Shwa

Indeed and I agree. And the 'Establishment Power' would tend to be conservative by and large. But then again, only a leftist would bother to point this out. But let's examine Russell's award winning shot of the bar brawl on Richmond St: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/809978--star-wins-6-national-newspaper-awards Here we have a photo of 6 young, white, males fighting one another, at night, in the street. This photo - and the award it garnered - is a prime example of how the Star cannot balance its leftist photojournalistic bias by providing a similar photograph of 6 young black (or brown, or some shade thereof) fighting in the street. It makes young drunken white males look bad. It 'paints' a bad 'picture' of the recreational activities of young white males while not providing a counterbalance to this 'view.' Nevermind analyzing the aspect of their dress, I mean, one is even wearing a tie which suggests the oppression that the corporate 'suits' must endure not only in the media, but in the bars on Richmond St, especially when someone else calls them 'a douche.' Yep, no doubt about it, the Star is biased and unfair.

"...around an 85% chance..." Those are promising odds. One could say ideal odds. OK, but break down what your good friend said and what you think "IMO." The West, more or less, allows religion to be practiced freely, yet religion has not died and - as pointed out by the OP - it is actually growing in certain areas, Islam among them. So is all this cultural conflict simply the death throes of religion in the West? But you then say that "conflicts come to us from countries with religious oppression" and then indicate that such conflicts are very old. Well if you allow the adherents to practice their religion "freely" that would include all the deep rooted structural conflict too would it not? Or do you advocate something along the lines of allowing Judaism, but tone down the David-slaying-the-Philistine aspect because it causes conflicts with Philistines? It would seem that allowing religion to be practiced freely is not as low-stakes as you want it.

How about in the US?

Story from the Ottawa Sun Anarchists claim they firebombed bank By Kenneth Jackson, Ottawa Sun

Interesting news story about a massive new "Asian" mall in Markham, a suburb of Toronto: Asian mall set to be largest in North America Toronto Star link to the story Published On Mon May 17 2010 King Square hopes to be North America's largest Asian mall. Noor Javed Staff Reporter Step aside Pacific Mall. A bigger and more upscale version is making its way to Markham. The project, King Square, is striving to become North America’s largest Asian mall and will be nearly one million square feet when completed. The monster mall will be built on a 4.8-hectare empty parcel of land on the northwest corner of Woodbine Ave. and Markland St. and will also include a banquet hall, convention centre, offices and a publicly accessible rooftop garden. But at the heart of the project will be a mall, with over 1,000 mostly Asian and upscale shopping outlets as well as a grocery store. “In terms of the square footage, yes, it will be the biggest mall,” said Dundas Kwok, director of sales and marketing for King Square. Currently, Pacific Mall holds the title for being the largest Asian mall in the GTA. Last year, developers announced plans to revamp the adjacent Market Village to build another mammoth Asian-themed mall, hotel and condo tower. Kwok says King Square will be different in that shopping will not be the only focus of the project, said Kwok. “If it’s only a mall, we believe it’s not easy to survive for the individual retailer,” said Kwok. “It’s not like Asia, where there is a large population. During the week, business is very slow,” he said. “So our plan will be for mixed use. “And our focus is not just the Asian market — we want to expand it to the mainstream market too,” he said. Rest of the story here

This is interesting. I guess when there is foreclosure action on a mortgage it is no longer a debt burden for that particular household? So if millions of people walk away from their mortgages and car payments that would lower the household debt levels. Is this about right?

Source please. And the only reason I would want a source is to point out that if would be ideal for the model if the population actually levelled off. But I digress, this point is waaaay of topic where the your second point is not. OK, well let's take this in terms of the OP. Do you think that the OP had 'smaller stakes' in mind when the post was constructed? (with dramatic, telling video no less! ) It seems to me that 'stakes' in this sense are more about the spreading of an ideology and the conflicts that arise from that spreading. It never fails to amuse that the open endedness of one ideology is used to advance the cause of a conflicting ideology. What appears to be at stake here is a call for the closing of the other end of human rights, religious freedom, freedom of expression, etc. No small stakes in my books, but a very complex conflict.

Idealistic in the above referenced by this: Now I don't equate idealistic with unrealistic, but even the person who says that the world population will eventually level off is a titch idealistic. Especially since that has certainly not been the trend over the past few thousands of years. So there is no sense in planning for it is there? I mean an earth with an equilibrium population with enough resources for everyone to have a decent standard of living would be... ideal. Depends on what we mean by "smaller stakes." Are you referring to the totals in loss of life over a given period?

On the face if it maybe. But your view is a titch too retrospective. You know about the attempts on Queen Victoria some 100-150 years later. What about all the attempts on the lives of all the various US Presidents that you don't know about or recent attempts that have been kept secret for security purposes? Attacks on the public are more well known because they are, well, attacks in public. Besides, when you select historical examples for your defintion of terrorism throughout the ages, let's not forget the religious and political terrorism in Europe over centuries. Here is a decent article on terrorism and I am sure if you do a little book research you will find plenty of examples of terrorists targetting groups of civilians or a general population in a given area. Terrorism isn't a sign of improved Human Condition unless you are referring to the ubiquity of mass media. If you consider that an improvement I mean.

