JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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tigermoth
I think I would prefer a gay barracks-mate. They would keep the place immaculately clean, exchange the uncomfortable bunks with furniture from Pottery Barn and likely be able to entertain with a good show tune now and then.
Seriously, in this day and age does anybody really care? And if so why? Is the worry that they'll be accosted in the shower? If you're secure in your own 'manliness' - or 'womanliness' then you've nothing to fear. I say that if a gay man is willing and able to put his life on the line for his country then good for him. If the fear is an AIDS thing due to the chance of blood in combat injury I would counter that likely just as many 'straight' troopers might be so infected. If so paranoid force them to undergo more frequent blood screenings. I'm quite certain the troops copulating with everything that moves in foreign ports of call aren't bringing in anything dangerous [note: sarcasm}.
That being said, what RR stated is quite true. The bill had additions tacked onto it that made it unpalatable and not passable, as often happens with legislation from either side. So the liberals on hear can scream all they want about the 'evil, intolerant Conservatives' when in fact Reid sabotaged the bill from ever being able to pass.
Posted in: Republicans block bill to lift US military gay ban
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tigermoth
This jackass isn't the only one. Iran's leader comes to mind. And therein lies the problem. You get people with influence over others to repeat and spread these denials and people do start to question the realities. History is littered with cases where the subsequent passing of time totally eradicated or twisted what truly happened. It's easy to say 'harmless lunatic' but too often their results are not harmless.
Posted in: Holocaust denier tours Nazi sites in Poland
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tigermoth
So you're pretty much admitting that the dems had no real plans that could remotely be effective in fixing the economic mess we find ourselves in? What kind of party faith is that?? To just throw up your hands and say 'the evil Bush screwed us up so bad that we can't begin to fix in four measly years' is hardly effective government nor the type that we need now. Being non-party affiliated, I look back at examples like FDR. I wouldn't necessarily agree with many of his policies and ideas, but damn it if the man didn't have a plan. By the time he was done with the WPA, the CCC and some other rather revolutionary ideas at least Americans felt something was happening and they were moving back from the abyss. The current president has done none of this except to force through unwanted legislation that most didn't read and that will hurt very many in the end. And spend. Wow. Liberal/Conservative/Independent - whatever. We need a President who has vision, imagination, intelligence and a workable plan, and someone who speaks for the common man no matter which party, not just his own supporters. In his day, when FDR died there was hardly a dry eye in the house, liberal or conservative for at least the man had a plan that actually accomplished something. Now we've devolved to 'we suck, but so do they..'. WTF
Posted in: Dems to voters: You may hate us, but GOP is worse
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tigermoth
Good points. Unfortunately I fear neither is very likely. I hope for the latter, but no standouts in my mind as of yet.
Posted in: Obama reaches out to skeptical voters
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tigermoth
And I find it interesting that you choose to say that one superstitious religion has any more validity than the others simply based upon the number of practitioners. There is debate on whether Wicca is indeed a religion, but I should think that anyone with common sense not clouded by the teaching forced up on them from birth might be able to recognize that one belief in the supernatural is not so very different than the other. Is it any more ridiculous to believe that it is possible to cast a spell upon someone than it it to believe a man can walk on water and turn said water into wine? Your reference to skinheads and swastikas is irrelevant and nonsensical as it's hardly the same thing.
Posted in: O'Donnell makes light of witchcraft comment
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tigermoth
How is being a witch - which one date with a practitioner hardly makes you so; if you briefly dated a Jewish man and put on his skull cap (sorry, can't spell the proper term) does that make you a Jew(??) - really interesting? If she had been a hooker or a Manson follower, that's at least interesting. Even given the public's need for sensationalism this is a lame mole hill/mountain attempt.
Posted in: O'Donnell makes light of witchcraft comment
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tigermoth
That's okay - he can just be as crappy a president as Jimmy Carter, then proclaim himself the most brilliant ever of former presidents as JC did. People will forget what a disaster his administration truly was and the left will still canonize him as god.
Posted in: Obama reaches out to skeptical voters
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tigermoth
Ah, that tolerant Islam. The great religion of peace. Nothing to see here. Nothing to worry about or question. Just extremists after all.
