Euro opinion requested

[Bloodrocuted]

Greetings eastern hemisphere dwelling friends. I recently spent some time in Germany and must admit that I can't stand cheap American beer anymore. I know some Miller High Life fans are going to read this and start crying but you there is no way that filth could ever compare to a good pils. Anyway, I recently came across the following passage in my Texas government college textbook. It describes the extent to which religious fanatics control our country and I wondered how my European peers would feel about it. So without further ado:

Legally, the State Board of Education can only determine the accuracy of textbooks, but it has used this power to pressure publishers to submit texts that reflect the political and religious values of its members. One publisher eliminated references to "fossil fuels formed millions of years ago" from a science text because it conflicts with some interpretations of the timeline in the bible. Another eliminated sections that were too kind to Muslims by asserting that Osama bin Laden's actions were inconsistent with commonly accepted Islamic teachings (even though this is the official policy view of the president). An environmental science text was rejected because it favorably mentioned the Endangered Species Act and warned of the threat of global warming. Under recent pressure from religious conservatives, publishers submitted health textbooks that presented an abstinence-only approach to sex education, excluding essential information about how to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs (basically they do not teach kids how to use condoms in the hopes that they won't have sex. does that make sense to you?). A Texas government text was rejected because it dared to include an article that asserted that the State Board of Education is influenced by religious conservatives!

[Ezion]

Yeah, sounds about right. I've recently gone through the mandatory public education system and the books are a bunch of propaganda. One of my high-school teachers even went so far as to sarcastically mock the government book he taught with.

An exact quote from that book:
"Bureaucracy - an efficient way to organize."

I'm not European, as you might have surmised.

[Sqarak]

[QUOTE=Bloodrocuted;3367183]publishers submitted health textbooks that presented an abstinence-only approach to sex education.QUOTE]

Abstinence is an illusion, people have always been having sex when they wanted to. Anyone who believe abstinence is effective on a large population is either asexual, an idiot or one huge fucking bigot.
At any rate, using abistence as the sole form of sex education is showing a total lack of responsability to younger generations. It does not work and will likely cause a rise in teen pregnancy and the spread of STD's.


Most textbooks here, at least in Belgium when I still went to school, are usually free from any state censorship. I can also only vouch for city, state or community education network. The catholic network might be doing this, never went to catholic school, but afaik it would go against the national education decree if they would censor content in favour of the bible.
Church and state are separated here and apart from classes dealing with religion they also want to keep it separate from general education.

This does not mean that teachers are not facing issues with Creationists. Yes they are here as well, but it's mostly Muslims around here though.

Can't help you on the German beer issues, but just remember that only Belgian and German beers are worth drinking and stay the fuck away from anything Dutch.

[Butcher]

oh well, its not like you know that those things are propaganda, in the end everything you think you know about you learned from the same sources that could as likely be propaganda
what is the truth? no man knows

[DreadNaught]

Sqarak basicaly hit the nail on the head for England as well, the only difference being that my science teachers ripped the shit out of creationism openly. Apparently it's acceptable on a GCSE Physics paper (age 16) to answer the question "How did the universe come into existance?" with "God done it". Despite the fact that we'd spent weeks learning the timeline of a very widely accepted theory.

But in answer to your initial question it does seem to me like some parts of your country are controlled by religious fanatics.

As for the beer, I've been wanted to do a little beer tour of Belgium and Germany with a friend of mine for a while now. Any suggestions as to what we should go looking for are welcome.

[Sqarak]

oh well, its not like you know that those things are propaganda, in the end everything you think you know about you learned from the same sources that could as likely be propaganda
what is the truth? no man knows

That's true, all information is data as manipulated by the supplier. The two main thing schools should teach student is to ignore dogma and to develop of an inquisitive mind.
Sadly this is not case.

[Sqarak]

As for the beer, I've been wanted to do a little beer tour of Belgium and Germany with a friend of mine for a while now. Any suggestions as to what we should go looking for are welcome.

My favourite Belgian pils is Jupiler. It's not to bitter and not to watery imo.
I preferably drink dark beers like Palm, Bruine Leffe, Goude Carolus Classic or any abbey beer I can get my hands on, although these beers can be very bitter at times.
For a blond Belgian beer I'd recommend Babar.

