JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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- Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) in Kanto region
- RCS (RCSコーポレーション), Kanto
- Salary: ¥180,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month includes performance bonus
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- Assistant Language Teacher - TOKYO - late-March start
- Interac, Tokyo
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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- Assistant Language Teacher - Kanagawa Prefecture - late-March start
- Interac, Kanagawa
- Salary: ¥230,000 ~ ¥255,000 / Month
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DanManjt
So much for when a U.S. president is overseas, partisan politics stops at the water's edge. Well, that's what you get with Bush. What an @ss.
In more than one way. Think about it: Its really rather a bad move on Bush's part for his party. If Obama and the Democrats can run against Bush this fall, its really curtains for the McCain and the Republicans.
Stupid slams like this just make the McBush third term case to the American people.
So you see, I'm loving it.
Posted in: Bush warns against appeasing terrorists; Obama claims 'false political attack' on him
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DanManjt
Its about time.
Posted in: California's top court legalizes gay marriage
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DanManjt
Nessie,
Though we may be straying from aliens, I think we are directly dealing with half of the question, y'know, the faith in god part.
So thanks for your reply.
I think much of Madvert's bile towards organized religion results from an understandable skepticism towards and rejection of the various Christian (and Islamic) dogmas, with all their annoying in-your-face demand for respect and privileged seeking for their mythologies.
Notice that I do not include Jewish dogma as a large concern in the West. First, Mani appeared to spread his dogma of moral dualism long after Rabbinic Judaism had retreated from the world. And despite what you say, moral dualism is more pronounced in the “Abrahamic religions” than in others. Second, we don't want to impose our ways on you. After all, we are the Chosen People. The take home lesson for two thousand years of Exile is let "why break my head over what meshugena goyim are up to?! Let them break their own heads." Being a minority imposed limits, y’know. Jews are so few in numbers that we would have a devil of time imposing our ways on the rest of you, despite our Elders control of the banks, media, and so forth. In truth, that branch of Judaism called Christianity sucked most of the drive to convert out of my glorious tradition. In short, Judaism, unlike Christianity is not a Faith based (orthodox) prostelyzing universal creed which purports in an ever-loving God, but rather a Orthoprax, -- as in "She is a practicing Jew." – tribal one believing in Gods Justice.
Nevertheless, your "Abrahamic religions" primarily a problem when the majority of a society and the elite adopt that religion. Case and point: Israel. Modernity, with the creation of Israel, wrenched the Jews back into autonomous history, into politics, and the unsightly confluence of religion and power politics. In Israel, segments of Judaism have rediscovered the appeal and power of dogma, demands for respect and even prostelyzation, as any good Jewish American boy whose taken a bus is Israel knows all too well. What’s more wonderful is these religious bigots have secured a special place in Israeli politics that allows them an inordinately influence on Israeli society and policy in key areas. Sounds familiar? It should. Though under 20% population, they are a determined and effective lobby, affecting, most importantly, settlement policy and relations with the Palestinians.
As far as aliens as faith goes, I’ll let you in on a secret: for Jews, faith is as alien as Zxortac from Planet Xenubia. Its not about faith. It is about god, torah and Israel. Its about being a mench – that is, leading an ethical life. Its about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.
And its about controlling the media.
Posted in: Vatican: Believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God
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DanManjt
Taka, Madverts and Nessie
This thread has spanned over quite a lot of territory.
I'd like to, if I may, focus on the specific nature of the Biblical/Koranic tradition. This tradition is unique in that it is Manichean -- meaning it conceives of the world as the stage in which a cosmic drama is played out between the forces of light (good) and dark (evil). This is a very distinctive quality in world religions. It lends itself easily towards religiosity, self-righteousness and doctrinal hair-splitting. The most uncompromising expression of this dualistic impulse is of course Crusades and Jihads.
Pretty powerful stuff, as I think you, Nessie, pointed out.
I simply do not believe this. I do not believe in Satan. I do not believe there is a sentient and malevolent force that is constant (Evil) and that pops up in varying forms and expressions (disease, warfare, Greed, etc) to torment and lead us astray from the Light. It just does not jive with way I understand how the world works. Germs, not the Devil, cause disease. People are greedy because it has adaptive value, not because we were born sinful.
And since I do not believe in Satan, in Evil with a capital E, I cannot accept that the literal Manichean notion that the world, that history, is the great cosmic story of Good vs. Evil.
Second, the New Testament/Koranic tradition conceives of God as all-powerful, all knowing and all caring -- of His people, notably. Personally, I can conceive of a divinity that encompasses two of these three.
