(June 22, 2009 at 11:08 pm)Tiberius Wrote: Ok Dotard, we'll accept that the USA "allows" other countries to have nukes, but why should it have that power in the first place? Even if it is a collective decision (which it's not...just look at Russia), how do you rank these countries in terms of eliteness? Why is your version of eliteness the right way to do it?

It's not just America that allows or disallows some countries to possess nukes. Because Russia, and I'm sure some other countries, are not in the collective (coalilition, club, whatever) doesn't mean there is no collective.

I define elite as the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group and this is how I rank them.

Also, I never argued my version was the right one. I may think it is the right one, but right and wrong are subjective arn't they?

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(June 23, 2009 at 12:56 am)padraic Wrote:

(June 21, 2009 at 10:44 am)Dotard Wrote: Hmmm... following that logic;

United Kingdom, Canada, Saudi, India, Philippines, Australia, Romainia, El Salvador, Estonia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Albania, Ukraine, Denmark, Czech Republic, South Korea, Japan, Tonga, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Bosnia, Macedonia, Latvia, Poland, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Mongolia and Georgia are all a bunch of illegally country invading terrorists.

You really contending every trooper from all the listed countries are terrorists?

My comment was in response to the fatuous comment that 100% of terrorists are Muslims. -The point was the definition is largely one of perception. A good proportion of the Muslims world does indeed see the "coalition of the willing" as terrorists. Soldiers may not avoid personal responsibility with the "I'm only following orders claim. (aka "The Nuremberg Defence") I'm pretty sure I'd see them as terrorists I were an Iraqi and would support the resistance.

It has also been argued that US and its coalition waged a war of aggression on Iraq,which is in breach of The Nuremberg Statutes drafted by the allies after WW2 and used to try Nazi war criminals.

Agree,disagree, I don't give a shit.You asked,I replied.

Agreed. Terrorism is largely one's perception. Your point skewed by me as you were beating around that bush using sarcasm which doesn't translate well in the written word. If you had just said "Terrorism is in the eyes of the beholder." I would have replied "Agreed" and we would have been done with that.

Agree, Disagree, you don't give a shit? I recommend you see a doctor as everyone should give a shit at least once a day. However you did give a shit enough to reply. So there .

(June 23, 2009 at 3:07 am)leo-rcc Wrote: Why do you assume that is a person isn't born there it isn't his or her country?

Did I say that? Well if they're a citizen then.

Quote: And why can't he or she be patriotic about it?

They obviously can because they do. I'm not against 'love of a country' so long as it isn't pride, IMO that's not generally a good thing (and doesn't really make any sense to me). And also so long as the 'love' of the country isn't a biased love, simply because that it's 'their country'.

Quote:What you mean is Chauvinism. Chauvinism is a blind belief in national superiority and glory. It's a hyped version of Nationalism, somewhat akin towards Jingoism.

Ok thanks for the info - when I hear of 'Patriotism' with a capital "P" it tends to be expressed that way. Especially in Britain with the whole Football, Football, Football thing and "Rule Britannia", a kind of elitist "We're the best" attitude. It's kind of like the fact that Britain used to have a big Empire and that we ruled a lot of the world...is some kind of good thing? I mean what happened before my own Birth in 'my' country - has got fuck-all to do with me of course. I don't care what good or bad has come out of it - I had no part in it. So I'm not going to feel good or bad about it - doesn't make any sense at all to me. I can't feel proud or guilty about or for my country.

I'm a world citizen. Or - universal citizen

EvF

(June 23, 2009 at 12:30 pm)EvidenceVsFaith Wrote: And also so long as the 'love' of the country isn't a biased love, simply because that it's 'their country'.

The love I have for The Great Republic of Texas is simply because it's my Republic. The love I have for my dog is simply because he is my dog. I'll bet the love you have for your momma is simply because she is your momma. Maybe love is the wrong word for your point? Got another one that may work?

The point is, you have no claim to ownership over Texas. It isn't your republic, it's the state you just happen to live in.

Quote:Agree, Disagree, you don't give a shit? I recommend you see a doctor as everyone should give a shit at least once a day. However you did give a shit enough to reply. So there Smile.

Thanks for that. I really don't GIVE a shit:I sell my night soil to the local market garden.



Oh,I apologise for being an old turd.

(June 23, 2009 at 7:57 pm)Tiberius Wrote: The point is, you have no claim to ownership over Texas. It isn't your republic, it's the state you just happen to live in.

Oh that was NOT the point.

He was speaking of patriotism, pride, love of country. Nothing to do with ownership. And uh.... here in America, everything pertaining to the government, federal and state, is collectively owned by the populous. So yes, it IS MY republic

Your point was that you love Texas because it is your republic. I was pointing out that it wasn't yours. Joint ownership with everyone else isn't ownership at all, it is democratically owned by the nation as a whole.

Tard Wrote:The love I have for The Great Republic of Texas is simply because it's my Republic. The love I have for my dog is simply because he is my dog. I'll bet the love you have for your momma is simply because she is your momma. Maybe love is the wrong word for your point? Got another one that may work?

A thought!

Beyond your own little world.

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Seems we have quite a few thoughts on this topic.

'No of course not! It's a complete coincidence that 100% of the world's terrorists are Muslims'

What?! I think you have been reading to many far right newspapers. Unless of course the IRA and Tamil Tigers are secret Muslims.

(June 23, 2009 at 10:41 pm)Tiberius Wrote: Your point was that you love Texas because it is your republic. I was pointing out that it wasn't yours. Joint ownership with everyone else isn't ownership at all, it is democratically owned by the nation as a whole.

Another way of looking at it (with apologies to Zeno of Elea)

The words "your'' and "'my"' can refer equally to a possession or a relationship.

When I refer to "my "'car", I mean I own it. When I refer to MY country,I'm referring to a relationship. I was born here, live here and hopefully will die here..I do not claim ownership of the country. In my opinion, inhabitants are only ever custodians.

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Trivia tangent: Did you know my state, South Australia, has a the largest cattle station (ranch) on earth? Yup, Anna Creek Station is around the same size as the Great State of Texas.

Quote:Anna Creek Station is the world's largest working cattle station[1]. It is located in South Australia, Australia. Its area is roughly 24 000 km² (6 000 000 acres) which is bigger than Israel. It is 8 000 km² larger than Alexandria Station (its nearest rival) in the Northern Territory, Australia and four times the size of America's biggest ranch, which is only 6 000 km². [2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Creek_station




Lake Eyre is also in South Australia. Mostly a dry salt lake for decades at a time,Lake Eyre is currently full,with abundant bird life and shrimp on which the birds feed.

Quote:Lake Eyre (pronounced "air") is the lowest point in Australia, at approximately 15 m (49 ft) (AHD) below sea level,[citation needed] and, on the rare occasions that it fills, it is the largest lake in Australia. It is the focal point of the vast Lake Eyre Basin and is found some 700 km north of Adelaide.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Eyre