Replies

<< You are less subtle and clever than you think. >>

Be that as it may, Dear Ives, [And I claim neither cleverness nor subtlety, by the way] I avoid being hypocritical.

I have reckoned for the four and a half years since you joined US, Dear Ivan, that it is a darned shame that you cannot get it that this place is not about me, is not about you -- and is not Brit-centric.

And it is especially a darned shame that you so shamelessly insult and libel those, me included, [As you first did in 1998 within one month your joining FReeRepublic] who ever dare to point out that your ego-driven Brit-centricism is just plain silly. Your posts often seems to be given to intemperateness and to be those of a shameless, insult slinging and often-effectively-libelous, anonymous, bully. Perhaps if you typed less quickly you would have better manners?

Considering the many awful ways in Our Nation's History it has been adversly impacted by our relationship with yours, We Americans love you guys more than enough -- but neither THE world nor, especially, Our American World, centers on Britain.

And that and that alone is what has ever motivated me to jump on some of your more pathetic posturings.

Now you ARE a very much quicker typer than me, are therefore very much more at home in this medium than I am and, judging by the hours you spend online, don't seem to have a Real Job, so you are easily able to outmanouver me in this rather silly medium, especially with those who believe that anything you or I post here will ever have any import beyond that you and your ilk, among whom you have a little populist's following, put on it!

But nothing you will ever sit typing away at will ever change the fact that once-great Britain is just that.

Once great.

But please don't take it personally.

Best ones, Ives -- Brian

Brian:

I defend my country; I happen to love my country, and you have a very bad habit of slandering it without anything to justify your biases apart from your own vitriol, and God knows where it comes from.

That is my issue with you. That is the only sticking point so far as I am concerned: you obviously define your patriotism in terms of defining other countries downward. I begrudge no American love of their country; what I object to from you is not only do you not begrudge me mine, you launch vicious, unprovoked and unjustified attacks on my country. And when I defend or praise my country, you accuse me of egotism.

And here I stand. When you're outrageous, I will say so. I realise this is an enormous source of frustration for you, but this is how it is.

As for me not having a "real job". Thanks, yes, I am unemployed. I am sure that you spotted that somewhere as I've said it on a couple of occasions. Your attempt to rub salt in the wound is not worthy of a response; it speaks for itself. It speaks of what kind of person you are that you would make such a remark. It speaks even more that you are not ashamed.

Ivan