53 Forum Posts by "Just-Think"
Anyway back to the op,
The world hates America because they get the impression that we do whatever we want without caring about the effect it has on the rest of the world. For the most part this is true. However, this is not to say that other countries don't do the same. Take North Korea (probably not the best example, but still). The reason the world puts so much pressure on the US is because we are the most powerful country in the world, and there is a certain amount of envy involved. Back in the Cold War, most of the world loved (or at least was friendly with) the US (except the communist countries of course), because the alternative was Soviet Russia. Now that we stand alone at the top, other countries want to take our place and thus understandably keep a more watchful eye over what we do.
There is also the fact that many Americans, on an individual basis, act arrogant and stupid towards other countries. During the beginning of the war in Iraq, it was "cool" to hate France, so a lot of Americans went along with it without even looking into the issue themselves. If this is how Americans are to act every time another country disagrees or doesnt go along with something America does, then of course other countries are going to dislike us.
One example I can use is that I know someone who for no apparent reason hates Germans. I'm sure he'll use World War 2 as some sort of springboard to an argument as to why his hatred is justified. In fact, I dont even think he's serious about it, he's probably joking about it. Even though, its a stupid thing to do and it makes him look stupid. This it true for many Americans.
At 7/12/06 01:24 AM, Camarohusky wrote: How many languages do you speak?
What are the capitals of the 4North-East Asian Nations?
What does it mean for a striker to get caught in a trap?
What Non-European country was ruined because of greedy commercialists after WWI?
What are the names of 5 prime ministers and/or presidents of other countries?
You tell me anyone you know who can answer these questions off the top of their head and I'll show you why America isn't cocky and arrogant.
Before we start asking Americans information about other counties, we should first teach them something about our own. Its amazing how many people know next to nothing about America. One example I remeber being was that people had no idea how many states were in the US. These were grown mend and women in their 30's and 40's. Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that someone can get through 40 years of their lives without something as simple as knowing that there are 50 states in the US.
At 7/12/06 03:56 AM, zendahl wrote: My question is, if gun laws prevent crime, than how did it still happen?
So if a law exists to prevent people from owning guns, but someone still manages to get a gun, we should drop the law entirely?
Completely ludicrous.
While I understand why it may be a good idea for people to own a handgun, I believe the country would be better off banning guns completely. Most kids who end up with guns get them because they found them in an uncle's home or something. I mean every and any gun. Handguns, rifles, etc. Yes that right, even guns used for hunting. It's a retarded "sport" and senseless killing of innocent animals. If animals are seriously overpopulating a location, let the government do something about it, civilians have no business shooting live ammunition at anything.
"Oh no but what if someone tries to rob my house, then how will I defend myself?"
First of all if someone is robbing you and you think its justifiable to kill them for it, you're messed up in the head. Call the cops from a safe location, they're trained to handle crooks. You're not.
Bottom line: I'm sure more people die from "accidents" caused from people owning guns legally then people dying in a situation where having a handgun would save their lives.
Ok even if this was a good idea how would you enforce it?
Because any sort of fool proof way of enforcing such a thing is an outright invasion of privacy.
Anyway, you have no right to tell other people what to do in the privacy of their own homes as long as they are not hurting themselves or anyone else. So please, take your extremist bullshit somewhere else.
Oh it looks like i misunderstood your colored band idea. Sorry bout that. I wouldnt want to be required to wear one though anyway.
Nah, you'd need everyone to cooperate. I for one wouldnt want to wear a band with a color, branding me as someone who "cant get alone with those damn red band people" or something like that. Alcohol really cant be regualted. Either you allow it, or you ban it completely. At least thats what i think
1)"Snail Mail"
2)Our reliance on oil. Future generations will probably laugh at us for not assimilating nuclear power sooner
3)Lack of any sort of intelligence test required for voting. One day (maybe) all would-be voters will have to take a test on history, current events, and overall IQ to qualify them as eligible to vote (at least I hope so, that would be nice)
4)Paper money
5)Our existence being limited to Earth (Future generations which may be living on other planets)
6)The existence of a god (give this one several hundred years, though)
7)War (iffy at best)
At 11/23/05 04:16 PM, The_Jason wrote:
I'm sorry to say that the size of our brains has nothing to do with our ability to do high-order thought. It is a specific part of our brain, the frontal lobe, which enables us to do this. There are many creatures out there with much larger brains than ours and none of them have high-order thought. Nice try, though.
Hey, idiot, before you act all high and mighty, pertending you know more than anyone else: Where did I say anything about the size of our brains? Nowhere. Stop reading what you want to read in order to show off knowledge you probably got off wiki the night before. Theres a difference between the wording "so many neurons" and "our brains are so big". I'm going to be nice when i say this: go fuck yourself.
