Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 18, 2007, 4:52 pm

America has become a Nation of people screaming past other to further their own agendas. Screaming, not talking. I live in Japan, a land where people still place a heavy emphasis on the common good.

Americans have seemed to have lost the art of communication, and can only strive to force their beliefs down other’s throats.

Sad.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 20, 2007, 4:11 am

^ Max. Quit acting the holier than tho bull crap. Your Government is class act. Every year your elected officials are being kicked out of office for some criminal activity. Your business execs are just as greedy as ours. and so are a lot of your people. So cut the crap.
Why do you think your government is involved in Iraq? Could it be maybe Oil? Or maybe rebuilding contracts?Granted the majority of Japanese people are wonderful but in the same breath the Majority of Americans are also. So cut with the shit all the time.

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 20, 2007, 6:15 am

Well Anonymous, at least in Japan we can remove our awfull officials without much fuss. Our business execs are not even paid 10% of what American execs get. It is simply that Japanese business works extremely hard to build products that people buy. Japanese people study a potential market intensively before making a move.

And the only reason Japan has a token force in Iraq is extreme American pressure. Wanting to keep a Naval presence in the Indian ocean while ignoring the people economic woes at home was prime reason for Prime Minister Abe’s fall from grace. Japanese people do not want our forces there.

Japanese just do not want to be involved in America’s wars, and cannot understand why America must fight so much. And Japan is very friendly towards Iran, we cannot understand America’s problem.

So Japan has a change of government, how about America?

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 20, 2007, 9:20 am

Yeah they don’t want to help an American but when a country like North Korea sends a few practice missiles over head who do they call on….No don’t answer that.
Whats the difference how much a Jap exec makes…Look what he steels. Katotohi Matsuo comes to mind(for starters)= 47,millin was it?
Why are Nippon’s in Iraq? Because Americans buy 99% of all Tin can Toyota’s that why. You people would be back eating cats and dogs if they didn’t purchase your mickey mouse shit.
And about leaving office when caught, every republican who has done wrong (and evidence proves it) has resigned. Someday maybe Democrats will do the same ie Kennedy-Diane Feinstein-Barney and his boys club-Martha and his kick back schemes-Reed and his land deals…… Crikys…why do I bother ?????

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 20, 2007, 11:32 am

Yes Anonymous, why do you bother? There you go with your misconceptions that America is the center of the world, and the world owes America a favor. Far from it. And the sooner Neaderthals like you start understanding how to get along with other nations, instead of invading them and shooting them, the better off the US would be.

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 20, 2007, 11:33 am

Sorry about that, archeological evidence indicates that Neaderthals were intelligent and compassionate.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 21, 2007, 3:26 am

OK let me ask you a question. Whats with the name calling? Also whats with the obsession of verbally attacking the U.S. at every turn? Whats your problem? Are you mad because we offer good things to the world? Are you upset because we eliminate diseases? Are you pissed because we kept communism at bay? Are you mad because we come to the aid of every nation thatsget itself attacked by worthless pieces of shit? What you real problem with the U.S. ? You want to know why us Americans are the way we are? Its because we are a FREE thinking nation that fought for every inch of ground and right we have. But we didn’t stop there. We didn’t cover are heads in a bag. We keep going . Every country today that is enjoying FREEDOM has American blood embedded in its soil.
People who consistently verbally abuse the U.S. of A. are either mentally challenged piglets or totally ignorant.
And as for your own country, Your country has contributed ZERO.
Every thing you produce was an invention from another country. All your Ideas were copies, stolen, or plagiarized. All your country did was make things smaller. And that’s because you people have tiny fingers to go along with your tiny brains.

Comment from JerryA
Time: September 21, 2007, 9:16 am

Anonymous, you should check your facts a little bit. You are beginning to sound like Bush and Cheney. Just what diseases have the US eliminated? Tylenol is not a cure for anything.The US did not, as I recall keep communism at bay. Communism is like the common cold, it eventually just goes away ( Vietnam, Soviet Union, China,etc.)
As to your assertion that the US has come to the aid of weak and betrayed nations, What about their dealings with the Shah of Iran (a real jewel of a despot,) Pinochet in Chile,Noriega in Panama,Beautista in Cuba, the Contras in Guatamale and Nicaragua, Diem and Nhu in Vietnam, Sadam Hussain during the Iraq/Iran Wars, and the list goes on with of Course O. B. Laden whom they armed to the teeth with surface to air missles to defeat the Soviets.
Yes the US has quite a benevolent history. I’ve got plenty of miles on these old bones and I am yet to see any benevolent US project around this planet that did not have a US miltary base attached.
I wonder if you are as incurios as out fearless Prez. You seemed to have swallowed the same Pollyanna Pill that lots of Mericans, regarding reality and the United States. Maybe if you got out and saw some of the world outside the US, you might have a more realistic picture.
I am neither ignorant nor mentally challenged, and have taken the effort and time to actually see the rest of the world. And now, unfortuanately see what they presently think of us Americans. There is more to life than a plasma tv and a new SUV.

