Proove yourself!

[Saucy_Sage]

Most people here know it because Delaware was the first of the state quarters issued, which was done in the order by which the states became part of the "United States" under the Constitution.

 

[Saucy_Sage]

I got 6/10 on the US one and 7/10 on Svenska's Swedish quiz.

What did happen in the US in 1776? I know what happened in Australia in 1770, but history wasn't a required subject when I went through school.

1776 was when we issued the Declaration of Independence and started kicking British ass.

 

[Boxlicker101]

I had 8 of 10. I missed the one where they asked the first state to ratify the Constitution. I don't know what other one I supposedly missed, because I knew them all.

The first one should have been "None of the above." The Revolution actually began:
On the 18th of April in '75,
Hardly a man is still alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.

Actually, it was on April 19, 1775 when a column of British troops ordered some Americans to disperse from where they were blocking a bridge. When they refused, gunfire ensued, and the rebels did disperse. The British continued their march until they met a larger group of Minutemen near Concord, and got their ass kicked and chased all the way home.

1775 was the year the Revolution began. In 1776, The Declaration of Independence was written, and the rebellion became a full-scale revolution, but there was no reference to the Declaration. Even so, that had to have been the answer they wanted.

 

[xspy4u]

The Price of Pride

As a citizen of the US with little exposure to the rest of the world (UK, Canada and Mexico are the extent of my travels) I'm interested in feedback from members outside the US. There is no doubt that most Americans love America - even if the internal argument is that we need to be or do something different - there still is a lot of national pride. Often times, it appears that we are criticised for such (by our own citizens and those from other countries) and maybe rightly so at times. My question is, in your countries do you find a lot of vocalized national pride? do you have a lot of debates (heated or otherwise) of what it means to be a ----(fill in the country)? Are you crticised for your political/social party affiliations? And do you think the world would be a better place if the US just stopped its interactions with the rest of the world e.g. no more trade, no more financial assistant, no more sending in troops, no more involvement in politics outside our own? (I'm not being sarcastic here, I really am interested in those answers.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

My question is, in your countries do you find a lot of vocalized national pride? do you have a lot of debates (heated or otherwise) of what it means to be a ----(fill in the country)? Are you crticised for your political/social party affiliations? And do you think the world would be a better place if the US just stopped its interactions with the rest of the world e.g. no more trade, no more financial assistant, no more sending in troops, no more involvement in politics outside our own? (I'm not being sarcastic here, I really am interested in those answers.

Swedes don't discuss what being a Swede really means, nor show patriotic pride outside of international contests - unless they're the type of young men with shaven heads who think being a patriotic Swede = shouting GERMAN words in the streets while beating up immigrants.

We make fun of each others political attitudes - flimsy communists vs brainless conservatives. We love our country, and we show it by criticizing what's wrong with it and talking to otr friends about what we'd like to see changed - but then we don't do anything about it, because it's time for So you think you can dance? on TV.

And I think that the world would be a better place if USA would limit its actions to financial trades and keep your troops to yourself.

 

[Lady_Guenivere]

Yay...I am not a dumb American!

Cool...I must be a smart Canadian because I got 8/10 right. Helps that they teach American History in Canadian classrooms.

 

[starrkers]

Swedes don't discuss what being a Swede really means, nor show patriotic pride outside of international contests - unless they're the type of young men with shaven heads who think being a patriotic Swede = shouting GERMAN words in the streets while beating up immigrants.

We make fun of each others political attitudes - flimsy communists vs brainless conservatives. We love our country, and we show it by criticizing what's wrong with it and talking to otr friends about what we'd like to see changed - but then we don't do anything about it, because it's time for So you think you can dance? on TV.

And I think that the world would be a better place if USA would limit its actions to financial trades and keep your troops to yourself.

That pretty much describes Australia and Australians too. We're proud of our country, but (except in sports ) don't feel the need to shout about it.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Precisely - it's considered rude to boast in Sweden, and people who speak loudly about how good they are at something, are considered to be either lying or pompous assholes.

You may be an expert with years of training, but it's considered polite to keep humble and simply say that "you've been trained in these thigns" if someone asks. Details are only for those who ask.

 

[SlickTony]

And I think that the world would be a better place if USA would limit its actions to financial trades and keep your troops to yourself.

I'm inclined to agree with you, especially in regard to the Middle East, where we seem to keep wading in without knowing much about the people we're dealing with. But IIRC, they were pretty glad to see our troops in Europe some 60-odd years ago.

 

[Belegon]

Delaware was the first to ratify the Constitution

Yes, that is right!

Delaware is the first state.

 

[Belegon]

Dem are fighting words, mister... OK; here we go:

Svenska's Sweden Quiz for Litsters!!!

I got 6/10...

but I guessed on a couple

 

[Elianna]

Precisely - it's considered rude to boast in Sweden, and people who speak loudly about how good they are at something, are considered to be either lying or pompous assholes.

You may be an expert with years of training, but it's considered polite to keep humble and simply say that "you've been trained in these thigns" if someone asks. Details are only for those who ask.

