crazymf

Well, as I stated, it's too early for me to pass judgement on the Iraq war. Don't forget, it's not long ago that they just figured out what happened in Vietnam and what it's total impact was. The article is a nice chronology interspersed with fairly apolitical chidings. I enjoyed reading it. I'd love to see how Canada was reacting in the same context as that. I guess from where I stand, I feel more in common with the USA than Ottawa, Quebec, or southern Ontario. I don't think I'm alone in that around here either. I like to simplify things. I still think that old Bush has had his sights on Iraq since the gulf war, and he convinced young Bush to focus on it. I was frankly confused a bit how fast gw switched the target to Iraq, but on the other hand, there has been a feeling of unfinished business for 10 years or so after the gulf. I don't see how the world could have expected any different. The USA was justifiably riled up after 911. It's just a matter of opinion how much is too much payback. Every time there is a leader who pushes really hard, there gets to be a strong opposition who pushes hard back. That's a check and a balance imo. Bush is a guy like that. I'm a meat and potatoes guy having worked a trade for 20 years and can appreciate a leader who gets things done. I'm oriented toward people who are in your face and frank. That's why I like GW and Ralph. It's just the way I am and it doesn't make me a bad person.

Well, I knew I'd take flack on this, but think slightly more global than just Iraq for instance. It's just a speck. If it wasn't for the USA and the SAC, we'd probably be speaking either Russian or Chinese by now. And if something bigger ever breaks out I'm sure there won't be all the whining and complaining when we jump straight into bed with uncle sam against whoever it is. I heard just today that the Russians and Chinese were conducting joint military exercises. I gotta say, I still remember the nuclear threat and having to listen to the air raid tests right here in Edmonton. It's not that long ago. You guys are saying that Bush is pissing away all the good will the USA has built up in the past. Maybe so, but aside from Bush's shortcomings and a few warmongering twits like Wolfowitz, the USA is our friend. The true Canadian way is to talk problems to death and then do nothing in the end. At least the Americans do something, right or wrong, they do something. They may not always be a world dominating power. What then? You think Canada, with all it's gay married people and imminent free dope laws is going to stop anybody from taking us at will? You guys better hope I'm wrong if you're going to keep bashing our neighbors. This country is turning into a bunch of pansies.

A worse mistake than the ones made already would be to pull out prematurely. This story is far from over and to start using recent history to judge events as they unfold is undoubtedly shortsighted. I have no doubt that there won't be a clear outcome to this. What would make this conflict worse than it is is if they started drafting soldiers to fight. The public opinion of the war would plummet to lows resembling Vietnam. However: Canada's support of our neighbors in a time of need is despicable. Our government is full of gutless wonders like Martin and the former, Cretien. While we do not have a military much larger than Portuguls, at least they could have garnered political support for the Americans and at least sent someone to help, even support troops or staff. Instead, the bleeding heart liberals sit on their butts and complain about the right wing doing everything wrong. I have never felt so low being Canadian as I have since 911 with our governments decisions to abandon our friends to the south when they need us. Another decision the west doesn't get to participate in. Shame on us.

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There's the odd guy that might need seven, just look around. Oh, they're not here any more. hehe me bad

You know, I'm not conceding anything here, but I'm tired of this useless back and forth. We're not getting anywhere and you guys haven't said anything to really change my mind or opinion. It's a dead end issue and I'm done with it. I might add that my mind isn't atrophied and stagnant. I've actually changed my mind somewhat on separation of the west after reading on this board and discussing a few things. This issue, however is done.

You agreed with me he's done crimes, so I'll agree with you that the penalty may be harsh. However, if the compounded consequences of his actions can be factored in by accounting for how many lives he's wrecked with addictions and so forth, the crime could be construed as being more serious than it's made out to be by say, you. I don't want to go there too far because I don't really know. If my kid was a dopehead because of seed he produced and made available, I'd want him to burn in hell. I think it really depends on the indivual opinion whether the penalty is deemed harsh or not. The other issue of the USA extending their laws seemingly over the border; well, I'm a law abiding citizen and don't have much to worry about so I don't think it makes any difference to me. Also, I think we should get used to it because Canada is pretty much a puppet state of the USA anyway, whether be economically or socially. We just like to think we're independent, but they win, one way or another, whether we agree or not. Can't beat em, join em.

