marion anderson - 06/06/00 15:23:05
My Email:mausmiss1@aol.com
City: Miami
State/Province: Florida
Country: US

Comments:
I have juste begun reading your book - which feeds into my favorite subject: Sociology. I was familiar with a lot of the statistics and agree that they are "like a voice from God". What I find really interesting is that the comments to your book from Americans generally are angry or accusative - very few people find these telling statistics revolting. My comparison in this case would be to an alcoholic in denial - they will not get better until they hit rock-bottom. This is kind of what I expect in this country. Things will probably have to get much worse before they weill get better. Your book "Discovering America..." is especially interesting because it was written by someone that came here thinking positively. How are you doing these days? Where are you living - and have you written anything else (this was the first time I heard of you) Thanks a million for being so kind and seeing that the emperor, indeed, has no clothes on. Please feel free to contact me with information. Thank you.

Joe - 06/06/00 05:37:39
My URL:http://www.the-sas.org
My Email:projekt@disinfo.net
City: Philadelphia
State/Province: PA
Country: US

Comments:
Much like by opinion of Karl Marx, I agree strongly with your critique of the modern system. However, I do not think that mere social democracy can solve our problems. Libertarian communism, or anarchism, is my proposed goal for society.

Andrius - 03/28/00 21:31:00
My Email:grybas@beer.com
City: Klaipeda
Country: Lithuania

Comments:
Labas! You were coping strongly against Russians. I, as a Lithuanian, value that very much, because only because of such people as you our nation has survived. But I really don't get one thing. If you hate the USA return here, into Lithuania. If you get a nice j b here, you'll have a nice life. And you'll also see bad things here, only they'll be different comparing to the USA. Having read your articles I thing the best place for you to live should be Scandinavia, or Lithuania in some 10 years, when it becomes a eal EU member with strong economics. I also think that both USSR and USA are bad things, and I think the best place to live is Europe (sure except Russia and Albania). Iki.

Allen Schultz - 02/18/00 15:52:36
My Email:aschultz@maxburgh.net
City: Pittsburgh
State/Province: PA
Country: USA

Comments:
Hmmm...there's more than a little truth in your writings. My experience has been that the American people spend a tremendous amount of time trying to acquire "stuff", and the more the better. That's sad. Because it does result in a restrictive, myopic soc ety; one that evaluates individual effort on how well it pays off. But I don't equate being poor with being innocent in this whole mess. More often than not, the only difference between a poor individual and a rich individual is money alone; their characters are the same. The overwhelming majority of American society ha bought into consumerism. So why do I care? Well, America does not allow people true freedom in practice. For example, the laws of this land grant me the privilege of using public roads as long as I abide by the applicable traffic laws. I have very little problem exercising my riving privileges when driving a car; however, get on a bicycle....forget it. I've been told by various people to "get off the road", "you don't belong on here", "you're just riding a toy" and the list goes on. And the simple fact remains that the only th ng I'm guilty of is breaking a preconception of most of these individuals. Roads are for cars...period. And they defend this concept to the point of recklessness; endangering my health and well being in an attempt to teach me a lesson. So how do I deal with that? I don't; not directly. There's nothing you can do for those individuals. But contrary to popular belief, the intolerant aren't in the majority; we just are more aware of them. The average American thinks that he or she is jus trying to make ends meet. A kind of benign selfishness in that all effort is directed at benefitting themselves without harboring any specific ill will toward others. Unfortunately, this attitude is not so benign; it allows opportunists to manipulate the population as long as the majority of individuals are not pushed out of their comfort zone. The result is that Americans are essentially cattle that allow themselves to be hearded. So I direct my efforts towards helping out individuals, ones who are seeki g to better themselves and their situation but lack the resources. I won't save the world, but my efforts are going to improving it, and I can live with that.

Eduard Gudava - 12/19/99 06:37:31
My URL:http://members.aol.com/egud/
My Email:egud@aol.com
City: Lynn
State/Province: MA
Country: USA

Comments:
Hi, Valdas and Rolanda! Tryed to contact you over the phone, unsuccesfully. How are you, people? Hope that everything is OK. Please give me a call at 781- 5992657. I will also try to contact you again. X0X0X0X0X0 ed...

