It seems to me that the president of the United States is some kind of Pharaoh and the whole kingdon would happilly sacrifice itself to make the president happy and safe. At least this is what i see in movies.
shareWell I am sure that not every American would risk their life to save the President's but many of us would. Even if it were an Evil Socialistic Friends With Terrorist Person like Osama , I mean Obama, yes even then people would put the President's life ahead of our own.
You see it has something to do with National Pride, and Security of our Nation. You fail to see the bigger picture, and your analogy of "Some Kind Of Pharaoh" is simplistic and idiotic at best.
"Don't Like Cops?, Next Time You're In Trouble Call A Crack Head!"
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marriednavycop, not cool. A very revealing post.
And to answer the original poster's question: The 51%-49% nature of the way the United States' election process is set up makes this a very interesting question. To answer your question straight, no. I don't think it would be realistic to say that 100% or even some number close to 100% of Americans would be willing to do that. I'm sure that a vast majority of Americans wish no harm to the President, but it takes something extra to be willing to sacrifice your own life for him/her. I probably would be willing to do that since i'd figure that to the whole of the United States, i'm worth far less than the President. Being near a president would probably awaken the sense of civic duty in me and I would be willing to make the trade. However, I personally think National Pride and Security of our Nation are the wrong terms to use in explaining why one would do such a thing.
Very fun/good question, though!
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“The duty of a patriot is to protect his country from its government.”
Thomas Paine
Cook the man some eggs!
If you are refering to the movie, keep in mind that it was top military and government people who sacrificed themselves for him. Not just some random American people.
shareI can believe that they would make the sacrifice. I think what bothered me in the film was the heroism of, say, the selfless fighter pilot who wasn't acknowledged in any way by the film. The next scene was the daughter, who I didn't like for some unspoken reason, coming up to kiss the president in the pilot's seat for a father/daughter moment. My god.
I can understand the president being important... but he refused to get off the plane because of his wife and daughter. So the movie is saying basically that these men are dying to help the little girl. That bothers me that other little girls aren't going to have their dead dads so this little girl can live. The president I can understand. But not the daughter. The major was shot and Macy and the fighter pilot died after the president had a couple of chances to split the plane.
The movie's attitude to their deaths with the little kissy moment with the daughter bothered me. The fighter pilot just blew up in front of them because they ran out of counter measures after hitting the button once. If anything I thought Oldman had a nice point when he said the wife and daughter were expendable. No kidding!
No, not every US citizen would. Mainly only those who are brainwashed by a sense of duty.
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"Those who know how to think need no teachers."
-Gandhi
Truthfully, I know I would, even a moron like Bush. If he's the president then he's worth saving, because he represents our democracy. That's worth it, and that's what it means to be an American. Sorry if it sounds sappy, but it's how I feel.
shareTruthfully, I know I would, even a moron like Bush. If he's the president then he's worth saving, because he represents our democracy. That's worth it, and that's what it means to be an American. Sorry if it sounds sappy, but it's how I feel.
It doesn't sound sappy at all. The President (whomever is in office) is a living representation of the republic. Even when Bush was in office I never wished him ill. Not because I liked Bush (I didn't) but he was the President.
I would never risk my life for the president! America is a free democracy, where all men are treated equal, he is not worth more than me, and im not worth more than him!
shareI would use the president as a shield for bullets before I use myself as a shield for him.
shareAs an American, no, I wouldn't. I'm too selfish (as most Americans are). I like my life too much. Besides he's just a person. There's always someone to take his place. Do I get a little teary when I see movies where they blow up Washington? Yeah sure, not because of the people, but because of the idea it stands for. But one person doesn't make America.
As for the movie, most of those people were military trained to sacrifice themselves. Like jrb said most Americans would probably use him as sheild before taking a bullet themselves.
If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all
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No, it entirely depends on the President. I wouldn't have given my life to save either Bush or Obama, unless I was Secret Service, in which I would for both. There may be a President in the future who I would give my life for... if I were alive during WWII for instance, I'd probably jump in front of FDR, given how important he was to not only the country, but the world.
shareI wouldn't, this is why we have vice presidents. Killing or kidnapping the president doesn't destroy or hold hostage America like it would with a dictatorship built around one man. They, on an individual basis, just aren't that critical to the continuing functions of our government.
shareIt would depend on who you ask. Most military people (families included) tend to be raised with the idea of patriotism to the point where it is an honor to serve your country, from conducting a local bake sale up to sacrificing your life. Many people believe in following the president, regardless of what they think of their politics. Most tend to follow their personal opinion (I noticed that a lot of people who claimed to blindly follow Bush simply because 'he is the president' didn't necessarily extend that loyalty to Obama)
Personally, unless the president is a monster (IE: Hitler) I would probably give my life for them in a situation where there was no other choice. The presidency is more one man/woman, but a symbol and an infrastructure. The death of a president can lead to a lot of bad things, a lot of upheaval.
But in my mind, a good president dedicates their life to the good of the people, and if it had to come to their death to do right by their country, then they would do so.
http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/abf5c73c-d275-4d48-aa60-c8 5177566232.jpg
nope the only people who would give there lifes for the president is the secret service
shareand military plus patriotic people.
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I wish people would admit they don't like Obama simply because he's black.
You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan
Fine I admit I don't like Obama for two reasons. 1. Incompetent president.
2. Half Black.
John Carter of Mars March 2012!
The Dark Knight Rises Summer 2012!
But he's doing more for the country then Bush ever did.
You want to play the game, you'd better know the rules, love.
-Harry Callahan
Oh really? Dragging us even deeper in debt?
John Carter of Mars March 2012!
The Dark Knight Rises Summer 2012!
i know its hard for republicans to admit, but some things are more important than money. Truth is Obama is going to go down as one of america's greatest recent presidents, While his predecessor has gone down as one of the most embarrassing worst.
shareWhy do Obama supporters always play the race card? Did people hate Bush because he was white? No, they hated him because he wasn't doing his job the way they expected.
Which is my feeling on Obama as well - nothing to do with his skin color - it is absolutely irrelevant. I hate him because he is incompetent and a liar. I also consider him the weakest president in our history (apologizing to other countries for everything we've done in the last 200 years).
Do I wish the president ill in any way? No, he is a human being and the figurehead of this country, but would I take a bullet for him? Absolutely not. That has nothing to do with skin color - I wouldn't take one for Bush either. In fact, no president in the history of my lifetime would warrant me even considering it (I was born in the Reagan era).
FDR, yes, I would've considered it. He was a president who was absolutely essential to America.
You must remember that at the time of this film, we had a good President in the White House, not some idiot like George W. Bush, who would've just let all the people on the plane die like he did when he sent soldiers off to die in Iraq.
shareI'm american and a retired military man. Would I give my life for the president? Not just no, but @#$% no. Why? Because we've not had one with any kind of honor since the creation of this country. A man without honor is not a man.
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