Why not dopism? Alcoholism is a word as well as an implied lifestyle. Acknowledging he's a criminal is a step for you BD, but I don't pass judgement on whether his penalty is just or not, merely that he's a criminal. On that we agree. Is Emery good for his word? I don't know. I doubt you do either, but merely using some other written article as fact to argue your point is weak at best. The point that it supports is fairly irrelevant. He's also said he makes millions and implies that there is money in the companies but doesn't think it's appropriate to use it, which does support my opinion, which is that he's not a crusader, but merely a criminal dopehead trying to culture a market for his wares for personal gain. A scumbag drug dealer.

We've been through this. You know my position. No need to do it again. Yep, Emery 'said' he donated nearly all of his profits. That's a substantial fact there BD. Good one! Listen, all I said was I think he's a scumbag because what he does is illegal. You can try to make the argument that it isn't, but nevertheless, he was still in jail because the man thought it was. Let's theorize for a sec that what he does isn't technically illegal. He promoted grow operations and supplied the means to help drug traffickers ply their trade. He openly promoted dope lifestyle. He might be compared to a pied piper of dope for young people, leading them by the hand down the path of dopism. He makes himself out to be some kind of crusader for the lifestyle. As far as I'm concerned he's a criminal that got too big for his britches. The government dropped the ball with him, but now it's time to pay. The DEA merely tapped our government on the shoulder, said "Ahem" and helped them realize the guy needs to come down. I'm done with this thread and will merely watch what happens now. If he goes away for life, good. If he doesn't, good for you. I've listened to your opinions and can respect them. Too bad you can't respect mine for what they are. I think he's a scumbag, you don't, whatever.

It's sad that anyone has to get killed in the military. Why, when they signed up, all they wanted was a free college education and a guaranteed job until they're experienced enough to ditch and go private. How dare the military go to war and get people killed. That mentality just makes me shake my head. Are you listening Moorites? THE DUDE SIGNED UP VOLUNTARILY! FOR MILITARY DUTY! IT'S PART OF THE JOB! Sad to be sure, but true.

Sorry, but discussion of shutting down our railway is moot. Ain't happening so no use discussing it. Also, the warning to others? What others? I don't know for sure but there can't be more than say, 2, major railways in Canada? Maybe a few smaller branch carriers.

'Reefer Madness' was not a factual documentary. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was commenting from here. These are his own words: http://cannabisculture.com/articles/4482.html "Now I live at your pleasure. Any money I use to live on will be charitable donations from people like you. Pot-TV, CC Magazine, the BCMP: they cannot be giving me money. I returned my rented car, moved into a small affordable apartment, and am selling my furnishings. I work every day and have no leisure time. If you believe that this record of service to our culture merits your support, then I will tell you that we can use your support."

The best in my recent memory was old Bill Hawrelak, mayor of Edmonton. Crookeder than a dogs hind leg, but good for the city. Ralphie was great as mayor of Calgary, but has been undeniably good for Alberta. I respect a man who says he's going to do something and then does it. Joe Who tried that back when he won his minority government away from Pierre Truebucks and said that the gas tax needed to be raised. Trudeau just had to come back from retirement and say no way, gets himself re-elected and then raises it more in smaller increments over the next year. That's why I don't think much of Trudeau. Paul Martin, in my opinion, learned his sneaky ways from Cretien, who learned it from Trudeau. He's not good for any part of this country, but I tell you what, he'll be richer in his own pocket when he leaves. That's his agenda. There you have it, best to the worst.

Yes, that too! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> My grandfather used to say things like 'never change your horses in the middle of the stream' and 'hard work never hurt anybody'. There are getting to be less and less grandfathers around with the capability to instill conviction in their offspring and as a result I see a general decline in personal morals in this society. Sure, maybe it's a grandfather, mother, whoever, but as we get further and further away from the hard working people who travelled here from Europe and other places to build the country in the first place, the attitudes and behaviours of young people decline. A lot of things being done, like searching people for instance, are mere bandaids for the real problem. Kids are being left to fend for themselves while both parents work to afford things they can't afford. And the comment about the media? Right on the money. That's who's raising the kids nowadays even more than before. And the topic of this thread was about searching blacks in Toronto, but the subject is WAY deeper. To answer your simple question, no, it's not going to help at all.

