Ambrose2007 Forum Posts (8,881)

RE: Are we (the citizens of a country) responsible for what our country does?

That's it, Trish. There's little point in rebelling or extreme actions except insofar as they aid people's education. Nothing's going to change until people - a lot of people, if not a majority - support it.

RE: Are we (the citizens of a country) responsible for what our country does?

Well, if I take that out too far I would consider myself guilty of mass murder, and I strongly doubt that is the case. I don't support our government's interventions in other countries, for example, but what am I obliged to do about that? Take up arms against it? Vote against politicians who support war (which unfortunately is virtually all of them)? Absent myself from the system altogether?

I think my reasonable obligation is to argue for what I think is right, to try to convince people to educate themselves about the true nature and actions of their government. I don't believe I'm obligated to stand in front of a bomber headed for Serbia.

RE: Are we (the citizens of a country) responsible for what our country does?

Those who support the government's policies certainly bear some responsibility - and those who both support (philosophically) and materially assist these policies bear more (if not entire) responsibility.

A key question is how much ignorance excuses complicity. Many if not most Americans have either a sketchy or near-non-existent knowledge of what their government is doing. A substantial number of these have faith that their government is basically doing right - that its actions are generally motivated by good reasons or lofty ideals. The truth about that can be divined with relatively little study, so it's difficult to excuse their ignorance on the grounds that it would require vast labors to remedy.

My answer that people bear responsibility to varying degrees for their ignorance, depending on how willful/deliberate it is, and how much they permit fear or other psychological factors to prevent them from seeing the truth.

RE: What is the real motives behinf the U.S. miltary presence in Afghanistan?

Flight 77's cockpit door was never opened, according to the Pilots for Truth analysis of flight records (the plane that allegedly crashed into Pentagon).

RE: A baby???

Wow, Trudy, I'm so freaking happy for you (and Rick)!! Congratulations!!! (For the newbies, this is one of CS's greatest ladies!)

RE: What is the real motives behinf the U.S. miltary presence in Afghanistan?

That would of course prevent his administration from sending in those troops. Come to think of it, if the USG gave the real reason for any of its wars, it would've been prevented from entering any of them.

RE: What is the real motives behinf the U.S. miltary presence in Afghanistan?

That's quite true. If your average American knew even a small percentage of the crimes that have been committed by his or her government, there would be some massive changes, perhaps even a revolution in this country.

RE: What is the real motives behinf the U.S. miltary presence in Afghanistan?

The real motives are the same motives for virtually every war: profit for certain segments of our population (our war of independence comes to mind as one counterexample).

RE: When should "old men" accept the fact.....

RE: One Beer With a Past Singer- Who would it be?

Tiny Tim!

RE: One Beer With a Past Singer- Who would it be?

Thanks - I thought you might be talking about me!

RE: Athiest's blieve

This atheist believes that if you're going to bother to post a thread that you ought to spell the keys words correctly.

RE: One Beer With a Past Singer- Who would it be?

Easy. Jim Morrison.

RE: Would you date intellectuals

RE: Would you date intellectuals

Dear lord, no.

Just out of curiosity - why would you equate IQ with intellect?

RE: The all-inclusive thread

I don't know, Jeffrey. I would say that desire is fairly universal.

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

Hoist by my own syntactical petard! (Can I write stuff like that here?) I like your nickname for me, anyhow, A.

RE: Is it ok for Men to Cry?

Now you've gone and hurt my feelings, Alison!

RE: Is it ok for Men to Cry?

I know I do.

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

Are you a big Canadian fan, tool, L? Who'da thought?

RE: Is it the right thing to trial Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,9/11 mastermind, in a civilian court?

I'm guessing all that waterboarding might've diminished his mental capacity a bit, considering he can barely speak English now, after being described (from his college days) as having perfect English diction.

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

You Canadians are so civilized!

RE: last moments with special one...

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

And then your big nighstick?

RE: What stereotype annoys you the most?

RE: Is it the right thing to trial Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,9/11 mastermind, in a civilian court?

Not just Republicans, my friend. Democrats, Libertarians - pretty much everyone buys into the official conspiracy theory myth.

RE: The CS Two

There are worse sounds than giggling, Morgie. Much worse.

RE: The CS Two

Yeah, Morgie, GG I have the same problem when we perform our karaoke hits!

RE: Is it the right thing to trial Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,9/11 mastermind, in a civilian court?

That first link in my above post got mangled...