BruceVC

I'm actually much more depressed at how the political situations is here, than how it is anywhere else in the world. A lot of the people here should know better, yet still act like they have a medieval education. From liberals to socialists, it always saddens me when education fails to dispel ignorance and narrowmindness. Well if you ever wanted to see how a Democracy works in its early days without all the bravado, extremism and unreasonableness then yes Africa would fascinate you So in your country and other Western countries some people have become too clever or fixated on a new political system that seems more harmful. In South Africa you must remember the concept of a Democracy is new for 80 % of the country. But when I say new you must realize that due to the insidious nature of Apartheid most people have no idea what a Democracy means So there is loads of naive support and disappointment around our political system...its amazing to be part of it and help people to rationalize there place and identity in the new South Africa So yes you would fit it fine

The Chinese IMO haven't helped the African continent ..its not there fault its just how they are and how there economy works They don't care about human rights or good governance so they buy commodities and build infrastructure in countries ruled by dictators. Now the Western model of assistance generally expects political reforms and often this works

My friend I can help you, I follow SJ causes. There is no hypocrisy in that once you understand the context..come join me You will feel a much more liberated and fulfilled person once you get into the habit of judging people with no feeling of remorse ...oh to be honest some people will not like you but you need to accept that and remember you need to make posts and decisions on the principle and not what you think people may say

Oh I'm not depressed at all about Africa, I am very committed to helping the continent achieve its full potential. And yes there are pockets of brilliance on the continent...its the AU that is the failure as it lacks the political will to impact meaningful change I meant you may find it depressing as there is such a difference between your quality of life and how the average African lives and dies. So when you try to help you may find the task insurmountable...and depressing Huge respect for your friend by the way, Kenya and Tanzania are considered success stories that need exactly that type of investment

I know what's best for me and I assume it's all right for most other people too, ain't got nothing to do with nationality son. The right to choose for yourself and master your own fate. I'll just like to help them do that, if that help is essentially backing off, then fine. Yes that is true and honest but it doesn't really help Africa ...but dont feel guilty. Your country does loads for Africa and always has. Everyone knows how the Scandinavian countries have been committed to reasonable regime change. Its probably best you don't really become too concerned with how to help Africa because then I'm sure you will end up feeling a little guilty and depressed

Raithe that is very cheeky......very cheeky...but well played, you got me there

Exactly. Do this and everything else takes are of itself. I consider myself to be in good shape, not just for my age but period. I don't exercise but I am very active, I do a lot of manual labor around my home like wood cutting, garden work, etc. I think I'm what you would call "farmer strong". But it's not my job nor my place to see to anyone's fitness but my own (and my dogs). So if I see an overweight person eating the king size Whopper meal at Burger King with the extra large chocolate shake I'll I'd say is enjoy your lunch. It's funny. The liberals here in the US get all hackled up about a woman's right to do as she pleases with her body when it comes to abortion and then are ready to crucify that same woman for eating something they disapprove of if the is a little past what THEY call overweight. I guess a woman's right to choose isn't absolute in their twisted little minds. Exactly. Do this and everything else takes are of itself. I consider myself to be in good shape, not just for my age but period. I don't exercise but I am very active, I do a lot of manual labor around my home like wood cutting, garden work, etc. I think I'm what you would call "farmer strong". But it's not my job nor my place to see to anyone's fitness but my own (and my dogs). So if I see an overweight person eating the king size Whopper meal at Burger King with the extra large chocolate shake I'll I'd say is enjoy your lunch. It's funny. The liberals here in the US get all hackled up about a woman's right to do as she pleases with her body when it comes to abortion and then are ready to crucify that same woman for eating something they disapprove of if the is a little past what THEY call overweight. I guess a woman's right to choose isn't absolute in their twisted little minds. Come now GD...that sounds like hyperbole You can't say that it is a commonly held view of liberals to criticize overweight women ....in fact that sounds very un-liberal

Good to have you back, it sounds like an awesome holiday and really eventful I love diving in the sea, well I do more snorkeling. Its so serene and peaceful and I never get tired of seeing sea life ....very therapeutic

Guys why are you guessing about how to fix Afrixcas economic woes ? I live here and can tell you exactly what needs to be done A sensitive person would have been a little offended by how little you guys consider my view relevant

Here's a counterpoint: Wow it doesn't take a lot to get people to clap for you and think you clever, imagine how sycophantic they would be towards me ...I wasn't very impressed with his presentation He makes several obvious points and fails to realize that the West can't fix everything. So of course high skilled labor and professionals do immigrate ....but its a global world and we cant fault this But any country can turn itself around if they follow the rules of the free market and practice Democrat principles and ensure good governance Look at BRICS ....only India is not going through some crisis or serious economic challenger. And guess what the new Indian prime minister happens to be a very successful businessman who understands and follows Capitalism

Is this for real? I'm not sure I believe this, I find it highly unlikely It smacks of Islamophobia

You anti-American guys are really dramatic.....such theatrics, you guys make me laugh because I really believe you believe what you say I need to go to the bank so I'll tell you guys why I like the West when I get back

Oh yes, the US invaded Iraq because Amerians wanted to sprinkle fairy dust on Iraqis, bring Jesus to them, give them Christmas presents and Easter eggs and Disneyland, yadda yadda yadda. Talk about denial and the white savior/superiority complex. If you don't mind me asking why are you guys so anti-Western? I have no issue with your view in the sense you are perfectly entitled to your own views....I dont need to try to convince you why Western countries offer there citizens the best quality of life . I am just interested, in my own country I face anti-Western sentiment all the time on these radio talk shows I listen to and frequent But it generally comes from 2 main groups A section of the Muslim community ...they are Sunni but obviously due to Apartheid they have even more conservative views that I find absurd and at times insulting. Sections of the black South African community but I dont blame them as they are not very well informed about global events. So there dislike is normally really illogical and is based on weird anachronistic views of Colonialism and they are very sensitive to any comparisons to the West. But I have learnt how to make a point to them that doesn't get misunderstood . And then there are a small number of white South Africans who are anti-Western...I know its a disgrace. But never doubt how far a human being can fall....they just annoy me and I correct them when I can So what are your reasons? Drowsy is Serbian so I get that but no idea what motivates you guy around your views

Oh yes, the US invaded Iraq because Amerians wanted to sprinkle fairy dust on Iraqis, bring Jesus to them, give them Christmas presents and Easter eggs and Disneyland, yadda yadda yadda. Talk about denial and the white savior/superiority complex. Sure because a Democracy and having a free society is a bad idea right ...where do you live again North Korea?

I'm the best thing since sliced bread. The Clinton doctrine lead to the Iraq war. How'd that turn out? Ever heard that pride is the worst sin? Well it isn't but it is bad. We don't have the right to impose our views on other nations at the point of a gun. BTW I'm not "fine with genocide". I'm just not willing to trample on other nations' sovereignty just because they don't adhere to my values. You know Bruce, America once had a civil war of it's own, and I'm happy the world let us resolve it on our own. Not really. I think you may be confusing the Bush Doctrine with the Clinton Doctrine...but lets not blame any doctrines. There were people in the Bush government, primarily the neo-cons, who wanted to invade Iraq and believed the end would justify the means....I also believed that but I was young and uninformed..and hubris dominated my views Anyway this may sound arrogant but you asked a good question " we shouldn't trample on other countries sovereignty " and this may sound reasonable but its not. The West has every right to intervene to prevent gross human rights abuses and war crimes. Any leader of a country that is prepared to inflict this on his own country doesn't deserve to be a leader ...of course the West won't always invade but pressure is sometimes used through sanctions and punitive economic measures

