BruceVC

To be fair the West isn't really going berserk over Russian human rights, for example when was the last time you heard of any kind if commission into Russian atrocities committed during the Chechnya wars? The issue is much simpler, there is an international sports event that Russia is hosting. Russia has passed laws that undoubtedly discriminate against gay people, Gay athletes will be attending this event and most of the countries attending this event don't discriminate against gay people in the same way that Russia does So now certain questions need to be asked. What do the countries and the gay athletes do that will attend this event? We almost all agree that the event shouldn't be cancelled so should political statements be made like wearing a bracelet that shows your view on this matter? I think they should to show the Russian government that many people have no issue with the sexual orientation of a person. But this is where the debate becomes interesting

Obviously you have no idea what you are talking about.. The jerks kept embargoing me in Lubeck! So I often sue for peace with the option "Give me half your trade power" and embargo them as well, just to spite! ^_^ They keep allying with Great Britain, however, which reduces the effectiveness of my fleet >.> But I did start a lone little colony along the St. Lawrence and in Sierra Leone! Game is absurd fun (EU4). I formed Prussia, although ended up becoming the Holy Roman Emperor (which is hilarious, actually, as Prussia was formed as the Protestant grouping against the HRE) because of my spreading of Protestantism among the elector states and my vassalizing of a lot of them. But then I had an event where the Bureaucracy had effectively plotted to turn my nation into a Republic, to which I ran with it just because I don't usually do stuff like that. So I was the Administrative Republic of Prussia for a little bit! Until I decided to form Germany outright! Spain inherited Portugal as a a part of a personal union, which basically means Spain owns most of the New World, although Great Britain has the southern Caribbean, France (who's been crushed thoroughly this game) has Newfoundland, and Norway has most of the Maritimes and New England area. Burgundy has also taken to some colonizing of Africa, along with Spain. I haven't looked too much out East, though I did notice that Japan was unified and appears to be in Korea as well. Manchu holds most of China. Aside from conquering the German states, I am planning on focusing more on my colonial holdings now that I am becoming able to do so. Sofa king fun. I must say it sounds fun and interesting

Malc I'm more than happy for you to PM me any posts that you make and I'll confirm if they are acceptable. Then you can post it, as time goes on you will realize what you should or shouldn't say. It won't take long

Not if those words are offensive or based around bigotry, you are learning Malc. We will make a liberal of you yet

Well said Indira, a very relevant post

Just the fact that Obama said those things is a good thing and a clear message he supports equality, why does he now have to mention specific countries outside of Russia? His view is obvious. I see no hypocrisy.

That, dear boy, is because I'm just so damn pretty.

But it's Western media represent friendly kiss of winners as gay marker. It's american citiezen say what "Men sitting together on the couch side of the table in a cafe, or drinking juice from straws" looks like gays. It's Western problem, not ours. Oh sorry, I misunderstood you And you are right its wrong to position affection by men as being anything more than it is. Or also to assume something like drinking a pink drink or wearing a pink shirt ( and this happened to me at a customer recently) means you "must be gay or it looks gay"

1) I've lived 5 years abroad in a culture that is neither Western, liberal, or predominantly christian. 2) I currently live in an area where there is no ethnicity that is in the majority. 3) To be specific, my neighbors to the right, left, front, front right, and front left, are all of different ethnicity/cultures. 4) I am not part of the ethnic majority in my country. Can you say the same about yourself? Why you newer hear about friendly kiss then? Do you not understand what IRL all you belongs to one culture - American culture of consumption (or culture of one-dimensional people), you all do some thing and think some thing, this forum is best proof about this. Main problem of modern Western culture and society is alienation (it's problem only for common peolpe, ruling elite very like this effect). It's too long to explain read One-Dimension man if you want moar. http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/marcuse/works/one-dimensional-man/index.htm Propaganda of gayness increase alienation of people, because it's destroy friendship between people. Any manifestations of friendship become manifestations of gays in your society - people avoid this ( not too many people want look's like gays ) and as result friedenship not survived in your world. For example these guys look's like good friends for Russians, but Westling's don't known what friendship is, they known only gayness and these good people look's like gays for them. http://youtu.be/ANC2zs1GjRE The fact that Russians have a perceived idea of what gayness is actually a problem with your culture and what you consider is acceptable. This is something that you need to work on to get the level of equality that you should want to. Also you do realize there are gay people out there who look like you, talk like you and act like you. So I'm not what you mean when you say "people want to avoid looking like gays" That is just another uninformed generalization

That would be interesting if there was a valid connection

But Lady C we often discuss politics and those threads are positive and interesting?

