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America an independent tribe?
This poll is closed. |
| Yes! God bless America! |
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217 |
47.28% |
| No! Only civilized nations deserve to be independent! |
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193 |
42.05% |
| I don't care. |
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49 |
10.68% |
| Total: |
459 voters |
100% |
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cavebear
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of the Pleistocene
Oct 1999
time: 00:15
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C'mon folks, ease off a little.
Yes, the Europeans *caused* the deaths of the vast majority of native Americans (North, South, and Central). The South and Central American civilizations were toppled by the Spanish and the North American ones were slowly pushed back and killed off by English and French settlers. But the main killers were measles and smallpox, delivered in person (so to speak) by the earliest European explorers. Read "Guns, Germs, and Steel" by Jared Diamond for more (excellent) information.
But it is also true that the surviving Native Americans were methodically destroyed by "Americans". But who were those early "Americans"? They were mostly English, but included Dutch, Germans, French, and Spanish. It wasn't until after the Civil War that the United States began to take on its own character and began to reflect an amalgamation of "non-Western European" people.
When I think of "American" (meaning the United States in this case) I think of a blending of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africans, Native Americans, Orientals, Russians, and Mid-Eastern and Southern Asians.
In 1800, "American" pretty much meant "English". In 1900, it pretty much meant "European". In 2001, it would take a genetics expert to hazard a guess. In 2001, "America" is the most multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nation in the World. "Americans" are now, after only a few hundred years, physically and culturally unique. I hasten to add, "unique" in the same way that most other Nations are.
As far as the World Wars go, I've seen a lot of talk (elsewhere) recently about that. Everyone seems to want to give either complete credit or none whatsoever to the American contribution to the outcome of those struggles.
In WWI, I'm sure it would have worked out about the same way (eventually) without American help. But it also counts that fresh soldiers (and blood and material) did have some effect. One can accept that there are many Europeans alive today who would not be alive if America had not participated in the resolution of that war and shortened it (sparing their ancestors).
In WWII, our participation did matter. We didn't win the war ourselves, only a fool would think so. But equally, England could not have made the assault on Normandy on its own; Germany would have had all Western Europe, and they would have reached a negotiated border with Russia on the Eastern Front eventually.
Why did we participate at all? We weren't particularly threatened by Germany in either war. We wouldn't have been in WWI if we hadn't been shipping munitions to England, and it was one more of those endlessly repeated European squabbles that go back to the fall of the Roman Empire anyway. Same thing for WWII, mostly. Would Germany have attacked us if we hadn't been supplying England then? I doubt it; they needed trade, too. And it sure would have been a lot easier to fight the Japanese if we hadn't been fighting the Germans at the same time (I don't think Germany would have declared war on us if we had been trading with them as a neutral party).
America entered your "World Wars" because, in the end, we really do care about democracy and freedom. We didn't win them ourselves, but they wouldn't have had the same outcomes if we had not participated. Can we just all accept that and go on from there?
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Fresno
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Europa
Sep 2001
time: 06:15
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quote:
Originally posted by cavebear
Why did we participate at all? We weren't particularly threatened by Germany in either war. We wouldn't have been in WWI if we hadn't been shipping munitions to England, and it was one more of those endlessly repeated European squabbles that go back to the fall of the Roman Empire anyway. Same thing for WWII, mostly. Would Germany have attacked us if we hadn't been supplying England then? I doubt it; they needed trade, too. And it sure would have been a lot easier to fight the Japanese if we hadn't been fighting the Germans at the same time (I don't think Germany would have declared war on us if we had been trading with them as a neutral party).
America entered your "World Wars" because, in the end, we really do care about democracy and freedom. We didn't win them ourselves, but they wouldn't have had the same outcomes if we had not participated. Can we just all accept that and go on from there? |
I've heard this many times, but it isn't completely true. The American participation wasn't just altruism.
In the 1930's, when it was already clear war might be inevitable, the congress passed several laws which made it impossible for the American president to let America join the war.
In the late 1930's, Roosevelt was nonetheless trying to prepare America. He didn't succeed because the majority of the American senators were isolationist and anti-European. Among the common people, there was no support for joining the war either.
When the war started in '39, Roosevelt managed to make the USA supplying munitions to the British, but he still had to promise not to enter the war. The munitions were quite helpful for the British, but it was also clear material support alone wouldn't be enough.
It was because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Hitler declaring war upon the Americans that the USA finally had no choice but helping the Allied Powers.
I'm glad the Americans finally helped liberating us, but they let Europe suffer far too long.
I already know what kind of reactions I'm going to get. You're all going to say we would be speaking German without the USA. Well, I know that might be true, but it still doesn't mean America served a higher goal as its own interests.
Last edited by Fresno on 27-11-2001 at 01:44
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molly bloom
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Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:15
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quote:
Originally posted by cavebear
But it is also true that the surviving Native Americans were methodically destroyed by "Americans". But who were those early "Americans"? They were mostly English, but included Dutch, Germans, French, and Spanish. It wasn't until after the Civil War that the United States began to take on its own character and began to reflect an amalgamation of "non-Western European" people.
