07-28-2007, 09:43 AM | #41 | |
Elf Lord
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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07-28-2007, 12:22 PM | #42 | |
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Here are the numbers of terrorist incidents between 1980 and 1989 by group classification: Counterterrorism Threat Assessment and Warning Unit of the National Security Division: ACTIVITY BY GROUP CLASSIFICATION Left Wing 1980: 14 1981: 19 1982: 27 1983: 14 1984: 12 1985: 3 1986: 17 1987: 7 1988: 5 1989: 2 Total: 120 Right Wing 1980: 1 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 1 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 5 1987: 0 1988: 1 1989: 0 Total: 8 And between 1990 and 1998 Left Wing 1990: 5 1991: 4 1992: 3 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 3 Total: 15 Right Wing 1990: 1 1991: 1 1992: 0 1993: 2 1994: 0 1995: 1 1996: 3 1997: 0 1998: 1 Total: 9 If we're looking at terrorist "activity" rather than "incidents", we can see that although left wings had far more terrorist "activity" than right wing groups between between 1980 and 1989, between 1990 and 1998, right wing groups had about twice as much terrorist activity as left wing groups. Though fewer terrorist "incidents" still, which I expect means actually committed terrorist attacks as opposed to preparation or planning. Though I could be wrong, of course. Here's my source for these Counterterrorism Threat Assessment and Warning Unit data: http://www.terrorisminfo.mipt.org/pd...-1998Stats.pdf Anyway, in June 2004, the FBI said that eco-terrorism is America's top domestic terrorism threat. And eco-terrorism is decidedly far left wing. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...errorism_x.htm I expect that now, right wing terrorism has increased significantly in the US because of Islamist "activity" and "incidents" in the US. Though mercifully our government has done quite a good job protecting the homeland from terrorist attacks since 9/11.
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." Last edited by Lief Erikson : 07-28-2007 at 04:34 PM. |
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07-28-2007, 04:40 PM | #43 | |
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Though if my country did go monarchy, I know that I wouldn't want to be the monarch. Not any more than I'd want to be president . . . the responsibility for people with those kinds of jobs is enormous. Just watching the speed at which the hair of Presidents Bush and Clinton's went gray . . .
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." Last edited by Lief Erikson : 07-28-2007 at 04:42 PM. |
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07-28-2007, 08:25 PM | #44 |
Magnificent Master of Buckland
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As far as education goes, in public schools, none of that anti-Christian "we don't want to offend non-Christians by having prayer, but Islamists can have whatever they want" nonsense. Preschool NOT mandatory, not supported by the government/wacky Hollywood actors. Catholic private schools teach basic Latin. Colleges have actually sane professors, etc. Homeschooling highly supported and recommended.
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But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say to much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place. -Meriadoc Brandybuck Is there anything I can do that wouldn't inconvenience me?.-Adrian Monk Hogan: What's a definate factor that we can count on? Newkirk: We don't know what we're doing. Do you wanna split a pineapple? -Shawn Spencer |
07-28-2007, 08:41 PM | #45 | |
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Wouldn't need a good public education system if you had a nation of homeschooling.
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07-28-2007, 11:23 PM | #46 | |
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There are some pretty wacky professors out there! So there would be an option if the parent(s)/gardian(s) worked all the time.
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But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say to much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place. -Meriadoc Brandybuck Is there anything I can do that wouldn't inconvenience me?.-Adrian Monk Hogan: What's a definate factor that we can count on? Newkirk: We don't know what we're doing. Do you wanna split a pineapple? -Shawn Spencer |
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07-28-2007, 11:31 PM | #47 | ||
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." |
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07-29-2007, 12:20 AM | #48 | |
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You're such an awesome ruler Tessar! (Not very fair, though. Haha!) Note to self: Read L.E. down at later date.
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07-29-2007, 12:55 AM | #49 | ||
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But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say to much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place. -Meriadoc Brandybuck Is there anything I can do that wouldn't inconvenience me?.-Adrian Monk Hogan: What's a definate factor that we can count on? Newkirk: We don't know what we're doing. Do you wanna split a pineapple? -Shawn Spencer |
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07-29-2007, 12:40 PM | #50 |
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If there are examples of "Islamists" getting "whatever they want" in public schools in the United States, I don't see how that wouldn't be fit to discuss in this topic. If you feel that way, can you post it in a more fit topic? Maybe the Muslims one?
