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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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 Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:05 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | For your knowledge e, democracy didn't come to you because somebody was bragging about his rights, it came because somebody fought for it and made it possible for you to express your, I am sorry, childish ideas. Enjoy it.
I gave a concrete example of what the ACLU does to the Bill of Rights and you didn't even bother to respond to that. Instead you got stuck on the dictatorship and sovok mentality. Let me say loud and clear: I do not believe in dictatorship and I do not have sovok mentality. Just because I have a bit more conservative views doesn't mean I am wrong. |
Then you should read your previous posts. To quote:
| Quote: | | America is at war and not by its own choice. The society cannot listen to the tree-hugging, animal-loving, missing the 60s and the 70s type of the crowd anymore. Sometimes authoritarianism is good and terribly needed. |
| Quote: | | I am just saying that there are instances when the president should have more power and nearly absolute control to make vital decisions) |
So, who has the childish ideas?
BTW you brought up no example of the ACLU, you stated your usual biased opinions which is why I just felt that it just wasn't worth it anymore discussing it with you.
| Quote: | | Let me ask you something, why do you hate moderately conservative people? |
Why do you call Liberals "evil tree-hugging coke heads"? That post was even deleted because it went too far.
| Quote: | | I am thru talking to e. Thanks for the advise MrSpice. |
I dont know where and how you got the impression that I wanted to talk to you about this in the first place. I was not even directly talking to you from the get go, but you felt inclined to do so.
You and Mr Spice have major reading comprehension problems not to mention a rediculous level of childish navitete to boot. So dont talk to me and dont refer to my posts anymore either. I dont find the both of you worthwhile either. Thanks 
Last edited by e on Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:49 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:07 am Post subject: |
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| MrSpice wrote: | | I like moderate republicans that stand for small government and lower taxes, but are pro-choice and do not support regilios right and what it stands for. |
Those guys are gone. I used to be a Republican when they existed. Now if you don't march to the Neocon drumbeat, you are drummed out of the party (no pun intended) or they run challengers against you so you won't be re-elected (or elected if the incumbent is a King George Yes Man).
You should see me and my three conversation buddies at the bar - an anticapitalist (me), an old conservative Republican and a family money millionaire, along with a school teacher who is an evangelical Christian. Barring the teacher, those three strange bedfellows agree that Bush is ruining the country. The teacher, as a student of Rome, thinks America is emerging as an imperial power and that this is a good thing. But we're still close friends. Imagine that.  |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, deleted.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Well, Vital, I will call you a "sovok," but I will also do it with respect and admiration (see this site).
But here's the problem - America didn't just cruise along playing nice with everyone and handing out flowers and candy, and then all of a sudden the evil terrorists attacked "for no reason."
Second, Iraq is 100% the fault of the United States. Saddam had neither the intention nor the capability to attack the US "and its allies" (what a cop-out). The intelligence was bad, but people knew it was bad before we invaded. Now Iraq is, to use an amusing colloquialism, a "giant shit sandwich, and we all have to take a bite." Things aren't getting better in Iraq, they're getting worse by the day. Sure, we're building schools and treatment plants, and I think this is GOOD. But politically and militarily the situation gets worse by the day.
America was subject to ONE (count 'em, ONE) terror attack so far this century. September 11 was horrible, but there is far more to it than meets the eye. Why were security measures taken in Washington for Capitol Hill and the Pentagon on September 10, but no one else was put on alert? Why is it plainly obvious that a commercial aircraft is NOT what the Pentagon? I think the most important question here is, "What the hell is going on?!"
Since we removed our bases in Saudi Arabia not only has Al Qaeda not attacked the US again, it hasn't even really threatened to. And it's dangerous to think of Al Qaeda as a structure organization, viz we can "cut off its head" by capturing or killing bin Laden. Al Qaeda has become an ideology and it is not one which will be defeated by killing ever more Muslims. It will not be defeated while we back the slaughter of Palestinian civilians (I don't excuse Hamas, Hezbollah, etc. attacking civilians, either) in favor of Israel, all the while selling (or more usually GIVING) them better more destructive arms, which they often resell to China or others.
I'm not a conspiracy nut, and I do my best to debunk a lot of wacky stuff that some of my friends try to tell me. But what happened on that fateful day almost four years ago is NOT cut and dried, we are NOT being told the truth, and we all know that the internment or deportation of American Muslims is NOT going to solve the problem. I've actually had to argue this against the teacher mentioned above. He's arguing for internment of Arabs and Muslims, including citizens. So I asked him, "Basically, you just said 'F**k the Constitution.'" He literally scared me shitless with his reply of, "Yep. For them, anyway." 
We're on a fast downward spiral, man, and I don't have the solution. That's why I'm getting out for awhile. It's time for me to get the hell out of and away from Jesus Land for awhile, clear my head, get a better perspective and figure out what I'm going to do, whether that decision is to come home and work for change or to stay the hell out.
Only time will tell at this point. My adventure begins in 13 days. |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, deleted.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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It's not like I'm looking to become a citizen of the Russian Federation. If there was an advantage to doing so, I would consider it. But since neither government recognizes dual-citizenship it would be a bad move. But I honestly don't see a disadvantage to swapping American citizenship for citizenship in an EU member nation. The benefits are obvious (there are few, if any, nations that allow US citizens without a visa that require visas for EU citizens), the drawbacks are...well...what are they?
It's still possible to have dual citizenship between the US and some EU nations (though likely not the Baltics or Czech Republic). Citizenship is a long, involved process in Europe and it may not be worth it. But as far as nationality goes, I haven't felt "American" in well over a decade and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest to swap my blue passport for one of an EU nation.
Furthermore, without completely sh*tting all over international law, there is no way that the United States can deny me entry, as a European citizen, any more than they could deny entry to a native-born European citizen. Then again, the US has demonstrated its utter disregard for the law in the last 5+ years (and I'm including the bombings of Yugoslavia here).
I'm not "anti-American" as I'm so often accused of being. I recognize that America has problems, that can be dealt with, but until the populace at large is willing to both admit that we have a problem (sounds like a 12-step program, no?  ) and then start doing something about it, I don't want to be a part of it anymore.
There's nothing for me in the US anymore. There may be in the future, and I honestly hope there is. I wouldn't mind my "home base" remaining in the US. But until sweeping changes occur, I have no use for the blandness and, now, religious fundamentalism that are the hallmarks of modern America.  |
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e
VIP
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 654
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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Casey: Didn't you say in another post that you have a German father? Since you have direct German ancestry, and the fact that you've lived there long enough, I think you do qualify for German citizenship.
And if you have EU citizenship, why would they deny you entry to the US unless you're a terrorist or some kind of criminal?!? |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, deleted.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, deleted.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:24 am; edited 1 time in total |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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init6: Once again, I am curious what you think once you spend a few months in Moscow. I think you don't realize what a paradise your town is compare to what you will find in Russia... It's one thing to critisize America and say how unexciting your life is here while you are sitting in your comfortable house in Melbourne. It's another thing to live in Moscow where there's some excitement because it's a large city with some unbridled russian capitalism on display everywhere. But at its core, it's a large city in a developing country with corruption, dirt, poor customer service and people that don't trust foreigners and where a lot of mass media is controlled by the government. I don't think you will "love" russian education system much either. As I said before, it's not as free and flexible as the american one. For me, the fact that I could choose so many many courses and had so much flexibility was a breadth of free air after I spent almost 3 years studying in St Petersburg.
Also, don't mix the current political situation and the Iraq war with the US as a country. This country has been in existence for more than 200 years. Things like Bill of Rights, the 1st Amendment, free enterprise, diversity and creativity is what makes this country great. Wars and presidents come and go. You have never actually lived in Europe as a citizen. They have their own grievances and most russians are hardly happy about their life. |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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"Unbridled Russian capitalism" is what's causing Russia so many problems and it's partially the fault of the West. Anyhow, I'm not all that concerned with "flexible" academics. I actually want them to tell me "here's the classes you'll be taking." I don't want to dick around with a bunch of extraneous crap like I have to do here. Let me get in, get my education and move up or on. Government media control is not my concern at this point since I won't be writing for Russian publications. That doesn't mean I don't care, but it means it's not going to affect me for several years yet. None of the reasons you're giving me are reasons that would make me want to stay here. I'm trying to get away from the US not go to a copy of it.
Second, I've lived here my whole life, not just a decade, so please don't try to lecture me on American history. I was a history major in college (and the abysmal treatment of the field is a major reason why I didn't finish), history is a current hobby (and has been my entire life), and I read and discuss history every day of the week with friends. The very Bill of Rights you use as a reason why America is so great (and I agree!) is under attack by the establishment. The problem runs a HELL of a lot deeper than one man. It's a virus that is slowly but surely infecting the entire establishment (although the establishment needs to collapse under its own weight so we can replace it with a decent, just system but I digress) and it will continue to do so until "freedom" and "democracy" are doublespeak buzzwords and we are rapidly approaching this reality!
And you're right, I've never lived in Europe as a citizen - which is why I'm going to start in 9 days! |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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Moscow is Europe only geographically :)
I don't know what classes you are going to take, but I took a lot of, as you call it "extraneous crap" when I studied at a university in St Petersburg. Here, in the US, I also had to take some "extraneous crap", but at least there more choice what "crap" to take. Maybe because you are a foreign student and your dollars is a major source of income for many russian universities and they want to make you happy, they make your schedule much more focused and logical. If that is the case, it's great. But it was not like that when I studied there.
I think you will like many things about Moscow. But you will probably get really cold in the winter. St Petersburg winters seemed mild to me compare to Moscow's. Good luck :) |
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