I'm Leaving America

reply to post by dragonsmusic

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Having lived and worked in Germany and traveled fairly extensively throughout Europe, I highly recommend that you travel to Europe, especially with your interest in the arts and wine vintners.

Many if not most Americans don't realize that the best wines remain in Europe ! At very fair prices I might add. Some of the best European wines don't travel well.

On the other hand , Australia is producing some fantastic wines as well with their arid and dry climate BTW.
Unfortunately , from a culturalistic perspective Australia being a British colony, is essentially like Britain with a different climate(*).

There is quite a bit of history and culture in Europe that the US lacks, primarily due to it's young age. For an artist such as yourself it will really open your eyes stimulating your artistic and creative side.

Being a musician as well, traveling to Spain and observing the classical style of acoustic guitar playing as well as the excellent cuisine such as tapas would be worth the trip in itself !

Its called Quality of Life, and once you have experienced it from a Europeans perspective it will make you much more objective in your views of "drive thru" American culture.

Many an American whom have visited Europe for example, in my observation, would take the site seeing tours and simply overlook the culture and what it had to offer.

I had American colleagues who would prefer to only eat at McDonalds/Burger King while we worked in Germany for example.

Its not as if the Germans eat raw fish or anything...their diet is fundamentally meat and potatoes and very good I might add.
IN fact, what does Hamburger actually mean ? Its German for something originating from the city of Hamburg, Germany.

And remember the Freedom Fries ?!

I owned a Porsche in Germany and enjoyed using it to it's fullest on the Autobahn cruising in places between major cities upwards of 170mph, traffic an weather permitting.

Something you just can't do in the States without ending up in hand cuffs facing a judge only looking towards having his greens fees paid by your lawyers fees.

The US historically has been and is still all about money, a nation of haves and have nots. If you have it , you're doing ok and America IS and can be a great place.

In Europe you can afford life's simple pleasures very frugally as long as you follow, " While in Rome do as the Romans do".
Do the european youth hostels, they're very affordable and clean.

As much as I love the Allman Brothers, Georgia peaches and peanuts, I'd say that I'd take Europe over Georgia anytime.
Definitely go and if you don't like it , rest assured Georgia USA isn't going any place anytime soon if you know what I mean.




PS
(*) Australia
They've also British Empire holier than thou discrimination against the Abos, who are the invisible people there similar to the Native Americans here in the US. In fact the Aboriginal people weren't even granted citizenship , in their own country, until 1967.

Europe is fast changing, sorry to be the one to tell you. Radical Muslim immigrants have created ghettos in most of the major cities, increasing crime rates. The governments lean toward socialism. Unemployment is often higher than America. It's an aging population. There are lots of problems.

But it depends what you're looking for. As an American, you will most likely be considered high-class in any third-world country you go to. Don't knock it till you try it. Third-world countries are also changing. People are getting cell-phones, getting educated even if they're poor, and if you have at least some money you can live a great life for cheap.

There is also South America, which has a lot of Europeans and European culture. Buenos Aires is called the Paris of South America.

Good luck with your decision. If you decide Europe, I'd personally prefer Spain or Portugal.

Blacks, Indians, women....injustice still abounds, we haven't learned. Gays are still without freedom today as well, you'd think we'd be smarter concerning human rights.

I think you should go!

It will do you the world of good to travel and may be you will see that the rest of the world (if you get past Europe) is more than able to get by just fine without American idealism, ignorance and greed. Although I have not come across a non greedy government yet so yours is no special case.

Just don't kid yourself that your country is the only one that’s screwed up. As a traveler I have learnt that no matter where you travel you should always remember it is you who is the guest in THEIR country. If you don't like the shades, too bad, it's not your house to change, what might look screwed to you works just fine for them. If they want your opinion they will ask.

Don't worry depending where you go you will learn fast that other people also have opinions and values and beliefs and genuinely in most cases don't give a toss about yours. Don't worry though once they know your American they will have probably already heard about all those things so you wont ever get lonely for a conversation.

I have friends in many countries from all levels of their societies poor and rich alike, often the poor are richer than those with money. I judge them not and don't try to tell them I am from a better place because that place sure isn't perfect. I liked to think it was, but that was a long time ago now.
The people you will meet are of the country you have been allowed to visit. Just remember it's THEIR country and they all have the same crap going on in their lives as you do. The depth of crap just varies is all.

Leave your mental baggage behind, open your mind, and discover a whole new world full of Humans that are as sick to death of their political leeches and systems as you are becoming. Don't go as an American go as a Human that just started his journey in America. Colour, cast or creed is of no relevence to the non ignorant.

Go for it mate. Let us know how you get on. Good luck, don’t get cold feet and McDonalds are not the same all over the world! Go see for yourself.

Don't blame your want to go on your country, it sounds to me it's the system that you have allowed to rule you that has made you want to go. Your country is always YOUR home, its what so many have died fighting for so you can have the choice to come and go. You might get to meet those that can't leave or those that fled. All countries are beautifull man made systems are rotten. As rotten as your system is I can assure you its a lot better than a lot of others but thats for those folk to decide when enough is enough not you or me or worse our governments.

