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Our betrayal (pg. 5)
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| Alex |
I always liked the other statement.
Guns don't kill people, people kill guns. |
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| lücid |
| quote: | Originally posted by Frenchie
robots are a crack heads best friend. |
this. |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| quote: | Originally posted by denys envy
wait wait. the real story here is that this is the first thread in a long time that slylee has posted in without the mention of her boyfriend. that deserves some plaudit i think. |
You are mistaken:
| quote: | Originally posted by Slylee
do you feel that people with mental illnesses are less or more evolved? |
There you have it, ladies and Gentlemen. |
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| denys envy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
You are mistaken:
There you have it, ladies and Gentlemen. |
i see what you did there. 0_o |
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| Project-K |
| Being gay is not a mental illness. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Did you ever happen to read Remarque's All Quiet On The Western Front? Do you remember the part where they are sitting in the trenches at night, shooting at the dim flickering of cigarettes in the distance as though it were some sort of game?
They were shooting at lights because it was easier than shooting at people - because it was far easier to kill in this way since there was practically no humanity involved.
"Peace time" is the declaration of nations and documents, not battlefields. |
i think thats one of many classics that i dodged during my short time on this planet.
you have to remember though that during the period in which you speak, the vast majority of those fighting were conscripts (unless im mistaken). conscipts are a far cry from the professional outfits modern societies mobilise today.
incidentally, did you watch any generation kill? HBO series based on the book from the journalist who travelled with the marines making the first incursions into iraq in 03. good show, thought about you during it actually. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
that's not a generalisation. most of the people that think that a 'well-regulated militia' (lol) has some role against tyranny, are *shock horror* citizens of the united states of america. |
Actually, I think one Swedish guy argued for this once... I think he was debating you, PKC, do you remember him?
But, yeah, this kind of idea seems to be more popular among them, although I'd be more cautious before making any kind of generalisation. |
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| zoogla |
| quote: | Originally posted by Abercrombie
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| Zild |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Actually, I think one Swedish guy argued for this once... I think he was debating you, PKC, do you remember him?
But, yeah, this kind of idea seems to be more popular among them, although I'd be more cautious before making any kind of generalisation. |
That generalization was utterly ignorant. I still have all my teeth to grind thank you very much. |
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| pkcRAISTLIN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Actually, I think one Swedish guy argued for this once... I think he was debating you, PKC, do you remember him?
But, yeah, this kind of idea seems to be more popular among them, although I'd be more cautious before making any kind of generalisation. |
ok then. virtually every person that i have met on the intertubes that has advocated a well-regulated militia being necessary for a secure and free state has been american, asides from one random dude in sweden.
hows that? :p |
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| Krypton |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fpcookie
, you are so stupid. |
and you are? |
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| Halcyon+On+On |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lebezniatnikov
I disagree... I don't think we have a culture that fears the use of guns at all - in some odd twist guns have become synonymous with machismo and bravery. Clint Eastwood and Jack Bauer are heroes on tv because of their courage in using firearms. Gangs inculcate honor and pride in drive-by shootings. If anything, we live in a culture that doesn't fear guns enough. Parents keep loaded weapons in the closet with the safeties off in fear of a burglar... the way we use, celebrate, and proliferate guns throughout our society is anathema to any sort of fear (which, I might add, would be based on an accurate appraisal of what guns really represent - as you said, an unnatural and easy extension of human power). |
I completely agree. It's an awkward dynamic though - people both fear and respect weapons because they represent empowerment in the "right" hands and terror in the "wrong" hands. People's susceptibility to this sort of polarity lends itself both ways - they both elevate homegrown heroes who would murder in the name of their personal sense of justice while vilifying that same power in the hands of foreigners or untrusted neighbours invading their streets. Just as you said - they will keep a loaded weapon next to their bed at night, for fear that a robber will come to their house with a weapon all the while glorifying gun violence in the media and on television when it either suits their particular sensibilities or creates a fascination of fiction.
| quote: | Your point about Africa is interesting - child soldiers represent a concrete example of how drastic the danger of guns really are. A nine year old boy can lift a five pound AK-47 and kill without burning more than a few calories. In terms of physical exertion, killing a man with a gun is not all that different from simply wishing him dead - all you have to do is raise your arm and move your finger two centimeters.
That kind of power over fellow man is completely new in human society. Before the entree of guns into mainstream society, death required some premeditation and a little elbow grease. The proliferation of guns throughout society without fear shows the importance of trust - at any given moment a dozen permit-carrying citizens could put an end to your existence without breaking a sweat. |
I think you've explained my point far better and more succinctly than I could have. |
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