A warning no one seems to be heeding
You know what's scarey? Not too long ago a leader on another continent had this kind of mesmerizing affect on his nation. He also felt the need to twist the facts to make the truth fit his agenda. He was paranoid enough that as time went on he built up security around him and called it "homeland" security. He was also a Christian who attacked people of other beliefs, generalizing them into a category he called 'evil'. We need to be united in stopping this history from repeating itself.
Comments
Please reference 9/11 when you do and the latest London terrorist attacks.
and comments that don't question or debate but merely mock my opinion.
what bothers me about homeland security? The fact that it's a farse that doesn't work and it also is partially designed to promote fear more than it is actually effective.
I do believe that if the US and it's allies had found Bin Ladin and his his followers the London attacks may not have happened.I do not believe that the "war on terror" is as effective in Iraq as it could be elsewhere on the planet. I do believe that more control over oil rich nations is the main incentive for the war in Iraq. I feel that it is also the main incentive for developing a democracy in that country. I feel that anyone who refuses to even consider this aspect of the arguement is being dangerously naive. We in democratic countries MUST question our leaders. MUST doubt and consider all options and demand that those options be considered by our politicians. When we exist in an environment where we are condemned, ridiculed or silenced when we exercise this democratic right we make a mockery of all we claimed to be fighting for in the first place.
~~~The fact that it doesn't work. A failure in your precious "intellegence" could have prevented alot of deaths before the 9/11 attacks. More layers only increases the chances of yet another blunder with information concerning possible attacks and activities of terrorists, as with the mishandling of information prior to 9-11. The information highway needs LESS layors not the proposed more.
"Granted, Canada isn't a global player anymore so there probably isn't much use for protection."
~~~Remember how I mentioned deleting insulting comments? It's amazing to me how Republicans instantly resort to mud-slinging when they find someone who disagrees with them. Not a global player? May I remind you that our troops were already in Afghanistan when we chose not to follow you to Iraq. They are still there.
"I'm glad democracy is being given a chance in Iraq and Afghanistan.."
~~~You're not doing anything to develope a democracy in Afghanistan. Not that it's important at this time, just thought I'd mention it. Oh that and.. CANADIAN TROOPS ARE THERE TOO. Did you get that this time? Yeah, we would actually like to see a few more of your troops there to help us...if you think you could spare some from Iraq.
"I bet you have a car. And I bet you use petroleum products EVERY SINGLE DAY"
~~~You'd lose that bet. I can't afford a car and they don't let visuallyu impaired people drive anyway.
I tell you one thing I also can't afford..to pay for my own health care. Luckily my government officials know what's more important. Maybe that's why we are also global players where it counts, why we did sign the Kaoto treaty.
"..Mugabe out in Zimbabwe? Fixing things in Darfur.."
~~~You forget you're not the only country represented there. Also another typical Republican attitude...arrogance.
Something you don't seem to want to defend all that much.
I will say yet again..our troops are in afghanistan doing just that. We went there after YOU were attacked! We're fighting for YOU! Yet you fail to recognize that we are even there!
As far as defense in conversation and debate.What do you think practising my freedom of speach is accomplishing? That in and of itself is defending democracy and one of it's very sacrite rights. Do you actually believe that because I am on the other side of the debate that I do not believe in the democracy my troops are defending over there? Are you insinuating that I and others of my opinon are unpatriotic to my country and it's system of government because I desagree with you? What kind of convoluted logic is that sir?
You just answered the question. They found the bombers AFTER THE FACT. Before hand the extension of intellegence just promotes fear and suspicion.
"Canada isn't a global player anymore. That's not insulting. That's just a fact. Enough weaselly drivel has come from Canadian mouthes and media that the USA looks at you guys like the North American France."
It isn't fact, unless you don't really know what "global player" means. weaselly drivel? Lovely! More mud slinging Republican crap. It's a wonder you can stand the smell of your own breath with the kind of bullshit that comes out of it.
"Why can't you afford a car? And by the way, the KYOTO treaty is one of the worst pieces of eco-trash legislation yet put together."