But not all three.
My understanding of the way the world works precludes the possibility that all God is all three. I can see how an all loving and all knowing God must stand by when things go wrong. I can see how an all-powerful and all caring God messes up. I can see how an all-powerful and all knowing God callously allows things like the recent cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. But an all-loving one?
I must say no. I find the Christian argument silly at best -- a tortured construing that turns the meaning of love upside down -- and at worst an insult to the dignity of man, and because we are supposedly created in a divine image, an insult to the dignity of god. So, no, I reject as wishful thinking the New Testament/Koranic belief in an omnipotent, omniscient all loving God.
I believe, one may say have faith in, Justice. And anyone fan of Isaiah, or Law and Order, knows that Justice can be harsh.
In the West, the two characteristics of our religious tradition identified above naturally serve as the subtext underlying much if not all the disagreement between Believers and Non-Believers. Indeed, the two characteristics and the terms Believer and Non-Believer (Atheist) themselves set the terms and scope of the debate. The theist believes spirituality = divinity = God = Christ. The non-believer disbelieves Christ, therefore God and therefore divinity and spirituality. Notably, both Believer and Non-Believer reduce the nuance of spirituality, belief, and religious practice to a crude ethical dualism, a kindergarten good vs. bad caricature indicative of zealous false dichotomies.
And much feces tossing ensues.
Posted in: Vatican: Believing in aliens does not contradict faith in God
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DanManjt
That's a lot of money.
Posted in: Pitt, Clooney, other stars donate $500,000 to Myanmar cyclone relief
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DanManjt
Edward's endorsement signals the end of the end for Clinton. Barring a Gary Hart type June Suprise, Obama's got it wrapped up.
So, its gonna be Obama vs McCain.
Posted in: Obama welcomes Edwards endorsement
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DanManjt
My views are:
When in Rome,
do the Romans.
Posted in: Foreign women in Japan sometimes remark how hard it is to get a date with foreign men. What are your views on this?
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DanManjt
Before this campaign began, I favored neither Mr. Obama nor Mrs. Clinton. That was then. Now, I fear that Mrs. Clinton and her campaign plan to hold the Democratic party hostage. It seems that they have coldly calculated that her best chance to win the nomination lies in convincing the super delegates that she is both capable and willing to destroy the party to get the nomination. And that Mr. Obama is not.
Do not let her. Write your state super delegates and the DNC. Let them know that you, a voting democrat, will not countenance Clinton's attempt to subvert the primary process and steal the nomination. Let the Democratic Party leaders know that you will bolt if they deny us, the voters, the final say in who we put up. So write your super delegates. You can find those who have decided here:
http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html
Write the one's who have not endorsed Obama to do so. Write the ones who have endorsed Clinton to follow McGovern's lead and switch to Obama. Write the ones who have endorsed Obama to say good job, and get them to pressure the previous two to endorse Obama.
Feel free to use the following as you wish:
I am writing to you as a deeply concerned American and Democrat.
It is now clearly time for Hillary Clinton to bow-out for the good of our party. Though Tuesday’s primary results should have ended all debate, Mrs. Clinton obdurately refuses to respect the rules and results of our nominating process.
I reject such cynical machinations. Mr. Obama has secured the most pledged delegates and the plurality of the popular vote. I find Clinton’s disregard of both the rules and results of our nominating process disturbing. Obama is the rightful nominee. I view Mrs. Clinton's placing of private interest above party and national interest odious. Therefore, I have come to the difficult decision that if Mrs. Clinton secures the nomination through super delegates, I will not vote for her this fall. Further, I never again vote for any of the super delegate who appeases Mrs. Clinton in order to prevent her from destroying our party.
You are a super delegate. I ask that you respect the rules and results of our nominating process and endorse Mr. Obama. I also urge you to contact (your) super delegates that have endorsed Hillary Clinton. I ask you to urge them follow George McGovern’s example and switch their endorsement to Mr. Obama. Specifically, please contact:
Only in this way can we concentrate on a unified party capable of winning the White House in November.
With best regards,
XXXX XXXXXX
Posted in: Clinton vows to stay in race; lends her campaign $6.4 million
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DanManjt
Redacted,
On economics, (which Hitler viewed as secondarily important) Hitler was all over the place
"Basically National Socialism and Marxism are the same." "We are socialists, we are enemies of today's capitalistic economic system" -- Speech on May 1, 1927. Cited in Toland, J. (1976) Adolf Hitler Garden City, N.Y. : Doubleday Speech. May 1, 1927. p. 224
Yet, Hitler was clear to point out that his interpretation of socialism "has nothing to do with Marxian Socialism," saying that "Marxism is anti-property; true Socialism is not." -- Francis Ludwig Carsten, The Rise of Fascism, University of California Press, 1982, p. 137. Hitler quote from Sunday Express.
And
"Socialism! That is an unfortunate word altogether... What does socialism really mean? If people have something to eat and their pleasures, then they have their socialism." -- Henry A. Turner, "German Big Business and the Rise of Hitler", Oxford University Press, 1985. pg 77
"I absolutely insist on protecting private property... we must encourage private initiative". -- private statement made by Hitler on March 24, 1942. Cited in "Hitler's Secret Conversations." Translated by Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens. Farrar, Straus and Young, Inc. 1953. p. 294
On yet another occasion he qualified that statement by saying that the government should have the power to regulate the use of private property for the good of the nation. --Richard Allen Epstein, Principles for a Free Society: Reconciling Individual Liberty With the Common Good, De Capo Press 2002, p. 168
As for neo-Liberal equating of any state intervention into the economy as "socialism," I would like to hear your explanation of Japan's and South Korean's economies.
Finally, as for the Libertarian notion that any infringment upon individual Liberty by the colletictivist ethic inevitably leads to serfdom, I'd like to hear your thought on nations like Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
Posted in: German historians want Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' republished
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DanManjt
rjd -
Not farce. Tragedy.
Posted in: White House says it has paid a price for 'Mission Accomplished' banner five years ago
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DanManjt
Well, the internet ain't so easily regulated. So its really rather moot.
http://www.nazi-lauck-nsdapao.com/gerbon.htm
And BTW. the Nazid were socialists in the same way that the LDP is liiberal and democratic.
Posted in: German historians want Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' republished
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DanManjt
Mr. Zimmatore,
First, you have falsely linked these two things. Many traditionalists lead unethical lives; many progressives lead ethical lifes. And FYI, ethics are not morals.
More importantly, many traditional values are immoral. Jim Crow had its biblically inspired defenders.
Finally, you have offered nothing, absolutely nothing, to clarify what you mean by moral.
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DanManjt
Well, the Right certainly has worked itself into a lather.
Posted in: Obama tries to distance himself from pastor
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DanManjt
Betzee
Well done. Unlike the Chiken Hawks Rummy, Bush, and Cheyney, (and I;m sure a few here at JT) Wright fought to defend the Liberty they cynically abuse and foolishly squander. But the Right will never, can never, understand that.
Because they are partisans before patriots.
BTW
I responded a little late to your post from last month. Here is the link in asnwer to your question.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/sadr-orders-militia-to-reject-pms-call-to-surrender-arms#comment_5811
Posted in: Obama's ex-pastor slams 'devious,' 'unfair' attacks
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DanManjt
Sez Who
I have read through your posts. Two things:
Wright's comments are indefensible. Its a mistake to defend them.
Wright, as a man, need not be defended against the Republican slime machine's attacks. The Right is not interested in a good faith exchange. They will, no matter what, run against Wright because it is, they believe, their only hope in staving off tremendous defeat this Fall.
When you play defensively against the Right, you loose. America looses.
Now is not the time and the media/blogesphere is not the place to delve into the complexities of race and race politics in America.
Posted in: Obama's ex-pastor slams 'devious,' 'unfair' attacks
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DanManjt
SuperLib
If you cared about getting a bus out of a ditch, you'd need identify how bus got there in the first place. But you can't, because the driver and his crew are stoping you from doing it.
So, the first thing is you'd do is can the driver. Then you try to shut up the fools who put the driver in the the drivers seat, and continue to so loudly sing sang camp songs that the rest of us who are trying to figure out how to get the bus out of the ditch can;t concentrate on the problem of getting the bus out.
The song-singers, of course, sing so loudly because they don't want to get nailed for having supported the stupid fool of a bus driver in the first place.
Never forget, this has been a partisan war from the get-go.
They're
Posted in: Bloodiest week this year for U.S. troops in Iraq
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DanManjt
My dog's name is Aki. So Aki Burge don't sound too appetizing to me...
Posted in: Big burger
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DanManjt
Ah, yes. Being anything but upbeat is anti-American.
Posted in: Obama says voters are angry, bitter
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DanManjt
I'll by that for a dollar.
Posted in: Porn producers arrested for filming at McDonald's in Saitama
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DanManjt
Al-Qaida's Zawahri says his organization doesn't kill innocents
That's right. They're not terrorists.
They're agrarian reformers.
Posted in: Al-Qaida's Zawahri says his organization doesn't kill innocents