfortunately it's a proliferation of bumper stickers and attitudes in this part of the US as i've been finding out.

So, as per my thread in the DCM a little while back, we'll be moving to a coastline area. Also to escape the humid heat which is currently causing me some discomfort...

Also just noticed your new title Legoburner, very sexy... see me after class!

**Frazzled**

olympia wrote:Ah, good old central PA. Known as one of the few growth areas for the KKK in recent years. I was once on a long bike ride in the country and spit on a confederate flag some redneck had outside his house. The hillbilly saw me and but for a passing state trooper we would have had a proper scrap. Good luck to you MeanGreanStompa.

Spitting on someone's flag is likely to cause that sort of thing. Its not exactly neighborly.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

MeanGreenStompa wrote:True enough, unfortunately it's a proliferation of bumper stickers and attitudes in this part of the US as i've been finding out.

So, as per my thread in the DCM a little while back, we'll be moving to a coastline area. Also to escape the humid heat which is currently causing me some discomfort...

Also just noticed your new title Legoburner, very sexy... see me after class!

Dude its going to literally be 101 here tomorrow. Its not sane this year.

**olympia**

Frazzled wrote:
olympia wrote:Ah, good old central PA. Known as one of the few growth areas for the KKK in recent years. I was once on a long bike ride in the country and spit on a confederate flag some redneck had outside his house. The hillbilly saw me and but for a passing state trooper we would have had a proper scrap. Good luck to you MeanGreanStompa.

Spitting on someone's flag is likely to cause that sort of thing. Its not exactly neighborly.

I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't a)expecting something to happen b)happy to embrace the consequences of something happening. Hanging that goddamn flag in the neighborhood of the Pennsylvania 6th Regiment was just asking for trouble.

**Frazzled**

olympia wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
olympia wrote:Ah, good old central PA. Known as one of the few growth areas for the KKK in recent years. I was once on a long bike ride in the country and spit on a confederate flag some redneck had outside his house. The hillbilly saw me and but for a passing state trooper we would have had a proper scrap. Good luck to you MeanGreanStompa.

Spitting on someone's flag is likely to cause that sort of thing. Its not exactly neighborly.

I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't a)expecting something to happen b)happy to embrace the consequences of something happening. Hanging that goddamn flag in the neighborhood of the Pennsylvania 6th Regiment was just asking for trouble.

Ancient Budha say, uppity kid on bike should not messeth with redneck on his own property. Redneck may have shotgun and shovel.

**reds8n**

Frazzled wrote:
Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

yet.

**Frazzled**

reds8n wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

yet.

Well there is always hope.

**biccat**

Frazzled wrote:
Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

There also generally aren't areas of the country that you wouldn't want to drive through.

Unless you're worried about getting stuck in the mud and assailed by casserole-bearing matrons.

**Frazzled**

biccat wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

There also generally aren't areas of the country that you wouldn't want to drive through.

Unless you're worried about getting stuck in the mud and assailed by casserole-bearing matrons.

In certain parts of Texas my inlaws will assault you with freshly baked pie.

**Graveyman**

This is why I find it odd that Americans, descendants of immigrants, are so against immigrants.

People are against ILLEGAL immigrants. I've never known anyone that has had a problem with legal immigration.

**Swordwind**

Graveyman wrote:
This is why I find it odd that Americans, descendants of immigrants, are so against immigrants.

People are against ILLEGAL immigrants. I've never known anyone that has had a problem with legal immigration.

Some people I've met are against all immigrants. They weren't nice anyway.

**Major Malfunction**

Without watching the film, I can't really comment on it specifically. I can comment on the immigrant and anti-Islamic sentiment though.

The general issue some in this country have with certain immigrant populations is they don't want to assimilate. They want to create little pools of their own country and culture here. Specifically, Islamic immigrants in increasing numbers throughout the world are calling for Sharia law in their new host countries. This is not met well by their host countries.

As for the separation of church and state, the exact portion of the constitution you are referring to prohibits Congress from establishing a state religion and from stopping others from their choice of religion. That's it.

Speaking of rabid hatred, there's plenty to go around. I seem to remember seeing GW being burned in effigy, people talking about euthanizing conservatives, re-education camps, etc. etc. What you're witnessing is just polarization. It's on both sides. Personally I believe it's the mechanism that the political machine uses to keep both the Democrats and Republicans in power by playing the population off against each other in the hopes of keeping them from realizing that BOTH parties are robbing them blind.

**Revenent Reiko**

Swordwind wrote:
Graveyman wrote:
This is why I find it odd that Americans, descendants of immigrants, are so against immigrants.

People are against ILLEGAL immigrants. I've never known anyone that has had a problem with legal immigration.

Some people I've met are against all immigrants. They weren't nice anyway.

It is so much worse in this country. (i mean people being against immigrants, illegal or legal)

**Swordwind**

I have to admit, wanting Sharia law is a bit too much. But if all you want to do is have a mosque, you really should be allowed to do it.

I'm also glad I'm apathetic to most political parties, including foreign ones. Too much talk, not enough do.

**Frazzled**

Graveyman wrote:
This is why I find it odd that Americans, descendants of immigrants, are so against immigrants.

People are against ILLEGAL immigrants. I've never known anyone that has had a problem with legal immigration.

Except for Leichtensteinians of course. We don't cotton to no foul servants of the Dark Lords.

**greenskin lynn**

Frazzled wrote:
Polonius wrote:Well, the US is a big place. You're in, to put it delicatley, a bit of a backwater.

I've lived in the US all my life, and the mannerisms of country folk scare me more than any urban ghetto.

I was never shot at by country folk.

clearly you were considered to small to make a proper trophy kill, and thus a waste to get stuffed...much better to buy more beer and ammo