America entered your "World Wars" because, in the end, we really do care about democracy and freedom. We didn't win them ourselves, but they wouldn't have had the same outcomes if we had not participated. Can we just all accept that and go on from there? |
Well, for me, 1776 is the cut off point for who did what to whom, in North America; either the colonies declared independence, which means you take the rap, or....
So all those non-ratified, broken treaties, the enforced migrations, the resettlement after resettlement, the massacres...post-1776 it's America's responsibility, no use blaming anybody else. Either you have a doctrine of manifest destiny or you don't. Then of course there's the adventurism abroad; the child learning from the parent, only unfortunately not for the better:
'Philippine Insurrection? Ouuuccccch. The Americans viewed the fighting as an insurrection, not a war. Hence, Americans refer to this episode as the Philippine Insurrection, not the Philippine-American War. The Spanish-American conflict that lasted only three months, is referred to as the Spanish-American War. But the Philippine-American conflict officially lasted three years and is known only as the Philippine Insurrection by America. Actually the fighting between American and the remaining armed groups of Filipinos, whom Americans branded as “bandits,” lasted 16 years (1899-1914). '
from: www.filipino-americans.com/filamwar.html
Amazing what one can do with words, as the Hearst press found encouraging the American public's support in the Spanish-American War:
www.humboldt.edu/~jcb10/spanwar.shtml
and the spark that blew up the arsenal:
'In 1976, Adm. Hyman Rickover of the U.S. Navy mounted yet another investigation into the cause of the Maine disaster. His team of experts found that the ship's demise was self- inflicted--likely the result of a coal bunker fire. There are those, however, who still maintain that an external blast was to blame. Some people, it seems, just won't let you forget the Maine.'
www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsoni...eb98/maine.html
Then of course, there's the sordid history of American interventions in Central and South America, the benefactors being such liberal democratic minded folks such as:
Anastasio Somoza, Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, Gen. Pinochet, Joaquin Balaguer...
and a link to a site concerning that lovely old codger, Augusto. Wouldn't hurt a fly, would he?:
www.lakota.clara.net/index.html
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Fresno
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Europa
Sep 2001
time: 06:15
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I 100% agree with you, Molly Bloom. Some aspects of American foreign policy of the last century are at best 'questionable'.
In my opinion, however, this isn't the reason why America shouldn't be included. Every mighty country did bad things. It is because America is so young I think they shouldn't be regarded as a civilization.
Last edited by Fresno on 27-11-2001 at 01:42
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jsw363
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quote:
Originally posted by cavebear
In 1800, "American" pretty much meant "English". In 1900, it pretty much meant "European". In 2001, it would take a genetics expert to hazard a guess. In 2001, "America" is the most multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious nation in the World. "Americans" are now, after only a few hundred years, physically and culturally unique. I hasten to add, "unique" in the same way that most other Nations are. |
I'm not so sure that the US is really the MOST multi-ethnic in the world. Countries in Africa, such as Tanzania which has 73 distinct ethnic groups, certainly have a plethora of ethnicities. I wonder about religion as well. If you look at India, you would find another country with a variety of ethnicities and an even greater number of religions with significant minorities. We only have to look north to the Canadians to see a country which coined the "salad bowl" and mosaic metaphors for describing thier countries. They are also multi-lingual, something which the US, sadly doesn't have. Switzerland too would challenge the US on that point.
In any case, yes the US is diverse, but I don't know if it's really developed a distinct culture from that of the European mainland. If you look around the countries of Europe there is tremendous difference among them, so I am not sure how the US has managed to distinguish itself from the rest of Western civilization. I say that the US still has enough cultural, linguistic and ethnic ties to the West that it isn't a distinct culture.
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molly bloom
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Lundenwic
Oct 2001
time: 15:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Big Crunch
No-one denies the impact the US had in WW2.
What is questioned is the US belief that they alone saved Europe. Which is blatantly not true.
Is a doctor alone in the operating room? Did the doctor provide all the blood for the transfusion? Did the doctor administer first aid at the critical moment?
To listen to the US take on WW2 you would have thought so. |
Only some people in the U.S. act as though the States alone won World War II; but then given the superb propaganda medium of the Hollywood film industry, it's hardly surprising. As someone else noted, too, the teaching of history in some U.S. schools is reduced to a tableau of famous American (formerly all white, all male) personages, most reduced to some absurdly moral plaster sainthood. I remain forever grateful to the people of Stalingrad and Leningrad, and the nameless faceless men and women of the Eastern Front who gave their lives; and also, to the millions of Chinese, combatants and non-combatants, who ensured that a large part of the Japanese Army was tied down in mainland China, unable to assist in the battles for Port Moresby, the Kokoda Trail and Milne Bay. That said, it does not deny the fact that without the industrial might of the U.S.A., and its distance from the main theatres of war, and all those American men and women who gave their lives, then Philip K. ****'s 'The Man in the High Castle' might not be a work of science fiction....