I'm curious to see what you mean.
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07-29-2007, 01:01 PM | #51 |
Elf Lord
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Lief your data misses thousands of points. like these.
http://www.vawnet.org/DomesticViolen...apeRevised.pdf right wing terrorism. And of the groups and individuals cited in your USA today article, two examples were "eco-terrorists/animal liberationists". In one case, two teenagers and a twenty something set fires, and in another case 7 people were threatening and vandalizing people. On the other side is But there were some potentially close calls, such as the scheme by William Krar, an east Texas man who stockpiled enough sodium cyanide to gas everyone in a building the size of a high school basketball gymnasium before he was arrested in 2002. Shank, whose unit mainly searches for fugitives, including some wanted on domestic terror-related charges, led the manhunt for Clayton Lee Waagner, 48, of Kennerdell, Pa. Waagner was convicted in December of mailing hundreds of threat letters containing bogus anthrax to abortion clinics in 24 states. During his trial in Philadelphia, prosecutors documented Waagner's ties to the Army of God, an extremist group that believes violence against abortion providers is an acceptable way to end abortion. Then there's the increase in hate groups Potok says the Southern Poverty Law Center identified 751 hate groups last year, a 6% increase over the 708 such organizations it counted in 2002.,the militia planning to attack the military base, the 3 anti-government extremists who actually shot down a Chips helicopter,and this guy. According to an FBI affidavit in the Tennessee case, Crocker had inquired last spring about where he could obtain nuclear waste or nuclear materials. An informant told the FBI that Crocker, who had "absolute hatred" for the government, wanted "to build a bomb to be detonated at a government building, particularly a courthouse, either federal or state." In September, according to the affidavit, Crocker told an undercover FBI agent "it would be a good thing if somebody could detonate some sort of weapon of mass destruction in Washington, D.C.," while both houses of Congress "were in session." Crocker allegedly told the agent he admired Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. He said "establishing a concentration camp for Jewish insurance executives would be a desirable endeavor." Crocker later bought what he thought was Sarin nerve gas and a block of C-4 explosive from the undercover agent, the affidavit says. I'm not sure you read this article, Lief.
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May Last edited by sisterandcousinandaunt : 07-29-2007 at 01:34 PM. |
07-29-2007, 01:21 PM | #52 |
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I'm not going to read through that entire source; would you please provide quotes from it that back your claim?
What I did read from it, skimming it, was not at all focused on religion and never once used the word "terrorism". The part which describes in brief the content of that article (at the end of the article) never refers to the religion, terrorism or the right wing. I did find one reference to religion where it said pastors should do a better job at helping women who have suffered abuse, and where it argues that some pastors have even hurt women further by blaming them when they were raped. But that, though horrible, is not terrorism.
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." Last edited by Lief Erikson : 07-29-2007 at 01:37 PM. |
07-29-2007, 01:43 PM | #53 | |
Elf Lord
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That's a whole lot more injuries than you can pin on tree-huggers, and you, with your resistance to divorce, are a lovely example of support for right-wing terrorism. In 30 states it's legal to rape your wife, if she's merely in a position where she can't consent. There's 'pro-marriage, pro-life' for ya.
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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07-29-2007, 01:56 PM | #54 | ||
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And note that the Counterterrorism Unit's report didn't even differentiate between "right wing" and "Christian Right." So any terrorist acts committed by right wing groups in general would be lumped in with those of groups sharing many similarities in ideology with the Christian Right, in that report's calculations. So the Christian Right's responsibility is going to be smaller than that of the general "right wing" statistic, which is already smaller than that of the left wing.
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." |
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07-29-2007, 02:02 PM | #55 | |
Elf Lord
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Furthermore, your data about the number of rapes within marriage that have occurred says nothing about who committed those rapes, so your attributing them to the Christian Right is groundless. I'm going to stop arguing with you about this now.
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If the world has indeed, as I have said, been built of sorrow, it has been built by the hands of love, because in no other way could the soul of man, for whom the world was made, reach the full stature of its perfection. ~Oscar Wilde, written from prison Oscar Wilde's last words: "Either the wallpaper goes, or I do." Last edited by Lief Erikson : 07-29-2007 at 02:09 PM. |
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07-29-2007, 02:09 PM | #56 | ||
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Quote:
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That would be the swirling vortex to another world. Cool. I want one. TMNT No, I'm not emo. I just have a really poor sense of direction. (Thanks to katya for this quote) This is the best news story EVER! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26087293/ “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”...John McCain "I shall go back. And I shall find that therapist. And I shall whack her upside her head with my blanket full of rocks." ...Louisa May |
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07-29-2007, 02:43 PM | #57 | |
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Those amusement park owners are terrorists.
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07-30-2007, 06:03 AM | #58 |
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1 - What would you make the legal drinking age?
18 2 - Driving age? 18, with a possibility to start learning at 16 3 - Age of sexual consent? 17 4 - Voting age? 18 5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)? 18 6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal? None but the very lightest. You want to damage your brain so badly, you do it off my island, the world's big enough for it. 7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?) Yeah, but licenced. 8 - What would be the name of your country? Isla Rana has a nice ring to it. 9 - Would you have the death penalty? Nope. 10 - What would be the speed limit? Depending on the type of road. I doubt I'll have freeways so maybe 100 km/h. 11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted? All are permitted as long as they don't interfere with Isla Rana's laws, common sense and other people's freedom. Which of the following would be legal: 12 - Porn? Don't see why, really. 13 - Prostitution? Seems good for morale, mostly. Regulated, of course. 14 - Polygamy? One aught to be enough. 15 - Homosexuality? I suppose. 16 - Stem cell research? Yes, but regulated. 17 - Human Cloning? Why on earth would you want to do that? Ain't there enough already? Regulated and only for medical reasons like transplant organs and tissue, never the complete thing. 18 - Cock Fighting? Not on my island, buster. This ain't the Middle Ages. There will be no cock fighting, no dog fighting, no bull fighting or anything similar. If I find out there is any, it will be you against the enraged animal and I will damn well root for the animal. 19 - Slavery? Nope, do your own work and learn to love it, or pay decent wages to get someone to do it for you. 20 - Hunting? Only for food and pest control. 21 - Fishing? Sustainable fishing, yes. 22 - Eating meat? Yeah, not sure why this would be an issue. But I plan to have decent food hygiene and animal cruelty regulations in place. 23 - Littering? Nope, learn to recycle. Isla Rana will have decent recycling and waste management. 24 - Unisex bathrooms? Wait, what? 25 - Suicide? Again, why would you want to do that? 26 - Gay marriage? Yes. 27 - Abortion? Yes, but up to a certain period in the pregancy and not later. And under medical supervision. 28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal? 29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory? 30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define "obscene". Why so bloody many questions about sex and indecency, I wonder. 31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes? - Income tax? Some, let's stay reasonable. - Sales tax? Hm, only when I'm short on cash. - Import/Export tax? Depends on how well trade's going to be. 32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen? 33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country? Having a healthy dose of common sense should be a requirement. A good sense of humour wouldn't be amiss either. Environmental friendly ways is a definite plus. 34 - What type of government would you establish? Enlighted dictatorship. I was here first, I am not going to give it away just like that. 35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media? I'm still thinking about whether I will have a media in the first place... 36 - Aside from laws - what sort of unofficial (and unenforced) cultural rules and traditions would you like to establish? For example - taking shoes off before entering someone's home. Or not eating with the left hand. Ecology and sustainable development will be a way of life. Oh, and I want a big research and breeding center for amphibians. Everybody will like ponds.
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07-30-2007, 09:55 PM | #59 |
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1 - What would you make the legal drinking age?
