US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

fuzzywuzzy
Posts: 6596
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:35 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by fuzzywuzzy »

We call it 'gobbledygook'
gmc
Posts: 13566
Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 9:44 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by gmc »

fuzzywuzzy;1387376 wrote: We call it 'gobbledygook'


Not quite the same.

Definition of GOBBLEDYGOOK

: wordy and generally unintelligible jargon


Interestingly enough both words have their origins on the 1940's doublespeak from George Orwell gobbledygook is american

World Wide Words: Gobbledygook

This is a truly maverick word, not only because it is surprisingly modern and also one whose genesis we can pin down to the day, but also because a maverick coined it —Maury Maverick, a Texan lawyer who was at various times a Democratic Congressman and mayor of San Antonio.

He used the word in the New York Times Magazine on 21 May 1944, while he was chairman of the US Smaller War Plants Committee in Congress, as part of a complaint against the obscure language used by his colleagues. His inspiration, he said, was the turkey, “always gobbledy gobbling and strutting with ludicrous pomposity”. It met a clear need for a word with which to castigate unintelligible language, especially jargon or bureaucratese, and quickly became part of the language. It is sometimes abbreviated slightly to gobbledygoo.

Word coining runs in the Maverick family, since Maury Maverick’s grandfather, Samuel Maverick, a Texas rancher, was the inspiration for maverick, originally an animal not branded to identify its owner (because Sam Maverick didn’t brand his own herds), later an unconventional person, and later still a politician who stands aside from the herd, refusing to conform to the party line.






Well I find it interesting. I didn't know maverick was a real person, amazing what you pick up on this forum. Incredibly enough 1984 was banned in some states in america because it is pro communist - clearly by people who hadn't actually read it. It's never seemed more relevant than today. It's a bit depressing.
User avatar
Scrat
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2010 9:29 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Scrat »

I guess demonstrations are starting and a bunch of VIPs at the site of the massacre were fired upon.
User avatar
LarsMac
Posts: 13739
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:11 pm
Location: on the open road
Contact:

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by LarsMac »

fuzzywuzzy;1387370 wrote: Yep blame it all on one lone guy It couldn't possibly be the actions of all troops could it ? It couldn't possibly be that you picked the wrong people to bully? ...A hero of yours last week and now you want to hand him over to the wolves that made him insane in the first place . Hypocrit.


Nice edit job, dear.



Firstly, Fuzzy, no, I do not blame it all on the one guy.

The "mission" in Afghanistan has been one big-ass cluster****.

As for the part of my post you so conveniently omitted:



I pray, daily, that we will stop the madness and bring the all the troop out of Afghanistan.


This has been my feeling since America first sent troops there.

I still have scars from my protests over sending troops there.



When I made this post, there was little info on what happened, and based on that, it seemed that the Afghan demands for trial were, perhaps valid.

After further review, it is obvious that this guy cracked, and I see the error of my previous opinion.

I still hold to the belief that we need to get OUT.
The home of the soul is the Open Road.
- DH Lawrence
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

LarsMac;1387814 wrote: When I made this post, there was little info on what happened, and based on that, it seemed that the Afghan demands for trial were, perhaps valid.

After further review, it is obvious that this guy cracked, and I see the error of my previous opinion. There appear to be two tales at the moment, one that he went berserk and the other than he's taking the rap for a dozen or so mates who went out for a good time. How do you choose which to believe?

Assuming it's one chap causing all that mayhem he did an awful lot of raping in a very few minutes. Guys who rape their way round villages - and it was more than one village, you'll note - tend to have their backs covered by their mates in the process. The rapist tends to be vulnerable with his hands on his zipper if he's on his own in a built-up area and people know what he's about.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1387824 wrote: There appear to be two tales at the moment, one that he went berserk and the other than he's taking the rap for a dozen or so mates who went out for a good time. How do you choose which to believe?

Assuming it's one chap causing all that mayhem he did an awful lot of raping in a very few minutes. Guys who rape their way round villages - and it was more than one village, you'll note - tend to have their backs covered by their mates in the process. The rapist tends to be vulnerable with his hands on his zipper if he's on his own in a built-up area and people know what he's about.


Is it me? I haven't heard about any raping and can't find any articles with it mentioned. Are they reporting in the UK that rape was involved?
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

YZGI;1387828 wrote: Is it me? I haven't heard about any raping and can't find any articles with it mentioned. Are they reporting in the UK that rape was involved?


No raping .... just Spot's wild Imagination... or wishful thinking....

Then we could be wrong..... But I'm sure If we are, His Spotiness will post a link to some documented factual hard evidence.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

YZGI;1387828 wrote: Is it me? I haven't heard about any raping and can't find any articles with it mentioned. Are they reporting in the UK that rape was involved?


I'll add links to the thread as I come across them. This is what I had in mind...

https://rt.com/news/massacre-kandahar-s ... rican-705/

The significant quotes are from Afghanistan's largest independent news service, Afghan News, in Kabul.

http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=145512 is another take from local sources.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387832 wrote: I'll add links to the thread as I come across them. This is what I had in mind...

https://rt.com/news/massacre-kandahar-s ... rican-705/

The significant quotes are from Afghanistan's largest independent news service, Afghan News, in Kabul.


And where exactly In that link does It say anything about raping ?

Are you sure you didn't read that they were rapping ?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387831 wrote: No raping .... just Spot's wild Imagination... or wishful thinking....

Then we could be wrong..... But I'm sure If we are, His Spotiness will post a link to some documented factual hard evidence.


It's difficult to confirm or refute rape when the scene is in NATO hands. The local MP says the physical evidence seen by villagers consists of torn clothing on some of the dead women. What more would you expect them to have been able to report, had there been rapes?

More US soldiers in death of 16 - claim | News24
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387835 wrote: It's difficult to confirm or refute rape when the scene is in NATO hands. The local MP says the physical evidence seen by villagers consists of torn clothing on some of the dead women. What more would you expect them to have been able to report, had there been rapes?

More US soldiers in death of 16 - claim | News24


So you have no hard, documented, factual evidence that there was raping ?

Torn clothing ????? Have you seen victims of gunfire? Under heavy fire, clothes get shredded.

The moment the first shot was fired, the alarm would have gone out through the village. Are you seriousley suggesting he would have had time to get his kit off for a bit of Jiggy Jiggy ?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387834 wrote: And where exactly In that link does It say anything about raping ?I reckon if the Kandahar governor's media office is denying it then it's definitely been alleged. Stands to reason. And to whom, do you suppose, is the Kandahar governor's media office loyal? I'd put their US paymasters at the top of the list.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387836 wrote: So you have no hard, documented, factual evidence that there was raping ?
Are you trying to imply there's been an impartial forensic investigation?

I'm not making up claims, I'm passing on news reports.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

Instead of deflecting on an incidental comment, how about keeping the focus on the meat of the post?There appear to be two tales at the moment, one that he went berserk and the other than he's taking the rap for a dozen or so mates who went out for a good time. How do you choose which to believe?
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387837 wrote: I reckon if the Kandahar governor's media office is denying it then it's definitely been alleged. Stands to reason. And to whom, do you suppose, is the Kandahar governor's media office loyal? I'd put their US paymasters at the top of the list.


You reckon ???

No Spot, that Is just your wild Imagination.

Is the entire event not bad enough without you adding Innuendo and slurs against American troops?
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387840 wrote: You reckon ???

No Spot, that Is just your wild Imagination.
No, as I said, it's logic. If the Kandahar governor's media office is denying it then it's definitely been alleged. Stands to reason. And the Kandahar governor's media office is definitely reported as denying it.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387841 wrote: No, as I said, it's logic. If the Kandahar governor's media office is denying it then it's definitely been alleged. Stands to reason. And the Kandahar governor's media office is definitely reported as denying it. Alleged maybe.

