I Shall Live Blog

[Miguel McHarris 0]

The only thing all races and types of people equally understand is money. We won the Cold War because the Soviet Union went busto. The same basic idea applies to the war on terror. If we can become an energy independent country and stop paying terrorists to kill our soldiers and stop funding foreign countries to threaten our existence, we'll win.

[Balloon guy 158]

actually it doesn't work in the US either.the gap between the rich and the poor ('poor' being about 90% of the population) is GROWING. how does that prove the system works?

You'll have to type louder, I couldn't hear you across the gap

[Balloon guy 158]

my point was more that war funds would be better spent aiding the transition away from oil - subsidising the solution instead of the problem. this would allow us to get out of the middle east - which is actually the best way to fight terrorism, since our historical presence there is the driving force behind it.

Not our fault Mullahs keep in power by instilling hatred into youth. Nor is it our fault that the entire world's economy is oil driven.Blame is a subjective thing to throw around, but it doesn't sit well when you blame your own country.I really wish we would subsidise alternative fuel sources, it's really too bad that there is no future profit in it and companies wouldn't spend some of their own money on R&D to come up with a solution without the government.Of course if the middle east dried up tomorrow, the USA could survive easily, the rest of the world would go down the tubes in a big way. So it really is on Japan to invent an alternative form of energy since they have little to no oil and are heavily dependant on middle east oil. Wish they had some engineers, capital and business friendly government practices.Oh well the USA will have to protect the world, and save the world.Again.

[crowTrobot 2]

Of course if the middle east dried up tomorrow, the USA could survive easily

we would survive, but it definitely wouldn't be easy. the stock market/ecomony would collapse much like the great depression, most costs of living would double, crime would greatly increase etc.

So it really is on Japan to invent an alternative form of energy since they have little to no oil and are heavily dependant on middle east oil.

nobody needs to "invent" alternate forms of energy to oil. there are already several that work just fine and would be profitable long-term for corporations once the coversions were complete. the problem is the huge national expense of transitioning to them.

[nutzbuster 7]

yes, personal photo. sheikra, busch gardens tampa.

:D Good......Lord......(before he died I mean)That is some drop bro.I chuckled that the place is called BUScH GARDENS.

Not our fault Mullahs keep in power by instilling hatred into youth. Nor is it our fault that the entire world's economy is oil driven.Blame is a subjective thing to throw around, but it doesn't sit well when you blame your own country.I really wish we would subsidise alternative fuel sources, it's really too bad that there is no future profit in it and companies wouldn't spend some of their own money on R&D to come up with a solution without the government.Of course if the middle east dried up tomorrow, the USA could survive easily, the rest of the world would go down the tubes in a big way. So it really is on Japan to invent an alternative form of energy since they have little to no oil and are heavily dependant on middle east oil. Wish they had some engineers, capital and business friendly government practices.Oh well the USA will have to protect the world, and save the world.Again.

'bout time you showed up! My puny shoulders were getting sore.

[Balloon guy 158]

:D 'bout time you showed up! My puny shoulders were getting sore.

I was actually trying hard not to turn this into a political discussion, but who am I kidding, I'm boring if I don't make people mad.But I think we will need to continue the argument elswhere, this blog was pretty non political, kind of consilitory if you ask me. ( just don't ask me to spell)

[showstopper24 0]

Odd to say, but Night is the best book I've ever read. I first read it in college about 20 years ago and I still have that copy. And have read a few others of his too. I think just about every book by Ellie Wiesel should be required reading for kids today.Bravo to your grandparents...

Thanks about my grandparents.I also agree that Night should be a required reading for kids. Maybe for eith graders or high schoolers. It is an easy read (for eigth graders) but it is a little too sad for eight graders and they wouldn't appreciate it as much.

[Aces88 0]

Thx for another good blog D.N and the posts NutzGl at the poker tables !

[Zeatrix 0]

The fact is, American style democracy doesn't work everywhere. Matter of fact, it doesn't work anywhere but here. If it was going to work anywhere, it probably would've been Europe after the second war, yet it didn't. They backslid straight into a socialist-collectivist-government'centric mentality within 20 years.The sooner we realize that the cure for these shitty little terrorist producing Crapistans populated by low-IQ 3rd Worlders isn't "freeing" them, the better off we will be.

Now this is why people feel Americans generally are arrogant. First of all, most democracies have elections where the person/party with MOST votes win. I remember 2000 when Al Gore got more votes than George Bush and still lost. That's just unfathomable to me. I understand the history behind it, hundreds of years ago nation wide elections in the states were not possible, but why in the world do you still use these systems, what are the positive sides, heck the electorates don't even have to vote as the state voted, what's that about?Why is it less democratic to have a socialist government? Remember, I'm a liberal, but I don't see why countries where a majority of the people want a socialistic government is less democratic? Seems like a narrow view.And the last line is just pure racism. So people that are born in the third world are less intelligent? That "opinion" is just despicable. I'd like to see you grow up in Africa and see how successful you'd be. I believe people are in charge of their own destiny, but try to make it in this world when you're born in a poor country in Africa where your parents can't afford school for you...You my friend, is a low point of humanity...

