listening to the radio this morning it said the art of chivalry was dead,it also said that Americans didnt understand chivalry,how do you feel about this statement
125967
I don't think it's dead.  I do think it's taking a sabbatical with the majority of my generation (I'm 28).\n\nI try to open doors for women when I have the chance.  When my fiancee lets me, I open her car door to let her out, or open it for her when she gets in.  I follow her into restaurants, and walk on the side closest to the road when we're downtown.\n\nThe trick here isn't thinking chivalry is dead, but to try our best to teach it to the next generation.  My son is almost 3, but he already understands that he's supposed to wait for his mother to go through a door before he does.  Sometimes he tries to hold the door for her.  It's adorable to watch, but the point is that he tries.\n\nIf we, as men, remember to pass on these traits to our sons, then the likelihood increases that we'll remember more often, too.  Then maybe chivalry can make a comeback.
289511
As a veteran and recent retiree, I always thought it was funny that the people that always had the most negative things to say were the one that never had the balls to serve themselves, yet they criticized and ostracized our fine young men and woman fighting in the service of our country. I joined immediately after the Vietnam conflict and we were really hated, But we went on and did our jobs to make our country free and help others throughout the world. The lack of appreciation that Americans show for their military personel is mind boggling. My son just got out of the army and was fortunate to not have gone to Iraq (he went to Korea instead) yet he still gets flak all the time. Unfortunately with all the negative remarks in the media lately some people think that all military personnel are assholes and don't realize there is such a small percentage of soldiers that have ever caused any type of problems. I feel for you. as for the abuse, report it throught the site moderator and see if that helps. Good luck to you and thankyou for your service to our fine Nation.
327988
While there are fewer symbols of chivalry used today, I think this indicates more respect for women, not less.\n\nA lot of the things men were supposed to do for women were not gestures of love, they showed that men thought women were dainty, useless creatures that can't cross the street by themselves.  The last time I offered an able-bodied, not-pregnant twentysomething female my seat on the subway she wanted to know why I thought she should sit while I stand.  When she put it like that, I quit offering women any favors I wouldn't offer to men.  (I'll hold a door open for a man though--that's just courtesy.)  And remember that these guys from the forties also wanted you to be the best housekeeper on the block, rear the kids and to let them do all your thinking for you.  \n\nA wise man once said (Heinlein, I think)--a lady has doors opened for her because she believes they should be opened for her.  If you demand good behavior from your men, you will find they treat you well.  If you let them act disrespectfully, you won't get respect.  Find better men if the ones you are seeing don't respect you.
185742
I'm a Canadian, so obviously my views on American society aren't internal. I have the 'benefit' of being on the fence. A little inside, a little outside. The way a lot of my peers see the state of the American society is one of drastic class structures. A society that you could possibly have as many material goods as you desire, but may lose your soul along the way. A country where New Orleans could have been evacuated earlier, but wasn't. A place where innocent people are killed in gun violence regularily (here in Toronto, just over 50 people were killed last YEAR, and that was all you read about for weeks. How many people are killed on average with guns in many American cities?)\n\nUnfortunately or not, I don't think the rest of the world sees America the way Americans see it. The average American has come to be portrayed as ignorant and brutish. I've crossed the border on many occassions, and people even an hour past the border don't understand a thing about Canada. \n\nOf course, I have also met many extremely wonderful Americans (all in all, they are not too different from Canadians). But it only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch, and it's that bad apple that has formed the typical American in the rest of the world's eyes.
362739
Yeah, well media is doing a great job with their brains.. sorry, to say so, I have been living in US for a while I used to believe that this war (Irak) was confusing, but probably was the right thing to do... I see things from another perspective now.  Unfortunately, wars are simply for selling weapons, getting more power, and nothing have to do with being or not a HERO...  I hope people could think for themselves, with all the proves they have in front of their eyes,  but they wouldn't see it.  I feel sorry for some of them.
631395
No reaction. I wouldn't CARE. USA is a big butthead these days. I mean, I LIVE in USA but they're getting a little too arrogant according to other countries.
510067
war?  were not at war  were liberators and our soldiers are bring peice ...peices of body's ...can't imagine why it aint working i was telling a coworker how much i wanted to help her as i hit her i'n the face .....this was a lame attemt at humor ....it is tragic what happened i really did believe there were chemical weapons i remember buying tape and plastic to save my self .....about as effective as duck and cover under your desk for atomic bombs....there will be no america at the rate were going....fewma, katrina , 911, no moral copass ,,, did you know that different sects of buhdist monks (they meditate 5 hours at a time thats concentration,)they have been known to see into future , ...they see nothing past 2012!!!.... heard same about nostradomus.....we by know means have this world figureed out ....in the words of dr. phil "HOWS THAT WORKING FOR YOU"?
113045
hums "God Bless America" after reading all this  liberal dribble....lets see we helped save France , England , Germany ,Canada, and many other countries,but instead of taking them over , we spent our money  helping them rebuild, just like we are doing in Iraq now... America has been a big brother to many countries, forgiving debts, and showing generosity  in all parts of the world . the thanks we get are accusations and a lack of support.guaranteed these same countries would look to America if they need our help again, and in spite of their blatant  lack of  support and  respect now... we will continue to come to their aid
445695
Chivalry...hope that helps!
