International Mamas share with us what freedoms you have!

[Arduinna]

Since so many keep posting about the "unique" freedoms that Americans enjoy, international mamas and papas please enlighten us to the freedoms you enjoy in your countries.

[El Casey S]

1.) The freedom to have really good political discussions with well informed people, without anyone getting really mad and calling names.

2.) The freedom to have an opposing political view and it not effect your job. (Have relatives in a southern state who don't dare put democratic candidates on their bumper stickers for fear of losing clients.)

3.) All the same freedoms of the US +

4.) The freedom of experiencing so many fascinating cultures in a relatively small area.

5.) Freedom of many political parties (parlamentary system is much more democratic!) to chose from.

6.) Freedom to nurse in public, not to circumsize, to use homeopathic cures without having to deal with someone's fear and ignorance and a long list of freedoms relating to child care.

7.) Freedom to go to some dive and expect really good food.

8.) Freedom to have a fantastic choice of entertainment everyday (I live in Berlin)!!

9.) Freedom to see films and hear music in foreign languages that will never be seen or heard in the US!!

10.) (from DH) The freedom to have really good beers!

Added after reading the post after mine:
ALL people in Germany have access to affordable health care.

[lilirose]

sorry, having to remove all posts with personal info due to an online stalker.

[simonee]

In the Netherlands, I DON'T have the freedom to:

* buy a gun and carry it around. Guns are illegal, even most cops are unarmed.

* circumsize my male children and have the state pay for it. The state pays all our medical needs, but not elective amputation.

* have people sent to their deaths for crime. No death penalty. Not "even" for minors.

* buy elections. Not even if I'm a big moviestar with a funny accent.

* hire employees without giving them medical, vacation and other benefits.

* have minors sent to war before they are allowed to buy a beer to "celebrate"

* write off all my expenses if I'm rich. So I'm very unlikely to become a millionnaire. Then again, I'm also very unlikely to end up in a cardboard box on a park bench.

However, I can buy everything I need in non-corporate stores, my children can safely go anywhere on a bicycle because bikes have separate lanes everywhere, I can and am expected to vbac, go to a doctor when I need one and get the treatment I need (a year ago, dh had to go to the ER twice with what they considered a mystery ailment "or maybe trush" for what turned out to be gallstones ~ how uncommon can that be???), send my children to virtually any school I like without having to pay for it. If I buy a bigger car, I will also have to pay more taxes for it.

I can choose what papers to read and they won't all be owned by the same two millionaires, the parliamentary system allows me to choose between more than 2 very similar candidates. I get paid vacations every year, even if I'm on welfare. I can smoke or eat pot if I want to, and if I'm gay my partner will be considered exactly that by the state (we can marry if we want to). All women have abortion rights, but few use them because b/c is (still?) free and children are educated about sexual matters in school. University education is affordable. My midwife will suggest that I breastfeed, but probably not for an extended period of time. If I am very ill and won't get better, I have the freedom to end my life in a manner I see fit.

I can travel anywhere in the world without having to feel fear about being hated just because my president can't keep himself from proving to the whole world how friggin powerful he is.

I have the freedom to criticize my country's government and not be told to love or leave it. Having the mental wherewithall to articulate criticism is not considered unpatriotic here.

Though I wouldn't mind a few WAHMs here, and a bit more sunshine

[Arduinna]

Thanks you guys! I loved your posts, and can't wait to hear from some of our Canadian friends too (and all other Internationals, Hilary??).

Just got off the phone with dh where we again discussed moving out of the country.

[El Casey S]

(((Simonee)))

[PinkSunfish]

All the same freedoms as in the USA +

Freedom from guns. There is some gun crime here but your average bobby on the beat is unarmed and so is your average criminal.

Freedom of speech. It is not considered unpatriotic to critisise the way the government is doing things especially as regards the "war" on terror. I do not feel free to speak my mind while I am in the US.

Freedom from institutionally corrupt politics (you cannot give unlimited contributions to political parties or pay for questions to be asked in parliment without retribution).

Freedom from the religious right - fanatical groups do not have the power to sway politics

Not that the UK has it all 100% brilliant of course but although I love to visit America and many many Americans are lovely people I could not live there.

[guestmama9906]

Originally posted by El Casey S


7.) Freedom to go to some dive and expect really good food.

That's clinched it. I'm packing up and moving over!

[MamaSoleil]

In Canada we have:

The right to bf anywhere.
The right to free health care.
The freedom to leave our homes unlocked.
The freedom to not vaccinate.
The choice of many political parties (also the parlamentary system here too)
The right to a year of paid maternity leave, soon to be two years.
Amazing community programs, including free post secondary education for single moms under 28 yrs of age.
The freedom to speak our minds and not worry about being assaulted (for the most part)
The peace of mind of walking around and feeling safe.
The freedom of owning lots and lots of land for fairly cheap prices.
No death penalty.
Free legal aid.
So much more, but I'm drawing a blank....

Mamasoleil/samson

[MamaOui]

have the freedom to criticize my country's government and not be told to love or leave it. Having the mental wherewithall to articulate criticism is not considered unpatriotic here.

