Fatguy
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The loss of a pet is – in some ways – like the loss of a family member. Funny how these things can move us. A pet is just an animal that can not carry on a conversation with us or do many of the things human friends can do. However, they give us love and are always there to be hugged and cuddled.
I have been telling people around this site my feelings of emotional emoting – if you like….. Animals are very emotional (especially dogs when it comes to expressing emotions); a dog – for example – will get angry, whimper, yearn, etc.. understandable emotions to us humans. So our pets grow on us as we live with them. But most pets have shorter lifespans than we humans; so a regular moment of heartbreak happens when we lose a cherished pet.
We each must deal with grief in our own way; but I know from personal experience, that if you reach out – there will always be friends to help
Maurice.
I can not seem to post anymore at Sadgeezer – except for Logan’s forum. Actually; the only thing that keeps me here is the familiarity of fellow posters that frequent this forum.
I posted a thread about the ultimate end purpose of mankind – only to delete it. I then posted a thread asking why a philosophical discussion (about the previous thread) had to be deleted by myself while a website of a guy blowing his brains out was “OK”…..(I also posted the link) – I deleted that one with only two people viewing it. Just two of many…..a trend….. 🙄 In any case; this is not the way I usually operate.
I check in regularly just to see how my little circle of internet acquaintances are getting along in their lives. The only thing I have ever cared about was the real feelings the others had for me, and when I knew these people had their hearts in the right place – they were true friends in my book. I place no value on public displays are they are only that – public displays…..but sometimes entertaining nevertheless. It has been my experience that the reserved “upper classed attitude” tended to be the biggest bunch of bigots on the face of the earth. When I was married; it would “pain” me to see the crappy table my wife would get at a restaurant (paying top dollar 😡 ), and the deferred service (this still bugs me now – but I never told her…..) – you see, it is the little things like this that hurt the most…..
This is why you will never see me at any “get-togethers” of the internet crowd. The ones I am closer to would never be any problem to me; but the others would be. It would start off very cordial – but the social barriers would gradually come up and I would forever hate the experience (oh how I am “dialed into” this type of thing). Ok…..I am rambling on (a rather quiet and lonely moment here in Fatguy’s universe…..) But I just had to speak my mind for once…..
Maurice
Why Fatguy? Beats me? Actually I just wanted to pick a name that presented anything I said in a negative light. It should be an upward climb to make people like anything you present to anyone. At one time I was sure that saying “I love you” would only get the most fierce of negative reactions.
If I could do it again I would pick another. I am not fat and later wondered if the name coupled to a thin guy was hurtful to others. However, I think that “Fatguy” is regarded at these sites as just some obnoxious guy – so I have “turned” the word into something else. Presently I am getting back in shape and getting a “six pack” which at my age is a neat trick!
Not a lot of trouble registering “Fatguy” except for Sci-fi’s forums whcih made me take “Fatguy1” (but I do no think Fatguy! has a post on that forum). I would post my full real name if I did not worry about security issues…..oh well…..
If I was younger I would have started again; as it is – laziness has taken hold. I am getting weak and tired – where is the arrogant, cock-sure guy who could take on the world? I guess “Fatguy ” is here to stay. Here is a pic from last year (not much has changed):
This old thread was edited by me for some stupid reason: “snooze and you lose…..”
Maurice – Ok – I transformed myself into the virtual “White Man”.
I just had to reply to you post Jhevz 😀 . The emotion is everything – laughter, sadness, anger – If people do not feel for me – then I do not feel connected to them. I do not place any meaning on emotions – except to the fact that I have touched someone. Touching someone is important as it tells us that we are not alone. To move a person to an unexpected emotion is another affirmation that we are not in solipsistic universe (although this is not absolute).