That's typical of any news of war crimes. Not proven though Is It.?

Logic tells me that the alarm would have been raised pretty quick.... Logic says not enough time to get your kit off and rape.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387842 wrote: not enough time to get your kit off and rape.You have, I suspect, an odd notion of what marauding troops over the centuries have done when violating women. It doesn't involve divesting themselves of any clothing or equipment.

I suggest we leave off speculating. We've agreed that allegations of prior sexual abuse of some of the dead women in one or both villages have been made, denied and reported. Going round in circles on an incidental part of the main story may amuse you but it's boring me to high heaven. Instead of deflecting on an incidental comment, how about keeping the focus on the meat of the post?There appear to be two tales at the moment, one that he went berserk and the other than he's taking the rap for a dozen or so mates who went out for a good time. How do you choose which to believe?

Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387844 wrote: You have, I suspect, an odd notion of what marauding troops over the centuries have done when violating women. It doesn't involve divesting themselves of any clothing or equipment.

I suggest we leave off speculating. We've agreed that allegations of prior sexual abuse of some of the dead women in one or both villages have been made, denied and reported. Going round in circles on an incidental part of the main story may amuse you but it's boring me to high heaven. Instead of deflecting on an incidental comment, how about keeping the focus on the meat of the post?There appear to be two tales at the moment, one that he went berserk and the other than he's taking the rap for a dozen or so mates who went out for a good time. How do you choose which to believe?


There appears to be a link with comrades who trained at the same base In the US.

Although I tend to be a 'Show me the money' type, I am not averse to accepting that some kind of pact was under-taken before deployment. If there was, I believe It was a pact to kill not rape.

Until I've seen the evidence, I will not jump to the conclusion that It was a rape spree.

It's natural that the very worst slant would be put on this to award the Taliban and Afghan civvy's the upper hand.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387845 wrote: Until I've seen the evidence, I will not jump to the conclusion that It was a rape spree.I haven't suggested that it was. I couldn't, I wasn't there and I mistrust the motives of everyone making claims. What I've added to the thread are reports for the thread's readers to evaluate.

That's invariably the position I'm in, commenting on media reports. I'm not a participant, I'm not on the ground observing first hand. I apply logic where appropriate. All the signs are that there was more than a lone nutter out killing that night, given the distances and the timespan and the outcry of the villagers themselves.

It's blatantly obvious why the US forces would want to claim it's one nutter, too, and their credibility as an honest source of information is zero and has been since they arrived in the country, it's way lower than anyone else's just on the basis of the things they've claimed in the past which were deliberate self-serving lies from the very first and ended up finally, years later, confessed as such.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Bruv
Posts: 12181
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 3:05 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bruv »

Bruv;1387271 wrote: Read yesterday more than one soldier was involved plus at least one helicopter.


While looking for news at the time the news first came out I saw report that said the villagers had reported several soldiers and at least one helicopter was involved.

Wish I had linked to it now.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
User avatar
flopstock
Posts: 7406
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:52 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by flopstock »

I expressly forbid the use of any of my posts anywhere outside of FG (with the exception of the incredibly witty 'get a room already' )posted recently.

Folks who'd like to copy my intellectual work should expect to pay me for it.:-6

User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

flopstock;1387889 wrote: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL34531.pdf


What a fascinating document - one for the train home methinks.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

I tried but It wouldn't open for me.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387892 wrote: I tried but It wouldn't open for me.


It's the standard get out of jail free card for every American who ever left home with a rifle.In the case of Afghanistan, the SOFA, in force since 2003, provides that U.S. Department of

Defense military and civilian personnel are to be accorded status equivalent to that of U.S.

Embassy administrative and technical staff under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

of 1961. Accordingly, U.S. personnel are immune from criminal prosecution by Afghan

authorities and are immune from civil and administrative jurisdiction except with respect to acts

performed outside the course of their duties. The Government of Afghanistan has further

explicitly authorized the U.S. government to exercise criminal jurisdiction over U.S. personnel.