16. The laws in the US about this are just plain silly. 2 - Driving age? 19, to give people plenty of time to learn to drink responsibly. Also stringent testing. 3 - Age of sexual consent? 16, probably. 4 - Voting age? 21, probably, maybe a bit later. 5 - At what age would someone become an adult (free from parental control)? 21. 6 - What types of recreational drugs (if any) would be legal? - Pot probably. - Tobacco yes. - Cocaine no. - Alcohol yes. - LSD no. - Caffeine yes. - Heroin no. - Other? maybe. :P Absinthe would probably be legal, but that could be considered as fitting under alcohol... 7 - Can people have guns? (if so - who and what kind?) Yes, but there will be a good deal of paperwork. Handguns will be illegal. A person will have to be 21, or maybe even 25 to own a gun. 8 - What would be the name of your country? Damned if I know. 9 - Would you have the death penalty? No, but with a proviso making it possible in a case of true necessity for the protection of society, such as a serial killer whom there is good reason to believe cannot be contained. Such cases would be few, if any, though, so effectively, the answer is no. 10 - What would be the speed limit? That would depend on the road, now wouldn't it? I would, however, have a law like that of California, which states that keeping pace with surrounding traffic takes precedence over the speed limit. 11 - What types of religions would be permitted or restricted? Most religions would be permitted. Only those deemed to be dangerous to society or created for the purpose of antagonising other religions would be forbidden. Permitted religions would be treated as far as possible with deference and respect, but Catholicism would be the religion the state was based upon. The constitution would mandate that the country be run, on a whole, in accordance with teaching of the Holy See. Which of the following would be legal: 12 - Porn? Probably. 13 - Prostitution? Probably, in order that the government could ensure that prostitutes were treated humanely, and in order that they could have regular check-ups for STDs. Probably a person would require a health certificate stating they had not STDs to use such facilities. 14 - Polygamy? No. 15 - Homosexuality? Yes, but there would be no same-sex civil unions. Authentic hate crimes against homosexuals would be taken very seriously. 16 - Stem cell resurch? No. 17 - Human Cloning? No. 18 - Cock Fighting? No. 19 - Slavery? Possibly there would be a very limited system in place, such as permitting a person to voluntarily sell himself into slavery for a predetermined period of time as a means of survival, if he or she is in dire straits. No one would be born a slave. 20 - Hunting? Yes, with some limits. 21 - Fishing? Yes, with some limits. For both hunting and fishing, there would have to be good reason to do so, such as A) using the prey as food or B) protection of one's self and one's property. Killing animals and leaving them would be illegal. 22 - Eating meat? Yes. 23 - Littering? No. 24 - Unisex bathrooms? Hmmm...probably not. 25 - Suicide? No. 26 - Gay marriage? No. 27 - Abortion? No. 28 - What types of sexual activity (if any) would be illegal? Bestiality, necrophilia, pedophilia, sadomasochism, probably. And rape. 29 - Would your county be clothing optional or clothing mandatory? Clothing optional in places, mandatory in the public arena. 30 - Would you have obscenity laws? If so - how would you define "obscene". Yes. I would probably define obscene as "vulgar". 31 - What system would you set up for collecting taxes? - Income tax? (how much?) - Sales tax? (how much?) - Import/Export tax? (how much?) This would all depend on what was needed. 32 - What criteria would someone need to pass to become a citizen? Fluency in the official language, resident for twelve years, passing tests about the history and demonstrating a decent knowldedge of the culture. Immigration policy would be very moderate. 33 - What types of people would you allow (or not allow) into your country? That's a pretty vague question... 34 - What type of government would you establish? Constitutional (not figurehead) monarchy. 35 - To what degree would your government be allowed to censor or restrict the media? It would very limited and discouraged, aside from aforementioned obscenity laws. 36 - Aside from laws - what sort of unofficial (and unenforced) cultural rules and traditions would you like to establish? For example - taking shoes off before entering someone's home. Or not eating with the left hand. Traditions are not something that can be "established".
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Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle Last edited by Gwaimir Windgem : 07-30-2007 at 10:18 PM. |
07-30-2007, 10:23 PM | #60 |
Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster
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Most people seem to have either extremely libertarian states or extremely controlling states. Go me for choosing the middle way!
I'd be interested to see your ideal countries, Hec and Rian.
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Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle |
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