[scram 1]

I'm not sure what your definition of democracy "working" is exactly, but saying that democracy doesn't work in Europe is plain old wrong.

zololz @ U + reading comprehension.

Me: The fact is, American style democracy doesn't work everywhere. Matter of fact, it doesn't work anywhere but here. If it was going to work anywhere, it probably would've been Europe after the second war, yet it didn't. They backslid straight into a socialist-collectivist-government'centric mentality within 20 years.

The real point is that democracy simply can't be forced upon a country. Democracy must emerge naturally after years of liberalization. The people themselves have to be ready and willing to accept a democracy/republic/parliamentary system or whatever as a result of their acceptance of liberal values.

I'm careful to say I agree here, since with you, saying "liberalization" and "liberal values" could easily be code for gayer and druggier with more tie-dye and social programs- but, presuming you are using the word "liberal" in its classical, academic sense, then I agree with that.

[scram 1]

Now this is why people feel Americans generally are arrogant.

Yes. It is. Remember, though. A function of arrogance is that the arrogant usually don't care if they're called arrogant.So, for you as a European to sit there and call an unapologetically arrogant American "arrogant" is about as insulting as walking into a synagogue and calling everyone a Jew.

And the last line is just pure racism. So people that are born in the third world are less intelligent? That "opinion" is just despicable. I'd like to see you grow up in Africa and see how successful you'd be. I believe people are in charge of their own destiny, but try to make it in this world when you're born in a poor country in Africa where your parents can't afford school for you...

Boo science! A little light reading for our deluded Swedish Euro-Buddy who wishes with all his heart that peoples were "equal". After all. Can't be a good "liberal" and not wish for that!Race, Evolution, and BehaviorIntelligence, Race, and GeneticsRace: The Reality of Human DifferencesBell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American LifeRace Differences in Intelligence: An Evolutionary AnalysisThe History and Geography of Human Genes

[nutzbuster 7]

zololz @ U + reading comprehension. I'm careful to say I agree here, since with you, saying "liberalization" and "liberal values" could easily be code for gayer and druggier with more tie-dye and social programs- but, presuming you are using the word "liberal" in its classical, academic sense, then I agree with that.

Me too....

[ezelisk 0]

i really didn't wish to comment about this, but I guess I will throw my 2 cents in the picture. Right now I am stationed over in Japan. I am with the United States Marines Core. To make a long story short, it doesn't matter the reason of why we went here in the first place. The error has been made if the intel was bad. Either way, it was a move that we needed to make. Granted the motivations of the US could have been wrong (again, I can't make a statement to a certain extent because of my military status) but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE making a difference. I have spoken to some of my buddies in Iraq, and they have said that there is no higher feeling of moral justice then when they can smile at a little kid and have the little kid smile back. When they can go up to people and talk to them(through an interpreter, of course) and get information that will assist them in the future. Right now we AREN'T fighting a war anymore. We are not there to invade more areas and take it over. We are there to pick up a society whom was under a restricted rule. Does anyone remember in the beginning, when we found all those dead bodies and bones that Saddam had stored? That man needed to be taken out of power. But again, I am getting off the main topic. My apologies. We need to stay there to continue in the process of sustaining the government. Now that more and more of the country's own people are lining up to fight and police the country, people are opening up to help them with insurgents more and more. They are giving tidbits of information that are helpful of taking out as many of the insurgents as us. They are giving us somthing to play with. Do you know what the only thing that is unmotivating us is? The support that is not with us in the US. I hear from many people that the president messed up, and that this was messed up. Thats fine, if they did then they did. However, once you cross that line and say, 'We need to stop sending military members to replace the ones out there! We need to pull them out and stop funding the war on terror.' then we see it as a different thing. Some of us feel like you are saying to 'come home'. However, you also give some people the feeling that they have failed down there. Me, personally, I have requested to go to Iraq about 2 times so far. I might get my shot in the future. I won't lie, I haven't been there yet. I have been waiting. Thats enough about that though, just my 2 cents man.