Thus, under the existing SOFA, the United States would have jurisdiction over the prosecution of

the servicemember who allegedly attacked the Afghan civilians.

On a more positive note, it's also the reason the Pentagon unilaterally declared peace in Iraq when the Iraqis refused to sign an extension to theirs. You'll remember they all drove out to Kuwait singing "we won, we won".
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

Here's a short, simple, quiet reasoned article about biased thinking as regards motivation: Discussing the motives of the Afghan shooter - Salon.com

There is, quite obviously, a desperate need to believe that when an American engages in acts of violence of this type (meaning: as a deviation from formal American policy), there must be some underlying mental or emotional cause that makes it sensible, something other than an act of pure hatred or Evil. When a Muslim engages in acts of violence against Americans, there is an equally desperate need to believe the opposite: that this is yet another manifestation of inscrutable hatred and Evil, and any discussion of any other causes must be prohibited and ignored.



Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

spot;1387966 wrote: Here's a short, simple, quiet reasoned article about biased thinking as regards motivation: Discussing the motives of the Afghan shooter - Salon.com

There is, quite obviously, a desperate need to believe that when an American engages in acts of violence of this type (meaning: as a deviation from formal American policy), there must be some underlying mental or emotional cause that makes it sensible, something other than an act of pure hatred or Evil. When a Muslim engages in acts of violence against Americans, there is an equally desperate need to believe the opposite: that this is yet another manifestation of inscrutable hatred and Evil, and any discussion of any other causes must be prohibited and ignored.






Is that not just human nature - I'm / We're perfect but the enemy are bastards?

The difficulty comes if those in control cannot see past it.

So the question is, is it a stance being taken for mass consumption or is it their true belief?
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.

Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

spot;1387969 wrote: This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.

Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.


I seem to remember the cafuffle when Barack Obama failed to do so :wah:
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1387969 wrote: This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.

Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.


I had a long post written out and it somehow went into cyber space when I hit post quick reply.

I'll make this one shorter.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I go to events all the time (including NFL games), I would bet less than half of the people attending ever stand at attention with hand over heart during the National anthem. Most just stand and remove their hats out of respect.

Your hatred and bias for America and Americans and the hyperbole that goes with it is getting almost infantile.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

YZGI;1387971 wrote: I had a long post written out and it somehow went into cyber space when I hit post quick reply.

I'll make this one shorter.

You have no idea what you're talking about. I go to events all the time (including NFL games), I would bet less than half of the people attending ever stand at attention with hand over heart during the National anthem. Most just stand and remove their hats out of respect.

Your hatred and bias for America and Americans and the hyperbole that goes with it is getting almost infantile.


So there were no widespread outcries against Obama for failing to "salute the flag" by placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem?
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

Bryn Mawr;1387972 wrote: So there were no widespread outcries against Obama for failing to "salute the flag" by placing his hand over his heart during the playing of the national anthem?


In the media there was. He is the POTUS not an average citizen. The average citizen didn't give a crap. The only ones that made a big deal were right wing republicans ( mainly because he is a democratic opponent ) and the media, because that is what they do.

Spot said:

This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.



Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.

And I answered.
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1387969 wrote: This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.

Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.


I forgot to mention..

Now Spot is comparing the U.S. to Nazi Germany. I rest my case.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

YZGI;1387975 wrote: In the media there was. He is the POTUS not an average citizen. The average citizen didn't give a crap. The only ones that made a big deal were right wing republicans ( mainly because he is a democratic opponent ) and the media, because that is what they do.

Spot said:

This is the majority of Americans we're talking about, of course they believe it. They've been taught since birth that they're better than any other nationality. Übermensch, to resurrect a phrase with unpleasant connotations.



Ask the average American whether he'd refuse to salute the Stars and Stripes hand on heart, for example. At a NFL game perhaps, during the singing of the National Anthem.

And I answered.