And if you're visiting Belgium make sure to try a lambic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambic). Gueuze Belle-Vue is decent one and widely commercially available.

[Butcher]

porn has to be the biggest propaganda and misconception on earth tho

[Poacher]

British textbooks and education is largely free of bias and propaganda, atleast as far as I recall. In our sex education we got taught about condoms, STDs etc, the main message being "If you're gonna do it, good god man do it safely!" rather than trying to discourage it.

In terms of education about the world, I reckon our schools teach it in a totally unbiased way, but it's not as controlled as sex ed (we had people from the NHS teach us that rather than the school). I went to a christian private school and they were non-stop with the God propaganda, but the classes teaching us about core subjects were clean, the class (RMPS [Religous, moral and philosophical studies]) that taught us about the world at large was probably somewhat biased. By the time they started teaching me it I'd largely formed my opinions on the world and could spot the bias, but they probably hooked a few idiots with it.

In public schools (except Catholic ones...) I doubt there is such a bias, so tl;dr would be British education is mostly clean on the biased side of things.

As for good beer, Great Britain is a nation of foreign beer drinkers I believe!

[Barbarossa]

Fuck.

I thought this thread was about how shitty most domestic beer is.


Then I realized it was bait to lure people into yet another useless political debate.



OP, you're a fucker...:D

[Poacher]

Fuck.

I thought this thread was about how shitty most domestic beer is.


Then I realized it was bait to lure people into yet another useless political debate.



OP, you're a fucker...:D

Kills some time, does it not? :D

[Barbarossa]

Kills some time, does it not? :D

If you like discussing politics, which I don't.


I'd rather discuss beer...it makes more sense and is actually worthy of wasting my time discussing it.

[Marrik]

speaking of cheap american beer, the one time i went to Scotland, everyone in the bars was drinking Budweiser because it was imported.

[Barbarossa]

speaking of cheap american beer, the one time i went to Scotland, everyone in the bars was drinking Budweiser because it was imported.

LOL.

You're joking right?


Hell, if I were in Scotland, England, Ireland, I'm sure I'd be hospitalized for alcohol poisoning within days of my arrival from sampling all the fine brews they have to offer.

I sure as hell wouldn't get a Bud.


That would be like going to Italy and asking for spaghetti.

[Amaryl]

Well, I can't say i'm a fan of british bitters. damn warm piss :P

but i do like the belgian beer. some nice abbey ones. Jupiler is a great pils to down.

though it's largely true that most dutch beers are pure horse piss. Heineken, Amstel, Bavaria, etc etc. Juck.

We do have some decent brands though. But I might be biased towards Grolsch since the factory is about a mile from my house, so it's the regional brew.

[Marrik]

LOL.

You're joking right?


Hell, if I were in Scotland, England, Ireland, I'm sure I'd be hospitalized for alcohol poisoning within days of my arrival from sampling all the fine brews they have to offer.

I sure as hell wouldn't get a Bud.


That would be like going to Italy and asking for spaghetti.

no, im serious.


everybody was drinking Budweiser, because it was from America.

[Sqarak]

no, im serious.


everybody was banging Lindsay Lohan, because it was from America.


OMGAWD :eek:

[Poacher]

We Scots are only known for our whiskey, really. Everything else tends to come from elsewhere in the world.

All the adverts on TV about beer are foreign beers. Only domestic beer I can think of that gets anywhere is Strongbow and it's a cider...

As for people here drinking American beer purely because it comes from America? I doubt it. Opinions of the yanks over here range from liking them to hating them, but fanboy adoration of anything from the country? That be pushing it a bit.

[Sqarak]

We Scots are only known for our whiskey.

There is nothing wrong with that IMO.

[Barbarossa]

We Scots are only known for our whiskey, really. Everything else tends to come from elsewhere in the world.

All the adverts on TV about beer are foreign beers. Only domestic beer I can think of that gets anywhere is Strongbow and it's a cider...

As for people here drinking American beer purely because it comes from America? I doubt it. Opinions of the yanks over here range from liking them to hating them, but fanboy adoration of anything from the country? That be pushing it a bit.

Pfft.

McEwan's is a fine Scottish brew IMO, I pick some up whenever I can find it.

