United States Of America

[mammutly]

Are you saying that racism in Britain is the result of American culture?

Not racism, that's been around since long before American culture affected England. I'm referring to attitude, personas and life in general.

I'd agree with that. But I'd go much further and say it is African American culture, the dominant American subculture, that has had the most detrimental effect on world culture, including the US.

-- Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:16 pm --

Source?

The totality of the American media.

The national crime statistics

The welfare statistics

The access to health statistics

The access to education statistics

Every poll relating to American attitudes ever published

The defence budget.

American foriegn policy

Modern world history to date

So nothing specific then?

Would you really like me to quote specific examples, or are you just understandably keen to avoid the bigger picture?

 

[scenecreamer]

Not racism, that's been around since long before American culture affected England. I'm referring to attitude, personas and life in general.

I'd agree with that. But I'd go much further and say it is African American culture, the dominant American subculture, that has had the most detrimental effect on world culture, including the US.

In fairness you've just said what many people don't have the balls to say, including me. While I can't be doing with some knuckle-dragging bigot blabbering on "It's realism not racism", on this occasion it is realism. I've said many times that everything has its Pros and Cons and race and religion are no exception. African-American culture is plagued with negatives but it doesn't represent Black culture as a whole, it'd be ridiculous to say so.

No, of course it isn't representative of the whole. But unfortunately it is marketable.<br /><br />-- Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:24 pm --<br /><br />

Not racism, that's been around since long before American culture affected England. I'm referring to attitude, personas and life in general.

I'd agree with that. But I'd go much further and say it is African American culture, the dominant American subculture, that has had the most detrimental effect on world culture, including the US.

-- Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:16 pm --

The totality of the American media.

The national crime statistics

The welfare statistics

The access to health statistics

The access to education statistics

Every poll relating to American attitudes ever published

The defence budget.

American foriegn policy

Modern world history to date

So nothing specific then?

Would you really like me to quote specific examples, or are you just understandably keen to avoid the bigger picture?

No, I think I am acutely aware of the bigger picture. You however are speaking in generalities, and have used the term endemic and obsession....?

 

[rick773]

Nevermind

 

[acquiesce]

I really fancy taking the missus to Chicago spending a few days there then exploring other areas on the train or maybe car for about 2 weeks in Sep/Oct. Any suggestions for where to go/what to do in this part of USA?

My wife's friends and family come over pretty regularly so ill mention stuff weve done with them they seem into . In Chicago I'd say peaquod's for pizza, outside of downtown but not far. Also it's not as great of a view but it's free minus drinks , there's a bar in the Hancock building I think on the 95th or 96th floor , great views though . Most out of towners who I've showed around liked it more than the sears tower . If you have a car id recommend a trip to Milwaukee . A brewers baseball game I prefer to either Chicago team , and the atmosphere is pretty dead at wrigley the past few years . Food/drink is cheaper and there's a better variety , they have a retractable roof and there's a pretty good amount of restaurants/ bars in Milwaukee . The lakefront Up there is pretty nice as well. There's 2 decent outlet malls on the way up. Not sure if that's your thing but an outlet mall I was just at in Orlando was probably 75% filled with English people so I figured I'd mention it. Tons of good bars and clubs here.. So whatever you're into you'll find pretty easy.They do an architecture boat tour of downtown Chicago that people seem to really like. Definitely check a bulls game if you can , or at least the Jordan statue outside of the united center . Navy pier and the museums are also pretty good. The science and industry one which is 5 miles or so from downtown is usually pretty incredible. it's kind of just a fast food place but check out portillos , everyone seems to love it that tries it though . There's a ton of stuff besides this I just can't think of anything right now, and I'm sure the grammar on this is horrible as I was typing trying to drive home , but if you need help or have any Chicago related questions let me know .

Another Chicago blue here. With a few more adds/recommendations. The above post hits most everything on the button. If you don't mind an hour/hour and a half drive up to Milwaukee, do so. Great town with lots to do. A true Midwestern industrial town that has picked itself up and started to dust itself off.

As for Chicago-been living downtown or right outside in Wrigleyville/Wicker Park/Bucktown for the last 10 years. If you're on your first visit I would hit up the museums along the lakefront. Even a walk around Soldier Field (where the Chicago Bears play) is nice, it's an impressive stadium. Take the missus shopping on Michigan Ave. Get a deep dish pizza from Giordano's or Gino's. Depending on when you visit, try and take in a game of some sort. Wrigley for baseball, the Bulls (basketball) or preferably the Blackhawks (hockey) at the United Center in the fall.

If you're over for a match there are two bars that generally have a few blues around. I'm either at Fado's downtown or The Globe which is a bit further north. Both good in there own right. They open for matches no matter their start time (0630 if an early kick off). Always a mixture of football fans and ex-pats. Good craic.

Someone mentioned the architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. It really is interesting going into the histories of the buildings over time (especially back into the Gangster/prohibition times of Capone/Dillinger for me).

