bit_pattern
Ex-Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2008
- Messages
- 8,127
an insulting jest
I'm going to start calling them 'japes' - yes I've been reading a lot of GoT lately

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an insulting jest
I was wondering how many people besides myself think intervention (against ISIS) by western powers is a bad idea. After all, every time this has happened, the situation has only gotten worse. The ONLY people who will benefit are the so-called "defense" industry and its political lobby.
By "intervention," I mean military intervention.
I wonder how much of the talk about counter attacks after 9/11 was just people blowing off steam? Something horrible happened, and people became aware of how messed up the world is.All one has to do is imagine their own country being under attack by a foreign power and the defensive frenzy that follows. On 9/11 people on the street in NYC were telling camera crews that we should turn the middle east to glass before the towers even fell. Toby Keith made millions just by providing the soundtrack to the revenge attacks. It's no different for Iraqis or Afghans or Yemenis or Palestinians. Continued military assault simply produces more resentment and resistance in the region.
No one wants to see an Assad or a Saddam remain in power ideally. Practically though, with border tensions with Iran, infighting occurring between different religious and political sects, the opportunity for a group like the IS to sweep the country.... things were much more stable with the unpopular dictator in power.
It's a christian church. There's, like, a cross interposed with a dove in the top right corner - that's a pretty christian looking symbol I would have thought.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniting_Church_in_Australia
Islam is one of the world's biggest religions and the majority of it's followers are peaceful. It's the extremists that give it a bad rap and also get all of the attention.
How, exactly do you expect - nay, demand - the "peaceful majority" of a huge religious group to break their silence?Doesnt matter when the peaceful majority doesnt say anything and remains silent thru all this.
Doesnt matter when the peaceful majority doesnt say anything and remains silent thru all this.
Doesnt matter when the peaceful majority doesnt say anything and remains silent thru all this.
In a statement, [the secretary general] officially denounced the “forced deportation under the threat of execution” of Christians, calling it a “crime that cannot be tolerated.” The Secretary General also distanced Islam from the actions of the militant group known as ISIS, saying they “have nothing to do with Islam and its principles that call for justice, kindness, fairness, freedom of faith and coexistence.”
@ Legalizeall... You seem to be one of the more intelligent posters in this section
@ Legalizeall... You seem to be one of the more intelligent posters in this section but I have to disagree also. I've heard in the news plenty of times someone who's important in the Islamic world come out and condemn terrorist action. It still wouldn't hurt if more did speak out tho, so your point isn't without merit. I think the majority of practicing Muslims just want to keep to themselves honestly, and I think that can be kind of a good thing and a bad thing.
Lets understand something.
Firstly, that this or that Islamic organisation has stood up and opposed ISIS means nothing, the peaceful majority are irrelevant.
The truth is that whilst a majority of Muslims may oppose ISIS, a great many of this number would in some way sympathise with the cause of establishing an Islamic caliphate.
So what does it matter if the majority of muslims oppose ISIS? At the heart of their belief system is the justification for everything we are seeing in Syria and Iraq.
@ Legalizeall... You seem to be one of the more intelligent posters in this section but I have to disagree also. I've heard in the news plenty of times someone who's important in the Islamic world come out and condemn terrorist action. It still wouldn't hurt if more did speak out tho, so your point isn't without merit. I think the majority of practicing Muslims just want to keep to themselves honestly, and I think that can be kind of a good thing and a bad thing.
It is a big generalization for me to say that but personally I just havent seen anyone be open about saying this is not what we muslims believe in or condone. Im sure they are out there and it might be a case of the media just not showing it too.
I like to think I can be a person who can admit when they're in the wrong and I was with that post. It happens and I'm certainly not perfect.
^ if it is so bad, why not lead by example?
Bitching about how people conduct debate on here doesn't lift the standard of discussion at all.
And nobody is gloating or laying into the guy - by implying that the "radical leftists" would (or will) do so is being somewhat disingenuous, don't you think?
I mean; if you want I talk about mature and responsible attitudes - it's one thing to talk about it, but demonstrating it is something else all together - is it not?
I agree that it is refreshing to see someone concede a point that was picked apart by several people - but praising this concession with a back-handed criticism of the forum seems a bit contradictory.