I'm just responding to what I see reported. It appears that a large percentage of the US population finds the failure to salute the flag to be an offence sufficient to disbar the perpetrator from life, never mind public office, and I was wondering whether it was misreported or whether my interpretation of the reports was faulty.

From those reports I can certainly see why Spot would have made the statement he did - that's the way it is portrayed outside the US.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1387966 wrote: Here's a short, simple, quiet reasoned article about biased thinking as regards motivation: Discussing the motives of the Afghan shooter - Salon.com

There is, quite obviously, a desperate need to believe that when an American engages in acts of violence of this type (meaning: as a deviation from formal American policy), there must be some underlying mental or emotional cause that makes it sensible, something other than an act of pure hatred or Evil. When a Muslim engages in acts of violence against Americans, there is an equally desperate need to believe the opposite: that this is yet another manifestation of inscrutable hatred and Evil, and any discussion of any other causes must be prohibited and ignored.






Perhaps your perception would be more credible should you find some stats to show atrocities carried out under the guise of Al Qaeda since Desert Storm and atrocities carried out by US troops during occupation. Maybe then we could see exactly what the percentage Is.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

Bryn Mawr;1387977 wrote: I'm just responding to what I see reported. It appears that a large percentage of the US population finds the failure to salute the flag to be an offence sufficient to disbar the perpetrator from life, never mind public office, and I was wondering whether it was misreported or whether my interpretation of the reports was faulty.

From those reports I can certainly see why Spot would have made the statement he did - that's the way it is portrayed outside the US.


Here in middle America that is not the way it is. I have even witnessed people turning their backs to the flag during the anthem without incidence.

Are there occasional occurrences of people making a scene or big deal about it? Of course, and then it is over blown in the media.

We do not hold our hands high in the air palm outward and click our heels together everytime we see the flag waved.
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

Bryn Mawr;1387977 wrote: I'm just responding to what I see reported. It appears that a large percentage of the US population finds the failure to salute the flag to be an offence sufficient to disbar the perpetrator from life, never mind public office, and I was wondering whether it was misreported or whether my interpretation of the reports was faulty.

From those reports I can certainly see why Spot would have made the statement he did - that's the way it is portrayed outside the US.


I would also add, a large percentage would be a grossly over estimate of the population that feels that way.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

YZGI;1387979 wrote: Here in middle America that is not the way it is. I have even witnessed people turning their backs to the flag during the anthem without incidence.

Are there occasional occurrences of people making a scene or big deal about it? Of course, and then it is over blown in the media.

We do not hold our hands high in the air palm outward and click our heels together everytime we see the flag waved. I don't know why the big deal anyway. The UK has It's fair share of It's un-patriotric.

From where I was standing, the Royals at the horse racing festival last week were met with Indifference from most of the punters Including me.

In fact, It was two horses, Kauto Star and Big Bucks that got the standing ovations as they were led out onto the track not the Royals where It was more like a ' Who ?????
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

YZGI;1387971 wrote: You have no idea what you're talking about. I go to events all the time (including NFL games), I would bet less than half of the people attending ever stand at attention with hand over heart during the National anthem. Most just stand and remove their hats out of respect. Over here we reserve the removal of hats for the passing of the dead. Perhaps the hat-removers at national anthem moments are being subversive.

As for "I would bet less than half", that's not the half that get photographed for news sites or appear on TV. The number in the UK who would make such a chauvinist[1] gesture might be one in a hundred but I'd doubt it's that high.





