Countries and their greatest strengths

[Pope Joan]

In an effort to stem the tide of negativism, let us nominate countries according to their strengths, as we perceive them.

I am sure many will disagree with my choices, but here they are:

Germany: organized thought, in science, philosophy, theology (so few great treatises have yet to be translated!) and engineering.

Israel: monotheism

Italy: Political administration (credits to the Romans). Also, opera and sports cars.

Spain: flamenco, and guitars.

France: poetry

Netherlands: tolerance, and cheese

England: corporate teamwork. The great Companies of India and Hudson 's Bay were fine examples not of individualism but of cooperation. Also, to a more limited extent than they claim, civil freedoms (Magna Carta etc).

Scotland: Single malt whiskey, and some wonderful innovators in science and social science. http://www.edinburghsciencetriangle.com ... ators.aspx

Japan: the concept of kami, and appreciation for spirit as an essence of all things.

China: social order, and cuisine

India: early philosophy and theoretical insight

Egypt: Writing (with help from Phoenicia), national planning.

Greece: drama

Czechs and Hungary (Bohemia): alchemy and a free spirit

Argentina: the tango, an emblem of the national spirit. Also, with Uruguay, the gaucho; dashing, daring, apt to the work.

Brazil: samba (like tango, a derivative from Africa). The three great nations which have a deeply engrained pioneer spirit are Brazil, Canada, and the USA.

Cuba: cigars; no others can compare. They also have the best boxers and baseball players. Also, Castro defied the international hegemony and the nation survived. Imagine how much better they would be without decades of senseless embargo.

Canada: outstanding product quality. Their milk products are the finest in the world. Surprisingly successful bilingual experiment.

USA: Pop culture, entrepreneurship, Constitutional freedoms, and a better effort at engaging diverse populations than we see in most other countries.

Denmark: cooperatives.

Kenya: legal emphasis on families rather than individuals (this includes criminal law).

Ireland: bards, and the vision of an other world which is not heavenly but very real.

My three favorites are Germany, Ireland and Scotland, although I hope it is clear that I appreciate all of them.

What are yours? Where do you differ with my list, and how strongly, and why?

[Murkwood]

Also, Castro defied the international hegemony...

By being a Soviet satellite state?

Anyways, I'd have to say its a three-way between the U.K-Israel-and the USA. Then again, one could credit Zoroaster in Persia with Monotheism first, but, eh.

Honorable mentions: China and India.

[Rhodevus]

Wow. Canada is there milk... You know that we have done more than make milk, such as make syrup, become a nation known for politeness and pacifism. Even if it is not always true. It is entirely multicultural as well as bilingual (kind of).

[Costa Fierro]

Canada: outstanding product quality. Their milk products are the finest in the world.

LIES AND SLANDER! EVERYONE KNOWS NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE SUPERIOR.

Also, you missed Greece for giving the world (an albeit flawed idea of) democracy.

[Finland SSR]

You forgot Russia.

Russian driving videos are the best.

[The Huskar Social Union]

You forgot Russia.

Russian driving videos are the best.

Some of the stuff you see happening over there in those videos is just so random. I saw one video last year of a fricking battle tank crashing its way through a mound of snow and onto a highway. Then everyone just drove on as if nothing happened, it must be a common occurrence or something.

though a serious answer for russia would be all the science related stuff they have done, periodic table, space program, all that good stuff.

[Gyrenaica]

Top 3 are German, Scotland and the United States of America.

[Baltenstein]

Drama is the only thing you could associate with Greece? And poetry with France? Also, you credit Italy (the country which had 60 governments in 60 years) with political administration?
Meh, I don't like your list.

[East Westmore]

You forgot about America being the best at being the best

[United Marxist Nations]

You forgot Russia.

Russian driving videos are the best.

Some of the stuff you see happening over there in those videos is just so random. I saw one video last year of a fricking battle tank crashing its way through a mound of snow and onto a highway. Then everyone just drove on as if nothing happened, it must be a common occurrence or something.

though a serious answer for russia would be all the science related stuff they have done, periodic table, space program, all that good stuff.

I would have thought something about defending their country from large invasions (since they have done that a lot throughout history).

[Pope Joan]

Canada: outstanding product quality. Their milk products are the finest in the world.

