State of the Union: Live blog
All times are EST, GMT-5. This live blog has now finished.
22:48
The governor talked about America as a land that blazes a trail of opportunity and where good government gives that opportunity. Again, he stressed low taxation and personal choice over top-down, one-size-fits-all big government. It was a competent speech but it is an odd system that makes for such an unequal contest. The president's real and serious opponents have doubtless been on cable TV while I've been listening to Mr McDonnell.
22:41
He's talked about the Detroit Christmas plot and people's worries that legal rights which are intended for Americans are being given to terrorists. He says taxpayers' dollars should be used to defeat terrorists.
22:34
Last time I saw Bob McDonnell, he was giving a speech in a small airport in Virginia the day before his election victory taking the governor's mansion off the Democrats and winning it for the Republicans. Now he's responding to the president on behalf of his party from Richmond, Virginia. He is responding to the speech that was spun in advance, rather than the one the president actually made. That doesn't mean he is getting it wrong by concentrating on jobs, he's saying that creating new ones is at the top of his agenda as well, but piling on more taxation can only hurt the middle classes.
22:23
It never does any harm to praise the audience you're talking to, esp in the USA. He quotes the woman who says "we're strong, we're resilient, we're American". And tells of the chants of "USA! USA!" when another life was saved in Haiti. He concludes:
"We don't quit, I don't quit, let's seize this moment." It's a strong, well-crafted speech, where he has turned political mistakes to his advantage, suggesting failure to pass healthcare is a badge of courage and that he puts doing the right thing above short-term popularity.
22:18
Back to the bigger theme: he's saying many Americans have lost faith in the big institutions of corporations, media and government. Taking a pop at TV pundits, who reduce serious debates into silly arguments. And another nod towards his own possible shortcomings. He says there are many Americans who aren't sure if there can be change or at least, that he can deliver it. But he's saying he won't play it safe, just to get through the next election. Again, he's portraying himself as the one who's willing to do the right thing, even if it's politically unpopular.
22:13
Finally a little something for the disillusioned liberals of the president's party. "I promise that this year, I'll work to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans to serve the country they love because of who they are." A big cheer from some. But the men in uniform in the front row aren't getting to their feet, and look rather glum. What do they really think? Don't ask, don't tell.
22:06
After all this, the section on foreign affairs feels squeezed, it took 6 months to decide on policy in Afghanistan, it took just 40 seconds to deliver the message that he's confident that they will succeed.
22:03
The professor of bipartisanship starts to lecture. I'm speaking to both parties now, he says sternly: "What frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is election day." He acknowledges ruefully: "Campaign fever has come even earlier than usual this year." He tells his party to govern, not to run for the hills. He tells the Republicans that if they continually use the requirement for 60 votes to block any business that this isn't leadership. And he's telling both parties that he wants monthly meetings with both the leaderships, that's the equivalent of "in my study, now!".
21:59
The Republicans have been muttering and sitting without applauding while he suggested their tax cuts were part of the problem, but he's moving on to a wider attack: "We face more than a deficit of dollars right now, we face a deficit of trust, deep and corrosive doubts." He is talking about tougher rules on lobbyists, and reversing the Supreme Court decision to allow corporations to spend without limit on election advertising. Again, only half the chamber get to their feet and applaud. He is boxing the Republicans in, taunting them to vote against a bill that's likely to be popular with the public. About three quarters of the chamber on their feet now.
21:53
He is talking about the deficit. A $3tn hole in the budget: "That was before I walked in the door". Some applause and a couple of whistles, I don't know if of approval or disapproval. He is talking about a three-year freeze that has already been announced, telling his party that even though many are hurting, spending has to be reined in and telling the right that tax cuts for the wealthy won't do the trick either.
21:49
For the first time, there is some acceptance that he got it wrong. He says that the longer healthcare was debated, the more the lobbying and horse trading, the more sceptical people became. He says: "I take my share of the blame." But he is asking Congress "do not walk away from reform, let's finish the job for the American people". No one should be surprised that he doesn't say how. He does ask if anybody has a better idea, to let him know: "let me see it!". Again, they're on their feet, applauding.
21:47
He is praising the first lady for tackling childhood obesity. As she smiles, he says "she gets embarrassed".
21:45
Again, the president is casting himself as the anti-politician, someone who will do the right thing, even if it's foolhardy. He said "I didn't take on healthcare because it was good politics." Scattered laughter. He pauses. He is relaxing into this.
21:38
More difficult stuff: he's talking about clean energy including new nuclear power plants, which got a big cheer, and I suspect not only from his own side. And while he didn't say "drill baby drill" - Sarah Palin's supporters' phrase - he did talk about opening new offshore oil areas. What does he want in return? A bipartisan effort in the Senate for a new energy and climate bill.
21:34
It always helps when politicians have a dragon to slay. The president is talking about financial reform but the passage is important because he is identifying an enemy: the lobbyists who are trying to kill it.
21:31
There is nothing so far even vaguely apologetic about this speech. No sense that he's got anything wrong. He's stressed how the mistakes that have led to this economic crisis have been building up for 10 years. It'll be interesting to see what people make of that tone. He is portraying his critics as people who are telling him he is too ambitious, that America should put its future on hold. He says: "Washington has been telling us to wait for decades." But he does not acccept second place for the USA. That got them to their feet cheering.
21:25
First concrete proposals: $30bn to give small businesses credit. A tax credit for 1m small businesses who hire workers or raise wages, eliminating capital gains tax on small business investment. He needs small businesses on his side and this is directly appealing to them.
21:21
Obama the tax cutter: listing tax cuts he's made and adding after a round of hand clapping: "I thought I'd get some applause for that one!". He is directly speaking to those small business people and blue collar workers who feel let down and telling stories about how the Recovery Act has helped people across America.
21:19
The first laughter of the night, it was on the bank bailout. "I hated it. You hated it. It was about as popular as root canal."
21:17
"I have never been more hopeful about America's future than I have been tonight." It sounded better than it read in cold print, and it got applause. But still, it's audacious and could backfire in the wider audience which doesn't feel as hopeful.
21:16
He says again that America is being tested and he's talking about what I suspect will be the theme of the speech: the frustration and anger of Americans at what seems like bad behaviour on Wall St is being rewarded and why Washington seems to be mired in shoutinesss and pettiness. The president is casting himself as being against the politicians, against politics as normal.
21:12
The president moved into the chamber shaking hands, occasionally kissing and slapping backs. Not surprisingly, he looks rather tense, impatient to get on with it. He's begun by reminding Congress that the State of the Union has taken place in good times and bad. He says you can look bad and assume progress was inevitable but the future was anything but certain.
20:42
The speaker has called the House to order: the Vice-President has been introduced to applause.
Congress is packed and looks somewhat uncomfortable. It may grow less comfortable still: I think they're going to get a bit of a lecture. From the extracts we've seen already, it seems the president is going to be pretty combative: challenging Congress to back him on jobs, banks and tough new rules on lobbyists. Calling on them to overcome "the numbing weight of our politics". Still you never quite get the feel of the whole thing from extracts and the advance spin. The president has left the White House and is on his way to Capitol Hill.
I’m Mark Mardell, the BBC's North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~49~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I'm interested to hear the response to President's speech from a European perspective since all we ever hear on U.S. networks...mostly NBC is Kati from BBC...not that I'm complaining
Obama has a good start..."No one liked the bailout...comparing it to liking a root canal."
He's got a tough job tonight.
Complain about this comment
Camera panned across earlier to Senator Chuck Grassley, most senior GOP senator, sitting on his hands...but with his typical little red sweater on under his suit...He really IS a farmer...he went off the deep end criticizing the healthcare plan last summer...which isn't surprising given that his state - Iowa - hosts more insurance companies in the country other than Hartford, CT
Complain about this comment
He is my favorite.I am listening to him as he is delivering his speech.He talks good,But tomorrow what is done remains to be seem.And that is what I think is important for coming days.
Complain about this comment
"New foundation for long term growth"...here it comes...healthcare reform, I do hope that's he's tee-up to reforming healthcare which continues to increase cost of biz while not providing for millions of Americans.
I've lived in Vienna, AUSTRIA and they have great national health care...we're the only western/rich country without it.
"Time to start fixing the problems that hamper our growth"...re-tooling financial industry (good luck, does anyone really know how this global economy really works other than the guys/gals who are actually designing exotic financial tools.
Encourage American innovation...clean energy...that's good, but solar panels are being produced in China a lot cheaper than we can do it...must go for more sophisticated products that are energy saving such as carbon fiber...gee I'm sounding pretty smart here. LOL
How do Europeans feel your cap-trade energy policy is working?
ok...you guys are taking a long time to 'pre-moderate'
Complain about this comment
"Nation leading clean energy will be the nation that leads...." ah, that would be China.
Complain about this comment
Watching the state of the union. i reside in the USA and we are a household of 3. 2 adults, 1 child. We are both unemployed thanks to this mess. Healthcare is gone...COBRA coverage in the US, even though it has been subsidized by the gov't through the stimulus package is high. the cost for all three of us per month is 399.00 per month (that is the subsidized rate)...Obama has alot on his plate with this speech..they say 10% unemployment in the US? It is MORE!
Complain about this comment
He's sticking it to the GOP...when he mentioned ;pay-as-you-go...
He's still trying to work with the Republicans...
"We face a deficit of trust about how washington works"...The Republicans have him right where they want him and they aren't going to work with him AT ALL...nor will the blue dog Dems.
Now, he's hitting the U.S. Supreme Court on their contribution limits ruling...oh poor Ruth Ginsberg.
Complain about this comment
An excellent speech from a great President.
The GOP can kiss it good-bye.
And you know, I was not a fan of his at all until after he took office. Neither am I easily swayed. He -- and Michelle -- won me over, the hard way.
I wish him continued success, against all odds, for the sake of all of us, everywhere.
Mistakes are bound to take place, but this is a better President than America has had in a long, long time. Quite possibly a better President than most Americans even deserve... Delightfully refreshing.
Complain about this comment
"How we work with one another...." the whole non-partisan spin...
what frustrates the American people if you win, I lose..."
excellent but falling on deaf ears in the Senate
can't wait to hear the GOP response
"I will not give up on trying to change the way Washington works..."
"we were sent here to serve...not fulfill our ambitions"...well, coming from the most ambitious man in American...hello,
Complain about this comment
Overall, good speech...he's going to have to get a lot tougher to get anything passed in this Congress...
now to the new Gov of Virginia...let's see what he can do...a lot of young staffers filling out the space, very hard to balance this act against the President speaking to Congress.
Complain about this comment
Oye...he's nervous...Good they just put his title up as no one knows who is...he's reading a bit better...OK...too fast, not delivering very well...same old Republican solutions though:
"We have solutions" and then we gives the webite: "solutions.gop.gov"...OMG!...not good...
love the cutaway to a black boy when speaking about college education for everyone...crap...most of our young black kids fill prisons in the U.S. where more people per capita are in prison than any other country in the world...that takes some cheek.
Denying civil rights to suspected terrorist in Detriot...throwing out basic rights, same old story.
"Government closes to the people governs best"...not very believable coming from a southern governor and THEIR history.
"innocent life protected"....a nod to the anti-choice right wingers...ugh.
He was certainly better than Bobby Jindahl but not much punch...
Complain about this comment
President Obama's speech was so fantastic I was feeling great until I heard the word, 'gay,' and I thought, "Uggggghhhhhh..."
If there is an issue that Americans do not agree on, it surely is the word gay. Don't ask, don't tell, indeed. The majority of Americans are against gay marriage, due to moral and/or religious reasons. Any time a state has had the chance to vote, they have voted to ban gay marriage. The only states that have gay marriage are the ones that would not let the people vote, because they know that people don't want anything to do with it, so the only way is to force it upon people.
So Obama blew it out of the ballpark, except for his gay comment. I am sure it turned off millions of other Americans, too. (and I am a Democrat/Independent)
Such a high and then such a low. I am extremely disappointed with Obama's gay comments.
Oh, Obama, if only you hadn't said that word. But you did. As great as you started, that one comment really made me not want to vote for you again.
Complain about this comment
Well, that was fun.
I've never heard a President call out Congress before. He came close to calling out the Supreme Court as well. And they couldn't do anything but murmur and shift in their seats.
It was... beautiful.
Complain about this comment
I love all Americans, except for the gay ones.
Complain about this comment
I have lived in America for 2 years, working with & listening to people from both sides of the political divide. In that time I have been asked often, "Why do you want to live here, what's wrong with the UK?"
After addressing both sides of the obvious political divide tonight, the President encapsulated all in one sentence. "I know you all love this country". This is what unites Americans and makes the US stand out against Britain, which is so divided, bitter and 'a barrel full of too many rotten apples' The US is not anywhere near perfect, but it's the best example we've got.
Complain about this comment
Ref. 14, LucyIllinois:
"I love all Americans, except for the gay ones."
Why?
Complain about this comment
Oh, Obama, if only you hadn't said that word. But you did. As great as you started, that one comment really made me not want to vote for you again.
Actually I agree that bringing up this subject was a bit daft politically but why you hate gays is baffling. You ever known any? As far as I'm concerned, as a group, gays are superior in just about every way to straights. Better people over all, afaic. Why they like the same sex sexually I haven't a clue, but I really don't care either.
Complain about this comment
Because you need a man and a woman to have a baby, hence, the cycle of life. Gay couples physically cannot have children. God and nature made it that way for a reason.
If everyone turned gay, there would be no more babies or kids, except genetically altered. Also, the more gay people there are, the less natural couples there are and the harder it is for straight people to find others. Overall, it is like a nasty disease.
Also, there have been many instances where I have seen gay people disrespect straight people. A major example of this was Perez Hilton attacking Miss California Carrie Prejean for her answer of which she said she was against gay marriage. Perez asked the question, but he did not like her answer. Later, Perez stated that he marked her low because he did not like her answer. Carrie got second because of her moral/religious beliefs, which Perez admitted to. Perez also stated afterward that if she had won, he would have quote, "ripped the crown off her head."
If gay people will accept straight people that are against gay marriage, then I can accept that they are for it. But if they are rude and disrespectful about straight people's moral/religious beliefs and making threats towards straight people, I will not show them respect back.
Complain about this comment
Well, I couldn't sleep, so I listened to it all. so it was 'Campaign speech Mark II': "Hasn't quite worked out the way we wanted, thanks to the nasty banks, a couple of wars, and th Supreme Court and Congress just being plain awkward, so we'll start again."
I always wonder of there's a parenthesis aster some sentences in these speeches like '[pause here because this is guaranteed to get applause; move on sharpish before they have tome to think about it]' because there were a lot of those. But it was full of illogicalities and inconsistencies: he wants 30 billion of money that came back from the banks to go as loans to small businesses in trouble. How? And wasn't that what the banks were supposed to be doing?
More 'clean energy'; nuclear and 'clean coal'. Fine; you can see the Republicans' eyes glowing already about tax breaks for 'coal' (forget about the 'clean'). And so on and so on. Everything is going to end in the same mire that's struck the health bill: one side only willing to accept what they view as the half of any proposal that fits their ideology, while fighting to oppose the other half.
And what was that about 'if you've got a better idea on health reform, bring it to me? Isn't that close to saying 'This one's dead, you come up with something else'?
Is this congress (or the one after November really going to bring on a law that reverses the Supreme Court decision on political spending by companies? Is it really going to rescind 'Don't ask, don't tell'?
OK, he took on Congress and the Supreme Court, smacking their wrists. But next week, will that make any difference?
(For all the appeals to 'Americanism' and 'unity' and 'resilience' and all the rest of it; that's just the patriotic button-pushing that's compulsory for every speech like this.)
I suspect Alexander Coburn probably had it right when on 5 Live he described it as an election manifesto for November. And January 2011, well, 'Washington' and the Congress will probably be scapegoated again, won't they?
I can tell you now one thing he said that will rout out exactly the same political divisions and rhetoric we read so much of: he said he was going to overrule a Senate rejection by making an Executive Order. So I'll hand this one to the Magic Giraffe for free: doesn't that just show how this kind of 'liberal' behaves once they're in power? Rule by diktat. Riding roughshod over the elected representatives of the people. . .?
Complain about this comment
#12. LucyIllinois: "President Obama's speech was so fantastic I was feeling great until I heard the word, 'gay,' and I thought, "Uggggghhhhhh..." . . .that one comment really made me not want to vote for you again."
#14. "I love all Americans, except for the gay ones."
I hope that last post was some misguided jest on your part, but I fear not. What exactly do you, personally, have against gay men and women? Don't quote me the Bible, since Jesus never mentioned the subject of homosexuality. However, if you are a Christian, perhaps you should ponder Christ's own words: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
The government has no business in the bedroom or deciding who may love whom. I imagine that, because of his support of the invasion of Iraq, you might quite admire Tony Blair. For all his faults and, goodness knows, there are many, he made it possible for British men and women to form a legal partnership with those of their own sex - and he became a Roman Catholic! So tell us, what precisely do you find abhorrent about what other people do? That much-loved British-born, American comedian, Bob Hope, at the time of Anita Bryant's 1977 foray into the anti-gay political arena, commented, "what would we do without them?" What would you do without gays in your life? Remember, you can't tell by looking.
Complain about this comment
I think Obama did exactly what he needed to do. Most people do not spend hours every day combing the news for political information. They know what is going on around the periphery of the political sphere, but they are not enmeshed in the daily play by play.
