Hat Tip to Jay for the link to Dennis Miller on defeatism.
Click image to watch
Read If you stand up to them, they will cave. Here is just a taste:
George Bush has not yet engaged. In fact, he gave some. Donald Rumsfeld and a rethink, to be specific. False sense of security created. Now let the caving begin. Harry Reid says he’s OK with a troop surge, as long as sending 30,000 more troops to Iraq is part of a comprehensive scheduled surrender plan.ÂSurrender enthusiasts will never be able to stand in the face of logic and determination. Because, in their heart of hearts, what they want to do … is surrender.
Argghhh!!! notices that, as astute observers had predicted, when the wind changes direction, the dust and litter start going the other way.
There’s a distinct difference between acknowledging defeat and realizing we’re doing nothing but making matters worse in a country where we had no business investing ourselves so militarily.
Mr. Miller’s afraid of our looking like we made a mistake (which we did).
He’s ego’s showing.
Dennis Miller is a lovely spin doctor. He’s nearly as good as a John Stewart.
But there’s no getting around the fact that we never should have invested our energies in Iraq and called it “defeating terrorism after 9/11″ nor should we continue (anymore than we should have to such a prolonged degree in Southeast Asia) to incite the terrorists by our presence in Iraq. It makes us more unsafe rather than safer for our endless occupancy of that nation.
Globally (and for posterity for that matter) we’d look a damned sight better for admitting an error in intelligence and judgment by going to Iraq in the first place than prolonging that débacle simply to save face as the “big guys”.
Since the advent of the nuclear age real warfare (as exhibited by Southeast Asia and Iraq) is passé. Wars can no longer be won. There’s the lesson in this.
We waited far too long to remove ourselves from Vietnam.
We’re headed down a similar road at this rate in Iraq.
I couldn’t disagree with you more Eben. The writing was on the wall in the 90′s. Al qaeda knew our country was soft and did not have the will to fight..everyday, people like you make that true. The insurgents are being funded and armed by various different terrorist organizations..This right here is a problem: Globally (and for posterity for that matter) we’d look a damned sight better
Look better to whom?
Look a lot better to the EuroSocialists who have no concept of right and wrong and no spine.
Eben, it is because of traitors such as yourself that there is perception that we can’t win a war. If we get the girly men like you out of the way, we can win the old fashioned way, total humiliation and exhaustion of the enemy to the point his spirit and wherewithal to fight is broken.
…total humiliation and exhaustion of the enemy to the point his spirit and wherewithal to fight is broken.
Exactly right: That’s how you win a war. You crush the enemy until he lacks to ability and/or will to continue fighting. It is the lesson of History, been proven many times. It’s damned simple, really.
But somehow it seems to have been lost.
IMO, if we do not attain the goals in Iraq that we set out to do, it is unlikely we will ever win a war again. It will be another sign that America is soon to be defeated, and the people that did it are her citizens.
#6: right on. This goes way beyond what mistakes have been made, whether we should have invaded. That is water under the bridge.
It’s the subtle form of racism practised by the left. They’re saying that those crazy little brown people over there cannot be civilized or ever live peacefully. Their belief is that American lives are just far more valuable then those of the savages in Iraq so we should just abandon and forget about them. The American public needs to wake up and stop acknowledging these racist morons.
…the people that did it are her citizens.
To be more specific: Her Liberals, Socialists, Democrites.
…the people that did it are her citizens.
To be more specific: Her Liberals, Socialists, Democrites.
To be more specific: Her Liberals, Socialists, Democrites.
Not exclusively.
Oh of courses they are a major factor, but a fair share of Republicans had a lot to do with it also. Richard Nixon, both of the Bush’s, Ron Paul…the list goes on.
#2.
I had a feeling you would.
But much as I could take individual issues with Mr. Miller’s selectivity in that video I will defer those who think his take just to the likes of Michael Moore.
Personally I never felt a “vengeance” piece after September 11, 2001. I felt shock and sorrow and dismay. But when I began to gain perspective on what other countries suffer at the hands of all varieties of terrorit irrespective of the viablity of same I developed a sense of objectivity unknown to me before then.