390908
just wanted to let you know i am in the same boat as you are, except this is my first year of marriage. i am a very proud army wife who was completely disgusted by the lack of support from some morons on here. but, for every one negative comment, there were ten good ones. plenty of people support our troops so try not to focus on the negative feedback, those come from people who dont have a clue as to what it is to be American. It's so easy for them to jump on the "military bashing bandwagon" because they have to blame someone, and unfortunately it is always our military that gets the short end of the stick. I support ALL our soldiers, not just my husband, and i will continue to support them until they ALL come home. God bless you and your family, keep your head up!
637016
Brig-Gen Aylwin-Foster hits the nail fully on the head. The Americans only understand total war and seems never to learn the lesson: Modern wars are not fought in this way. \n\nIn Malaya the British used small units of highly professional soldiers to kill only where necessary and to win hearts and minds wherever possible. These well-led fighting units knew their terrain and knew their enemy. They worked in amongst the people, in the towns and in the villages and deep in the jungle. More often than not, their successes were measured in the way they turned the local populace against the communists insurgents who'd spread like a cancer through the communities of the Malaysian pensinsula. This campaign was marked by brilliant soldiery - by the bullet and by persuasion. It was the skilful combination of the two that won the day. \n\nSomething in the American psyche (often revealed in the macho output of Hollywood) leads them to believe that overwhelming force wins wars and wins friends. It does neither. It has lost them every major military intervention since World War II. And before American respondents say American might won World War II, remember this - Germany's forces were mightier that those of the Allies, yet they lost.\n\nAmerica needs to look closely at itself. With every day that passes its swaggering, gung-ho approach becomes more of a pastiche of the goose-stepping Nazis pre-World War II. The Nazis are reviled and mocked in equal measure now - at once a joke and a horror. One day the America of the early 21st Century may be similarly seen by the civilised people of this small planet.
352152
i personally feel flash in the pan really. We have had on major wars <yet thankfully> and no great revolutions or technological advances such as bronze/iron age man or the industrial revolution. i wonder what we will be remembered for as a generation, and a worldwide culture?
580142
The Brits are so because they never say what they really really think, when people say what they think and take the risk of not agreeing, well it could lead to a fight and they couldn't allow that, oh no, they have to leave it to the Americans and ride our coat tails. Wow, where did this come from, I guess I'm more patriotic then I thought, quick someone shoot me. That's a joke for all you gun owners out there.  I don't really know, you tell me, do guys always think about sex? As far as the challenge part, I'm glad you feel that way, because there's no challenge like a crazy American girl. ;)
541533
i hate to say it but i think people are caring less\n\nits a sad state of affairs when we forget what these people did and do for us\n\ni live in another country now and i STILL wear mine....i even make a point of thanking the vets that sell them for standing by us when we needed them and its nice to see their faces when they see how much they are appreciated by someone not even originally from thier country (obviously my accent gives me away)\n\nmaybe more needs to be done to educate youth about what happened in the last century and how much we have now and owe to those that fought
518552
To open the door and pull out the chair is one thing, to honk the horn on your car, whistle, make rude comments and smack a girl on the @ss is not chivalry. In fact that is not acceptable and is very vulgar. \nI'm not saying all men are like this and I do know the difference between a gentleman and an idiot, I have had a gentleman help me put powersteering fluid in my truck, saying "there's no point in getting such a pretty dress dirty" and I didn't think that was sexual harrassment. I thought that was sweet. \nNot all of us are like that, so for the few of us that like old fashion gentlemen, thank you to the men that (even in a world that women practice independence) still make an effort to practice chivalry and charm.
275010
Just like Viet Nam, the only station I know of that shows the dead in silent respect is PBS on Jim Learer News. I watch it every night to get the truth the other networks aren't showing. Deaths are still happening in Afghanistan too, and PBS shows them as well. I would rather know the truth then be lied too, and that is what I feel the present Government is doing to America on a daily basis. It's really sad, and I wish our military would come back home, so we can heal from all of this.
134863
That is a question I could ask myself.I am no European, It is just that nobody really seems to know-and I'm in Florida!My car broke down in a touristy area in Orlando,so I stayed the night.A lot of people had on these huge,thick overcoats-they themselves were huge.Not fat, just gigantic.They would give you a serious look and stare into your eyes,like "You vill giff me your identity papers plees."More than a few times I have seen and actually talked to English people and it was alway a joy.Just to hear the nearly same language spoken differently is unceasingly interesting.Plus a lot of Britishers are moving to my area and I'm glad.At least they are nearly civilized.I actually prefer them to the crude,violent,refuse-to-be-educated barbarians I grew up with.Nobody ever talks about Europe that I know of,it doesn't seem at all important.Oh,sure some rich wife of a local politician went to Prague on vacation.That's all we ever heard about for three months afterword.She didn't say pray-eg,she said prog,like frog....oops and about the French......... The dimwits in America[north america the place with all the Mexicans]believe everything the t.v. tells them.It is frightening.I have a little better grasp of history,having a intense interest in it.The French are a very romantic and heroic people, who sacrificed everything including their own lives in the war and helped Americans.They are notorious for being rude and deodorant free.The last thing I heard about Spain was they were the most polite.I had a boss that went there evey year,it was his favorite thing to do.My personal opinion has not much experience,never been there,and nobody knows a thing about that place.A former "colonist".