George - 10/29/99 22:38:55
City: birmingham
State/Province: england

Comments:
I think your attitudes are amazing.It is very unusual for an exile from the USSR to have opinions like yours although many do not find it the way they expect it to be! America has many,many good points and has genuine free speech. Iremember once hearing on television of a public (free)pharmacy in chicago where the poor of the city could obtain their medicines free and they had queued for several hours to obtain them(poor pharmacist). Under reagan this was shut down and one wom n who had high blood pressure had a stroke at 35yrs old.Another case I heard of was when a woman was to scared to report something at work in case she was sacked and lost her medical insurance as her child had leukaemia.Forgive me,but I can see no moral d fference between a free but poor service and a country where the drugs are available but the poor cannot afford to obtain them In latin america today nicaraguans,el salvadoreans and guatamaleans all have been denied acces to basic medical care and IMR rates are increasing.The fact that the USSR denied a lot of its problems is proven but all it shows is that communism is N ANSWER to capitalism .It does NOT SHOW that it is any worse.Capitalism is a worldwide system and only some small areas have benefited eg,Scandinavia,western europe.The rest of humanity is suffering enormously under it.You have the courage to see the gri ness of both systems and the dislike of the former has not blinded you to the injustices of the latter.This takes a lot of courage and perception.They are BOTH wrong

MR - 10/13/99 08:23:51
My Email:madis@removethis.neti.ee
City: Tallinn
Country: Estonia

Comments:
Wouldn't you like to escape the horrors of US and live in Baltics instead? Seriously though, claiming that US democracy is worse than USSR's political system is ABSURD to say the least. Life in USSR wasn't all that rosy you seem to remeber. Please understand that "socialist society built upon justice, rule by the people, and sol darity" will never work. Too many people are lazy, ignorant or careerist for this work. Current political system in Western countries IS the best system discovered so far. There ALWAYS was, is and will be social differentiation in EVERY community since the stone ages. There are a ways winners and losers. Read some Orwell, even "Animal House" if you like. Free but severely lacking medical services (can we say, no peniccilin in hospitals?) and education (only in Russian where possible), sure. There was poverty, crime, prostitution, unger, HUGE differences in wealth between party bosses and commoners, in Soviet Union -- the party just claimed there was no such thing, and anyone who would disagree ended up in prison, asulym or was expelled. Let's not mention the 60 million victims of oviet system. What is it that you believe in, and in what respect does it differ from Soviet (1980's) system? Social democracy - wasn't this what Hitler popularized? Do offer some viable solutions please. If you have any ideas how to improve the situation and can explain it to people in understandable fashion, feel free to start your own party. You wouldn't have this luxury in a Socialist country.

Ronald Gillen - 10/13/99 05:39:49
My Email:gillen@nconnect.net
City: Hustisford
State/Province: WI
Country: US

Comments:
I agree with your perceptive commentary... Sveiki ..... Ron Gillen

Debra A. Holder - 11/09/98 19:30:29
My URL:http://www.angelfire.com/ks/wordart/index.html
My Email:dholder@swbell,net
City: Wichita
State/Province: KS
Country: USA

Comments:
These were absolutely wonderful essays.

Flora Zuideveld - 03/25/98 21:14:22
My Email:swalters@odu.edu
City: Norfolk
State/Province: VA 23507
Country: USA

Comments:
Love your stuff! Keep writing!

Cameron - 02/26/98 22:45:56
My URL:http://www.envirolink.org/greens
My Email:cls@internetaddress.com
City: San José
State/Province: Cal
Country: US

Comments:
Hi Valdas, thanks for your note, sorry for the delay. Thanks for putting your info on line. If we, the people, can win the propaganda war, I think we can pull this whole mess back from the brink. There doesn't have to be slavery, warfare, and devastation. All we have to do is point out who the bad guys are, and offer alternatives. There was a Gallup survey a few years ago in the Ukraine, where the pollster asked people which of several political philosophies they identified with. More people identified with the philosophy known as GREEN POLITICS than any other, about 40%. But when they asked people where they stood by naming the political systems, Green got a lower score. The bad guys have co-opted our name, but they cannot kill the VISION.

Cameron

Fredi Camenisch - 01/31/98 22:48:18
My Email:kruegli@rocketmail.com
City: Chur
State/Province: GR
Country: Switzerland

Comments:
It looks great! Greetings form your friend Fredi

Eric and Anja - 01/31/98 16:03:01
My URL:http://home.westbrabant.net/~schuller
My Email:schuller@westbrabant.net
City: Breda
Country: Netherlands

Comments:
And something completly different. nice page Valdas. The Usa thinks that they own the world but look first at yourself America.

