I just read an interview of the Dalai Lama

[Droopy]

I see those on the internet from time to time and I've also read a couple of books of his. He has got to be one of the kindest people on the planet. When I think of the Dalai Lama, I think of wisdom, compassion, tolerance, and peace. The Buddhists claim that he is the 14th reincarnation of some spiritual hero, an actual living god, but that doesn't really concern me. I like Buddhism, but I guess I don't really buy into the concept of reincarnation.

But I don't think that the Dalai Lama is unique in his kindness and wisdom. In fact, I think that there are people from our own culture who exhibit the exact same traits as the Dalai Lama. If that is so, then why do we keep ending up with assholes representing us? Does it have something to do with our culture or have the American people been conned?

[Droopy]

1. C'mon you fuckers!

Respect my authoritah!!!

In other words: Kick and please respond to my thread.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear Droopy...

I think a lot of people equate kindness, wisdom, tolerance and peacefulness with weakness...

You know, you've got to be strong, or even ruthless, to be really American! :sarcasm:

:hi:

[TZ]

3. "Nice guys finish last"..thats a common theme in this country

I do think that general assholery (although its framed in terms of being "decisive" and "ambitious") is valued here.
Let me give you an example. I worked at NIH last year, with a brilliant scientist from Australia. He had been around for awhile, but only in this country for about 6 years. There was a lot of backstabbing and lying and cheating and even outright data manipulation/sabotage. He literally COULD NOT comphrend the idea of people generating false data/info to get him out of the way (there was a big faction that disliked him because they could not understand his ideas). I got the impression from him that in Australia directness is very common and the idea of backstabbing/dishonesty/brown nosing to get ahead isn't quite as common.
Here, that seems to be acceptable, as long as it gets you ahead. I think its almost impossible for a nice honest person to get elected because of this..even if one is, he/she is immediately called "spineless", or "wussy".

[Droopy]

4. I find it amazing

that people would prefer back-stabbing over kindness and honesty. Particularly among the educated like your scientist friend from Australia. Why would someone put their own interests over that of the masses? If it were a choice between something that would benefit all of mankind or yourself and everybody else be damned, what would the sane person choose? Are Americans crazy? Does this society generate sociopaths?

[TZ]

5. Its short sightedness and narrow mindedness

This NIH department was in the middle of clinical trials in AFRICA on experimental malaria vaccines. Get this...they *thought* he was moving too fast..but he was going agaisnt the NIH way of doing things and that was just considered wrong...appearance and prestige was more important than the actual science (surprising to hear that scientists can be so petty and nasty isn't it? Came as a shock to me). Actually they behaved alot like this administration (for all that all were vocal in their dislike of Bushco). I think also part of the problem in this case is that my friend's way of doing things called into question years of data and research AND called into question certain people's competance as researchers. Alot of people are so convinced that they and only they are right that they lose sight of the bigger picture even if they don't realize it. Sound familiar? I really did feel "Bush-Wacked" at the end of 7 months at NIH after they forced my friend/boss out and made my life miserable.....