Indeed, conspiracy or idiocy (or shortsighted greed, or blind adherence to market fundamentalism, pick your poison), the end result is the same. The only difference is the level of mustache twirling one suspects to be involved. Personally, and considering the abysmal average level of competence that people in positions of power have demonstrated throughout the ages, and the fact that there is no reliable method to predict and manipulate the economy and social dynamics -only now we are starting to see rigorous analysis of these fields- I'm more inclined to believe that it's the result of a myriad different factors than a classic conspiracy. Hell, there probably is a conspiracy, perhaps even several, each with its own particular petty goals, involved. But one cabal of Wise Men masterfully pulling the strings of it all? Yeah... if only. The one thing I'm missing in all this is the people. Yes, yes, the political elites and 1%ers are huge jerks, but where is everyone else? Why no "Occupy Brussels" to protest TTIP? Why no rioting on the streets to protest the fire sale of critical infrastructure to international investors? Why no mass demonstrations against imperial adventurism in Libya? Heh. edit: whoops, you already mentioned the thing with Greek airports. Clearly past my bedtime. 2133 I'm sorry but I wish you wouldn't support KP misinterpretation of the facts ..he is still young, lets not drag him down the pointless " big corporate's and nebulous Western governments manipulate and control the global economy and live to enrich themselves " path..its so 2008 . He lives in Texas ..think of his future Some good news ...your country mustn't make the egregious mistake of voting in some anti-austerity party...that's the last thing you need but I see the disastrous Greek outcome has weakened there support http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/11370812/Hopes-of-Spains-anti-austerity-party-Podemos-fired-by-Greek-result.html http://www.ibtimes.com/european-anti-austerity-2015-podemos-spains-protest-party-looks-uncertain-future-2079500 Trust me I predict you will be out of austerity in 2 years ...you don't want a distraction to the overall austerity program Also whats wrong with the Germans managing parts of Greece? That was the agreement . You are one union and there doesnt need to be this resentment

So are you suggesting if the West is involved in a military campaign, like Libya, it is now the Wests responsibility to now manage the country? The only issue with that is that the Libyans didn't want the West to be involved in governing Libya after Gaddafi was removed....so what would you suggest? I would have suggested back then to not get involved. I'd suggest now to cut our loses. All can possibly do is make things worse. I don't believe in disrespecting the sovereignty of other nation states. If that means that we cannot forcefully stop a genocide; oh well. We can still: A) Condemn the action. B) Cease all trade with said nation state. C) Offer the people being exterminated refugee status and take them in if they are able to get here, or go collect them if the genocidal nation state is willing to allow it. D) Cease all trade with any nation states that still trade with said nation state. South Africa is a case where it's sovereignty wasn't compromised. Try to use an example of when we did disregard a nation's sovereignty to make your point. You know I like you and I'm not just saying that, you are one of the few people who has decided to not ignore me and not talk to me for a period of days and thats impressive But you don't seem to understand the importance of relevant intervention from the West....there really are valid cases. Sometimes in life direct intervention is required and expected. See the logic behind the Clinton Doctrine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_Doctrine I support this 100 % and I find it hard to believe that you would be fine with the genocide of hundreds of thousands of people. We are an enlightened and progressive society, this is the greatest era of mankind. We don't allow genocides or mass rapes of civilians This is a good thing and yes it means the West will intervene in certain global events ....this should be celebrated

You see that's fine ...its the consistent usage of it in a paragraph that gets tiring

Volo this is the Volo I know and remember, you are perfectly coherent, cogent and you making excellent points....I don't always agree but thats not the point Now you can compare this to your " NAZI....SJW....EVIL" paroxysms and rants on other threads that no one understands, you are far too bright to act like that . Sorry to raise this but I do care and you know I appreciate constructive criticism. Don't you prefer this type of debate?

