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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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 Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| does this mean Jo Jo scored another knock out? |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:00 am Post subject: |
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...and I'd be willing to bet that she is a "knock out"        |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:51 am Post subject: |
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Here's an e-mail I received today from friend's who wrote them. Keep in mind they are Polish aristocracy. Their estates were confiscated by the soviets and the family like so many others left thier native land. Currently thier family home is a Museum in Poland...which I plan to visit this summer
| Quote: | Heh there,
It seems....the world at large is always quick to point to the weaknesses and faults of Americans. When I travel and am in conversation with foreign strangers I will be pulled into U.S. issues (i.e.politics, law, celebrity, obesity and education averages that exist in America...and always the underlying accusation - but, you Americans have no culture.) Not true - see below! Yes, in America we have things to work on. However, having lived here since I was 19 yrs old which totals 18 years time spent living in the States, I have been given opportunities that I am not so sure were possible for me in Montreal ( i.e. then a non-degreed person with no skills)....In my experience America and Americans have been generous to me in so many ways that I cannot begin to list them.. I have met many earnest, gentle, cultured, intelligent Americans who want to impact the world positively. I read in the paper that Americans are the most generous country in the world - giving on average 3 wks pay to charities, and additionally time out of their own schedules. While we are not perfect, and we certainly have faults, and need to grow, I find this piece below refreshing. If we can open our minds, maybe Americans do make a difference and have culture. Perhaps, if it can be acknowledged - America exemplifies a pluralistic society that is continually evolving just as masny other nations are evolving.
Worth pondering?
All the best,
KL
Written by an Australian Dentist....and too good to delete....
To Kill an American
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler killed. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so, you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
[Hope you enjoyed this sentiment. I did.]
—Peter A. Zamoyski |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:14 am Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | Here's an e-mail I received today from friend's who wrote them. Keep in mind they are Polish aristocracy. Their estates were confiscated by the soviets and the family like so many others left thier native land. Currently thier family home is a Museum in Poland...which I plan to visit this summer
| Quote: | Heh there,
It seems....the world at large is always quick to point to the weaknesses and faults of Americans. When I travel and am in conversation with foreign strangers I will be pulled into U.S. issues (i.e.politics, law, celebrity, obesity and education averages that exist in America...and always the underlying accusation - but, you Americans have no culture.) Not true - see below! Yes, in America we have things to work on. However, having lived here since I was 19 yrs old which totals 18 years time spent living in the States, I have been given opportunities that I am not so sure were possible for me in Montreal ( i.e. then a non-degreed person with no skills)....In my experience America and Americans have been generous to me in so many ways that I cannot begin to list them.. I have met many earnest, gentle, cultured, intelligent Americans who want to impact the world positively. I read in the paper that Americans are the most generous country in the world - giving on average 3 wks pay to charities, and additionally time out of their own schedules. While we are not perfect, and we certainly have faults, and need to grow, I find this piece below refreshing. If we can open our minds, maybe Americans do make a difference and have culture. Perhaps, if it can be acknowledged - America exemplifies a pluralistic society that is continually evolving just as masny other nations are evolving.
Worth pondering?
All the best,
KL
Written by an Australian Dentist....and too good to delete....
To Kill an American
You probably missed it in the rush of news last week, but there was actually a report that someone in Pakistan had published in a newspaper an offer of a reward to anyone who killed an American, any American.
So an Australian dentist wrote an editorial the following day to let everyone know what an American is . So they would know when they found one. (Good one, mate!!!!)
"An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan.
An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.
An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim.
In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.
An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.
An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world.
The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.
An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return.
When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan. Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least.
The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. These in fact are the people who built America.
Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families. It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists.
So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler killed. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so, you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.
[Hope you enjoyed this sentiment. I did.]
—Peter A. Zamoyski |
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I really enjoyed reading this...thanks....jo jo 7 |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:51 am Post subject: |
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| I knew you would...of course you know that we see eye to eye! |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | | I knew you would...of course you know that we see eye to eye! |
yeah, this is the melting pot of America....different nationalities and cultures is what makes us.... |
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vox16
Just Starting
Joined: 14 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country!
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And USSR propaganda telled quite opposite - about People of Afghanistan that asked USSR to help them with arms and force to overcome rebels. Not surprisingly...
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So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler killed. So did General Tojo, and Stalin,
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May be he is talking about some other Stalin, not that one that received all that lead-lease arms during WW2 ? And how many americans he actually killed ? |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes not sure on Stalin...maybe he meant Mousilini? I'm sure some in Afghanistan did ask the Russians to come in there. Afghanistan is about two things...oil pipelines and then the cold war. But the article was about who Americans are...and we are you...we are everyone |
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karnot
Frequent Guest
Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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Concerning the question of
| Quote: | | "Why do Russians hate Americans?" |
No one _hates_ Usians. Well, not really, anyway.
However, lets take a look at the state as a whole - it is governed by a chimpanzee (almost literally), who thinks GOD talks to him personally, and orders him to go around the world and genocide people.
And that was the case with USA for the last 60 years (except the leaders werent chimps before).
| Quote: | | An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans. |
Which tribes are extinct.
| Quote: | | An American is also free to believe in no religion. |
Opinion polls show that most Usians do not want to see non-christian as a higher-up. Not even an atheist.
| Quote: | | An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence |
Cant argue with that, the land is good. However, the root of that prosperity can be found in the cheap Mexican and China labor. Before was the slavery, but nowadays even slavery would actually be rated not as economically effective as labor from abroad.
| Quote: | | An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. |
Hmm...now THIS is simply a total lie. USA never helped without a price, and if there is no price - they are helping themselves only. Which is normal, i would say, but dont give me that bull about generousity.
Not to mention USA policy is to never hold a promise if you can just ignore and break it, and takes other countries help as granted.
| Quote: | | When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! |
Riiiiiight.
| Quote: | | The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty , welcomes your tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed. |
Welcoming the poor...with a wall on the Mexican border.
| Quote: | | Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American. |
Uh-huh. You guys are true messiahs. We cant hold a candle to your highnesses. We are barbaric and unwashed cavemen, and you are educated, free, and civilized...even when you steal, kill, and destroy, you do it with grace. Oh, my masters ! |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Which tribes are extinct. |
I'd like you to say this to these tribes and see what happens...go on to thier lands and tell them they don't exist. You wouldn't last the night.
| Quote: | | Opinion polls show that most Usians do not want to see non-christian as a higher-up. Not even an atheist. |
Well I guess that is your opinion! Actually we are a christian nation founded on christian values. 95% of our population is christian. So what does that tell you. Seperation of church and state is there to keep the Church from gaining power over the state.
| Quote: | | Cant argue with that, the land is good. However, the root of that prosperity can be found in the cheap Mexican and China labor. Before was the slavery, but nowadays even slavery would actually be rated not as economically effective as labor from abroad. |
If you are Russian then really you can't talk-average salaries of $400 a month, prior to 15 years ago-no private ownership! Get real-who are the slaves. As for cheap labor...yes there is cheap labor. But also there is opportunity...and when the US first started we had endentured servitude who so many white came to the US this way. Also we were the 2nd nation in the world behind the UK to abolish slavery. The chinese populations are in certain areas and yes they helped to build the railroads...but so did the Irish! 1 in 4 tries will get an illegal across our border...the fence is to slow the flow down. Come here and ask the legal immigrants who are already here what they think of illegal immigration...especially the mexicans who are legally here. All Americans support immigration we just want it done legally. There are millions of visa applications that come in every year...and that's just from Russia!
| Quote: | Hmm...now THIS is simply a total lie. USA never helped without a price, and if there is no price - they are helping themselves only. Which is normal, i would say, but dont give me that bull about generousity.