Posted in: Seattle cartoonist goes into hiding on FBI advice
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tigermoth
I'm sure this debate will come to the US soon enough. It is illegal in the US to wear masks in public in some states (VA and West VA come to mind). So it begs the question that if a Muslim woman wearing a full bur qua goes out in public, is it illegal? I'm talking one of those Ninja type things (for lack of a better term). Is that considered a mask, and if so would they be ticketed in a state where it is illegal to wear masks, or do we make exceptions for religious/cultural considerations - and where do you draw the line? If I'm a snake handler can I bring a snake on the subway with me?
Posted in: French Senate passes ban on full Muslim veils
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tigermoth
I cringe when it comes to banning articles of traditional clothing, but I can't see that I disagree with France's point of view. Put it this way, sunbathing in bikinis is popular and the norm on many beaches in the US, but if you went to a beach an in Islamic country and did the same, you would be insane and likely killed. There is a degree of assimilation without losing total regard to ethnic and religious custom. Wear a headscarf that modestly covers the hair and neck. Sometimes you have to bend a little when you decide to move to another life in another culture and enjoy the benefits of your adopted country.
Posted in: French Senate passes ban on full Muslim veils
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tigermoth
Quite possibly. But it depends if the group had a defined agenda that was particularly bent as unfavorable or even mean spirited. Other than accusations that the tea party is racist based it seems solely upon a very few random instances of supposed racial slurs (that I think were ill proven) and the actual majority makeup of the group (white folks) I have yet to see proof - other than the accusations of their opposition - that this party has any agenda based upon race. It seems more likely based upon ideals and opinions on government rather than any agenda of minority suppression. The accusations seemed more designed to imply impropriety rather than provide proof of it. Unless someone can show otherwise - and that proof could not be simple word of the opposition.
There doesn't always have to be evil agenda just because it is supposed. I'll use my Hollywood example since I loathe the hypocrisy of that lot so much - but this time in their defense. Proportionally there are very few successful actors and actresses that are black. Is this because of rampant racism in Hollywood (and if so, why would all of these supposed liberals be part to that - and the film industry is definitely ruled by liberals)? Or is it simply the case of proportionally fewer folks of color interested in pursuing this as their career (be it due to socio-economic factors or whatever)? I would bet the latter. The detractors could quite easily make the case for the former, but is that fair or accurate? Actually, I'm not sure on that one!
Posted in: Coast to coast, tea partiers promote their cause
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tigermoth
Thank you Yabits, while your comments were meant (perhaps) with a degree of sarcasm, or at least smugness, you did illustrate the truth that has always been bothersome. Liberal democrats think that their poop doesn't stink and that they are yards smarter than any of their conservative adversaries. This of course was perpetuated by the most worthless and harmful generation of them all, the 60's freakazoids who somehow came to the conclusion that drug use and loose morals really does bring enlightenment. Well, Tim Leary was a fool and we've paid for that madness many times over. Yes, the liberal cause did attract many professors and intelligentsia at one time, but I wouldn't say that is necessarily true anymore. Particularly not after this administration. And certainly you don't count those Hollywood morons as the intelligent by any means.
No, I'm not buying it. There are morons across the spectrum, right or left. The really stupid ones follow party line no matter what - even if they don't really agree.
I can see other parties like the tea party cropping up from time to time as normal Americans get tired of the partisan crap which leads to the government's inability to get much legislation passed, good or bad. Since people tend to ridicule what they fear, I wonder if some of you perhaps fear this party as a threat to the status quo of good old us versus evil them.
Posted in: Coast to coast, tea partiers promote their cause
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tigermoth
Quite right WilliB. People seem to forget that America is still a young nation by most standards, and this idealistic blending of cultures is only successful in altruistic tv shows from the 1960's. Religion by historical precedence teaches intolerance, despite the 'love thy brother' programs usually written in. Conversely it seems to be kill any who don't believe, or convert them as Christianity tried to do to the detriment of so many throughout the world. And Islam seems to be much more stringent than Christianity, and far less forgiving of shortcomings. And being so inherently different than what those in the west are culturally used to, it begs the question whether peaceful co-existence is even possible. The US 'experiment' always seemed to be based upon the notion of 'fitting in' and becoming American first and whatever second. Not in some scary nationalistic fashion, but rather as an insular means of becoming a 'nation of one' united under a sense of freedom. You can worship an do what you want (within the law) but that is outside of your duty as an American (as corny as that might sound) and fellow citizen. With a religion that is meant to come first and encompass all, how will this work?