As for whiskey, yes Scotland is probably best known for that.

What most folks don't know is that here are 408 different kinds of Scottish brews listed right here (http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/68/?start=0).

Beer Advocate fucking rules...

[Jezrith]

You guys do realize that to a real beer drinker the only bad beer is no beer...

[Barbarossa]

You guys do realize that to a real beer drinker the only bad beer is no beer...

You just start drinking beer yesterday?

You obviously have never had bad beer. Try some Milwaukee's Best or Natural Light for starters.

Then try to make that completely retarded statement again...:D

[Sqarak]

You guys do realize that to a real beer drinker the only bad beer is no beer...
You must confuse us with alcoholics, no you really do.

[Jezrith]

You just start drinking beer yesterday?


Nope, I've probably got about 10-15 years of beer drinking over you.


You obviously have never had bad beer. Try some Milwaukee's Best or Natural Light for starters.


Been there done that way, will most likely do it again. I'd rather have the Beast or Natty than have no beer at all. Talk to me after you kicked back some Little Kings or Steel Reserve.


Then try to make that completely retarded statement again...:D

I think you might want to switch to a hard cider, or maybe some wine coolers, beer is definitely not for you. Maybe you can go put on a pretty dress and get the Frat boys to buy you nice White Zinfandel... ;)


You must confuse us with alcoholics, no you really do.

That is completely possible, after all I'm definitely not confusing you guys for beer drinkers.

[Mordhak]

I went to catholic school all my elementary/high school career and we learned all about sexuality, STD's and anti-conception in all it's forms when we were 13. And again at 16. The only religion class we had was never about interpreting the bible; it was more learning about the history and habits of modern religions. Like the 5 tenets of islam and what orthodox jews believe etc.

[Kusghuul]

Was always taught to question authority in school in Norway. in my first year at Strathclyde in Glasgow i had a wee discussion with an economics lecturer, whose students were appalled at my behaviour to actually disagree with what he said. The lecturer then scolded the other students and applauded me.

Though my brother took it too far with his Buddhist-wannabe ethics and religion teacher, asking how a fat man (Buddha) was a good representative of self-restraint. Teacher wasn't amused.

[Kusghuul]

You just start drinking beer yesterday?

You obviously have never had bad beer. Try some Milwaukee's Best or Natural Light for starters.

Then try to make that completely retarded statement again...:D

He speaks the truth. Try American beer in Yurop, never fails to be too sweet.

[Jezrith]

He speaks the truth. Try American beer in Yurop, never fails to be too sweet.

I'd rather have that beer than no beer at all...

[Kusghuul]

I'd rather have that beer than no beer at all...

Aye, but if you can choose between budvar and budweiser you know which one is bad.

[Kusghuul]

We Scots are only known for our whiskey, really. Everything else tends to come from elsewhere in the world.

All the adverts on TV about beer are foreign beers. Only domestic beer I can think of that gets anywhere is Strongbow and it's a cider...


You've obviously not been to the Linlithgow Ale Festival. Deuchars ipa, ice cold tennents (say what you want, it's too my tastes), Craig-something Black, Arran Blonde off the tap's fucking amazing as well, perfectly light ale.

And Strongbow's terri-awful. Try some Addlestones if you can't stomach beer. So don't put Barbie off Scots ale!

[Barbarossa]

Nope, I've probably got about 10-15 years of beer drinking over you.

:lmao: You obviously know nothing about me then...and that would make you close to 60-65 I think, and I doubt you're even half that age.

Been there done that way, will most likely do it again. I'd rather have the Beast or Natty than have no beer at all. Talk to me after you kicked back some Little Kings or Steel Reserve..

I was drinking Little Kings before you were born, son. I grew up though when I saw how many alcoholics consumed that shit, and as well they consume Steel Reserve and any malt liquor you can name.

When you start drinking aftershave with listerine chasers, you may want to seek help because you're heading in that direction...

I think you might want to switch to a hard cider, or maybe some wine coolers, beer is definitely not for you. Maybe you can go put on a pretty dress and get the Frat boys to buy you nice White Zinfandel... :p




That is completely possible, after all I'm definitely not confusing you guys for beer drinkers.

No you're confusing us with alcoholics.

