I find this very interesting. I also think it pretty much nullifies any claims to the contrary.

http://forums.somd.com/archive/index.php/t-2205.html

Yes, that's an interesting thread, I'd like to comment on what one of the posters said..

..will have to blow the dust off some of those angry-anti-American polemics from the 1960's and actually compare them to original documents...

I would say that any Americans attempting to reconcile their beliefs with the ideology that America was founded on could hardly be called anti-American. Anti-American would be to completely dismiss the founding father's ideals and say that the whole premise was a pile of crap.

Why do Americans care so much about what a bunch of dead old white rich guys thought about the world 200 years ago?

Why do Americans care so much about what a bunch of dead old white rich guys thought about the world 200 years ago?

Because those "dead old white rich guys" are part of the reason we're no longer British colonials and a power in our own right. For all its moral shortcomings, we sure did get the plus end of imperialism back in the day.

Why do Americans care so much about what a bunch of dead old white rich guys thought about the world 200 years ago?

Because of today. Many , if not all, america's problems have their roots in the thoughts, deeds and beliefs of its founding fathers.'gun control' being the classic example, but also social deprivation, abortion, health care, tax, drugs-law and that peculiar arrogance born out of feelings of inferiority that is unique to americans.

(before any insulted american jumps down my throat, yes arrogance/national pride is universal. Indeed the French have raised it to an art form. But america is unique in its expression. Maybe as an american you can't see it but the rest of the world does, which is why you are viewed either as 'satan' ,a bad joke or as precocious but amusing children by the rest of humanity.)

Jack, I think your views on America, while somewhat accurate, are clouded with bias and ignorance.

Jack, I think your views on America, while somewhat accurate, are clouded with bias and ignorance.

its off topic but in what way? You mean I got it wrong and the rest of the world views America as a Beacon Of Freedom, the home of Liberty, the world's only superpower and an enlightening force for Good?

Or that the pietism and theology of your founding fathers isn't basis for much of your social ills? A quick look down the board and the endless discussions about 'intelligent design' tell me i'm right.

Yes I am biased, I actually happen to rather admire a lot of what america does and stands for.

^ no I think your views are pretty on target. After you've heard a conservative bitch for hours on how the constitution outlaws gay acts, you'd agree.

The biggest reason I posted this is because I find it funny that all these people run around talking about how the 'Christian values' of our founding fathers is in line with putting the 10 commandments in courthouses, breaking the separation of church and state, etc.

Interesting that they dont really know what the founding fathers really believed.

its off topic but in what way? You mean I got it wrong and the rest of the world views America as a Beacon Of Freedom, the home of Liberty, the world's only superpower and an enlightening force for Good?

Or that the pietism and theology of your founding fathers isn't basis for much of your social ills? A quick look down the board and the endless discussions about 'intelligent design' tell me i'm right.

Yes I am biased, I actually happen to rather admire a lot of what america does and stands for.

No, I said you were somewhat accurate. I think your reasoning for where our problems come from is in error, and that error comes from ignorance and a European bias.

This just further proves how much the americans' fucked up.
I love your holy war on terror.

Only 5% of the population attended religious services in the early decades of our colonial history

Because I am very sure that accurate statistics for this assertion were able to be taken before the field had even matured. :rolleyes:

Other than that it just reads like rhetoric we have heard a million times.