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N. Machiavelli
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THE Prince
Nov 2001
time: 06:15
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*Sigh*
I cannot believe that this thread is still going on. Bigotry on both sides has deluded this argument to the same drivel that pollutes every other board at some point. I'm not going to argue for or against the 'credability' of the United States o America, everyne has their own bias, and none will be persuaded...ever. So why continue to hammer back and forth at one another when it doesn't actually 'solve' a damn thing? The arguments going on here has nothing to do with the topic: "Is America old enough to be in Civ3?". No where in that sentence does it ask "Is America good or bad?", "Is the United States an evil power out to get the rest of the world?", or "Isn't America the greatest thing since sliced bread?". It doesn't matter who thinks what, that is not what this thread is about, nor is it what this bulleten board is about.
The United States didn't win WWI, II, or single-handedly or save the world, everyone knows that, even Americans. Stating otherwise is ingorance: you lump together 100+ million people and their ideals because of what you hear from:
a) The Media.
b) A few loudmouth kids.
None of this has any place on this board since none of these real-world opinions are ever reflected inside the game. Grow up.
As for the actual topic, is America old enough to be in Civ3. First let's ask this question; how old is old enough? 50 years? 100 years? 500 years? 1000? 10000? None of this Civs currently in the game were around back in 4000 B.C., when the game begins (except mabye Egypt and Babylon, but that simply means there were people in that area of the world). So where is the cut-off date? Where does 'America' begin? What is 'America' in this context? Doe 'America' reflect the early settlers that left Europe because of a different culture to begin with? Does it begin at 1781? When?
Few have actually asked when American culture began. 'American' culture started as soon as the first colonists landed; from then on, they were forced to live differently and think differently than the people they had just left. Isn't that the begining of a new culture? If so, then 'America' started back in the 1500's. Is 500 years old enough for Civ3?
People cannot seem to remember that in the game, the nation is called 'America' and not the United States. The United States is only 225 years old, 'America' is twice that. It's like stating that while the nation of 'Germany' is little over e century and a half old, but 'German' culture are far older. It's the same with France, China, Russia, etc, The Russia of today is not the same as the Soviet Union of 15 years ago, but that doesn't mean that Russian culture is only a decade and a half old.
So is the United States old enough to be Civ3? Probably not. But is 'America'? Yes.
P.S. If you are really that obsessed about it, take them out using the editor and insert a new civ. It's really not that hard. I created the Celts from the slot that the Persians had using my own graphics and 15 minutes of work. I had nothing against the Persians, but I wanted the Celts in. 
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Roadkill Quiche
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Houston, TX
Nov 2001
time: 05:15
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The United States is an absolutely wonderful country with many things going for it -- unfortunately, a rich culture is not among them. This was brought home to me a few years ago. While in Italy (which unquestionably has a culture) I met some Brits with passes for flight to any city here. Neither had been, I was asked where to go.
My answer -- Las Vegas. With its cheese, its conspicuous consumption, its tackiness, its faux-derivative excess, its violence to the environment (a city of a million in the middle of the desert???), it represents all that is distinct about American "culture" and which separates it from any other culture on the planet. Plus it's not all that far from the Grand Canyon -- which is truly worth crossing an ocean to see.
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Oligarf
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The reason the USA shouldn't have been included is because they were a colony once. It is not about how old a nation is. All civs that emerged on their own should be in, Romans, Greeks and so on. The Americans had a very great deal of help, can't deny that. America is nothing more than part of a CIV civilization on another continent split off, something very much different of a civ built up from scratch. So far at least should the realism in the game reach.
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Oligarf
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Makes me realize that Carthage shouldn't be in either by example as being a colony of Phoenicia (or whatever way that may be spelled). Angel-Saxon would therefore be probably a better way to name the English. Celts are in already, Franks and Goths could be too.
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Ted Striker
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United States of America
Jan 1970
time: 21:15
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I always hear all this, "USA has no culture" crap yet nobody ever defines exactly what that is.
Does it mean having a bunch of folk dancers in ethnic costumes dancing about? Eating cheese and wine while listening to classical music?
USA has a rich culture. Rock n' roll, r&b music, sports --> baseball, basketball, football. Blue jeans, black music, a fitness lifestyle, all that. All of these things are distinctively American. Nothing beats good ole home American cooking also. Hit me up with some fried chicken, green beans, and mash potatoes and gravy. That's what I'm talking about.
Some will downplay the role of culture simply because of the widespread commercialization of things. But look beyond that and there is a culture as diverse and rich as any place on earth.
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24-11-2001 00:29
Attachment: 
, but I have to say it. It is ridiculous to found Washington in 4000 BC! In a regular game, it takes 250 turns before it's 1490 AD. So it takes nearly half of the game before you're in the years Columbus made his trip to the west! It takes more as 300 turns before America's independence. Americans are just the descendants of some Europeans and Africans. So why are the Americans included as an independent tribe? Just because the US is the most powerful nation in the world? Austria and Turkey also were large empires once, and so were more countries which haven't been included. 
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