Country praising time!

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

I noticed "Country bashing time" was one of the options in the new poll for the next Monthly topic. So this made me thinking. Would you like to play the opposite game right now? (Wow I'm so much into games recently!)

Do some mental effort and pick a FOREIGN country you're prepared to PRAISE, and explain why. Just one country, if you had to pick one. And let it be only for political reasons. I'm aware that there are immeasurable amounts of beautiful nature, historic sites, good cuisine and cool people around the world. That's not what I'm asking about. It's the political arrangements in said country that I'm interested about. Which of them would prompt you to praise that country? Go ahead, you know you want to be nice at least once while you're on the Internet! :P

Comments

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

Since I'm an expatriate, am I allowed to praise my country of residence? Not that my country of origin has much to be praised for lately.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Sure, go ahead!

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

I am really grateful to Kiribati for staying out of the news lately.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10750219

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201109/s3325623.htm

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=63402

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/5584347/Kiribati-gets-radical-as-atolls-flood

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3311952.htm

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

San Marino. You don't see them starting shit with anyone. They just sell stamps.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

And Sealand too!

Just to be difficult, here are two.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Iceland: which has in the Althing the oldest Parliament in the world. Pretty damn good on women's rights too.

France: Western European pioneer of LGBT rights, and the rights of Humankind in general, no matter what class or caste of person.

Re: Just to be difficult, here are two.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

the rights of Humankind in general, no matter what class or caste of person.

Some French Muslims will be coming by to throw trash on your lawn later. Just thought you should know.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Canada. For being the US's quieter, more reasonable and more boring cousin.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

If "May you live in interesting times" is a curse, then "May you live in a boring country" is a blessing.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

America. For being the beacon of Freedom™ and Democracy™™ in the world.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

I saw what you did.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

Monaco. Because the Prince only allows one house number at the roulette tables.

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Australia, for starting to lift restrictions on women serving in combat.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

I'm probably breaking the rules by doing this but Canada already allows women in combat roles ;o)

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

Bulgaria. For having survived against all odds for more than 13 centuries despite being fucked in the ass over and over again by everybody. (Hat-tip to Htpcl).

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Add a couple more centuries if you count Old Great Bulgaria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Great_Bulgaria) of Avitohol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avitohol) and Kubrat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubrat).

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I'll praise Israel for showing a fine example of how being the only smart guy in a room full of idiots makes one seem more impressive than what one would otherwise be. When your opponents can't put 2 and 2 together to get fish, much less four, the ones able to put 2 and 2 together to get 4 will look like wunderkinden.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Wunderkinder. :)

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

Maybe New Zealand, because they don't pretend to be something that they aren't, and because they have learned to respect the heritage of their natives and incorporate it into their national identity, as opposed to trying to erase it.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

Largely because the Māori kicked the arses of colonials there enough to get The Treaty of Waitangi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi) (if you haven't read up on it, it's pretty interesting, very different than most colonial stories). Māori is an official language there and they have their own seats in Parliament. It's amazing how a far a little recognition goes.

I often wonder what would have happened if NZ hadn't walked out of the Australian Constitutional Convention and wound up being a state... No doubt the Māori culture would be largely destroyed, the beautiful parts would have mines in it and the whole South Pacific would be a less nice place, but at least we would always win the Rugby.

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

I was going to say Brazil but not for the reasons on your list.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Hot people (you didn't have to say it *wink wink*)

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

> "Country bashing time" was one of the options in the new poll for the next Monthly topic

That's because I'm evil.

Hah!

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

You wish!

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Canada. Hands down.

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Japan. They have a sense of honor.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

Tell that to a Korean.

[404.livejournal.com]

I'm to going to lavish praise on Singapore (their Ministry of Education in particular) for potentially being my next employer ;)

[lai-choi-san.livejournal.com]

Iceland, for showing the bankers that one can't always rely on people. ;-P

[nairiporter.livejournal.com]

Politically, I like most Scandinavian countries. While they are not exactly perfect, they come the closest to what I want my country to be. (Oh keep dreaming...)

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

But, but, I heard there are neo-Nazis in here! I mean, they're, like, everywhere...

[raichu100.livejournal.com]

I'm going to go ahead and praise Costa Rica, since not only is it beautiful geographically and biologically (and culturally), but also has some cool political accomplishments. It's the only country in Central America (a place, as you probalby know, frequently affected by war and political scheming) that's had a stable democracy for...like 50 years, I think? And it doesn't have a standing army. It's got a long way to go (like pretty much every place) but it stands out from its neighbors.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Good point about Costa Rica. I'd also include the Dominican Republic. When you see the border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti from space, you instantly notice a huge difference between the two sides. A deserted, tree-less Haitian side and a lush, green Dominican side.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Madagascar. Since you never hear about them on the news, they must be doing something right. ;)

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

Since you never hear about them on the news

Not exactly...

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[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

France. They love nuclear and UHC!

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

I think the Scandinavian countries have got Health, Education and Welfare worked out pretty well (y'know, the things that matter) and a great taxation system to pay for it.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Oh, but you're ignoring all the doomsday prophets who predict that those societies will fail... some day... one day... in the far, far future maybe. In a parallel reality... but STILL! They're bound to fail. Because... because I read some guy on Mises.org saying so!

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

Cuba! A stable government for 60 years, has survived many import shortages, simple 10% flat income tax, and indeed one of best vacation spots on earth.

[luzribeiro.livejournal.com]

World class universal free health care despite decades of embargo.