Yes the US military intervention in Columbia has turned alot of people into America haters. But that sentiment is largely outside Columbia itself. I have met pastors and missionaries who have gone to Columbia and they have told me that their is a very large support group for getting rid of the FARC and the people of Columbia love them.

Frankly who cares what some other countries think of North American's when your helping people. Like standing up to a popular bully, yes the kid is popular and when you stick up for the nerd you may not really be appretiated by the popular persons friends. But the victims sure love you and you show everyone else that you stick up for your ideals.

Hugo Chavez and the other anti-american basterds wouldn't really care if America didn't get involved. They would still find some reason to bash North America, just look at their support of Iran due to the Iraq war. Do you honestly believe that if North American countries and western european countries just stood back and let everything spiral out of control that they would be anymore loved by the rest of the world?

Oh and yes the US is only out to serve its interests but can you honestly name a single country that does not value its own interests more then the rest of the world?

Nato is the North Atlantic Treaty Organistation. Started by United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Its grown to include many other western nations. Origionally it was founded as a military organisation to prevent any more world wars. Basically it was founded so that in the case of any future conflicts North America, Western Europe parts of the Middle East South America. That all these countries would stand united.

Basically if any of the Nato countries are attacked it is an attack on all of them. They act to defend their nations interests and protect democracy and our ways of life.

You really should know this stuff. It was a major part of my high school social studies class, even alot of talk about it in University.

Being Canadian I am already aware of alot of the anti-american ideologies. I myself am not really pro-american I think the political system is corrupt and that they use everyone. Also Colonization as a Canadian I am simpathetic to the idea of colonization. Of course I am not native american but I am also not British, French,American or Russian (Who colonized Canada). Honestly I love my country and don't mind the colonization. Could be because I myself come from an imigrant family that came to Canada from Holland. But I do understand why South America doesn't particularily like America, Britian , France.

I think South America forgets Russia, who I'd argue did alot more colonial things then America does. Look at Brazil and Cuba, or today with their alliances with Venezuela. Yet most of the complaints are about the USA. Thats what I don't understand why South American's seem to hate the US more then they do Russia who tried to communise south america.

In the end I think Columbia is a great example of what the US could do in Mexico. FARC killings have dropped and the drug trade is in remission. Yes drugs are coming from other countries now but it has been a success in Columbia. Also as I said I know missionaries who have gone to Columia and they have told stories of how much the Columbians love Americans (&Canadians).

Now yes the free trade issue is definatly pissing off south american's and many countries don't like the US's military intervention in Columbia. But the US has definatly succeeded in reducing militant activity. Also Columbia without the US would likely have been invaded by Venezuela. Hugo Chavez deployed massive amounts of troops and fighter jets and weaponry on the border. If the US wasn't their as a deturrent Columbia would have likely been invaded.

Essentially the US intervention in Columbia has helped dampen an insurgency returning some sort of peace and civil order. They have won the hearts and minds of many Columbians and lets not forget they helped prevent a few wars in South America.

You mean light drugs like marijuana? Or even heroine?

But it's still illegal to sell drugs there, isn't it?

Yes the US military intervention in Columbia has turned alot of people into America haters. But that sentiment is largely outside Columbia itself. I have met pastors and missionaries who have gone to Columbia and they have told me that their is a very large support group for getting rid of the FARC and the people of Columbia love them.

Frankly who cares what some other countries think of North American's when your helping people. Like standing up to a popular bully, yes the kid is popular and when you stick up for the nerd you may not really be appretiated by the popular persons friends. But the victims sure love you and you show everyone else that you stick up for your ideals.

Hugo Chavez and the other anti-american basterds wouldn't really care if America didn't get involved. They would still find some reason to bash North America, just look at their support of Iran due to the Iraq war. Do you honestly believe that if North American countries and western european countries just stood back and let everything spiral out of control that they would be anymore loved by the rest of the world?