At 11/10/05 10:22 AM, D-DeViLs wrote:
but i don't even want to learn french, i hate the country and i hate the language
You're being an asshole so im just going to say this:
FUCK YOU
At 11/22/05 01:13 PM, Holo-Alf wrote:
All life shares a single consiousness
Conciousness is just an illusion created by the fact that our brains are made up of so many neurons that we as humans are able to "think" on a cognitive level.
religion isnt the problem. it rarely is. its the people using religion to further their own selfish gains. radicals like members of the taliban probably hate us because someone decided that they hated america, for whatever reason, and somehow got people to believe that its in the koran that americans should die (and it most certainly is not)
And one more thing, while we're talking about the Patriot Act. The only people who should be caring and bitching about it are people who have something to hide. So complain all you want about it, it just makes me suspicious of you.
Benjamin Franklin's little quote about giving up some liberty for some safety DOESNT APPLY ANYMORE. Will you all please stop using it already. Honestly, I wouldn't give up metal detectors and background checks at the airport for anything. Give me safetly over small, irrelevant liberties any day.
since when did the politics forum become the place to bitch about your school?
At 11/21/05 02:57 PM, x_Toadenalin_x wrote:
1) Space is a perfect vaccum, there are no particals of any sort in space (in conventional physics)
This is completely wrong. There are trillions upon trillions of particles in space. There are asteriods, gas clouds, dust, so on and so forth. Every time a star goes supernova it spews all of its matter into space. Also, when asteroids collide with each other or into planets, particles are also ejected into space. I'm not sure if you believe what you said or you were quoting something, but I'm just correcting it.
Also, im correcting a very early post that stated, quite incorrectly, that Andromeda is somewhere about 1,000,000,000,000,000 light years away. Its actually 2.2 million light years away (of course its an estimation, but definitely not as far as, what is that, 1 zillion light years?
At 11/10/05 08:47 PM, Monoceros wrote:
Do you have evidence to back this statement up?
How about YOU back up your statement of these so called 500 eye witnesses? And citing the Bible isn't gonna fly. If so then I can cite Star Wars as a source that a long time ago in a galaxy far far away humans lived and were more advanced than we are now. Sure, we know Star Wars is a work of fiction. So then prove to me the Bible isn't.
Religion is the opiate of the masses - Karl Marx
This whole idea is ridiculous. Yea why don't we stop teaching a well backed scientific theory in favor of some theory someone came up with in their head. Teach fiction in philosophy class maybe, but keep it out of my science. Whoever started the whole idea of putting ID into schools doesn't care about the education of the kids that are being affected, he/she just wants to push his/her own agenda. Until evolution is proven wrong, there is no logical reason to stop teaching it. Especially not for some completely unproven theory, this so called "Intelligent Design".
At 11/10/05 02:55 PM, Blackpantha_Tyrone wrote: I think, as he is an intelligent and charismatic role model for young black men in this country - that Kanye West should go into politics.
As of yet, he has been the only influencial person to speak out against THE MAN's lack of care for us black folks.
You're my hero Kanye, peace out brotha.
Kanye West is a joke. He thinks that he can impose his political will on America's youth because hes popular in the world of pop culture. Apparently, he's right since you seem to like him so much. How about you find a REAL role model to look up to.
At 11/10/05 07:43 PM, DrAgoniX1 wrote: the French have had it coming, they havnt won a war in 400 years and hade the nerv to stat that if Amarica invades Iraq they wont support us, when have they ever supported any war?
American Revolution
World War I
World War II
Please don't post if you're too dumb to know simple facts.
At 11/10/05 11:32 AM, Tri-Nitro-Toluene wrote:
:What seperates you from that murderer when you are doing the exact same thing? You are making a decision about whether someone deserves to live or die and yet you obviously dislike the fact that someone else has made that decision.
There is a difference between killing someone because you want to versus killing someone as punishment for killing someone else. However, with that said, it's not always the right thing to do. The death penalty and/or torture are probably deserving punishments for anyone who decides to kill out of their own will, but the way the system works, innocent people are sometime convicted of murder, and if they are killed, there is no going back. You can't find out ten years after executing someone that he was innocent and bring him back to life. The death penalty leaves no room for error, and us being humans, we always make errors.
At 11/10/05 09:44 AM, JohnGoody wrote:
Also, I'm curious as to why you seem to think general Americans are not aware of world news, yet they seem to have a reason for hating France that seems to indicate they do have knowledge of world news.
Most Americans are aware of what I like to call the "propoganda" world news, that is, news that helps further their own silly beliefs. One example: France didn't want to help America invade Iraq to the same extend that England helped us. Many (but not all) Americans saw this as some sort of spitful act from the French. However, to be angry towards another country for not helping us in a war that approximately 1/2 of our country didn't want to start in the first place is pretty hypocritical, if you ask me.
FYI, the above post isnt quoting me, its quoting JohnGoody, so there's no confusion. I don't want to be misquoted.
At 11/9/05 09:10 PM, CollectiveNothing wrote:
Where were they when we were having our disasters? Plus, they think their better than us.. Sorry but its a fact. Our country is more racial accepting than theres. So what kindof of sympathy should an american feel in this instance?
