| Home |
| Search |
| Today's Posts |
|
|
|
#1
July 25th 05, 12:18 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
#2
July 25th 05, 01:58 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 23:18:38 GMT, David wrote:
On Sun, 24 Jul 2005 22:56:07 GMT, (Peter Newman) wrote: You have not responded to my questions enquiring about your racism implicit in your earlier "crazed white guys" statement. I understand you have now realized its silliness. I am racist. I am an exception. Who isn't? Well, for example, I am not a racist. Otherwise, it's a popular perception. What exactly? The assertion that terrorism is somehow related to the West not "living within their means" is a popular cliche amongst the left, but entirely erroneous. None of the 9/11 terrorists were recruited from poor people. Moreover, none of them specified poverty as the cause of their act. For example, Mohammed Atta's father claims that his son's act (of which he remains immensely proud) is just a first shot in a long religious war. I was speaking more in the sense that we tend to exploit the locals while carting-off all their bananas. And we do have a record of genocide and slavery. If we stop buying their bananas, they will suffer even more. And we are not "carting them away". We are buying them. The point is that their corrupt governments steal the proceeds from their own people - and then put them in our banks because they can't even trust their own. Bono and Geldof are not right at all - they are simply skillful publicity seekers. Throwing money on poor countries won't help them - this will only promote their culture of dependency and corruption and achieve an entirely opposite effect. What would help is establishing a strong legal system combined with responsible law enforcement where local business can safely take roots, and where foreign business can safely invest to. Fascinating. Perhaps so. But in any case simple and logical. I am impressed that you have at least paused and thought about it. Most followers of Bono and Geldof don't use their brain - they only make agreeable noises accompanied by ape-like body movements in the general rhythm of loud repetitive noise that is made to pass for "music". Very impressive indeed. The West needs to make no excuses for living well - we have worked hard many long centuries to achieve our standard of living. We are always happy to help - as we indeed do. But to blame us for other countries' failures, in this case for the obvious failures of Islamic countries, is a bit too much. I don't think they want our help. I think they want us to go away. Yes, the Mugabes of this world certainly want us go away (so they can steal from and enslave their own people with impunity) - but they still do scream for more of our "help". The impoverished populations are desperate for us *not* to go away. But we can't help them without first throwing out their leaders, which would be kinda politically incorrect and unpopular. That's why "gentlemen" such as Mr Mugabe can continue destroying their countries with impunity. I personally recommend that you go to these impoverished places (any of your choice) and see the primary causes of poverty for yourself - not through the politically correct pre-chewed-for-your-consumption rhetorics of Mr Bono, but using your own brain and observation. Perhaps you'll then change your mind. Peter Newman |
|
#3
July 25th 05, 02:33 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|
#4
July 25th 05, 04:15 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 13:33:53 GMT, David wrote:
On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 12:58:39 GMT, (Peter Newman) wrote: Well, for example, I am not a racist. Everyone is. It's natural to have an affinity for your own race. I would like to know your own definition of "affinity", but in its original sense, "afinity for your own race" is certainly not the same as racism. Racism is hatred for other races. That's why it's hard for white people to tell black people apart. And hard for black people tell apart white people. But this has again absolutely nothing to do with racism; this is a well known and often described phenomenon which deals with the way our brain cognition processes work: Initially, we perceive only the most fundamental distinguishing features of objects (and people's faces). Gradually, when we are closely exposed to more such similar objects (or people's faces), when the fundamental distinguishing details are no longer sufficient, then we automatically add finer and finer details. As if our brain first tries to minimize the necessary amount of descriptive information attached to visual cues, only the bare minimum needed to enable us to distinguish one set of features from the other, then adds more and more as required for sufficient recognition. For example, when I first saw an Asian, many years ago, I could not determine if I was looking at a Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai or Korean, etc. - to me all Asians were looking the same. Now I can determine this very easily, in fact easier than (for example) a Vietnamese who never left his country. And as I have made more friends amongst Asians, and some of my best friends are in fact Asian, I have of course no problems at all distinguishing their faces. Otherwise, it's a popular perception. What exactly? That Europeans are crazy and dangerous. Which European countries have you been to? I don't find them in any way more crazy and dangerous than most other peoples. Certainly very much less so than radical Islamic immigrants in their midst. If we stop buying their bananas, they will suffer even more. And we are not "carting them away". We are buying them. The point is that their corrupt governments steal the proceeds from their own people - and then put them in our banks because they can't even trust their own. Therefore, we are complicit with their opressors. Like the Al Sauds. Damned if we do (help), damned if we don't. In Afghanistand and Iraq, we certainly did. We can't do it all, and we can't do it all at once. Peter Newman |
|
#6
July 25th 05, 11:47 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:52:39 GMT, David wrote:
On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 15:15:49 GMT, (Peter Newman) wrote: Main Entry: rac·ism Pronunciation: 'rA-"si-z&m also -"shi- Function: noun 1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination In that case, do you believe that your race is inherently superior? In which particular regard(s)? Damned if we do (help), damned if we don't. In Afghanistand and Iraq, we certainly did. We can't do it all, and we can't do it all at once. Peter Newman We should quit making deals with bad guys who oppress their own people. We need to learn to live in a sustainable manner, within our means, in harmony with nature. We are a significant part of nature, and we are certainly living in harmony with it, precisely within our means, perfectly sustainably. All that noble leftie talk about "unsustainability" is pure hogwash - designed by power and publicity seekers to make us feel guilty about ourselves. Take it easy and enjoy life: It is surely better than it ever was, and it is getting even better. And do something more productive than beating everyone around yourself and preaching guilt, loathing and hatred. Peter Newman |
| Reply |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| Joseph Wilson is a true hero; patriot | Shortwave | |||
| Why not more young'uns in Ham radio | Policy | |||
| Bush shows true colors:Red and Pink | Shortwave | |||
| Poem for the my hero, Prophet Stiar! | Shortwave | |||
Hybrid Mode