To those people, Obama's speech - perhaps the first they've seen in a year other than a sound bite here and there - will have resonated. Especially among Independents. Calling both parties to the carpet was a masterstroke of genius. Americans like nothing more than to see the schoolyard bully get his arrogant, inconsiderate head handed to him by his betters.
He'll get a nice bump in his approval ratings for this.
@LucyIllinois
Me thinks thou dost protest too much. Project much?
Complain about this comment
16. At 04:02am on 28 Jan 2010, Andy Post wrote:
"Why"
Maybe there should be a 'don't ask, don't tell' rule . . .I'm not sure I want to know the detail.
Complain about this comment
It is not customary for the military leaders to stand or applaud during the State of the Union address, so I don't think anything can be read into their continueing this tradition whem President Obama announced an end to don't ask don't tell.
In all this was not one of the better State of the Union speeches, though it certainly was better then the overly staged GOP response.
Complain about this comment
18. At 04:27am on 28 Jan 2010, LucyIllinois wrote:
"Because you need a man and a woman to have a baby, hence, the cycle of life. Gay couples physically cannot have children. God and nature made it that way for a reason."
I hate to tell you this, but I think you may have missed a biology lesson or two at school.
Gay men and women are--how shall I put this-- equipped just as god made Adam and Eve (and, one of their kids didn't turn out too well, if I remember). Gay man + heterosexual woman = offspring. Potentially anyway. Or of course, gay man (or woman) + test tiube = offspring.
The Spartans didn't have any shortage of children, despite encouraging homosexual relations among the soldiery; Greeks (Ancient, that is) likewise. . .
You wrote earlier "I can tell President Obama is a good person because of how he interacts with his wife and kids, as well as the way he treats the American people: with respect." I presume we should delete everything after 'kids', now?
Complain about this comment
Of course, Obama did not mention that the Small Business Administration had funding until he came into office and redistributed the monies. So now, he promises to return what he took and he is a "hero". Maybe Bernie should make a similar promise and get out of jail as a "reformed" hero.
Of course, Obama did not mention that he used an executive order this week to route $2 billion to George Soros through a Brazilian Oil company to drill for oil for sale to China.
I am humored that some are still smitten with his tennis watching style of presentation. If his actions more closely followed his words, he would seem less of a con and fraud to me.
Lucy, ..., interesting statement. You are entitled to your opinion. Thank you for being brave enough to not constrain yourself to a PC position. You do not have to like them. Just, respect their rights and tolerate no less from them regarding yours. I like your spirit.
Complain about this comment
21. At 04:34am on 28 Jan 2010, Gavrielle_LaPoste wrote:
"but they are not enmeshed in the daily play by play. To those people, Obama's speech - perhaps the first they've seen in a year other than a sound bite here and there - will have resonated."
And after the weekend, after the pundits and the talk show people have put their opposing spins on one paragraph after another, then what?
I think the warm cosy glow will fade somehow when everyone remembers that the composition, the ideas and manners of the Congress and the Supreme Court haven't been altered by one word of it.
Complain about this comment
Obama gave a purely partisan speech that was nothing more than Bush bashing and BS.
Complain about this comment
@David 20
We do not need a third party telling us who we should like or that "they are special".
We can respect their rights and still not have to like them. The government should stop at "respecting their rights". That is the minimum we expect from them.
Complain about this comment
28. At 05:06am on 28 Jan 2010, ann arbor wrote:
"We can respect their rights and still not have to like them"
As I recall, the words run "Love thy neighbour". not "respect your neighbour's rights', or have some of these newer American versions of the New Testament changed that as well?
I'm not sure. logically, you can 'not like them' (doesn't matter whether we're talking about gays or Vietnamese or Venezuelans) and fully 'respect their rights'. The two do not generally go together.
Complain about this comment
#28. ann arbor: "We do not need a third party telling us who we should like or that "they are special"."
What "third party" do you mean? The President or a third political party? A minority is special, but then I have little doubt that you would have opposed integration and rued the day that anti-miscegenation laws were found to be unconstitutional.
"We can respect their rights and still not have to like them."
How can you tell who "them" is? And perhaps you'd answer the question why you do not "like them".
"The government should stop at "respecting their rights". That is the minimum we expect from them."
Surely you mean the maximum you and other bigots expect?
Complain about this comment
I can see 'don't ask don't tell' is going to become "Obama says now you have to ask, they have to tell, and you've just got to put up with it."
But wasn't it a ridiculous idea in the first place? Just apply it to any other situation: "Don't ask if I'm illegitimate/adopted/Inuit/a cat lover/an atheist/black, and I won't tell . . ."? All that happens in that situation is that people get provoked into telling, and in the case of the US armed forces then got victimised or simply sacked when in any other walk of life the reaction would be (or ought to be) "Oh. OK. Right. No problem".
The Dutch armed forces got that sorted long ago.
Complain about this comment
I thought I'd save people the bother of guessing where some of the phrases I imagine we'll see a lot of come from:
The Tea Party Express released the following statement in response to the president's State of the Union Address:
"Tonight was a night of hot air, delivered in a way too long speech that revisited pledges we've quite frankly heard from Barack Obama before.
"But actions speak louder than words, and this administration violated its promise for increased transparency. Lobbyists were appointed by the president to positions he swore would never be filled by former lobbyists.
"Worst of all, we've seen out-of-control spending, and an unparalleled growth in the size and power of government.
"We'll start to believe Barack Obama when his actions match his words. Until then, it's just more empty promises, and we've all heard far too many unfulfilled promises from the politicians in Washington.
"In our opinion, the best part of this speech was the end."
(Don't ask me what the Tea Party Express is, I don't know, and I don't really care. I found this, along with others on CNN.)
Complain about this comment
Nos. 17 & 18, Wolf, Lucy: Suggesting people of one kind of sexual preference are superior to people of another sexual preference -- on the strength of that one criterion -- seems like a pretty superficial way of looking at humanity.
And honestly, I do not thing anything is going to drive the next two elections in the USA except for people's pocketbooks. Health impacts prosperity; the environment impacts health; environmental issues can create jobs.
The hot-button topic you are trying to resuscitate has next to no impact on the majority of voters. It is unlikely to inspire great interest in the public, no matter how much it stirs the passions of small groups for whom it is a litmus test of a certain kind -- or its opposite.
We have bigger fish to fry, in 2010 & 2012, than worrying about who is a 'better' human being, Nathan Lane or Jerry Seinfeld. Personally, I like them both.
Most of all, I like the people who are least selfish & the most compassionate. That would be whoever drops this subject matter first, in this case...
Complain about this comment
I suppose I should feel liberated that this dread subject, which is exceptional in that it is specifically identified and protected by the rules, has finally come out.
But I am aghast that it has so quickly supplanted the discussion of Obama's State of the Union address. It must be so much more important, valuable, interesting, titillating.
If it doesn't matter, it shouldn't matter. Oh, but it does. What a blessing it must be to be, like the Obamas, merely black. We have so very far to go, and it may be farther around to the Left, than to the Right.
KScurmudgeon
glad of his pseudonym tonight.
Complain about this comment
32. At 05:55am on 28 Jan 2010, squirrelist wrote:
I thought I'd save people the bother of guessing where some of the phrases I imagine we'll see a lot of come from:
The Tea Party Express released the following statement in response to the president's State of the Union Address:...
"We'll start to believe Barack Obama when his actions match his words.
_____________________________________
I find I can agree with much of this. It is time the President's actions matched his words. In battle, fear of loosing guarantees failure - very loosely quoting Musashi.
KScurmudgeon
Complain about this comment
Bush delivered a great speech that called for tax cuts, nuclear power, clean coal, and off shore drilling. Wait a sec....
Right. Change that to Obama, my bad.
Complain about this comment
No. 27, Patrick: It wasn't partisan at all. It was heartfelt and extremely well-reasoned, cogent and persuasive.
Bush deserves all kinds of bashing. Literally. He committed one serious offence after another, including some pretty dramatic crimes -- and then, to cap it all off, he presided over the looting of global financial resources by his cronies.
Don't imagine the world doesn't fully grasp exactly what happened on Hank Paulson's watch... In the last six months of the second Bush-Cheney term, when the Big W (as in Worst Wastrel in the World) was fixin' to head on home to Taxes...
(What we're going to be stuck with in the long-term to pay off his crime spree.)
I liked what Obama said about banks, the Supreme Court, Congress, both parties, the state of perpetual electioneering, the need to act responsibly, and American values. I thought Michelle looked gorgeous and brilliant, and sincere.
I particularly liked that he denounced endemic cynicism, without which neither obstructinism nor obscurantism would ever stand a chance.
High-speed rail, yes! Clean energy, yes! Not putting sensible policies off any more, you bet!
Now let's make it stick, everybody.
Imagine, a USA in which the Supreme Court is no longer a sacred cow... And a speech as fascinating for what it omitted as for what it explicitly proposed.
Complain about this comment
I went off to have a look at what I think is probably the only vaguely left-leaning mag there is in the US, only to find their expectations are more or less in line with mine. What I wasn't expecting, there, of all places, was the number and magnitude of the attacks on Obama, and the vituperation in the majority of the readers' comments.
Either Obama misread how utterly entrenched Americans are in totally antagonistic and irreconcileable camps, or the American right and the teabaggers are in mass-attack mode. And they didn't, really, either listen or read much of what he said.
Think I was right before; Wednesday 26th of January will be remembered as Apple's day, not Obama's . . .
Back in November 2008 a friend of mine who's lived in the US, but has since lived mostly in England, told me "Don't expect too much. They'll never let him succeed." Why? "Because," she said, "the business culture, the way people are educated, the society altogether are frightened of changing the status quo, and anything that is even vaguely 'left'."
I've got to ask. When the electorate appeared to cheer Obama when he spoke of 'change', was the only change they really wanted more of was the sort that jingles in their pockets?
Complain about this comment
#34. KScurmudgeon: "I suppose I should feel liberated that this dread subject, which is exceptional in that it is specifically identified and protected by the rules, has finally come out."
Interesting turn of phrase, those last four words!
"But I am aghast that it has so quickly supplanted the discussion of Obama's State of the Union address. It must be so much more important, valuable, interesting, titillating."
To those it concerns and to those who seek equality for all, it is. However, I would take issue with "titillating".
"We have so very far to go, and it may be farther around to the Left, than to the Right."
By turning left, we shall arrive at what is right.
Complain about this comment
Nos. 17 & 18, Wolf, Lucy: Suggesting people of one kind of sexual preference are superior to people of another sexual preference -- on the strength of that one criterion -- seems like a pretty superficial way of looking at humanity.
So you think what I said is superficial. So?
Complain about this comment
From the Republican response:
"The president's partial freeze announced tonight on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one. The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper limited role of government at every level.
Without reform, the excessive growth of government threatens our very liberty and our prosperity."
And that's a fact, not fiction.
Mr. Obama will touch only 'dicretionary speding' , not ENTITLEMENTS?
Do you folks over over there realize at all what portion of a federal budget is used for ENTITLEMENTS, and what for discretionary spending?
Please, inform yourselves, before you speak again about affairs of
"a faraway country about which you know little".
Complain about this comment
the Big W (as in Worst Wastrel in the World) was fixin' to head on home to Taxes...
_________________________________
The greatest pirate-king of all time - greater than Alaric, king of the Vandals who plundered Rome - GWB and his gang have plundered the greatest treasure house in the history of mankind, hundreds of billions, and then held the burning wreckage for a ransom of trillions - they jerked the doors off and ran laughing, legally free, out of the burning building, pulling down from the inside the very pillars that held it up.
The eyes of all the thieves and wastrels in Hell must sparkle and gleam with envy. No astonishment and praise can be great enough for these men who peaceably ruled and raped the greatest nation in the world in the hour of it's glory - at the end of history, it was said...
KScurmudgeon, teller of fables
Complain about this comment
#37 Maria Ashot,
Bush deserves all kinds of bashing. Literally. He committed one serious offence after another, including some pretty dramatic crimes -- and then, to cap it all off, he presided over the looting of global financial resources by his cronies.
Rather dramatic, don't you think? As for looting financial resources, are you referring to TARP, which bailed out the banking industry? I only ask, since, you know, Obama paid out the other half of that 700 billion dollar scheme. Perhaps you were unaware of that detail and would like to include Obama in your scorn.
Complain about this comment
35. At 06:18am on 28 Jan 2010, KScurmudgeon wrote:
"I find I can agree with much of this. It is time the President's actions matched his words"
But, wails Squirrel in exasperation, how can they, ever? Within minutes I was reading statements from some Democrats--like those who've screwed up that health reform--that more or less said they weren't going to change their thinking and knuckle under any more than any Republicans.
Obama seemed to want to string some things together: financial sector regulation and cheap finance for people and small business; 'clean coal', nuclear power andenergy-saving/climate change legislation; taxes on higher incomes and tax breaks for some businesses; forgiveness of student loans and reduction of university fees. . .
Can anyone honestly persuade me, after Congress's performance this last year, that what he will get will not be: cheap finance for businesses and no financial sector regulation (apart from on credit cards); coal and nuclear power stations and no environmental restrictions; cheap and amortised student loans and the same, or higher private university fees?
In a way, what he's said is 'Washington' (two-thirds of the government) is a mess, and can't be trusted to do the right thing. That's what 90 per cent of the population seem to think. But how will monthly meetings change that? Or help him get anything through?
Unless he actually tells them each month what the next 'Executive Order' will be?
Complain about this comment
41. At 06:51am on 28 Jan 2010, powermeerkat wrote:
"And that's a fact, not fiction."
No, it's neither. It's a political opinion.
Complain about this comment
I'm a firm believer in "don't ask don't tell" policy.
Including asking "how much do you earn, and what political party do you belong to".
Although I deeply resent that I cannot sing anymore
"I am pretty and witty and gay" without others assuming that I'm...well... pretty and witty.
Complain about this comment
BTW.
I don't think that al Qaida leader's taped message's title
"Osama to Obama" helped the latter a lot in the eyes of American voters.
Complain about this comment
Re #45
Fine. If you believe in big central government granted unlimited powers to rule over STATES - it is a matter of personal preference.
Which this meerkat fully respects.
[Although he's pleased that he still has 'a right to bear arms']
Complain about this comment
41. At 06:51am on 28 Jan 2010, powermeerkat wrote:
"From the Republican response:
"The president's partial freeze announced tonight on discretionary spending is a laudable step, but a small one. The circumstances of our time demand that we reconsider and restore the proper limited role of government at every level. "
I am coming round to this view--I dare say it will surprise you, but I've been giving it some thought. Logic compels me to admit the sense of it.
I see now that Obama is wrong, and it might be very beneficial if the US federal government structure was limited so much as to be practically abolished altogether. That individual states should be solely responsible for raising income and their expenditure with no federal constraints or impositions. And further, that the responsibility for raising money and spending should be devolved downwards to a local level that would be consistent with small assemblies of citizens voting democratically.
There would be no need for 'pork', or not such huge amounts because no large number of voters would need to be impressed; no waste of millions spent trying to influence senators or congressmen, because they would have no legislative power over such local affairs.
The reason I think it would be beneficial is that then the US be quite unable to sustain both the size and enormous cost of the defence establishment, and the safety of the citizenry could again be placed in the hands of local militias, just as the Founding Fathers intended.
(I mean beneficial to the rest of the world, of course, since there would be no more US bases on foreign soil, no more CIA or any 'black prisons', and no more invasions of foreign countries costing trillions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives. Nor massive subsidies to recalcitrant states. I mean, can anyone imagine the citizens of Peoria or Dubuque voting to invade Afghanistan once they found out what taxes they'd have to raise to pay for it?)
Complain about this comment
46. At 07:19am on 28 Jan 2010, powermeerkat wrote:
"Although I deeply resent that I cannot sing anymore "I am pretty and witty and gay" without others assuming that I'm...well... pretty and witty.
I don't see the problem? Since nobody would assume the first two are true, surely it follows that the third wouldn't be either?
Complain about this comment
26. At 05:00am on 28 Jan 2010, squirrelist wrote:
And after the weekend, after the pundits and the talk show people have put their opposing spins on one paragraph after another, then what?
You're assuming that the vast majority of Americans, including those who vote, actually bother with the pundit gab fests. I assure you, they don't. Perhaps a sixth of the population watched the speech last night, even though it was carried on all major networks. And only a tiny fraction of them stuck around to listen to the talking heads dissect it afterward.
The truth of this is in the Nielsen ratings the political shows get versus the big "traditional" speeches. Perhaps a few million Americans make it their business to watch these weekend talk shows. Though all things being relative, given the number of potential viewers on those days and at those times, they do very well - with a minor upward bump during a presidential campaign season. On the other hand, the major speeches get tens of millions of households viewing them. And as I said, these folks don't generally stick around to listen to the pundits, because there's always a huge drop in viewership after the speeches end.
For example, last year approximately 52 million viewers in 37 million plus households tuned in to watch the 2009 State of the Union. There was no equivalent jump in the ratings for the Sunday news shows. Apparently, some 50 million Americans who watched the speech had better things to do than listen to other peoples opinions of what they ought to be thinking the following Sunday. By the same token, one might wonder what the other 50 million or so Americans, who are considered part of the 100 million potential "prime time" viewers available most evenings, were watching instead of Obama. Which of course leaves some 200 million Americans not watching broadcast television at all. For a nation of supposed couch potatoes, apparently two thirds of us are, on any given evening, not on our couches - at least we're not watching television on them. ;)
The fact is, most Americans, like the ones I was referring to in my previous post, live perfectly happy lives paying little or no attention to much of anything beyond local news and the few national/international stories that directly impact on them. When the big speeches roll around, like the State of the Union, or the acceptance speeches of the candidates at national conventions every four years, they may tune in and stick around long enough to get a "feel" for what is going on. But they don't make a habit of it. Which is what I meant about them hearing only the occasional sound bite, because they aren't news junkies. My point being, that the few million people who watch the Sunday political news shows regularly, do not represent "average" Americans insofar as they have a deeper interest than most in current news and opinion.
