A message to the americans:

[leonidas]

Yes, call me stupid
What I wanted to point out, is that "war" isn't the appropriate word to define what is going on. Even if there is danger, it's not like there is like a big clash between two ideologies, and/or civilization.
This discussion is becoming hard as you seem afraid to focuse on what I wan't to proove. Don't worry I'm not bothering you again

[CortexRock]

Isn't a war when two armies are fighting each other? [Bill Hicks]

All we've got at the moment is a powerful, resource hungry empire trying to impose it's will and way of thought on the rest of the world. And eventually, all empires fall... Fact.

All this fuss about stopping Iran having nuclear technology (let's be clear about that - technology - not weapons) is laughable. Use the excuse they're developing weapons, then invade (with or without UN sanction). Haven't we heard that one before, Mr Bush?

It's just to get a foothold in another oil rich country. Don't forget the United States of America are the only sovereign national to ever use a Weapon Of Mass Destruction against another sovereign nation.

[j2k4]

Don't forget the United States of America are the only sovereign national to ever use a Weapon Of Mass Destruction against another sovereign nation.

Yes, a context all it's own.

Please explain the significance, not of the event, but of your recollection of it.

[CortexRock]

Don't forget the United States of America are the only sovereign national to ever use a Weapon Of Mass Destruction against another sovereign nation.

Yes, a context all it's own.

Please explain the significance, not of the event, but of your recollection of it.

Obviously I don't "recall the event" as I'm not old enough to have been there - but I know what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than the poor buggers who were in the blast zone did, at least.

I just think it's laughable that the only nuclear/atomic weapons ever used in anger were used by the USA, and now they're trying to stop anyone else even using the technology to generate electricity.

Team America: World Police - a satire, or merely an exaggerated reflection of reality...

[j2k4]

Yes, a context all it's own.

Please explain the significance, not of the event, but of your recollection of it.

Obviously I don't "recall the event" as I'm not old enough to have been there - but I know what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, more than the poor buggers who were in the blast zone did, at least.

I just think it's laughable that the only nuclear/atomic weapons ever used in anger were used by the USA, and now they're trying to stop anyone else even using the technology to generate electricity.

Team America: World Police - a satire, or merely an exaggerated reflection of reality...

I didn't mean to indicate you were "old enough to have been there"; neither was I...

I feel your statement lacks context, though.

The U.S. was the first (and hopefully the only) country to use a nuke, true enough, but I don't believe anyone could have imagined the panoply of "WMD" including those non-nuclear types we're all so skittish about.

In fact, the worst aspect of nuclear technology (as it applies to weaponry) is not that the bombs dwarf the versions used on Japan, but that it has been scaled down, in order to be used as a means to distribute "dirty" materials over battlefield-sized areas or cities.

Unscrupulous purveyers of such technology can deal with those they like, and the likelihood of a mal-intended transaction taking place between Kim Jong-Il and the bad guys is greater than that of America's doing the same, in my opinion.

In all actuality, if the U.S.S.R. had beaten us to the punch, we'd have a different alphabet to type with, and you'd be bitching about them, wouldn't you?

The U.S. doesn't warrant the label you take such pleasure in using; the lessons were learned long ago, and nukes haven't been used (in "anger", as you say) since.

[leonidas]

In all actuality, if the U.S.S.R. had beaten us to the punch, we'd have a different alphabet to type with, and you'd be bitching about them, wouldn't you?

I know it's out of context, sorry for that, but actually what your suggesting is totally not true, you can learn cyrillic in one day, it's very simple, only few letters are new, and all off them do correspond to an existing sound in a latin alphabet like spanish.
Reading fast comes after off course, but as it is when you learn any latin or germanic language.

[j2k4]

In all actuality, if the U.S.S.R. had beaten us to the punch, we'd have a different alphabet to type with, and you'd be bitching about them, wouldn't you?

I know it's out of context, sorry for that, but actually what your suggesting is totally not true, you can learn cyrillic in one day, it's very simple, only few letters are new, and all off them do correspond to an existing sound in a latin alphabet like spanish.
Reading fast comes after off course, but as it is when you learn any latin or germanic language.

I'm quite sure it would have been just that simple.

Well, then, alack and alas; we missed quite the opportunity, yes?

[leonidas]

yes you did! but don't worry, you won't rule the world for ever time to improve your chinese.

[Damnatory]

In more of an on-topic gesture, I agree that the "pioneer" mentality has come to a sickening stagnation, though I fail to realize how this ideal targets Americans in specific. We as a species, not specific nations, have the obligation to further our global collective. Unfortunately that pioneering spirit, the search for the unknown, has been dulled over by politics and morals. The 'catch-22' is that we trade rapid advancement, for safety. Something that I am definately willing to trade.

My only hope is that rather than waiting for someone to decide for you, you take the option to make the difference yourself. You have just as much of an opportunity to get the education to make a difference as any American citizen.

[leonidas]

In more of an on-topic gesture, I agree that the "pioneer" mentality has come to a sickening stagnation, though I fail to realize how this ideal targets Americans in specific. We as a species, not specific nations, have the obligation to further our global collective. Unfortunately that pioneering spirit, the search for the unknown, has been dulled over by politics and morals. The 'catch-22' is that we trade rapid advancement, for safety. Something that I am definately willing to trade.

My only hope is that rather than waiting for someone to decide for you, you take the option to make the difference yourself. You have just as much of an opportunity to get the education to make a difference as any American citizen.

Nice to see someone who got my point! I agree with you. One should never wait for anyone. But asking or pointing out something which might be done doesn't mean you have to be anxious, you can manage not to.
Also, I don't think you can deny that america fought against comunism or socialism for 50 years, and managed to have it killed in many coutries.
For Americans comunism meant "nuclear menace", but you forget that every single russian was given a house or an appartment for free at that time. People didn't have to give 30 years of their life to have the right to own a appartement like most people in europe japan or usa do for instance.
For many people comunism meant something. Thanks for killing people's dream . Maybe next time when you want to protect youself, try not breaking someone else's. Thx mr Truman!, thx mr Kennedy!, thx mr Nickson! and thx Mr Reagan! ( I don't know much about ford and carter ) Now what's the program for humanity? explore cosmos? "No sorry today you work at MacDonald." "Does this mean I will have free hamburgers after work?" " Yes it does!!" Great!"