A Sceptical Mind » USA

The Status of the World – Audio version

Michael Lind Mortensen — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:54:46 +0000

Hello everyone,

I thought I would try something new today. I just bought a microphone a few months ago and haven’t really attempted to get it tested yet, so I guess it was about time. For this reason I’ve recorded a small message to the world, summing up the status of the world.. Enjoy!

The Status of the World

Tribute to the American “Flag”

Michael Lind Mortensen — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:27:20 +0000

!!VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA!!

Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight’
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen, thro’ the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream;
‘Tis the star-spangled banner: oh, long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall stand,
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation;
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that has made and preserved us as a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”;
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Congratulations to Barack Obama

Michael Lind Mortensen — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:16:01 +0000

So, as most of you probably know, Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination this week. I have to be honest – I was kinda hoping he would, as I found him to be the most competent of the likely candidates. I really disliked Hillary Clinton from day 1 – She just came off as sad, whiny and untrustworthy – spilling out one unfair attack after the other.

So congratulations to senator Barack Obama – May you take back the white house and throw out all those whom have destroyed much of the peace we enjoyed on this earth (well – the little peace there were that is).

I actually tried to give a donation to your campaign only to find out that I couldn’t! Apparently only American citizens can donate money to candidates.. so I guess you’ll just have to live without my donation and if I were ever fortunate enough to meet you in person, perhaps I could then buy you a coffee and we could call it even

Jon Stewart – The best thing for American politics ever!

Michael Lind Mortensen — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:02:16 +0000

So I watched Jon Stewart today and once again I caught myself thinking: “Wow – this is probably the best thing for the US-image ever”. What could be better really? Here you have an extremely intelligent, articulate, witty comedian and skeptic – all of which benefit to a more sane image for the US – contradicting our view that all Americans basically have to be idiots!

Now if you hadn’t guessed – Yes I like The Daily Show! – I’m guessing most Danes do – specifically because many of us are very unlike Americans when it comes to politics.. I’m guessing if I actually knew every single opinion of Jon Stewart, I would probably still disagree with him on many fields.. So really he’s just the best American out there when it comes to politics – at least amongst the public figures.

So what’s the actual idea behind this post? Well there really isn’t one .. I just felt like making a tribute to Jon Stewart.. America’s coolest jew

Now if you’re reading this and you’re by some freak coincidence actually Jon Stewart – please do write me!.. I’d like to talk to you about any and all forms of politics.. specifically to see if there actually is a subject where I disagree with you.

And if you’re some other random person – well then write anyway.. Give your opinion of Jon Stewart perhaps?

The US Presidential Election

Michael Lind Mortensen — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:44:05 +0000

I was watching TV today, when I suddenly stumbled upon a YouTube/CNN debate with the democratic candidates on CNN. Now – most Europeans probably don’t know much about the candidates in the US and many might even claim they don’t care because it doesn’t affect them. Well as a proud European let me just say : BULLSHIT! Anything in the US affects the rest of the world simply due to the fact that the US maybe over on another continent, but the US lifestyle and culture has spread to the whole world – oh yeah and of course because many Americans think they own the world

Now for the people interested in the current candidates:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_presidential_candidates

This is by the way only the democratic candidates – but seeing as you’re on my website, you’re probably not interested in the Republicans – plus who are we kidding, as if the republicans are going to win (thank God).

Now what was interesting to see here – most of these actually don’t have very European like opinions – a lot of these people are still pro death penalty, against same-sex marriage and such.. Sadly I might add! But then – out of the group of crappy propaganda idiots one person shined .. A candidate I would have imagined I would agree with. He’s one of the oldest candidates, yet he has some of the most modern and realistic ideas … So without further adieu I give you:

Mike Gravel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Gravel

- Pro drug legalization (Drug use is a medical issue – not a criminal issue)

- Pro choice

- Pro national non-profit health care system (like we Danes already have)

- Pro same-sex marriage

- Pro elimination of the IRS and income tax (wants to replace it with a national sales tax of 19-23% on newly manufactured products and services)

- Pro immigration (supports the guest worker program)

- Wants to reduce dependency on carbon (not due to global warming – but rather the availability of the resources)

He is like the perfect candidate .. and he’s 77 years old! How weird is that? He has some of the same ideas we “Radical Youth”‘s have in Denmark – a social liberal political agenda (mostly liberal). Simple fantastic.. so to all Americans out there:

VOTE MIKE GRAVEL!

Oh yeah – I just took a look at this poll:

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm

And logically – most Americans disagree with me – Mike Gravel has 0% and the two other candidates I could support has 1% and 2% Go figure.