As I see it, those of us who do follow politics (not just the pundits) have our own little "Beltway Bubble" mindset. We sometimes imagine that the whole world is right in there with us, following along. The truth is, they aren't. The crowd in here is a lot smaller than we think.
I think the warm cosy glow will fade somehow when everyone remembers that the composition, the ideas and manners of the Congress and the Supreme Court haven't been altered by one word of it.
The point is not for Obama to alter their behavior - he has no power to do that. And much as we might like it if he did have the power to order them to play nice, those of us with any sense know he doesn't. The point was to shame them into changing their behavior for the greater good. I doubt it will work, but that won't stop people from approving of Obama for actually telling them all off in front of the whole world. Like I said, Americans love that sort of thing. And those who got a warm cozy glow from hearing Obama speaking truth to power will remember that, even if they don't like his policies.
Complain about this comment
Red #50
Since -and I take posters' claims re their identitiy at face value -
you don't seem to be a "Pretty Woman", your assumption doesn't bother me too much.
I get more than my share around the world just as an 'Ugly American'
[and yes, that includes Cuba and Venezuela :)]
Complain about this comment
squirrelist wrote:
The reason I think it [lmited central government] would be beneficial is that then the US be quite unable to sustain both the size and enormous cost of the defence establishment.
Fully agree. And that's why we're in the process of robotizing are national armed services, with salaries and pensions (let alone medical care) being the biggest item of our military budget by far.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those who can - do; those who can't teach those who can how to do better.
Complain about this comment
14. LucyIllinois wrote:
"I love all Americans, except for the gay ones."
What, even the paedophiles, murderers, fraudsters, wife-beaters, drug pushers ..... and even the bigotted homophobic fanatics.
Lucy, you really are too much. If I hadn't actually met people like you, I'd think you were a provocateur!
Complain about this comment
Gavrielle,
A few yerrs ago I drove by a huge buffalo ranch in [the great state of]Wyoming.
After some miles I came to a gate with a sign:
"The owner, a former marksman, shoots without warning!"
Now, I'd love to see how this or any other president sends National Guard to disarm this guy who sure as hell woul'd object any Federal Government intrusion.
The guy who, I assume, has many friends in [a great state of] Wyoming.
Now, ask me, if you wish about [a great state of] Montana.
Or [a great state of] Arizona. Or [a great state of] New Mexico.
Or [a great state of] Colorado.
Hell, Beltway Bandits would have a snowball-in-hell chance there.
And no, definitely "don't mess with Texas".
Welcome to Utah, instead :-)))
P.S. Have I mentioned Idaho? Idaho; Alaska. :-)
Complain about this comment
Meerkat
"I get more than my share around the world just as an 'Ugly American'"
Capitalist-Imperialist in the bedroom too, eh!
Still, can't be as easy for you as having a British accent in any bar in the US (except South Boston ;-)
Complain about this comment
55 meerkat
"The owner, a former marksman, shoots without warning!"
Perhaps he's been bothered by Jehovah's Witnesses .... or Mormons (Wyoming is close to Utah, no).
Still, I wouldn't like to be his milkman - dogs are bad enough!
Complain about this comment
#57
RomeStu, I somehow don't think (as a matter of fact I DO know) that such guys don't drink mik.
And if they do, it's usually 80 proof from that mad cow No7. ;-)
As for South Boston - the less is spoken 'bout it the better.
P.S. Have you ever tried your Oxbridge accent in a rural bar in Idaho?
Wyoming?
Or Montana?
My friendly advice: please, don't.
You might get poisoned by lead before anybody asks (friendly):
"and where's your accent from?"
[not that Newcastle accent would make you fare much better]
Complain about this comment
Re #57
P.S. Mormons are not big at proselyting (although they make pretty good FBI agents); nor, btw, do Amish.
Scientologists is another matter.
But they seem to stick to Hollywood area for some strange reason. :-)
Complain about this comment
Ref 41, powermeerkat
"Do you folks over over there realize at all what portion of a federal budget is used for ENTITLEMENTS, and what for discretionary spending?"
The unfortunate reality is that we can not balance our Federal budget without including entitlements and defense. The problem is that any politician that even hints of cuts in those areas might as well resign, because hisher re-election chances would be nil.
There are relatively simple ways to make Social Security solvent, for example by raising the eligibility age and eliminating the contribution cap, but neither choice is popular.
Raising taxes would only reduce the deficit if simultaneous spending increases don't take place, as if often the case, but even without increases in spending and considering the current circumstances tax increases would simply kill whatever little chance of economic recovery we have.
Complain about this comment
Powermeerkat – Are you suggesting that people from Wyoming and Montana just shoot foreigners (since they would have to after shooting someone asked what the accent was)? Some how I find that hard to believe, which obviously since it is a comment from you is a surprise, no really it is, honest guv!
If true then it would be two more places in the US to scratch of the list of places to visit: Disney Land*, Disney World* & Washington DC
* After all if I wanted to subject myself to the saccharine nastiness of the Disney corporation, Disney Land Paris is closer and cheaper.
Complain about this comment
Powermeerkat – Mormons, the chaps who wander around in dark suits and dark overcoats, looking strangely like some conspiracy theorist idea of MIBs? Goodness we get them trying to convert us in Britain, always seem to be Americans for some reason. As we get the Latter Dayers as well, you can tell difference by the way.
Complain about this comment
58 meerkat
"P.S. Have you ever tried your Oxbridge accent in a rural bar in Idaho?"
What on earth makes you think I have an "Oxbridge Accent" (whatever that is today - it's not the 1950s you know)?
I'm not the one on this site claiming an Oxford education .... far from it in fact.
And what's the problem in Idaho - are cowboys afriad of losing all their women to smooth-talking Englishmen (or even just talking Englishmen)?
Complain about this comment
59 meerkat
"P.S. Mormons are not big at proselyting "
You've obviously never seen them abroad on their missions - all dressed up in their dark suits in the tropics (oh, now I see the fbi link) and proselytising like mad. That's why made-up mormonism is spreading fast in the developing world.
You can spot them a mile off - always in pairs too!
Complain about this comment
"62. At 12:10pm on 28 Jan 2010, David Murrell wrote:
Powermeerkat – Mormons, the chaps who wander around in dark suits and dark overcoats, looking strangely like some conspiracy theorist idea of MIBs? Goodness we get them trying to convert us in Britain, always seem to be Americans for some reason. As we get the Latter Dayers as well, you can tell difference by the way."
it's their answer to the BBC.
Complain about this comment
61 that kitkat is so full of it.
he forgets to mention the state with RPG and machine guns legal oh and flame throwers, they don't like to admit it after that state just said "stuff the teaparty" and voted to tax the wealthy.
and increase tax on corporations.
hey don't like to think that the really well armed states are full of PINKOS.
64 what is he trying to say they don't walk around in twos in suits trying to bring the word.
well if knocking on peoples doors and trying to speak about the lord is not proselyting I'm not sure what is.
could this kat be the head that runs the MagicKirin. they seem to suffer from the same alternate reality as some others here.
one where selfish is Great. the muslims are the terrorists, obama bankrupted the nation, GW saved the world, and carter is a war criminal.
Complain about this comment
49 wrong the corporations would assume the might of the federal government .working on a trans state basis. just as they have all over africa and other places.
;)
Complain about this comment
"8. At 03:00am on 28 Jan 2010, Maria Ashot wrote:
An excellent speech from a great President.
The GOP can kiss it good-bye.
And you know, I was not a fan of his at all until after he took office. Neither am I easily swayed. He -- and Michelle -- won me over, the hard way.
I wish him continued success, against all odds, for the sake of all of us, everywhere.
Mistakes are bound to take place, but this is a better President than America has had in a long, long time. Quite possibly a better President than most Americans even deserve... Delightfully refreshing. "
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT ;) I have to say how Delightfully refreshing your post was.
;)
I am glad you have finally been convinced; ) The man is as sincere as we are going to get. And by that I think he is sincere and there is little more sincerity to be found if he tried.
And I liked him from what I saw of him I did not Idolise him because he was the first african american president, as the right have tried to say to me through the last few years.
63 Stu. Hey I claim Ox Poly or Oxford school of architecture. but I wouldn't knock an ox bridge education straight off . unless it produced a complete fool as does happen despite to the reputation.
Complain about this comment
68
I didn't knock an oxbridge education. It's a top class education which teaches people to think, not just to regurgitate stuff they learned by rote.
It was implied that I had an oxbridge accent (whatever that may be) and I said I didn't.
Complain about this comment
@55 powermeerkat
That's all very well, but I wasn't addressing the issue of "Beltway Bandits". I was pointing out that the vast majority of Americans focus only a small portion of their daily attention on the news - and even less on political news. Mostly, because everyone from Montana ranchers to Maine taxidermists have things to do that are more entertaining/important to them than getting into political arguments with total strangers on the internet.
Those of us who spend more than two hours a day pursuing news/politics related activities, like posting on this blog, could be considered "hardcore fans" of the "genre". And like rabid fans of anything, we often lose sight of the simple fact that not everyone shares our delight in the subject. That's the "bubble" effect. We are the news/politics equivalent of the football or basketball or Star Wars fan. We live and breath it because it entertains us. Which is not to denigrate other individuals for not liking our hobby. They have their own pursuits, which are just as valid as this one. So in a sense, we are stuck inside our own version of the Beltway Bubble. Like a baseball fan quoting obscure statistics to casual viewers of the game, assuming they know, or want to know those details. It doesn't make us inherently smarter than anyone else, just a bit more well informed on the subject.
And politicians know this. Which is why they all mouth platitudes and make promises they won't ever keep. Every last one of the is playing to the crowd that votes, but isn't a "fan" of politics. The people who don't know all the obscure details. It isn't that most Americans have short memories, it's that they were never fully engaged in the first place.
Complain about this comment
Just a note: the "men in uniform" are the Joint Chiefs, and they're not supposed to clap, cheer, applaud, or otherwise indicate their opinion. They are supposed to be neutral and apolitical. The President is their commander-in-chief, regardless of party.
The Supreme Court Justices are supposed to, likewise, be impartial and inexpressive. That Samuel Alito scowled at the criticism the Court received is actually a pretty big break of decorum. I presume the Chief Justice will have some words with him today.
Just some commentary from the District.
Complain about this comment
58. At 11:26am on 28 Jan 2010, powermeerkat wrote:
You might get poisoned by lead before anybody asks (friendly):
"and where's your accent from?"
Now that is so not true! Most rural Americans are lovely, friendly people. It is not fair to make a caricature of them! Last summer, a British couple I know very well toured America by car. And they aren't your average Brits. They are old money, titled Brits with those Oxford/Etonian accents you mentioned. On my advice they left the highways and took the back roads, stopping in all those small towns most tourists never visit and talking to the people who live there. The places you claim people like them aren't welcome.
Well, they were very welcome. More, when their car broke down in the middle of the night somewhere in Idaho, and there was no hotel to stay at, the local mechanic called his aunt, the town's mayor, who put them up in her guest room for the two days it took to get their car fixed. They stopped at a nondescript diner in Montana and the cook thought they might have been homesick so she prepared them a proper English breakfast, even though they hadn't asked for one and they were delighted, because they had been missing food from home.
These weren't the only random acts of kindness they experienced. They are devout Christians and stopped at local churches on Sunday to worship. As strangers they were invited to stay and have coffee and cake after services. They did, and were often invited to Sunday dinner by people they'd just met and who didn't know, or care, exactly where they were from in England, what kind of accent they had, if they were or weren't titled (they never claim these when in America) or how much money they had, because they didn't go around flashing any.
Now that is not to say they didn't experience any prejudice or problems while they were here. But in the three months they spent touring America, their overall opinion was that most Americans were kind, generous, considerate and polite people, who don't take others at face value, but make up their own minds because actions speak louder than words.
My friends, btw, after returning home, came back just before Christmas and are spending the winter in rural New Hampshire to which they are considering retiring. Maybe it's because they aren't stuck up snobs that the locals like them, but then Americans don't like snobs in general - no matter their nationality. To say all rural Americans don't like people based on accent alone is to denigrate the character of all rural Americans. And since I also plan to retire to "rural" America in about 10 years time, I'll thank you not to disrespect my future neighbors.
Complain about this comment
Re #70
Gavrielle,
As I had pointed out, most Americans don't start to think seriously about who they're going to vote for until 3 weeks before an election.
[that's according to many quite reputable pollsters].
So Mr. Obama has plenty of time to take care of U.S. economy and our high unemployment figures before November.
And with an able assistance of Reid&Pelosi duo he should be able to pull it off. Particularly if senators Boxer and Franken pitch in as well.
P.S. Stu, DM, etc. No, I was simply facetious.
You can safely roam Idaho, Wyoming, Montana etc. with whatever accents you might have.
And I dont' think folks living there (much as I like them) would be able to tell a difference between Cambridge Five and Oxford Circle.
[not that I could, come to think of it :-)]
P.S. I've noticed that you didn't want to touch an issue of Church of Scientology. Is it as hot as democratic, free, 'liberated' Vietnam nobody here wants to discuss either?
Complain about this comment
"That was before I walked in the door". Some applause and a couple of whistles, I don't know if of approval or disapproval."
-- Mr. Mardell
Quick Cultural Translation:
High pitched noises are generally good.
Low pitched rumbles and boos are usually bad.
So in America, we like lots of noise = clapping (not in unison) cheers and whistles and cat-calls (woo-woot, Yeah, who-hoo)... all good.
While deep booming (booooooooos) & interrupting shouts* = bad.
The only significant exception to the 'noise=good' rule is in a Football game, when the Defense signals the home fans to 'make noise'. It is possible for the crowd to make so much noise that the offensive players cannot hear the play called by their quarterback. (Hence, home field advantage in an enclosed stadium allows the fans to 'get in on the game'. In this instance, noise = very bad... for the other team.)
Have a nice day.
Love, Mom
__________
* a la Mr. Wilson...
Complain about this comment
BTW: Thank you for the concise report! I was at my son's dress rehearsal for a childrens' theater production last night & couldn't see the speech. (Family before politics. Always.) I'll try to stream it later, but your summary was just the quick fix I was looking for.
Complain about this comment
P.S. I've noticed that you didn't want to touch an issue of Church of Scientology. Is it as hot as democratic, free, 'liberated' Vietnam nobody here wants to discuss either?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am not fond of giving advice,let alone sincere advice, however i will make an exception here..whatever you do, if you are of weak personality or going through live crises which dont seem to somehow end, dont even try to take contact with the scientology chruch or fill their personality forms on the net if you by chance do it despite my advice, dont make an appointment with the scientology church people to interpret it for you.
Complain about this comment
They stopped at a nondescript diner in Montana and the cook thought they might have been homesick so she prepared them a proper English breakfast, even though they hadn't asked for one and they were delighted, because they had been missing food from home.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
People who miss their home food while traveling should simply stay home.Which genius goes to another place and then eats the food from his own country..
Complain about this comment
#73
As I had pointed out, most Americans don't start to think seriously about who they're going to vote for until 3 weeks before an election.
Then at least we agree on one thing.
Complain about this comment
Gavrielle_LaPoste (#72), that's a nice story to read, when so much of what's found here is from people promoting their own prejudices and narrow experiences as if they represented a general truth, which they do not.
Complain about this comment
@powermeerkat
Is it as hot as democratic, free, 'liberated' Vietnam nobody here wants to discuss either?
A little of the topic, but I was amazed to discover how many products I've recently bought were made in Viet Nam. Also, don't know how free or liberated it is, but their jazz/blues community is still just as active and their music just as good as it was before the war.
Complain about this comment
77. At 6:26pm on 28 Jan 2010, colonelartist wrote:
People who miss their home food while traveling should simply stay home.Which genius goes to another place and then eats the food from his own country..
Oh, give it a rest. You're just mad because they had a lovely time in America, the hated land where everyone is the evil spawn of Satan and can do no good. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Yes, we know.
Complain about this comment
77 colonel
"People who miss their home food while traveling should simply stay home.Which genius goes to another place and then eats the food from his own country."
That is a bit harsh.
After a while travelling or living abroad most people want a taste of home. It doesn't mean they aren't tasting the local delights.
McDs in Rome is often brimming with Americans - all upset that there is no such thing as "Alfredo" sauce or Chicken Parmigian in Italy!
Complain about this comment
No. 38, Squirrelist: Astute. Thanks!
Complain about this comment
73 meerkat
"P.S. I've noticed that you didn't want to touch an issue of Church of Scientology. Is it as hot as democratic, free, 'liberated' Vietnam nobody here wants to discuss either?"
Not much to debate about scientology though is there?
A made-up religion that works like a cult - it's illegal in several european countries for that reason. (Tom Cruise had some issues in Germnay with the filming of Valkyrie)
(we'll see how long that post lasts ;-)
Complain about this comment
80 gav
"A little of the topic, but I was amazed to discover how many products I've recently bought were made in Viet Nam."
It seems that the chinese are outsourcing production to Vietnam as it is cheaper .... didn't take them long to catch on, did it!!!!
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/topics/reader.aspx?oss=34495
Seems you can't even get good old dependable "Made in China" anymore. What's the world coming to?
Complain about this comment
Powermeerkat - Thankfully the hateful followers of a rubbish science fiction writer are not as numerous over here (bit like Mormons). I find them a weird bunch, with odd and sometimes very dangerous ideas, though not as threatening as a certain poster, who has issues with people getting a bit homesick (for some reason). To me they are a joke and a pretty sick one at times, what they sometimes do to other people, however, is not so funny. They seem to pick on the weak willed and needy (no surprise they do well in Hollywood really). Oh and for clarification I am not talking about the Mormons, though they and the Latters also are a bit weird for my tastes.
Complain about this comment
79. At 6:32pm on 28 Jan 2010, GH1618 wrote:
Gavrielle_LaPoste (#72), that's a nice story to read, when so much of what's found here is from people promoting their own prejudices and narrow experiences as if they represented a general truth, which they do not.
Agreed. Which is why I always encourage people to go out into the world and meet the people. Don't just pass through and pass judgment. I never had more fun or learned more about a country and its people than when I left the well beaten path of organized tourism. You'll always run into a few rude souls no matter where you go, but the vast majority of human beings are wonderful people - even if we don't all agree on everything. But then, who agrees on everything with everybody they know, let alone a stranger?
Complain about this comment
Oh, give it a rest. You're just mad because they had a lovely time in America, the hated land where everyone is the evil spawn of Satan and can do no good. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Yes, we know.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be noted, I copied and pasted the part where it was mentioned the people missing the home food. I have traveled the world, longitudinaly, latitudenly and then vertically.And came home to enjoy the home food. the taste of the home food is in the home grown ingrdients..the shish kebab's in usa or cairo or london just dont taste like shish kebab of home. And besides who get home sick on vacations? Those who know me personally never even ask me where they should travel because they say that I never say anything bad about the place I visit..
Complain about this comment
As I had pointed out, most Americans don't start to think seriously about who they're going to vote for until 3 weeks before an election.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
These dangerously look like my words.Plagiarism.
Complain about this comment
85. At 7:14pm on 28 Jan 2010, RomeStu wrote:
Seems you can't even get good old dependable "Made in China" anymore. What's the world coming to?
I honestly don't know. I stopped trying to figure it out around the time Made in Japan became synonymous with quality as opposed to cheap and shoddy, and that mantle passed to Korea. Now China owns it. Much good may it do them.
Complain about this comment
I am not fond of giving advice,let alone sincere advice, however i will make an exception here..whatever you do, if you are of weak personality or going through live crises which dont seem to somehow end, dont even try to take contact with the scientology chruch or fill their personality forms on the net if you by chance do it despite my advice, dont make an appointment with the scientology church people to interpret it for you.
Call it spaming or call it attention seeking tactic, but I will repeat my post again.so that whoever does that cannot blame me for not warning.
Complain about this comment
State of the Union: Same “Change”……With New Ominous Signs.
President Obama has opened a new front in the grab for power: The Supreme Court.
This is the selective, different, but powerful new warning that one of the best political Bloggers has tuned on:
“We must bring to the attention and warn the American people that this new power play represents the most dangerous development against our Democracy.”……they say at,
http://www.robbingamerica.blogspot.com
“The Hugo Chavez pattern is indistinguishable….”, they continue. We must all read on. Interesting and provocative premise.
Can we afford to ignore it?
Complain about this comment
92 jg1000
"“The Hugo Chavez pattern is indistinguishable….”, they continue. We must all read on. Interesting and provocative premise."
He's been compared to Hitler and Stalin already ..... and now Chavez!
"Can we afford to ignore it?"
I think the answer is YES.
ps "best political bloggers" ? ..... is this personal opinion or do you have something to back it up.
Or are we back to "It's right because it is".
Did you order your Palin merchandise yet - the ad for it comes before the actual article, giving you an idea of the objective view of this "best political blogger".
Complain about this comment
5 taliban taken off from the UN terrorist list, among them Mullah mutawakal, the person who tried to contact the american officials pre-9/11 days to as rumors then circulated, inform the americans about the attack..but the americans refused to meet him.
Complain about this comment
See what people are saying on Twitter:
http://www.toptwitsblog.com/search/label/politics
Complain about this comment
There is an 'us vs. them' type of mentality with straights vs. gays.
Many gay people cannot accept straight people who are against gay marriage.
Many straight people cannot accept gay people who are for gay marriage.
Neither will change. It will have to come down to the Supreme Court.
President Obama wants to make gay people happy, but if he chooses 'them', then he loses 'us'- the majority of the USA.
Complain about this comment
95. At 8:33pm on 28 Jan 2010, TopTwitsBlog wrote:
See what people are saying on Twitter:
No thanks - if it's relevant perhaps you'll let us know .... in 140 characters or less.
Complain about this comment
Lucy - While I am straight I support the idea of gay marriage, I know in the UK we civil partnerships, but I feel it is a slightly unnecessary compromise.
I am sure some gay people do have issues with straight people who say they shouldn't have the seem rights. I expect some straight people would have issues with gay people who said that they should have less rights!
Complain about this comment
96 Lucy
"President Obama wants to make gay people happy, but if he chooses 'them', then he loses 'us'- the majority of the USA."
The "US" you claim that Obama will be losing all voted for Palin (sorry "McCain/Palin") in 2008.
What's to lose?
You also wrote
"There is an 'us vs. them' type of mentality with straights vs. gays.
Many gay people cannot accept straight people who are against gay marriage."
Do you have any idea how bigotted this makes you sound?
50 years ago many black people could not accept white people who were against black emancipation.
However I would also disagree with you that it is a "them and us" - mostly gays just want the same standards as applied to straights. The hatred and non-acceptance seems to come from the religious fundamentalists, who, not content with keeping their beliefs to themselves wish to inflict them on others.
Complain about this comment
David, you are missing the whole point. There is no respect between straight people and gay people, creating major division.
In some countries, they kill gay people for being gay. In the USA, gay people can live happily, put down/be disrespectful to others. But they cannot marry.
Things could be so much worse for gays in the USA. They should be happy. Instead, they are ungrateful.
Actually, I know a lot of people- Dems and Independents- who voted for Obama that are against gay marriage. When President Obama was running for president, he told our country that he was for civil unions and against gay marriage. Because he said he was against gay marriage (and many other things), I voted for him. He should be careful not to bite the hands that voted for him.
The majority of America is against gay marriage. Even in our most liberal state, California, they voted it down. So if the Supreme Court passed gay marriage, they would be going against the will of the people.
I dislike how RomeStu compares black rights to gay rights. You say they are the same, yet they are not. Two people of different races can have a child. Two gay people cannot physically have a child. I would call that a major difference- natural vs. unnatural.
Complain about this comment
To #88 colonelartist
so in which country do shish kebabs taste the best?
Complain about this comment
In some countries, they kill gay people for being gay. In the USA, gay people can live happily, put down/be disrespectful to others. But they cannot marry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talk about your country unilateraly, not relative to some country..those countries where gays are killed, dont even talk about equal rights or freedom for gays, in those countries its a crime and they act according to their law...in case of usa, it says something, and do something else, and when someone points out this discrepency, they point out and say, "in some countries......but in usa....and they present a difference of .0001.
Complain about this comment
100 lucy
"Things could be so much worse for gays in the USA. They should be happy. Instead, they are ungrateful."
Well, gosh. You'll be telling us that they're "uppity" next!
you continue....
"I dislike how RomeStu compares black rights to gay rights. You say they are the same, yet they are not. Two people of different races can have a child. Two gay people cannot physically have a child. I would call that a major difference- natural vs. unnatural."
Whoops! Naughty me.
Still, Lucy the point is that marriage in the legal, civil sense is not about children but about status and inheritance, and the right to know if your partner has been hospitalised and all manner of important things which are currently denied to gay men and women.
USA is not a theocracy and religious definitions of marriage should not be used to deny a particular group equal rights.
Also you seem to think it is "unnatural" because gays cannot produce children.
What about all those IVF clinics - when a man and a woman can't bear children is it "unnatural".
Being gay is just how some people are - like being tall or having blond hair. It couldn't be more natural.
The fact that it is a minority attribute does not make it unnatural. Being Ginger is uncommon too and they don't get persecuted ..... well, ok here is where the analogy breaks down, but you should get the point (he says hopefully)
Complain about this comment
I think shish kebabs are originally from India?
Well, at least we can agree on one thing: we both like shish kabobs.
Complain about this comment
No, it's true, though. Some other countries have the death penalty for gay people. In the USA, we don't. Things could be so much worse for gay people here. They should feel extremely grateful that they are not in other countries, where they would be jailed or put to death.
It's like that song by the Stones, "You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need."
Complain about this comment
104 lucy
Shish is a turkish word meaning skewer
Kebab is a middle eastern word meaning small piece of meat or meat patty.
There are types of kebab from india - but not shish kebabs.
Complain about this comment
I think shish kebabs are originally from India?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remember, All the food dishes which have meat or chicken are not originally from india. hindus dont eat meat. The dishes were introduced by the arabs, and then by muslim rulers who ruled india, and also by the conqurers, ancestors of these taliban, who would start from afghanistan, go all the way to india, stay there for a while, and then come back..Everytime some muslims started to be get killed by the hindus, they would promptly go to these people in afghanistan, crying, the hindus are killing us, help us, and these people would go, fight the hindus, defeat them, and tell the muslims to relax, and then go back.
Complain about this comment
Okay, I understand what you are saying about hospital/legal rights, but those all can be covered by civil unions the same way that other relatives (father, mother, brother, sister) are. The word marriage is not needed for this.
I am just saying that sexual orientation is not the same thing as skin color. Those traits could not be more different.
I don't believe it is natural. I believe it is an individual's choice. I am not against minorities (people with red hair are awesome). I am against gay marriage. It just seems plain wrong.
Children are meant to have a mother and father. Children growing up from divorced homes miss the one that they did not have. Two women or two men do not make up for that man or woman that is needed in a child's life. There is no substitution for the real thing: a father and a mother.
Complain about this comment
105 lucy
"Things could be so much worse for gay people here. They should feel extremely grateful that they are not in other countries, where they would be jailed or put to death."
I'm sure they are delighted not to be locked up or executed.
But you're still missing the point .... why shouldn't they have equal rights just because a particular religious group doesn't like their behaviour.
The sad thing is some of your best friends may well be gay, and too worried about your bigotry to tell you. As someone said earlier - you can't tell by looking!
Complain about this comment
108. LucyIllinois wrote:
"Okay, I understand what you are saying about hospital/legal rights, but those all can be covered by civil unions the same way that other relatives (father, mother, brother, sister) are. The word marriage is not needed for this."
So, we find the core of the problem ... the word "marriage".
From your words can we understand that you would have no argument aginst gay "civil unions" if it did not include the word marriage?
Please answer this question .... I want to understand.
Either way you should be aware that it's the same thing - and that the word marriage does not belong to Christianity either.
Incidentally, many European countries (including France and Italy) mandate that ONLY the state may marry you, and then if you chose you may go afterwards to hav the church serviceof your choice
Complain about this comment
108 lucy
"I don't believe it is natural. I believe it is an individual's choice."
Sorry to harp on about this, but what you "believe" is neither here nor there.
On what basis do you make this statement?
Have you spoken to gay people and asked them "Did you choose to be gay, or is it just how you are?".
One can no more choose not to be gay than one can choose not to have red hair, however "awesome" it may be. A gay can hide it, marry "straight" and live a lie .... and a red head can dye their hair and live a lie.
Complain about this comment
Shocker to RomeStu: Yes, I do know a gay person. He is a nice guy, but he can also make people uncomfortable. I would never ask him if he chose to be gay. THat is too strange. In fact, no one really talks about it at all because no one wants to. It kind of creeps me out.
So you are saying it is not your choice of who you date?
That is a new one.
Truthfully, I do not feel like gay couples are equal to straight couples. It is like they are missing something. A father and a mother.
Its not just religious people who are against gay marriage. There are people who are atheists who are against gay marriage, too.
Yes, I would accept civil unions in all states giving the legalities and all that. But I do not accept gay marriage.
It would be religiously and morally wrong to change the definition of marriage. We would forever regret giving our morals up.
Complain about this comment
I'd just like to point out that I will be trying my aylesbury accent in a pub in idaho shortly. I didn't go to oxford, just a few mile down the road, because I went to a better place - imperial.
I have used this same accent on a good few occasions in pubs and bars across idaho, and have lived to tell the tale. Only once did I get any hassle about it, but I solved this by pointing out that it was very gay to go on about it - that's what women do!
I may even drink some yuppie brew called new castle. If only it was a real pint of dog.
Complain about this comment
seanspa, try Fat Tire.
It is a beer brewed in Colorado, with the company entirely using solar energy. Oh, and it tastes pretty good, too. :)
Complain about this comment
Lucy, as an englishman, I consider it my duty to try all beers, and fat tire has already been tried. It must have been dark, though, as I don't remember it being green.
Complain about this comment
18. At 04:27am on 28 Jan 2010, LucyIllinois wrote:
“Because you need a man and a woman to have a baby, hence, the cycle of life. Gay couples physically cannot have children. God and nature made it that way for a reason.”
Do you hate sterile heterosexual couples who can’t have children? Do you hate heterosexual yuppies who have decided to have a fun life without children? Do you hate people who use anti-baby protection to avoid pregnancy? Do you love those “Old Mormons” who have herds of breeder women?
I think you have not applied even a modicum of intelligence to the subject. I don’t hate you, because I used to be like you. Imagine my shock when I found myself sharing university quarters with not one but two gay men!
They didn’t bother me [in any way] and I only found out after we had become friends. When one of them finally confessed to me over dinner [his turn to cook that night] I just said, “Oh, that’s nice, I’m not. Great tuna casserole!”
In conclusion, grow up, and go out and meet some nice gays [don’t start with the flaming , marching types, start with just folks (except for being gay)].
Complain about this comment
I don't hate anyone. Just because I don't always agree with others does not mean hate. You are trying to put words in my mouth, which I have not spoken and I have not thought.
Maybe I went a little bit overboard. But my heart is in the right place.
It has to do with how you were raised. I was taught from a young age that gay was wrong. It is engrained in my mind. It still just seems, well, wrong. No matter how I go about it, the same feeling is in my brain about the subject.
Complain about this comment
#96. At 8:51pm on 28 Jan 2010, LucyIllinois wrote: "President Obama wants to make gay people happy, but if he chooses 'them', then he loses 'us'- the majority of the USA."
What utter nonsense. Who are you to speak for the majority of Americans?
#108. "I don't believe it is natural. I believe it is an individual's choice."
You're wrong, wrong, wrong! What evidence do you have that anyone would choose - did you "choose" to be heterosexual? The ability to breed is incidental to a loving relationship.
#112. "Truthfully, I do not feel like gay couples are equal to straight couples. It is like they are missing something. A father and a mother."
Ever heard of Nadya Suleman, California's "Octomom"? None of her many children have a father since they were all conceived by IV fertilisation. Thousands of women have the same procedure, albeit with a lesser result. Children need a loving home environment, not the kind of bigoted and ignorant parenting people like you would provide. It's attitudes like yours which bring about the bullying and deaths of young men - I suppose that you never read about Matthew Shepard, who was beaten to death because of his sexuality. He was loved by his parents, yet you would revile him and others like him. Disgust is the only word which describes my opinion of those like yourself. I can only hope that you have not contaminated your family and children with your oppressive and ignorant views
Complain about this comment
112. At 10:55pm on 28 Jan 2010, LucyIllinois wrote:
So you are saying it is not your choice of who you date?
That is a new one.
_____________________________
Lucy - From a traditional POV, I believe this is the heart of the matter. The thrill of the chase, of courtship and conquest, is the whole excitement of human sex. It is all and only about choice - only the baser sort of animals and the baser sort of humans, take and allow themselves to be taken indiscriminately by any available mating partner. In humans, the intimacy of caring and sharing is an essential prerequisite if physical intimacy is not based in objectification. We should choose where to place our passion rather than allowing passion to dehumanize what can be the most human of relationships.
'I can't control my self' falls far short of human values, I was taught.
Sorry, all you 'romantics' - I think you've been sold cheap goods.
KScurmudgeon
witnessing to power.
Complain about this comment
Re #80
Gavrielle, please visit Vietnam. But try and avoid official tours and state tour-guides/propagandists. [just like in Cuba].
Only then you'll find out how lucky a country can get by avoiding ruthless American imperialist occupation. And by having a system of social justice and a classless society ruled by the working...class.:-)
[Both West Germany and Japan were not so lucky. Although DDR was.]
P.S. More and more products on US store shelves have been made in Bangladesh, Egypt, Honduras, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines...
Which just shows what a huge disinformation campaign is being waged out there claiming that we (U.S.) couldn't make it without cheap Chinese labour.
[As a matter of fact labour is cheaper in all countries mentioned above than in PRC. Yes, that goes for Vietnam Gulag as well]
Complain about this comment
Re #84 [RomeStu dared to touch Church Scientology issue)
"we'll see how long that post lasts ;-)"
Well, I don't think "Top Gun" ekes out as a Moderator.
And neither does Travolta.