An example is a person at another board that has the initials of her handle as: A…..A – and rarely if ever posts here….. To some; it would seem that this person truly hates me from the comments she made about me – however, this is the same person who came to my side against a more bigoted poster in a forgotten corner of that board that went unnoticed by me for quite a while. I have a good memory and I do not forget these kind acts; acts that would seem inconsistent with her future verbiage but are completely consistent with a person that you have “touched”. Consistency and rationality are just mental tools that have limited use in our social environment. Holding back one’s emotions is a great mistake for humanity. An emotional person is just the state to change an attitude – or reaffirm one….. Our most cherished moments are usually emotional ones…..go figure…..
I have been holding back my emotions on this board and have probably “cheated” my fellow posters of some rather entertaining topics. However; I have also been holding back my more analytical thoughts on many forums and the net result is that I am beginning to close my mind – holding back is not my way.
Maurice
Remember that this is only for fun and entertainment. I am always off topic 8) – on the other hand, my heart is full of love and I really do love you all at Sadgeezer. On these “happy” sites I may tease people who may take things rather hard – but that is just emotion – directed emotions (as opposed to the completely irrational kind we subject our friend and family to – ooops, that happens here also…..from me anyway…..)
I was just at a forum where the topics are grim and about things that could land people in prison for up to ten years. Which would not be so bad if not for the fact that the people posting are the ones that could get that punishment. I am off-topic as usual – but just wanted to try out this forum. This really is a charming, happy corner of the world. Where else do you meet people that call themselves “fluffy bunny” and “snooklepie”…..
Maurice
[quote=”lexxrobotech”]Idi Amin was either extremely evil or clinically insane.[/quote]
What about Stalin, Hitler, Chairman Mao, The Emperor Of Japan (still responsible even though it was others that started hostilities), Ho Chi Minh, Mussollini, etc….. If insane – then they could never be found guilty of war crimes; and what of the others that followed their orders? What is “evil” – a purely subjective term (evil is usually the loser in the history books – why is Hitler “evil” and Stalin not?). The people of Iraq consider Bush to be evil…..
Here is an article:
http://www.ugandamission.net/aboutug/articles/amin.html#03-0802b
Maurice
Wowwwwwww!!!!!!!!!! Good God Pet…..what a massive project! 😀 I can only assume that a very intense infatuation of Patrick Magoon is at work here – but the plus side is a fabulous website for The Prisoner fans. This obviously must have taken a lot of time on your part (as a side note: how has Mr. Pet taken this…..I remember him posting something about it in an earlier thread….. 8) ).
I am jealous – not of the site (which is nevertheless fantastic) – but of the appeal of Patrick Magoon (misspelling intentional)…..
Maurice
Happy birthday! 😀 In honor of the event – I have decided to sing you a birthday tune:
[audio src="http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/OldManRiver.wav" /]
Maurice
Great news Pet – will check it out when I get the chance (have to check in at work even though I got the week off 😡 ).
Maurice
Got power up here at noon. I spent the morning looking for gas for a generator my parents have a their place. There could be more brownouts; so I may spend more time there 8) . At my house, I have officially defrosted my freezer 🙄 – even though I did not want to. No looting or anything like that, and the traffic is moving well despite no traffic lights. Wow – was the moonlight a very important thing when there is no electricity. Later…..
Maurice
Oh crap….. Wrote out a long reply and forgot to log in 😯 .
Too pissed off to go at it again – But I will try again later…..
Maurice
[quote=”Aleck”][quote=”Fatguy”]Am I the only one who is involved in politics? :shock:[/quote]
No, but the last time there was active discussion in this thread, you castigated and dismissed those involved for only being interested in politics when it had something directly to do with them. That doesn’t really encourage further discussion. And on top of that, you vacillate between accusing us of not being active enough and warning us to not speak up because Big Brother is watching our every post. Neither choice would seem, then, to make you happy. And just because we don’t go around complaining about politics 24/7 on a science fiction message board does not mean that no one here is interested or involved in political discussion elsewhere.[/quote]
Actually…..you are quite correct. The vacillation you speak of is also a dilemma that faces all that criticize a government – including me. However, I disagree about politics not entering a sci-fi board – politics is reality; and though many may wish to hide in the fantasy world of sci-fi to escape reality – a good dose of reality is needed every now and then to keep us in “reality”. By the way…..the best political discussions are at boards like this – international, unbiased (because it “is” a si-fi board), and fairly open minded peole you can talk to (unlike those “other” boards).