[nutzbuster 7]

i really didn't wish to comment about this, but I guess I will throw my 2 cents in the picture. Right now I am stationed over in Japan. I am with the United States Marines Core. To make a long story short, it doesn't matter the reason of why we went here in the first place. The error has been made if the intel was bad. Either way, it was a move that we needed to make. Granted the motivations of the US could have been wrong (again, I can't make a statement to a certain extent because of my military status) but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE making a difference. I have spoken to some of my buddies in Iraq, and they have said that there is no higher feeling of moral justice then when they can smile at a little kid and have the little kid smile back. When they can go up to people and talk to them(through an interpreter, of course) and get information that will assist them in the future. Right now we AREN'T fighting a war anymore. We are not there to invade more areas and take it over. We are there to pick up a society whom was under a restricted rule. Does anyone remember in the beginning, when we found all those dead bodies and bones that Saddam had stored? That man needed to be taken out of power. But again, I am getting off the main topic. My apologies. We need to stay there to continue in the process of sustaining the government. Now that more and more of the country's own people are lining up to fight and police the country, people are opening up to help them with insurgents more and more. They are giving tidbits of information that are helpful of taking out as many of the insurgents as us. They are giving us somthing to play with. Do you know what the only thing that is unmotivating us is? The support that is not with us in the US. I hear from many people that the president messed up, and that this was messed up. Thats fine, if they did then they did. However, once you cross that line and say, 'We need to stop sending military members to replace the ones out there! We need to pull them out and stop funding the war on terror.' then we see it as a different thing. Some of us feel like you are saying to 'come home'. However, you also give some people the feeling that they have failed down there. Me, personally, I have requested to go to Iraq about 2 times so far. I might get my shot in the future. I won't lie, I haven't been there yet. I have been waiting. Thats enough about that though, just my 2 cents man.

Great post. An interesting/enlightening perspective. Thanks for your service and stay safe!

[Kwest4chipz 0]

i really didn't wish to comment about this, but I guess I will throw my 2 cents in the picture. Right now I am stationed over in Japan. I am with the United States Marines Core. To make a long story short, it doesn't matter the reason of why we went here in the first place. The error has been made if the intel was bad. Either way, it was a move that we needed to make. Granted the motivations of the US could have been wrong (again, I can't make a statement to a certain extent because of my military status) but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE making a difference. I have spoken to some of my buddies in Iraq, and they have said that there is no higher feeling of moral justice then when they can smile at a little kid and have the little kid smile back. When they can go up to people and talk to them(through an interpreter, of course) and get information that will assist them in the future. Right now we AREN'T fighting a war anymore. We are not there to invade more areas and take it over. We are there to pick up a society whom was under a restricted rule. Does anyone remember in the beginning, when we found all those dead bodies and bones that Saddam had stored? That man needed to be taken out of power. But again, I am getting off the main topic. My apologies. We need to stay there to continue in the process of sustaining the government. Now that more and more of the country's own people are lining up to fight and police the country, people are opening up to help them with insurgents more and more. They are giving tidbits of information that are helpful of taking out as many of the insurgents as us. They are giving us somthing to play with. Do you know what the only thing that is unmotivating us is? The support that is not with us in the US. I hear from many people that the president messed up, and that this was messed up. Thats fine, if they did then they did. However, once you cross that line and say, 'We need to stop sending military members to replace the ones out there! We need to pull them out and stop funding the war on terror.' then we see it as a different thing. Some of us feel like you are saying to 'come home'. However, you also give some people the feeling that they have failed down there. Me, personally, I have requested to go to Iraq about 2 times so far. I might get my shot in the future. I won't lie, I haven't been there yet. I have been waiting. Thats enough about that though, just my 2 cents man.

did you just say you were in the united states marine core? Is that a branch of the corps?

[LongLiveYorke 38]

I'm careful to say I agree here, since with you, saying "liberalization" and "liberal values" could easily be code for gayer and druggier with more tie-dye and social programs- but, presuming you are using the word "liberal" in its classical, academic sense, then I agree with that.

I was, though a few homos and a little drugs never hurt anyone.

[scram 1]

Oh, I agree.I couldn't care less about gayness or drugs.Tie-dye I could live without, but the rest of that stuff doesn't really bother me. I actually kinda like gays. Those dudes have done WONDERS for my property value in Chicago. I wish they would bring in more of 'em.

[scram 1]

did you just say you were in the united states marine core? Is that a branch of the corps?

Yes, he did.I am careful to throw the BS flag too liberally as often times, things like that can be easily explained (he may be from a patriotic immigrant family and speak English as a second language, etc) but man... "marines core" just doesn't look good when it's said by someone claiming to be a US Marine.

[Kwest4chipz 0]

Yes, he did.I am careful to throw the BS flag too liberally as often times, things like that can be easily explained (he may be from a patriotic immigrant family and speak English as a second language, etc) but man... "marines core" just doesn't look good when it's said by someone claiming to be a US Marine.

Hell i'm not even in the service and I know its Corp, sometimes i type things the way they sound, which can be an explanation....but c'mon.....I woulda caught that typo immediately if i was in fact a part of the USMC.I'm part of the Apple Core

[All_In 0]

i really didn't wish to comment about this, but I guess I will throw my 2 cents in the picture. Right now I am stationed over in Japan. I am with the United States Marines Core. To make a long story short, it doesn't matter the reason of why we went here in the first place. The error has been made if the intel was bad. Either way, it was a move that we needed to make. Granted the motivations of the US could have been wrong (again, I can't make a statement to a certain extent because of my military status) but the fact of the matter is that WE ARE making a difference. I have spoken to some of my buddies in Iraq, and they have said that there is no higher feeling of moral justice then when they can smile at a little kid and have the little kid smile back. When they can go up to people and talk to them(through an interpreter, of course) and get information that will assist them in the future. Right now we AREN'T fighting a war anymore. We are not there to invade more areas and take it over. We are there to pick up a society whom was under a restricted rule. Does anyone remember in the beginning, when we found all those dead bodies and bones that Saddam had stored? That man needed to be taken out of power. But again, I am getting off the main topic. My apologies. We need to stay there to continue in the process of sustaining the government. Now that more and more of the country's own people are lining up to fight and police the country, people are opening up to help them with insurgents more and more. They are giving tidbits of information that are helpful of taking out as many of the insurgents as us. They are giving us somthing to play with. Do you know what the only thing that is unmotivating us is? The support that is not with us in the US. I hear from many people that the president messed up, and that this was messed up. Thats fine, if they did then they did. However, once you cross that line and say, 'We need to stop sending military members to replace the ones out there! We need to pull them out and stop funding the war on terror.' then we see it as a different thing. Some of us feel like you are saying to 'come home'. However, you also give some people the feeling that they have failed down there. Me, personally, I have requested to go to Iraq about 2 times so far. I might get my shot in the future. I won't lie, I haven't been there yet. I have been waiting. Thats enough about that though, just my 2 cents man.

spoken like a true soldier sheep.making a diff? smiling children? lol. core???

[Zeatrix 0]

Boo science! A little light reading for our deluded Swedish Euro-Buddy who wishes with all his heart that peoples were "equal". After all. Can't be a good "liberal" and not wish for that!

Here goes the extrapolation machine again. Why do you seem intent on putting meaning in my words that isn't there. Of course there are differences between persons. But you just assuming that everyone in the third world is unintelligent is just plain dumb and racist. Btw, I like the fact that you admit you are arrogant, nice to see some soul searching going on here...

[akoff 0]

nice to see some soul searching going on here...

Yea right that might happen.What I do love is Liberal Europeans who have all the answers and no way to implement them and no way to pay for them (much like our Democrats)…I would dearly love not to need to patrol the world and spend uncountable billions of dollars on others….the unfortunate reality is the worlds oil supply needs to be protected and while doing that if some poor oppressed people get help…so be it. It is not just for the protection of the US, all of our economies are tied together. We just happen to have the biggest piece of it. We also pay the biggest part of the expense.Do you really believe if it wasn’t in the UK’s best interest they would be helping the way they are? Even the countries that aren’t taking part in it are aware of the fact the area needs to be stabilizedYou can call us arrogant if you like but someone has to be in charge…that right has been bought many times over buy the good old USA. I really don’t see us arrogant as much as independent. I had a conversation with a fine British banker a few weeks ago about commodity pricing specifically building materials and fuel, his observation is this.“you yanks will overcome all obstacles; it amazes the European community how resourceful you all are. I firmly believe that the issues of your concern will lead to new revenue flows”Bottom line is the people who see us as nothing but arrogant most likely have very little chance to succeed in any open capitalist market place!!I need to go back to conquering the world now….

[ajs510 122]

Am I the only one that saw the title of this thread and immediately had the bass line to Cake's version of "I Will Survive" start running rampantly through their head?Even if I was alone, I'm not anymore...lol

[KramitDaToad 0]

Am I the only one that saw the title of this thread and immediately had the bass line to Cake's version of "I Will Survive" start running rampantly through their head?Even if I was alone, I'm not anymore...lol

I will surviveorJesus will survive

[GrouchPotato 0]

We can debate why we went to war and we can debate why we have lost this war, but the idea that we should stick around in Iraq until we get the job done is crazy. That is the EXACT SAME argument the US Govt. used in Vietnam when public opinion turned against the war. DN- please reexamine your position on this one. The country is already in chaos. Chaos in iraq will not spread to the rest of the world if we leave. The Sunni dominated ME countries have a vested interest in keeping a non-secular Iran/Iraq in check. Let's get the hell out of there and see what happends. No more american boys and girls need to die over there in pursuit of some "pipe dream" of spreading democracy to a part of the world that never wanted democracy in the first place.