BruceVC

That's beyond stupid. The health, productivity and general quality-of-life benefits of love, friendship and "beauty" are very tangible and measurable. As for your quantification of love, friendship and beauty. Oh boy, i pity that mindset. What, exactly, is pitiable about the idea that the positive benefits they have on our lives is not just "in our heads", but actually tangible, measurable and provable? You're arguing with a vast body of research that says human relationships and human contact are good for you; why? To score points in a debate by letting you claim that this is some sort of abstract and fuzzy benefit that can't be quantified? ? Alum whats your view on the EU? Do you support it ....wants changes etc. ?

There is a shocking amount of misinformation from the average South African about BLM and state of racial tension in USA...well there was last night on this one talk show People think there is a state sponsored initiative to kill African Americans, so black South Africans phone in and say things like " I'm scared to go on holiday to the USA because I may get killed "

Volo I dont think you want to even try to understand BLM They are not like the KKK, lets not be silly now

Guys I am surprised people are questioning the validity and reason for BLM Its is movement that has some reasonable objectives, like all social movements it has good elements and bad elements in it Some African Americans feel marginalized within US society and BLM is a expression of this frustration, my advice is dont stress too much and let it run its course

He definitely had a very controversial past, you not wrong there

You misunderstand me, Im not apologizing for Apartheid I am not responsible but that doesn't mean I cant be part of the solution and just for the record there is much more positive stories in SA than negative so Im not claiming things are terrible at all. Sorry if I created that impression

I hear you and I have heard similar views from other US members But I still think you guys misunderstand the SA reality and our history and how Apartheid still resonates in our society Apartheid wasn't just a legal system that marginalized black people, it was a psychological social experiment and it attempted to do something almost inhuman. No race in this world could go through 50 years of what black South Africans went through without some kind of mental consequences....you cant be told everyday " you are inferior because of the color of your skin" without that impacting you I'm not sure there is another example in the recent history that is similar ?

http://ewn.co.za/2016/07/01/Ahmed-Kathrada-Foundation-reacts-to-racist-Andre-Slade They also refused service, I wish I didnt care but these types of events cause national consternation in SA People get very upset, I understand sometimes you guys think Im perhaps over-reacting but due to Apartheid we are very sensitive to this type of commentary

They basically said " in the bible its clearly stated black people are inferior to white people "...and they refused to allow any black people to stay at there guest house Again, who cares what they think? As for the guest house, do people have some kind of right to the guest house? Yes but you cant deny people services based on there race and they werent allowing black people to stay there...this would be illegal in the USA I'm sure?

GD how would you address this type of racism? Watch the video https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/the-complimentary-breakfast-with-rian-van-heerden/sodwana-bay-guest-house-owner-refuses-apologise-racist-comments/ I'm not GD, but I'll answer anyway. What exactly is the problem? They don't approve of race mixing, so what? Is there more to this story I'm missing? They basically said " in the bible its clearly stated black people are inferior to white people "...and they refused to allow any black people to stay at there guest house

GD how would you address this type of racism? Watch the video https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/the-complimentary-breakfast-with-rian-van-heerden/sodwana-bay-guest-house-owner-refuses-apologise-racist-comments/

Volo you not suggesting Kim Kardashian is a rapist are you? Thought it was obvious Kim Kardashian was a rapist. First time I would heard of it

Yet you seem to be quite dismayed at the thought of a unified European culture growing, expanding and subsuming national identities. Why can't we just let national identity die in peace naturally? That's beyond stupid. The health, productivity and general quality-of-life benefits of love, friendship and "beauty" are very tangible and measurable. Two reasons: 1) It's being replaced by something lower in principle, of which no one is willing defend to the death. It will not satisfy anyone and give rise to real marching right/left-wing parties and another war, which is what i want to avoid for the next generation. 2) The power is centralised if national governments shift their power to Brussels, which will end with continental size warfare unlike anything seen before. Don't fool yourself just because we currently live in relatively peaceful times that it will continue forever if you give up on nations. Both are destructive in the design and i wish to move away from it for a better future. Nation states might erode, but power has to shift to locally with their own laws, hierarchies and armies. That kind of "death" we can all get behind; I would even call it rebirth. As for your quantification of love, friendship and beauty. Oh boy, i pity that mindset. It seems to me that you think their is some kind of spiritual benefit of a nation state. Namutree whats your ideal system of government in 2016, lets so you can implement anything. What would you go for ?

Yes but you clearly believe what you post so why cant you just use a link? If the type of member who never uses links I would understand but its inconsistent to not use links when someone asks, I can produce links if you ask?

What a nice and honest post Well played Indira, I always appreciate your insight because I find you to be very reasonable and you have accurate views on certain topics

Volo I may be mistaken but you seem to have issues producing links whenever you make certain statements? Why is that because sometimes you make a point with a link from the beginning?

Volo you not suggesting Kim Kardashian is a rapist are you?

Go fish? Its relaxing right...how much effort is in time to go fishing now as opposed to chilling at home, thats how I would decide The only effort in fishing is getting to the water. In my case that takes about 10 minutes. Yes but you need to pack your kit and then travel somewhere, then you still need to actually fish and maybe you dont catch anything..and you very fortunate because of your access to the Cold Creek Look I have been never fishing in my life, its one of those things I have this nostalgic view on...I'm sure its not as romantic as I imagine

Go fish? Its relaxing right...how much effort is in time to go fishing now as opposed to chilling at home, thats how I would decide

I can only assume that you're not from planet Earth, as the "EU" you talk about has nothing to do with the one we have here. The EU is just as natural and "organical" as the nation state. Europe has a long history of close contact between peoples, constant migrations, cultural exchange, cosmopolitanism, common values, coexistence of ethnic groups, religions, and traditions. It has also a long history of the negations of all those things, and the bloodiest and most destructive times were those where disunity and nationalistic fervour were at their height. The EU is the attempt to draw on the former and further cooperation and coexistence under a common roof. It is a common project of the peoples involved, not the bogeyman of centralisation some people put forward. The EU is a step in consolidating the common European heritage in a world where it becomes increasingly difficult for small states to stand on their own, and where these positive aspects of European history are still under threat - not in the least from those within Europe who thrive on antagonism, factionalism, and conflict. P.S. As someone who usually votes conservative in Europe, I would very much appreciate it if Meshugger's position were not called "conservative". One of the core beliefs of European conservativism, as I see it and has been in my country for the last 60 years, is exactly the support for European integration and unity. Varana you lecture histiory in RL? I always find your posts very informative If Meshugger is not Conservative what would you classify his views as?

You have yet to make a point to get. Even assuming I ignore the obvious impossibility of it, why should I give a **** about the continued preservation of the specific cultures, races, traditions and languages that exist right now. And this is almost in complete contradiction to your initial point. By your own argument it sounds like a single culture would be better for "social cohesion". Stop holding back man, tell me why you're against mixed relationships. Hi Baro "waves " Where have you been?

And that's why Donald will be USA new president. Sharp_One is comes as no surprise to me that you are a Trump supporter, in fact I would have bet money on it

This mustn't be seen as a generalization that applies to all Police in the USA, these are more certain incidents and they not the normal behavior of how Police in the USA conduct themselves

I have a similar issue with wind blowing directly on me, the solution on particularly hot nights is those mobile fans that rotate ....so the fan only sometimes will blow on your wife but its not consistent but it does keep the temperature down. Or you just aim the fan on you and let it rotate, that way you will feel the direct benefit but your wife wont

Volo if you are going to say something as ludicrous as " 22 white children murdered because they have toys " then the onus is on you to produce links? Do you have credible links:?