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

The poll at the bar says we're about 65% - 75% Democrat. Maybe it's just the bar I hang at.

Maybe it is, but that's a great result anyway...

Polls are notoriously unreliable, though and what really counts in an election is how many voters get off their back sides.

Oh and the actual count its self.

one love

Although one thing I must say about Texas, is that living where I am at is very pretty, the people are very friendly. The opinions might be rather irritating but the kids my age there is at least wide variety of it.
I like the Texan ideology to politics though, unfortunately LBJ and Bush, Jnr have not taken the ideals to heart. Living in Texas, the only state that can fly its flag at the same height as the US flag, I have learnt that Texas is very proud of its republic. Texan political ideology is teetering on the edge of anarchy. They want a limited govt which is why I don't understand when a Texan gets into power he creates more departments and gives the Federal govt more power. You don't know how many Texan republicans and Lefty got annoyed with the Homeland Security Act and the Patriot act as soon as they realised what was going on.
But with the Right Wing controlling the media people like Bill O'Reilly are praised for being 'fair and balanced' despite calling the Europeans terrorist. The leftist radio station AirAmerica is not working despite Al Franken being its voice.
Like with this current outrage in Iraq, a lot of the media although saying it was bad, but they say why should America be held to a double standard. And I say because America claims the moral high ground. I guess for the moment I haven't much to say, I'm tired.

,

Yeah..well, Texas is probably a nice place; if you´re not on death row.


______________


How about the suggestion that red cross install offices in any major prison fcilities in Iraq?. I´ve only heard about this peripherically (word ).


It seems like a good idea, but would it be possible?




Octopoid/TD.

It's a great idea, Octopoid.
(Peripherally is the word...)

*Although one thing I must say about Texas*
You must be the only Texan that has only *one* thing to say about it.....

Completely off the current topic but on the general one, could the USAians out there tell me something? What is taught of the Crusades in school there before college or university? Just wondering if a theory of mine might be true.

It's hard for me to say, because I did a bit more reading than other people in my age group. I knew about the crusades before college, but I'm not sure how many other people knew about it besides me. I think we briefly touched on it in world history.

First of all I'm British, I live in Texas.
Second of all, the crusade I don't think is taught much outside of further reading, or from what I have gathered.
Third of all, it seems the Red Cross are unlikely to do anything about the things in Iraq since Rumsfield admitted to ignoring them.
Fifth of all, I can't count. Just thought I add that.

I don't remember studying too much about the crusades in high school. We covered them as part of the 'dark ages', even though the muslim world was quite advanced and civilized at the time. Our history classes kinda fast-forward through everything before 1492.

don't mess with texas

I think this one speaks for itself

Rumsfeld Backs Iraq Interrogation Methods

Wednesday May 12, 2004 8:31 PM


By KEN GUGGENHEIM

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Wednesday defended military interrogation techniques in Iraq, rejecting complaints that they violate international rules and may endanger Americans taken prisoner.

Rumsfeld told a Senate committee that Pentagon lawyers had approved methods such as sleep deprivation and dietary changes as well as rules permitting guards to make prisoners assume stressful positions.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4083147,00.html

i dunnae see what they stand to gain most of the prisoners have little or no tactical information they are primarly ordinary iraquis simply trying to survive occupation

According to the red cross, about 80 percent of those held at the prison are released without ever being charged.

According to right wing talk show hosts and obviously to Rumsfeld himself "We're making too big of a deal over these images, we have to keep in mind these are terrorists we're dealing with!"[paraphrasing]

I kid you not. Oh, and also, Rumsfeld also stated strait forwardly that those held at Guantanamo are NOT subject to Geneva convention rights because they are Terrorists not prisoners of war!

Oh, and as far as teaching about the crusades... We probably read one or two paragraphs about it.

Um, not to be contentious, but who cares about the crusades? Sorry if I'm missing a point by not trawling back through posts, but are people trying to judge a state or an education system by how much about a specific period of the distant past they are taught?

I'm all for learning about the past in order to avoid repeating mistakes, but do the Crusdaes really have anything to tell us about modern international politics / life generally?

In this case I would say yes! To many in the muslim world our presence in the holy lands IS another crusade!

"I'm all for learning about the past in order to avoid repeating mistakes, but do the Crusdaes really have anything to tell us about modern international politics / life generally?"

I am not sure but I think when the President is close to bieng a fundamentalist Christian; engaging in a war in the the middle east there have to be at least some parralels.

When Bush talks about things like "The struggle between good and evil" sentiments echoed by his oppanants I for one sometimes think about these parralels.

I dispute religion has much to do with the current war. But then I dispute how much religion had to do with the crusades. I would nod towards expansionist greed as the prime mover in both cases - it's just rare to see expansionism at a national/political level these days; it's mostly done more subtly using international finance nowardays.