Nope. I stated Emery was operating with the knowledge of the authorities. I pointe dout that given the size, scope and visibility of his business, plus his previous run ins with the law, there's no doubt that the authorities were well aware of his actions. The assumption that they choose not to act against him is a reasonable one, which can be inferred from the known facts. You are proposing that, despite the facts above, Emery was operating on the fringe, without the knowledge of law enforcement. Your interpretation has even les sfactual support than my assumptions. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> What I actually said was "There's lots of fringe companies around. I had some whacko in my business the other day wanting me to retail this stuff to my clients." Referring, or reefering if you prefer (hehe) to the fact that even though there are drug laws and dope is illegal, people are skirting and flirting the law with products that aren't directly maybe illegal, but are used for illegal purposes. Also, where's Mr. Emeries money? Where's the millions of dollars he's made? As with any drug kingpin, I'm sure it's stashed somewhere and now the poor slob wants his mindless followers to support his legal costs. He's no crusader but merely a bloodsucker sucking off the wallets of needy drug addicts and growers who need seeds to feed them their dope.

Or maybe parents should keep better tabs on their kids.

http://www.emeryseeds.com/ http://www.thetyee.ca/Views/2005/08/11/MarkEmery/ http://freemarc.blogspot.com/ http://cannabisculture.com/articles/4482.html A lot of good for who? You could only agree with these kind of statements if you are pro dope. Maybe you're right and I didn't do enough research. This guys not a scumbag at all. He's bigger than a scumbag. He is THE dirtbag of Canada. As far as the tax comment, the Canadian federal government dropped the ball regarding this idiot big time. However, that's what our government does so well I guess. Keep this in mind while you whine about the Americans and their laws. A battalion of women and children from the US military could overwhelm our military and be in charge of Canada any time at the drop of a hat. None of us would have any say about that at all and some of us wouldn't much care. If the Canadian government can't keep the house clean, someone might do it for them, starting with drug kingpins like Marc Emery. As far as distorting my handle and throwing personal insults around at me. Stow it. Even you guys can get a little more grown up than that I would hope. Let's keep the conversation in the topic. It's more fun that way.

I gotta call bullcrap on searching blacks being racist. Being black is merely a common visibility. If a gang of muticultural people wearing yellow hats was at fault, nobody would complain about the cops identifying them by their hats. Search away as long as their human rights are observed and it is done in professional and courteous manner. No one should dare to complain about that.

Oops. i meant != which is shorthand for "does not equal".I also fail to see why the onus is on the occupied to end their struggle and not on the occupier to end their occupation. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> That's loaded. I'm not touching it.

If true: so what? Hamas =! the Palestinian people. Plus, with Israel out and the settlements gone, there'd be even less support for terrorist activities against Israel among the general population, thus depriving Hamas of a base of support. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't really agree that Hamas represents all Palestinians. I would like to believe that some sense will prevail among peaceful Palestinians and they work toward a state of their own. History says otherwise which is why I'm just watching.

OK then. I think we'll leave right there folks.

Well, my opinionsdon't really count for much, but the vast majority of Palestinians and a growing number of israelis support a two-state solution, wherein both exist side by side. In order to get there, though, Israel would have to withdraw completely from the West Bank and Gaza. Then and only then could real peace be negotiated. Israel's policy is being dictated by a small group of fanatics and is not in its broader interests. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> ..and the Hamas wants the total destruction of Israel no matter what they do. I think Israel is gaining world opinion by this move and the political pressure on the Palestinians to be positive will be enormous. Eyes open and watching what happens.

So you actually believe that Emery was able to conduct his buisiness in the open, and, given his previous run ins with the law, the feds were oblvious? I'm not asking you to do my homework, but support your position. It's clear that you can't. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> This is getting circular. I stated my position, which is my opinion. You stated facts which were assumptions and then get on me for not producing facts to dispute. Next...

I don't know any statistics on that, do you? Let's say you are somewhat correct for the time being. I wonder how that compares to the lives wrecked by bad drugs? I've heard the argument that seat belts kill people too and the laws should be revoked. They might actually kill a few by trapping people underwater etc, blah, blah. Compared to how many they save, the number is most likely insignificant. I think the comparison is valid for this discussion. The issue between the left and the right here is not so much the drug laws or whether they are fair. I tend to accept them as is and you do not. I guess they just aren't important to me as I haven't touched the stuff since high school in the 70's and couldn't care a less. People that use are of course going to want a relaxing of the laws. Again, I wouldn't care a bit if the laws were changed, but they aren't right now.

I am not pro jewish or anti jewish. I see Israel trying to do the right thing in the face of all odds. It's the Palestinians who want Israel destroyed totally and can't see that they are losing this battle. Israel pulling out may sway some Arab moderates sitting on the fence to put external pressure on the Palestinians to sincerly work for peace. Now will be the time because if Sharon gets out of power and Netanyahu gets back in, watch out! I wouldn't be surprised to see the nukes come out. He's a war mongering bastard if I ever saw one.