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 21, 2007, 1:07 pm

Anonymous,

In 34 years in Japan, I have watched the Japanese viewpoint of America change from extreme admiration, to tremendous disappointment. Even a little disgust is starting to show.

Too many Americans like you feel that the world owes America a favor. Well that is not true. Until recently, America used to be a nice reasonable country. but there always was a darkside, we always felt ourselves superior to the world, and felt that we had the right to tell the world what to do. President Bush is merely the extreme expression of this. He is our Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jekyll. And Dr. Jeykyll is not quite sure how to deal with this emergent monster from our own pysche.

American present primacy is due to two things.

America posses a continent which is abundant in resources, with easy access to the seas. The climate is temperate. That last part is changing due to global warming.

The industrial areas of Europe and Asia were devastated by WWII, while America was untouched. That has now changed, Asia and Europe have developed, with China and India coming up.

In this bout of arrogance since 9/11, America has seen fit to establish a department of Homeland Security. This department has not found any terrorists, but they have managed to scare off many potential foreign students and foreign businessmen. Depriving America of commerce and the chance for a technological future. 60% of America’s engineers and scientists are born overseas. Americans do not study science in enough numbers to support future American society. And when they do, too much of that science education is polluted with religious hogwash.

In America, I see a country that will not be able to maintain a decent standard of living for it’s citizens in the future, because of our own stupidity, yet too many Americans will keep beating their chests and proclaiming superiority.

Of course, it will someone else’s fault, it could never be our fault for voting the present Chief Bimbo into office, and believing the pap that he feeds us.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 4:03 am

The chief Bimbo will soon be gone, and guess what we will have another chief Bimbo for another 8 years. In fact I agree with everything said by ^^ both. Why? Because the America I used to know ( and believe me i’ve been here for a long time) Has become diluted. “We” are no longer “we”. There is no such thing left that can be called an American. Our country has been bled of its heritage. “We” are now countries within a country. No ;longer do “we” have values. No morality, and no compassion. “We are full of hatred. The hatred is not directed to enemies it is directed towards the few free thinking “Americans left. The goal of the left loonies is to eliminate what “Americans are still hanging on. Left wing loonies are obsessed with controlling people. I wont use the word Communism I get laughed at. So I will just say Leftism.
I am an American. I am full to the brim with compassion for the underdog. But I am not for the “over-taker”. I see no value in this hate bickering bullshit. America has the great capacity to right its own wrongs.
Its mentioned that our Home Security is a farce. If that’s what you all want to believe than so be it. But for me…I believe in jihad. I believe the teachings of Usama Bin Ladin. I live within eyesight of the world trade center. I also know that Jihad is not because of Bush or any other leaders of our country. Its a fact that Jihad is because of how all non- Muslims live and Islamic jihad is afraid. Therefore the radical Islamic jihads have taken the words written by Muhammad and rearranged them to justify the killing of ALL those who are not Muslim. (by any means). Therefore we have been placed into the middle of a war for survival.
So bitch all you want on how bad America has become but keep in mind your arguments don’t ever come to any real conclusions. They’re all bullshit redirect left wing (going nowhere propaganda)
* Peace …..y

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 4:18 am

Oh yeah Diseases? ..Small pox , polio, Leprosy, etc…etc.. and how about our huge contributions (American tax dollars because our government doesn’t have money) and HIV medicines around the world that helps relieve suffering for millions.
just mentioning…..