That to me is the lesson of 9/11.
No amount of fear-mongering is going to make me believe that the human race (again irrespective of background) does not want what you and I want;
The ability live life by our own standard without fear of outside dictation of what that standard should be.
#4 To PCD
Name calling is simple and the act of a simpleton.
A real patriot, for me, stands up to a greater truth.
Person reason and perspective (global) is lost on your American eyes.
Believe as you must.
#2
sorry missed this first time ’round
Look better to whom?
me
Wow Eben…didn’t realize you were such a pacifist. Well, I for one refuse to bow down to Allah. I will not stop supporting the fight on terrorism until my dying day because I will not support a position that will allow this country to be taken over by that ‘peaceful’ religion of Islam leaving my granddaughters to wear berka’s and take a back seat to men.
As for your remark about inciting terrorists. Way I see it, we made their countries very, very rich with our thirst for oil. It’s not our fault only a few share the wealth. It’s their problem and they need to deal with it. Aside from us making them rich when did we ever incite them to violence?
Dennis Miller is hilarious though (and good looking too)! Thanks for the post.
#14.
Yes BonBon.
I think pacifism is the ideal.
And I ‘for one’ refuse to allow a social conditioning of fear and paranoia dictate my reality. We simply have different takes on this world you and I.
I’ve seen my share of this world. We’re not all that different intrinsically BonBon. People (even those who worship Allah) only want to believe as they want much as you and I may easily not subscribe to that belief.
Zealots know no denominations or faiths. They exist within our own ranks too don’t forget.
Though I’m cognizant that many cannot (hence the problem) resolve national and religious differences without taking dead aim I remain hopeful that such will be the tone of the future as it becomes increasingly obvious (even to the most doltish) that wars don’t work.
As for your “bow to Allah” comment, no. I wouldn’t care to bow to any diety per se. But that’s just me. Religionists everywhere think “mine’s the only real way. It’s preposterous and at the root of nine tenths of the ills of this world as we know it today in my opinion.
And as far as ‘taking a back seat to men’ is concerned. Most males among this American audience only feign equality to the female of our gender. Do not be fooled. It’s a fool’s paradise.
As for you notion of physical attractiveness I’d have to say that I think John Stewart’s much better looking and less self-satisfying glib.
sorry.. I think it’s “Jon” Stewart.
Eben….I know you have the best intention and I agree that war is ugly and wish it wasn’t necessary. But I see this as a war against good and evil and good has to win out or the civilized world will be bowing down to Allah. We need to fight and more important we need to win.
I have listened to the accusations made of ‘fear mongering’. I worked at a distance of less than 10 miles from the Pentagon the day of the attack. Not knowing where that plane was was indeed fearsome. No one had to convince me.
And I like the dark, devilish type!!!!!:lol:
Eben,
I will not insult you for your beliefs. I will only ask that you logically think through a few things:
If a pacifist gets into a fight with someone who isn’t a pacifist, who dies?
How much are your values worth to you as a corpse?
Isn’t the first “inalienable right” defined in the Declaration of Independence Life?
Aren’t you glad that there are those amonst us who ARE willing to jeopardize their lives to save yours?
Does providing continual proganda fodder to the enemy in the form of emotional support by making derogatory comments about our leaders thereby endangering the lives of the very service members who volunteered to protect yours not also endanger your own?
If you are such a pacifist that you willingly endanger your own life, what gives you the right to make that choice for others?
Would not a true pacifist, knowing that his/her continual emotional support for the enemy is actually assisting said enemy, not refrain from being a part of the war effort on the part of the enemy?
As a pacifist, you should be side neutral. As the documents found with Zarqawi and the recorded statements of Osama Bin Laden have shown, they are counting on the support of the anti war movement to help them to win. According to their own documents, we are winning the war against the terrorists in Iraq.
It’s the internal Sunni/Shiite conflict that is being harder to put down and the external support for both sides coming from outside sources (Sunnis from Syria and Shiite from Iran) it is making it much harder for the democratic government of Iraq to gain control. Neither Syria nor Iran wish to see a true democracy appear on their borders because it would jeopardize their own outdated forms of governments. The theocracy in Iran and the monarchy in Syria greatly fear the possibility of a modern industrialized democracy on their borders because it would cause their citizens to demand change, as many students in Iran are already doing.