But "these things" don't wash away into nothingness, as your point about your Sumerian and Mesopotamian reveals; they grow and change into something else, built upon the former. The "cultural baggage" of ancient Sumer can be found in biblical writings. The problem I see with your idealism is that it removes a significant factor from human lives - the fact that at our base we are story tellers whose stories are informed by our differences. Perhaps if we learn to speak and listen better to one another there is a better chance to resolve conflict. That is, providing we want to resolve conflicts rather than profit from them.

But now, that you have just read the fact that - in the Spanish Civil War at least - the Communists and Fascists did not bind together to fight anarchy. In fact, the Communists and Anarchists bound together to fight Fascism, somewhat opposite of your opinion. I think this shows that despite the theoretical opposition of two ideologies, in practice is there far more compromise in human political affairs.

I love the way they paint statistics. If they spread the debt out, everyone would owe $41k. But if they so that, do they not also have to spread the assets out too? I am sure some folks in those tenements in Toronto would love a slice of those new 3800 sq ft homes in Markham!

Still his actions speak louder than your words. What if one of them plea bargined for time served? What if they got away with it on a technicality? What if the evidence cannot convict them? What if DNA proves it wasn't them, but someone else? What if... just words Argus.

Presuming the latter refers to the former, you may wish to read about the Anarchists, Republicans and Fascists that held a Civil War in Spain during the late of the 1930's.

That is a good point. However I often wonder how many of the whackos sacrifice credibility with a hyperbolic attempt to squeeze the message through all of the noise? Sometimes someone will yell fire to and hope to draw attention to the smoke. And when they do say "ban oil" are they giving any sort of timeframes or is it sort of 'voice in the wilderness' kind of message for the future?

Just a point of clarification please. Bob said, "heritage of cultural identity" and you paraphrased it as "ridiculous cultural baggage." Do you consider the cultural understanding that Bob has gained from his Jewish heritage - including the familial experiences of the Jewish Diaspora prior to and during WWII - as "ridiculous... baggage?"

Who exactly - on our side I mean - is "condemning our Lads as war criminals" and what does that have to do with the Afghan Detainee issue?

Actually Argus, the aging of the baby boomers has been a well known topic for quite a few years now. We are just beginning to see the affects of it: Stats Can Daily - A portrait of seniors (from Feb 27, 07) If the supporting infrastructure is not changed within the next 10-15 years you can pretty well guarantee that the problems will be twice as bad as the present infrastructure ages right along with the population. This issue could be a culture changer.

LOL, of course they do! When I say "up north" from my perspective in urban southern Ontario, I am referring to rural Ontario that more or less begins 25km from where I am sitting. Go a couple of hours more and you begin to hit the boreal forest which, to most Canadians is 'up north.' I meant to say this in the same way someone in NY City would say, but I can see it doesn't work well literally. Good point!

And yet, as often as that happens - thousands of such cases over the decades - the members of our society by and large avoid vigilantism in favour of allowing our justice system to do its work. And as tough as your words may be - understandable as they are - it is a sentiment often expressed and yet hardly acted upon. If ever. Rodney Stafford's little girl was brutally murdered in Woodstock last year and what did he do? He went on a bike ride to Edmonton and raised $50,000 for Child Find. He is planning another trip again this year with his young son. Rodney Stafford's actions speak much louder than your words.

"a few abhorrent examples is enough to charge condemn the system as broken." You demand perfection of something that can never be perfect for all people. Plus you are asking the wrong person - I was neither a lawyer nor judge or court official on the case. What is the first detail of that particular case that stands out for you? Because when a person kills another person, they are usually attacking only another person. But when a person kills another person for vigilante type reasons they are attacking society no matter how they want to spin it in their mind. An attack on society - whether the justice system or a group of persons (i.e police) - demands a severe penalty.

It is amazing to realize how sturdy these damns can get and equally amazing to watch these critters go about their work building them. I have walked a few damns up north that appeared to be many years old with turf growing on top. One would think that you would only find beavers up north, but there was a recent controversy about beaver damns right here near the shores of Lake Ontario in a very urban area: http://newsdurhamregion.com/article/139675

I dunno Argus, I am no child and not easily excitable and I thought your post - especially the last paragraphs - were a little over the top angry. I mean, I have worked in the Federal Government with guys that were avowed separatsistes - happily collecting their nice paycheques all the while complaining about Canada - so I think sometimes the anger is justified. Just don't paint everyone with the same brush. Interesting use of language (i.e. "pisses off") that suggests this sentence is driven by emotion.

I think he'll get a 10-15 year sentence and part of the plea bargain was not getting life or 25 years. He will likely be eligible for parole in 5. What will be more interesting is where they will send him to serve his sentence and what his rehabilitation program will consist of.