Sand

Bush reminds me more of a Ferengi than a Klingon.

Well, if there is a possibility there are a number of base classes I like to see added. Scout, Dusk Blade, Warmage, and the such. What would be really cool is a class (base or prestige) creation wizard in the tools set that way we as players can make our own classes with relative ease.

Osama and his terrorist organization is more of a threat to the US than Saddam and Iraq ever was. Who does Bushie go after and who did he ignore?

What? Hey, at least I'm being honest.

I like ATI. Not a huge fan of Nvidia.

You have my condolences as well.

Star trekking across Washington D.C.! Hey, if a congressman (or woman) watches and likes Star Trek then he has my vote! Unless he (or she) is a Republican.

Well, I don't expect him to get much done now. With a Democrat controlled congress his options are very limited. Like I said, I hope Senator Harkin and Kennedy rally the Democrats to fight tooth and nail against the president on every decision on Iraq and force him to make a real change in his policy on Iraq.

That would so kickarse.

The thing is we should only interfere if the people want us to interfere or we get a specific request of the powers that are in charge make such a request, while at the same time not impose our beliefs and ideals on these populations, but that does not mean we should support tyrants like we have in the past. However I think it is funny that at one time we had no problems in supporting and promoting tyranny and now we are trying to force democracy. Kind of hypocritical, isn't it?

Numberman hits it on the nose. :D

I agree freedom is a universal ideal, and I am not arguing that one bit, however freedom must be earned in order to be appreciated. It is not something you can force on a culture, for it can only be chosen by a culture. Forcing western ideals on a non-western people will not work. If Iraqis want freedom they need to earn it for themselves. That is the only way it will last. Tell me this Meta, which gives the longer feeling of fulfillment and appreciation: 1. Being given something? 2. Being forced to take something? 3. Earning something with your own sweat and tears?

That is your definition of freedom, meta. Not everyone has the same ideals of freedom as you do. Again, you are seeking to force western idealogy on a non-western culture. You cannot force these ideals on others and expect there won't be resentment and violence. Liberty cannot be forced. It must be chosen.

If the people who are governed do not like the government governing them then they would revolt and replace it with a government of their choosing. That is up for the Iraqis to decide what is acceptable to them. Not for me to judge or force my views on them. Who people marry is irrelevant to me. That is their life and not mine. If two people of different cultures seek to marry and have kids, more power to them. if they want to adhere to one culture over another, more power to them as well. It isn't my place to tell them that they are right or wrong unless they try to force their views on me. Yes, I do. I see a pattern that you cannot accept complex social dynamics of other cultures being valid and believe the U.S. way of things is the only way of things and seek to dominate and force other cultures, using force of arms if need be, to adhere Western social mores.

Meta seems to think that a democracy helps define an advance culture, while I do not.

Nope, you are wrong meta no matter how large of a font you use. As you seem to forget that the US and Iraq are two different nations, while South Africa is one nation. Nice try, but no dice.

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Because not all of mankind shares those values. That is your fallacy. Just as my ancestors fought and died for their beliefs so has theirs. If my country is attacked I will defend it if called upon. If my way of life is threatened I will face that threat without fear and with determination. However I will not force my country's culture, mores, and form of government on others. I do not have that right.

No. You seem to think that we have the right to force our belief system, our social mores, our form of government, our culture on someone else. We don't. If the Iraqi people want peace, they will get peace, but they have to earn it themselves. If the Iraqis want a democracy they will earn it for themselves. Forcing someone to do something will only garner hostility and resentment. To think otherwise is a mark of hubris. Only the Iraqis can determine what post occupation Iraq will look like and it is time that we let them.

I am surprise that you would make such a post on a forum that almost constantly screams "If its not Tim Cain, its CRAP!" Especially a console action CRPG. You are a brave man, RP. :D

What? I tell you what game they need to make on the Gamecube or Wii. They need to bring back the Battletoads. :D

I did not say they aren't cultured enough. Nowhere did I make such judgment. That is your judgment of them, not mine. They have a different culture than ours. The have a different set of social norms on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Their culture is no more advance nor any more backwards than our own.

I don't like Zelda.

Meta, I am keeping it on topic as the original post. Now Bush has stated that if we pull out now Iraq would become a "terrorist state." I highly disagree with that. The Bush administration's track record on predictions and interpretations of data has been very much been wrong. They said there was WMDs in Iraq. That was proven false. They also said that Saddam had links to Al Qaeda. That has also been proven false. He stated that putting in a democracy and free elections would bring peace to the nation. Nope. Can we trust the man who has been wrong at every single decision about Iraq? He stated he has made changes in his policy on Iraq but all I see is him doing the same as always. Putting more troops in and hope for the best. The man is clueless and worse, delusional. We are trying to force western democratic ideals on a group of people who do not share those ideals. They have their own culture. Their own social mores that they adhere to and trying to force ours on theirs, no matter who we ourselves don't like them, will meet strong resistance and resentment.