Grand Rapids Michigan Video

[August1991]

This is what makes America great. (I suggest that you watch it in Full screen, HD.)

In this 21st century, Chinese, Russians, Africans, Indians (to be politically correct, for example) don't do things like this - from youtube, the Internet on down.

Edited June 6, 2011 by August1991

[BubberMiley]

Compare this:

... and this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs5bnVoZK4Q&feature=related

[Guest American Woman]

And your point is, BubberMiley?

Thanks for posting the video, August. It was a cool reaction from a city that refused to be labeled as "dying."

[Moonlight Graham]

In this 21st century, Chinese, Russians, Africans, Indians (to be politically correct, for example) don't do things like this - from youtube, the Internet on down.

Indian street dancing:

African dancing:

Russia street dancing:

http://youtube/10O75jebAWg

America is great (for the most part anyways), but i don't think dancing around in the street lip-syncing to a song about dead rock n' rollers is what makes them such.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Moonlight Graham

[Guest American Woman]

Indian street dancing:

African dancing:

Russia street dancing:

America is great (for the most part anyways), but i don't think dancing around in the street lip-syncing to a song about dead rock n' rollers is what makes them such.

Very cool videos. The difference, though, is that they are definitely dancers who are practiced in that sort of thing - not just a whole bunch of random people who got together - 5000, I believe it was, in Grand Rapids - who did so in response to being listed as a "dying city in America." I would think it took quite an effort to choreograph that many people throughout the town - people who participated in support of their city. I'd say they showed that Grand Rapids is a city with a lot of spirit - quite the opposite of "dying."

[August1991]

And your point is, BubberMiley?

IMV, Bubbler has a very good point.

I happen to see a difference between the three videos, but I wonder about the difference. I have seen nationalism up close, and I am leery of it. I have a strong distaste.

----

The American video is silly but heartfelt, and has no religious overtone. IMHO, the writers of the US Constitution rightly set this "American nationalism" on its proper course.

I have often wondered whether such and such nation -swept up in a nationalist bubble- could do as the Germans did in Treblinka, Poland. My general conclusion is that Russian, American and Quebec Jews have not always had an easy life, but they live.

I think Trudeau said that the ultimate measure of a society's civility is how the majority treats the minority.

[August1991]

America is great (for the most part anyways), but i don't think dancing around in the street lip-syncing to a song about dead rock n' rollers is what makes them such.

MG, organizing a youtube dance is more or less standard, nowadays. (In fact, compare the organization between the US video and your Indian/African videos.)

IMHO, the American video is not worthy for its organization (and that seems Bubbler's main point - strict organization).

Instead, the Grand Rapids video is a bunch of individuals having fun, and even getting it wrong - despite the strict organization.

Its success is its individualism.

[Moonlight Graham]

Very cool videos. The difference, though, is that they are definitely dancers who are practiced in that sort of thing - not just a whole bunch of random people who got together - 5000, I believe it was, in Grand Rapids - who did so in response to being listed as a "dying city in America."

I think the only reason they were able to get that many people is that most of them were unemployed and had nothing better to do. I kid, I kid.

Good for them i suppose. Sucks that part of the country (and ours) is getting the crappy side of globalization right now.

To be honest, the only video i found amusing in this thread was that Nazi boy singing. Thats entertainment baby!!

[August1991]

Good for them i suppose. Sucks that part of the country (and ours) is getting the crappy side of globalization right now.

To be honest, the only video i found amusing in this thread was that Nazi boy singing. Thats entertainment baby!!

MG, you think "globalization" is crappy? What do you think of the Internet, and Internet forums? What do you think of Skype, ATMs, bank tellers and telephone operators?

How many telephone people have lost their jobs because of Skype?

MG, is Skype a bad thing? Are we getting the "crappy" side of Skype?

----

The great thing about America is its boundless optimism, based on individual freedom. As that European who chose America famously said: Imagine.

Edited June 11, 2011 by August1991

[Moonlight Graham]

MG, you think "globalization" is crappy?

No, because i never said it was crappy. There are good and bad aspects to globalization.

[bloodyminded]

Just as a point of order, I truly despise that pretentious, bloated song.

[Guest American Woman]

MG, organizing a youtube dance is more or less standard, nowadays. (In fact, compare the organization between the US video and your Indian/African videos.)

IMHO, the American video is not worthy for its organization (and that seems Bubbler's main point - strict organization).

Instead, the Grand Rapids video is a bunch of individuals having fun, and even getting it wrong - despite the strict organization.

Its success is its individualism.

I think it's success goes beyond that - it's a city that refused to be labeled as dying. Such a label only hurts a city that has suffered from a loss of manufacturing et al and is trying to pick up the pieces and move forward. Who would want to take a chance on a city that is "dying?" Who would chose such a location for a business venture?

The video ends by saying "Experience Grand Rapids," and it's enthusiastic message caught a few people's attention. One of the outlets listing it as dying got a bit defensive, imo, by saying, in effect, 'we were just repeating what someone else said.' I hope the attention that it garnered does have some positive effects - and I say good for the people of Grand Rapids who refused to sit idly by and take it; to me they showed that they are a city worth taking a second look at.

Edited to add: I like this:

The great thing about America is its boundless optimism, based on individual freedom. As that European who chose America famously said: Imagine.

Thank you.

Edited June 11, 2011 by American Woman

[Oleg Bach]

Recently my good friend who is Korean passed away - he ran a very successful buisness at the corner of Queen and Broadview - he was not typical...at his funeral there were a lot of heavy hitters who morned his passing...One thing this man did was treat the lowest of the low and the highest professional with equal value - He loved people - was tolerant of the worst - I thought that I had the whole Christian thing down pat - This man was the real deal...it was him that made our neighbourhood great....I loved this guy and he loved me...one of the most wonderful people I ever met...and now he is gone...Those that critized him now carry his burden...he was unappreciated. People like Yong Ha...is what makes for a great nation - lovers...unconditional lovers of humanity.