I'm Going to Stir The Pot - Cultures

[Kathy]

Sweetheart, if part of your upset involves feeling a need to defend Jim and me, we have told you on numerous occasions it is not necessary. We are quite capable of looking after ourselves. Discussing opinions on various issues is an excellent exercise in tolerance. Debating is a particularly difficult issue for you dear. For you, and others here likely, it is a form of exposure and perhaps you have had your fill for a while and should step back and rest.

 

[reallydown]

I'm sorry if I upset anyone by what I said, please don't take it as an attack on anyone. I was merely stating other possibilities.

 

[Kathy]

Reallydown, there is no reason for you to apologize. You have every right to post your opinion here. You were speaking to me and I was not offended by your comments, far from it. I got so caught up in replying to Evie that I forgot to comment on what you said. Evie is not feeling well at the moment and should not have been reading this thread. I doubt she is upset with you personally, only requires a break. I will try to comment a bit more later, at present I am frightfully busy with 3 teenagers in the house. I noticed your post however and wanted to assure you that you have not done wrong nor offended me.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Well, I certainly did not intend to stir the pot quite so much!! I have truely enjoyed the debate and the input from all of you. Personnally, I would like to continue this but if the majority rules it a done deal that's ok too. My big point was to indicate that the US had been receiving way to many Middle Eastern MD"s over the past, oh maybe 10 years or so, and was wondering if a similar type of terror attck was in the works here by them. Only because of the mess in London and Scotland. Wanted to make people think AND possibly see if anyone else was seeing what I saw. Hope this continues, but if you guys are over it, Let Me Know

 

[Jim]

For example an older Canadian doctor might still not be aware of who Robbie Williams is...

Robbie Williams is very popular where my nephew resides. And. This doctor is supposed to specialize in Adolescent Psychiatry. Seems to me, if one gets the big bucks to work with youth, one should keep current on popular culture.

Jim.

 

[batgirl]

I'm sorry if I upset anyone by what I said, please don't take it as an attack on anyone. I was merely stating other possibilities.

No I'm sorry RD... my aunt is right, I shouldn't have been in here. My post wasn't directed at you, I was just in a pissy mood and these type of threads bring out the worst in me. That's no excuse though, I do have the ability to control myself, I've done it before. I apologize to everyone here.

 

[hodge]

I don't think it's been said here yet, but not only is debate a good exercise in tolerance, as you point out, Kathy, it is also a sign of a healthy democratic society. As an example of how destructive a lack of meaningful debate in a society can be, just look at how the majority of Americans followed Bush into this war in Iraq four years ago while refusing to listen to the few of us who tried to persuade them that it would be disastrous. Just two years ago, at an informal political gathering, I tried - to no avail - to explain to our Democratic U.S. representative why this was never going to work, how it was doomed from the beginning, and that we had to get out. At least now, how many thousands of lost lives later, the majority are coming around. I suspect it was fear that drove them to not listen before.

That said, Evie, I totally understand where you're coming from. When I'm overloaded with ptsd, I can't handle debates well, either.

 

[batgirl]

That's a really good point hodge. I never thought of it in that way. I will have to remember that for next time.

 

[hodge]

Glad I could offer some food for thought. While I appreciate the importance of debates, I personally really have to limit my own involvement in them because I can get so upset, too.

 

[anthony]

Anytime one nation tries to enforce its values and beliefs upon another weaker nation, there is apt to be repercussions.

And there endith the actual issues at hand, as Kathy gave the factual answer to the problem. If nations ceased covert operations and sneaky tactics within other countries, then the civilian populations would not suffer the casualties any longer, as people would have no reason to terrorise for what most never see happen behind the scenes. Thank you Kathy... very wise words.

Discussing opinions on various issues is an excellent exercise in tolerance.

Once again, extremely wise Kathy. You just gave away my exact reasoning to why I allow and encourage those here with PTSD to debate topics that lets say... could be heated very easily, so sufferers learn how to manage their anger component. Your on a role today Kathy.... or maybe I should simply begin referring to you as "Oh Wise Leader!" :smile:

 

[hodge]

I agree, Anthony - major kudos to Kathy for summing up the problem. In fact, I've always seen the analogy between what the U.S. is doing in Iraq and what the British did in the American colonies. The Iraqis rebels are to our founding militias what the current U.S. government is to the British in the 1770s, with some caveats, of course.

However, I feel the need to point out that this was not a covert action on the part of the U.S., at least it wasn't only a covert action. Everyone in the world knew what the U.S. government's intentions were with regard to Iraq. Heck, Colin Powell went before the U.N. and laid out this bogus "evidence," and probably everyone there knew it was bogus, and no one even tried to stop us! At least not that I know of. Well, if there's any justice, I guess the Bush gang may have rendered the U.S. with enough less power that maybe we can be stopped before we wreak havoc again - like with Iran, God forbid!

 

[Kathy]

Once again, extremely wise Kathy. You just gave away my exact reasoning to why I allow and encourage those here with PTSD to debate topics that lets say... could be heated very easily, so sufferers learn how to manage their anger component. Your on a role today Kathy.... or maybe I should simply begin referring to you as "Oh Wise Leader!" :smile:

Oh my such compliments! I'm rather embarrassed. :redface: However thank you, I am flattered. Now if I can just get all the children to listen to my words of wisdom, life would be perfect. :tongue: