Notable quotable

Extreme exceptionalism

Posted by David Roberts at 4:47 PM on 18 Jul 2008

"America is the most selfish country. From the way they talk, Americans believe even if the world disappears, America wouldn't disappear."

-- Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, on the U.S. not joining the Kyoto Protocol

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8 Comments | Post a Comment

Here's one from Desmond Tutu

"Do not fly in the face of the poor by allowing the emissions produced by endless and unnecessary business flights to keep growing."

http://rtsf.wordpress.com/2008/07/18/stop-flying-in-the-f ...

by LGT at 5:37 PM on 18 Jul 2008

Perhaps...

Self-centered rather than "selfish".

But other than that I think his observation is excellent.

Many Americans just don't seem to understand that there is anything outside our boarders. (Except adoring "foreigners" just dying to get in.)

by Bob Wallace at 9:29 PM on 18 Jul 2008

selfish vs. self-centered?

Small difference; they amount to much the same.

Shintaro Ishihara's statement is excellent. Future archeologists and historians will say of the US, and of American "civilization" in general, that nobody was so good as we are, at foolishly cultivating the denial of death.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 10:27 PM on 18 Jul 2008

I prefer Churchill's

"Americans can always be counted on to do the right thing, after exhausting all other options."

Winston Churchill

by anotherID at 7:29 AM on 19 Jul 2008

I Wholeheartedly Agree

I would add materialistic and greedy.

by Wolverine at 12:03 PM on 20 Jul 2008

Ameriphobes Biting Hand

http://www.moyak.com/researcher/resume/papers/philanthrop ...

So, at the guilt-fest in Jo'burg, the U.S. delegation should tell the real story of American generosity abroad. While there are no complete figures for international private giving, conservative estimates from surveys and voluntary reporting are impressive: Americans privately give at least $34 billion overseas -- more than three times U.S. official foreign aid of $10 billion.
Latest Figures
International giving by U.S. foundations totals $1.5 billion per year, according to the latest figures. Even this shortchanges the "mega-donors" such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, because its biggest outlays came after the latest figures were tabulated.
Corporate philanthropy has also become a significant part of the total. Once disallowed by U.S. courts, charitable giving by U.S. businesses now comes to at least $2.8 billion annually. And cooperation between corporations and foundations has become common: When Merck gave $50 million for an HIV/AIDS program in Botswana, it was matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
This doesn't begin to touch the work of America's NGOs, whose missions help the needy around the world. Groups like Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children give a whopping $6.6 billion in grants, goods and volunteers. Religious overseas ministries contribute $3.4 billion, including health care, literacy training, relief and development. Even the $1.3 billion U.S. colleges give in scholarships to foreign students is more than Australia, Belgium, Norway, or Switzerland gave in total foreign assistance in 2000.
There's another way that the U.S. contributes as well, one that speaks volumes about this country's real gift to the world. As Mexican President Vicente Fox says, the "real heroes" are immigrants who send money to families back home. Personal remittances from the U.S. to developing countries came to $18 billion in 2000 and provide, in Mexico for example, the third largest source of foreign exchange. U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin, who sends money to her aunt in Mexico, calls remittances "one of the most important transactions between our two countries."

by jabailo at 6:05 PM on 20 Jul 2008

Wow. He said something that sounds intelligent

Ishihara is famous for making racist and sexist statements. I suspect he said this more for the controversy than because he wants to see change in the world.

by katakanadian at 5:10 AM on 21 Jul 2008

"biting hand"

Sorry, John Bailo, "Ameriphobe" is too much. Some of us just ask good old America to be as good as good old America claims to be. Or do you have a problem with truth and honesty?

But you conservatives would not understand that.

Thanks to cousin Wolverine, and KataKanadian, and AnotherID.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 6:53 AM on 21 Jul 2008

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