Not that it is any of your business but I like to spend my money on other forms of entertainment that I am not too visually impaired to use. Lots of people can't afford cars in your country too. They don't get free health care though do they? Thanks for the spelling correction but the rest of your analysis of the treaty is obviously based on ignorance and the blind faith in your present administration.
Your insulting comments towards it is yet ANOTHER example of Republican mud slinging. Really Sir, You'd think you'd try to evolve beyond Chimpanzee tactics.
"Are you saying that the Taliban and Saddam are preferable to the governments in place in those two countries now? If you are, then you are not just visually impaired."
And yet MORE mud slinging. This is such a tired arguement. Firstly, Canadian troops helped bring down the Taliban In Afghanistan so there is no reason to bring that point up with me. Why debate why we wouldn't be there when we ARE there. That's a stupid question meant to goad me into a useless arguement so I will ignore it.
Saddam is an evil man by our standards and getting rid of him and attempting to develope a democracy may be a good thing for the Iraqi people if it's even possible. That isn't the main incentive for doing this. It isn't the whole truth yet it is being sold to the US people and the rest of the world as some holy crusade. That's what's wrong with the war that may never end now. Also the fact that that WASN'T the reason why the war was started in the first place yet we are all supposed to ignore that deception now.
"Anytime you put a graphic on a public site that shows a swastika in USA colors, you are asking for, at least in my case, a very lively debate."
Interesting enough I didn't create this graphic. I found it on an English written German site with the caption "Please don't let this happen again". Turns out the site was owned by a very young man. I won't give you the site name for fear of this young idealist's beliefs being crushed by your rhetoric. I don't call all these insulting comments a "lively debate" which is why I chose not to post all your comments. You seemed to enjoy countering my comments by insulting my opinions. I hope you're enjoying this. I think you're very amusing myself really...do you do standup? Maybe in a so called "Redneck" bar perhaps?
~~~So you think it's okay that your government monitors what you read? You can keep your "big brother" thanks. I stay with my comment about it not being effective and creating more paranoia.
"You have gladly given over your control over your own medical expenses to the government."
~~~That is the most idiotic, uninformed statement you've made so far. 50% of personal bankruptcy claims in your country are due to the medical expenses of the claimants and/or thier relatives. Give up control of medical expenses..... even if YOU want my expenses you can have them! Go for it! When I think of the amount of surgeries I've had to have over the years I know there's no way I could manage that! I certainly wouldn't want to burden my family members with it either! My father's prostate cancer for instance... Every single aspect of his treatment from surgery to radiation to therapy after words was covered. Damn straight I'll let my government take over the expenses! Hell yes!
That was a stupid thing to say.
As for the complaints at other Canadian blogs. No system is perfect.
It is an unfortunate thing that some of my countrymen focus on the negative and don't always appreciate the blessings we have. Maybe if they lived a while in the states they'd change thier tunes, maybe not.
"Neither did 62 million other people here."
I believe that was 58 million. I have a read quite a few blogs and message boards where there were Americans who definately do feel decieved by this administration. It may be a minority but they are still out there. I can't speak for all Canadians anymore than you can speak for all Americans
"Aren't you allowed to change your mind when faced with heretofore unknown facts? Maybe not with Socialist/Communist types like yourself, but with free people it's the norm."
~~so lets see you've called me a simpering weakling and a communist among many other insults that I cared not to post (my blog, my rules). Where do you get the communist thing from? The health care system here? I still get to chose which doctor I'd like, when I have surgery of even IF I have it. It's just that my taxes pay for it. That isn't communism...or if it is, it is an aspect of it that actually works. So why would I complain?
I've explained before, you have now resorted to mudslinging, insults and empty accusations. You're doing this because you have nothing left to fight with. You call me names because I disagree with you. Grow up. You're right, I will delete you comments because you're insulting my country. Your comment:
"I couldn't give a hog's snot about some German punk and his stupid graphic"
Is both untrue and typical of the Republican stereotype. It is untrue because if you didn't care about it you wouldn't have mentioned it in your last post. It's typical because you perpetuate the egocentric view of the world. The belief that you DON'T give a damn about other countries and your country is the only one that matters.The feeling that you think YOUR system of government is the only correct system on the planet. Your ethics (if you could call them that) and morals are the only ones that could possibly be worth fighting for. Which brings me back to my point that the developement of democracy (by force for the most part) in Iraq is not out of the goodness of your politicians' hearts but for profit only. Your troops must truly believe it is from THIER hearts so I mean no disrespect to them..but as to your politicians, I stick to my original comment. They are businessmen first.