Actually, I think that it's rude in the U.S., too. However, for some reason I think people believe they are above the rules. People bitch about how rude others are here, but then they are arrogant assholes. It's like the rules don't apply to them because they are ____________(fill in the blank). I find it sad. There's no reason to be boastful with your words. When it comes down to it, you still have to prove yourself, and if you're humble you might just be respeced in the end.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Actually, I think that it's rude in the U.S., too. However, for some reason I think people believe they are above the rules. People bitch about how rude others are here, but then they are arrogant assholes. It's like the rules don't apply to them because they are ____________(fill in the blank). I find it sad. There's no reason to be boastful with your words. When it comes down to it, you still have to prove yourself, and if you're humble you might just be respeced in the end.

Boasting used to be rude in the US too. I think the person who had the most to do with the change in attitude was Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali. He started trumpeting that he was the greatet! (and he was at least close to that) and got a lot of good press so others started emulating him. I even do something of the same when I say I write the dirtiest stories on Lit.

 

[jomar]

I proved myself to be a 'perfect' American, but a lousy Swede. I will vote an educational reform platform.

 

[starrkers]

I'm inclined to agree with you, especially in regard to the Middle East, where we seem to keep wading in without knowing much about the people we're dealing with. But IIRC, they were pretty glad to see our troops in Europe some 60-odd years ago.

Ah, but you were invited into that one

 

[SweetWitch]

If I had my way, we'd certainly keep our troops to ourselves. That way, my friend Brian wouldn't have been blown to hell and gone by a teenage boy strapped to a bomb. My cousin wouldn't have come back from the Gulf with untold and unknown illnesses that have plagued her existence for most of her adult life. My friend wouldn't cry every day because her husband came home in a body bag.

I'm truly sorry that so many out there hold us in such low esteem. Most of us over here would much rather keep our children, our siblings and our lovers safe from harm in someone else's country. Many of us over here think we have enough to deal with, our own troubles to handle.

 

[xspy4u]

Swedes don't discuss what being a Swede really means, nor show patriotic pride outside of international contests - unless they're the type of young men with shaven heads who think being a patriotic Swede = shouting GERMAN words in the streets while beating up immigrants.

We make fun of each others political attitudes - flimsy communists vs brainless conservatives. We love our country, and we show it by criticizing what's wrong with it and talking to otr friends about what we'd like to see changed - but then we don't do anything about it, because it's time for So you think you can dance? on TV.

And I think that the world would be a better place if USA would limit its actions to financial trades and keep your troops to yourself.

I won't say I don't agree with the idea of keeping our troops at home - my family has lost many due to conflicts that we could have stayed out of. But philisophically I think it's difficult for our national identity not to help others militarily (its how we got our own start). Plus if you look at WWII - Sweden maintained a semi nuetral position against the Nazis - they traded not being involved for allowing the Germans to use their country for transportation and housing of troops. That's a pretty strong stance to not get involved. Had the US taken that same approach in WWII would the world be a better place? Maybe Iraq was a bad idea (although we certainly weren't alone in going there) but WMD aside, can we be globaly responsible and still allow government to rape and kill their own people or commit genocide? It's nice to wait to be invited, but whose going to make that phone call? But kudo's to the Swede's they do give the highest percentage of foreign aid (to gross national income) of any other country.

 

[Elianna]

If I had my way, we'd certainly keep our troops to ourselves. That way, my friend Brian wouldn't have been blown to hell and gone by a teenage boy strapped to a bomb. My cousin wouldn't have come back from the Gulf with untold and unknown illnesses that have plagued her existence for most of her adult life. My friend wouldn't cry every day because her husband came home in a body bag.

I'm truly sorry that so many out there hold us in such low esteem. Most of us over here would much rather keep our children, our siblings and our lovers safe from harm in someone else's country. Many of us over here think we have enough to deal with, our own troubles to handle.

Well said.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SlickTony
I'm inclined to agree with you, especially in regard to the Middle East, where we seem to keep wading in without knowing much about the people we're dealing with. But IIRC, they were pretty glad to see our troops in Europe some 60-odd years ago.

Ah, but you were invited into that one

Ah, but we weren't. Unless you count Pearl Harbor or the german declaration of war against the US to be an invitation. Churchill had invited the US to participate some time earlier, but that invitation had probably aged out by the time we got involved.

By the way, that's not bragging. I have always felt the US was responsible in a large part for WW2 being as bad as it was, because the US government was so isolationist, even during the thirties.

If Tony had said "89 years ago," what would you have said?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SlickTony
I'm inclined to agree with you, especially in regard to the Middle East, where we seem to keep wading in without knowing much about the people we're dealing with. But IIRC, they were pretty glad to see our troops in Europe some 60-odd years ago.

Ah, but you were invited into that one

Ah, but we weren't. Unless you count Pearl Harbor or the german declaration of war against the US to be an invitation. Churchill had invited the US to participate some time earlier, but that invitation had probably aged out by the time we got involved.

By the way, that's not bragging. I have always felt the US was responsible in a large part for WW2 being as bad as it was, because the US government was so isolationist, even during the thirties.

If Tony had said "91 years ago," what would you have said?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

That was a test? I feel almost insulted. But, then, US history is one of my favorite subjects. Especially as a hard-line Constitutionalist.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Now, that was a bit more of a challenge. But not impossible. Too bad there wasn't a question about Stellan Skarsgaard.