Honestly, I feel that we should’ve backed the Shiite uprising at the end of Desert Storm instead of letting Saddam crush it with helicopter gunships and massive reprisals. Had we done so, the Shiites majority would not have the resentment and mistrust towards us that developed when we encouraged them to rise up but then failed to back them in it.
For all that’s said and done, most of the Iraqis appreciate us being there. However to allow 10% of the population to dictate how the rest should live should be unacceptable to everyone.
#17I have listened to the accusations made of ‘fear mongering’. I worked at a distance of less than 10 miles from the Pentagon the day of the attack. Not knowing where that plane was was indeed fearsome. No one had to convince me.
Yes I’m sure it would have been beyond unsettling. I know two fellows who worked very near the World Trade Center and who chose to rethink their lives after that event. Your reaction to proximity and theirs tells two different tales; It simply tells me that different people react differently to different stimuli.
For them it gave them a greater sense of the value of this existence and the dire need to communicate rather than isolate. Indeed Tom (one of said two) and I were discussing it last week at his place near here.
#18 FAO
I will not insult you for your beliefs
Thanks- nor would I yours.
I’ll only reference this piece of what you’ve written since the rest asks me to engage in a premise to which I’ve already stated I believe most are ill-prepared and indisposed. It would end us both up in a tug-’o-war of who’s right. And quite frankly the older I become the less I believe in an absolute notion of “right” and “wrong”. Most everything, increasingly, is relative to one’s own reality.
If you are such a pacifist that you willingly endanger your own life, what gives you the right to make that choice for others?
Would not a true pacifist, knowing that his/her continual emotional support for the enemy is actually assisting said enemy, not refrain from being a part of the war effort on the part of the enemy?
There is only (on my part) ‘emotional support’ for all decent people. You needn’t apply it only to those you perceive as your ‘enemies’. I don’t see the world in great masses of “us” and “thems”. I did once somewhat. But I don’t now.
I spoke previously only in the ideal FOA. I know that hot-headedness rules the world. I witness it in sheer disbelief daily. It will endure long beyond my time on this planet too I fear. But to give it credence by acknowledging it personally and responding to it similarly only perpetuates same and fuels that fire.
I think it was Robert here who called my “take” childlike (childish?) but for me we can argue who’d smack the intruder in his child’s bedroom or who’d be the first to push the “big button” to end the world until the cows come home… it’s pointless.
Until we, as a species, realize that war is futile – since history has easily taught us so – we’re doomed to the carnage and repetition in which we now find ourselves hopelessly devoting our collective resources, intellects, and purpose.
For me to join ranks with those numbers (already significant enough) would not better their (your?) cause nor my own.
Until we, as a species, realize that war is futile – since history has easily taught us so – we’re doomed to the carnage and repetition in which we now find ourselves hopelessly devoting our collective resources, intellects, and purpose
I think quite the opposite is true here Eben. Go back and take a closer look at each war America has been in. War has stopped the Jews from being slaughtered and brought Europe to peace. The Vietnam war was a war that when we left almost 4 million people were slaughtered in retribution for siding with us. We should have stayed. The Civil War brought an end to slavery and the American revolution speaks for itself. The list goes on.
We are in a war whether or not we like it. 9/11 was the end of the incidents marking my fear. Fear grew since World Trade 93 and continued through the 90′s until 9/11. Terrorists do not want to talk and they are growing in number. The choice is clear. Kill or be killed. Good versus evil.
Eben, you are the myopic idiot. Just go hide under your bed. Surrendering is NEVER patriotic, you fool.
#21
PCD you’re an odd fellow. You seemed compelled to name call and categorize. If being angry and combative makes you feel alive I welcome to your emotions all the while monitoring daily your blood pressure.
I’m neither a ‘fool’ (though I enjoy being foolish sometimes) nor am I myopic. The very definition of myopia suggests an inablity to view the world from but one point of view. That would apply more aptly to your absolutist take than mine. Rethink your unkindness when applying your negative attempts at degradation. They become the stuff of the playground bully. And in the end what service does it really provide for you. Do you hope to silence my opinion? Change my mind?
