Acid attacks

[Nondizzyblonde]

Also, to be fair, the government is elected by its people...

To be fair, whoever we elect, they all have the same policies (give or take).

That wasn't quite my point....
I think a country's government is a reflection of the people who live there. So for instance, take Sweden's high taxes and support of children and their carers, also they have a completely different schooling system. Look at the Netherlands and their more 'relaxed' laws when it comes to drugs and euthanasia. I could go on, but I am sure you get my drift.

 

[bigdog]

Also, to be fair, the government is elected by its people...

To be fair, whoever we elect, they all have the same policies (give or take).

That wasn't quite my point....
I think a country's government is a reflection of the people who live there. So for instance, take Sweden's high taxes and support of children and their carers, also they have a completely different schooling system. Look at the Netherlands and their more 'relaxed' laws when it comes to drugs and euthanasia. I could go on, but I am sure you get my drift.

That's a rather broad over simplification. Sweden is a rather small country that is not a fully involved world power like the USA, UK, China, Russia. Sweden does not have multitudes pouring over their border & then demanding benefits. In your native Germany. My German friends are a bit peeved that the average Germans taxes are used to bail out failed countries, All while those failed countries look to the west and make flippant remarks about being imperialists. Do you think the average German would have supported the EU as they did had the politicians told the German tax payers that they would be on the hook financially for the failure of other countries? I think not.

Most politicians get elected by promising the folks other peoples money. It's that simple. Once elected, They tend to go off and do what they want to do. Do you think the American's would have supported the "patriot act" if the politicians would have told the truth and said that they would also spy on you "a private citizen" without warrant in direct violation of the fourth amendment?

And of course the election process is so rife with money. The average citizen that might want to serve the people can't, As they are not rich nor connected enough to give it a go. So in the US. It tends to boil down to picking the lesser of two evils. Or the media will denigrate a candidate they don't like. I'll ask the forum. What of Sarah Palin? Do you even know about her other than what the press put forth about her owning guns and being the a fore mentioned inbred redneck? She and Obama had nearly the same governmental experience. In fact she had more. Remember, She was the gov. of Alaska. A state so well managed that every resident gets a tax refund. Obama was a senator for Illinois for less than two years and mostly voted present. Of course I was in a hard spot, As I am no fan of McCain but less of a fan of Obama. Neither candidate reflected my views.

 

[Nondizzyblonde]

I think you will find that most Germans will still describe themselves as European...
I strongly disagree with lots of what you have said above, but at the same time don't think there is any point into entering into a discussion about it, as at the end of it we will both still have the same opinions.

 

[bigdog]

Please do tell. I try to be open minded on all things. I was at one point in my life a very right wing conservative. While I still have some conservative beliefs (fiscally). I have over the course of time moderated were I stand. I did this through listening to others and then researching the subject.

But for a person to say I will not talk about it because they will not change and assume on my behalf that I won't either is far more closed minded than I though most Europeans to be.

 

[Nondizzyblonde]

Also, I will not be goaded.....

 

[stupot67]

Were going off topic here - honour acid attacks, whatever the west does, be it direct or in direct will be misconstrued as an afront to all of that countries people, and the actions of a meddling western power, and I think we all know where that ends up.

There's a good reason that the Britsh are a bunch of irreverent P*ss takers, when it comes to other nations (And ourselves for that matter) -There are some situations that you can't laugh and joke your way out of (I.E the subject of this post) everything else is fair game.

Stu.

 

[bigdog]

Also, I will not be goaded.....

I'm not trying to goad you at all. I simply like to discuss such things and hear the differing ideas of how folks come to the view points that they have. To me. It's simply part of the learning process. I do not want to mandate a change in Europe to my or the US's ideals. Europe needs to be Europe. And I wish the UN should stop telling America to be Europe.

I'll respect your decision to not get involved.

 

[Z4MO]

I never said Islam (as a non practicing white guy it's practically forbidden) but as it's now been mentioned...

The problem Z4MO is that these incidents are taking place in Muslim countries by what it appears to be practicing Muslims. So unfortunately the religion will get tarnished by such actions, I'm sure you can see this aswell. More so by the fact we cannot turn on the TV these days without seeing some Muslim chap either burning down a church, blowing up a building,throwing acid over a child's face or killing female students, all in the name of Allah, the list goes on...

Everyone has an opinion and mine is that ALL religions are a form of control that divides communities and are the catalyst for war


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ranski, as I have outlined in my first comment it has nothing to do with religion and reporting of stories by the media are far from impartial these days however shocking my view may seem to others. I want to know the truth of a matter as I'm sure you do too we don't make the time though. In my experience I have found the truth of a matter is often far more complex than a news report on tv and needs a bit more effort.
Anyway I hope I havent offended you as that was far from what I was intending. I am willing to speak with anyone anywhere when it comes to truth.
Best regards

 

[Gargybloke]

It's nothing to do with race, religon or culture, it's called "being an evil bastard"

 

[original guvnor]

Aren't all nations stereotyped? I don't think Americans/Germans or any other nation for that matter are singled out for this treatment. The English are heavily stereotyped too remember.

