It's all about the 'argent' for the French! The money! France does not own the iraqi oil, but they do have much invested in it. I understand their opposition war, but I doubt it is for any moral reason. France has had a great history of slaughtering arabs. Their campaign against Algeria was one of the most brutal since World War II. No way the 'peaceful' French would oppose a war for anything except money. I do not blame them, I think that is how a nation should think. They should support their own interests, although France's interests are maily about having 35 hour work weeks and eating frogs. There are a number of factors influencing France, morality is not part of the equation. Immigation from North Africa and the Middle East is, with 10% of the French population Arab, most living in government housing developments called HLMs and on welfare, French are frightened of internal strife. In addition to their current economic ties to Iraq, they have a long history of alliance with Hussein. In 1982, they were iraq's greatest nuclear sponsor, even building them the Osirak nuclear reactor, something that would have allowed Iraq nuclear ability by 1987 if it had not been destroyed. The French may have an opinion you enjoy, but its not for the righteous reasons you (hopefully) have, it is all about the 'argent.' That is why I know that in the case that war does happen, France will jump on board. They will want a piece of post Saddam Iraq and will claim that they were on board all along.
As for the conservative media, you are probably refering to Bill O'Reilly and FoxNews. I have not watched Mr. O's show in some time, but if that is the best explanation he has for why the French oppose enforcing their own resolution 'shame on you mr. o' reilly.'
As for the Conservative media, is the Star Tribune conservative? Most resonable people would say no, but with Andrew, you can never be to sure. Check this out. http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/3635624.html. Phx Monkey SUCKS!!! Peace, i'm outta here!
The media is full of a bunch of crack pott old conservative idiots who know absolutely nothing. I have come to this conclusion because they believe that France has been conspiring with Iraq to screw over American economy. Oh dear God France has trillions of dollars invested in American companies, as well as gets a significant amount of trade from America, and . . . is allied with the US. Oh now but these reasons don't mean anything (according to conservative media) they are sure that after we finish slaughtering thousands of arabics that we are going to do the same to French people. Ummm . . . there is no way in hell we are going to wage ware on France. And also to defend France for not wanting to aid America, maybe it could have something to do with the fact that France owns much of the oil in Iraq and knows America would try and take it, or maybe that no weapons of mass destruction have been found, or maybe because France isn't acctually a bunch of war hawks who want to kill anyone and anything. I salute you France, and to the dumb ass conservative media . . . I dont' think it would be appropriate for this site (and that is saying alot)!
I personnally think that the French are the scorge of the earth. They stink, have funny accents, and eat frogs! Furthermore, they are very lazy and smoke like chimneys all day long. We need to do something before the French menace destroys us all! Who's with me?! What shall we do? I say we relocate the French to Siberia and let the Germans finally take France!
I agree with what Donat just said. Its stupid that Retributions were even being considered. Why should we have to pay for what our ancestors did to other people's ancestors? That is total BS...If we pay retributions on one thing..why not take the time to go back and research all the transgressions that occured between people of different races/religion/political standings? Everyone would owe everyone something. It is pointless and stupid...people need to just get over it and deal with problems that are happening now. "I want to live in a society where everyone can forget the sins of the past and live productive lives in a colorblind world. It was over a century ago, let it go." Hell yes, whining about how your great great grandfather was slapped by my great great grandmother won't help anything.
P.S. A comment on the title of the post: I have some "African American" blood in me as well as "White" blood. Does this mean I get to blame myself? Oh, heh. I also hate the term "African American"...most "African Americans" have never even been to Africa...they are just "Americans". Racial labelings can kiss my ass. We are Humans.
The fact of the matter is that the great majority of slave holders were rich English immigrants, and yet all white people receive blame. How can you call an Italian the same kind of person as a Swede? They are grouping us by the color of our skin, and not by race, and yet they call it racism. It should be called something to the extent of Pigmentism.
Note that the word slave comes from the word Slav:
Acording to Merriam Webster
Main Entry: slave
Pronunciation: 'slAv
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English sclave, from Old French or Medieval Latin; Old French esclave, from Medieval Latin sclavus, from Sclavus Slavic; from the frequent enslavement of Slavs in central Europe
Date: 14th century
Slav refers to the Slavic people, who were by Europeans for centuries, African slaves are a far more recent and brief development. I am Slavic, we were enslaved far longer, and yet do we ask for retribution? Do we want companies to pay us back?
I want to live in a society where everyone can forget the sins of the past and live productive lives in a colorblind world. It was a long time ago, before you were born, let it go.
You are correct, they do have the right to fly their confederate flag. What does it symbolize though? Southern history? Perhaps. One must then ponder why the KKK marches around with the Confederate flag "Flying high with Pride". Maybe it's because this flag has become, over time, a symbol of white supremacy? A symbol of the racist beliefs held by southern slave owners during the war? You say the war was "all about economic issues", heh. I'll give you two guesses as to what minority was a major part of the southern economy at the time. Yes, the flag is just a piece of fabric...and the Nazi swastika is just a design. I do agree that it should not be illegal...and it never will be. Making it so would be unconstitutional.
Southerners have all the right in the world to fly whatever flag they want. No one has the freedom from being offended. I do however understand why people are offended. Sure, the Civil War was fought for economic reasons, but that is not how it is remembered and what it stands for to people today. At the end of the day, the South's main work force, black slaves, were freed. Granted, the emancipation proclomation may have been a move by Lincoln to keep Britain on the sidelines, but motives mean nothing when you look at final results. The freeing of slaves was without doubt the biggest impact of the Civil War. By the way, it could be argued that every war was fought for economic reasons.
In the end...the flag is just a piece of fabric, so it really harms no one. It should definitely not be illegal. You just need to understand that the common man on the street does not historically analyze every minute detail.
I do not know if we have talked about this yet, but we should now. human cloning is inevitable, but when it happens, we will have opened up pandora's box. Humanity isn't ready for that kind of power. There has never been an animal clone made without some defects. When someone successfully clones a human, they will create a kind of subspecies because it is inevitable that it will be abnormal. How could one possibly explain to the clone that they were just a mistake, and that they were created knowing that they would have something wrong with them. I know that there may one day be useful technology associated with cloning, but cloning for the sake of cloning is wrong. I do not know of anyone who would condone experimenting on humans as if they are rats.
There is currently a war raging in the south whether the state flag of Georgia should have the confederate flag in it or not. The African Americans object to it because they say it's racist. You have to realize though that the civil war was not about slavery. In truth, it was all about economic issues. The north was really for lack of a better word fucking the south over. Now days the Super Liberals want to make it out to be a battle fought for freedom, while truly it was a battle fought for money. It is the history of the south and therefore should not be forgotten, let them raise their flag. It is a simple piece of fabric, no more meaning then the beholder cares to put into it. And if that beholder is so feeble that he feels offended by a simple piece of fabric with a pattern on it then so be it. But it is these men that will be the damnation of all man.
Gross, you are dead on. Bush is pathetic when it comes to civil liberties and is quite arrogant. He believes that he can do anything he wants without explaining anything to the American people. On the other hand, I am not sure that if Gore was elected president in 2000, he would not have partaken in the same abuses. I also do not think that the DFL candidates in 2004 are any better than Bush when it comes to civil liberties. I do not see democrats attacking Bush very harshly on those issues, in fact, most support him on taking away civil liberties and would rather attack his stance on taxes. If a major political party came along in 2004 and stood for less government interference and remaining true to the U.S. Constitution, I have no doubt it would make a major dent in American politics. I know I would vote for that platform.
