h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Amen! I sign. I would argue positively about it if we had that right.
Nerd42

Amen! I sign. I would argue positively about it if we had that right.
Nerd42

Amen! I sign. I would argue positively about it if we had that right.
Nerd42

It does indeed.

So we have 2 questions: why were you over ther and why did you lose your leg?

As you said, the reasons why you were over in Italy were unclear, but consistant with keeping an occupying forces post WWII in other countries such as Japan and Germany. Perhaps Italy, like Japan and Germany was notrusted to maintain it's own peace following the fall of their governments?

As for your leg, you have my sincere sympathy. My personal opinion is that land mines are one of the most evil creations of mankind. And they're still being used to this day:
http://www.icbl.org/news/2003/306.php

In short, I cannot even begin to give you defenitive answers to your questions.

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Landmines_html/MakingKilling_NI.html
http://www.icbl.org/

Nerd 42
Repeated postings like that will not help the cause one little bit.
Tommy Mac

>> Democracy is not enforceable you know . <<

Of course is isn't, but dictatorships are. If you had been a Russian, would you have acted against Stalin knowing that if you were caught, which was almost certain, you would have been shot and your entire family would have ended up in a Gualag. The same goes for Hitler and Pol Pot. It takes a very brave man to act knowing that not only is his own life on the line, but that of his wife children, brothers and sisters and their wives and children.

Dictators maintain their position by eliminating all opostion, either real or percieved, and maintain an atmospher of fear to keep it that way. Hitler did it, Stalin did it and Pol Pot did it. That applies to all dictators, past and present.

All those people mentioned maintained the position with fear, abject gut wrenching fear.

Stuart

Hey there. I thought this was a thread where you could add your name to the petition.

It seems to have turned into the British Legion.

Shome mishtake shurely ?

Maybe those who post here should be automatically added to the petition ?

to Naugen Amoeba
Many thanks for your words of sympathy. But I am well past feeling sorry for myself. I NEVER REALLY DID.
After all it was 55 years ago now and my prothesis is as much a part of me as the rest of my body.
I have lived a very normal and fulfilling life and to some extent my disability has been a blessing in disguise. I have helped others in the same predicament as myself for all these years, thus finding fulfillment for my existence.
I have been happily married to my wife for the past 49 years ,have two loving children and two grand daughters who adore me.
So,in actual fact I have not missed out on anything in life .
Still , I WOULD like someone to explain to me just why I was over there . Thanks again.
Tommy Mac

The only thing I can offer as an explanation is that once a country (or countries) expand resources to invade another country, they don't want to risk that investement by relying on local people for policing. Sorry to put it in such economic terms, but that's how it seems to be.

Neugen amoeba
EXACTLY! hence my reason for being against ALL wars .
Tommy mac

My objection to wars is not on economic grounds. I just find the whole concept favouring the stupid: it's the guy with the biggest gun who wins. What ever happenned to trying to outsmart your enemy?

We all know that Bush couldn't outsmart his potplant, but there has to be someone out there capable of outsmarting Saddam....

.. and how to do outsmart a dictator who has no compunction to torturing and killing anyone who as much as says boo to him.

Stuart

>> ..hence my reason for being against ALL wars <<

If you are against all war, then it’s reasonable to assume you are against honouring defence treaties with other countries. In order to avoid being called onto do so and abrogating treaties, you don’t enter into any. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that you are against NATO which calls on one country to go to the aid of another if attacked. No NATO and it would have made the Soviets job a lot easier if they had decided to invade the former West Germany.

So when a power mad dictator attacks another country you do nothing. When he attacks a second country, you do nothing. He then goes on to attack a third and a fourth until it is your turn. You then get subjugated because there is no one left to help you. Otherwise we just bow down and accept what happens without any attempt to defend yourself.

Wars are horrible, of that there is no doubt. But while the world keeps throwing up people like Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot, they will be a necessary evil.

First they came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me--and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Martin Niemööller(1892-1984),


Stuart

Tommy Mac, you have my sympathy for your appalling injuries!What can I say?

Stuart, I assume you mean Saddam Hussein... Why exactly, are the Americans attempting to 'regime change' him, when other military dictators are allowed to continue to flourish like the green bay tree? Kim Jong Il (wait, he has *nukes*, doesn't he?)Pervez Musharraf, Hamid Kharzai, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, the usual sprinkling of guys in Central America in Dirty Dog sunglasses...
Double standards, Stuart. Hypocrisy.
(I would mention other powers, but I don't want to cause a W*r!)

Della

If you are refering to the question how to outsmart a dictator yes?"

If you are refering to the refernce to Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot, No. That was about war in general and the asertion that all wars are wrong especially if you yourself are not attacked.

I was pointing out the there are occasions when war is justified, even though you yourself are not threatened. As far as Britian is concerned, WWI and WWII are prime examples.

Of the four people you mention, I don't think you can put the last three in the same category as Hitler, Stalin or Pol Pot. Kim Il Jung II possibly. No, he doesn't have nuclear weapons, but China does.

Its not a case of double standards, its more a case of doing what can be done and approaching a far more difficult problem differently.

Stuart

Stuart
"dictatorships are" you say .
Not true you know ,without willing lackeys dictators could not exist.
As for the ones you mention, you left one out ,namely Edi Amin.
All of their reigns of terror did not last any great length of time . None can last forever and given time, this Near East dictator will disappear into oblivion.
So again I say, it is not our duty or job to enter any country to impose a new regime ,It must be left to the country's people themselves to overthrow any tyrant. Even if it means sacrifice on their part .After all, it IS their country.
Just as an aside :- Do you know that during World War 11 Russia's leader was considered our greatest ally and that children here were to consider him as 'Uncle Joe' ? Suddenly,when the war was over he became a cruel tyrant?
Tommy Mac

Della
Thank you for your words of sympathy,you are very kind, but let me assure you ,there is no need any more for them .
After all they have been with me me for 55 yaers and I can assure you I can live a normal life.
Still , thanks anyway.
Tommy Mac

Stuart
You said it yourself,'When he attacks another country' .
Ok .Then I think we must leave it to the United Nations.
But this guy has not attacked another of our Allies has he ?
Tommy Mac

To all
Thus I will withdraw from this conversation .
I have my views which I consider quite valid ,although I will admit are a bit personal and maybe biased.
While others have views totally different views from mine ,and they are perfectly entitled to them .
But never the twain shall meet.
Unless of course, we might find some common ground upon which we could all agree