hal said:
It's pretty sad to see people consider abandoning a country (jokingly or not) because they lose an election. That's the way it works, folks. You place your vote and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
If you believe in something, stay and compete in the arena of ideas. Convince people that they should believe what you do. Work for a campaign, start a non-violent movement, write and publish articles of your ideas. Don't put your tail between your legs, gather your toys, and run off because you lose.
If you believe in what you say, then make it matter. You do nothing by running away.
I am moving because America's ideals have shifted too far to the right and it appears to keep moving that way(thank you 9/11
). I have also noticed that people are less tolerable of those whom really aren't that different or what I would even condsider out of the norm. It seemed like back in the 90's we were moving in the right direction for the US's future, but with the tech boom a lot of Americans figured that since they have made some money that they should join the Republican Party.
I admit I made a lot more money during that time too, but I did not lot it effect my personal beliefs that there are others out there that needs help as well as a world outside our borders that matter.
I have been to many countries around the world, and have liked a lot of them, but none of them have made the impression on me than like Japan did. Everyone there is very polite to each other and have a mutual respect. It's not uncommon to see a business man and a guy with bright pink hair(sorry couldn't think of a better example) and the guy with the hair gets no stares from anyone and they are not afraid of him either. In the US it is very common to see rude staring, whispering, and snickering. My mother raised me to be better than that, so it really bothers me when I see people act that way in public.
It also bothers me that so many Americans have this "**** the rest of the world attitude." We are the single world super power right now, and we use our power responsibly, but many on the conservative right think that the rest of the world is our personal gimps to give hot carls to as we please. I think this is very embarrassing as an American, and I am ashamed of my country for beings so self centered.
Like I said before. Even though I will no longer live here, I realize that it is a privilege of having a voice in American Elections because of how it effects the rest of the world. I plan on keeping my citizenship so I can vote in the elections so I can vote for what I feel is in the best intrest of the world. Maybe someday I will come back, but soon Japan will be the place I call home.