Kristina - 01/29/98 09:42:42
My URL:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/1550
My Email:Zemaite@yahoo.com
City: Chicago
State/Province: IL
Country: USA

Comments:
I strongly support 99% of Valdas' ideas and observations. I admire his never-ending fight for a better, more fair life. The web page is really artistic and tasteful! I think it is great that people like Valdas are able AND willing to express their feeling and describe experiencies, and to give others so many facts to think about. The ones who don't like this, should not read it. Nobody eats the food they don't like ( unless they are very hungry and there is nothing better!=) I also should worn everybody- Lithuanians are critics by nature. I would criticize even Paradise! Sekmes Jums, rasytojau! Sekmes kelionese, svajonese, darbuose!

Bob Rindy - 01/26/98 04:56:54
My Email:bobr@en.com
City: Cleveland
State/Province: Ohio
Country: USA

Comments:
Agreed....... But aren't you glad we at least have the freedom to express all of this?

Ros - 01/25/98 22:49:40
My Email:roburn@one.net.au
City: Wagga Wagga
State/Province: New South Wales
Country: Australia

Comments:
I am super slueth investigating the potential of my new network connection. Thanks!

Bridget Lang - 01/25/98 20:17:07
City: Groton
State/Province: Mass.
Country: USA

Comments:
This was my first time that I have ever been on this. I found it very was very different. I was interesting though.I will probably come back.

Eric Staggs - 01/25/98 18:23:41
My URL:http://www.souldanse.com
My Email:estaggs@hotmail.com
City: Naperville
State/Province: IL
Country: USA

Comments:
Whoa. I thought I had a negative attitude! Among my friends I am known to have somewhat 'radical' political views. I'm an art student, and don't know the ins and outs of politics or the difference between America and other countries, but what the hell is you problem? Leave if it's so bad. Isn't lithuania "independant" now? Or is Lithuania still more of a "lice infested, third world rat-hole nation" than America could ever be? Pissing and moaning about how bad it is, thats simply weak. I'm ceratinly not happy about things, and I know theres not too terribly much I can do to change them, but why would I? If I can help some one out who's car has broken down, or give some change, or hold a door for an old lady thats the good that gets done. I'm only 21,and I already know wha you needed to have learned years ago. The time and effort you put into making this site about how america sucks, could have been put into making something positive. Its so easy to bitch and complain, it takes no talent, no creativity, no skill, it takes nothing, except the BELIEF that somethings not right. The internet shouldn't be cluttered with this crap, use it for something positive or to make money even! Anything but to Whine. Hey valdas, I bet the domain name whiner.com is available! I know, I know, freedom of speech vadly's got here right? He can hate anything he wants...well hate is weak.

Jamie Despain - 01/25/98 18:06:16
My Email:despains@ptialaska.net
City: Kodiak
State/Province: Alaska
Country: USA

Comments:
This site is ok, but you need to put more stuff that kids will enjoy.

X-Ray - 01/25/98 17:51:10
My URL:http://hem2.passagen.se/sonorou/
My Email:sonorou@hotmail.com
City: Stockholm
Country: Sweden

Comments:
What is this? Det var Henkuz som ljög om den krossade ärtpistolen! Kom ihåg det världen!! You cannot always live and be happy... but remeber to not do what you never have thought of said Mr. Behovo.- I cannot try, said the man and walked by...

Norma J. Holt - 01/25/98 06:14:22
My Email:normaj@javanet.com
City: Turners Falls
State/Province: MA
Country: USA

Comments:
Very good essays. Written for the thinking person. I love my country and would not like to live any other place...however, as everyone knows, much can be improved upon.

lisa - 01/22/98 19:04:04
My URL:http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Shores/7131
My Email:jay_lisa@hotmail.com
City: valdosta
State/Province: GA
Country: USA

Comments:
i came across your page while is was going through my emails...i subscribe to a listserv pertaining to hawaiian independence. Anyway, i've ready some of your articles and you hit the nail right on the head! i was born in this country...i am of native ame ican and african american desent....and i had never in my life felt that this 'great' country of ours gave one hoot about me, my family or my neighbors...i've always known that all this government cares about is money and power...power over the less fortu ate. as i got older, i joined the Army...not out of any patriotic duty, but so i could go to college. i did my two years...but before i could go to school, i got pregnant and got married. my husband and i are planning to leave this country becausee we both know in our hearts, that if we don't, our children won't have a life here, not a life where they'll be happy we don't have much money...my husband has been laid off and we went through some horrible times...now, we're getting back on our feet, but there's always that fear...will it happen again? wwe don't want that for our children. so we're discussing where we ant to make our new home... it may sound cruel, but as far as i'm concerned, this country has done nothing positive or worth staying around for....lord knows we've tried and make a difference...but alas,, we're not millionaires... Lisa p.s. i hope you drop by my page sometime and let me know what you think : )