You're expecting France to come to America's aid for every single disaster, especially with that attitude? Seriously, France is one of the best allies we have if you discount the unfounded hatred some of you seem to have against her. The only reason so many American's hate France is because France is powerful enough to do what it wants, and not buckle under American pressure. Given everything that France has done for America in the past, it's quite silly to look down on France as some sort of enemy. And maybe France does think that she's better than us. But you'd be a liar if you told me America didn't think it was better than every other country in the world. What kind of sympathy should we feel? How about the sympathy humans are supposed to feel towards other humans in times of distress, regardless of what nation they are from? And you say America is more racially accepting than France, but you're sure as hell not being accepting of the French.
At 11/8/05 03:20 PM, x_Toadenalin_x wrote: I would suggest, though, that there is no reasoning with aetheists, or agnostics, or Jews, or Muslims, or Hindus, or just about anyone really.
Maybe sometimes, but you're being too general. I'm sure there are many aetheists, agnostics, Jews, etc etc who are very tolerant, as well as Christians. I'm simply saying the problem comes from people who aren't tolerant (regardless from what faith).
We wont know until this machine is proven to work the way it is claimed to work.
Remember, quantum physics overthrew classical physics in a similar fashion. Physicists at the time were skeptical, to say the least, about the quantum theories, but eventually they came to be, and that only further increased our knowledge of physics. If this new discovery leads to a new theory of physics, then that can only lead us to understand our universe even further.
What WILL work?
In our form of government, voting.
For example, if, lets say, you are opposed to President Bush's current agenda. During mid-term elections, vote Democrat (as long as the platform the Democratic candidate is running on is sound, of course). If it is noticed that a majority of Americans voted Democrat as opposed to Republican, the Republican party will have to review their agenda and most likely need to change it if they wish to win the next presidential election.
I apologize, the link i have provided in the above post does not work. The correct one is this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
At 11/8/05 02:41 PM, Imperator wrote:
In 50 years, if a hurricane like this comes again, we will be better prepared, because we can use Katrina as a REFERENCE POINT. Nothing like this has ever happened before, we had some bad predictions yes, but the actual damage done far exceeded what was predicted. We prepared for what was predicted, but having no precedent, how could we possibly know the massive extent of damage that Katrina caused. This includes the TOTAL extent of Katrina's damage, not just New Orleans and the levies breaking.
I agree with Imperator here. It's hard to be prepared for a natural disaster that is more powerful than average. For example, Japan deals with earthquakes incredibly often, and the cities have been built to withstand earthquakes, more or less, but the 1995 earthquake still managed to kill thousands. This was 72 years after the great Kanto quake in 1923 which killed nearly 150,000 in Tokyo. Granted, the two quakes weren't in the same location, but my point is that even preparedness cannot always stop nature.
Having said that, lets not go off on too much of a tangent, remember, this topic is on the riots in France.
Back to that topic, France has recently invoked emergency powers to try to stop the rioting. They allow for such things as police officers raiding without the need of warrants, and a curfew for unaccompanied teenagers under 16. Personally, I do realize the infringement of freedom brought about by the act of not needing warrants for police raids, but the situation in France at present merits such decisive actions, I believe.
Furthermore:
"Measures announced by the prime minister include a jobs programme and funding for teaching in deprived areas." (quoted from the BBC website @ www.bbcnews.co.uk)
France isn't only bent on putting down the riots, the government is also looking into ameliorating the situations which lead to them in the first place. I applaud this action, and hopefully it will lead to improvement in the currently impoverished areas, so that riots such as these will not occur again.
It's not so much the scriptures that can be annoying about religions, it's their basic attitude towards peoples of different faiths. I knew several Christians who were very pious, but also very tolerant of their friends who were aethiest and of other religions too. Those are the Christians that God (if He does exist) probably smiles upon. The only problem I have with religion, and this does apply to some (Note i said SOME) Catholics, is the mentality that "You are of another religion (or no religion), therefore you are evil and/or going to hell". I met someone like this once a while back, and when she found out i was aethiest, her attitude towards completely changed. At first we were good friends, whereas after learning of my religious beliefs (or lack thereof), she just turned around and accused me of being evil. We haven't spoken more than two words to each other since. That's the biggest problem, lack of tolerance, not really the whole "Did Jesus really do this or that" enigma.
Why aren't American news stations showing more of the riots in France? Simple, it's because most of the American populace doesn't care. Now I know this doesn't apply to basically everyone in the Politics forum, since you all care enough about politics and the world to state your own opinion and read the opinions of others, but the average, stereotypical, ignorant American would much rather have the news feed him or her information about the scandals that the opposing political party are allegedly committing just to fuel their own sense of justification for belonging to whatever political party they belong to. It's a shame, really, because it would go a long way to making Americans more aware of their international allies if they were on the news every now and then.
