theloniusfleabag

Yes indeed, the Jewish term is Kashrut. from... http://www.jewfaq.org/kashrut.htm

Dear Leafless, From your link...which is, incidentally, a 'white supremacist 'hate site'.. So, what are your views on the 'mixing of races'?

Dear Mr. Bedson, Socialism has always, and further, is the only thing, that has always worked. If you don't help provide for the sheep, you'd have nothing to fleece!

Dear August1991, Yes, I would say so. It would be in their repertoire, and, wherever possible, the main ploy, as it is the cheapest. Then comes subterfuge (or 'propaganda') and then negotiation. Not as a matter of course, but they would be the most likely to succumb to such by the actions of others. No. However, there is no scale that excludes it, or indicates when it occurs. That is, there is no 'moral redline' on the 'profit tachometer' to show when it crosses the line. No, not all. Some can be considered 'mutually beneficial trade', some can be considered cooperation. Some can be considered 'fetters of love', and some can be considered enslavement. To 'pick extremes', what is the maximization of 'more'?

Dear Mr. Bedson, I beg to differ. Socialism (that is, a blended economic system, with taxes appropriated for 'the common good) does recognize individual effort, but takes a share. Socialism serves the individual and also 'everyone', while capitalism serves only the individual and itself.

Dear Argus, Very well said. In my opinion, destruction of the Taliban was not only needed, but an imperative. The invasion of Iraq was not.

I am going to agree with geoffrey's comment, Mind you, the current LP on my turntable is 'Jesus Christ, Superstar", a fantastic album, but considered blasphemy in it's day. Argus, Have you considered the 'right-wing's' role in this? All things are 'kosher' as long as they generate sales. This sort of cartoon wouldn't raise an eyebrow if it were on "Sex and the City', or some such rubbish. Hollywood and 'corporate America' have nullified pretty much everything that used to be sacred, (or tasteful and/or intellectual) all in the name of profits. Children can now watch people 'performing' fellatio at 4:00 pm, because it sells (ala previously mentioned t.v. show). This cartoon is hardly anything outrageous, and not entirely untrue.

Dear Mr. Bedson, This is partly true, but the flaw lies in people, not the system. The same sentence can easily be worded: "Capitalism concentrates power and relies on rhetoric (and advertising, read:'propaganda') and brand/corporate-culture loyalty creating the opportunity for the misuse of same".

Dear Mr. Bedson, Yes, millions of Americans will sleep better tonight knowing that xenophobia is always the right choice.

Dear Sparhawk, Yes but...(forgive me, it is so rare that I get to use this joke...)the descendents of the Europeans are still paying the descendents of the indigenous populations their "Injun-nuity".

Dear Mr. Bedson, A bit of a strange one. The US gov't claims "it was for their own safety". If I recall correctly, the FBI claimed that no securtiy check was done, and they later back-pedalled and said that they had all been cleared. Since some of them had economic ties to the Bush family, a lot of the wrong questions might have been asked.

Dear Leafless, Not exactly. Democracy is a system of government, and by extension, law. Which is, ultimately, the 'dispenser of rights' that you or I would have, no matter what economic system you have. In a democratic system, the 'will of the majority' decides what 'rights' everyone should or should not have. In theory, capitalism can exist in any system, but it's 'natural state' is anarchy, because any 'law' fetters decision-making to some degree.

Dear Leafless, Born here. It has nothing to do with democracy, and yes I have contempt for capitalism. Not utterly, but I would dread capitalism in it's pure form, as it closely resembles anarchy. And yes, I have contempt for 'colour'. I believe in none.

The 'White Race' is pretty much the only one to not only develop, but thrust forward as the only belief for everyone, the notion that; "Whatever I have, it is not enough".

Dear Leafless, Why the hang up with 'dominance'? Again, this is vintage Hitler. If you won't read Mein Kampf because you think is is 'hate literature', you should be aware that these are exactly the same arguments he made. He also espoused taking an active hand in asserting that dominance. Hitler claimed that the 'white (or Aryan) race' was the creator and bearer of 'culture' and that everyone else just borrowed from it (while claiming the Jews were parasites of it). Further, he claimed that it is the natural progression, and the right and duty of, the superior culture (race) to dominate the others. Then he proceeded to say how to do it. Mein Kampf was written when Hitler was in prison, in about 1924, dictated to his fellow prisoner Rudolf Hess, and is is pretty much the benchmark of the logical progression of 'racial and cultural dominance theory', as long as you believe in same 'starting point'. It certainly seems that you do.