Not to mention USA policy is to never hold a promise if you can just ignore and break it, and takes other countries help as granted. |
Pretty insulting because Americans gave so much out of thier hard earned earnings...the comment was about what individual Americans give...but if you want to also factor in what the Government gives...well that is tax payer's dollars too. When the Tsunamis hit...our military went in and helped out...My personal friends were flying helos delivering aid...and they were happy to do so. Americans sent money from thier pockets to help out. When Louisiana was devestated-what did you send to our country? Probably nothing!
I was in Afghanistan last summer...believe me our presence there is so minute! We have only 8,000 troops there and this size force is very small. I met and spoke with and interacted with a lot of Afghanis...they all are happy to have thier independence and that's from the Russians, the Talliban, and yes the US too. The population in Afghanistan has grown 5 folds since we went in there. Construction is every where. So truly educate yourself before you comment.
| Quote: | | Welcoming the poor...with a wall on the Mexican border. |
I live on the Mexican border-I see what goes on here-there already is a fence...in fact 3 of them. So what's the big deal?
| Quote: | | Uh-huh. You guys are true messiahs. We cant hold a candle to your highnesses. We are barbaric and unwashed cavemen, and you are educated, free, and civilized...even when you steal, kill, and destroy, you do it with grace. Oh, my masters ! |
Stalin killed how many of his own people? Reporters, KGB agents, bankers...how many have been murdered? Sorry the average american doesn't kill...and nor do we have to bribe people to get services...nor do we have to extort someone to make money.
See you can attack our government and that's acceptable...shoot we all do that. But if you want to attack us personally then come and live here for a few years and then comment |
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mister_wizzz
VIP
Joined: 27 May 2004
Posts: 582
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| USA cannot be the 2nd country which abolished slavery, because France did it definitely in 1848. |
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CarlSpackler
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Highway 101
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:11 am Post subject: |
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The letter allegedly written by a mysterious Australian dentist is in fact was written by Peter Ferrara, an associate professor of law at the George Mason University School of Law, written in response to 9/11, here’s the link: http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-ferrara092501.shtml .
And here’s something on American State generosity…
“[Americans] are regularly told by politicians and the media, that America is the world's most generous nation. This is one of the most conventional pieces of 'knowledgeable ignorance'. According to the OECD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the US gave between $6 and $15 billion in foreign aid in the period between 1995 and 1999. In absolute terms, Japan gives more than the US, between $9 and $15 billion in the same period. But the absolute figures are less significant than the proportion of gross domestic product (GDP, or national wealth) that a country devotes to foreign aid. On that league table, the US ranks twenty-second of the 22 most developed nations. As former President Jimmy Carter commented: 'We are the stingiest nation of all'. Denmark is top of the table, giving 1.01% of GDP, while the US manages just 0.1%. The United Nations has long established the target of 0.7% GDP for development assistance, although only four countries actually achieve this: Denmark, 1.01%; Norway, 0.91%; the Netherlands, 0.79%; Sweden, 0.7%. Apart from being the least generous nation, the US is highly selective in who receives its aid. Over 50% of its aid budget is spent on middle-income countries in the Middle East, with Israel being the recipient of the largest single share"
"Why do people hate America?" by Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies, 2002. p79
More on this subject at http://www.vexen.co.uk/USA/foreign_aid.html#Conclusion,
| surfguy wrote: | | Well I guess that is your opinion! Actually we are a christian nation founded on christian values. 95% of our population is christian. So what does that tell you. Seperation of church and state is there to keep the Church from gaining power over the state. |
It's more like 77% and dropping, check statistics for the last 10 years.
| surfguy wrote: | | I was in Afghanistan last summer...believe me our presence there is so minute! We have only 8,000 troops there and this size force is very small. I met and spoke with and interacted with a lot of Afghanis...they all are happy to have thier independence and that's from the Russians, the Talliban, and yes the US too. The population in Afghanistan has grown 5 folds since we went in there. Construction is every where. So truly educate yourself before you comment. |
And this is how well Afghanistan is doing…
Source: Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA)
Date: 21 Dec 2006
Afghanistan experiences worst year since Taliban ouster
By Farhad Peikar
Kabul_(dpa) _ As NATO took over the security of the whole of Afghanistan, the year 2006 was the bloodiest for the war-shattered country, with the greatest death toll since the ouster of the Taliban regime in late 2001.