[1] - "exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory".
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
AnneBoleyn
Posts: 6631
Joined: Sun Dec 11, 2011 3:17 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by AnneBoleyn »

When did Obama fail to salute the flag? I can't remember any such occasion. Link me up, please, specifically. He did have a problem, as a candidate, for not wearing that silly flag lapel pin, which he never takes off now. Men & their fashions, always a problem.

spot is thinking of "American Exceptionalism", not ubermensch. American exceptionalism has nothing to do with race, gender, personal economics. It's the republicans who love to speak of it, usually. They would say freedom of religion & freedom, period, causes Americans to be more inventive, started by Alexis de Tocqueville in the early 1800's. Americans wowed his ass, for sure.
User avatar
Bryn Mawr
Site Admin
Posts: 16201
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 4:54 pm

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Bryn Mawr »

AnneBoleyn;1388006 wrote: When did Obama fail to salute the flag? I can't remember any such occasion. Link me up, please, specifically. He did have a problem, as a candidate, for not wearing that silly flag lapel pin, which he never takes off now. Men & their fashions, always a problem.

spot is thinking of "American Exceptionalism", not ubermensch. American exceptionalism has nothing to do with race, gender, personal economics. It's the republicans who love to speak of it, usually. They would say freedom of religion & freedom, period, causes Americans to be more inventive, started by Alexis de Tocqueville in the early 1800's. Americans wowed his ass, for sure.


Any number of links :-

Urban Legends: Barack Obama Refuses to Salute Flag, Anthem?

Barack Hussein Obama refuses to salute US flag - YouTube

Does Barack Obama salute the flag

One quote I think appropriate - I found it whilst pulling these links :-

The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem: USFlag.org: A website dedicated to the Flag of the United States of America - Flag Etiquette

The pledge of allegiance should be rendered by standing at attention, facing the flag, and saluting. When the national anthem is played or sung, citizens should stand at attention and salute at the first note and hold the salute through the last note. The salute is directed to the flag, if displayed, otherwise to the music.

User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1388005 wrote: Over here we reserve the removal of hats for the passing of the dead.



Late 20 century maybe.... I live on route to the crematorium and I've witnessed the most shocking disrespect for the passing dead by motorists.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1388005 wrote: Over here we reserve the removal of hats for the passing of the dead. Perhaps the hat-removers at national anthem moments are being subversive.

As for "I would bet less than half", that's not the half that get photographed for news sites or appear on TV. The number in the UK who would make such a chauvinist[1] gesture might be one in a hundred but I'd doubt it's that high.





[1] - "exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory".


So, you are saying, less than 1 in a hundred don't place the hand over their heart?
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1387978 wrote: Perhaps your perception would be more credible should you find some stats to show atrocities carried out under the guise of Al Qaeda since Desert Storm and atrocities carried out by US troops during occupation. Maybe then we could see exactly what the percentage Is.


Who gets to define what's an atrocity, or who the perpetrator is? You'd doubtless tell me the bombings and killings in Syria at the moment are the work of the Syrian government and not of external forces, for example.

Do you remember General Franks in 2002? "We don't do body counts". Statistics from US theatres of war are a bit of a problem in consequence. That's a US decision, not mine, I'd much rather statistics were gathered and published in a timely manner.

The Afghan resistance - what you're calling "the guise of Al Qaeda" - is faced with asymmetric conditions. What would happen to them if they stood up and tried shooting it out face to face with the occupying forces? They'd stand no chance whatever. No resistance group in history has behaved that way. They disrupt. They make conditions impossible for the occupiers until the occupiers leave and even then maybe fifty of them die for every occupier they manage to kill. What I have never understood is that putting on Kevlar protection and fighting at night with night-sights and air support against an enemy with none of those assets qualifies as bravery, it's as though the dictionary's been turned on its head.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

YZGI;1388015 wrote: So, you are saying, less than 1 in a hundred don't place the hand over their heart?In the UK? Fewer than one in a hundred would do anything so crudely embarrassing. They'd be mocked and pitied by anyone aware of their behaviour.

Where did your double negative come from? I'm sure I didn't use one.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

oscar;1388013 wrote: Late 20 century maybe.... I live on route to the crematorium and I've witnessed the most shocking disrespect for the passing dead by motorists.


That is, I assure you, a reflection on where you live. The Blackboy Hill is rife with good manners.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1388017 wrote: In the UK? Fewer than one in a hundred would do anything so crudely embarrassing. They'd be mocked and pitied by anyone aware of their behaviour.

