Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfsong
Ciaran,
I'm apologize if my post had a bit more pepper than I'd intended. It was not aimed at you personally and I can see re-reading it that's exactly what it looks like.
It's very frustrating for me to see Americans step over other Americans that are hungry, homeless, and unemployed to help people that do not want our help or appreciate the efforts. Although the rest of the world may not see it, it matters very much to those that live here where those uniforms are made and this is why....
Detroit is 254 miles from here and it's as if it does not exist and what's happening to the people there does not matter to anyone but them. 254 miles and it could be us....508 miles and it could be St Louis. You see, it means so much more than simply where uniforms are made.
This shit matters
It matters a lot
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No apology is necessary Wolfsong. I understand that there are key issues at play here and it's right and proper that they are debated. The issues are far from being unique to the USA i.e. here in the British Isles, we have similar issues and, whilst I live in London, my home city is Belfast.
Belfast was one of the manufacturing powerhouses from the late 19th century, linen, shipbuilding, heavy industry etc but this has been decimated over the past two generations with much of that due to outsourcing to lower-cost economies.
Similarly, while whole regions of the USA are in economic decline (rust bucket areas, in particular), that's not dissimilar to the UK where economic activity is much lower in the northern part than in the southern part (Greater London)
I'm well aware of Detroit and it's structural issues - in part because I've an interest in some of the revitalisation that occurred in the mid 2000s with some of the great 1920s art deco buildings being revitalised. Of course, short-term urban planning added to by further economic decline has eroded much of this vision.
Therefore, I appreciate the issues that have arisen in this thread and, as I've stated, it's right that they are debated. However, I do disagree with some of the comments that have been made in the thread and, whilst it may not be appreciated by all, I've registered my own point of view to counter what I've taken an exception to.