Comment from JerryA
Time: September 22, 2007, 9:40 am

Always fact check Mohamed Anonymous, the cures for both Small Pox and Leprosy were found by European Scientists. And by far the largest receiver of foreign aide from the US is the tiny country of Israel, which receives more than 10 million dollars each day. Mostly in the form military aide and not pharmaceuticals. Ninety percent of American foreign aide is in the form of Military assistance and weapons giveaways. Just mentioning…check da facts.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 4:59 pm

I do Jerry and my facts don’t coincide with yours at all. This country you and you ninny cohorts are always trying to pull apart has done more good in the world. Example: Your statement insinuating we only give military aid is a typical depiction of left wing bullshit. Yes we support Israel’s? Because it is the only country in the middle east where the government takes care of its people and enjoys democracy and wants to stay free. If you are concerned with facts then you should check out how many countries the USA gives monetary and humanitarian aid to. You won’t though, because your one way street mind would be disrupted from its evil thoughts about America. And God help should you have decent thoughts about America.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 5:18 pm

History and Eradication of Smallpox 4
However, the “modern” vaccine or the vaccine that was licensed by the FDA and was used during the WHO eradication campaign was taken from a weak strain of virus known as the New York City Board of Health strain. It was produced by the Wyeth
Laboratories and licensed under the name Dryvax. With the production of Dryvax, smallpox was successfully eradicated from the United States, with the last outbreak in Texas in 1984, Canada, Western Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Still in countries such as Africa and India, smallpox epidemics were still common. It was not until 1966 was there to be an attempt to eradicate smallpox from these countries.(Henderson 1988)
The WHO organization was established as a specialized agency of the United Nations. Its main purpose was to inform the public on ways to try to help prevent the further spread of smallpox, but took no direct actions to try to intervene in the transmission of smallpox. At a conference in 1946, WHO stated that it was “impractical as yet” to even attempt to standardize the vaccine. But as the 1940’s progressed, the concept of disease eradication grew in popularity pulling in numerous supporters including Fred L. Soper, director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau and the WHO Regional Office for the Americas. He and his supporters pointed out that smallpox eradication was in fact obtainable, using the example of the United States as an example. In 1950, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau undertook an eradication campaign in the Americas. The results proved to be very encouraging; by 1959 smallpox had been virtually eradicated from all American countries except Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Ecuador and Bolivia.(Encarta 2000)
History and Eradication of Smallpox 5
In that year, pressured by the U.S.S.R, the WHO organization called for a global smallpox eradication (Microsoft 1995). On January 1, 1967, the WHO launched the Intensified Smallpox Eradication Program. The course of action was based on a plan that depended entirely on mass vaccinations of susceptible people in endemic countries.
However after initial trials, the WHO organization found that mass vaccinations were effective in loosely populated countries like in South America and the small African countries, but it was virtually impossible for the course of action to work in countries as densely populated as India, Pakistan, or Indonesia (Fenner 1988).
The evolution of a new strategy evolved when an outbreak started in Nigeria. In Western Nigeria where 90% of the population had been vaccinated, an outbreak broke out from among a group of religious fanatics that refused the vaccine. With the medical team delayed, the WHO program was forced to find a fast and effective way to relay information about villages that were infected and isolate them (Hopkins 1989). The WHO were forced to isolate the infected people and forcefully vaccinate them. Those who were unable to overcome the disease and died where burned, as a precaution towards further infection. The whole experienced demonstrated that surveillance and containment was more effective than just vaccination alone (Fenner 1988).
Mass vaccination alone initially seemed to be a sufficient diagnosis for the eradication of the virus. Countries also supported the mass vaccination attempt because it showed the population that the government was taking action and also many countries had already put a large sum of money into the research and production of the vaccine. However, with the experience in Nigeria, the WHO was able to recast the problem and
History and Eradication of Smallpox 6
