talking trash (blood, America)

[robtex]

This is a true story and I am posting it on here because I want to get a feel for how posters percieve this incident. Right after college (early 90's) my old college roommate calls me on the phone. Generally a respectable guy he got into a bar fight the night before and used the only martial arts technique he had ever worked on to win this fight. Osoto gari
http://judoinfo.com/images/animation.../osotogari.htm

That part is as important as why the fight happened. He was at a bar near smu campus drinking with his friends and a jamaican sitting at the next table was bad-mouthing the USA on everything from foreign policy to domestic taxation. I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what was said but at one point my old roomie turns around and tells the guy to shut-up and if he doesn't like this country than leave (the country).

The fella makes some more trash talk about the USA both guys stand-up, punches are thrown, my old roommate does his throw (see above link) and the guy lands head-first on a hardwood floor knocked silly. The bouncers elated someone shut-up the anti-american trash talker drag the semi concious man outside. People cheer and someone buys my old roomie a beer.

When I heard the story however I felt sad. Sad that a politicial dissagreement could only be resolved through violence. On a larger scale I wonder if some wars could have been negociated to resolution or if war was the only option. If you had been my old roommie in the bar that night and a fella was talking trash about your country what would you have done and why? If you had seen the incident as a patron would you have bought my old roomie a beer or cheered him on?

[ChrisP]

Sorry Rob, I needed an "other"

I woulda ordered the man the worst beer in the house... just rubbish tasting.

[robtex]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

I woulda ordered the man the worst beer in the house... just rubbish tasting.

You fight dirty Chris!!!

[kai]

i would argue the point then knock his block off, no seriously it all depends how aggressive he was and only in self defense

[robtex]

Originally Posted by kai

i would argue the point then knock his block off, no seriously it all depends how aggressive he was and only in self defense

He is sitting at a different table and talking to his friends. He only stands up when you bring issue of his rants.

[MaddLlama]

Personally I would have ignored him. I've been in similar situations, and everyone is entitled to thier opinion. If I'm out at a bar drinking, I would rather enjoy my drink than engage in political debate, especially with someone who's from another country.

[EnhancedSpirit]

Originally Posted by robtex

This is a true story and I am posting it on here because I want to get a feel for how posters percieve this incident. Right after college (early 90's) my old college roommate calls me on the phone. Generally a respectable guy he got into a bar fight the night before and used the only martial arts technique he had ever worked on to win this fight. Osoto gari
http://judoinfo.com/images/animation.../osotogari.htm

That part is as important as why the fight happened. He was at a bar near smu campus drinking with his friends and a jamaican sitting at the next table was bad-mouthing the USA on everything from foreign policy to domestic taxation. I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what was said but at one point my old roomie turns around and tells the guy to shut-up and if he doesn't like this country than leave (the country).

The fella makes some more trash talk about the USA both guys stand-up, punches are thrown, my old roommate does his throw (see above link) and the guy lands head-first on a hardwood floor knocked silly. The bouncers elated someone shut-up the anti-american trash talker drag the semi concious man outside. People cheer and someone buys my old roomie a beer.

When I heard the story however I felt sad. Sad that a politicial dissagreement could only be resolved through violence. On a larger scale I wonder if some wars could have been negociated to resolution or if war was the only option. If you had been my old roommie in the bar that night and a fella was talking trash about your country what would you have done and why? If you had seen the incident as a patron would you have bought my old roomie a beer or cheered him on?

Well this particular move seems to be less violent than the punches that were thrown.

I was wondering if the 'trash-talker' had been a "red-blooded, all american boy" a hard working, tax-paying, voting American, with the same negative opinions, would your friend have been so quick to get angry, or would he have maybe joined in with his own complaints about America?

I have never known a jamaican to be violent, opinionated maybe, but not violent. Any time someone expresses this kind hatred towards something, it is a reflection of something inside of them. And your friend needs to learn how to control his emotions.

[Sunstone]

When I've been in similar circumstances, I've often asked enough questions of the talker to get a sense for whether he (or she) has any idea what they're talking about or are just blowing hot air.

Quite often, they don't understand much about the States and are just the sort of people who are bores wherever they go. Like the stereotypical American tourist, their real game is to feel superior by putting down others.

Occasionally, however, you run across someone who is highly informed and from whom you can indeed learn something valuable. I used to know a lot of foriegn students when I was in school, and their takes on America were sometimes fascinating and better informed than the average American in some ways.

[gnomon]

To be perfectly honest it is hard to know based on the information provided. Considering how it is presented I believe the bouncers should have thrown your roommate out of the bar. What kind of person is he if he can't stand someone, probably drunk since this is in a bar, stating what he pleases? Sounds pretty pathetic to me.

[cardero]

Sorry Robtex, I picked choice
e) I probably would have joined the jamaican in