Your government is always temporary, as you long as you vote. If you don't vote you got no right to complain. At least you get a vote and at least you get your say on that day.... Lest we forget.

Go see the world.

Zebadey

I think you're a whole lot braver than the "I'm never leaving my state/good riddance/you're a traitor" crowd.

In a country where half the school children can't find Europe on a map, and people are spoon fed news (but only where Americans are affected) and views, it's refreshing that someone wants to spread their wings and actually go somewhere to experience lifestyles other than what they were brought up in.

It's far easier for the armchair patriots to spout off stereotype racism that is based on three politicians and four comedians than to actually learn anything about world history and to intelligently talk about the customs and lifestyles of other countries. Sure there are far worse places than the USA. That said, there are some that might be better FOR YOU. It's not a one size fits all thing.

Just because you have a big foam finger that says, "We're Number 1" doesn't mean it's true in all aspects of life.

Good luck to you. Go have a look at the world rather than taking everything FAUX news gives you as gospel. I hope you find your place in the world.
I'm so glad you have the cahones to swim upstream.

Remember people died to give you freedom. Use that freedom to experience life, not just to spout off about how much more American you are than anyone else.

People are people. It doesn't matter which country you are in. Living in a tent on Kilimanjaro might be absolute heaven for some (not for me), and a castle in Scotland might be everything to others. Just because you were born in any particular country doesn't mean that it will work for you spiritually and mentally.

Find your place.

Dragonsmith, your basic premise for wanting to leave the United States is somewhat flawed. You have overlooked the historical basis for the formation of the United States wherein men declared themselves independent of a Sovereign or King. Men declared themselves to be "free men". While this might appear to be trivial in this day and age, this was certainly not the case in the 18th Century! This was revolutionary -- in both thought and in action. Until this time, ALL men were subjects -- or ,more bluntly, the property -- of a sovereign king.

Furthermore, the United States made allowances for free thought and self-determination, again, aspects that simply did not exist in the world at that time and, to a great degree, still does not exist through much of the world today. And while Slavery is certainly is a dark chapter in American history, it is one that the US does not own alone. Many European powers played active roles and profited greatly through this shameful trade in human beings.

The United States certainly did treat women unfairly but, again, you are looking at history through a modern lens. That women were granted the right to vote in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment can be viewed as deplorable by some for coming so late. However, consider that Switzerland granted full suffrage for women in 1971! What I trying to express here is that while the United States has demonstrated numerous injustices, the US has also demonstrated, on numerous occasions, heroic efforts to correct those injustices. One need only to look at the Civil War or the Civil Rights movement of the 60's to see injustices being confronted and efforts being undertaken to correct them.

The world is filled with injustice. History is rife with immoral acts. There is no "best" time or "best" place to live. We can only hope to be the "best" person that we can be wherever we find ourselves. There is no running away from evil. It must be confronted when we find it or else it will grow to encompass us all. Leave the United States if you must but not because you are running away from some perceived evil. Stop and confront the evil. You are an American. You have a voice. Speak out.

If you decide to move away, keep your eyes open to see that the rest of the world is not better than the U.S. It's just different. I moved from the U.S. to live in Canada. I find life here .... interesting. I love it up here. I enjoy the proximity to nature and the out-of-doors wonderful and it is a balm for my soul. Some aspects of life here seem to work and some do not. Just as some aspects in the States seem to work while others don't. These are just different places on the same planet inhabited by the same people. Nothing more.

Thats about the only thing the Governments have Done.

I horded all the fruits and all the vegetables and grains
Kept em for myself but made a price that you could pay
And from this early pattern a structure did become
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I hired you to work for me so you could buy my food
Created an economy that barely gave a clue
That you did all the labor and I got all the funds
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I built a giant fortress where my family could reside
Filled you workers up with myths of patriotic pride
Filled my life with luxury and politics and fun
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I sent the children off to schools to be taught and trained
Into roles that benefit and keep the structure maintained
I kept them from their history and slowly made em' dumb
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I built with brick a place for those who didn't play my game
Who wouldn't plow my fields for me or pay praise to my name
I built up giant prison walls so people couldn't run
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I launched a million wars in the name of private greed
I killed off all the natives from the mountains to the sea
I murdered them with slavery, and small pox, and guns
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

I gave you back some freedom in that silly Bill of Rights
Used all the proper language so you wouldn't rise to fight
I fooled you all with imagery now look what I've become
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

Yes I fought long and hard to secure my place on top
Through bombs and tanks and crack cocaine and violence from the cops
I kept you apathetic and this is how I've won
And that's about the only thing that governments have done

[edit on 9-11-2009 by Divine Prospertity]

Europe? You think that is 'getting away'?

What part of Mac World Theory do you not understand?

If you want different then buy a nice house in the Third World. (if you have money now then you can do this).

