new thread
Hi there,
Well I'm sure for our friends across the pond in the USA is going to be a very interesting and historic day today.
One expression you do hear from time to time "Leader of the Free World" is used and wondered where it came from and why it's used?
Cheers,
John.
Leader of the free world indeed. That description assumes a lot wouldn't you say?
Although what happens politically does effect longhairs so it's not entirely OT. For the mood of the US to shift more towards increased tolerance can be very good for longhairs. So will all those narrow minded school districts with their hair above the collar policies and or the negative comments from people go away over night? Of course not but to move towards more open mindedness is welcome none the less.
And no more Bush! Yahoo!
Kevin
Hi John,
I think to call the US president the "Leader of the Free World" might be a little presumptuous these days, but the origin was probably back in the Cold War days when the US supposedly was the beacon of democracy and the leader in the "fight" against the "scourge" of communism. When communist governments were popping up in various corners of the globe, there was the Red Scare in the US and a time of high paranoia associated with it -- trials of patriotism and McCarthyism -- something like the Inquisition or the Salem Witch Trials. Ironic really that democracy was being enforced by similar methods just as more repressive governments.
But let's not forget either that just a few years ago, Britannia ruled the waves, and the world, in the most literal sense. 1/4 of the world's land was under British control; 1588-1947 -- you guys had a pretty strong showing. The Romans have got you beaten as far as longevity (753 B.C. to 476 A.D.), and they did a lot of serious ass-kicking in their day, but what are you guys, like 976-0-2? I think you might have had a little trouble with the Boers at Mafeking and the Sepoys in India.
HAHAAAAAAA!
I know several idiots down here who actually couldn't sleep the night after Obama was elected. Apparently they thought whitey was gonna be pickin' cotton soon.
I'm glad Bush is out, me and mine voted for Obama because we liked his ideas on several things including health care. I've supported him since the primaries.
Most other white people we know voted on lines of race, so I told them not to worry as I was only voting for Obama's white half.
The only thing at this moment that I see wrong with him is he gets his hair cut every week, or so it's said. Maybe he'll grow some dredlocks now that he landed the presidency.
The fact that he won the election proves that this nation is tired of the intolerance and narrow mindedness, we can thank Bush for that.
Paul
I bet 1/2 of the people would not touch this thread...rofl!
I can DEFINITELY see Obama in dreds.
I found this really funny video online for those who didn't like Bush as a president.
There you go, he is out of the office, and Obama is finally here.
Matthew aka Regardless
It was a great and historic day indeed. Although I disagree with Obama on some things (and who doesn't?) I'm very excited about his views on science, seeing as I hope to be a scientist haha. One of his first proposed actions is to overtun the federal ban on stem cell research. Also, I believe there was a very illuminating interview with him by either the magazine Nature or Science awhile back during the campaign.
-Katatonic