Suppose you're in class, and the guy next to you lights up a cigar... - by Aja
Rug Burn Junky on 8/4/2006 at 12:34
Other than swinging on my nuts, do you have a point?
Seriously, the fact that you come into this thread just to jock me because you're holding a grudge is pretty fucking sad. I mean, I can't imagine that there's all that much going on in your life of any note, but if you've got nothing to say here why are you even wasting everyone else's time embarrassing yourself?
Scots Taffer on 8/4/2006 at 13:06
Quote Posted by jbairdjr
Back to ya, bitch!
oh no you di'in't
Ulukai on 8/4/2006 at 13:36
Quote Posted by kingofthenet
Fauklins islands, oh wait we didn't help you there, how did that turn out?
If we're talking about the Falkland Islands, Mrs Thatcher did the best thing she ever did. She got all our boats with guns, sailed down there and sorted them the fuck out.
Paz on 8/4/2006 at 13:54
Yeah, we always fall over ourselves to defend the citizens of the British Empire. Just ask the former inhabitants of Diego Garcia.
We never hear much about that one, oddly.
Which is not to suggest 'lol the British are evil' or, indeed, the opposite. Merely that we should stop mythologising and submit to Lord Palmerston's assertion that nations have no permanent allies - only permanent interests.
Random_Taffer on 8/4/2006 at 14:26
Quote Posted by RyushiBlade
But that's not what I'm getting at. We're studying WWII (again...) in American History. I was more or less outraged when my teacher wrote on the class notes, "After France dropped out of the war, Great Britain had no chance of winning. Their only hope lay in America."
I live in the US and I've never seen it worded this way. Of course Britain had a
chance at victory but the truth of the matter is. They needed our help. I disagree with the ammount of time it took us to help though. Especially with all the nasty shit happening with the Nazis...
I love the UK and I don't think we're the "big bad americans." In fact, you will most likely help us in WW3! :thumb:
What bothers me is that the media never reports the deaths of foreign soldiers in Iraq on the news... My cousin from Germany came back recently and it really bothered him that they said nothing of the german soldiers that died. He told me that in Germany they acknowledge the deaths of all the soldiers including the American's. This really bothered him and I can see why. I think most of America simply doesn't care about anything that doesn't affect them...
At least half (probably more) of our population are completely ignorant of politics and world news... And couldn't even tell you the name of our own Vice President. Sad but shamefully true.
Rug Burn Junky on 8/4/2006 at 14:34
Quote Posted by Random_Taffer
What bothers me is that the media never reports the deaths of foreign soldiers in Iraq on the news... My cousin from Germany came back recently and it really bothered him that they said nothing of the german soldiers that died. He told me that in Germany they acknowledge the deaths of all the soldiers including the American's. This really bothered him and I can see why. I think most of America simply doesn't care about anything that doesn't affect them...
I love watching people bemoan ignorance while engaging in it themselves.
The reason the media does not acknowledge the deaths of soldiers is because the administration has prohibited them from doing so (including actively discouraging the reporting of such by claiming that the media should only report "the good things that are happening," and more concrete restrictions, such as outright bans on pictures of the flag draped coffins), because it leads to bad publicity for the war. It has nothing to do with the public's caring or not caring about the soldiers themselves, but rather a cynical attempt by the current government to keep the public from realizing just how fucked up of a situation they've led us into.
Sadly the only lesson that some of these people learned from Vietnam is to get better publicity.
Random_Taffer on 8/4/2006 at 14:48
But the war in Iraq already has bad publicity.
In fact, it has become the cool thing to do here. People bash the war and president Bush (media included) because it's now acceptable and pretty much everyone else except the extreme right-wingers do so. A subtle example of the media's doing so would be the fact that they don't call our president a president at all. Whenever they talk about him, they refer to him as "Mr. Bush" yet whenever they talk about Ex-President Clinton they call him President as if he still is...
All I'm saying is... I as a viewer would appreciate it if they would at least report the soldiers from other countries on tv.
P.S. It's cool to make a point and all, but there's no need to be an ass about it. I think the first sentence could have been left out. Just a tad unnecessary. ;)
Ulukai on 8/4/2006 at 14:50
Quote Posted by Paz
Just ask the former inhabitants of Diego Garcia.
The difference being that the Falklands were invaded by the Evil Argentinians and Diego Garcia was (
http://www.zianet.com/tedmorris/dg/links.html) 'invaded' by defence strategy!
I see the former residents were (
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4852768.stm) allowed back for a few days or so to visit graves and stuff recently (after being searched for small nuclear devices and such), before being uncerimoniously deposited back from whence they came.
Can't say I'm surprised their sorry fate doesn't generate more interest though. "Forceably removed from one island paradise to another without casualties!" probably doesn't generate much newspaper circulation, moral implications aside. Which means I see it occasionally getting half a column in the broadsheets, mangled up with the obituaries.
My sympathy they have and whilst I can see that the base was necessary in the 70s for that must have fashion accessory of the time, "Mutally Assured Destruction" should the pesky Soviets get all rowdy, these days I'm not convinced the US/UK still need to be there given the number of aircraft carriers bobbing around at any one time.
Maybe they like the (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DG_Ariel_Plantation.jpg) view?
Rug Burn Junky on 8/4/2006 at 16:05
Quote:
P.S. It's cool to make a point and all, but there's no need to be an ass about it. I think the first sentence could have been left out. Just a tad unnecessary. ;)
Judging from your simpleminded response, which absolutely missed the point? That first sentence was, and remains, ENTIRELY necessary.
Stop saying ignorant shit, I'll stop pointing out that you're ignorant. Pretty simple, actually.