Funny story Walsie And I can imagine it happening to you

This makes perfect sense to me and isn't confusing at all. Well done California for trying to address this social issue in a way that causes as less distress to pupils as possible. In South Africa we have legalized same sex marriages and your sexual orientation is protected in our constitution but I haven't heard anything about how we protect the rights of transgender pupils at schools, so you guys ahead of us in that respect. I also never thought about the considerations of transgender kids in schools. So its interesting

Too many people You would think so, but would you believe me if I told you that all those people are my friends on different levels and through different circumstances. Of course I need to add I am only talking about 8 people as the rest are wives and girlfriends but I'm also friends with the ladies but I only met them through the guys

It was necessary, what was Tommy doing when you shot the Coyote? Well, he was growling at the front door downstairs when they first started yapping around the grill. I was by the loft window upstairs. I had it open but I was back in the room about 1 meter from the window so they wouldn't see me. I watched them for about 5 minutes until a really big one came out and started pushing the others around. I figured he was my guy. Once I shot I think tommy went from growling to barking. I'm not sure. My ears are still ringing from firing from inside a small room! Its quite an amazing story, I live in a big city so something like that happening just sounds surreal. Yet this is a reality that you have do deal with. Really interesting when you think of the different lives we live yet we are similar in many ways

Walsie is correct Drowsy, its for the best that you accept this. You'll be a much less angry person when you realize that these "damn movements for equality" are not only the right thing to do but are also inexorable Well, I wouldn't say they were inexorable. That's half the problem. I would say the logic was ineluctable. But it seems pretty clear that we're not meshing here. DE's main beef is that he thinks it's wrong that the EU/US get to make demands like this. IIRC that's because he feels personally pressured. We could debate human rights all day and it wouldn't connect. I believe in the inherent good of people and eventually countries won't have systemic laws that are bigoted. So I suppose I mean "eventually inexorable" as the movement for equality will win one day, even in the places like the Middle East. As people become more enlightened most will see that discrimination makes no sense, of course you will always have people with there own personal prejudices but you just won't see laws in countries that enforce those prejudices. Also I don't see anything wrong with the US\EU beaking about in the affairs (I also like that term) of countries if they have the moral high ground. So yes intervention in Rwanda should have happened

It was necessary, what was Tommy doing when you shot the Coyote?

What do you mean? You obviously don't mean you specifically but a group of people that you identify with?

We have dinner planned tonight at a really cool restaurant and funky bar called " The Kitchen Bar" They do exotic ****tails and the food is excellent. There are 16 of us going so it should be loads of fun

Walsie is correct Drowsy, its for the best that you accept this. You'll be a much less angry person when you realize that these "damn movements for equality" are not only the right thing to do but are also inexorable

Also some of the majority support these measures, you've basically said it yourself. Your circle of friends don't care about security so rather leave it to people more qualified to make the right decisions for you I totally reject the idea that these people are more qualified. They (the Obama administration & the NSA) do not give a damn about my security, safety, life, or health. The only thing they want is perpetual power and those are the means to get it. But GD what about the fact the NSA has helped prevent terrorist attacks? The measures they implement, like Prism, are for your own good. The Federal Government is your friend, the Federal Government is your friend

Also some of the majority support these measures, you've basically said it yourself. Your circle of friends don't care about security so rather leave it to people more qualified to make the right decisions for you

100 %, I completely agree.

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-08-16/saudi-arabia-stands-with-egypt-against-terrorism/ I see that Saudi Arabia supports the actions of the Egyptian military. They said "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its people and government stood and stands by today with its brothers in Egypt against terrorism" An interesting decision and it probably means that the other Sunni dominated countries will follow suite. I am reserving my opinion on this as I recognize the importance that Saudi Arabia plays and this situation is complicated

Yeah that's also how I see games like GTA and Saints Row. And I also agree about the appeal of playing single-player games, they are single-player !!! But I'll try this GTA online, just so I can confirm if I like it or not