[I don't think either of the "Men in Black" are Scientologists.]
Complain about this comment
Re # 86
Dave Murrell
I don't think you'd have a problem with Amish, would you now?
Unlike, say, with a certain Archbishop who thinks that "introducing some Sharia laws in U.K. would increase social harmony"? :)
Complain about this comment
Lucy – First of marriage is not a religious institution that would be matrimony, marriage existed before any of the current major world religions got involved. As others have pointed out sexuality is more to do with genetics than personal choice. I mean you would have to be some kind of loon to choose to fancy someone that could get you killed, put in prison in some parts of the world!
You may have a limited choice on who you love, but not on what gender you are attracted to. Even the type of person you are attracted to is pretty much out of your own hands, attraction is as much based on cultural and genetic indicators as any sense of choice. Attraction is based on many things that as individuals we are not aware of, pheromones, how the other person moves etc. What the human brain is good at is justifying this to its host, the end result is a sense of ‘love’. Love like every other human emotion is simply the result of chemical reactions in the brain, reactions required to preserve the individual.
KSC is right people do romanticise love and sex, which isn’t exactly a bad thing but it is a poor reason to stigmatise someone who has a different set of perimeters on who they want to spend their time with. An even worse reason is a set of rules and regulations set down in a book written hundreds or thousands of years ago. We do not follow farming techniques set down by the OT why should follow their sexual hang-ups?
Complain about this comment
Powermeerkat – Why would I have any issues with a group of people who mistakenly believe it is better to live without technology, especially in another country? I doubt I will ever meet an Amish, well at least not one that still follows their rules.
I fail to see why an Archbishop who would believes some Shari’a laws in the UK would have a calming effect would have any problems with Amish. As far as I can see there is no real connection between the two, especially since there are no practicing Amish in the UK. Also the Archbishop is slightly behind the times there are already Shari’a laws in place in the UK (and the US) since we trade in and have set up sukuks.
Complain about this comment
Re #114
Try Pislner Urquell
Or if you don't like pilsner
Kenyan Tusker.
But, please don't mention a specimen.
It's early in the morning here and I might throw up.
Complain about this comment
Re# 124
I'm genuinly pleased in the way you're going.
Since you deserve every single bit of it.
And more.
Complain about this comment
To colonelartist #107
So in your opinion which country produces the tastiest shish kebabs?
Complain about this comment
Powermeerkat (126) – Sorry what in Hades are trying to say, which way am I going and why would I deserve it and more? I assume it is in relation to sukuks, I also assume you have no idea what they are? If you did you would know that they are governed by Shari’a, indeed they need to be agreed to by Muslim clerics before they can be issued. Also you would know that there are US sukuks and also UK ones, so that Shari’a law is applied in both countries.
How do I know this because I had to review them, so I do know what they are and where they are. Do I or the UK deserve these and more? Sure why not.
I would like to say we were talking at cross purposes, but I have no idea what purpose you are talking at and am not convinced that you do either.
Complain about this comment
38 every time the teabaggers are given credit they go off and shout "look see we are the right ".
They are the ultimate trolls. most of the Anti Obama rhetoric was started and maintained by the same sort that fill this blog with lies every day.
they never gave a chance they obstruct. That's one reason I do not like giving them any ego boost, or like them being able to think I sympathise with their ways.
Enough is enough.
time to stop the racist lies.
look at that joke that DC quoted from a teaparty guy.
Not one other person noticed the only mention of colour was the fat lazy cat who just happened to be the only cat who's physical attributes were mentioned.
No racism there. because until people are called out and not pandered to they will carry on.
still we have heard that argument before.
The gather together feeling justified when they find another teaparty person to play with.
They try to be subtle.
The clever KNOW they are full of it.
and the thick.....
they suck up that racism and stupid arguments like a sponge.
Complain about this comment
105
"Things could be so much worse for gay people here. They should feel extremely grateful that they are not in other countries, where they would be jailed or put to death."
wow . and we Brits here should be thankful we are not killed.
and you
sorry I can't really find any humour in your attitude.
That gay guy you know. maybe it is not him that makes people feel awkward, maybe it is their own prejudice that makes them feel that way.
Or are they the sort that like to blame others?
Complain about this comment
100 "David, you are missing the whole point. There is no respect between straight people and gay people, creating major division."
Sorry I forgot I didn't realise that having dinner with Gay friends was unacceptable now.
in other words bull.
The classic pop psyc on you would be you must be repressing something.
You go on a couple of times aout gays not breeding. you have been answered on that. you were last time you came here to pretend to be reasonable while spreading homophobic opinions.
you mention how lucky they are not to be lynched. repeatedly.I don't know if one could be forgiven for thinking you are trying to encourage that sort of behaviour .
What did you think about http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxanne_Ellis_and_Michelle_Abdill
because the way you talk I would assume that was not your biggest issue that year.
Complain about this comment
131. At 4:07pm on 29 Jan 2010, personanongrata wrote:
"I didn't realise that having dinner with Gay friends was unacceptable now."
Mustn't knock old Lucy, you know. It's always good to be reminded there are still people around one wouldn't like to be invited to dinner with.
Why's this thread suddenly gone 'so-o-o-o gay'? :-D
I just wish the gay lobby in the US hadn't gone on about 'marriage' and just stuck with what we and most European countries accepted perfectly happily, a 'civil partnership'? That's what most heteros over here have anyway, since not that many get married in a church.
And, yet again, I have to explain that a church marriage in the UK is also a 'civil' ceremony: they are licensed by the state to perform marriages, like pubs are licensed to sell beer. You just get God thrown in, and told to go off and multiply, which they don't order you to do in the purely civil one, that's all.
Complain about this comment
To colonelartist #107
So in your opinion which country produces the tastiest shish kebabs?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have already expressed my opinion, that the homegrown indrient and meat makes the tastiest shish kebabs.The turkish like their own, and the arabs like their own..I like the one that produces the best ever I have tasted in other places in the same area. If you dont like the meat he uses, you can take the meat with you and he will make the kebabs for you, without any problems..just take a small amount of money for his labour..He doesnt ask for it, you have to give it yourself.sometimes he can ask for a kebab or two, which he then gives to the poor who sit nearby. A regular eater there always leave one or two in the plate as a tip as he prefers that, again to give to the poors who sit quietly waiting..He doesnt add anything except salt, and if someone wants someother spice he tells them to go somewhere else..
Complain about this comment
Gay people should be extremely grateful that they are not jailed or murdered in the USA, Great Britain, ect. In many other countries, gay people are worried about life and death- not marriage or military.
As a female, I am extremely grateful to be in the USA, where I can freely speak my mind, have the choice to not have to wear head scarves, burkas or long robes, go about my business and not be treated as property, ect. Of course, growing up here, I know how it feels to be free in this way and have many choices. But I cannot imagine living in the Middle Eastern countries, where women are not always treated so well. Also, we are free to practice different religions, which is awesome.
Maybe gay people can't get married in most states (and hopefully they never will). But things could be a whole lot worse for them. Things could be worse for blacks, females, ect. as well. We should all be grateful that things are not worse.
If you can not be grateful, that is your own problem. As for me, I am.
BTW, I never said don't have dinner with your gay friends. I just said that I don't agree with gay marriage. Doy!
Complain about this comment
I'm not old, either.
Complain about this comment
135 lucy
That is glaringly obvious.
Complain about this comment
which could lead to an interesting discussion about how political opinions and views are likely to change over time, how policemen seem to get younger and at what age you stop updating your model of the world etc.
Complain about this comment
Davide Murrell wrote:
"Do I or the UK deserve these [sukkus] and more? Sure why not.
That's just fine with me.
Just don't call U.S. Cavalry when you're in a deep doodoo.
Again!
Complain about this comment
To colonelartist #133
What's your home country?
Maybe you could tell us more about its traditional and delicious food.
Complain about this comment
What's your home country?
Maybe you could tell us more about its traditional and delicious food.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
so that you could wage a fight against the food as well? Killing the people and interested in knowing about its traditional food? the food is made by the people, and if you have clash of civilization with the people, then no need to know about the food. Besides, food is made to satisfy the taste buds of the people who come from the same earth the food comes from..there is a saying, and I quote, "How can a crow appreciate the strutting of a peacock". However, when the west ends this mess, apologize for the havoc it has created, also for the dehumanizing of their enemies, which now includes, tony blair's calling sadam a monster, then I will tell you all about the food and everything that comes with it.
Complain about this comment
Mark:
Thanks for giving the audience the opportunity
to see the LIVE BLOG...
~Dennis Junior~
Complain about this comment
I am suprised that more people who live in America do not know the fact that it is a Constitutional Republic. It means that we have laws not just theory to follow. As for the Health care that is being forced down our throats, why is it that people do not check out things like the tax laws that allow you to invest for your own health care like the "Rich" do tax free. I am amazed at how the "people" do not investigate the things that will help them and still complain when the Socialists take over their rights that are given them in the Constitution in the name of "helping the little guy". The only people that a politician will help is him/herself.
It is time the voters take back the country and vote the More Government people out of Washington. Do what the Constitution tells you to do and become informed and vote with intelegence. The Government is going to give you back about one cent on every dollar that you give it. The rest will be eaten up by lining some politicians pocket. That includes the Presidents.
"Snake Oil salesman" That should be the name for politicians. We need to get Citizen Statesmen back in Washington!
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
LUCYYYYY,
I am, was born gay ..which was not a choice unless you consider ultimate loneliness as an acceptable alternative.
And good manners today indicate--even online where nobody truly knows you--that a human shouldn't express their own bigotry
even when, like you, its done so ....gently, (as in) gentle reader.
I will pray to God for you:)
Complain about this comment
Colonel artist,
maybe intriguing people... is your greatest talent,
not alternative thought (tho you are good at it)...you DO disagree with almost every other poster here. So you like to avoid catagorization (avoiding bigotry??)
If so, then don't say or think the word west in your posts, or you will be finally revealed..
a "word to the wise."
Complain about this comment
PEOPLE; wether you believe it or not we are all together in this mess. While this was was not started by any one party I can say without any reservation that "BOTH" parties have been busy causing the problems wwe face today. Go back to the Constitution anddo not add anything or take anything from it. I do not care who you are or what you do as long as it does not violate the rules of Common Sense and the Constitution with the Bill of Rights.Unlike the "Laws" that the "lawmakers" make to fill their pockets. If the people were allowed to find and impllement the solutions then we would all be in better shape.
As a veteran who knows what poverty is (because I live with it every day), I really think the idiots in Washington should let people do what they do best and that is make it better for everyone. I do realize there are some who will always try to take the other persons (fair?) share, the rest of us will always find ways to nullify this situation. Communism and the forced legal stealing from one group who worked hard to make it and giving to themselves (politicians) first and then a few pittance to the needy (not the lazy) is not the way to level the playing field.
RIGURE IT OUT!!!
Complain about this comment
To colonelartist #140
Ok, forget about the food then.
What's your home country?
Complain about this comment
147 marko
Yeah, Colonel - tell us! 'Fess up!
I'm intrigued, from Britain and in Italy (for the record)
Complain about this comment
David, 'ultimate loneliness' sounds pretty dramatic. Are you sure you just haven't meant the right woman yet? Some things takes time. They don't always make people like they used to.
I wonder if there is something in the brain, where the chemicals/hormones in gay people are different than straight people, though? There should definitely be some tests run to find out the physical/mental differences between gay and straight people.
It's true, I don't talk about people being gay in public. In fact, I rather try to avoid talking about the subject. It's not exactly the most appetizing of topics. When it is thrown out there, it is thrown out there, though. I will pray for you, as well. :)
colonel artist, I had to laugh when I read your quote of, "How can a crow appreciate the strutting of a peacock." That is pretty funny.
BTW, the USA is trying to end the wars responsibly. President Obama has declared that we do not torture and Guatanamo Bay is shutting down, even if it is not as quickly as we'de like. I'll tell you right now, we will never apologize for self-defense of us or our allies.
I think colonel artist could be from India, because he has talked about sikhs a few times. But if he was from India, he would be more friendly toward the USA and West, I think, as we get along pretty well. So maybe it is somewhere else.
Personally, I am proud of my heritage (mostly Irish and German, with a splash of English and Scottish). But although I am of European descent, I am 100 % American.
I cannot wait for the Olympics!!! Go Team USA!!! :)
Complain about this comment
I apologize if I have offended anyone. I don't mean by my comment above that gay or straight people are smarter/ect. than one another. I just mean:
What makes gay people gay?
What makes straight people straight?
There has got to be a difference...right, or else we would all be one or the other?
Complain about this comment
150 LucyIllinois -
People cannot change the fact that they were born Native American, dark skinned, male/female, and/or gay. They can change their language, religion and attitudes.
It would not be surprising to learn that you know many gay people. What you do not know is that they are gay. And they are making darn sure you don't find out. Whether you mean to or not, your attitude is complicating their lives.
Have you stopped to consider how many posters here are gay? Perhaps some that you now think of as "friends."
Complain about this comment
Why should I tell you my home country/ies, so that you can wage an online war too? what will it matter if you knew where i am from, I am not interested in knowing where anyone is from, to me the ones who are from west are the westerners..And since in democracy, there is no individual but collectiveness of a society which is represented by their goverment which they vote every four or five yrs, so I really dont buy the argument of " I was against war, or i am not against muslims or islam" If your country is at wars, your media routinely demonizes islam or muslims, then so are you. if the slogan of democracy had been something else than by the people and for the people, I would have made some concessions for the few individuals.And no I am not from italy or england or even india.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#150
Puberty makes them gay. What you need is to go live among them...perhaps go to a lesbian bar.
When I went to them when young I saw so many men ...
who were magazine cover handsome ..
then I looked at their chests and saw small breasts and realized they were women.
and then I quickly looked away. blush
Complain about this comment
Colonel,
if you demonize those who demonize others you are no better, IMHO.
people and times change..forgive me, all, for admiring China but in a short period--for China--China has changed. One cannot catagorize 1.3 billion people or shouldn't do it.
also, Islamic people are not disliked by me
(I'd be friends with LucyIL,--Im open minded And w/self esteem ..as long as certain rules were followed)
and yes there is some responsibility--for war crimes--for breathing American air for me, BUT,
I voted for non-republicans ..which, i guess in your view, means little.
well, what Great things have you participated in, no offense mesnt?:)
Complain about this comment
152 colonel
"If your country is at wars, your media routinely demonizes islam or muslims, then so are you."
Pot / Kettle award for today....
By your own tortured logic you give the OK to all the loonies who say things like "That muslim was a terrorist, some media supports terrorists ... therefore all Muslims are terrorists".
You are your own worst enemy .....
Complain about this comment
To colonelartist #152
People here are interested in knowing which country/ies you come from. Answering would contribute to an interactive two-way debate.
1) What is your home country?
2) What is preventing you from answering this question?
3) When you travel and the locals ask this common question, do you also avoid answering?
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Complain about this comment
152. At 7:30pm on 31 Jan 2010, colonelartist wrote:
Why should I tell you my home country ies, so that you can wage an online war too?
Paranoid, much?
what will it matter if you knew where i am from, I am not interested in knowing where anyone is from, to me the ones who are from west are the westerners..
Even if all people in a democratic country support everything the government of that country does (which is rarely if ever the case), "The West" is still made up of many different countries, many of which have different or even competing or conflicting agendas (compare MAII's equally exagerated rants about how all Europeans hate America and want it to fail). (And besides, without anyone saying where they're from, you won't necessarily even know who the westerners are).
And since in democracy, there is no individual but collectiveness of a society which is represented by their goverment which they vote every four or five yrs, so I really dont buy the argument of " I was against war, or i am not against muslims or islam" If your country is at wars, your media routinely demonizes islam or muslims, then so are you.
Erm, no.
People in a democracy are not all part of a collective who all support everything the government does all the time. In a direct democracy (i.e. where everything is decided by referenda), as many as 49% of the population can oppose what the country decides to do. In a representative democracy, people vote for the politicians that overall best represent their views, but don't necessarily agree with everything they stand for. And depending on how the votes are converted into MPs, you can potentially end up with a governing party that was only chosen by a minority of the population.
if the slogan of democracy had been something else than by the people and for the people, I would have made some concessions for the few individuals.
A slogan is just a slogan. Nothing more. It shows what we aspire to. It doesn't necessarily mean that that is what we've got, and certainly not that only "a few individuals" will disagree with any specific policy.
If, as you keep implying, all people are representative of what their government does, surely it would be worthwhile to know their nationality, so we can know what propaganda they are feeding us ;)
And if they are not (as I would maintain), it can still be useful to know where someone is from, as it can help us understand where they're coming from, give us a clues as to what their experiences are and how they will have affected their views, and (hopefully) enable us all to learn more about each other's cultures.
Complain about this comment
LucyIllinois confesses:
I cannot wait for the Olympics!!! Go Team USA!!! :)
Neither can I. We'll see how them Belgians, French, Spaniards, Portuguese, Cypriots, and of course our British Cousins are going to do.
Personally I predict than the Chinese will do great in an exciting sport of curling.
Complain about this comment
Ret'd Colonel write:
Why should I tell you my home country/ies, so that you can wage an online war too?
No, there's no need. Particularly since you don't now anything about Pentagon-created Internet. :)
P.S. My condolences on the occasion of Hakimullah Mehsud's premature demise.
Coming so soon after Baitullah Mehsud's untimely trip to paradise.;(
Complain about this comment
"At least 41 people have been killed and 106 injured by a female suicide bomber in north-east Baghdad, an interior ministry spokesman has said.