Big Dog I think you'll find an awful lot of people in the UK have a high regard for America and Americans.

There is a lot of talk about the rivalry between British and French or British and German. The truth of the matter, when you strip out all of the rhetoric, is that we are all close economic allies and actually close friends to each other too. It's only the cultural differences that get used. The cultural similarities always get glossed over.

Z4MO - always a thoughtful contributor

 

[pvr]

Z4MO, agreed it does not have a relation to religion but more to culture.

 

[inkey$]

Aren't all nations stereotyped? I don't think Americans/Germans or any other nation for that matter are singled out for this treatment. The English are heavily stereotyped too remember.

Big Dog I think you'll find an awful lot of people in the UK have a high regard for America and Americans.

There is a lot of talk about the rivalry between British and French or British and German. The truth of the matter, when you strip out all of the rhetoric, is that we are all close economic allies and actually close friends to each other too. It's only the cultural differences that get used. The cultural similarities always get glossed over.

Z4MO - always a thoughtful contributor

Have to agree with this. As a global community we are on the whole, naturally defined by our individual and stereotypical views of other cultures. Its the way of the world. The trick is seeing past these stereotypes and being aware that its not the whole that matters but the individual sum of its parts. It is here we can identify the real issues that either don't work with our own view of how life should be lived, or indeed those that are just plain evil/deluded/tyrannical (see exhibit: Pol Pot, Hitler etc).

IMO and experience, if you actually speak to other people you find out you have more in common than you think and these stereotypes are quickly eradicated - and by the way, aligned in deploring such vicious attacks on the weak and innocent.

 

[Z4MO]

Aren't all nations stereotyped? I don't think Americans/Germans or any other nation for that matter are singled out for this treatment. The English are heavily stereotyped too remember.

Big Dog I think you'll find an awful lot of people in the UK have a high regard for America and Americans.

There is a lot of talk about the rivalry between British and French or British and German. The truth of the matter, when you strip out all of the rhetoric, is that we are all close economic allies and actually close friends to each other too. It's only the cultural differences that get used. The cultural similarities always get glossed over.

Z4MO - always a thoughtful contributor

Thank you

Z4MO, agreed it does not have a relation to religion but more to culture.

Appreciate you and others can see the difference, it matters.

 

[Carol M]

Z4MO, I agree with OG. You are a great contributor and talk much sense.
Also agree with PVR, these actions really aren't about religion they are about lunatic radicals or just generally evil people. The shame is that these people act in the name of religion but their religion is shamed by them.

 

[Stuart Truman]

IMO and experience, if you actually speak to other people you find out you have more in common than you think and these stereotypes are quickly eradicated - and by the way, aligned in deploring such vicious attacks on the weak and innocent.

^^^
This

 

[bigdog]

Aren't all nations stereotyped? I don't think Americans/Germans or any other nation for that matter are singled out for this treatment. The English are heavily stereotyped too remember.

Big Dog I think you'll find an awful lot of people in the UK have a high regard for America and Americans.

There is a lot of talk about the rivalry between British and French or British and German. The truth of the matter, when you strip out all of the rhetoric, is that we are all close economic allies and actually close friends to each other too. It's only the cultural differences that get used. The cultural similarities always get glossed over.

Z4MO - always a thoughtful contributor

OG, Agree with all you said.
Also had a chat with Z4MO off camera. Very gracious, polite and understanding guy. thank you sir. :hattip:

I speak mostly of the media outlets, Self absorbed Politicians & many uni professors & their devoted minions/worshipers, The talking heads on chat shows whom blather on & on about how the American's have been the cause of all the worlds issues. Thereby deflecting attention from themselves and their own peccadillo's or their own countries failings.

Thankfully most of the rank and file citizens of all 20 countries I've been to in my lifetime have been wonderful and friendly.

But at the same time. I do get tired of all the media, fringe religious extremists, politico's, uni professors that have never lived/worked outside a school & therefore live in the theoretical or a studio playing make believe that are trying their hardest to drive a wedge between people for their own gain or glorification. It has resulted in far to many that have an either or close minded attitude on both sides of any issue. And manifested it self in a certain posters presumptive reply to me in this very thread. Which resulted in one of those "what boils your p--s" moments. And nearly had me doing a Nosa. A simple "I don't discuss politics nor religion on a forum" would have sufficed.

 

[Nondizzyblonde]

What you are doing there is alpha male posturing b*llshit. It is not that I don't do politics or religions, I don't do it with people who are close minded like you ( what do you know of uni professors for instance ? ) but claim others are, and once upon a time called me a 'bleeding heart liberal' like it was some kind of insult. Now THAT is deflection. Also, I will say it to your face, rather than going on about 'some posters'. I was stepping away because this is precisely the discussion I don't want to get into, where it gets personal. Tell you what, have the forum.... make it yours... fill it with your right wing crap. See you all on the other side.

 

[original guvnor]

One of those times when you are left scratching your head.

 

[Taz]

well I started something :?

back on topic - the guys that do this need dropping in acid baths themselves

 

[Carol M]

One of those times when you are left scratching your head.

X 1 :scratchhead: