Thinkers Anonymous

Wow I didn't know the Maori are only less than
9% of the population of NZ then evil white folks must'a kilt them all huh?
 
Most likely... yes. Small pox, cholera, early colonial subjugation. Take your pick. I'm sure it took its toll a while back and the numbers have only been recovering in the last 40 years.
 
And now their lives are a million times better by allowing them modern connivance instead of living in grass thatched huts, hunting for dinner with sharpened sticks?
 
Having befriended many of said same indegenous islanders I can safely say that saying such a thing to their face would get you killed. Saying that 'you should thank us' for killing of language, culture, simplicity, population, and internal paradise is about as strong an insult as you get. They give a damn for pure water, electricity, oprah, medical care, preserved food, internal combustion engines. They are whitey western things and by their account should have remained their things. They had no concept of the the things that we would think that they would be suffering without our thumb on their necks. Its a replay of the olde 19th century 'white mans burden'. Its a touchy ground that you would better leave unshitdisturbed. I'm a conservative on most accounts... but this one area...
 
Uncy, your post lays it out very well.

The chance that the world will spin backwards and revert to a primitive time is nil.

If by birth and choice I've found myself stuck
as a white man embracing modern science
and not feeling that primitive lifestyles are superior
then I guess it is a 'burden' I'll just have to bear! :beardbng:

Shirley it must suck to be a member of an indigenous population and consider oneself inferior?
 
abooja said:
Hmm, then I don't see what everyone's all riled up about. If she's not an American, she's not expected to support American ideologies, politics or spelling. Her comments would not have seemed so offensive to me had I known that. I would just have attibuted them to her being another bitter America-hater, and left it at that.

Sorry if you're not an American, TG! :D
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ah! now hooray for a conservative with common sense. No, I'm a kiwi, born and bred and SO SO thankful for it. Personally, I actually don't even see why an American should be expected to support American ideologies if they disagree with them either...I mean, isn't thats what democracy and freedom is about, an open political spectrum?

theres that whole superior patriot do-or-die mentality some of you have which I'll never be able to understand. This cultural superiority that thinks less of any people outside the country I just think is small minded ... many can't think beyond your geographical location and think that the world outside is a very diverse place where your right-wing, fundamentalist christian influenced government are actually a minority compared with the rest of the - secular- and liberal world.

Actually, I realise that around half of you are more center or liberal minded anyway, its the republican extremists that seriously let you down, and apart from cultural imperialism and absolute self-righteousness as most of you kindly like to exhibit for me here. I do believe there are still some of you with potential to think for yourselves and be critical about where your government is leading you in terms of decision-making. But then I'm not necesarily in line with the democratic party over ther either - in fact I know very little about American Politics, don't really understand it and really don't care about it that much. What I care about is what I feel is right or wrong, free or repressive, democratic or corporate and moral facism. Clearly, I don't like what is happening there...But that applies to anywhere that is hapening, and its happening everywhere - it just so happens that the U.S model is one hell of an example to people who care.

But then, I've grown up in a country with a background that really is removed from the hot-house over there and frankly, I'm glad that I did so that I'm free enough to be open minded and not at all restricted or feel that I have to abide by some sort of code of national silence that prevents any anti-american criticism from being heard - see, to me that sounds a lot like extreme communism or extreme facisim - both opposite extremes but intolerant of dissident voices.

ANd aw, come on now -I'm not that bitter - i don't reaally hate America or Americans, I just am extremely cynical and critical about the dominance of a facist, one-minded mentality over diversity. And it just so happens you are #1 on that - though I'm sure if it were china or Japan in global dominance, and we were all meant to abide by asian ideologies and morals and they were impacting on the rest of the world then I would similarly be critical of them - and I'm sure you would be too...or, would you just bomb them? hmm

I might just also point out that for people who only appear to understand each other in terms of blatant stereotypes, I think that the term Anti-american would probably be the easiest(?) for you to digest although probably a mostly misleading description of where I come from...

redneck and proud:
Maybe. But we remember the rules of capitalization at least...Now go point your snotty grammar argument somewhere else before you hurt yourself.
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I actually make no proclamations about GRAMMAR, and don't really give a damn about spelling or accuracy because I see that kind of thing as restrictive to expression and really inconsequential in relation to the process of generating ideas. I'd rather get it out than worry about if i've done it "right"

And now really, I've been spelling humour, "humour" ever since I could write so I really don't see the point in trying to understand why the u has been taken out in your version, I think the u is better, it may sound pathetic - but I do.

I just have an innate respect for words and language in general and since the form that I learned it in is the one that I grew to respect thats naturally the one I prefer, the one I think is best... :p
 
though I have to say that I am blown away by the fact that nobody here has resorted to text-speak just yet. THAT definately impresses me...and deserves respect......:lol:
:lloyd:
 
TG, I never suggested that free speech should be stifled. I don't believe that everyone should walk in lockstep to one way of thinking, never did. I certainly don't like being told how to think, feel, or believe. I just don't enjoy being told that our *evil* American ways are the scourge of the earth, when I firmly believe the opposite to be true. I won't try to convince you of that here.

BTW, I don't know that "conservative" is the right way to describe me. I'm a registered Republican (wasn't always), but I'm pro-choice, pro-legalization, was a vegetarian for five years, and I voted for Bill Clinton the first time around. :sick3: Guess that makes me more of a libertarian.
 
I think was speaking more generally in that rant, really. You, I actually see as not a complete loss, just influenced by your environment, as to be expected. Your unrelenting patriotism is forgivable although I prefer cynicism :p. I always sensed you weren't so right-wingish as gonz appears to be, for example ;) (although I'm really starting to think she's a closet-libbie, with a fetish for Anne Coulter :lol2: )
 
its the republican extremists that seriously let you down
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That's not quite true. Looking into common beliefs, ie global warming, and realizing they are lies while watching our society pull itself apart at the seams over unconstitutional ideals pushed me farther right than I'd ever been. During my teens & twenties I believd myself a liberal republican. I am now just a conservative. A male conservative.
 
I think was speaking more generally in that rant, really. You, I actually see as not a complete loss, just influenced by your environment, as to be expected. Your unrelenting patriotism is forgivable although I prefer cynicism
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Gee, thanks. :alienhuh:

For the record, my patriotism (just the right amount, thanks) kicked into high gear the moment 3,000 innocent people were murdered in my backyard, in the building in which my father once worked, in the city in which I was born. I don't take my beliefs lightly.

P.S. I forgot to mention I'm also an atheist. Does that make you feel better about me? :p

Edit: damn typos
 
"pushed me farther right than I'd ever been"

Even if you stood your ground you would have
appeared to move right as everything has slipped left faster then the seafloor under Sumatra.
 
Gonz said:
That's not quite true. Looking into common beliefs, ie global warming, and realizing they are lies while watching our society pull itself apart at the seams over unconstitutional ideals pushed me farther right than I'd ever been. During my teens & twenties I believd myself a liberal republican. I am now just a conservative. A male conservative.
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You know, Gonz, sometimes I think the only difference between you and I is that you decry the liberal lies while blindly accepting the conservative ones. I don't like being lied to period.
 
TG...It's SouthernN'Proud, not redneck and proud. Though both are equally accurate. I just figured a perfectionist such as your divine self would want that error, most obviously not one of any fault of you own as no such thing could possibly exist, corrected.

You're welcome.
 
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