The woman detonated an explosives vest among a group of pilgrims making the journey to Karbala, 80km from Baghdad." [BBC]
And you believed that Saddamite Sunnis have been defeated?
And that women are much less violent and cruel than men? :(
Complain about this comment
You don't have to tell anyone where you are from, if you don't want to. That is the purpose of the blog, I guess, too, that you do not know for certain where people are from, ect., that people can give their opinions freely. I think it is just hard to put your finger on where colonel artist is, and that fact that he is so guarded, makes people wonder.
I don't know that much about other cultures. Even though I love the USA the best, of course, I enjoy learning more about other countries' cultures, values, ect. Each country, big or small, is unique.
The Olympics are going to be fun to watch. My favorite is the Summer Olympics, but I enjoy them both. It gives a sense of unity, that if nothing else, all the countries can come together for sport and fun at least every so often, without violence or arguements over world affairs. For the most events (except the judging ones), the athlete that wins is undeniable, as well. That athlete then has the right to say, "I am the best in the world," and really mean it. Any of the medals, though, give a sense of pride and admiration, for a country. All in all, it is a good experience and brings the world together, if only for an extended period of time.
Complain about this comment
The State of Obama, an open letter
President Obama you are wrong.
Last evening the delivery of your State of the Union address was delivered not only to all those present in Congress, but became as in a long list of many before you, delivery to the American public. What an embarrassment. Not only am I ashamed for you, I’m ashamed of you.
Regardless of the many differences some of your Constituency question with your direction, you are the President, leader of the United States and its Territories, all of us. We must have your respect as you seem arrogantly to demand ours.
Sparked by your comments of Thursday, January 21st, 2010 on a narrow Supreme Court decision, striking down parts of the McCain/Feingold Bill which had set criteria on how Political Campaign’s are financed you and some in your Political Party as well some on the other side of the isle, took exception. In a narrow Court ruling those parts of the Bill deemed a violation of the Free Speech Clause. At issue corporate funding, criticizing candidates for federal office within 30 days of an election primary or 60 days of a general election. I expected to hear a slightly less contentious tone on January 27th.
In this State of the Union address mention was made of accomplishments. You noted “shore up the same banks that helped cause this crisis,” and “recovered most of the money we spent.” Noting upon taking office you indicated “we made it more transparent and more accountable” referring to the financial program. Myself, having time to listen while attempting to understand, have found less transparency to the process than all the years I’ve been allowed to vote. I can guess, listen to the pundits or adhere to the propaganda from the right or left.
Not to go on dissecting every part of you address, during the past year you seemed to have touched on every section of the economy and society. Doctors, Health Care, Pharmaceutical, Energy, Pay Scale of any large industries CEO and Top management, first begrudging the high dollars some earn in comparison to others.
During the past year you have praised then demonized each one of the industries. Your characterization along with that of the Party has been those that have vs. the have not. All this separates all and is divisive in nature.
This year has been a year of attack. Our Military has felt it also in indecisiveness. What you have imposed or proposed too through Congress becomes an attack on the military, friendly international democracy’s and the sovereignty of the United States. At the same time there’s the invite of well wishes to those that are our enemies or certainly not our friends. Apologies on our behalf are abundant and handed out for all, as if we cause all the worlds ills.
Most of the promises you made were the same that you made last year. They hadn’t been successful this past year for two reasons none of which you stated last night. Number 1, the people do understand the “Health Care Reform” as Government controlling the private sector. They do not want any more bureaucrats involved in health care than they already have. They do want some reforms and some expanded and less costly care. Number 2, they are empty promises as the public as a whole are smart and you ideas as at are dusty.
They are tired of hearing the excuse of the last eight years, or it’s Bush’s fault. Jobs are the most important item. Added Government job on the economy mean nothing. They serve their purpose but produce no Capital to propel the economy.
I question where the high speed trains will take us to if no jobs are produced. Private industry is the driving force to economic growth.
Finally, it’s your continuation with your full circle of attacks that I resent. When you repeated what you had stated on the 21st, “I am instructing my administration to get to work immediately with Congress on this issue. We are going to talk with bipartisan Congressional leaders to develop a forceful response to this decision.” changing the words but a personal attack on the Supreme Court that were guest. The comment you made were indeed an embarrassment to Judge Alito but not for himself, rather for you. Neither he nor the American people will begin to self flagellate with public scolding from our politicians.
Complain about this comment
I think that women suicide bombers are brain-washed, like in a cult.
It just tells you how cowardly the men that promote female/children suicide bombers are to do such awful things. That is not love.
Complain about this comment
164 - Lucy
Are you suggesting that male suicide bombers are not also brain-washed?
Also how do you know that there are not female terrorists out there convincing their "sisters" to blow themselves up? (ok- it's unlikely, bt it is possible)
Complain about this comment
To IanJayGermaine #163
"They are tired of hearing the excuse of the last eight years, or it’s Bush’s fault"
In your assessment and analysis, what problems were actually inherited from the previous administration? (perhaps in order of importance)
Complain about this comment
Paranoid, much?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Better to have my kind of paranoia than people waging wars because they see WMDS in empty drums.Pre-emtive strikes, halucinating about muslim countries arming themelves with wepoans to protect themselves and taking for granting that they will attack the west tomorrow or day after tomorrow. If people here can not add two and two together and find where I am from,then not my fault.I am not used to be fed with spoons,and so I dont spoon feed others..Democracy means for the people and by the people..What individual think doesnt matter, they are collectively represented by the government that rules them..Your individual thinking in various matters has no significant. It doesnt matter to the people in whose backyard your government wages wars what you think.It has not and will not change anything.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
By your own tortured logic you give the OK to all the loonies who say things like "That muslim was a terrorist, some media supports terrorists ... therefore all Muslims are terrorists".
You are your own worst enemy .....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
They are your loonies, its not my job to stop them, its your responsiblity.Westerners are not open to entertain any other argument except the kind romstue and lucy have written in their posts because the west has internalized this argument..9 yrs and still counting, in west everything is explained by simple argument that its the islamists or islam thats the cause of some people to fight the invasion, or the occupation. The things that reach you with the lapse of two years, reaches me and millions like me, as they unfold, therefore, the sexual abuse of abu gharaib reached you when your media published some photoes,the people in whose backyard such things happened came to know the within the first few days when us forces entered baghdad..One obvious advantage of keeping the west in darkness was to give them this false impression that the reason for insurgency was just some mere islamists behaving because of islam. the lazyness and to eager to just believe what your media tells you, is an added advantage for both your media and your leaders to keep the west in darkness. Your governments hold back information, champions of transpercacy deals with corrupts and criminals in all secrecy, and when and if there is a retaliation against this, they conviently put the blame on islamists..You, are your own worst enemy by allowing your government to hold such secret meetings with criminals, and when repurcussions take place, your leaders conviently tell you that they dont know why they hate you,and you echo the slogans of your government..If you want to know why they hate you, then tell your government to not do these wheeling and dealing with the criminals, but above all you have to ask the leaders the reason for it.
Complain about this comment
I voted for non-republicans ..which, i guess in your view, means little.
well, what Great things have you participated in, no offense mesnt?:)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
i have particpated in very great things.I dont want to show off or boast.
Complain about this comment
re 103. RomeStu wrote: "Being gay is just how some people are - like being tall or having blond hair. It couldn't be more natural".
Despite the removal of homosexuality from DSM, it is not at all similar to genetic differences like hair color. The causes are still investigated and perhaps readings on psychology and psychopathology would help before making absurd comments. This goes for most posters on this blog. Discussions and rationalizations quite often are infantile.
Complain about this comment
bogdan,
if you are not gay you do not know how gay people feel when people just say bad horrible things of them.
suddenly you are in a fight and usually youve never even met this assailant.
they think bigotry is ok if they see or hear "gay." THEY hear "pervert" and um ...yuk...
Who sre you, Albert Einstein?
Complain about this comment
The USA is fighting this war against terrorism because of self defense, whether it is directed toward us or our allied countries. No one has ever said it is a war against Islam. It just so happens that many of these militants are radicalized extremist Islamists. So the USA is against terrorists, whether they be Islamic or otherwise.
I agree with you, RomeStu, that all suicide bombers are either brainwashed from a cult or mentally psychotic.
There could be female suicide bombers just doing it to do it, but because the men are so obsessively in control, I doubt it.
No government is perfect, because humans are not perfect. We can only do the best that we can. We should not expect perfection.
Complain about this comment
I agree with you, RomeStu, that all suicide bombers are either brainwashed from a cult or mentally psychotic.
There could be female suicide bombers just doing it to do it, but because the men are so obsessively in control, I doubt it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
hate the suicid bombers? The way to get rid of them is to allow them to arm themselves with the latest technological weapons..
Complain about this comment
Or of course the suicide bombers are forced into it. In those type of sitations, there may not be a choice. Taliban/ alQaeda are a gang network that terrorizes innocent people just like the Bloods, Crips, ect. with fear, intimidation, threats and acts of violence.
But there are some that may have a choice. If they do, they can still redeem themselves by denouncing terrorism. It is never too late to do the right thing.
Complain about this comment
if you are not gay you do not know how gay people feel when people just say bad horrible things of them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So,
you really think that if people stopped saying bad horrible things to gays, they will be liberated? Learn from the blacks. Alternatively stop whining and stand up to the people..
Complain about this comment
The USA is fighting this war against terrorism because of self defense, whether it is directed toward us or our allied countries. No one has ever said it is a war against Islam. It just so happens that many of these militants are radicalized extremist Islamists. So the USA is against terrorists, whether they be Islamic or otherwise.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, I am confused now, are you talking about israel or usa? atleast use some other arguments, we have been hearing this from israel for years..americans and israelian ideological differences, if there was any, have diffused with each other, Hard to tell where the settler is settled, in north america or middle east.
Complain about this comment
LucyIllinois, here is a quick question for you. Promise that you wont do the google to get the correct answer, if you dont know the answer, just say so, no negative marking.
Who killed Rajiv Ghandi?
Complain about this comment
Are you for gay marriage, colonel artist?
Complain about this comment
The USA has many allies.
No, I have never heard of Ravij Ghandi.
Complain about this comment
BBC, with all due respect, tony blair is no longer the prime minister..His beliefs were his private beliefs,not necesseraily represented the people he ruled and fooled. His beliefs were skewed and he genuinly deceived or atleast made a genuine attempt to deceive the pathetic inquiry commission when he said that he believed that after 9/11 certain regimes must not have WMDs, when wmds are present in the regimes which threat and start wars..So I believe that you should allow my post number 172 to see the daylight.
Complain about this comment
I hate to bring up Israel, but this is quite amusing .....
Silvio Berlusconi's "dream" is to see Israel as a member of the EU!
http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2010/02/01/visualizza_new.html_1679546551.html
Should it ever come to pass, it would make life very hard for our pro-Israel, anti-Europe contingent!
oh and check out the souvenir t-shirts for his visit "Don't Worry Be Jewish"
[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]
Complain about this comment
Are you for gay marriage, colonel artist?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What kind of a question you ask a muslim? There are certain questions you are not supposed to ask a muslim, and this is one such..
Rahiv Ghandi was the indian prime minister who got killed by a tamil suicide woman bomber. Reason, Ragiv sent his forces to srilanka to help kill the tamils..Perhaps if you had heard of rajiv, then you would also heard of the way he died, and then you wouldnt have written what you wrote...Since we are talking about rajiv, so his mother the famous indra ghandi, no relation to the ghandi of india, the prime minster of india daughter of nehru, also prime minister of india, mother in law of sonia ghandi the present chairperson of ruling party congress. Indra ghandi was killed by her sikh guards, one fine morning because of what her government was doing to the sikhs..And I am glad that skih uprisning happened before the invention of suicide bombings, otherwise, G-d only knows what sikhs had done.
Complain about this comment
So you are justifying only that particular suicide bombing or all suicide bombings?
Someone has the right to do whatever they want to themself. But that does not give them the right to hurt/kill others, unless it is in self-defense. I do not believe terrorists' acts of violence are ever justificiable. In fact, they are the opposite.
If this is what you really think, then that is what you think. But do not let others tell you how you have to be. Being free of choice means you do not always have to follow the dark side. You can choose light and life...and positivity toward the world...peace toward all...
Complain about this comment
Good Muslims and people of any/no religion denounce terrorism.
Complain about this comment
Someone has the right to do whatever they want to themself. But that does not give them the right to hurt/kill others, unless it is in self-defense. I do not believe terrorists' acts of violence are ever justificiable. In fact, they are the opposite.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
In what way or how your selves are being defended in afghanistan or pakistan? Did the taliban assembled their army and threatened to march to usa? did they ever say that they will attack usa? did the people living in north west in this cold weather without proper heating and cooking say that they will harm usa? If you have some ideological differences with the use of their weapons, then take it up with your governments which doesnt allow them to have any other weapons..tomorrow if they started to poke the eyes of your soldiers, what will you do? cut their fingures declaring it inhumane weapon of blinding the enemy?
Complain about this comment
Good Muslims and people of any/no religion denounce terrorism.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good and bad muslims denounce terrorism, the problem is that you want them to denounce selective terrorism, the one that you denounce..If you had to hear the constant noises of all the B bombers and F fighter planes for one hour, then you would know other ways of terrorising..The noise of the planes, the excitment and fear of guessing if the above bombers will drop the bombs or just fly by, gives a genuine headache.
Complain about this comment
peace toward all...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The inventor of this slogan,the only person who practiced it, and tried to preach it ended up on a cross..The rest I will not say, as I am afraid of the church of england. I feel my human rights of free speech are curtailed a lot by the chruch of england.
Complain about this comment
'colonel': "hate the suicid bombers? The way to get rid of them is to allow them to arm themselves with the latest technological weapons.."
They can commit suicide with a simple knife o razor (if they don't have a gas stove). A pill of potassium cyanide would do the trick as well.
People with mentality like yours most certainly shouldn't be trusted with anything more sophisticated.
Although I'm sure they'd love to lay they paws on some nukes if they only could. [cf. Iranian ayatollahs]
Complain about this comment
Re #180 RomeStu reports:
"Silvio Berlusconi's "dream" is to see Israel as a member of the EU!
[...]
Should it ever come to pass, it would make life very hard for our pro-Israel, anti-Europe contingent!"
Israel has about the same chance of ever being admitted to EU as Turkey: none.
Whether you'd like to admit it or not EU is a "Christian Club".
Now, about that speck of an island close to Beirut...
Cyprus (or a half of it) is the name, I believe.
What exactly does it do in EU?
Complain about this comment
186. At 10:15pm on 01 Feb 2010, colonelartist wrote:
peace toward all...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The inventor of this slogan,the only person who practiced it, and tried to preach it ended up on a cross..The rest I will not say, as I am afraid of the church of england. I feel my human rights of free speech are curtailed a lot by the chruch of england.
Go on, share your thoughts with us. That's what this blog is for. I seriously doubt the CofE could be a threat to anyone.
(Or at the very least, tell us what they have done/are doing to make you afraid of them).
Complain about this comment
If the 'colonel' is so scared of Anglicans he should appeal for protection to the current Archbishop of Canterbury.
He'll never find another person so sympathetic to Islam.
Complain about this comment
182
".peace toward all..."
glad to see you got over your homophobia at last.
I knew you could be reasonable.
Complain about this comment
Silvio Berlusconi's "dream" is to see Israel as a member of the EU!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And why not, Israel has nothing in common with the place it exists, belongs to the european zone in WHO, plays in european championships,its ruling elite is europeans,europeans who created the episenter for them, so its quite natural for them to seek towards their own roots. that is, EU.
Complain about this comment
Although I'm sure they'd love to lay they paws on some nukes if they only could. [cf. Iranian ayatollahs]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why not them, if usa still has the nukes...Either you stop the knee jerk reaction towards suicide bombers, or you allow them to have weapons...the choice is yours..To the dead, it doesnt matter how they died, by the non-suicide bombing or robotic bombing or by suicide bombing..All of them are equally dead.The survivals get equally traumatized and terrorised.
Complain about this comment
Go on, share your thoughts with us. That's what this blog is for. I seriously doubt the CofE could be a threat to anyone.
(Or at the very least, tell us what they have done/are doing to make you afraid of them).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This blog is about mark mardell's america. i have a right to be afraid of the chruch of england. just as you have a right to be scared of would be could be threats posed by islamists or iranians..
Complain about this comment
He'll never find another person so sympathetic to Islam.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
his sympathetic attitude has still to be tested, and thanks to his other half, the politics whose leader, prime minister make sure that it is never put to the test...while the west, including the bishop love to create would be, could be scenario about iran and islamists..I often create a would be could be scenario with jesus, if jesus had been allowed to come to power, I wonder what he would have done to the romans and those tribes,who betrayed him, and made fun of him..Jesus never got the chance to get power, every tom dick and harry in jesus position had preached about peace and forgiveness..the weak always do that..Look at his tribesmen (for the sake of argument) in israel, the first chance they got to come out of the weak position after centuries and they promtly turned into first class tyrants, opperssors, and coperate with those who persecuted them for centuries.
Complain about this comment
The deplorable State of our Union:
"China has warned the US president that it will harm ties between the two countries if he meets the Dalai Lama." [BBC]
Perhaps it's about time for Mr. Obama [our alleged Commander-in-Chief] to warn Chinese president in turn that continuing repressions in China-occupied Tibet may harm PRC's relations with the U.S.?