If you take an overview of my postings: you will see some politics (less and less though)…..but you will also see, poetry, my SARS experience (got a t-shirt yesterday and will post a picture), some clowning around:
[audio src="http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/OldManRiver.wav" /]
and a look into the mind of the mentally ill 😯 😯 .
My purpose in this thread was to answer Lexxlurker’s angst by showing this person how to properly lobby the government. Now is the time to do it as when the wheels of procedure get moving – it is a done deal….. Organizational mailings to politicians are treated like spam and never read – a personal letter with name and address of constituent are always read and answered if done properly (one letter to a constituency office means a shift of 12,000 like minded people up here…..). However – I did not wish to appear too pushy as LexxLurker has been very kind to me in my previous threads – so I gave this person an “out” if they did not wish to pursue the matter.
P.S. You guys only see me when then I get motivated to do something – I am a much more pleasant guy in person…..
Maurice
[quote=”Logan”]Since my membership in the Forum Voice usergroup is still pending (I cannot post in your forum), here is a request to gain special access to your forum. :)[/quote]
You and me both – I hope I have not been a negative influence on you 🙄 .
Maurice – “Why did I pick the name – Fatguy?”
Am I the only one who is involved in politics? 😯 LexxLurker: What are you going to do? PEOPLE GET THE GOVERNMENT THEY DESERVE. I now have to monitor and delete any “politically incorrect” posts due to my political past. You have no excuse!
Maurice – P.S. – LexxLurker…..I will not blame you if you do nothing, chalenging the government has its price 🙄 .
[quote=”elmey”]$710, that’s pretty steep for a hank o’ hair 😕
What were you going to do with it Fatguy?
elmey[/quote]
If I told you – you would think I was a capitalist skunk. Instead – i believe this sums it up rather well:
[audio src="http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/OldManRiver.wav" /]
Maurice – unemployed opera singer.
WOWWWWWWW!!!!!!! The Kai wigs on ebay went for 710.00USD! A sniper got it in the last fifteen seconds (I wonder what the upper limit of that person’s proxy bid was 🙄 ). In any case – congrats to whoever won it – hopefully a Sadgeezer 😈 .
Maurice
I was a bit premature – I placed one bid for someone who shall remain nameless – No more bids from me 8) .
Maurice
I have officially dropped out of the auction 😥 . I suggest whoever gets this thing not wash it – “black light” you know….. 😈 .
Maurice
What I did in the village today:
[audio src="http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/OldManRiver.wav" /]
Re Logan: you can zap this when you finish throwing up or laughing – etc.. 8) . This is definitely spam….. Also – if you get this in time – could you tell anyone at LEXX.com that if they are bidding on the Kai wig to say so and I will not bid. If not – then I will buy it and I have very deep pockets…..not that big a deal for me – so speak up!
Maurice
As I am one of the oldest people here; 1000 years is not that long. The older you get – the better unlimited lifespan looks.
Maurice
Congrats Jhevz! Some comments/questions on the new forum:
1. This forum really looks to be a Testing/Help forum – an idea long overdue on a complicated website like Sadgeezer. Personally, such a place is useful in order to have test new ideas/methods of posting.
2. I wonder why the usergroup….. (if the forum is indeed a type of Testing/Help forum). As an example – I signed up and still can’t enter to post what I am posting now. I figure an inclusive forum like this should be wide open. Perhaps the user group should be a subset of the forum for -as an example – adult sci-fi art or stories, or a project in development that needs some input but not wide open viewing…..
These are just some initial thoughts on the announcement – perhaps I have it wrong. I await your reply.
Maurice
Happy Birthday! Try not to think about it too much…..it will give you more grey hairs….. 😆
Maurice – Another ‘Old Geezer”.
“Happiness is Not a warm gun. it’s a beautiful baby IMHO”
An interesting statement – Back to my life as a White Man!
Maurice:D
[quote=”Logan”]Welcome to the [i]exclusive[/i] club, WhiteGuy. 😆 I can only hope that the kind people here will find it in their hearts to look upon my newborn as if she were not “tainted with a touch of the tar-brush,” as my dear recently departed grandmother would’ve once said.
Sadgeezer.com, for those with [i]discriminating[/i] taste (taste in sci-fi that is). 😉 ;)[/quote]
You know…..I was eating a Kentucky Fried chicken 2pc with gravy 🙄 and maccaroni in my sweltering car.
Maurice
Wow Logan – that is one cute girl! If I was a baby again, I would ask her out on a date….. 😛 Be prepared for the gruelling competition of baby contests (I won one 8) ). Have fun on the long weekend!
Maurice
Great news Logan! Congrats to Mom and Dad – I predict many sleepless nights ahead…..hehehehehe. Your world and your outlook on it has now permanently changed (though you may not know it yet) – welcome to the establishment…..
Oh yah….. My favorite Prisoner quote is you telling us about “Number 1/2” being born.
Maurice
Please Do Not Read This…..
As my posts usually are the “kiss of death” to a thread….. As to the topic at hand – I never saw the show but would like to run a thought past everyone. The idea of someone suddenly finding everyone and their environment “changed” and that mysterious people are out to “get them”; along with the “taking to the streets alone” to find the truth – are all too familiar in the world of mental illness…..
The whole plot for Nowhere Man (even the title of the series) is strangely reminiscent of the mentally ill fall into darkness….. Many of the homeless that one finds on the street are mentally ill – paranoid, etc….. Most had jobs, family, a permanent residence – but mental illness changed all that…..
I think that the series (keeping in mind I never saw it) make this type of thing palatable by presenting us beautiful people and clean exciting backdrops – as opposed to middle aged “seedy” drunk and unkept homeless people one sees on the street. This person is the true “Nowhere Man”…..
Perhaps the ending of this series is more positive than “The Prisoner”; in that the guy may indeed seek professional help via drug therapy or behavior modification – but I think not…..as the whole world is out to get him….. 🙄 Sorry for wasting your time…..
Maurice
The Trip Begins.
Here he is:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/maurgrad
This is the guy who’s head I have to get into – because he is not me – even though we have the same name….. It has been twenty years since I last met him – that arrogant fool; he is gone now but his work still remains, and I shall now try to understand what he understood all too well. However – this time I will not try to be too possessive about it, and realize that any contribution to the fabric of human thought is good enough for me – even if I do not get any accolades. Thanks to all that replied.
Maurice
Logan: Remember when you were a kid and the old folks would always be telling you what you should do….. Well…..I guess I have become one of those people. 😯 Old age is something other people notice first….. 🙄
Maurice
Interesting…..my previous post in this thread said I joined in 1969 and that this is my first post….. 🙄
Maurice
An update: After the auction – the seller had his auction cancelled by Ebay. Apparently. the seller must sell some item of value to make a transaction legal (I could be wrong – but in one of my law courses (back when dinosaurs ruled the earth – and fire was a new thing….. 🙄 ) – we were told that for a transaction to be legally binding…..consideration (something of value) must be present on both sides. I guess the seller – by stating he was offering nothing – offered no consideration and thus the auction was not valid.
That same seller then tried to sell an empty envelope (with a letter of authentication 🙄 🙄 ) but the auction now reads as “invalid” – so I guess Ebay has no sense of humor…..
Maurice
An Update: apparently the auction had to be relisted; now they want pre-approved bidders (i.e. people that can actually pay; or perhaps there was a shill bidder in the first auction….. :roll:). Hopefully – sanity will reign in this one…..
Maurice
[quote=”nursewhen”]My first avatar was of me though I was in a Jool costume and wearing a huge wig. Most of my current pics generally involve a wig and a costume. I have very few pictures that actually look like me.
http://www.planethelen.co.uk[/quote%5D
Just visited your website – Wow……what a babe (especially in the belly dancing outfit 😆 )! Perhaps you should use one of the belly dancing pics as an avatar and DancingHelen as the nick….. I was also impressed with the before and after pics of the garden.