I recommend you seek a nice little 12 step programs and just take it 'one day at a time'.

[Jezrith]

:lmao: You obviously know nothing about me then...and that would make you close to 60-65 I think, and I doubt you're even half that age.


I'm 33, started drinking beer when I was 13. And you?



I was drinking Little Kings before you were born, son.


I doubt you were even alive when I was born, kid.


I grew up though when I saw how many alcoholics consumed that shit, and as well they consume Steel Reserve and any malt liquor you can name.


God damn right, it's cheap and it's better than no beer at all.


When you start drinking aftershave with listerine chasers, you may want to seek help because you're heading in that direction...


Not even close to heading in that direction, but thanks for your concern. I'll let you in on a little secret though, just because you are a sissy who can't handle beer in all of its glorious forms, it doesn't mean I'm about to become an alcoholic.



No you're confusing us with alcoholics.


Possibly, again I'm sure as hell not confusing you for a beer drinker.


I recommend you seek a nice little 12 step programs and just take it 'one day at a time'.

I recommend you go get yourself a nice Merlot or Pinot, your vagina will thank you for it.

[Jezrith]

Aye, but if you can choose between budvar and budweiser you know which one is bad.

Incorrect! You know which one is better. ;)

[Kusghuul]

Incorrect! You know which one is better. ;)

Good point;p

But i'd actually pick gnat's urine over budweiser tbh.

[Jezrith]

Good point;p

But i'd actually pick gnat's urine over budweiser tbh.

See I'd rather drink beer than urine, but hey what ever floats your boat mate...

[Kusghuul]

See I'd rather drink beer than urine, but hey what ever floats your boat mate...

Can you even call budweiser beer tbh? i'm lumping it in with sewage.

[ZeaL-]

buddweiser is the hick favorite

[Jezrith]

Can you even call budweiser beer tbh? i'm lumping it in with sewage.

Hyperbole don't fly with me when it comes to beer. I take my beer much more seriously than that... ;)

[Barbarossa]

I'm 33, started drinking beer when I was 13. And you? I doubt you were even alive when I was born, kid.

I'm 47 and started when I was 14, not that I'm proud of starting to drink as a teenager as you seem to be. But yeah, I've been drinking longer/as long than you've been alive.

God damn right, it's cheap and it's better than no beer at all.

I'd expect an alcoholic to make a statement like this.

Not even close to heading in that direction, but thanks for your concern. I'll let you in on a little secret though, just because you are a sissy who can't handle beer in all of its glorious forms, it doesn't mean I'm about to become an alcoholic.

Sorry, by saying you can handle alcohol in any form, yes it does.

Possibly, again I'm sure as hell not confusing you for a beer drinker.

I have a Sam Adams in my hand right this second, what's in your hand...your dick?

I recommend you go get yourself a nice Merlot or Pinot, your vagina will thank you for it.

Wine is for women and homosexuals...which one are you?

[Jezrith]

I'm 47 and started when I was 14, not that I'm proud of starting to drink as a teenager as you seem to be. But yeah, I've been drinking longer/as long than you've been alive.


Funny how 14 and 33 just happen to make 47 so conveniently hmmm.... meh, I'll take your word for it, as it doesn't really matter because you sir are no beer drinker.


I'd expect an alcoholic to make a statement like this.


So you consider real beer drinkers to be alcoholics, good to know. I would expect that from a borderline teetotaler.



Sorry, by saying you can handle alcohol in any form, yes it does.


No, it really doesn't. It just means I really like beer in all of its wonder and splendor, a true student of the cold and frosty goodness, something you apparently are not.


I have a Sam Adams in my hand right this second, what's in your hand...your dick?


And he says I'm on the road to alcoholism.... bwahahaha! :lmao: (Also Sam Adams? That's the best you can do?)



Wine is for women and homosexuals... which one are you?

Both... just trapped in a man's body. A man's body that truly appreciates beer...

[Barbarossa]

Funny how 14 and 33 just happen to make 47 so conveniently hmmm.... meh, I'll take your word for it, as it doesn't really matter because you sir are no beer drinker.



So you consider real beer drinkers to be alcoholics, good to know. I would expect that from a borderline teetotaler.




No, it really doesn't. It just means I really like beer in all of its wonder and splendor, a true student of the cold and frosty goodness, something you apparently are not.



And he says I'm on the road to alcoholism.... bwahahaha! :lmao: (Also Sam Adams? That's the best you can do?)




Both... just trapped in a man's body. A man's body that truly appreciates beer...

LOL. That last one is priceless.

But yes I am 47 soon to be 48, and if you want to get technical, I had my 1st beer when I was 2 when I stole it off the table my drunken uncles were playing poker at.

It was a Black Label, premium beer back in 1963, today it is pure shit...if you can find it.

[Sqarak]

I'm definitely not confusing you guys for beer drinkers.
Support your claim.

[Poacher]

You've obviously not been to the Linlithgow Ale Festival. Deuchars ipa, ice cold tennents (say what you want, it's too my tastes), Craig-something Black, Arran Blonde off the tap's fucking amazing as well, perfectly light ale.

And Strongbow's terri-awful. Try some Addlestones if you can't stomach beer. So don't put Barbie off Scots ale!

It's true I've never been to the Ale festival, but if you ask a layman about Scottish alcohol most will only know of whiskey, that was what I meant about us being known for whiskey.

I never said I liked Strongbow! I only stated that it's reasonably well known, adverts show up for it on British telly regularly.

[Butcher]

Can you even call budweiser beer tbh? i'm lumping it in with sewage.

I refuse to drink that beer simply because of the queer way they call it "bud"
Can only imagine that a 14 year old would be boasting to his friend about drinking some buds

ergh

This (http://media.photobucket.com/image/jeff%20hanneman/crazraid3rfan/Slayer/856308714_m.jpg?o=26)automatically makes Heineken beer the best anyway

[jonyak]

I Drink wine...

I love beer though as well.

[Kusghuul]

It's true I've never been to the Ale festival, but if you ask a layman about Scottish alcohol most will only know of whiskey, that was what I meant about us being known for whiskey.

I never said I liked Strongbow! I only stated that it's reasonably well known, adverts show up for it on British telly regularly.

Oh, good. At least you don't like Strongbow. Scotland's more known for its whisky of course, but that doesn't mean we DON'T have good beer as well! Our ales are good, most people should know that. Lagers usually have too little character to be really good or really bad. Usually.

[jakeoc]

That sounds real bad mate but dont worry Divorce and Contraception were Illigal until the 1990's in Ireland meaning if u sold possesed or used a Condom u could be Jailed.Also from when we got our Independance (1922) Until the 1970's
if a Woman got Married she Had to quit her job.Also ireland Basically is just very Basic compared to the rest of the world.

[fermer101]

That sounds real bad mate but dont worry Divorce and Contraception were Illigal until the 1990's in Ireland meaning if u sold possesed or used a Condom u could be Jailed.Also from when we got our Independance (1922) Until the 1970's
if a Woman got Married she Had to quit her job.Also ireland Basically is just very Basic compared to the rest of the world.

I didn't know people in Ireland said "mate."

[nate4449]

(basically they do not teach kids how to use condoms in the hopes that they won't have sex. does that make sense to you?).

You think teaching kids how to use condoms will help to prevent them from having sex?

:lmao:

[Forgin]

You think teaching kids how to use condoms will help to prevent them from having sex?

:lmao:

That's not what he said...

[Jezrith]

LOL. That last one is priceless.


Thanks! I was rather pleased with it... heh. :)


But yes I am 47 soon to be 48, and if you want to get technical, I had my 1st beer when I was 2 when I stole it off the table my drunken uncles were playing poker at.

It was a Black Label, premium beer back in 1963, today it is pure shit...if you can find it.

I was about 6 or so when I had my first sip of goodness it was a Coors Light, I was immediately smitten with anything hops and barely related...

[shadowy]

That sounds real bad mate but dont worry Divorce and Contraception were Illigal until the 1990's in Ireland meaning if u sold possesed or used a Condom u could be Jailed.Also from when we got our Independance (1922) Until the 1970's
if a Woman got Married she Had to quit her job.Also ireland Basically is just very Basic compared to the rest of the world.

Predominantly catholic countries tend to have strict rules and laws regarding sex roles and condoms etc. I guess that's the reason US has 'em too.