Two can play this game, you know, Mr. Labour Lawyer?
Complain about this comment
Re: MM's latest entry :
It's hard to 'recapture change' if nothing changes.
At least in a blog.
Isn't it? ;-)
Complain about this comment
"China has warned the US president that it will harm ties between the two countries if he meets the Dalai Lama." [BBC]
Perhaps it's about time for Mr. Obama [our alleged Commander-in-Chief] to warn Chinese president in turn that continuing repressions in China-occupied Tibet may harm PRC's relations with the U.S.?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The commander in chief didnt meet mr lama before his trip to china, when Mr lama was in usa, it was Mr Lama who had to pathetically justify obama's non-meeting...At this point, allow your mind to recall that not so long ago time...Its not about taiwan, or tibet, its all about sanctions of iran.
Complain about this comment
I don't understand why China, the world's largest populated country, is so scared of the Dalai Lama, who is only one man who denounces violence.
Even with the recent arguments, the USA and China get along pretty well. But what is up with this Dalai Lama craziness?
Why is it such a big deal to China?
Complain about this comment
BTW, there is nothing wrong with the phrase, "Peace toward all." Whether it is religious or not, it is a nice saying and brings about positivity, which is something we need in this world...more positivity...
Complain about this comment
BTW, there is nothing wrong with the phrase, "Peace toward all." Whether it is religious or not, it is a nice saying and brings about positivity, which is something we need in this world...more positivity...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in hippie days, when most of the todays, war mongers were being busy hippies with the same intensity they go after islam today, used to wear those big peace signs round their necks..
Complain about this comment
188 meerkat
"Whether you'd like to admit it or not EU is a "Christian Club"."
And there was me thinking we were all Godless socialists!
Complain about this comment
199 lucy
"Why is it such a big deal to China?"
Its really complicated and goes back 50 years or so to when China annexed Tibet, which was a theocracy ruled by the Dalai Lama.
He escaped over the himalayas and is in exile spreading peace in the forelorn hope that someone will stand up for him and his people before their culture is totally erased by the PRC.
When you've got a few hours spare use google and read various versions of the events.
The reason it is a big deal is that the Chinese are using it to score political points against Obama - he just won the Nobel Peace Prize and if the Chinese govt can use political pressure and trade / financial leverage (they have a lot on the USA - that's also complicated) to make Obama keep the Dalai Lama at a distance then they win a few diplomatic points and the world spins on and on .....
Complain about this comment
186 colonel
"I am afraid of the church of england."
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ......
No one is afraid of the C of E - what are they going to do? Batter you to death with a buttered scone? Pour tea on you?
It's not the Spanish Inquisition you know!
Complain about this comment
Me 180
"oh and check out the souvenir t-shirts for his visit "Don't Worry Be Jewish"
[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator]"
I linked to a competing News organisation's site - coincidentally owed by the same Kangaroo lover as Faux!!!!
Anyway the t-shirt was very funny - especially if you consider that Berlusconi was recently supping happily with Gaddafi in a big tent in Rome - --- it showed Silvio with a skullcap and the long ringlets (sorry - don't know the technical terms).
It seems after the Obama "suntan" comment Silvio needs a new friend to visit...
Complain about this comment
especially if you consider that Berlusconi was recently supping happily with Gaddafi in a big tent in Rome
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And since when did that become a problem? Both jordan and egypt have friendly relationship with israel, usa, saudi arabia, which doesnt recognize israel, and hamas also enjoy frienly relationship with jordan and egypt.Its time that jews start looking for their roots in europe, and joining EU is the best way to come back to the roots.
Complain about this comment
RomeStu (#203) "It's really complicated and goes back 50 years or so to when China annexed Tibet, which was a theocracy ruled by the Dalai Lama."
It's an oversimplification, I think, to begin with the "annexation" of Tibet in 1950. Although an autonomous region before that time, Tibet was never recognized as a sovereign state by the west. Here is a to an op-ed piece from The New York Times which gives a little more background:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/13/opinion/13sperling.html
My view is that the substantive problem is the treatment of ethnic minorities in China, not their lack of sovereignty.
Complain about this comment
207 gary
I know it's more complicated - my post was aimed at Lucy, who freely admits she doesn't know much about the wider world.
Start slowly .... and build up to the complex details.
(lucy - no offense intended in this. We are all a product of our environment. The important thing is reach beyond and seek out new knowledge and ideas)
Complain about this comment
RomeStu, we are more or less in agreement then. Except that you are showing remarkable forbearance to someone who has written some pretty offensive remarks.
I agree with her, however, in not understanding the attitude of China towards Tibet (apart from the question of sovereignty). Tibetans and their culture seem pretty harmless to me.
Complain about this comment
colonel artist, I didn't know you liked hippies. Hippies are awesome! My parents were hippies, of some sorts, which I why I love "hippie" music.
Peace, Love, Happiness and all that Jazz.
So pretty much China took Tibet's land? And it refuses to recognize them, as a tribal group in the region?
Is it that China wants to exterminate the Tibetans? I wonder how many are left...
Complain about this comment
209 gary
re forebearance.
I wonder if I'm being taken for a ride by an agent provocateur sometimes, but then I've come into contact with enough young American christians to have seen this type of "naive offensiveness" before, so I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt.
We're all here to broaden ourselves mentally (well, except the real ranters) - some people just have a ways to catch up! If we frighten them off by being rde they may never see another new idea!
Still, my patience may soon run out....
Complain about this comment
No one is afraid of the C of E - what are they going to do? Batter you to death with a buttered scone? Pour tea on you?
It's not the Spanish Inquisition you know!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Those were the good old days. Now the chruch of england knows, that its other half can send the military so that the church can chant the mantra. "peace, sympathy, peace, sympathy" the more its other half kills, the more the church intensifies its mantra.
Complain about this comment
Is it that China wants to exterminate the Tibetans? I wonder how many are left...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
if tibetians find out what america did to the red indians, now fondly called native indians, they will appreciate that its china that rules them, not the americans..And those tibetians who know what america is doing to pathans, they are thanking their gods that china decided to rule over them. I dont like hippies, they dissociated themselves from the reality of the world, and now in their old age, acting like first class dysfunctional human beings ready to kill in the name of anxiety and paranoia.
Complain about this comment
We're all here to broaden ourselves mentally
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bodily broad and mentally narrow..Now, which group of human beings have these qualities?
Complain about this comment
I've known a few bodily broads in my time. Not all (or even most) were mentally narrow ...
Complain about this comment
To all those here who correct each others spellings and grammer, rumi has this to say.
A GRAMMARIAN once embarked in a boat. Turning to the boatman with a self-satisfied air he asked him:
‘Have you ever studied grammar?’
‘No,’ replied the boatman.
‘Then half your life has gone to waste,’ the grammarian said.
The boatman thereupon felt very depressed, but he answered him nothing for the moment. Presently the wind tossed the boat into a whirlpool. The boatman shouted to the grammarian:
Do you know how to swim?’
‘No’ the grammarian replied, ‘my well-spoken, handsome fellow’.
In that case, grammarian,’ the boatman remarked, ‘the whole of your life has gone to waste, for the boat is sinking in these whirlpools.’
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A LITTLE mouse once caught in its paws a camel's head-rope and in a spirit of emulation went off with it. Because of the nimbleness with which the camel set off along with him the mouse was duped into thinking himself a champion. The flash of his thought struck the camel.
'Go on, enjoy yourself,' he grunted. 'I will show you!'
Presently the mouse came to the margin of a great river, such as would have cast down any lion or wolf. There the mouse halted, struck all of a heap.
'Comrade over mountain and plain,' said the camel, 'why this standing still? Why are you dismayed? Step on like a man! Into the river with you! You are my guide and leader; do not halt half-way, paralysed!'
'But this a vast and deep river,' said the mouse. 'I am afraid of being drowned, comrade.'
'Let me see how deep the water is,' said the camel, and quickly set foot in it.
The water only comes up to my knee,' he went on, 'Blind mouse, why were you dismayed? Why did you lose your head?'
'To you it is an ant, but to me it is a dragon,' said the mouse. 'There are great differences between one knee and another. If it only reaches your nee, clever camel, it passes a hundred cubits over my head.'.......
'I repent,' said the mouse. 'For God's sake get me across this deadly water!'
'Listen,' said the camel, taking compassion on the mouse. 'Jump up and sit on my hump. This passage has been entrusted to me; I would take across hundreds of thousands like you". Again Rumi.
And the day americans started bombing afghanistan, some people said to themselves, let the americans start a ground battle, then the mouse in them will act like a mouse..
And lo and behold, the brave soldiers eversince that, contract the ground battle either to northern alliance or to the quickly raised so called military of afghanistan or tell pakistani army to fight for them..And now they are begging taliban to come back...
Complain about this comment
"If the wine drinker
has a deep gentleness in him,
he will show that,
when drunk.
But if he has hidden anger and arrogance,
those appear."
--Rumi
Complain about this comment
So true, chronophobe, so true.
Okay, I am not purposefully trying to offend anyone. I am sorry if feelings are ill. We just have all been raised different ways. I will try to be more...sensitive.
As for the whole China Dalai Lama thing, I just think that a big and mighty country like China should not be so worried about one peaceful person. The world will still think of China the Great as China the Great. Shoot, it wasn't even on our major news tonight. If China expects to control everything, they should expect to be disappointed, because you cannot control life.
Some on these blogs say that they don't like the West, yet that is what they like to talk about. Clearly, these people love the West, they just won't admit it. Deep-down, there are some feelings of admiration, I can tell. If people didn't like the West, there would be no immigrants. Instead, there is a constant flow of people who want to be Americans.
Who isn't disassociated from the reality of this world? Reality tv, anyone? Definitely the most bizarre stuff out there...lol...I have seen a few shows, but I have my limit. Everything in moderation.
Complain about this comment
Re #202 [is EU a Christian Club]
RomeStu.
When it suits you you're a Christian Club
When it doesn't you're a EUSSR
Where you need U.S.'s help - you're Atlaticists. Etc.
Where I come from we call it simply - duplicity.
But don't worry: we're used to it. :)
Complain about this comment
"around 70 people, including 63 school girls and another US soldier, were injured in the roadside bombing in Lower Dir, near the Afghan border. [...]
Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC that the US soldiers were attached to the Frontier Corps as military trainers.
They were thought to be travelling in a convoy that was heading to the inauguration ceremony of a newly-built girls' school in Maidan[..] in the North West Frontier Province, which is a stronghold of Taliban militants.
At least three of the dead were school girls, police said, adding that security guards and three local journalists were also among the wounded.
[...]
The Taliban has frequently targeted girls' schools in recent years, burning several to the ground."[BBC]
I am sure that certain colonel will explain to us soon why Talibs are killing girls and destroying schools as soon as they are built.
[Unless of course those schools are madrassas training more violent religious fanatics.]
Complain about this comment
Iran said Wednesday it had launched a rocket carrying a rat, two turtles and some worms into orbit, claiming it as a 'successful advance in a space program'.
If pres. Obama's plans are appproved by U.S. Congress NASA may soon be reduced to making similar 'succesful advances'.
Complain about this comment
Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC that the US soldiers were attached to the Frontier Corps as military trainers.
They were thought to be travelling in a convoy that was heading to the inauguration ceremony of a newly-built girls' school in Maidan[..] in the North West Frontier Province, which is a stronghold of Taliban militants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
First you tell me what the Xe or black water was doing with the girl's school inauguration cermony? and since when do schools open with such a PR cermony? Lots of schools have opened after the war, in swat without this pathetic show..Those who have taken responsiblity have already explained that the target were black water guys, who probably were on protecting mission to protect some american representative...And if they were soldiers, then its about time people realise the hidden war of usa in pakistan.No wonder the term AFpak emerged out of the nowhere.
Complain about this comment
Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas told the BBC that the US soldiers were attached to the Frontier Corps as military trainers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maj Gen lies..Whats wrong with the insitution that trained him? or the rest of the pakistani army which he is so proud of, ranked as world's 5th or 6th, should have the need to get training from the americans to fight the taliban, whoose trainer, it trained back in 80s.
Complain about this comment
It is another show of cowardice by the alQaida Taliban gang, who is against females going to school because they know that the females might be smarter and better people than them. They try to keep them as little educated as possible in order to maintain control. I feel greatly for these females and children, who are trapped in this kind of life, in which they were given no other choice.
Anyone who is against females getting education is a truly sad person. We deserve the right to learn just as much as you do.
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Re #224 LucyIllinois wrote:
"Anyone who is against females getting education is a truly sad person. We deserve the right to learn just as much as you do."
The mere fact that a woman would have to claim this right is sad.
As half of the world lives in XXIst century, there are Islamic fundamentalists who's like the other half (at least) to remain in Dark Ages.
And that's why, among other things, they kill girls and destroy schools those girls could get an education in.
Educated women become human beings those religious fanatics could't possibly control, unlike mules they make into suicide bombers.
They know it, and that's why try to stop the process by hook and by crook. Including their favourite tool - violence.
Complain about this comment
It is another show of cowardice by the alQaida Taliban gang, who is against females going to school because they know that the females might be smarter and better people than them. They try to keep them as little educated as possible in order to maintain control. I feel greatly for these females and children, who are trapped in this kind of life, in which they were given no other choice.
Anyone who is against females getting education is a truly sad person. We deserve the right to learn just as much as you do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
What had the black water american guys anything to do with the inaugration of some school in a remote area in lower Dir? To put small children in danger just for the sake of some pathetic foto ops and PR is the biggest crime..The same american government who issues travel ban to their own citizens in such areas, generously put the locals lives in danger by allowing the black water guards to gaurd the americans that were present among the people who were supposed to inaugrate the school..Like I said, schools have opened in that area and it was the first school, the difference is the presence of americans (USAID) and their guards, the black water...If you havent heard about the wonderful work of black water in iraq or afghanistan, or that CIA has sub let drones that fall in that area to these blackwater guys, doesnt mean that those who live there are as ignorant as you. Its sad and pathetic that you and your covilization equates war on terrorism to the education of females..To put small childrens lives at risk just so that americans can get some foto ops is pathetic, its disgusting..and its a crime.
Complain about this comment
The target was the convoy and not the school...as the bomber ran his car with explosives, into one of the vehicles of the convoy carrying the us soldiers who were killed...Now, the whole country of pakistan has knows what they already believed, that the american soldiers and their american contractors are not confines to some training schools, as the government of pakistan used to claim, and taliban used to say that it lies.
Complain about this comment
Er, the whole of Pakistan now know what they already believed, that the americans are not confined to training schools as the government of pakistan used to say...That lied had to come out in the open, one way or the other..This time, it took lives of three girls who were put at risk to welcome the inaugration party fully loaded with cameras and other PR devices, and three us grown up american soldiers out on adventure.Since you have nothing against the hundreds of civilians including children who die with every drone attacks, then you should have nothing against the death of these children..Consider it as collateral damage..
Complain about this comment
conartist claims:
"The target was the convoy and not the school"
Except that it was the school which has been turned into rubbles not a U.S. garrison, and it was dozens of its potential schoolmates (girls) that were wounded, not dozens of U.S. soldiers.
Therefore I ask a terrorist thugs' apologist the same question as Joe McCarthy was once asked:
"HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, SIR?!"
Complain about this comment
Except that it was the school which has been turned into rubbles not a U.S. garrison, and it was dozens of its potential schoolmates (girls) that were wounded, not dozens of U.S. soldiers.
Therefore I ask a terrorist thugs' apologist the same question as Joe McCarthy was once asked:
"HAVE YOU NO DECENCY, SIR?!"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask the same questions to the marines what role those alien trainers had played in building of the school that they desperately wanted to be with the inaugration team..Putting the children at risk,so that their citizens could rant the usual things?
Complain about this comment
Except that it was the school which has been turned into rubbles not a U.S. garrison, and it was dozens of its potential schoolmates (girls) that were wounded, not dozens of U.S. soldiers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If the job of alien soldiers is to train the military of pakistan, then they should remain inside the training school,they have nothing to do with opening cermony of any school, let alone girl schools, the parents of the girls didnt even know the presence of alien soldiers, otherwise they would never have let their children expose to such a dangerous situation. In those cities in pakistan where they reside, the locals are not allowed to come near that neighbourhood, and they decided to just travel in the middle of the area which hates them...their is a short circuit somewhere in the minds of these marines and their policy makers..And I repeat, the target wasnt school it was the convoy, the vehicle in which they sat.They are reponsible for their own deaths and the deaths of the three girls..No edcuation however good is worth dying. the girls hadnt been to school for year, a year or two would not have made any difference to their educating career..
Complain about this comment
There is no excuse for the alQaida/Taliban gang harming children and females, who are the most vulnerable.
Besides that, what did these children do to them? All they wanted to do was go to school. If the alQaida/Taliban truly had a heart, they would be protecting their children, not harming them. But that is the kind of people the alQaida/Taliban gang are: heartless. They may have a soul, but I don't think it's a good one, because it sends bad vibes.
The facts stand: the children injured were by the alQaida/Taliban, who don't want females especially to learn. The USA promotes children going to school, of all races, ages, shapes and sizes.
Pakistan allows whoever they want to be there. If they didn't, they wouldn't be there. So USA and Pakistan, while not exactly the closest of relationships, are clearly friendly enough to at least get along.
Complain about this comment
Americans are no more alien than you are, colonel artist. We are all equally strange, crazy and unusual. Except with different values, especially toward females.
