BruceVC

Why don't you go to the Veterans Society ( or whatever its called ), you always have fun there?

Wow.....I'm surprised you and the Missus wouldn't care to celebrate something as memorable as Christmas? Since we have no kids and no family nearby there isn't a need to really plan anything But surly you can at least go out for dinner...geez shady just pretend to be excited

Wow.....I'm surprised you and the Missus wouldn't care to celebrate something as memorable as Christmas?

Yep. "We love America, except the millions of Americans composed of [whites/blacks/the poor/the rich/latte liberals/Republicans/Trump supporters/rapists/racists/etc/etc] that are not really American" is the basic move we see all over the world. We love us and we hate the other, except we make sure that everybody we hate can be moved to 'other' whenever we need to. Which is why we need to be careful about pretending that it's some kind of eternal classification that cannot be disobeyed. Tigranes I am sorry I haven't said this earlier but I want to recognize this point in the interests of general SJ commitment Its not very common on these forums and I find most of the US members very seldom seem to support certain events that I would think everyone should. Anyway its good to see you making this point ...it may seem banal but its relevant. So nice one

I have to be honest that is another thing I have never heard of. looks cool

Oh Hurlshot ....stop teasing You share family photos with the forum...please don't play coy That sounds awesome....are you saying your wife has 274 family members she actually wants to see? That is very impressive

No offense, but that's a pretty simplistic way of looking at life, humanity, or just biology in general. Altruism is an inbuilt imperative for many species, including humans. Yeah, it's rather appalling how these reactionary, quasi-Randian outlooks are unfailingly based on... factually incorrect premises. On cooperation vs competition On DNA unfair bluh bluh On meritocracy Bonus series, because why the **** not (not directly related, fascinating nonetheless, free will mind over matter yadda yadda) These links have all appeared in these boards in one shape or another, btw. But really, it wouldn't be so bad if you guys just up and admitted that you live by "I got mine, **** you (because my grandaddy XYZ)". At least be honest, if nothing else, with yourselves. 2133 its good to give other people advice on how they should be looking at this whole refugee crisis.....especially since Spain is not on the receiving end ......but its okay, I sincerely hope Spain fulfills it responsibility to the EU by taking in 20k refugees or so The truth is Spain is a large and resourceful country and being part of " old Europe " you don't really have a choice Oh and you probably already have refugees ...so sorry then for this post

Interesting how you guys eat fish as a main meal ..I love Herring Do you eat Reindeer ?

OMG...wait you right...we also have Turkey, how could I forget that I love Goose but its rare over here

But no Xmas lunch with family Yeah we'll have dinner together, but that's about all, really. Hopefully less arguing What meat do you normally eat at Xmas in Canada...Goose? We cook Gammon, Ham and Lamb

Oh...I thought everyone did, its a short version of Christmas Less typing

But no Xmas lunch with family

Watching porn on Xmas? I'm not judging as I also watch adult movies but it would seem unseemly on Xmas ?

Will you see your mom?

What about seeing your family?

Yay, I love Xmas...the food ...the family.....the institution of just spending time chilling So what is everyone doing? I am driving down to the coast this year(not flying ), its 600 km and I bought a new car so I want to give it a good run. Driving from JHB to the coast is awesome, you drive on this massive highway the whole way but you drive through 3 provinces ...the highveld, then a mountain range and then into the coastal area. But the scenery is amazing and there are loads of restaurants Then I'll see my family and stay a few days at our beach cottage which is situated right on the beach..like 5 meters. Its a private beach and our cousins have the cottage next to ours. Every morning I wake up at about 6 am and go onto the beach and gaze at the sea and just absorb the view ..then I snorkel and spend the day in and out of the water. I realize I'm very fortunate and I appreciate it Then of course on Xmas day we cook various roasts and we have a huge feast with our cousins Yeah I love Xmas

WOD ...where did you read that Germany was letting in another 10 million refugees? They wont be letting in more than 2 million to Germany.... And France is a completely different story, they have a real problem but its unique to France. France has been letting in French Muslims to France from there colonies since the 1960's but back in those days the French understandably didn't understand the importance of integration ....so the immigrants have been living in these ghettos ...on social grants but not feeling part of French culture. So naturally extremism would be more common there Germany is NOTHING like France

WOD, you are an intelligent guy so please consider what I am saying Germany has 81 million people, has survived 2 world wars, has had its country carved up and was reviled for years due to Nazism and yet still managed to rebuild its economy and become the most powerful economy in Europe and a foundation of the EU Now do you really think that somehow 2 million despondent, broken, indigent and country less Syrians are going to somehow destroy Germany? So what if they don't assimilate ...then they go home once the war is over

Okay, this is interesting. Please tell me why you feel that way about her ?

WOD you must realize that people are unfairly critical of Merkel...what is your view of her?

Did I say it isn't? Yes but Dark's whole perspective is shaped by this and that original post he made about his family was part of his point as he was adding context And you challenged his notion of fathers\grandfathers and there contribution ...yet that wasn't really his point

Care for your own before everyone else, it's a reasonable thing to do - most of the time people care more about their blood relations than some dude on the street Hazarding a guess, also people hate having to mind others or in some way feel like they are being punished for getting ahead. How accurate those are when it comes to making society fair, depends on circumstance and implementation. Also I understand where alum is coming from....he is right if we were looking at this whole refugee crisis in an equatable " society " perspective But we not for two main reasons IMO None of the countries in the ME would welcome Hungarian or Polish ...or any other European country's refugees so lets not feel there is precedent There are certain ME countries that haven't allowed a single Syrian refugee in yet now there is this expectation that the EU must just be welcoming So in summary its okay to not want thousands of Syrians coming to immigrate to your country

I don't know, my life is fair? What does that really mean ....do we have an expectation that life owes us something?

Who did I say was trolling? Do you mean Qistina?

In the old days I would have felt the need to correct you and explain what you don't understand about sovereignty and why you need to embrace refugees But I now believe that its fine for any country to decide they dont want refugees. And it shouldnt become a big deal, there are also other historical and social reasons that the East European countries would be even less likely to want refugees. But old Europe can definitely take in some and of course the socially advanced countries like Sweden and Denmark Eh, define "general". Fidesz cronies are obviously going to be spouting the "they're here to take away our jobs and defile our wymminz" rhetorics, but they're not exactly the majority of the populace. I mean average the Hungarian citizen