Ok – my turn – I do not have a real website – but here are some before and after pics. of me that were used as avatars on the “other board”:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/mausanta
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/mau7
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/mau18
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/fatguy4
As for “Fatguy”; I really am not…..but I will let your imagination wander….. 😯 Actually the real avatar and name would probably get stale fast – but it would be interesting to see everyone as they are seen in real life – just a thought….. 8)
Maurice
Yah Logan…..you are probably right. Hey Marybeth!!!!! Please move this thread and mate it to the other (Now I Have Seen Everything Thread). Now I can sleep tonight…..
😉
Maurice
One user name per board ; and I would like the username to be your first name (add a tag if there is a conflict) and avatar to be a currant pic:
Hi…..I am Maurice – this is what my avatar would be:
Actually I would like to see what would happen if we posted our real names and faces for avatars – what are you all trying to hide? However; I have tried everything and here are my experiences.
1. More than one – I have only done this once (then to my surprise found that almost all of the people I encountered on the net had done this many times, over and over again…..) and only talked to myself. I have never misrepresented myself to anyone other than who I am. This has created friction because I express my true self and opinions to others.
2. As a newcomer to a forum, I am often treated well at first; when I show a picture of who I am – my thoughts come under more attack and the general feel is one of isolation and disapproval (I did similar tests with “White” friends at university under as controlled conditions as possible to show that a non-White face behind the words is valued less than a White face; and that a Black face with background “White” support gets the same force as the White face. etc……).
3. Opinions without personal image – gets a negative image, but not as bad as the ethnic profile…..
4. Ethnic image and controversial opinions – Generally hated by most (though some see through this vail and are supportive). I personally have never been arrested; I married a feminist (and never hit her or verbally abused her), on the boards my discussions usually occur in the third person and I go out of my way not to personally attack an “individual” poster. But look at what usually happens – the Arab face gets the worst remarks from many (though not all) in the feminist crowd – I grew up Catholic (unknown to them) but the chauvinistic “aura” of the Moslem male pervades and colors how some view me. My passing interest in the right to own guns never fails to change an interest in my identity to the cold shoulder immediately (it is almost hilarious – how this interest will “horrify” some people – probably why I keep bringing it up :twisted:) .
If you feel to attack my statements – why don’t you try it yourself. The next forum you join and converse with – show them a picture of a Black man or the much hated Arab and tell them it is you – and see what happens…… Or defend an unpopular point of view – see the ostracism take place. Empathy to another’s plight is the best thing that can happen if you decide to go “under cover”. This is the best medium to see how others are treated in their skins…..
I could have remained liked on these boards and avoided controversy, and had my fake ego “stroked” by many people here – but that is not me and the reactions of others are for another person…..not me. Let me just add one thing – the most accepting people I have met…..have been the so called “racist red-necked-confederate-flag-army-grunt person” – who tells off-color jokes but who’s word is gold and stands behind his principles (and mine). The other group (and you will not believe this…..) are former Nazis who fled Germany after WW2 – I was raised by these people in my early years, and they were the happiest of my youth (and I never experienced any racism among them – I was treated as one of their own). My worst racism came from regular Canadians (i.e. I am Canadian) starting my first day of school….. If this goes against your preconceived notions of how the world should be…..tough…..I call them as I see them (and I am usually objective). Evaluate people on their merits – not preconceived notions!
Maurice – my real name…..
[quote=”SadGeezer”][quote=”Fatguy”] 💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 Hey- 100 posts!!!!! Do I get a prize? 🙄 😕 Maurice[/quote]
Yep 🙂
Send me your address by email and I’ll send you a Sadgeezer keyring (it’s a cheepo plastic one so don’t get too excited 🙂 )
[i]
That goes for any other 100 plus poster too o’course :)[/i][/quote]Thanks Sadgeezer!