Dear Leafless, That is cultural, not racial. The 'First Nations' of North America that once dominated were nearly wiped out by another, dominating culture. The sad thing was, they lived in a world that was near perfect, (for their culture) where everything was free, you just had to live a certain way, and the 'circle of life' provided everything you needed. They had no desire to develop 'more profitable ways' of doing things, because they didn't need it.As to 'racial differences', there are some, certainly. The Masai of Africa are tall and slender, good for dissipating heat, while the Inuit are short and stocky, better for retaining heat.

Dear Black Dog, I think a lot of people miss the point that denying China (or anyone else that may be a contender) oil may be more important to the US than obtaining it.

There are very few things that interest me less that watching the Oscars. I would rather go on barefoot patrol for dog poo in my yard... it would be more productive to my life and most likely more exciting.

Dear sharkman, I agree. No, hate crimes are both 'wrong' and illegal, and should be so. However, study Israel, it's leaders and history. You'll find out what I am talking about. Read "By Way of Deception" by Victor Ostrovsky. Read israelinationalnews.com, and read some of the US military sites that pertain to Israel. You could read some Palestinian sites, but they are heavy on propaganda. Just read more.

Either you don't read what others post, or YOU ARE the troll around here. My guess is the latter.

Dear August1991, Here goes. Generally, those that seek to attain more than they have, oppress. Especially with power, but money works too. There is a scale, as with most things, that indicates severity. One could be an ordinary supermarket clerk or a corporate/conglomerate head. Both participate in some oppression, to varying degrees. The clerk, as a consumer, is an enabler, the market for oppression, while the conglomerate head directs it through production and marketing. Social factors are indeed big, and one can see how 'greedy conglomerates' generally outsource their efforts to where social oppression is the to the level where profits can, as safely as reasonably possible, be maximized. It used to be, until very recently, presence of the the armies of various countries that secured trade routes and trade goods. Now, in the last 50-60 years, in many places, the local gov't is paid to use their own army to keep those same trade routes and resource ownership in the hands of the same people who took it by force. There is no question in my mind that the Jews have been 'oppressed' (ie:treated unfairly) throughout history. This does not mean that they cannot also oppress. As to the Palestinians, one could ask, "What would have happened to Palestine if the British chose to make Israel somewhere else?"

Dear Argus, Given the tone of a lot of the recent threads here, I would say that all Muslims have been painted with the same brush, and the only hints at solutions have been leaning toward either ostracism or eradication.

Dear geoffrey, I am right by the Cecil, and the Fabulous Drop-Out centre ("Sheltering people from the consequences of their own bad decisions since 1960") I have seen junkies shoot up, people defacating on the sidewalk, people smoking crack from 2 feet away, vicious beatings and the occasional dead body. Mostly all in broad daylight. I can only imagine what goes on at night, but this morning I had to clean up a considerable amount of blood off my front steps before customers arrived. Their power lays in their presence, criminals don't like attention (apart from the few that crave it).

Dear Leafless, To this I can only say 'Amen". I find it across the entire range of society, though, not just with criminal activity. It is like society is becoming a big game of "dodge the responsibility", while expecting more and more 'freedom'. I disagree here, I think it may actually be the other way around. The police have told me some of the problems they face, such as being reluctant to search people because of rampant accusations of 'sexual abuse/misconduct' to breaching the right to undue search&siezure. Further, they have told me that without proper sentencing, most people they bust are back on the streets before they are finished their paperwork. I think the problem lies with our 50-50 jail spaces (one goes in, one has to come out), as Canada hasn't built any new maximum security prisons, and only one new medium security prison in something like 25 years. I do not envy the police at all.

Sud-Tyroleans have a bit of 'swarthiness' and the 'slavs' (until recently) went down the Caucasus to Turkey.