Quincunx - 01/22/98 01:45:19
My URL:http://www.iww.org
My Email:flours@usa.net
City: WobblyTown
State/Province: WobblyProvince
Country: Wobblyland

Comments:
I got the URL link from the McSpotlight website and I must say that this is very refreshing. Pleas feel free to e-mail me and check out the IWW wensite at http://www.iww.org. We have a discussion board also that you can communicate with us over. Solidly Wobbly, Quincunx

Pontus - 01/18/98 12:49:33
My Email:pimpon@algonet.se
State/Province: Smaland
Country: Sweden

Comments:
In some respects I think you are being to hard in your criticism. However the part dealing with health insurance and medical care does appeal to me. We may try to create an Utopia on this very Earth, but I think it was never meant to be achieved. Your Buddy!!! Pontus

erik larsen - 01/15/98 00:07:48
My URL:http://inet.uni-c.dk/home/erik
My Email:e-rik@inet.uni-c.dk
City: Cyberhagen
Country: Denmark

Comments:
Amerikka may be bad. Amerikka may be the end of the world. But Amerikkka gave us the internet, and the internet gave us Valdas writings. For this we are greatful. For all the rest we shall go one day and see for ourselves. Erik Larsen, Cyberhagen

John Koster - 01/11/98 22:50:46
My Email:mouserjk@xs4all.nl
City: IJmuiden
State/Province: Noord Holland
Country: The Netherlands

Comments:
Hello Valdas, I've downloaded your new article. You're new pages are good. Very soon you'll recieve my comments by mail. Bye for now, your friend John

Peter van Eerden - 01/11/98 17:19:31
My Email:beertje@worldonline.nl
City: Amsterdam
State/Province: Noord Holland
Country: The Netherlands

Comments:
You have a fine homepage Valdas! For years I am a penpal of you and I like that very much, but we do differ in a lot of things. And that should be possible in my opineon. What I never should understand is why you are so bitter about America, the American lifestyle and the American capitalismn. But never the less you are a American yourself, now! That is the part what I can not understand! Greetings from Amsterdam, your Friend : Peter

Horton Bay - 01/08/98 02:41:47
My Email:Pat@Playful.com
State/Province: Michigan
Country: US

Comments:
Your view of my home nation seems rather negative. You live in one of the most beautiful spots I've ever encountered on the planet, and yet seem intent to insult and disparage your hosts. Is your life and lifestyle above reproach? How would such an attitude as yours be recieved in Lirhuania? Your kind of complaining is called "all the way to the bank" complaining. Like the man who feels he was cheated in selling a horse, and whines and omplains all the while counting his proceeds. The issue of Louse infestation in your schools is highly suspect. It smells of exageration or pure fabrication. How much time do you spend in your childrens school providing assistance and resource? How much of your income do you directly provide to th se less fortunate? How much of your daily effort is selfless, how much selfish? As you might have percieved I'm deeply insulted that a man has used his precious freedom for the purpose of degrading his host. Try Mexico or Guatamala on for size. Try Hati. Hell, try England. ta

Stephan Hautz - 01/05/98 23:38:35
My URL:http://www.angelfire.com/ca/woodybeen/index.html
My Email:woodybeen@yahoo.com
City: Calgary
State/Province: Alberta
Country: Canada

Comments:
Hey Valdas!! You have helped me a lot with my project and I greatly appreciate it.

Milton Takei - 01/05/98 00:06:55
My Email:miltont@efn.org
City: Eugene
State/Province: Oregon
Country: USA

Comments:
Valdas, Your new home page looks good, though some technophobes are still going to wonder where to click at some points. I looked at your "Land of Misery and Plutocracy" essay a little, and I think that you improved on the draft language where you explain the cu rent attitudes of people in Russia and the other successor states. When I have more time, I'll try to read more of it. Milton

Kourosh - 01/03/98 23:40:01
My Email:kourosh@cs.uoregon.edu
City: Eugene
State/Province: Oregon
Country: USA

Comments:
It is an artistic home page you have made,but I could not hear any sound. Talk to you soon. Kourosh

Chris Brady - 01/03/98 23:30:36
My Email:bradychr@darkwing.uoregon.edu
City: Corvallis
State/Province: Oregon
Country: USA

Comments:
Congratulations on your spectacular new page! Happy New Year to you, your readers, and to our hurting world. Can we make it better? Only if we get it TOGETHER!