Where did your double negative come from? I'm sure I didn't use one.


Ok, I miss read your post. Sorry.

I saw that double negative, I felt it, but couldn't stop myself from posting it.

Anyways, before the National Anthem is played here at any event. The directive of the announcer is usually this. " Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and remove your hats for the playing of the National Anthem". I've never heard them ask to place your hand over your heart. I do seem to notice more people placing their hands over their hearts now days than I remember ever happening before. Back in the day when students were expected to cite the Pledge of Allegiance in school we were directed to place our hands over our hearts for that.

Does the US push patriotism? Of course it does as do all countries.

I myself don't place my hand over my heart for either anymore. It tends to feel like worshiping false idols which was taught against in church from early childhood. So I figure its some kind of repressed guilt from my upbringing because I am not a religious individual.
User avatar
Oscar Namechange
Posts: 31840
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:26 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by Oscar Namechange »

spot;1388016 wrote: Who gets to define what's an atrocity, or who the perpetrator is? You'd doubtless tell me the bombings and killings in Syria at the moment are the work of the Syrian government and not of external forces, for example.

Do you remember General Franks in 2002? "We don't do body counts". Statistics from US theatres of war are a bit of a problem in consequence. That's a US decision, not mine, I'd much rather statistics were gathered and published in a timely manner.

The Afghan resistance - what you're calling "the guise of Al Qaeda" - if faced with asymmetric conditions. What would happen to them if they stood up and tried shooting it out face to face with the occupying forces? They'd stand no chance whatever. No resistance group in history has behaved that way. They disrupt. They make conditions impossible for the occupiers until the occupiers leave and even then maybe fifty of them die for every occupier they manage to kill. What I have never understood is that putting on Kevlar protection and fighting at night with night-sights and air support against an enemy with none of those assets qualifies as bravery, it's as though the dictionary's been turned on its head.


Al Qaeda Resistance????

I'm happy to go along with the Taliban as Resistance but Al Qaeda ? No.

Civilian Nationals resisting foreign occupation can quite rightly be termed as so.

The alternative names used by Al Qaeda say It all :

Other Names

Al-Qaida

"The Base"

The Islamic Army

The World Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders

The Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places

The Usama Bin Laden Network

The Usama Bin Laden Organization

Islamic Salvation Foundation

The Group for the Preservation of the Holy Sites

Al-Qaida Is based around religion globally not foreign occupation of a homeland.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
User avatar
spot
Posts: 41764
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2005 5:19 pm
Location: Brigstowe

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by spot »

YZGI;1387979 wrote: We do not hold our hands high in the air palm outward and click our heels together everytime we see the flag waved.
Nobody suggests you do, that's a Hitlerian gesture. What your compatriots do is also a reflection of a practice of the Roman Empire, just as his was, but you've chosen a different one. It's a deliberate choice though, consciously echoing Ancient Rome.

I came across a relevant quote in Trotsky's autobiography a couple of hours ago, let me quote it...A wing of the American fascist movement was tied in with Hitlerism; but the most important sector was the completely indigenous, red-blooded, flag-waving ultrapatriotic variety.



Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
User avatar
YZGI
Posts: 11527
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:24 am

US Soldier Goes Beserk. Kills 9 Children.

Post by YZGI »

spot;1388022 wrote: Nobody suggests you do, that's a Hitlerian gesture. What your compatriots do is also a reflection of the practice of the Roman Empire, just as his was, but you've chosen a different one. It's a deliberate choice though, consciously echoing Ancient Rome.

I came across a relevant quote in Trotsky's autobiography a couple of hours ago, let me quote it...A wing of the American fascist movement was tied in with Hitlerism; but the most important sector was the completely indigenous, red-blooded, flag-waving ultrapatriotic variety.






I don't think we are the only country where patriotism exists. I see flag waving from many countries.
Post Reply

Return to “Current Events”