One other thing….. Rereading my last post made me think that I sound like some form of supporter for the rights of terrorists – it is not. What you have to understand is:
1. A person can not be branded with the term “terrorist” without evidence.
2. Until the state proves that person is a terrorist; he is to be treated as innocent until proven guilty (as in most – but not all countries).
3. The only tool available for the state to fairly try a person for terrorist acts is a trial and jury of impartial people who will render a judgement based on the facts and the rules of evidence, etc…… The defendant’s lawyer should also have full disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence so as to mount a defence, etc…… The defendant should also have access to a lawyer so that person understands his rights and the procedures of the system of jurisprudence. The trial should be public.
4. If acquitted; the accused is to be immediately released. If convicted – that individual is to be sentenced within the confines of punishment stated in the law (i.e. no death penalty in a country that has outlawed the death penalty…..).
We – live in a society of citizens…..not savages. To allow some official unlimited power to detain anyone without good reason, to assassinate suspected people without trial, to impose on the privacy of another without providing evidence (of that need) to an member of the judiciary – are marks of a retrograde society. We – are above that.
There are bad people out there – but we are better than them because we are fair, we are upfront, and we live by a code….. The terrorist tries to create chaos by his actions – a society can never bow to the terrorists wishes by chucking it’s most valued commodity – it’s constitution. It is a worn out phrase – but all you ever have in the end – are your rights and freedoms…..
Maurice
Re: Nursewhen –
The thing I like about Sadgeezer is that it keeps me from going insane as I clean up my basement this weekend….. 🙄
Individual rights and freedoms can not be ignored in the States because they are absolute. You may pull the wool over their eyes; but eventually their constitution will strip the onerous powers from oppressive government (which is exactly what that constitution was drafted to do).
What we in the Commonwealth need to do is to shed the Monarchy in all it’s forms and begin a new with a modern constitution (like the United States Of America). The Monarchy is quaint and a tie with the past – but an anachronism with a modern democracy. No flame here Nursewhen; as a Canadian we still need royal assent to all our laws so this discussion is in-the-family; but there is a major push to become a republic in the next few years. I would push for an absolute constitution (i.e. no “not withstanding” provisions that can be invoked to strip citizens of their rights….. as is the case in Canada’s present constitution). This may be just a pipe dream; but I fear the best time to have enacted these modern day constitutions was in the immediate post WW2 period.
As for the modern day “boogie man” – the terrorist; I personally would not make any amendments to the rights and freedoms of the whole for this tiny group. The “terrorist” is just a term to scare people into believing that these people are not deserving of the basic human rights afforded all that set foot into a country. The States have gotten around most of the constitutional problems by doing all of the dirty work in Quantanamo(sp) Bay rather than on “real” American soil. I still do not know the end result of non-Americans being treated differently than Americans in due process, etc…… In the U.K.; you have the terrorist legislation that allows detention for almost unlimited amounts of time and without formal charges (correct me if I am wrong here). I am a firm believer that the law must apply to everyone – EVERYONE or the law means nothing….. Also, Canada is no sweetheart in this matter as I mentioned in a previous post. You will just have to be a bit more thorough dealing with “terrorists” – just what is the difference between Timothy Mcvey(sp) and Osama Bin Laden(sp)? If the times warranted it, one could just ignore the constitution and do the expedient thing – but we should not follow this course with the blessings of our constitution.
More of a rant this time but Britain and Canada may very well need to draft new constitutions for the new republics; the constitution of the United States Of America is not a bad one to copy.
💡 💡 💡 💡 💡 Hey- 100 posts!!!!! Do I get a prize? 🙄 😕
Maurice
This is the last one 8) …..