Oh and yes the US is only out to serve its interests but can you honestly name a single country that does not value its own interests more then the rest of the world?

Nato is the North Atlantic Treaty Organistation. Started by United States, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. Its grown to include many other western nations. Origionally it was founded as a military organisation to prevent any more world wars. Basically it was founded so that in the case of any future conflicts North America, Western Europe parts of the Middle East South America. That all these countries would stand united.

Basically if any of the Nato countries are attacked it is an attack on all of them. They act to defend their nations interests and protect democracy and our ways of life.

You really should know this stuff. It was a major part of my high school social studies class, even alot of talk about it in University.

Man, I thought you knew what you were talking about. After some statements you made, now I seriously doubt it.

You can take my piece of advice, or not, but reality is not what a specific group of people say to legetimize their doings. I recommend, if you are really interested on this subject, to read material from "the opposite shelve" (I know this might not be clear - that's the literal translation of a spanish idiom which means sources which are ideologically different or opposite).

Maybe we use a different dictionary, but colonialism is a form of abuse: is the violation of a country's sovereignty.

This is not a matter of settlers going from one country to a different land (which was never not populated). This is a matter of powerful entities (foreing goverments and multinational companies which exploit minerals, oils, forest for medicines and drugs, etc.) making a huge use of their power, in alliance with rich elites in this countries, to set politics which help them to get REAL rich as the local country gets more economically dependent and regular people gets poorer.

I think you don't get it. You don't know what is like to see how international monsters with no face rip your country and your pride in two. How they buy wills. And resources. How they empty all the natural richness of your country, and how they come and do whatever they want.

That's the pride of south americans. That's the main reason why anti - whatever exists, regardless of what you've been told.

I am descendent of europeans. That doesn't change a single fact.

Seriously thats not exactly the text book definition of colonization. Colonial powers invade another place moving citizens in and taking over an area. They start colonies and over time take over a countries soverienty. Now you have it part right, but just because someone violates your soveriegnty that doesn't make them a colonial power.

Also your definition is mostly about foreign companies taking over. International Monsters with no face rip your country apart. Now I know in South America their is alot of logging companies, fuel companies , factories , mines etc...etc... that are run by foreigners.

You call that colonization, that isn't colonization that is globalization. You don't think I understand that, here in Canada their isn't a single department store that is Canadian. Walmart , Zellers(Used to be Canadian) Sears, The Bay (Used to be Canadian). Our coffee joints..... Now you talk about raping the land... so lets talk about the foreign oil companies from Britain , USA etc...etc...pumping oil out of the oil sands in Alberta which is killing all the fish and birds. Or how about all the Japanese , American , British lumber companies cutting down our forests and shipping the lumber to other countries. Or how about the big french and British mining companies currently mining the crap out of our mineral deposits.

This is globalization not colonization. In a globalized community all countries use one another to advance their ways of life.

So yes I know what your talking about, also I know in South America employees are paid poorly and the resources are being raped especially the rainforests. But you know what the rest of the world is being raped in the same way. I'm sure in other countries their are Canadian companies, Columbian companies , Argentinian companies , Venezuelen companies , Brazilian companies raping some other country up the ____.

Thats what free trade is, and I know many South American countries are opposed to free trade. But free trade does often benefit most countries. Now yes the US benefits way more then anyone else but we also benefit.

Now if you still don't think I know what I'm talking about then feel free to educate me.

P.S - How did we go from helping Mexico end its drug war to talking about how I apparently don't know what colonialization is?

1. Americans are the main users of Mexican drug. So don't only blame the Mexicans.

2. Even if you do want to be egocentric and only blame the Mexicans, then why would you talk about NATO and not the US army? So the Germans and Dutch and Italians should deploy to Mexico to battle against drugs that American citizens are buying? Haha maybe your on some Mexican drugs yourself TS ;)

I want to thank you for your very civil and educated approach to this discussion and I want to insist on my apologize if I was rude.