Gee Simonee, that must be refreshing. Speaking as an American living in America, I truly can't stand the phrase "Love it or leave it".

[sohj]

MamaOui: There's another saying which I (fortunately) haven't heard in a really long time, but it keeps popping into my head over the last few years: "If you're so smart, why ain't you rich?"

I used to see that on the register in a diner my father and I would stop in occasionally while on the road in Wisconsin in the 70's. It looked pretty old and tattered at the time. I never saw anything remotely like it when living abroad.

[Arduinna]

: how any of that is on topic for this thread is beyond me

[PinkSunfish]

I have to say Nursing Mother (and I am not pointing a finger at you here) that over and over I see Americans referring to their "unique" freedoms and it is very annoying to those of us who also feel fortunate to live in countries with the same freedoms.

To us it perpetuates the international view that Americans are (wilfully) unaware of the world outside their borders.

---------------------------

To my above post I would like to add the National Health Service, one, the institution of the UK of which I am most proud.

[untomySelf]

simonee I love the Netherlands

I love Europe

Ive lived in AMerica for 4 years but Im in Australia now, my native country

I love that women with children, especially single women, can stay with their children and get paid to do so.

I love that my child can be naked on beaches and at home without worrying about CPS arresting me.

I also love that there is no dubbing of words like F***, sh!t and the like on TV

I like that I dont have to be bombarded by ads telling me how to numb my pain, grief or headaches by drugging me up

I like that my half African American child doesnt have any racial slanderous attitudes to worry about here

I love that if I ever choose schooling as an option (not likely but still) I wont feel terrified of the things I watched my stepsons go through in their schools.

As much as I hear complaints about the medical issues here, I love that I can get quality health care without paying for it through the nose

I love that car insurance is so minimal and affordable

I love hearing no worries mate and fair enough every day. It was tiring watching my back and mouth in the States.

I love that working class exists here

[DaryLLL]

Northern European mamas have the freedom and privilege to birth healthfully. Darn that socialist health care and legal midwifery! Look at the rates of deaths per 1000 births.

http://www.bartleby.com/151/a28.html

Finland-- 3.76

Sweden-- 3.44

Norway-- 3.9

Netherlands-- 4.31

UK-- 5.45

France-- 4.41

Italy-- 5.76

Ireland-- 5.43

and Australia-- 4.9

US-- 6.69

Afghanistan-- 144.76!!!

[Marg of Arabia]

SvadhisthanaMama! Great thread!! THANK YOU FOR STARTING IT!!


El Casey S ~ lilirose~ simonee~ PinkSunfish ~ untomySelf ~DaryLLL~ mamasoleil.............................

Thank you for sharing your experiences here. . More Americans should be making an effort to understand how other humans live in the world!


marg

[El Casey S]

Germany - 4.65 per 1,000

(just wanted to see where it ranks!)

BTW - Dh asked me to write, "The US is a great place if you're rich!"

(Moving this to it's proper place in the America thread)

[Ilaria]

I see Americans referring to their "unique" freedoms and it is very annoying to those of us who also feel fortunate to live in countries with the same freedoms.

That is so true and so annoying! I hear it all the time, about freedom in the USA...whatever...as if Italy didn't have any freedoms :

Since it's part of Europe, we share the same freedoms, so I will mostly be redundant:

- We are free from the health care and medicine business. Pharmaceutical companies cannot advertise, and EVERY citizen has affordable health care.

- We have the right to accurate food labeling is very strict. GMOs contents must be on everything and as for meat, labels tell you specifically where the cow came from (down to the pasture)

-Freedom from oil dependence: public transportation is efficient and everywhere, same for the railway system and gas is taxed really high and is REALLY expensive. You think twice before using your car.

-Freedom to choose from may parties.

- Freedom from work-aholism: long vacations, paid leaves to be with your family.

- Freedom to be topless on (most) beaches and to view the human body as natural...on tv, ads, in the home, on beaches and parks...naked children are totally normal... (and of course, we don't cut boys' penises!)

- Freedom from the death penalty

-Stolen from MamaOui: !

have the freedom to criticize my country's government and not be told to love or leave it. Having the mental wherewithall to articulate criticism is not considered unpatriotic here.

- Freedom to buy wine and beer for our parents, without anyone thinking it's 'party time'

- We DON'T have the 'freedom' to carry guns.

Dh asked me to write, "The US is a great place if you're rich!"

That's funny, my dad has always said that

[OdessaEarthenMama]

I've really enjoyed reading all your posts, they are wonderful. I had a friend a few years ago move to New Zeland, and I enjoy hearing from her, some things are better there & some are worse she says.

[Ilaria]

It's not just talking about "virtues and appreciations ", many Americans actually DO think that the America is 'the' land of the free and assume all others countries have some kind of oppressive government.
Then again, most Americans have not traveled abroad, know little about geography (yes, a generalization but supported by how US teens rank in the subject against other nationalities) and could care less about how other countries are.

I teach college students and I see everyday, firsthand.