If you like a bit more of areas not everyone does, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Wicker Park/Bucktown area. Lots of boutiques for the lady, tons and tons of bars/clubs/restaurants/live music. Generally centered around the Milwaukee/North/Damen intersection. Someone mentioned the bbq joint Smoke Daddy, that's a few blocks away on Division (which is also all bars/restaurants of every sort). There's a great bar close to the Smoke Daddy called Bangers & Lace. They have roughly 30 unique taps and great sausages. Small Bar on Division is a "soccer" friendly bar, always matches on and 100's of bottled beers.

If you want any other recommendations give me a pm or whatever. Chicago's a great city, you'll enjoy it!

 

[HeyMark]

Alright lads, long time lurker first time poster.

Me and a few mates are heading to America in Feb/March for 2 weeks, a week in New York and a week in LA.

Any recommendations for cheapest decent hotels in LA would be appreciated. Just looking somewhere clean where we can get the head down and is in a good location.

Thanks

 

[mammutly]

Alright lads, long time lurker first time poster.

Me and a few mates are heading to America in Feb/March for 2 weeks, a week in New York and a week in LA.

Any recommendations for cheapest decent hotels in LA would be appreciated. Just looking somewhere clean where we can get the head down and is in a good location.

Thanks

A good location for what?

I'd suggest looking at Santa Monica - Venice beach area. You'll see the world there and it's a bus ride into town

 

[scenecreamer]

Alright lads, long time lurker first time poster.

Me and a few mates are heading to America in Feb/March for 2 weeks, a week in New York and a week in LA.

Any recommendations for cheapest decent hotels in LA would be appreciated. Just looking somewhere clean where we can get the head down and is in a good location.

Thanks

A good location for what?

I'd suggest looking at Santa Monica - Venice beach area. You'll see the world there and it's a bus ride into town

This is good advice. The YMCA in Santa Monica is a decent place to lay your head.

 

[ChicagoBlue]

Not racism, that's been around since long before American culture affected England. I'm referring to attitude, personas and life in general.

I'd agree with that. But I'd go much further and say it is African American culture, the dominant American subculture, that has had the most detrimental effect on world culture, including the US.

In fairness you've just said what many people don't have the balls to say, including me. While I can't be doing with some knuckle-dragging bigot blabbering on "It's realism not racism", on this occasion it is realism. I've said many times that everything has its Pros and Cons and race and religion are no exception. African-American culture is plagued with negatives but it doesn't represent Black culture as a whole, it'd be ridiculous to say so.

In a country where, for tax purposes a black man was only considered 3/5th of a man because he was PROPERTY, and the fact that it took a Civil War In the 1860s to free him and even then Blacks in American were OFFICIALLY second (third, fourth, fifth?) class citizens until 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was enacted, being "African American" has never been ugh of a level playing field, has it?!

Trying to pull a poor family out of poverty, even after 1964, was almost unbelievably difficult given the job prospects of the family leaders. Heck, even after Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, black people in America were still being set upon by police dogs and water cannons for daring to speak out PEACEFULLY, THAT is how recent any semblance of black "equality" has existed.

So, America has a long way to go in creating that level playing field white people have enjoyed for generations (ever?!), and to make sweeping statements about WHO is the problem, rather than WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS that create the lopsided hardships in American society, seems slightly askew. The statistics bear out that black life in America is very different than that of whites or Hispanics. SOME of that might be self-induced, but much of it is a function of STILL being within one generation of the "freedom and liberty" white Americans take for granted.

Hopefully, as more and more families mix, through neighborhoods, relationships, families, etc... we can become more colorblind and learn to judge people on their word and actions rather than their skin. It is clear that road forward is fraught with potholes, roadblocks and potential switchbacks, but we have to keep moving forward in the belief that multi-cultural can be multi-racial to the point where race ACTUALLY does not matter, rather than simply giving it the lip service some people do today.

One generation is a blink of an eye in a society that had grown from a rag tag army of mainly white, rural farmers fighting a guerrilla war with an oppressive master to a 300,000,000 person melting pot representing every race and ethnicity on earth, with one vote each on helping make it a better society for all comers. Let's hope it is not too many more generations before EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS of race, ethnicity, or any other "difference" can be seen as simply an American, with ALL the rights and privileges that come with that membership package!

I am a dual national, born and raised in England but living with my family in America. There is much to love and admire about BOTH countries. However, there are significant problems associated with BOTH societies....some different, some exactly the same. Sometimes, the problem is in the mirror, other times the answer. I hope me and my family can be answers.

Will you be a problem or an answer?

 

[Barker]

Got my visa approved at the US embassy in London yesterday. For at least the next 4 years, I will be calling America my home. I'll be living in Erie, Pennsylvania. Any blues based around there? Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Cleveland?

 

[Barcon]

Got my visa approved at the US embassy in London yesterday. For at least the next 4 years, I will be calling America my home. I'll be living in Erie, Pennsylvania. Any blues based around there? Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Clevelans?

Barker Blues in T.O mate. Stay away from Buffalo.