Champas Socialist

Reply to Should the USA invade Sudan? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Please feel free to continue debating this, but I have made up my mind after another visit to the site that hosts the petition. I recently saw Hotel Rwanda and the effect it had on me still stays. The sight of all those bodies, the fear in the people's eyes, the injustice, was simply the most abominable thing I have ever seen apart from Nazi Germany. The site has this to say: "A preventable humanitarian crisis, affecting more than two

Reply to Should the USA invade Sudan? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Umm well on the topic of my corner of the world, there is a suggestion that West Papua is going to be the next East Timor. We're doing nothing, like we did in East Timor, and genocide is going ahead. But what caused these problems was colonialism in the first place. West Papua worked a lot better before it had to become part of Indonesia because the Dutch said so. So I don't think neocolonialism is going to work either. Hmm, I might have to face someth

Reply to Spreading Democracy is a bad thing....how, exactly? in Politics JoeUser Forums

"That was the point of my earlier comment:" I know, I never said I was disagreeing with you. I know it may come as a shock that you and I agree on something (although I think if either extrapolated on what we mean by it, we'd find hefty disagreement), but it's the truth. If you believe in truth that is. Which I don't. "You on the left have a tendency to believe that rights belong to groups rather than individuals. I believe in the rights of groups via the individual, not the ot

Reply to QUESTIONS CERTAIN JUSERS COULDNT ANSWER in Misc JoeUser Forums

Firstly, this is an extremely funny thread, it's so disappointing that you had a serious point behind it. It's much more fun just mocking aeryck. Secondly, I doubt your faith is based purely on faith. But it's an interesting, timeless debate. Before Descartes (a scientist/philosopher/religious man for those who don't know), the church advocated faith based purely on faith. Descartes wanted them to change to including rational, logical, scienti

Reply to Why the far left will keep losing elections. in Politics JoeUser Forums

Well that disappoints me and I would expect better of you. I am seriously intrigued by why the Right thinks that the same things it does are the reasons the Left loses elections. Do you think there are subtle differences in the way Bush does arrogance that make it work for him? I don't think you've adequately extrapolated on your argument. I am perhaps likely to disagree with you, but I would at least like you to explain to me how you come to this conc

Reply to Should the USA invade Sudan? in Politics JoeUser Forums

heh, funny, I was just busy quoting the same Churchill site on another forum while you wrote this. Great minds. I don't like to despise the USA style of Government, I just happen to disagree with it. I would really like to find a way to like it, but I don't. "The problem in Sudan is precisely the institutional state-sponsored genocide the Nazis were so famous for. The UN is allowing this right now, today. It allowed the same thing in

Reply to Spreading Democracy is a bad thing....how, exactly? in Politics JoeUser Forums

"The end of colonialism in Africa has spelled disaster for the sub-saharan region." Yes, but the start of colonialism also spelled disaster in just about everywhere it went. And it's not like Africa was utopia before colonialism ended (in those places where it has).

Reply to Spreading Democracy is a bad thing....how, exactly? in Politics JoeUser Forums

I think this is too complicated for me to deal with on an empty stomach, but I think part of it comes from us Lefties not being so satisfied that democracy is all it's cracked up to be. It's still easily corruptible, just like communism. And quite frankly, for the most part it doesn't really work. That's just my opinion, I think if we start debating whether or not it works or not, we would be hijacking this blog for purposes other than what it was star

Reply to Why the far left will keep losing elections. in Politics JoeUser Forums

"I unlike the far left am open to changing my mind about things." Another way of putting this is that you flip-flop about on the issues. Where's your strength of conviction moderateman? (can I just say as an aside, that you and Moderate Response have chosen the least apt names on JU). I have changed my mind on several things over time, despite being a far Leftie. I have changed my mind on Iraq, I am no longer an anti-Christian, and I

Reply to Popstrology - What's Your Sign? in Entertainment JoeUser Forums

But what does the Don't you Wan t Me thing tell me about me? I can see though the relevance of Ebony and Ivory. Thanks Treens. See ya Sunday!

