Quote Originally Posted by Bopa the Magyar View Post
So, we all get an education and look down on the new lower classes?

Please, most higher education is paper thin, instilling nothing but soundbites, saying that that is the future is a condemnation of human intelligence.
As you get smarter, your prejudices simply get more...
cultured?
Actually, there's a tendency for higher educated people to have weaker prejudices, maybe it's simply more cultured, but there's a general benefit if people react less upon thier prejudices and try more to keep it fair.

Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat View Post
Well I'd be happy if we can convince Europe of the benefit of a president over hereditary clowns before the end of this millenium in the first place.

But...the current Swedish PM, Fredrik Reinfeldt, is of mixed white / black heritage. Afro-American to boot. Not Obama - if he wins - but Reinfeldt is the first Afro-American to become the leader of a predominantly white, protestant country.
To be fair, that's 1/64 Afro-American blood, although an interesting curiosa story (that I didn't know about ), but circus director to prime minister in a few generations is quite impressive.

Quote Originally Posted by Proletariat View Post
The same ole theme gets a little annoying after awhile, Strike. America is really at it's social progression's height right now and it gets no acknowledgment, in fact, it just gets slammed still by Americans and others for being some racist, xenophobic cesspool.

A decade or so ago there was a raging debate about whether or not homosexuals could even join the military, and the issue was outrageous too many. Just a week or two ago I saw a prominent celebrity come out of the closet and on the morning talk shows openly discussing his lifestyle and his role as a gay parent. 40 years ago black people were drinking out of separate water fountains and now one is steam rolling his way to president.

You are 500 times more likely to run into someone in day to day life who says, 'It's disgusting that some idiots are using 'Obama is a muslim' as a smear!' than you are to actually hear someone saying, 'I just won't vote for Muslim scum for President.' I know it's not a sexy or popular thing to say, and many Americans and many Euros are in denial about it, but America really rocks when it comes to resolving bigoted views quickly.

Except when it comes to religion, that's one of those odd thingies you don't get from a European perspective. Here (atleast in northern Europe) if you're Christian or whatever fine no problem, but you don't talk about it. If you seek guidance from God, Jesus, Allah, Kali, the Flying Spagetti monster, three midgets or whatever you don't talk about it. Simply put, it's a private matter. Sure it might affect your politics, but then we see it there and not when you proclaim your faith.

To put it differently, I don't know the (lack of?) religious faith of our PM or any other minister or party leader, even if I can guess in some cases (like that the leader of the Christian democrats are probably Christian and the leader of the Left party is probably atheist).