Nothing would work less successfully.
#20I think quite the opposite is true here Eben. Go back and take a closer look at each war America has been in. War has stopped the Jews from being slaughtered and brought Europe to peace. The Vietnam war was a war that when we left almost 4 million people were slaughtered in retribution for siding with us. We should have stayed. The Civil War brought an end to slavery and the American revolution speaks for itself. The list goes on.
I realize without your recounting it the reasons we go to war. I just wonder at the human inability to learn before the event. That’s my premise BonBon. Please don’t miss it.
We are in a war whether or not we like it. 9/11 was the end of the incidents marking my fear. Fear grew since World Trade 93 and continued through the 90′s until 9/11. Terrorists do not want to talk and they are growing in number. The choice is clear. Kill or be killed. Good versus evil.
Whose good? Yours or theirs? Whose evil? Yours or there.
You’re reading but not comprehending what I write.
Fear is always a factor when a country (ours in this case) insists on remainingly haughtily insular and inconsiderate to other cultures, faiths, and traditions.
As I’ve said before I feel our world is made better by the differences among us rather than the similarities.
In my opinion? The only thing we all need to ‘fear’ is the perpetuation of ignorance.
Eben,
I just dish back to liberals what they dish out. I find that they can’t take doses of their own medicine. Shall I condescend to you like you condescend to others? Would you like being dismissed as you dismiss others? How about I adopt a superiority complex while addiressing you? You wnat to complain aobut that, too?
You are trying to silence and bully others into silence and submission yourself, therefore roughly insert your complints into your anal cavity and bend over for more abuse.
PCD-
I think you’re a very unhappy fellow and I’m sorry for what’s made you become so unpleasant when you address someone you don’t know. Be that as it may, I don’t believe anything is gained in consciencious debate by defammatory words like ‘idiot’ when it’s clear I’m not.
And at the moment the only ‘abuse’ I’m taking is at your hands were I to allow you your unkindness. So there you have it.
Perhaps things to you are absolute. I allow you that take in life.
I would only ask you afford me the same courtesy if you’re able.
My only confoundment is this;
You seem to thrive on conflict. The instigating piece in you is pretty overt. It only supports my initial addressing in this thread of the reasons countries war with one another. For me, I haven’t a clue why one needs to be unkind by nature. I guess it serves some need but I don’t require that I’m “right”. I only require that my view of things is tolerated and allowed (much as FAO has here).
Can’t it suffice that I see the world differently than you? Or will you have none of it? Must everyone, in other words, be a version of you?
Fear is always a factor when a country (ours in this case) insists on remainingly haughtily insular and inconsiderate to other cultures, faiths, and traditions.
Is there any country that has made a greater effort to accommodate these things than the U.S.? We have been a melting pot for 150+ years! It’s when they don’t want to melt that the problems start.
I think it was Robert here who called my “take”childlike (childish?) but for me we can argue who’d smack the intruder in his child’s bedroom or who’d be the first to push the “big button”to end the world until the cows come home:
The concept of diplomacy on the national and world stage is quite different from the situation of confronting an intruder in your home.
When confronting the intruder in your home, it’s real, it’s personal, and it’s happening now. What anyone else thinks or wants really doesn’t matter. Are you really nor understanding the difference?
Eben. I think Osama Bin Laden said it best when he stated that they love death more than Americans love life. The Koran teaches that Islam is the only religion that should be allowed with no tolerance towards jews or christians.
So who exactly is being inconsiderate of others cultures and religions? I would argue extensively that it is the radical elements of islam. The good versus evil and we need to win for the sake of the civilized world.
Yeah, what is left to undersatnd abolut radical Islam? Reminds me of the scene in the movie Independence Day when the President addressed the captured alien who was being held in Area 51. The President naturally and reasonable asked the alien “What do you want from us?” The alien answered “we want you dead”. Direct simple, impossible to misinterpret. No negotiation, no surrender, no diplomacy would make any difference whatsoever.