That will be labeled as intolerance by many here no doubt, but it is a legitimate question, and a realistic one rather than an idealistic one. I would totally agree that it would be fantastic if all mankind was a joined and coexistent entity. But we're not, nowhere even close. And while perhaps we should strive for the intangible, we have to deal with reality.
Posted in: Fellow Americans' suspicions frustrate U.S. Muslims
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tigermoth
Does anyone find it interesting at all - even though it's not PC to say or think such things - that so much effort it put into proving that the tea party has white supremacist connotations simply because it's made up of mainly white people? Read the posts, all we seem to be discussing is the KKK. If black people were to form a party that backed candidates they were interested in, and presented ideals that they believed important and relevant to their particular community (the black community) - would anyone point out that they are 'racist'? I'm not a tea party supporter per say, but I do find it telling that the left is almost frothing at the mouth to prove them to be nothing more than a gathering of whites a step away from wearing their bedsheets. Because they don't believe in big government and high taxes they of course must be cross burning hill-billies one step away from being extras in the remake of 'Deliverance'. Only card-carrying members of the liberal democrats possess even an ounce of intelligence, grace and cultural integrity, right?
Posted in: Coast to coast, tea partiers promote their cause
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tigermoth
I'll be the first to admit that I've wrongly fallen into the regrettable thinking of the non-Islamic masses in the US that Islam is a religion of intolerance, repression and violence due to its laws and ideas that there should be 'no others'. Of course ignoring the old Christian "Do not have any other gods before me" which states basically the same thing. And admittedly I haven't read enough about Islam to know exactly what it teaches and if it truly dictates that the 'infidel' - us non-Muslims - should be expunged.
Much of this is media hype. The same media that constantly makes us think the world is on the edge of mass destruction and chaos. Chaos and destruction sell 'newspapers' or the electronic media that have replaced them. But I think it's fair to say that some of the critical eye cast upon Islam is defend-able. Look at the Christian wackos - the Waco crowd, this idiot in Florida, McVeigh and other fringe groups. Usually they live in groups in armed compounds, or plot one-off crazy schemes. Not so for the Islamic wackos. They go to terrorist training camps based in the ME and have access to a network of funding, intelligence and resources. And they come from the unexpected; people knew the folks living on the compound at Waco were nuts. The 9/11 hijackers were sort of 'the guy next door' types who lived in communities amongst us, then coldly planned the murder of thousands. I'm not saying there aren't killers among us that are Christians, Jews - whatever that can snap and do something horrible. But most of these terror attacks on the West have been well-planned and funded which is a polar opposite of your average other crazy type.
Also, you have to take into account that while it's easy to say that 'Muslims have lived in America and the west for a long time with no problems until 9/11, look more at the actual demographics and you'll discover that it wasn't really until post-9/11 that the Muslim populations in the US and other Western countries such as Britain and France really started to explode (pun not intended). When any religious minority floods into a country and suddenly becomes a measurable part of the general population - and brings in a system of religious beliefs and even a culture vastly different to the indigenous - there is bound to be a cultural clash. With the terrorist attacks carried out by admittedly a minute extremist branch of that group, multiply the problems by a thousand.
It's a tough and unfair road for the honest, normal Muslim to travel, but not surprising to see the reasons why.
Posted in: Fellow Americans' suspicions frustrate U.S. Muslims
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tigermoth
I think you need to read a bit before you comment, or else we're just not getting you. The allies did take Japanese prisoners - those that would surrender. And most lived.
Posted in: Unusual bond heals wounds for American WWII POWs who will visit Japan
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tigermoth
Actually I don't believe he's really thinking this through, and he might not be doing the above for long. Certainly this clown must be aware that the radical fringe of this religion will undoubtedly call for his death, and such a belligerent redneck will not be difficult to find.
