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

one of the strangest things to me is people being anti protest.

if you're female, the only reason you're allowed to vote is because of activists.

if you're black and live in the US its protests that ended segregation. if you're black and live in south africa its protests that ended apartheid.

if you're gay its pride marches that have lessened discrimination and violence towards the non-het population.

i could actually keep going and make quite a long list.

what is the problem with all this? (i've noticed a bit of anti anti-war protestor feeling in h2)

Oh... and Bob, I agree about the celebrity news... a sad rlection on society that this is deemed important enough to take up so much air time and paper... However, the Iraq situation may be important but everything on it now is just a re-hash of already covered stuff..

The pro-war just keep moving the goal-posts, why don't Blair and Bush just admit they want rid of Saddam and be done with it... all this nonsense about WMD...

The anti-war lobby against bombing and killing for any reason (admirable motivations) but never coming up with any alternatives for the problem at hand...

Bush just wants his oil, the French govt want it instead and are not the altruistic humanitarians they make out, Blair wants his name to be ranked with Churchills, Hussein is a psychopathic nutcase and the poor Iraqi people are caught up in the middle of it all... look back through history and nothing ever changes does it...

Is it any wonder I'm sick of it all...

I'm gonna give my sons a cuddle and watch 64 Zoo Lane I think...

'Bush just wants his oil, the French govt want it instead and are not the altruistic humanitarians they make out, Blair wants his name to be ranked with Churchills, Hussein is a psychopathic nutcase and the poor Iraqi people are caught up in the middle of it all... look back through history and nothing ever changes does it...'

Agreed.

Whilst you choose to distance yourself, I choose to fight. But then I dont have the responsibilities of a family, etc.

And 'Infinite universe' I dont want to turn this into another war debate, but just how will bombing the Middle East stop the threat of terrorism here? Surely if you bomb the people from where the terrorists may draw their recruits, then you will encourage more of it. Why has the UK not been bombing Ireland for 30 yrs?

Why must human history be a compendium of wars? Why must war be acceptable as a legitimate means of struggle or as an acceptable way to settle differences? When will human evolve the mental capacity to move beyond the animal instincts that we still allow to dominate our brains?

Did you know that the plan - the one that the current effort to annex Iraq is a part of - was drawn up 30 years ago when the "Shah" of Iran ("our" good friend and puppet) launched what became the "Oil Embargo" of 1973. Some think Israel stands to benefit the most - no doubt it will appear to do so; but, in reality it is now and has always been considered "our" dependable toehold in the region. At least one magazine (Mother Jones) has published a fairly eye opening article on this. Here's a link:

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2003/10/ma_273_01.html

Hi,Fiedlers Fizzle,

In reply to your point below,

"And I'm of the opinion that comparing the Iraq situation to that of 1930's Europe is as reactionary as the pro-war lobby claiming nuclear armageddon if we don't attack and not based in reality..."

I think this might help to explain my point of view, although I realise that not everyone would agree.

http://www.johnpilger.com/print/129139

Seamus

Seamus... unfortunately at work I have limited internet access, BBC only, so I'll read it when I get home....