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Knight to queen's bishop 3 - Snowden charged with espionage.

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Tinman57:

  Us Americans aren't too happy with our government either.  In fact, most Americans KNOW that our government has lost it's way and caters to the almighty dollar (Corporations).  A lot of us know that the U.S. isn't as "free" as it claims to be, but then there's all the sheeple that think the U.S. is protecting them from all the bad guys with all the spying laws and it's a good thing.  You know, idiots.....  We vote what we think is going to be a good, honest politician, and as soon as he/she gets into office they start making the wrong decisions just like the rest.  Sometimes I think they get brainwashed shortly after they are sworn into office.

  For the most part, Americans are good people, but we have way too many bad people as well.  What really hurts the American image is our ambassador's in uniform, the military.  I've seen all too well how a lot of the military troops (inner city types) go to other countries riding down the street chanting "America is #1" and basically acting like school kid bullies.  I've seen them drunk in the streets taking a piss on the sidewalk and talking trash to any female that happens by.  This is where most foreign (to the U.S.) people get their first in-person impressions of Americans, and it's not a very good first impression.....

40hz:
To be perfectly blunt, I haven't seen where any of the so-called "Western Democracies" have behaved in any manner so exemplary that they are now in a position to honestly point fingers at anyone other than themselves.

From my perspective, the entire "grand experiment" that began with the European Enlightenment and arguably culminated with the creation of the United States, which was AFAIK the first nation that was consciously designed to be a society that derived the authority for its very existence from the will of its people alone.

It was a beautiful and lofty idea.

Unfortunately, all the old demons from our past: the will to power; greed; provincialism; superstition; ignorance; hatred; cruelty...the list is long, weren't abolished just because some individuals began to look up from what was directly in front of them and try get us to elevate our awareness, as a species, up a notch or two.

I think it's still too soon to say that this experiment has definitely and conclusively failed. But it's certainly at a crisis point. One where decisions are going to need to be made - and painful lessons learned -if it is going to continue.

I'd like to think the widespread loathing and anger many are feeling towards our key social institutions (i.e. state, church, business, family) over their absolute betrayal of principle, and the people they are supposed to serve,  is the start of a large scale social 'correction.' One that is going to play out primarily in North America and Europe. But whose ramifications are going to be felt globally.

Time will tell if it is a rebirth or not.

There is (supposedly) an old Chinese curse that goes: May you live in historically "interesting" times.

Well...we do. And I intend to make the most of it.



I plan on making a career out of being a royal pain in the ass. ;) :) :Thmbsup:

wraith808:
To be perfectly blunt, I haven't seen where any of the so-called "Western Democracies" have behaved in any manner so exemplary that they are now in a position to honestly point fingers at anyone other than themselves.
-40hz (June 28, 2013, 09:22 PM)
--- End quote ---

This is my point.  To call someone a bully implies that there is a victim in the situation.  The only victim in these situations are the people.  The governments themselves would do EXACTLY THE SAME if they had the power.  And to lose sight of that is to lose sight of the fact that they are all playing games.  That's it and that's all.

40hz:
Just imagine how much we'll know tomorrow...



...if we're strong enough. 8)

Stoic Joker:
"A person is smart, people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals." Was my favorite quote from the whole movie.

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