Yabits I just wonder what happened to make you hate your country so much. It surely is far from perfect, but it beats being stoned to death or fifty lashed for not wearing a head scarf? Perhaps it was living in Michigan - I think that would make anyone hate the USA.
tkoind2, your wisdom is lost on the masses, no matter how true. We laugh at Greek and Roman mythology with a chuckle, yet they believed as strongly in their gods and goddesses as Christians, Muslims and Jews. Silly to think that Zeus turned himself into a bull, but quite believable that Jesus walked on water. Yeah. Same with the Egyptians. History is full of systems of belief to pacify the natural fear of death and need to find meaning in life. Instead they become tools of greed and reasons to kill, but we never learn as the fear is too great and the hold too strong. And so it goes.
Posted in: Pressure builds on Florida pastor who wants to burn Quran on Sept 11
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tigermoth
Well, this assumes you believe the counter claim after the US strikes that these were civilians. It's sort of like when you interview convicts in prison - all are innocent and none did the crime. They don't carry badges saying 'terrorist' so technically they are all civilians, just civilians carrying out terrorist activities. Look at the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. Children were blowing up soldiers in markets. When the troops would enter a village rife with known VC, suddenly none of them were. Just because they all suddenly claim to be innocent civilians does not mean that they actually are.
Besides, the way these same terrorist blow themselves up in markets, indiscriminately killing their own people, the innocent civilians are just as likely to be taken out by the locals. If a bomb takes out even a few then it has likely save civilian lives in the long run. Screwed up thinking perhaps, but such is life in an unconventional war.
Posted in: 4th U.S. missile in 24 hours in Pakistan kills 5
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tigermoth
What a load of crap. Yes, perhaps it is all about ownership, but you seem to assume that those that have were all just handed this wealth without lifting nary a finger. And so what if 'daddy' made all the money; it was still earned by him now wasn't it.
Look, we live in a constitutional democracy that's based on free enterprise and capitalism. Yes, we all have the right to life, liberty and happiness - but when this was penned I think it was assumed that the meaning was you have the right to these things based on your willingness to strive for them, not that they should be handed to you as a guarantee. You have the freedom and right to achieve and do, not the right to what others achieve and do if you are unable.
I'm middle class; right now barely making ends meet, but improving as my wife just got her Masters. By the way, she came from a family who had very little and without handout worked her @ss off to get her undergraduate and graduate degree. She was expected to work in the factory like her siblings. I'm middle class because I made a choice. I could have participated in more clubs in school, studied harder, gone to a better university with a more prestigious degree. I could have worked 12 or 14 hour days instead of 8 - and not wanting to even do that. In short, I could have put in the time to be more successful, could have had that drive or ambition - but I did not.
We all make choices, and these choices affect what we do in life, how far we go and ultimately how much we make. If you skipped school to smoke cigs with your buds, just like the old man, you probably work in a factory or manual labor. To assume that all of those that you consider wealthy were either born with a silver spoon in their mouth, or somehow won the lottery or became rich by stealing or cheating, then you're horrible naive. Take a look at your High School chums; some might be construction workers, some doctors and lawyers, some unemployed, some dead. You all have the same educational background. And don't feed the line about who gets to go to school as student aid is always an option.
So some people work hard and make a lot of money, or get lucky and make a lot of money. Why on earth would you suppose their wealth should be 'shared' with those who did not? If you truly believe this, then in my mind you're not a capitalist nor belong in the democracy we have created, but rather need to investigate one of the 'isms'. There is no shame there, just a different outlook on wealth. But to assume that we should alter the Constitutional Democracy that was founded here and promotes free enterprise and freedom to succeed based on your belief that those who are unwilling to achieve deserve what those that are willing have is plain wrong. Now that that have not due to issues beyond their control, that's another matter. But that's where social systems come in. While I realize these funds have to come from somewhere, I would question why it has to come solely from those who choose to achieve.
Posted in: Obama won't yield on tax hike for wealthiest
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tigermoth
Actually my bet is that such burnings have already happened at churches - particularly in the south - and it simply hasn't been advertised or made national news. I lived for some time in the south and remember a friend telling me her mother had gone to a Baptist 'book and record burning'. It wasn't exactly made public with posters and fanfare, just something they got together and did. Very scary stuff goes on all the time, this freak just happened to make the news. If you notice in one video the cross on the church is broken - maybe they should have a fundraiser to fix that before they buy a bunch of Qu'rans to burn.
Posted in: Pressure builds on Florida pastor who wants to burn Quran on Sept 11