You say a year or two wouldn't make a difference? That is ridiculous. This is not only education, but also quality of life. It is fun to learn new things and play with other children.
Their deaths were caused by the alQaida/Taliban gangs. There is no denying that fact.
Complain about this comment
There is something in the UK and USA known as "GIRL POWER!" I think it was made popular by the Spice Girls.
The world needs a little more girl power. Females need to stand up for themselves. That is why many do not agree with the burka. Because it makes the woman look unequal.
Personally, I respect the male as being the male. Males are physically stronger and they are supposed to be the father. There is no replacement for this. As I have good height, I only date guys who are taller, because taller feels more protective.
However, males who are particuraly aggressive and commit domestic abuse are sad. Unfortantely, there are a lot, not just here, but all around the world.
The Beastie Boys sang, "Fight for your right to Paaarrrr-taaayyyyyy!"
But in some places, such as the Middle East, females are fighting to get an education. These females who do so are some of the bravest females on Earth. They deserve a round of applause.
Complain about this comment
The USA promotes children going to school, of all races, ages, shapes and sizes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
And trust me, the parents would think twice sending their children to schools as they now have seen with their eyes the alien trainers in the middle of the school. The taliban started destroying schools, because the pakistani military used the schools as their base camps..Its quite pathetic that instead of questioning why those alien trainers were in the school, you focus on something totally irrelevant, considering other schools, had open and still are open. The pakistani people will drag an answer out of its government into telling them, why the trainers were doing at school in the first place, the question, will you get some sort of answer from your government for allowing the military trainers to go to such a remote place just to be at the opening cermony of a school which they had nothing to do with...the school was built by pakistani army,nothing to do with these trainers..the money was given by usaid, if anyother person apart from pakistani army needed to be present there, it should have been representative from usaid, either local or american.
Complain about this comment
You say a year or two wouldn't make a difference? That is ridiculous. This is not only education, but also quality of life. It is fun to learn new things and play with other children.
Their deaths were caused by the alQaida/Taliban gangs. There is no denying that fact.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A year , two or three doesnt make any difference on the education carrer, but it makes a lot of difference between life and death..and like I said, no edcuation is worth dying..The parents would rather have their children alive then to send them to danger just because americans want to send the taliban a signal of the pathetic kind...The war on terrorism is much more than an ego issue of girl's education..The place may have reached some sort of calm, but its still the home of those who live there, some fight against americans, and others dont, even though they dont approve of american interferance...Most of the girls have relatives, killed, captured by the pakistani army which is forced by the american government to kill its own so that the soldiers on the other side would not be killed so that american people back in america would not become anti war which could make america to pull out in disgrace. Those people need time to build up the trust..and this presence of alien trainers to open the school is a giant leap backward in building this trust..
Complain about this comment
That is why many do not agree with the burka. Because it makes the woman look unequal.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the women wearing burka say exactly the same thing when they see or hear women in the west wearing mini skirts and mini shirts..that it makes the woman look unequal.
Complain about this comment
Actually, American scholars are highly respected, as we have some of the best education in the world. But of course, this education is for everyone- not just one group. You could be really poor, but get great scholarships and a job, then voila! You can go to college and be something great!
Females want this, too, just as much as the males do. There is nothing wrong with wanting to learn more. Some say you learn all your life! :)
Complain about this comment
I completely disagree with you that a year does not make a difference. Humans do not know how long we will live. We have to enjoy the moment while we can. Every minute, day, month and year counts. No one knows what is going to happen. So, yes, quality of life is very important.
But ask yourself this, colonel artist: What do the alQaida/Taliban terrorists have to fear from females going to school?
I think I know the answer. They fear that the females may want more than just to be their wife. Maybe the females want something else in life, whether they want to be a teacher, doctor, lawyer, ect. Even a politician!
But the laws in some of these Middle Eastern countries deny women the right to do certain jobs and occupations, even though the women are just as smart, even if they are not as physically strong.
So why not let women get educated if they want to?
Complain about this comment
not just one group. You could be really poor, but get great scholarships and a job, then voila! You can go to college and be something great!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or, you could be someone whose parents dont know that alien trainers are going to be in the opening cermony committee and then voila of the other kind and the next, place, graveyard.and the parents are left to blame themselves for not knowing the presence of the aliens..and the other parents see the fate of the children, and keep their children away from the danger.and viola, they live.
Complain about this comment
Yeah, but at least in America and the West, a female has the right to wear a miniskirt and not get frowned upon. Instead, we get whistled at.
In the Middle East, many of these countries won't even allow a woman to wear anything but her long robe and burka!
So the difference is simple: choice.
Having the choice to decide what you want to wear vs. being told what to do.
Of course, in schools, there is often a dress code. Ours was that a tank top's straps have to be at least two inches, no short shirts, no obscene or offensive language on shirts, skirts and shorts have to be at least finger's length down at your side and your pants have to cover your waist (no pants on the ground).
Complain about this comment
But ask yourself this, colonel artist: What do the alQaida/Taliban terrorists have to fear from females going to school?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The target was not school..the suicide bomber jammed his car into the vehicle carrying the killed and injured alien military trainers..they were military trainers, not alien scholrs not even primary school alien teachers..Military trainers have nothing to do with schools of any sort, excpet military schools.
Complain about this comment
Having the choice to decide what you want to wear vs. being told what to do.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The french have already told the muslim women not to wear burka, its a law now, the rest of the west is telling the muslim women not to wear burka...
Complain about this comment
So you would rather live being told what to do than live freely?
That is your own choice.
As for me, I choose freedom.
But for those females in the Middle East, they do not always get to do what they want. Some are brainwashed beyond recognition.
I know that there are some Middle Eastern women who still hold hope for education and freedom, though. These women are the true heroes of the Middle East, because they will never stop wanting the best for their children! That is love!!!
Complain about this comment
In America and the West, females can wear pants!
The Middle East does not allow females to wear pants.
Complain about this comment
That's because some people find it disturbing.
I don't respect people when I can't see their face. To me, it is disrespectful to not show your face.
There are over twenty muscles in the face that make up all of our emotions. I believe faces are the most beautiful part of the body. And there is nothing more beautiful than a smile! ;)
Complain about this comment
The Middle East does not allow females to wear pants.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the middle east men dont wear pants and you are talking about women? men cover their heads, and you are telling women not to wear burkas?
Complain about this comment
I actually have some relatives that are Penecostals and highly religious. They do not wear pants, ever, as they do not believe in it.
They do believe in education, though.
These relatives may preach their word, but they do not look down upon other females for wearing pants.
So they freely wear long skirts, regular shirts and shoes. No one thinks twice about them. They are some of the nicest people out there. A tad crazy at times. But nice, for the most part. I let them do their thing and don't get involved in political/religious conversation, if I can.
I have never seen anyone wear the burka in real life, though. That would be a shocker here. It just wouldn't make sense.
Complain about this comment
I have never seen anyone wear the burka in real life, though. That would be a shocker here. It just wouldn't make sense.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
How you react or will react to burka will be your persosnal reaction, muslim women who wear burka wont stop wearing it to please you....Its not about them wearing burka, its all about your reactions and your thoughts...and thats your problem..I dont know, maybe thats how the women in west have internalized the freedom they associate with short skirts and short blouses, their men shocked them into it..the more they got the shock of seeing women covering themselves, the less the women started to wear and now you are simply projecting this internalise behaviour over to other women, muslim women. Go on a chatter tour to rajistan in india, get used to women covering, and after that less chances of you being shocked.
Complain about this comment
Ever seen karzai without his head uncovered? Ever seen him in suit? After becoming the puppet president of americans, this is the only way he could identify with the citizens he rules with the help of fraud and americans.
Complain about this comment
I guess no one wears pants in the Middle East. Everyone wears long robes.
Maybe that came about because it is so hot and dry there? The flowing gown/robe is cooler?
Men in the Middle East may cover their heads, but they do not wear burkas.
I do not see how you could have a conversation with a female, while she was wearing a burka. Her voice would sound muffled and you could not tell if she was smiling or frowning. There would be no expression.
Complain about this comment
Anyway, this discussion should have been taken up 30 yrs ago, and I think by your parents...At that time, no one, not your own government reacted to it,because it was happy with working with the person who passed the law of veils and all that in pakistan..Those who were forced to cover, are now grandparents, and parents, they spent most of their lives doing it, like you, they too have internalized the burka and the veil and they pass on to their children..People, including police back then was busy telling women to wear burka or veil..when the hollywood actor turned president ronald reagan had no objections, why after all these years you and west suddenly find it objectionable.
Complain about this comment
I do not see how you could have a conversation with a female, while she was wearing a burka. Her voice would sound muffled and you could not tell if she was smiling or frowning. There would be no expression.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ask the blind, and he will tell you how he decodes all the expressions. Could you decode from the expressions of bush or blair or all those who lied, if they were lying when they told you all the made up threatening scenarios?
Complain about this comment
Isn't belly dancing really popular in India? So they wear belly shirts and jingles, which is not really covering up. I do think the fabrics they use are quite beautiful.
I don't know what a chatter tour is?
I have seen some of the music videos from Bollywood. Lol. They are sometimes quite comical, sometimes quite dramatic. I think Bollywood is definitely picking up steam.
No, I don't think I can ever imagine all the women being covered.
When I was younger, I saw that movie, Not Without My Daughter, with Sally Field, and that scared me from going to the Middle East.
Complain about this comment
I do not see how you could have a conversation with a female, while she was wearing a burka. Her voice would sound muffled and you could not tell if she was smiling or frowning. There would be no expression.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This has become an outdated argument, ever since people started blogs, twitters and other form of social networking..You dont know what sort of expressions the person has when he writes something..You guess from the words..and often you guess correct..So,atleast i dont buy this redudent argument anymore.
Complain about this comment
People find it objectionable because it represents radicalization or extremism of religion.
It seems that most religions in moderation are good. But when a religion becomes extreme or radicalized, that is when things go wrong.
It is one thing to be Christian or Islamic. It is another thing to be an extreme radicalized Christian or extreme radicalized Islamic.
There are many who are against abortion here and they protest with signs, ect. Then, there are the people who are extreme/radicalized and murder the abortion doctors for their "beliefs."
Two wrongs don't make a right.
Complain about this comment
If you are against females who do not wear the burka, then why are you talking to me?
Do not think you can turn me against my country. That will not happen. Ever. I love the USA with my whole heart...and then some.
I know you are loyal to your country, as well, whereever it may be.
Complain about this comment
If you are against females who do not wear the burka, then why are you talking to me?
Do not think you can turn me against my country. That will not happen. Ever. I love the USA with my whole heart...and then some.
I know you are loyal to your country, as well, whereever it may be.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Incase you failed to notice, you took this whole burka wurka thingie, Women soverignity is lot more than just burkhas..one side side the one you call extremist tells them to wear burka and you, the west and open minded tell them not to..both the sides telling them, and each side accusing each other for telling the women..Such issueless discusions, topics give me headaches..the war on terror pathetically started to with the slogans of freedom to kids to fly kytes and women to not wear burka, this is the level of this war..I run away from the things which give me headaches..And I am not american, I dont turn other people against their own state, neither do i like state turning against their own citizens.Its the americans department..But if you think that you should turn against your state by tolarating some women in burka, then I think your state is extremely pathetic..as pathetic as the people against whom your country is fighting..The thing is in usa its majority that shows intolarance to such things, in place where you fight, it is a minority that shows intolarance..Two extremes, one minority, the other majority.
Complain about this comment
I meant charter tour, the kind of tours the westerners are very fond of, where they go everywhere in groups, do exactly the same things, and a guide tells them "on your left, you see the forbidden city, and now the bus is driving towards the famous silk marker, here we will make a two hour stop so that you can do the shopping,please remember the bus stop, and the bus will leave sharply at 2pm" kind of charter tours.
Complain about this comment
The colonel's world?
Complain about this comment
The BBC story, "Bombs and Beatings: Life Among the Taliban," is pretty intensive. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8499578.stm
Complain about this comment
At least OFFICIAL Taliban spokesman has a name.
Complain about this comment
He said anyone who wanted to study was a friend of America.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And there you have it. What do you think the presence of american military trainers among the opening cermony has done? proved that those who wanted to stady are a friend of america..Not only america but of the soldiers who are killing on behalf of americans..Now, its your job to ask your government to tell you what those trainers were actually doing in that school's opening cermony? to a bystander it would appear that they were somehow involved with that school...Getting girls to school in those areas was a hard job before this war on terror which in that area has become an issue of girl's education...If someone wants to teach the girls, it has to take into confidence their parents, which wasnt an easy job before either..there are lots of things involved, economical reasons, the right kind of syllabus, involvement of parents in the education so that they dont feel powerless, short distances to schools, the school timings, etc etc etc.
Complain about this comment
And above all, one has to invest in the education of boys..Without this, nothing will be changed, yesterday it was the prince of dir and swat who didnt allow the girls to learn, now its the taliban, and when they are gone, some other will take their place...In the end, the girls marry the men in their communities, and its them they will live with, if they are not educated, not one single girl can go beyond grade five.Wishing to be a doctor is one thing, but when they dont have the opportunities to compete with the ones in richer areas,they dont stand a chance.No matter how intelligent they may be.
Complain about this comment
"Two bombs in the Pakistani city of Karachi have killed at least 25 people and injured more than 50.
In the first blast, a motorbike laden with explosives hit a bus carrying Shia Muslims to a religious procession and exploded, killing 12 people.
An hour later, another bomb exploded outside the entrance to the emergency ward of the hospital where the victims of the first attack were being treated
At least 13 people were killed in the second attack. " [BBC]
Now, an unofficial Taliban spokesman is certainly going to explain that Shia pligrims and hospital patients were carrying water for the U.S.A.
Just like those schoolgirls killed and wounded earlier by cave-men.
Complain about this comment
Now, an unofficial Taliban spokesman is certainly going to explain that Shia pligrims and hospital patients were carrying water for the U.S.A.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
allow me to explain something important.Karachi despite the fact being te center of unrest since past 30 yrs, was relatively quiet..Taliban are not at all interested in creating chaos in that city, I will let you let yourself explore the shallow depths of your mind to think why is that so? keeping in mind your one track highly brain washed mindset, I can generously predict with no margin of error that you will never ever come near the reason..
Complain about this comment
That was sad reading about the Turkish girl who got buried alive. I do not understand how a family could murder their own child. It is absolutely heart-breaking. Where is the forgiveness? Where is the love?
It also said in the story how the girl had complained of being beaten by her family several times and was sent back to her family. She tried to get help, but no one would help her.
People are not perfect. We are not meant to be perfect. We do make mistakes sometimes.
Families are supposed to protect their children, not harm them.
Complain about this comment
That was sad reading about the Turkish girl who got buried alive. I do not understand how a family could murder their own child. It is absolutely heart-breaking. Where is the forgiveness? Where is the love?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.ejfi.org/family/family-114.htm
Definately not in illinois. Focus closer to home is my suggestion of the day.
Complain about this comment
You are right that the Turkish girl being buried alive was child abuse. Child abuse is a horrible thing that takes place in every country. We should all try to help these children. No one likes to hear such things.
I know one female who was abused as a child. She is confused with what "real love" is, because she thinks love is hitting and beating. But even if you tell her that is not real love, it doesn't matter, because it is the only love she feels like she has known, even if it is not really love. So she continues to date abusive men. I do not know what will happen to her. Pretty much, she has been brainwashed.
I will pray for all the people around the world who are hurting from abuse, because they do not deserve it.
I will pray for you, as well.
Complain about this comment
I am proud to be an American.
But you will not say where you are from...
Your favorite topic is pro-Middle Eastern, so I guess its not that mysterious.
But there are a lot of Muslim immigrants, which makes me wonder if you have migrated.
Complain about this comment
And your american pride is threatened by muslim women burka? When I become a neo settler in canada, I will let you know.
Complain about this comment
By the way, the government of pakistan, has acknowldged the presence of black water in the northern areas of Pakistan. Something everyone including taliban were saying all along. It took 5 children and three aliens lives to bring that out in the open.
Complain about this comment
Griz -- before you complain too much about that $50 million, consider the costs of keeping detainees in Guantanamo:
Cost of building Guantánamo high-security detention facilities: about $54 million
Estimated annual cost of operating Guantánamo: $90 million to $118 million
Cost of “expeditionary legal complex” for the military commission (under construction): $10 million to $12 million
Living under the rule of law isn't easy, nor is it cheap. You tell me if you think it is worth it, given the alternative.
Complain about this comment
So you are still living in your native land? I just wondered, because you speak some English?
It's more like my female pride is threatened by the burka. I am more acceptable of the flowing robe.
The government should be running Pakistan, not the Taliban terrorists.
I regret my statement saying that I do not love gay Americans. I know that the only way to not drown myself or others in unhappiness is by having love for others, even if you do not agree. "Love thy enemy." SO I will say now that I love all Americans.
That is why I pray for the terrorists, too, that they will change their villanous ways, and that one day, our countries could have peace.
Today is a good day. It is Super Bowl Sunday!!!!!!!!!:) Go Saints! Go Colts! May the best team win!!!
It is cool that President Obama is going to do an interview before the Super Bowl, as well. It brings him down on our level and helps us re-engage and feel closer to our President, through sport and good fun. President Obama does have a great sense of hunor and a good smile. What he does best is inspire people. President Obama gives us hope.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS