Hmm..these posts seem hodge podge but that's only because I hunt & peck-type too slowly (anyway my 'In Reply to msg' is on the left column).
- IMHO, in the region per se, it's not only the petroleum issue; there's the accursed link of the US neo-cons with (enabling) Israel. As long as the notion of Rapture exists and as long as the Republicans hold sway, things will never get resolved, especially with idiotic hawks like Netanyahu. Big Brother US --> protects school bully Israel --> lords it over admittedly juvenile delinquents Arabic countries --> exports terrorism to the rest of the world --> endangers the rest of us normal folk who just want to live a peaceful life. My personal opinion: if the US would detach itself from Israel (will never happen), the savings in monetary and human costs would return to the US and the rest of the world MULTIPLE-FOLDS.
- as for the debate, I am wishy-washy Middle Path. I hold no fundamental positions. I do not wish to attack heathens nor do I wish to accommodate their every whim. My only (foolish) hope is that every newcomer makes Australia more than the sum of its whole.
- you are right about the immense waste of moral capital. IMO, GW Bush squandered too much.
- I have a confession to make. As a colonial (dunno what's the opposite of a colonialist), I have long thought there was some 'karma' moral obligation by countries such as England (view their disgraceful treatment of the Gurkhas), France, Portugal etc. to accommodate some 'subjects'. BUT, increasingly, the 'cosmic' scales seem to be tipping over vis a vis the disproportionate ills the Ms bring. Some of the countries I truly feel for (eg. Sweden) have no moral obligation but are now facing immense problems through no fault of theirs.
- RE: the third position (forgive me my pre-assumption) the Stormfront position of "Europe for Europeans, Africa for Africans, Asia for Asians, (and some say, the rest of the world for Europeans)", I have no problem with; but it's just a philosophy. Which works fine in theory, but throw human beings into the mix, irrational human beings...
I mean, I believe in a social justice for all and all that baloney (Socialist, if you will) - toldja ron's and my view are worlds apart - but look how well Communism has turned out. Look at how a Laissez Faire Ayn Randian unfettered capitalism ended in 1929 and 2008. Everything in Moderation.
Ugh...I'm despondent, and I have completely muddled my train of thought. I just want my own little corner of the world in Paradise where I can trade in peace, or whichever shrinking corner which doesn't have an "Islamic presence", as Aptayl so eloquently put it.
Too hard backet - am gonna stop here. Dunno if I should put on a DVD of 'The Gods Must Be Crazy' for a much needed chuckle, OR go full-tilt into bleakness, flick on over to 'Four Corners' now to watch a report on poverty in Australia.
I can never forget that little girl from the last show - "Youse could come and live here"
THESE are the people I want to help, not some malevolent guy with his four wives and innumerable kids. Yes, these are the people I want to help, MY people.
