[Rndm_Perfection]

Originally posted by gekko
You know what the problem is? You're a complete idiot, reading news from Pakistan, now running your little terrorist cell from Europe.

Do the world a favor, shut up.

Calm down...

You're getting completely off-topic and turning a debate into a "My display of the various reasons why many hate the 'average American citizen', parade".


To utilize the timeline:

First, Ranzid gave naive, but appropriate opinion. Then, Joeiss returned with a reasonable reply using a bit of facts and some opinion. Buuut, then came Gekko with his off-topic outburst toward an opposing opinion.

Come on now, debates are supposed to get heated, but all respect and validity seem to be lost when one steps over that line.


But, to give my own replies:

1)

Originally posted by Ranzid
Oh and it was a real act of honnor to bomb civilians twice with nukes after a military base was attacked.

Joiess' response was quite true, but I originally was thinking of... the irrelivance. It's not like the statement I highlighted was claiming that any act of war is honorable. Rather, it was showing how; before Hitler was "too big of a threat"; Europe chose not to act upon the actions of the Nazis immediately, and therefor received a dishonorable aura surrounding their nations for a period of time in exchange.

The United States too, however, chose the dishonor of remaining in isolationism. That is, until they were bombed and ol' Roosevelt dropped the bomb in retaliation. Did he think about it? I'd assume so... Why, the threat was immediate. No longer could the States hide from the rest of the world... and he felt they had to act fast.

I think the decision could have been better... but I can't blame the President; it got the job done. Civilians died, women and children too... but not much more happened afterward. While it was not an honorable choice (he definatley wouldn't be a candidate of mine for a medale), I would not see it as a dishonorable act.


2)

Originally posted by Almansurah
I wonder what happened to the War in Afghanistan. It suddenly dissapeared of our TV screens, infact it was never much on the news after the initial months.

There is more that meets the eye.

Y'know... I was wondering the same thing. According to what us Americans saw, we just went over, blasted a few rocks and "accidently" a few Canadians, and then all was over and Taliban was crushed under the iron fist of justice. Bah, it couldn't have been that easy. I can't tell why the media is spilling too many plans over the radio waves at one moment... and not willing to share the rest at another.

The media goes crazy with this new "War". It's not just a "war on terrorism"... no, it's a true war this time. I guess it just produces higher ratings than what really happened over in the land of Afghan. *scratches his head* And why, oh why are they reporting such information as the weaponry we plan on using, the location of assumed hidden Iraqi armory, and the alleged attack coordination. I've read up and heard the term "Freedom of the Press" time and time again, but this is a wee bit much.

Then, on the contrary, very little information is given about what happened in the past. Heh, I never thought it'd happen, but the name "bin Laden" has vanished from American Broadcast. I dunno, maybe to find the truth, one must order Al-Jazeera (or the many other translated names of it).


and

You forgot to mention one thing, Guerilla warfare, Afghans aren't that soft a group to allow Americans to roam about, just look at the history of the country. Read the news about what really is happening there, and not just the censored news you listen to.



Even in the Jang newspaper [Pakistani newspaper] which is normally censored to a large extent carried many reports of what is really happening in Afghanistan. But it's funny, these reports never tend to be reported out here.

Yes... there's already plenty negative thoughts toward American military and politics. Whether or not the States "saved" Afghanistan from the Taliban, I'm sure less than half (and yes, I'm being generous in my assumptions) would want an American militant anywhere near his or her home over in the Middle-East. More reason why I want more than just the Yuppies over at CNN... I want real news that I can "use"!


3) And finally... I know, this is a long post O_o.

Originally posted by Ranzid
North American lifestyle is certainly not an example of living for the rest of the planet. If the entire world population would be living like we are doing here in north america, it would take 5 planet earth to supply us. Yes we might be better than some others, but we are far from perfect, and we should try to fix our own problems before solving everybody else's problems.

If everyone in the world was taking up as much space and raw materials as the average Northern American? Yeah, I can see how Earth would be depleted before Pee Wee Herman could think up an original word of the day ("G-rated", that is). "AAaaaaah"

Anywho, if the population of the world STARTED in North America... expanded, and kept the "culture" (or lack-thereof) of Northern American lifestyle, then I think Earth could handle us. First off, technology would be spitting out plenty of new ways to handle resources. The only problem, of course, would be seeing the technology put to use (take, for example, the "fabled" Electric Car). However, I believe that the world population would be small enough to live a comfortable life in the world; families comprised mostly of the annoyingly "cozy" 2.5 children.

Buuut, that's not the case, so let's not dream about it. Equally, the world does not live like North America, so let's not worry about it.


OK, if you had noticed, I underlined my favorite little part in that statement. The old "Me before you" idealism. Personally, I think that's how the world's cogs should turn. "Let the working man earn his pay," I say. But, y'see, it's that attitude that gets so many negative... anti-American attitudes. Because there are many "unfortunate" humans out there born into poor families in Third World Countries, it is a natural act to assume help from those more fortunate.

My basic instinct is to say "Go find a job..." but it's not that easy.


Meh, since I have nowhere else to go with this thought, I'll end this post here. Beware though... if you catch my attention with a comment, I might dare reply again! *gasps*


AFTER EDIT:
Oh, I just needed to add this last bit in... food for thought, y'know.

"He has poisoned our water for ever. Nixon will be remembered as a classic case of a smart man ****ting in his own nest, but he also **** in our nest and that was the crime that history will burn on his memory as a brand. By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart of the American Dream..."

Kinda irrelivant... but I just liked it.