Why else would they:
..Allow your poorest people to go without adequate health care
..revoke the promise of money to the rescue workers form 9/11 (which they say is what this is all about)
...Do nothing to increase veterans' pay yet they send them to this war
...drill for oil in the middle of the near endangered caribou mating grounds in the Alaskan wilderness
...Do nothing to clean up thier environmental waste and pollution when they are one of the worst polluters on the planet
I could go on and on...but what's the point. By now you've already stop listening and decided to believe and do what your master tells you too. I'd rather be a semi-socialist (as you would call it) then live under a dictatorship like you seemed to be. I at least can still think for myself.
If your next post has more insults I will delete it and it will be ignored completely.
You're wasting space reserved for real free thinkers.
But, your blog, your rules. Censor away since you really don't know what to do with contrarian opinions anyway.
Kudos to BadgerBob for seeing through the squid-like ink cloud Rue spews out.
~~~"Mock" ~~To treat with scorn and contempt..to ridicule,de-ride or taunt"
~~~"Disagree"~~To differ in opinion"
You see the difference now? You may disagree all you like with my beliefs. I am really quite okay with that. If you cannot state your disagreement without running me down with insults then your comments get deleted. You obviously didn't read my comments thoroughly either. I quoted Brave "Mr. Anonymous" here within my comments. I just left out some of the more dispicable words he used.
Speaking of Brave "Mr.Anonymous"...
You now have the defination of Mocking too. I think it's fine to have "contrarian opinions". As long as you can find a way to post them without insulting me.
calling me a communist is completely inaccurate..oh and by the way "socialist" and "communist" are not synonymous. Yet more republican propaganda.
In this statement:
"tendencies toward censorship mirrors totalitarian government practices. That's where the Communist comment came in"
you actually purjure yourself. You made that statement in reference to our health care system. You insulted my country there, not my blog. If you want to talk about censorship you don't have to look far. Your own countrymen try to censor your public figures and celebrities every time they voice thier opinions against this war or this administration's policies. Your government established the 10 second delay on your televison stations as well.
The only thing I censor is your insults as they serve no purpose.
I noticed you've ignored every fact I left in my last post. Typical again. What you can't disprove, you ignore. You seemed to put your blinders on and see only the part of the truth your leaders want you to believe.
As far as Canada not being a global player...just in case you missed him..that was our Prime Minister standing near your President at the G8 summit.
Hope that clears up the squid-like ink cloud You're looking through. I didn't put that there, that was Your President.
Once again, to deletedom.
~~~I donnot delete all your comments just the particularily offensive ones
"You have your blog and your rules. I can respect that. But, it is disrespectful in my opinion, to invite disagreement then cavlierly decide what is harmful or hateful or whatever."
~~~I think there is nothing 'cavalier'or disrespectful about deciding what *I* find insulting to *me* on *my* blog. I reserve the right to respond to your points (when I can find them) rather than answer to your rudeness
"It gives short shrift to other's opinions and makes you seem petulant and boorish."
~~~No it doesn't. Your rudeness makes you seem like a school yard bully. Yet another republican stereotype you seemed to enjoy personifying.
and still you've ignored valid points and continue to mock me and my opinions. It's starting to get old. If you have something valid to debate or an interesting counter point have at it or stay off my blog.
~~~So...do it! I have said again and again if you can disprove my comments or if you can come up with a legitimate counterpoint without insulting me, mine or any other's system of government then please do. If you truly want to carry on this "lively debate" as you call it then make it exactly that. To repeat offensive comments and insults does not disprove or counter anything I have stated. It only makes you appear rude and even brainwashed by your leader. You bow out because you have nothing left to offer the discussion. I made this a public blog in the hopes of reading something worthwhile from BOTH sides of the arguement. I don't expect my mind to be changed and I don't expect to change anyone else's mind but some integrity, individuality and intellegence would be nice for a change.