Damned Texans

[Imaginaryfriendless]

If you think I'm exaggerating, you have obviously not travelled extensively. If anything I'm downplaying things. Take a stroll down main street, Jalalabad, and then we'll talk.

I lived at 43 Zafar St in Teheran for four years, and I do think you're exaggerating. I don't know if my address qualifies me to talk with you.

First, it's nice to meet you, provided you weren't a zoomie.   I appreciate the response, insomnia is hell.  

We have obviously had very different experiences in Muslim countries. Even so, Europe is finding out that Mosques are often weapons caches, which bothers me not only because of the probable intent, but because if only a small percentage of Muslims are indeed jihadist, why don't the majority take them down? Seems odd that the supposed VAST majority of Muslims who are peaceful would allow this tiny minority to destroy their standing in the world like this. 

I didn't realize this site was about politics...perhaps the name should be changed. I try to respect others religious beliefs, even though, frankly, very religious people creep me out. It seems that respect isn't a part of the paradigm here. Shame.

I like this forum precisely because it doesn't restrict itself to discussing unicorns or gods.

I, too, like diversity in topics, but I didn't expect my first experience on a forum dedicated to atheism to be bashing my home state with ridiculous propaganda, either.

And I think I speak for quite a few here when I say that I'm comfortable respecting religious people so long as they don't shove their shit down my throat. Certainly there are some here, notably the OP, who are vociferous in their antitheism. Me, I'm fine with that. There's room for all at the table ... except assholes.

Agreed completely. I was raised Methodist, although not stringently. By the time I was in my very early teens I was verbally questioning the existence of God and had stopped attending church completely. I have 3 older brothers. none have much time for religion, but my sister, who is 10 years my senior, married (and later divorced) a southern Baptist, and converted. She is scary religious. And I do mean scary.

Now's the time when I should slink away from the table.

Finally, I saw a few people suggest Texas secede. We'd love to- we'd be absolutely fine. Texas gives the federal government more than it takes. Funny how NOT ONE SINGLE liberal state is financially solvent. Must be a coincidence. But back to secession...if you know anything at all, you will pray we don't. Trust me or not on this...but a little honest research into the matter might make your panties crawl right up your sphincter. Then again, liberals only believe what they really really want to be true, so it's wasted breath.

Cheers!

Well, I'm a somewhat conservative Texan -- Hill Country, west of Austin, Just Outside of Weird® -- and the view here is a little different, from what I gather. Secessionist feelings are tiny. I get what you're saying about finances, we give more into the Treasury than we draw, but let's face it, that is not the calling-card of the secessionistas; they appeal to pride and local patriotism. Were Texas to secede, my life wouldn't be very different one way or the other.

The largest effect it would have on America at large is that they'd have to count fewer votes for Republicans when tallying Electoral College votes.

Hmm, I basically agree, except the bit about no effect on America other than Republican votes. A large percentage of our military is from Texas, a significant number of bases are in Texas, many Defense contractors are based in Texas, production facilities, the aforementioned tax base is substantial, and the US already spends more than it earns. Texans are typically fairly militant, so you know we would quickly have a sizable and capable military of our own, which the contiguous states would feel obliged to defend against, if only theoretically. Expensive. I don't think it would all be cherries and vodka, but Texas would likely take less damage than the rest of the country.

Lastly, one Air Force veteran to another, thanks for your service -- and one musician to another, glad to meetcha --and welcome to the boards.

Same to you, and thank you! I'm assuming from your avatar you are a fellow guitar player? What type of music, primarily?

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I believe Liberals are self deluded. They want a world of unicorns and rainbows, where peace and love prevail and cats and dogs live in harmony and nobody eats meat. I have a few problems with that.

One, it sounds incredibly boring. I would go stir crazy in a week. We are apex predators, regardless what you think, and we are not built to sit around and stagnate. We must have challenges.

Two, and here is the big one- that sort of system will, literally, only work if EVERYONE is on board. One violent man takes the entire system down, because nobody in the society is equipped to deal with him.

You've got a very strange view of liberals and not one born out of reality but a common stereotype fed to you by a certain segment of the media. You are displaying binary thinking here and are bordering on a strawman argument. Also you are tarring a whole range of opinions into one homogeneous lump. Liberals as a whole don't believe a utopia of unicorns, rainbows and world peace is possible, but why should that stop people from trying to improve society as a whole? It is only ever going to be a process and we can decide which direction that process should take. We all benefit from a fairer society and we have all benefitted from the progress made so far. As more people are treated fairly and with respect then they are more likely to treat others in the same way. Animal welfare for example has improved alongside the improvement in quality of life for humans. People have the chance to innovate, to develop businesses and to specialise if society provides a safety net for them and provides equal rights.

With all respect, there is misinformation on both sides- this entire thread supposedly describing Texas is a prime example. But you sound...well, like a liberal. I think, if you have to ask those questions, the chances of you ever understanding my feelings is small. Respect...yes, respect is a good thing, but from what I've seen liberals don't believe it can be overdone, that there's such a thing as too much respect. Basically, at it's core, that concept has led to this ridiculous era of political correctness. 99% of the country doesn't matter as long as 1% doesn't feel bad. Good grief. Also, I'm not sure "Humans" quality of life has improved...certain countries, perhaps, but the majority...probably not. Have you ever visited China, just as a "for instance"?

Liberals are dangerously naive. Treat people with respect and they are more likely to treat others with respect? That is a very American way of thinking. The truth, however, is that many, many peoples of our little blue marble are much less "civilized", closer to the raw apex predator I mentioned- and predators are, by nature, opportunists. Spend some time in Asia or the middle east or eastern Europe or parts of Africa and then let's see how your "do unto others" plan worked out. I've spent my life traveling all over the globe, first in the military and then during my career as an airline pilot. I LIKE people- I'm not a hater, nor am I paranoid and delusional. I give people a chance, I am in no way racist, and I enjoy other cultures, I don't drag my own along with me. But I am a realist, and three-plus decades of travel have shown me that we Americans, as well as the Brits and many European countries, have let our own civilized lives pull a dark glass over our eyes. We think other cultures respond as we do, think as we do, value what we do. That is not only wrong, but dangerously wrong in the right circumstances.

As for growth and innovation...nothing inspires either like necessity, and historically, nothing inspires necessity like conflict.



And of course there are always going to be people trying to exploit this, or sociopaths who want to ruin everything, but it makes more sense to find out the most effective way as a society to cope with this rather than to pander to our basest emotions for seeking revenge and retribution.

Yes...you are correct about the existence of people who want to ruin YOUR plan for them, but they are not necessarily sociopaths by their countries' / cultures' standards, and I think you honestly believe they are the exception rather than the rule. Hmm.

What has being an apex predator got to do with sitting around and stagnating? The very fact that we have successes with the scientific method and the arts is evidence that as a species we do more than just eat, breed and compete with one another. It is possible, and indeed preferable to compete with yourself, to improve yourself rather than to stamp down on others. 

There it is...what I was talking about, that you labeled "very strange view of liberals and not one born out of reality but a common stereotype fed to you by a certain segment of the media". For some reason our predatory nature is abhorrent to liberals. I'll never understand that, I'm proud that we aren't living in trees afraid to come down.

Competition is what drives us- it doesn't have to involve violence, but it does by it's very nature require WINNERS AND LOSERS. Everybody gets a trophy...dumbest concept since Dr Spock. Our predatory nature is not something we can, or indeed should, shed. Predators are competitive- that's what makes them grow and evolve and succeed. 
A cow can sit around and stagnate happily...a shark will die in the same scenario. Predators have different brain physiology for a reason- we were not designed by evolution to sit around playing harps and painting pictures. Some like that sort of thing, sure- but they are the minority. If we all did, we would slowly devolve into beings unable to protect ourselves, and eventually, nature would select our successor. 

It's nice to meet you- please don't take offense, I enjoy debate and I listen to what you say...err, type, I really do. If anything came across as adversarial it was unintentional. Just passion!

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 (what'd you fly, where were you stationed?) 

Sorry, missed this. UPT at Sheppard, then faip'ed and a lot of time in tweets and talons with ATC, mostly Randolph and Laughlin, ultimately F15C's and F-5E's with the 65th TFAS at Nellis.