Eben you are intelligent. Why do you not acknowledge this obvious reality?
I almost forgot. There is one thing that would make themn stopp killing us, at least they say there is: we all convert to Islam. Speaking for myself, ain’t gonna happen. I would rather kill every last one of the radicals, erase their DNA from the human genetic pool, than do that.
Eben,
“Perhaps things to you are absolute. I allow you that take in life.”
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ALLOW ME ANYTHING??? Up yours you arrogant S.O.B.
For you tha quote, “Stupid is as Stupid does” fits quite nicely.
It is stupid, or should I say sophmoric as is the translation from the original, “Wise Fool”, people like you who think you know something, yet upon examination, you are nothing more than a child babbling.
is somebody talking about me? What’s the issue? Well whatever. We have a big rally today downtown. We are going to address the top Leftist Idiot issues of today. Here’s our agenda:
1. How to get Bush to take President Carter’s deeply wise advice.
2. What we have done to make Islamists hate us and how we can atone for our transgressions.
3. Prepare a resolution to demand we stop stealing Arab oil. NO WAR for oil!
4. Honor John Kerry as a hero and Ted Kennedy as a super patriot.
5. Vote in Michael Moore as our official national and foreign policy expert.
6. Take up a collection so we can afford to have Mother Sheehan attend our next rally!
7. Discuss how we will support the Obama/Clinton 2008 candidacy.
8. Urge Congress to enact the Fairness Doctrine to stop Right-Wing Hate Radio, plus fund Air America. AAR MUST continue!!!
All Lemmings, idiots, and morons are invited and encouraged to attend. It is free; there is no minimum IQ, you don’t need to shower, and the only rule is that you must be politically correct at all times. We are totally dedicated to free speech; therefore no right-wing or conservative distractions will be allowed. In fact there can be no questioning of our agenda, purpose, or doctrine whatsoever.
#30
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU THAT YOU HAVE THE POWER TO ALLOW ME ANYTHING??? Up yours you arrogant S.O.B.
Interestingly, I’m someone who’ll allow you his take where you’d dictate (or deny) me mine.
It appears you take things very defensively.
What you deem ‘arrogance’ I’d better call personal conviction. I’m sorry you see me as ‘arrogant’ or as you said earlier ‘condescending’. I have only the objectivity of my personal experience. It’s from that platform I formulate opinion and political take – nothing else. How you read me is distinctly your prerogative. I have no control over how my words effect you.
I would caution you about letting my views make you as angry as they appear to. After all PCD – it’s simply an internet message board where we go to share opinion not dictate reality.
You accuse me oddly being a ‘child babbling’ where your recalcitrant behavior on this thread is the stuff of real ‘childish behavior’. But vent
and act out as you will.
I’ve stated my case and my view with substantive and reasonsed thought – all the while not debasing the argument to defensive (and arrogant) name-calling and playground antics.
Would that the same could be said of you.
You’re not someone I’d care to know personally.
#27
Eben. I think Osama Bin Laden said it best when he stated that they love death more than Americans love life. The Koran teaches that Islam is the only religion that should be allowed with no tolerance towards jews or christians.
The Bible teaches similarly that theirs is the “only way” too.
So who exactly is being inconsiderate of others cultures and religions? I would argue extensively that it is the radical elements of islam. The good versus evil and we need to win for the sake of the civilized world.
I would argue that it’s all zealots irrespective of religious affiliation. There’s a fine fellow name Fred Phelps who’ll serve as a respresentative of the fringe extremist element in Christian fundamentalism.
To me he and Bin Laden are indistinguishable in theory.
With regard to your ‘civilized world’ comment BonBon, I know for a fact that those in the East do not see us in the least as ‘civilized’. So you see again we’re back to personal perspective.
Personally I’d much enjoy the imposition of a government and social order into my “known” or generational social cognizance which would deign to overturn it to “inform me to [their] better understanding” of how this world ought to function.
Perspective.
.. in last paragraph of #33 above please read “Personally I’d not much enjoy the imposition…”
Thanks.
Eben, no comment on my post 25 and 26? Frankly, they are pretty compelling, and I’ve never encountered anyone who could successfully parry them.
certainly Robert but for now just #26
The concept of diplomacy on the national and world stage is quite different from the situation of confronting an intruder in your home.
When confronting the intruder in your home, it’s real, it’s personal, and it’s happening now. What anyone else thinks or wants really doesn’t matter. Are you really nor understanding the difference?
With due respect to your first sentence. Yes you’re quite right.
I understand substantively the difference.
Am I naive enough to think the world will one day be a Utopian place where everyone will be a person of reason and studied response? No.
Do I think it an ideal to which I (remember here I’m only addresing my own take here) will aspire all life? Yes.
As it happens I have had “an intruder in my house”. I was just out of college and I was living in the city. My roommate and I had rented a rather upscale apartment in a decidedly “evolving” neighborhood. I was walking home from the office one late afternoon and two adolescent boys approached me and said “hey man? Want to buy a television?” I responded foolishly; “no thank you. I already have one at home”.
Well of course they followed me to my place of residence. I was only home five minutes or so (my roommate had the day off so he was there too) and the doorbell rang and without thinking I opened the door and these same two pushed their way into the foyer. They were brandishing a knife and obviously very high on something.
Michael (roommate) remained calmer than I but we both did our best not to show any semblance of real fear. Instead we didn’t react particularly. Somehow we were able to assure them that if the accompanied us to our neighbor’s we’d be able to make a “buy” with them and in the process “we could all get high together”. Oddly, they fell for it.
We never lost our cool. And as I opened the door they went out first and Michael slammed the door shut behind them. He and I still laugh about it to this day.
I do not suggest that this story is representative. But I found the “keeping one’s cool” has twice in my life saved my life. The other time was during a hitch hiking incident where I was propositioned. I had to bail out of a moving car that time.
People are funny (in the odd way). Were I to have a family and find an intruder in my child’s room I’d certainly do anything necessary to prevent any harm coming to anyone I love. It’s clear.
But I think in the larger sense the more we promote reason and the similarities among us as people regardless of nationality, religion, and ethnicity the more we begin to see the “other guy” as less somehow scary and threatening. I think Terrorism counts on our society becoming fear-based and as many I know just after 9/11 have said to me “I refuse to live watching my back”.
Oh hell I’ll address the other one too:
Is there any country that has made a greater effort to accommodate these things than the U.S.? We have been a melting pot for 150+ years! It’s when they don’t want to melt that the problems start.
Please do not mistake me Robert. I love my country deeply. In theory (and through some of its history) it’s an immensely successful experiment in something I believe is entirely unattainable; individual equality. But it’s been a noble effort. I’m not quite sure I know what you mean by ‘when they don’t want to melt that the problems start’. If you could clarify who ‘they’ are I’d be better able to answer you.
Thanks.
Wow…just got time to watch the vid.
Miller hit the nail on the head quite sqaurely.
Eben, you are very, very lucky that your two life-threatening events turned out the way they did. I always advocate clear thinking and reason, plus avoidance of confrontation and violence if possible. But ultimately it just comes down to luck; there are too many variables you cannot control or affect.
With regard to the melting pot, don’t we see every day examples of immigrants, legal and illegal, who want/demand that we change our cultural and social mores to suit them? That’s what I mean when they don’t melt. Anyone who sees themselves as anything first and an American second is not melting. You know that includes some native-born folks.
Eben, I think that I can answer that one for Robert. What he is saying that as long as the immigrants were willing to become Americans instead of trying to remain whatever nationality they were before coming here, things worked well. It was when they refused to actually do what it takes to become “Americans”, (learn English, follow the laws, etc etc etc) that they threw a monkey wrench into the works. The Muslims who have come to realize that the US provides them the opportunity to live better than they have ever imagined in other countries, as long as they do not try to put Sharia law above the local ones, have excelled. Those who attempt to insist that Sharia law (honor killings, etc etc) is the supreme law and trumps the Constitution have made things less than ideal for everyone.
