51–60 of 94 posts
I guess it's okay that he's dead, but I'm concerned about the way he was killed. A bunch of soldiers ran into his house, stripped him, dragged him through the streets, and shot him at some point. That is some Trojan War shit. I'm still not convinced that the Middle East is civilized... which is why I'm an isolationist. I'm not very reassured by this quote from the transitional government spokesperson: “We were seriou…
To quote Andrew Sullivan: To rid the world of Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and Moammar Qaddafi within six months: if Obama were a Republican, he'd be on Mount Rushmore by now.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's the whole point - "your" definition. There are billions of people in the world, any many of them disagree with your definition. Pretending your definition is the only definition is the height of egotism, and I wish that we as a people, could understand that and have sympathy and constructive conversations about the future.
Implying the OP is racist doesn't seem that constructive.
I guess it's okay that he's dead, but I'm concerned about the way he was killed. A bunch of soldiers ran into his house, stripped him, dragged him through the streets, and shot him at some point. That is some Trojan War shit. I'm still not convinced that the Middle East is civilized... which is why I'm an isolationist. I'm not very reassured by this quote from the transitional government spokesperson: “We were seriou…
Having been born and raised in the middle east (Egypt), I can assure you that by many definitions of 'civilized' we fare really well compared to the US.
True, there isn't separation of religion and state, and that leads to much 'uncivilized' behavior, and a wacky sense of law.
On the other hands, we don't have nearly the same rates of murder, rape, theft that we have here in the States. And we don't put one out of every 300 people in prison.
Our elderly mostly die surrounded by family and friends in their homes, and very very very few people sleep on the streets.
Our health care system is much poorer, and much more primitive than the US system, but nobody gets turned away because of 'pre-existing' conditions or lack of funds.
In most of the Country, if you stop someone and ask for directions, they'll invite you to their home for a meal and be serious about it. Even though they make less than a .50 cents a day.
So yeah, maybe broaden your idea of what 'civilized' looks like and you won't need to isolate so much.
p.s. We cook a yummy Egyptian dinner once a month for friends, ping me and come over next Monday for civilized discourse over foul and falafel
To quote Andrew Sullivan: To rid the world of Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki and Moammar Qaddafi within six months: if Obama were a Republican, he'd be on Mount Rushmore by now.
Amazing the shift of perspective... How many who voted for Obama (or at least against John McCain) would expect their vote would elect a President who would violate the sovereignty of Pakistan with a special forces operation, murder an American citizen without due process, and enter into armed conflict with Libya without the consultation of Congress and eventually assassinate a sitting head of state?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would say a court marshal ending with a televised execution wouldn't been better. This man was evil. And he was crazy. A violent death, no matter how, is what he deserved.
> This man was evil. And he was crazy. That's what they said on TV, didn't they? Must be true then. In other words - how do you know? How do you know the picture you are being fed by the media is accurate enough to assign him a "violent death" as a proper punishment? And without a public trial at that.
He was a politician wasn't he? Seems proof enough as far as I'm concerned.
I guess it's okay that he's dead, but I'm concerned about the way he was killed. A bunch of soldiers ran into his house, stripped him, dragged him through the streets, and shot him at some point. That is some Trojan War shit. I'm still not convinced that the Middle East is civilized... which is why I'm an isolationist. I'm not very reassured by this quote from the transitional government spokesperson: “We were seriou…
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But to play devils advocate, we put down dogs who bite people don't we? Yeah yeah, human life is precious, but sometimes we need to be a little pragmatic.
In the particular situation you are referring to you are correct, but I don't think that is a generalizable concept.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
My definition of "civilization" is a society "ruled by law" and something approaching a "democracy". I can't think of a country in the Middle East remotely qualifying -- maybe Israel. Trying to equate "religious pandering" in the US to the various REAL theocracies and military juntas that inhabit the Mideast is "shame"ful.
That's the whole point - "your" definition. There are billions of people in the world, any many of them disagree with your definition. Pretending your definition is the only definition is the height of egotism, and I wish that we as a people, could understand that and have sympathy and constructive conversations about the future.
If so, why all the dead or deposed dictators?