Twisted American Culture Coffrey: I wasn't wanting to do a thread about this originally because I thought that it was too overblown, how can American culture be THAT different from similar European and Asian cultures? But it is. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/18/walmart-banned-products_n_2324382.html#slide=more270612 Walmart, everyone's favorite superstore with thousands of stores nationwide, has a ban list, which includes all sorts of dangerous items, like semi-automatic handguns, shotguns, assault rifles----- wait a minute, those aren't banned. Instead, what Walmart has chosen to ban is CDs with racy cover art, non-nude men's magazines like Maxim, hell even books for whatever reason. That's all well and good, the typical sort of thing. But the thing that caught my attention was they banned a Sheryl Crow album, her debut if I'm remembering correctly. Why did they ban Sheryl Crow's album? Because in the lyrics, it talks about how people buy discount guns at Walmart and shoot people. America has a serious problem when it comes to things like war and guns. There was an old joke that was about how in Europe, literal breasts can be on billboards and no one is offended, but if you did that in America, well you can guess. In America, guns can be on billboards and no one is offended, but in Europe, you guessed it. Now if I had to choose what to make taboo, sex or guns, one is literal life-making (which adds another level because of Americans love of fetuses) and the other one's only purpose is life taking. Me, I don't know, but when you see gun deaths rising and happening dozens of times every day, at some point we have to address this issue. You can cry about "Govment ain't taking my guns" but at some point, doesn't living and being in a safe culture override your need for a weapon that can kill many people at a single time?  gingy1957: Seems like a lot of brainwashing going on that guns of any kind are totally acceptable and should be sitting around your house like candy. Maybe there should be a massive marketing campaign started on common sense , it sure is sorely lacking. You'd think that less guns equals less gun violence and if semi automatics were banned less people could be shot at once. Love not war people. I know that I will never understand the american culture , we have the same violent tv shows and video games but we're not killing each other like you guys are. When over 10,000 people a year in the U.S.are dying from gun violence something is seriously wrong.  ShawnXx: Wal-Mart likes to portray itself as the business Sam Walton started and they do what they want. I worked there once and actually had to agree not to solicit or join a union and Nissan never asked me to do that and they pride themselves in not having a union. I didn't agree with the companies I've worked for but I had to earn a living. I'm not exactly sure why we have so many gun deaths but this is a large country with diverse cultures and the number of gun deaths would be higher if illegal guns were counted. I don't think guns will ever be banned in this country and violent tv shows, violent video games, explicit music aren't the reasons for violence it's human nature. The NRA has been saying some absurd and offensive things lately and everyone, including people who aren't members, has been listening. The government isn't going to ban guns but people are scared it will and I think people are ignoring the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting and are brainwashed into thinking more guns are the solution to ending school shootings. It's like Gandhi said, an eye for an eye will make us all blind. harlett anathema: walmart.....isn't the store it began as.....once upon a time,ONLY made in the USA was sold with -in....The quality of clothes and most importantly the variety of Dresses was the best...not sooooh today... it's too late too ban the right too own guns..........in the USA.......& it is foolish too expect those who'd never use them other then in sport, target practices or in self defense.. too demand that they turn them in.. Facts are VIOLENT HOME INVASIONS are the rise...from too many 24/7 running camera's on PUBLIC streets.... y is there a video game called KILL THE KINDERGARTENER'S.... social security is being bankrupted by folks claiming they are incapacitated from bi polar... from being heebeegeebe's..etc..& have the health insurance that will pay for a country club awh for u facility..crying that they can no longer fend for themselves while those with serious MENTAL HEALTH issues that physically changes their brain structure and body chemistry are left too suffer..... ShawnXx: Although you can apply for social security for being bi polar it's difficult to get it and psychiatrists don't sign the paperwork social security asks people to get signed as proof. My brother was severely handicapped and couldn't get approved for social security and was often denied treatment from doctors so health care mental health care is a very important issue that needs to be addressed but people only want to talk about the people who they think are abusing the system and that doesn't lead to a solution. I want universal health care for everyone but too many people think about those that will take advantage and yes people will take advantage but people shouldn't have to suffer because of that reality.  Mask Of Dionysus: Seems like there is just too much crap there that gets in the way! Man knows someone who is disabled down there but it is difficult for him to get help! Me: Got diagnosed with M.S. Was on disability in a week. ShawnXx: Sad but true help is hard to find in this country but there still are some social programs that offer help. harlett anathema: how does the willfully morbidly obese...too dangerous degree's..can barley turn over to have their diapers changed..rather sheets used as diapers.....pay for rent..food & utilities..?????..their spouses are usually called to attend too them 24/7 or some family member... ShawnXx: Me and parents were the only real care my brother got before he died of kidney failure. He was born with small kidneys and it wasn't diagnosed until it was too late. My mother chose to allow him to die at home with morphine to ease his pain but he died with his family and he went peacefully in his sleep.  ShawnXx: Family is special and the only thing anyone who's lucky to have family can rely on. Thank you Harlett.  s Coffrey: The notion that it's somehow violent media that causes this, I won't even entertain. These things are worldwide and the gun deaths are not, no correlation, no causation. As for mental health, Americans have a "use your bootstraps" mentality perpetuated, oddly enough, by those either born into wealth or use a lot of government programs. Canada has learned the lesson, as well as most European countries, you don't take care of your citizens so you can take advantage of their situation to make money, you take care of your citizens because it makes for a better society. I think Americans have to come to a fundamental decision regarding both mental health and guns. Do you want that little bit extra from taxes or do you want a stable society that only treats the MOST insane and leaves the lesser insane like Loughner, Lanza, or whoever that Aurora shooting guy's name was to be walking the streets, able to get one of the 200 million guns floating arouind the country? Do you want all the killing machines that you might want because "it's your constitutional right" or do you want a society where it isn't the OK Corral everywhere you go, now including schools, where at any moment anyone could pull a gun and then it's on? harlett anathema: How is U don't have a problem with how ANY Of this Planet's Nations are spending Our Hard earned money they call revenue.??????..  .........personally i don't believe their is a excuse for hunger anywhere on this planet.... paid any attention too what , The Syrians are going through............. Best part of the USA...........Was just that........ditty of picking oneself up by the boot straps..... Y are folks who are out rightly slaughtered called Hero's instead of VICTIMS.... or SURVIVOR'S............. gingy1957: 2 firefighters have been shot dead responding to a fire in Webster N.Y. and 2 others shot but survived ...what the hell is going on!??? Stop the madness!!! harlett anathema: Mask...Your Nation spends Your'alls money as they choose...and most Nations on this Planet are in dire money troubles and then some..... Sarcastic Dots: America: Where guns save society and healthcare destroys it. " worked there once and actually had to agree not to solicit or join a union " Such a weird parallel to the largest supermarkets here, which have union reps in-store with their own office. harlett anathema: anyone...ever see into the Russian Mental health Hospital institution that still exists....where Russians leave their hard too handle children... probably with ad-hd....they bind those children too beds... and never unbind them.. so that their limbs grow in odd configurations......what un-humane cruelty..both physically & mentally too do a Human Being for Life......... Mental health issues are a world wide disgrace............on top of all else that disgraces all of US................ harlett anathema: we all would love too live with Paradise here on Earth....I can't answer for Y we aren't.......but i am not ever going too feel guilty for surviving what ever it was,that put upon me too have survived...with Full sunshine alive in my heart & mind... Peace be upon You All for a few hours at least........ | Off Topic Chat Room Similar Conversations |
