theloniusfleabag

"The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants, and for peace like retarded pygmies". Lester B. Pearson, Director of the United Nations Security Council, accepting the Nobel Prize For Peace, Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 1957

Dear Terrible Sweal, No, but a religious society can. Further, as Hugo and August1991 have argued, so can a democracy. So how can we decide 'whose rights are right'?

Dear Stoker, It is amazing what a 'good old fashioned' crusade can do, both good and bad. However, how can one ever know if they are on the right team? I guess if you are ever in the position to say "Smells like...victory!" I would imagine you must have had God, or at least, several voices, on your side.

Dear eureka, An 'end user certificate' for armaments shipments is only as good as as the word of those involved. The arms producers (in the US, in this case) only have to say that they got one, which is enough to satisfy law. Then, many countries (such as Israel, and many others) have an 'arms bazaar', where people with cash can buy goods. Sometimes these are French Excocets, sometimes they are US Stinger missiles.

Dear Pateris, The Causal argument is the same one that the tobacco industry relies on to counter the argument that cigarettes are harmful. The have a battery of paid 'scientists' who say that there is no demonstrable link. Absolutely. The answer is before your eyes. Change objectives, and choose your end.

Dear Stoker, Robet Ludlum wrote a great book called "The Road To Gandolfo" about a plan to extort a measly $1 for every Roman Catholic from the kidnapping of the pope. I think maplesyrup could be in the wrong line of work! Incidentally, the RC church does not field a billion members. Only Islam has that kind of clout.

Dear eureka, Keep in mind that Israel is mainly a 'clearing house' for goods and services. They are the world's largest exporter of diamonds, for example, none of which are produced in that country. For something to pass through that country, (be it even paperwork) on to another, and have money come in from elsewhere, is the basis of the Israeli economy.

Dear Stoker, Commendable, but it's not for me. I hate needles and only give blood to the fickle Shinny Hockey Gods.I don't believe this thread can be equated to 'Who gives what to Whom' but rather 'what are the values of humanity', and moreso, 'where is that being led'?

Dear caesar, I am in complete agreement. Given even the 2000 population of the US (including overseas protectorates, et al) at 286,000,000 or so, that adds up to $471.30 per US citizen. Even though it may seem a great deal, to own a $23,240 Israeli at the bargain price of $471.30, I am pretty sure it's illegal. Just kidding.

"A government is good when those near are happy, and those far off are attracted" Confucius, Analects, nos. 44 and 99

Dear maplesyrup, I sincerely hope that the 'record settlement' isn't a part of your argument...it'll get broken next week, probably by Michael Jackson. While the RC Church is, as it should be, being held accountable for past actions, there are far more important 'scumbags' afoot. Don't forget, 'the church', whatever the denomination, has been responsible for a lot of things that qualify as being 'good'.

Dear caesar, It was France, mainly, that helped develop Israel's nuclear capabilities. It was South Africa that helped them test (jointly) a nuclear weapon.

Dear August1991, It is a place where one tries to change the silly and often pointless opinions of others with their own.Seriously, the lack of regular posters is indicative of the pall that has come across the Canadian voter. The Canadian voter feels that they have just as much chance influencing gov't here as at the polling station. Even more so here, I would expect, because here they can at least explain 'why' they feel the way they do. The only way internet forums can legitimately influence the gov't is through a 'town hall' atmosphere, and that would require it to be run by the gov't itself. It has been done, I had participated in a 'foreign policy discussion' run by the gov't. It was tightly moderated, no deviance from the topic at hand allowed. While I doubt I had any influence, it was nice that they gave me at least the illusion of participating in gov't policy-making, and I thanked them for it.

Dear LLL, Thanks for the plagiarism...er I mean tip.

I find it quite odd that for posts claiming to come from Vancouver and Edmonton, both 'local user times' are 3.5 hrs ahead of my time in Calgary. Maplesyrup, on the other hand, who also claims to hail from BC, is one hr behind my time (as it should be, I would say). Can anyone explain this odd discrepancy?

Happy new year all. A small one, just me and the missus. After we make a great meal of Salt&pepper fried pork chops and Rice, I predict I will drink lots of beer. To finally move from 'recreational masturbator' to 'Pro'! What the...? Sounds like a whole bunch of wallflowers, not drinking and not allowed to talk to each other!May the new year be better than the last!

Dear Pateris, If. That would have meant picking sides in an 'uncivil war' where the lesser of two evils was still pretty bad. We then would have had to engage in 'nation-building' by fighting against both sides and imposing a new gov't on both. The alternative we chose, to ask other nations to commit troops and political will, was evidently the wrong one, as they all (almost all) refused.

Dear greyhound, After the Tiananmen Square debacle, "congress imposed sanctions against China. Pres. G.H.W. Bush secretly sent an emmisary in July to meet with China's political leaders; he acts in December to veto a bill that would extend the visas of some 40,000 chinese students in the United States and waives some congressional sanctions." source of quote: "The People's Chronology" by James Trager, 1992. Pres. Bush Sr. actually rewarded China for crushing democracy!

Dear Terrible Sweal, Unfortunately trade and politics often go hand in hand. If a regime is 'unsavoury', trade with them implies approval of their methods, and thereby decreases the chances of change.

Dear Pateris, Sadly, Canada was not 'deemed to have the ability' by the budget dept, nor could it secure from the members of the UN the authorization to actually fire a gun.

Dear Black Dog, There you go, rock solid evidence that um.....well...the world can only be saved by like minded people patting each other on the back. Please don't intrude with logic. Or answers, least of all correct ones.

Dear Hugo, I think 'political correctness' leads the way in that department, and not at a creep!

Dear greyhound, They always are, in one form or another. The idea of MAD applied to the USSR, and now to a certain degree China. The idea of being a 'superpower' is to have that capability as a deterrent from anyone considering 'getting up on the dance floor'. The only conflict the USA and China might have is over Taiwanese independence. The USA recently aquiesced over recognizing Taiwan as an independent country, mainly to keep China a 'happy trading partner'. I don't think we''ll see them 'dance' anytime soon, but who knows. The USA is providing Taiwan with a lot of military hardware, but if China decides to invade, I doubt the US will 'get up and boogie' without the say-so of the treasury dept.

Dear Hugo, I believe 'the law' has already taken steps to ban 'trans fats' from our diet. Not sure what 'trans fats' are actually, whether they are 'cross-dressing' fats, or just sexually confused fats trapped in another kind of fat's body.

Dear PocketRocket, Bingo.The owners should be punished for failing to follow this simple guideline. I have 3 dogs, all 'rescues' from an Animal Rescue Foundation. One is a lab/border collie, who is the sweetest dog in the world. He seems to have an affinity for the handicapped. He will sit at their feet and wag his tail endlessly, licking their hand if they'll let him, and we have to call him away. Another is a border collie, who is skittish of strangers, but will back away and bark from a safe distance. The third dog, however, is a rottie x who, because of the circumstances she was found in, is dog aggressive, but fine with people. She was found as a stray on a First Nations Reserve, and was in foster care for almost 1 1/2 years. (Nine months at our house, and we eventually adopted her because we love her) She is great with our two other dogs, and with our cats, but in the park, as far as her eyes can see, it is her territory. She is never off leash, (though all three dogs get at least 2 walks a day) and supervised if out in the yard. I know what it takes to care for an animal like this, and believe I am a responsible owner. I would hate to think what Gypsy would be if she was in the hands of an irresponsible owner, just like, as you say, a gun.