Over 3,900 people, including over 1,000 civilians, were killed in the militancy in 2006, four times the death toll of 2005.
The US-led coalition forces invaded Afghanistan after Osama bin Laden was accused of masterminding the attacks on US cities on September 11, 2001.
After a month of air operations, the Taliban government was toppled and the US stationed about 20,000 soldiers in the country to track down the remnants of the Taliban and their allies in the al-Qaeda network.
Al-Qaeda's leaders Mullah Mohammad Omar and bin Laden are widely believed to be hiding in the tribal areas that lie between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
March saw the first visit of US President George W Bush who said in Kabul that, five years down the line, he was still confident that bin Laden "will be brought to justice."
But soon after his visit, Taliban-led militants intensified their insurgency, mainly in the southern and eastern parts of the country, after the snows thawed.
Five years on, the Taliban managed to capture control of two districts in the volatile southern province of Helmand in July.
The militancy got bloodier when NATO, which took over the command of UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 2003, took charge of security in the southern provinces, bringing the security responsibility of the entire country under its command in October.
The insurgency included over 100 suicide attacks, a tactic that Afghans had never experienced before 2003, which left over 270 Afghan civilians and 17 international soldiers dead this year, according to figures provided by ISAF.
The Afghan officials have always accused Pakistan of not doing enough to stop cross-border infiltration by the Taliban, whom they believe get training, financial support and motivation in madrassas (religious schools) located on Pakistani soil.
Relations between the two main allies of the US in the war deteriorated as a result of mutual verbal attacks by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf.
The growing insecurity in the southern and eastern regions of the country have also hampered rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, a country badly devastated by three decades of war.
The lack of improvements in the lives of the ordinary people, despite billions of dollars having been poured into the country by donor states, has tempered the legitimate hopes of Afghans with signs of frustration, hopelessness and disillusionment.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 400 children below the age of 5 die every day in Afghanistan. The country continues to have the highest infant-mortality rate in the world and the second highest maternity-mortality rate.
General David Richards, NATO's top commander in the country, has warned that if the alliance fails to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people by conducting development projects in the next six months, about 60 percent of the population would turn against the international forces and the Afghan government.
The timeframe he referred to would be the winter months, which in the past have proven to be a relatively peaceful period.
The other challenge that both the international community and the Afghan government face is the menace of the country's booming drug trade.
Afghanistan registered a record in 2006 as opium cultivation was found to have increased by over 60 per cent since 2005. Afghanistan produces over 80 per cent of the world's opiates.
At the Riga summit held in late November, the NATO alliance stated that Afghanistan remained its primary mission outside its territory.
While the international community's commitment to staying the course in Afghanistan is heartening, it must ensure that development work is not forgotten in the fight against the insurgency.
In a televised address at the launch of the so-called Action Plan on Peace, Reconstruction and Justice in Afghanistan, which coincided with International Human Rights Day, Karzai was moved to tears as he reviewed the pitiful state of the country and lamented that the deaths of innocent civilians in counter-insurgency operations was not always possible to avoid. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:40 am Post subject: |
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What a joke there Carl Spackler....you site statistics that are 10 years old. Your bit on Afghanistan supports what I stated-and perhaps you should re read it. Also there is a big difference between Kabul and Kandahar. You really need to study more on the demographics of Afghanistan...it's aparent you personally know nothing of the place. I suggest reading the book the Kite Runner.
Also try siting more recent statistics in your arguement. Also I see you state that you are located on HWY 101...if you hate America as it seems you do...why not leave...or at least perhaps leave the West Coast. I'm sure there are plenty of Russians who live in SF and La and Seattle who would love to differ with you....I know a few who I'm sure will give you some good insight. |
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CarlSpackler
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Highway 101
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| surfguy wrote: | What a joke there Carl Spackler....you site statistics that are 10 years old. Your bit on Afghanistan supports what I stated-and perhaps you should re read it. Also there is a big difference between Kabul and Kandahar. You really need to study more on the demographics of Afghanistan...it's aparent you personally know nothing of the place. I suggest reading the book the Kite Runner.
Also try siting more recent statistics in your arguement. Also I see you state that you are located on HWY 101...if you hate America as it seems you do...why not leave...or at least perhaps leave the West Coast. I'm sure there are plenty of Russians who live in SF and La and Seattle who would love to differ with you....I know a few who I'm sure will give you some good insight. |
Your post just doesn’t make sense…, not to mention that “site” is not a verb…
How about citing and quoting at least some statistics in any of your posts? Start with Afghanistan 5 folds population increase…where the hell did you get that bulsh@!t?
What I posted has nothing to do with hate of America. I enjoy living in SF, surrounded by very intelligent and well educated Americans and ex-Russians alike.
What it has to do with, is that the reality is neither one-sided nor pink colored. U.S. of A. is a great country, but it’s not the best for many, since everyone chooses for themselves what “the best” means to them. This goes back to the argument of “Why do people hate America?”, simply because America as a State and some of it’s citizens, like yourself, trying to shove down everyone’s throat that American way is the only way to go. I made my choice, but I don’t wear blinders and I don’t push it on others.
Religion statistics is not 10 years old, but for the last 10 years.
| surfguy wrote: | | You really need to study more on the demographics of Afghanistan...it's aparent you personally know nothing of the place. I suggest reading the book the Kite Runner. |
I think it’s quite apparent that you’re a judgmental and superficial person if you could gather from my post that I hate America and know nothing of Afghanistan.
It’s likely that I know more than you about that devastated country through my own military experience there, which lasted more than a summer trip. I definitely don’t need to read fictional works like “Kite Runner” to form my opinion on Afghanistan’s reality. I would read it for entertainment though.
Afghans will tell you anything you want to hear, depending on where you come from, or where they are at the moment but they won’t tell you what they really think. My point in posting that article was to show that nothing is peachy there regardless of NATO’s presence. |
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6979
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:25 am Post subject: |
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Well you responded to my post where I stated our presence is no where near what it was. I too have military experience and there for you and I both know that it is totally different way to travel being in the military. And I am sure you do not know anyone who has traveled to Afghanistan for the sake of just seeing the place. You are right it is not peachy there...never has been and I never stated that it was. And by the way the Kite Runner is a true account writing-it's not fictional. Thank you for correcting my spelling...but it's quite obvious that you are not familiar with Afghanistan...I received my info from the Afghanis...and by the way have had some good friends from there. I too am from the Bay Area and was born and raise there and will be there tomorrow...
| Quote: | | because America as a State and some of it’s citizens, like yourself, trying to shove down everyone’s throat that American way is the only way to go. I made my choice, but I don’t wear blinders and I don’t push it on others. |
Well first off I am not trying to change the world...but I do get tired of the America trashing that goes on...from people who haven't experienced enough to truly have a valid opinion. These are old topics on this site. I will be the first one to Say: America is not the only way to go...and if one doesn't like it here then don't come here, don't take our charity, and speak no more of us. Enjoy the world, there is a lot out there...not just the USA. And the world is an interesting place...and it's because there is so much variety out there.
So living in San Francisco you should know what it is that is great about our society and people...so then you should understand why I would defend this place. You are a recent immigrant then if you are ex russian and really how can you be ex russian? And why did you chose to live in the USA? If there are better places shouldn't you have gone there? Or not have left from which you came? Why did you make a choice? |
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