Hello From Across The Pond

[Hoganman1]

Hope you all had a great Christmas and New Years. I haven't been on here in a while but I so enjoy communicating with you all. Especially since at age 76 golf is still an extremely important part of my life and I've had so many wonderful times playing in both Scotland an Ireland from whence my ancestors came. While I know this site is totally devoted to golf I feel compelled to share this non golf related information to you all. As a veteran I have never been more ashamed to be a US citizen. What is happening in my country is horrible. Please know that I in no way support our current leadership. My hope is in November of this year we an begin the process of changing the trajectory of our government. If not even though my entire family is here in Charlotte NC I might just consider my pipe dream of becoming a citizen of The UK or Republic of Ireland.
Thank you for allowing me to express my frustration.

 

[Pants]

Thank you. I have a few contacts on your side of the pond and, trust me, you are not alone. Take care and keep your head down.

 

[IanM]

We generally minimise political comment on here to avoid turbulence, but its great to hear from you!


Hope you're playing again!

 

[Hoganman1]

Thanks IamM
I apologize if this is viewed as political. For me it’s right versus wrong. I have tremendous respect for all on this site and just want all to know my values.

 

[rudebhoy]

Thanks IamM
I apologize if this is viewed as political. For me it’s right versus wrong. I have tremendous respect for all on this site and just want all to know my values.

I agree with you. What’s going on in the US on a daily basis is jaw dropping stuff and not in a good way. It’s not normal politics.

 

[Hobbit]

Moved to Out of Bounds.

Good to see you back @Hoganman1

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Thankyou @Hoganman1 from a kindred Scottish spirit. It is so good to hear your views. I can guess what might have triggered your post . All I can do is send my thoughts and prayers to you and your country that what you hope for transpires before too long. More than that I cannot, and need not, say.

 

[Voyager EMH]

Thanks @Hoganman1. You have given me cause to think about and consider today's events.

I was a teenager in the 1970s.
Events here and around the world formed my opinions.
The end and aftermath of Vietnam war, The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Apartheid in South Africa, Football crowds violence and rampaging, the struggle for race and gender equality.

In all those things progress and human understanding seemed to prevail in the end. We appeared to learn from mistakes and make improvements.
But the world today seems just as, or even more, bonkers than it was 50 years ago.
Where are we going and why?
What kind of world do we want?

"What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?"

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

"What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?"

I was speaking with the concierge in our KL hotel today…he’s from Myanmar and after explaining what’s going on in his country he finished with almost exactly your words above.

 

[rudebhoy]

I was speaking with the concierge in our KL hotel today…he’s from Myanmar and after explaining what’s going on in his country he finished with almost exactly your words above.

Was he an Elvis Costello/Nick Lowe fan as well?

 

[Hobbit]

I agree with you. What’s going on in the US on a daily basis is jaw dropping stuff and not in a good way. It’s not normal politics.

I think the above post encapsulates what many people think, i.e. it’s not normal. The balance is missing.

If the discussion moves towards a liberal left(Democrats) ‘v’ a conservative right(Republican) the thread may have to be closed. Personally, and I may get castigated for it, I feel the world is closing on a crossroads, an existential threat.

When Trump had a meeting with Putin a month or so back and came away from that meeting saying that the EU, predominantly NATO countries, is the issue there was a fundamental shift. The umbrella was being taken away from Europe.

Since then, attacks on Venezuelan, threats of the same for Columbia and, last night, on Mexico. Demands on Canada & Greenland.

I fear more from the west than the east, or in equal proportions.

 

[rudebhoy]

I think the above post encapsulates what many people think, i.e. it’s not normal. The balance is missing.

If the discussion moves towards a liberal left(Democrats) ‘v’ a conservative right(Republican) the thread may have to be closed. Personally, and I may get castigated for it, I feel the world is closing on a crossroads, an existential threat.

When Trump had a meeting with Putin a month or so back and came away from that meeting saying that the EU, predominantly NATO countries, is the issue there was a fundamental shift. The umbrella was being taken away from Europe.

Since then, attacks on Venezuelan, threats of the same for Columbia and, last night, on Mexico. Demands on Canada & Greenland.

I fear more from the west than the east, or in equal proportions.

Also talk of invading Cuba and bombing Iran (again).

Greenland is particularly worrying. That would be the end of NATO, you get the feeling Trump and Putin would just love that to happen.

The killing of that woman yesterday was appalling as was the web of lies and smears spun afterwards. Anyone who watched the videos could see that she wasn't trying to kill anyone, and she wasn't shot in self-defence. To brand her as a "domestic terrorist' is disgusting.

 

[Beezerk]

It’s scary stuff, some of the videos I’ve watched on Reddit are very very disturbing, it’s like a normalisation of violence on the streets of America.

 

[D-S]

When we were in Palm Springs recently we played golf with on two separate occasions with Canadians. Apparently a lot of them who owned properties in the area have sold up due to the current regime (one of their roll ups of 20 odd had collapsed as they weren’t enough still coming down). They said it was the same in Arizona and Florida which are also very popular with Canadian ‘snow birds’.

Really nice people apart from their bizarre habit of adding tomato juice to beer.

I must add that all the Americans we met, as ever, were really friendly as well and had similar views to the OP.

 

[Hobbit]

When we were in Palm Springs recently we played golf with on two separate occasions with Canadians. Apparently a lot of them who owned properties in the area have sold up due to the current regime (one of their roll ups of 20 odd had collapsed as they weren’t enough still coming down). They said it was the same in Arizona and Florida which are also very popular with Canadian ‘snow birds’.

Really nice people apart from their bizarre habit of adding tomato juice to beer.

I must add that all the Americans we met, as ever, were really friendly as well and had similar views to the OP.

Tomato juice in beer?!

Maybe they do need ‘help’ from their neighbours

 

[Hobbit]

When we were in Palm Springs recently we played golf with on two separate occasions with Canadians. Apparently a lot of them who owned properties in the area have sold up due to the current regime (one of their roll ups of 20 odd had collapsed as they weren’t enough still coming down). They said it was the same in Arizona and Florida which are also very popular with Canadian ‘snow birds’.

Really nice people apart from their bizarre habit of adding tomato juice to beer.

I must add that all the Americans we met, as ever, were really friendly as well and had similar views to the OP.

The mothballing of one of the Jim Bean distilleries, planned to last at least a year, in Kentucky on the back of the collapse of exports must be worrying.

 

[IanM]

Thanks IamM
I apologize if this is viewed as political. For me it’s right versus wrong. I have tremendous respect for all on this site and just want all to know my values.

No need to apologise.. things tend to slide off some times. There does seem to be a lack of decent world leaders these days. But you can't mention all of them, only some!

 

[Beezerk]

Tomato juice in beer?!

Maybe they do need ‘help’ from their neighbours

Isn’t it a Mexican thing? Pretty sure I had a few while on holiday there last year

 

[IanM]

Tomato juice in beer?!

Maybe they do need ‘help’ from their neighbours

War Crime of the highest order!

There were some great Canadians I played with in Mexico. They got the hump when asked where in the USA were they from. But they later made it one-all when they referred to a couple from Cardiff as "English!"

 

[D-S]

Tomato juice in beer?!

Maybe they do need ‘help’ from their neighbours

It’s called a Red Eye apparently, also a spicy version is drunk in Mexico, maybe it’s what you turn to when you have ‘neighbours from hell’.