LIES AND SLANDER! EVERYONE KNOWS NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCTS ARE SUPERIOR.

Also, you missed Greece for giving the world (an albeit flawed idea of) democracy.

True. I should change the poll, but fear destroying it or spoiling the current votes. So just consider this reply to constitute and emendation.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Some of the stuff you see happening over there in those videos is just so random. I saw one video last year of a fricking battle tank crashing its way through a mound of snow and onto a highway. Then everyone just drove on as if nothing happened, it must be a common occurrence or something.

though a serious answer for russia would be all the science related stuff they have done, periodic table, space program, all that good stuff.

I would have thought something about defending their country from large invasions (since they have done that a lot throughout history).

Yeah but so have a lot of countries, and one of the first things i think of when i look at Russia is all of the Academic and Scientific research and inventions they have done throughout history.

[Rebellious Fishermen]

I like England, China, and Egypt.

I based it more off of history then anything else with culture wrapped in.

[Pope Joan]

Drama is the only thing you could associate with Greece? And poetry with France? Also, you credit Italy (the country which had 60 governments in 60 years) with political administration?
Meh, I don't like your list.

So come up with your own, but my rule of thumb to which I attempted to adhere was to find THE ONE thing per country that stood out to me.

If I listed more than one, the first would still constitute that ONE.

So go ahead, name other singular strengths.

See, we spend so much time and effort tearing things down and ignoring truly positive accomplishments.

[Baltenstein]

You didn't say that you wanted THE ONE most important thing the respective country contributed to world. In that case, I'd say Automotor technology for Germany, the Age of Enlightment for France, the Rennaissance for Italy, State institutions for Rome, Classical philosophy for Greece, papyrus for Egypt, gunpowder for China, space flight for Russia, aviation for America and natural science for England.

[MERIZoC]

We owe a ton to Japan, India, and China in terms of culture, to the Arabic world in terms of mathematics, and Europe for science.

[Lalaki]

The best things the United States has contributed:

1) Military support for Europe, Japan, and South Korea (disregarding engagements in other parts of the world).
2) Scientific Innovations
3) Being a main player in creating the Internet.
4) Many actors, authors, poets, etc.
5) Cultural Influence

If I had to pick one, it would be point one or point three.

[The Blaatschapen]

Netherlands: tolerance, and cheese

Please explain why/how we are tolerant? Slavery until 1873. Pillarisation until the 1960s (pillarisation is the segregation of the dutch society along religious / social-economic base: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillarisation).

I'm not seeing it that much, unfortunately.

[Czechanada]

Netherlands: tolerance, and cheese

Please explain why/how we are tolerant? Slavery until 1873. Pillarisation until the 1960s (pillarisation is the segregation of the dutch society along religious / social-economic base: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillarisation).

I'm not seeing it that much, unfortunately.

Well, at least you guys had the Republic to your credit.

[Czechanada]

Russia should be credited with one of the most definitive inventions of the 20th century: rebar.

If it weren't for that, skyscrapers that make up cities like New York wouldn't exist.

[The Blaatschapen]

Please explain why/how we are tolerant? Slavery until 1873. Pillarisation until the 1960s (pillarisation is the segregation of the dutch society along religious / social-economic base: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillarisation).

I'm not seeing it that much, unfortunately.

Well, at least you guys had the Republic to your credit.

Fuck the Dutch Republic.

Half my family, and also where I was born, was nothing but a buffer zone against Spain/France. We had nothing to say in how we were governed.

[Organized States]

I think the Aviation base in the US is probably one of our greatest strengths.

[The Blaatschapen]

Before people think "Blaat does not like his country", nah, it's fine.

Here's an invention of great importance:

The stock exchange.

[Czechanada]

Before people think "Blaat does not like his country", nah, it's fine.

Here's an invention of great importance:

The stock exchange.

Well, the Dutch were the most difficult country to start as in Sid Meier's Pirates.

[The Blaatschapen]

Before people think "Blaat does not like his country", nah, it's fine.

Here's an invention of great importance:

The stock exchange.

Well, the Dutch were the most difficult country to start as in Sid Meier's Pirates.

I always found them quite easy. Merchantman

The french on the other hand...