The same thing goes with the illegal aliens who refuse to learn to speak English. Arizona spends millions teaching children who aren’t even supposed to be in this country. Shouldn’t that money be used to teach American citizens? US taxpayers foot the bill. I live in Phoenix, Arizona and about half of the billboards along the freeway are in Spanish because of the large illegal Mexican population that refuses to learn English. Exactly why is Heinekin advertising in Spanish? Legal Aliens and US Citizens all have to know how to read English. Why should I have to learn a foreign language to be able to communicate in the country where I am a citizen? Were I to move to a foreign country for any length of time, I’d learn the language. I’ve already studied Russian, Spanish and Italian, I just haven’t used them enough to be proficient in them at the moment.
re 39
Gotcha FOA
Eben, I think that I can answer that one for Robert. What he is saying that as long as the immigrants were willing to become Americans instead of trying to remain whatever nationality they were before coming here, things worked well.
I’m with you both then 100%.
My brother-in-law’s father was an immigrant from Rome.
He discouraged his three children from learning his native Italian to the point that none of them has any real cognitive knowledge of their background. This to me is sad and a dreadful waste of a wonderful cultural heritage.
Most of my family has been here for many many generations so I have no sense of nationalism other than my Americanism. I’m a bit envious sometimes of those who can say “oh I’m Italian-American” or “I’m Polish American” because of the distinct cultural nuances that come inherent with those backgrounds.
That said, I’m entirely against the “multi-lingualization” (non-word) of this country that I see happening lately. It’s generally a menu choice when one’s waiting on hold to talk to any institution or business.
I think its ill-conceived and a dreadful mistake.
While I chose to learn two foreign languages I did so by my own will and desire to broaden my experience in other countries.
I concur wholeheartedly that there should be no adjustment to the American language (loosely based on English!:lol:)
I have a proviso about immigration generally though;
I think it ill-advised to seem so intransigent in our stance against immigrants generally. We appear (some of us) as if we want to “slam the door shut” now that we’re in. In doing so we defeat the very purpose of one of the founding premises of this country. I realize it’s a complex issue.
It requires complex and sensitive resolutions.
re #38
Robert;
Eben, you are very, very lucky that your two life-threatening events turned out the way they did. I always advocate clear thinking and reason, plus avoidance of confrontation and violence if possible. But ultimately it just comes down to luck; there are too many variables you cannot control or affect.
Much of life is luck Robert. I understand your position but I count on one thing which may sound silly to you but nonetheless it’s the case. I have faith. (Not in the traditional sense…) But I have faith that things turn out a specific way nearly in a “master plan” sort of way.
Having come to that conclusion, I find myself significantly less stressed out than I was ten years ago. I live in a metropolitan city. Two months ago woman was slain by her estranged husband in her bedroom since he’d been put under a restraining order. Years ago it would have made me consider moving away. Now it makes me grateful I don’t obsess about people who do not want me in their lives or try and control that which is beyond my ability.
I gotta tell ya.. it’s amazingly relaxing.
Eben, my stance on immigration is that even though the current law needs to be changed, that doesn’t mean that anyone wanting to walk across the border should be allowed to break it. There was a reason why the laws were enacted. Primarily to keep criminals, leaches, and potential enemies out of the country. Our grandparents had to have medical and background checks as well as a sponsor and a job. We had a woman recently who was 9 months pregnant waddle 50 ft across the border and pop out a beautiful little anchor baby. The Border Patrol was required to take her to the hospital in Tucson where she recovered nicely with her US citizen daughter which now allowed her to stay in the US permanently. Guess who picked up the tab for hospital stay? That’s right the taxpayers of the state of Arizona. I have to agree with those who argue that perhaps it’s time to change the 14th amendment about granting automatic citizenship to anyone born on US soil. No other country grants citizenship to the children of aliens, legal or otherwise. Our schools here in Arizona are overburdened with kids who are either here illegally, or children of parents who are. We spend a fortune on our schools, but because of the huge numbers of illegals, the per student spending ranks as the lowest in the country. The illegals also are a driving force behind why violence in the schools is so high.
The illegals are also 6 times as likely to be involved in crime than legal resident aliens and US citizens. How else would you describe the fact that they represent only 4% of the general population but almost 25% of the prison population nationwide?