Or get something nice near a beach in Rio, Brazil or something. The beach would love your guitar. You could even live in a tribe in the Amazon Jungle for a few months out of the year

[edit on 9-11-2009 by silver tongue devil]

I am just making a wild guess that you have not traveled outside the U.S. very much.

In any case, I have been living in Moldova for the past 5 years. I cannot imagine any situation other than being sent home in a pine box that I would come back to the U.S. for other than two or three weeks at a time.

That being said, I think you are in for a very rude awakening. Unless you are loaded with $$$ you are going to be living in a lot smaller place, traveling in a lot smaller car, eating food that is a LOT more expensive and very likely dealing with more prejudices than in the U.S. Americans have (had?) it good in comparison to about everyone else in the world.

So given that you will ask me why the hell I left. The answer is "Bolshoi Prickilichenie (big adventure). If you want to experience another culture, learn another language or more and see the places you read about in the history books...then you are on the right track.

The political madness you will never escape. People worldwide select leaders who are fatheaded, egotistical, power hungry, liars, cheats and thieves (and those are the nice ones).

If you want to get more tips from someone who lives it U2U.

I've been at work all day, since the OP started his thread, and I kept thinking about him & the excitement he must feel at the prospect of this great adventure.

I thought how boring my own life is, the great rat race. I need something different.

And so I popped into my manager's office at lunchtime ... and end result is I've gone part-time at work, dropped 2 days out of 5. Sure I'm going to feel the pinch financially, but hey money isn't everything. Quite what I'm going to do with my 2 days off I really don't know. If I were made of sterner stuff I might have just resigned ... but I don't want to become another financial burden on the poor taxpayer.

My boss ... his face was a picture. He was so bemused. He asked why I wanted to drop two days and I said, "I don't know" !!

Perhaps I'll go travelling, European city breaks sound cool. Might have dragonsmusic strumming me a tune somewhere sometime. Maybe I'll re-visit the issues which motivated me as a student, the anti nuclear movement or environmentalism in general. I'm defo going to attend our annual Quaker meeting next year ... I've never had the time to do it since I joined the 9-5 brigade.

So. Thank you, dragonsmusic, you've made me look at things differently and have changed my own life in a little way ! All the best fortune to you on your travels

Well.......bye.


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reply to post by dragonsmusic

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On November 1st, I arrived in my new adopted homeland of The Netherlands. Amsterdam, to be exact. I start work on the 16th. Best thing I've ever done. It will take 5 years to become a citizen and I and my family will have to learn to read, write and speak Dutch. Assilimate, what a concept. I don't think the U.S will ever get it together in my lifetime. No place is perfect. It's just a little more civilized here. We like it.

When the NWO takes effect it won't matter where you live. You might as well buy Uhaul, because you're going to be moving around a lot the next several years.

I suppose then that it is only justified that white Christians had to enslave somebody else, since it happened to them first. Great, Now child molesters who were molested as children are allowed to "pass it forward", and I guess it's cool for Jews to plan a genocide against an entire race of people some time in the near future.

-rrr

Best of luck to the OP. On a personal note, i'll be leaving the 3rd density, and when I do, I will not have to worry about the madness taking place on this world of ours.

No matter where you go on the planet, because of the unconscious collective and the polarity of our experimental consciousness (mind), you are not safe anymore. Unless you can reach a level of consciousness high enough, you cannot be protected from outside events, like the NWO's wars and monetary system as well as the memory of the human race with all the divisions that go with it. (religions, philosophy, etc)

This 3rd density is the most difficult of them all, and i'm very satisfied that my time is almost over. It is a privilege to be able to live on such a nice planet, but many aren't able to see the bigger picture while others are on a path of destruction which is, IMO, deplorable.

When humans will be able to help each other out, without prejudice or hate, and that they'll start to evolve instead of "involving", then maybe the human race stands a chance at higher levels of life. When humans will let go of their belief systems, and start the process of "knowing" on their own the answers to the questions they've been asking themselves for so long, this jewel planet of ours will be the best planet to live on in the local universe.

reply to post by Ulala

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The way I see it, our present world is divided by the terrorists and the anti-terrorists. We saw a glimpse into the terrorist mind last week. And yes, obviously we have muslims on American soil who would seek to commit terrorist acts in the US, but at least we don't allow them to congregate and take over entire communities, and allow them to enforce Sharia law. There won't be muslim block parties anytime soon in the USA. That monster who wreaked havoc last week would have killed himself soon, if someone had not shot him -- coward that he was.

We have plenty to worry about in the USA, but at least we don't have to worry about keeping a scarf in our purse in case we cross a particular street; in the USA, muslims, and the terrorists that come out of Islam, will never feel at ease to enforce their barbaric beliefs here -- too many men and women have fought and died to protect us from anyone else forcing us to believe a certain way, wear a certain thing, and stay in the kitchen while the men eat, etc. etc.

i think that's a really smart idea at this point. i love america, it is my homeland, but this country has no future.

Here is a good saying that applies to you.::
Don't let the door hit you in the arse on your way out. Good Riddance to those who would not stay and fight for this country!



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[edit on 9-11-2009 by elevatedone]