I actually think the West, especally the United States, should accept refugees from the Middle East - beacuse it is the West, especially the United States, that has created the refugees crisis in the first place. The United States are especially responsible for the whole mess in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. Honestly, it is the US that is mostly responsible, but EU/NATO are also at fault for the destruction of the Middle East that's been going on in the past decade (if not longer.) On the other hand, there is little doubt in my mind that these Arab and Muslim refugees are the beginning fo the end of the European civilzations. By now we should know that Muslim immigrants in Europe are NOT going to assimilate. What they will do is they will overtake. It is not a secret Muslims desire to change Europe into Islamic. The hundreds of thousands - and likely millions - of Arab and Muslim refugees, who will most certainly have a much higher birthrate than the native European poplation, pretty much guarantees that the Islamization of Europe is inevitable, and it speeds up the process. If the Islamization of Europe was a myth, now it has certainly become not. Basically, we are witnessing a historical turning point: the beginning of the end of the Western civilization in Europe. The end will likely happen later in our lifetime. And, it's the West that sowed the seeds of their own downfall - by interfering in the Middle East. Now the West is facing the consequences. Karma rarely comes so swifly, but we are witnessing the full cycle of karma in our lifetime. Nah the USA owes those countries nothing, it has already scarified enough trying to implement a Democracy in Iraq. Yes I also believed it could happen back in 2004....I was supportive of the initial Iraq invasion and naively thought a Democracy would work in the ME It sounds like you want the West to fail? Dont you live in the USA ? And there is no way Muslim immigrants will ever take over the EU or dominate the West.....you mistake the kindness of example Germany taking in Syrian immigrants as a sign of weakness. Remember the West is many things but not weak and we won't compromise on certain things

Not yet, its still very interesting

This post made me laugh " but they proceed to do their absolute best to turn their new country into a copycat of what they just fled " Its not that bad but I do agree that the laws of the land must be obeyed...and if you can't deal with that then rather leave. When I travel to the ME for work I have no rights ...seriously. They treat you well as a white person because you are doing a skilled job but you have no real protection from the law

Vaclav Klaus, former president and prime minister of the Czech Republic gives a better summary: http://blisty.cz/art/78797.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Václav_Klaus I love that man, never heard him say anything other than the unvarnished truth. I don't know why every single party that's skeptical towards immigration has no chance to win elections (apart from unending and united media hostility toward them), I can't believe European citizens are so brainwashed. Logic: Syria is religiously and politically moderate (one of the few ME countries where Christians used to live without fear), reasonably independent. > therefore, US, SA, Turkey with tacit support from Israel arm Al Quaida and Syrian traitors in a bid to wreck the country > country falls apart becoming a warzone hosting a bunch of a savages that cut off people's heads that inspire an entire generation of muslims, local and western born to terrorism - making Bashar look like a saint > these savages are supposedly unbeatable, have an endless supply of everything, and no one knows where its coming from or who is supporting them and apparently can take air strikes from the worlds largest militaries in stride - thank god for pocket plane armies, teleporting supply shipments and cloning vats! and Twitter! > migrants from all over the muslim world materialize in Europe demanding asylum and welfare checks (feeling unsafe in Pakistan bro? mhm) > Europe is guilty for US sponsored wars therefore taking them in is the right thing to do > what you don't want to do the right thing? well **** you, you'll take them in anyway > half a million, or a million or whatever jobless, culturally incompatible, mostly uneducated angry young men dumped in the streets of Europe's capitals... what could possibly go wrong? > Syria still a dump without resolution, West forced to swallow their own **** and admit Bashar wasn't so bad after all, will eventually have to help him get the rest of his country back Summary: things come full circle except US meddling comes back to bite the servile Europlebs in the ass and yet another reasonably moderate muslim state has become a breeding ground for terrorism. FLAWLESS VICTORY! With leadership like that Europe doesn't deserve to exist. Drowsy I want to ask you a serious question and I'm sorry if it feels personal, its not meant to be or meant to catch you out but I am genuinely interested in how you would rationalize this I know you don't like the West, I may not agree but at least I know where you stand . But Serbia has been trying to join the EU for years. Don't you feel conflicted, I know you are a patriot but surly if your country can like the West and see its benefits why can't you ?

Can you imagine ...I would be beheaded for sure, they savages and iconoclasts. They must be the most abhorrent ideology since the Nazis?

there is a saying in my country that i cant really translate, but it means that if you are ashamed of something, you feel like everyone is making fun of you for it. so those who complain about fat shaming, are themselves ashamed of their own fat and lash out on everyone that they think makes fun of them I must be misunderstanding you, I am not overweight at all and train at gym 3-5 times a week I think this whole " fat shaming " is reprehensible. Its not only childish but why would a person of normal and rationale thinking feel the need to tease and mock fat people ? Please explain this to me ?