This one is for you Logan (and has nothing to do with you guys getting the Olympics 😈 ):
[quote]I feel exactly the same way. I fought back when I was 20. I have had life thoroughly stomp the sh@t out of me in the 10 years since, so I’d rather leave this to someone younger and more idealistic. I have no solutions.[/quote]
Yipes…..wrote a long reply and forgot to log-in…..all lost. I to am too lazy to rewrite my freedom fight rant. Forget about the youngsters…..only grey hair fights for rights and freedoms now. I spent several months last year ranting and raving about rights and freedoms in a pathetic attempt to make an impression on our youth (on this board and LEXX.com) – a waste of time….. In it’s place…..I will show some pictures of some friends of mine protesting the new gun laws on our Parliament Hill (p.s. not just about guns…..but , freedom from self-incrimination, search and seisure, property rights, mens-rea, etc……) – like you…..I have no solutions:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/Burn
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rem223/Turnbull
By the way…..the pictures are the protest on
Parliament Hill up here in Canada where protesters burned registration certificates and the leader (Turnbull) being arrested (I love that guy…..A Korean War hero and a fellow Edmontonian – long may his trigger finger twitch…..).Maurice
Here is the official Fatguy statement on Canada Day 😯 :
Mixed feelings on Canada Day – as this was the date the RCMP begins enforcing it’s universal gun registration laws. Be it noted that I lobbied and fought those laws for the last seven years and this ends a politcal era for yours truly…..
Pior to 1978 anyone in Canada of legal age could buy a gun – no questions asked. In fact one gas company was offering a free Styer military rilfe with fill-up (true 😛 ). Now it is all gone. The idea that people have the right to arms now falls on the Americans. If you thought I was a “push-over” – check out these Americans 😈 :
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/UltraBoard.cgi?action=Read&BID=5&TID=125820&SID=1458623
Wow…..I did not expect to get this reaction from my well wishes…..
Point 1. Actually addressed before most of the newer posters on that “other board”. America and it’s constitution are modern and the rights fairly absolute. The UK and Canada; for example, do not have absolute individual rights and freedoms.
The United States Of America by it’s rights and freedoms and the media (also a form of foreign propaganda) show the world the rights and freedoms some have – and in this way…..slow the erosion of those rights and freedoms in countries that do not have absolute rights and freedoms. As governments naturally seek to erode these rights and freedoms in the States, you will see a corresponding reduction in rights and freedoms in countries that do not have the enshrined rights and freedoms in their constitution. A more practical example is the States bringing some sweeping powers of investigation or “eaves-dropping” and later Canada adopting these measures (though we have no terrorist threat). in fact we have CIA /FBI “working” with the RCMP (in Canada in conflict with our rights to our own jurisdiction) against possible terrorist threat. Under new rules established in Canada as a direct result of American influence – we now have people being charged and tried without disclosure to the defense (I don’t even know if the person in question has access to his lawyer); and as an aside – our Privacy Commissioner was been discredited and forced to resign (i.e. he criticized the government’s new “eaves-dropping” powers). I just wanted to show the connection between American freedom and rights and their influence in the rest of the world. I feel that it was American mass media displaying it’s culture that helped bring down Communism; China is addressing this problem by trying to close off its’ culture from the world – but probably will not be too successful.
Point 2. Freedom is a state of mind and not the physical removal of some impediment. You have to feel free to speak, act, and move about without self-censure….. As long as a people “feels” truly free; they will always win over any oppressive government. Governments are masters at “crowd control” as they use the media and other methods to instill fear in the populous and thus erode the freedoms of the population as a whole. Since America has freedoms and rights enshrined in it’s constitution; the government can only keep the populous “quiet” as it does whatever possibly unpopular things it wishes by creating a crises where dissention is frowned upon and unacceptable (as was the case with the war ). Just look at the problems noteworthy Americans received when they questioned American policy; many who would speak out remained silent….. Bottom line is that freedom can be taken away in a “free” society – but Americans are in the best position to fight back because their constitution gives them the means to.
I am replying “off-the-cuff” and not my usual motivated self (so my arguments are vulnerable) as the freedom issue is getting old with me and I would like to pass the torch to the younger folk (I am waiting…..). Talk to me about new ways of thinking 😆 – that is where my mind is at now…..
Maurice