Should the USA invade Sudan? in Politics JoeUser Forums

I was just sent a link to an online petition which will be sent to President Bush, urging him to "demand the [UN] Security Council support a larger African Union troop deployment, a general arms embargo and targeted sanctions against those most responsible for the atrocities." Well doesn't that sound familiar, hit too close to home, make you shiver when you t

Reply to Why Homo's Will Never Be Right in Philosophy JoeUser Forums

A lot of talk has gone on in the past few weeks on JU about the morality of homosexuality, but this is by far the least impressive, most simplistic comment on the topic we've seen yet. So I'm going to argue against you attempting to be as simplistic as you because it is probably all that your meagre brain can handle. Seeing as the human species has a major overpopulation problem, having humans who choose not to breed is actually something that

Reply to Is the bible wrong? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Oh and more groundbreaking news, I think BakerStreet's dot point advice on how to deal with fanatics is excellent. Funny even. Shit, when did John Howard take over my body?

Reply to Is the bible wrong? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Dammit I was planning on bludging out of writing an article by using this in a few weeks myself. Last time you get a fwd from me PB :> I think people are arguing at a few cross purposes here. PB I have to agree with messy and drmiler etc (stop the presses), that it shouldn't really matter to you what certain people who use the label Christian believe about you. For instance, your good online friends trina and Teegstar also happen to b

Reply to The JU Grand Jury in Humor JoeUser Forums

Drmiller, for contributing more articles than most without ever writing one himself! It's like the blog for Right wingers who can't be bothered using google and finding their own sites to read. Drmiller doesn't provide any commentary or anything, just "hey btw, someone else wrote an article! Yeah, that's right, other people do that, not me, but other people!" Phoneixboi, Muggaz, mignuna for all claiming to retire without actually holding to it

Reply to I burnt my toast in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I like Spicks and Specks but I really don't think it comes up to a GNW standard. Actually I don't think Hills is a very good host, and I wish he would bloody well sing once in a while.

Reply to Happy birthday random guy in Misc JoeUser Forums

Joyeux anniv' is more common.

Reply to I am totally brave! in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I don't want to enforce my beliefs on anyone, but was there any reason you couldn't get a cup and a piece of paper and put it outside? I am one helluvan arachnophobe, but I still manage this.

Reply to Why do you judge me? in Blogging JoeUser Forums

"Yeah; I know about that, but the short and glasses thing.....that threw me. What's he talking about?" The book many Xians quote when claiming the Bible says homosexuality is a sin is Lavitticus (or however you spell it), and it has references to some, well, prettty weird things, including references to short people and vision impaired people. Most of these parts of that book are dismissed by modern Christians as being things that were right f

Reply to My Gay Twin in Humor JoeUser Forums

PB, when did you start blogging again?!?! I was so excited when I read your reasons for quitting blogging, I immediately deleted my link to your blog, knowing that you were going to a better place...life!!!! What happened? Why did you do the whole false retirement thing that is so popular among Aussie bloggers on JU?

Reply to How the French break down barriers in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

"Interesting take on greeting traditions, Champas." Thanks Gene. "In America, we frequently stand 10 feet apart and nod at each other suspiciously." Particularly if one of you is Moslem ;> "I am going to be more huggy with my boys." Good. This is very important. PB, I hadn't realised you were Italian. Cool. I love the way your culture encourages people to show their emotions. I find it very strange

Reply to Darwin vs. Creationism in Religion JoeUser Forums

Although I appreciate the humour of this article I agree with BS for once. It is demeaning to non-evolutionist children to not have a little statement about this only being a theory. IOf course, practically everything in the scientific discipline should also carry this warning, most of it simply being based on Western philosophy with all its assumptions about the world.

Reply to This Spongebob Thing Just Won't Go Away in Current Events JoeUser Forums

I sometimes find Christians like messybuu very hard to tolerate, yet in a classroom situation I would always promote a celebration of their way of life. I don't agree with the institution of marriage, I think it is outdated and silly, but I strongly support Christians' rights to indulge in it if they choose. I would even teach kids about it. And even though I think that communal models of parenting are far superior to the mummy and daddy model provided

How the French break down barriers in Personal Relationships JoeUser Forums

Possibly my favourite part of French culture is the way they greet each other. In Australia, when I arrive at a group of friends, I say hello, a few people pause to say hi and that’s that. In France however, I have to go around to each person and either shake their hand or kiss them on both cheeks. I really love the personal nature of this. You are actually taking the

Reply to An open letter to supporters of the Iraq war in Politics JoeUser Forums

Hmmm an interesting position. I was opposed to the Iraq War before it happened but I have found myself less opposed to it in retrospect and I find much of the continuing objections of the Left to be stubbornness. It is hard to really get at the situation with us not living there. By the same token, just living there doesn't necessarily mean you have any concept of what people's lives are like in different areas to you. Just look at how little people in