devise a new surveillance- containment strategy. The surveillance-containment strategy consisted of a network of radios and people making reports about potentially infected people. Once reports were made, the teams would relay each other and the closest team would be sent to the area. The program evolved and remodeled itself not only with the WHO organization alone but also with the advice and experiences of the field teams who had to invent procedures to enforce isolation and containment(Brilliant 1985).
To be able to achieve large scale vaccinations, there was a need to mass produce a vaccine that would last and avoid being able to be easily contaminated. The current vaccine was in a liquid form and had to be used within 48 hours or it would be useless.
This led way to three major technological advances. The most significant for the campaign was the development of the capacity to mass produce high quality freeze-dried vaccine. The vaccine was developed by the Lister Institute in London using a limited amount of resources. Two regional facilities were constructed by the WHO to test the quality of the product, one located in Canada and the other located in the Netherlands. Within several years of testing, the vaccine proved to be extremely efficient.
With the production of the vaccine came the development of a new method of administering the vaccine to humans. The original method involved a needle or scratch to the skin, which proved to quite ineffective due to the high risk of contamination and infection. Generally the person whom the vaccine was administered became very ill caused by a contamination of the vaccine or needle used. Starting in 1963, the US National Communicable Disease Center developed and tested a hydraulic- powered jet injector that could administer 1000 vaccinations in one hour. The injector though –
History and Eradication of Smallpox 7
effective, proved to be to costly to provide for house to house vaccinations in densely populated areas(Hopkins 1989).
The third major innovation was the bifurcated needle. The needle was developed because the new vaccine had to be reconstituted each time and dispensed in small amounts, the old tradition of containing the liquid vaccines in capillaries was no longer effective. While studying the new problem, Benjamin Rubin worked with a Gus Charkros discovered that a sewing needle in which the tip or end was grounded like a fork would be effective in administering the vaccine. A piece of wire suspended between the prongs was designed to hold the designated amount of vaccine. By 1968, the bifurcated needle
had replaced the old needle in most areas, and by 1970 the needle was used universally (Microsoft 2000).
As the campaign progressed, the surveillance and reporting method escalated to a surveillance searches, with example in India in 1974 and 1975. The improved methods of surveillance, new technological innovations in addition to a carefully planned and administered team, lead to the eventual eradication of smallpox. The last known “natural” outbreak of smallpox was in 1977, reported in Somalia. For the first time in medical history has a human disease been completely defeated. Dr. H. Mahler, WHO director-general, exclaimed in a meeting in Kenya, “ –A triumph in management, not of medicine.”(Hopkins 1989) The WHO succeeded in eradicating smallpox and no other disease, is because of the fact that smallpox unlike many other diseases does not effect animals. Humans are the only carriers and host to the Variola virus.
History and Eradication of Smallpox 8
The last remaining strands of smallpox exist in the two most secure labs in the world. One culture is held in a level 4 hot-lab in Moscow and the other in the CDC lab in
Atlanta. There has been a heated debate, currently, on the future of smallpox. Dr. Henderson, of the WHO, has made his statement clearly that the smallpox virus should be destroyed. However there is an opposing side, arguing that smallpox is vital in the study of the new viruses. I believe that the virus should be kept alive because of the new scares, that have risen from the attacks on 9/11, about the possibility of a bioterrorism attack with the use of smallpox. The scenario for the use of smallpox as a bio-weapon is possible, but very unlikely. The only remaining strands are located in two of the most secure labs in the world. However, if terrorists were able to obtain a sample, smallpox would be a very lethal weapon. The virus is easily communicable, having the ability to spread through air, direct and indirect contact. There is no method of treating the disease, and the production of the vaccine has been stopped for almost 15 years. If terrorists were to use the Variola virus, the world would be virtually at the mercy of the smallpox disease.
History and Eradication of Smallpox 9
References:
Barquet, N. Smallpox: The Triumph over the Most Terrible of the Ministers of Death. Volume 127, Issue 8, Pages 635-642.
Brannon, H. 2005. History of Smallpox: The Rise and Fall of a Disease. About Dermatology. July 26,2005 http://dermatology.about.com/cs/smallpox/a/smallpoxhx.htm
Brilliant, L. B. 1985. The Management of Smallpox Eradication in India. Ann
Arbor, MI:University of Michigan Press.
Fenner, F., D. A. Henderson, I. Arita, Z. Jezek, & I. D. Ladnyi. 1988. Smallpox and Its Eradication. Geneva: World Health Organization.
Hopkins, J. W. 1989. The Eradication of Smallpox: Organizational Learning and Innovation in International Health. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 22, 2007, 5:20 pm

Anonymous,

Why do assume that because someone is a Liberal that we want to destroy America?

As for Israel, it might be a fine place to live if you are Jewish, but I would not want to live there as a Palestinian. So then it is a free country for only some people, not all of it’s people.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 11:02 pm

The United States is a generous supporter of key UN programs, funding:
51.4% of the World Food Program budget to help feed 72 million people in 82 countries.*
17.1% of the United Nations Children’s Fund budget to feed, vaccinate, educate and protect children in 162 countries.*
14.1% of the United Nations Development Program core budget to eradicate poverty and encourage democratic governance.*
25.8% of the International Atomic Energy Agency budget to ensure safe and peaceful application of nuclear energy and prevent the illicit use of nuclear material for weapons.**
22% of the World Health Organization core budget as well as significant voluntary resources, helping to prevent and control epidemics and to improve standards of health.**
25% of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees budget to help protect refugees and facilitate their return home or re-settlement in another country.*
25% of the International Civil Aviation Organization budget to ensure safe, efficient and economical air travel.**
* These programs operate strictly on voluntary contributions.
** These programs operate on a combination of assessed and voluntary contributions

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 11:08 pm

psst (For Max.)…The U.S. also aids Palestine. The U.S. is committed to seeing that the Palestinian people get there State.

Comment from Anonymous
Time: September 22, 2007, 11:15 pm

Sorry Jerry….its M-u-h-a-m-m-e-d.

Comment from JerryA
Time: September 23, 2007, 12:14 am

I travel 4 times yearly in the middle east, believe me Mohamed is the correct spelling.
THe WHO, which is based in Geneva Switzerland did not develop the cure for Smallpox. It was a Dr. Edward Jenner of Great Britain in 1796.
Israel, a country of less than 6 milloion people gets a full one third of all foreign aid the US gives out. And as I said before it’s in the form of mostly military grants. Palistine already had a State for several thausand years, when in 1948 the brand new UN somehow gave it to a bunch of Zionists. The new Israeli Gov Proceeded to ethnically cleanse the new Israel and deported almost all the Arab population. Millions of these refugees and their descendents still live in refugee camps in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq. Not only should the Palestinians get their State back. But all the refugees should have the right to return. Deportation is listed as a crime against humanity worthy of the dock at the Hague.

Comment from Max von Schuler-Kobayashi
Time: September 23, 2007, 6:32 am

Anonymous, I guess America is not THAT committed to a Palestinian State, huh? About something like a reduction in military aid until Israel makes REAL changes. And that would not directly threaten the existence of Israel, just cause them to tone it down a bit.

Comment from Sparhawk
Time: August 3, 2008, 5:34 pm

I don’t see why you guys are bickering so much, via my perspective I’m satisfied with America as the world dominate nation. Would you prefer Japan or other (Germany, Israil etc) to be the dominate icon of the world, for I sure would not as their morality is not at par with how it should be. Although I do have an issue with American values, they are slowly degrading but there’s no denying that they’ve aided those in need and protected those of who would be or are victims. Also Korea launched missiles, what for is obvious for why else would you be in the process of testing missiles if not for the intension of conflict and it certainly has no relevance towards space exploration? America has warned Korea but not taken drastic (as they did with Iraq etc) steps which tells us of a restraint that is being overlooked.

In Zimbabwe atrocities as worse of that as in Iraq have are happening as there is a new tyrant in the works-working his power and yet Americans do nothing… nor the other countries so America is not the only one to blame. I don’t see Japan actually willingly aiding another country on their own accord without encouragement from countries like America etc. And no offence but Japan has not a good history and to me they aren’t credible enough because of this; their government is too harsh. America will suffice as the dominate country and we should consider ourselves lucky it’s not some country with harsher values. I’d love Australia to be the dominate nation but they aren’t large enough (I’m an Australian) and Great Britain needs to kick out their queen ruling ideology and bring in a new democracy.

I’m only seventeen… don’t kill me

Comment from JerryA
Time: August 3, 2008, 7:18 pm

Well Sparhawk, it’s refreshing to see a 17 year old digging through our archives and commenting. I don’t think anyone here will kill you. A couple of things though. Why is it that you feel that one country needs to dominate the world? Or, put another way, does the world feel that it needs to be dominated or led by another nation? In either case, why would the United States be “The One?” Do you suppose they should lead because of their large economy? Fact is that the GDP of the EU is much larger than that of the United States. Or maybe you think that it should lead because of all the aide it gives the world. Fact is, a large percentage of US foreign aide goes to Israel, a country of only 6 million people. The rest of foreign aide given out by the US generally has lots of conditions attached. Which means that they let the US install a military base there or they have lots of petroleum. Try Googleing “US foreign aide,” and you should get the picture. Or maybe it is because they spend more money on defense than the rest of the world combined. “He who has the guns , rules.” Or “Peace through superior fire power.”
As for the Koreans testing missles, so what? There are hundreds of missle tests around the world every year. Weapons proliferation is not a good thing, but it’s been around since bows and arrows. Korea’s missle tests are mostly negotiating tools anyway. Dear Leader is a bit wierd that way. The restraint you feel that the US is using with regard to North Korea is well founded. The capital of South Korea is just a stones throw from the North Korean border.
The situation in Zimbabwe is not new and Mugabe has been around for a long time. Mugabe was the liberator of Zimbawe from the Western colonialists. The Empire had taken all the land and conscripted the population to work the land. That’s just plain history. Mugabe , over the years has villianized the West, and ruined his own economy. This is an issue for the United Nations, not any other single nation. Besides Mugabe, would never deal with Britain or the US. And the U.S. isn’t interested, because Zimbabwe has no petroleum.
I am an American living abroad, and I suggest that you do a bit more research before you annoint the United States as Emperors of the world. Oh yea, last I heard Britain had a functioning democratic parliament.