[aberdeenwriter]

Originally posted by nath:
ha ha! however will i survive without such wisdom?

First you'll feel afraid, you'll be petrified...you will survive...as long as you know how to troll I know you'll stay alive...

[nath]

Originally posted by aberdeenwriter:
First you'll feel afraid, you'll be petrified...you will survive...as long as you know how to troll I know you'll stay alive...

Why would I be afraid or petrified? Please tell me, I'm really interested.

I'm genuinely interested in the cultivation of the politics of fear - which I think you must also have a good understanding of, having watched the excellent series 'The Power of Nightmares', which I understand we both admire. You did watch all the episodes, didn't you? I asked you this before after you referenced the series, but you didn't answer.

Incidentally I wasn't trolling, just pointing out the amusing contradiction between two of your posts on the same page:

Originally posted by aberdeenwriter:
Should we waste time and space grasping at hypotheticals?

Originally posted by aberdeenwriter:
3) If the US were removed from hypothetical equation #2...

I do think you're a nutjob, but I would like to know more about why. It's interesting.

[aberdeenwriter]

"I Will Survive"

At first I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
Oh as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive (hey-hey)

It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
But now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
and now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me

Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
Did you think I'd crumble
Did you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
Oh as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
[x2]

[nath]

Originally posted by nath:
I do think you're a nutjob, but I would like to know more about why. It's interesting.

Originally posted by aberdeenwriter:
"I Will Survive"

At first I was afraid....

[x2]

Well done, I think that's the closest you've ever actually come to answering a question!

[jbartone]

****en terrorists. They don't care about the Iraqi people. They are terrorist scumbags, and I hope the US kill every single one of them. "Freedom fighters" my arse. They will kill their own. I was against the invasion from the start, but this pisses me off.

[DBursey]

By Simey, in reference to my remark that America has no friends, only interests:

What he is doing is misquoting an aphorism usually attributed to Lord Palmerston

Paraphrasing, not misquoting. My remark wasn't attributed to any source.

By Aberdeenwriter:

But now he's using it to try to bludgeon the US??

I was expressing my opinion. This is a discussion board, not a wrestling match! Now put down that silly metal chair and take your chill pill.

Question, what is the kind of FRIENDS you deride the US for not having? Name an example of a Canadian 'friend.'

As I've clearly stated, it's the company kept and the conflicting policy objectives that belies an inconsistent, oft duplicitous approach to U.S. foreign policy. Canadian foreign policy, OTOH, conforms to a standard prefaced on respect for human rights, the importance of multilateralism and the rule of international law.

A friend other than Canada's BEST friend, the USA; whose actions in pursuit of the noble causes I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, make it possible for you to have such a lofty holier than thou perch from which to pass judgment on US?

Let those without sin cast the first stone, eh? Well, regardless of my position on the validity or nobility of your recent military adventures, I would vigorously refute your assertion that Canada's freedoms are 'made possible' by the United States, as you so imperiously imply.

If we weren't who and what we are Canada would have either been invaded by any other neighbor (maybe repeatedly), or you'd be spending a hell of a lot more on your own national defense than you do.

If my uncle were a woman he'd be my aunt, wouldn't you say? Moot speculation. Dress it up a little and you have an entertaining piece of fiction!

The fact remains that Canada's military has asserted itself admirably in many conflagrations in the years since coming of age during WWI. Pacifists we're not! A peacekeeping nation, a builder of Consensus, a voice of moderation, a highly respected member of the community of nations. There are sound reasons why we were initially chosen to lead the WoT mission in Afghanistan, and why a Canadian general has been chosen to head NATO. I invite you to click my signature in hopes of dispelling more of your specious assumptions.

Your brand of socialism wouldn't have sprouted or survived under those circumstances. You'd be singing a much different tune, today.

so�cial�ism:

1) Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Hmmm ... that can't be our 'brand'. The production & distribution of Canadian goods remains the exclusive domain of private enterprise.

2) A system of society or group living in which there is no private property.

Not even remotely close! Else I'd be in serious trouble with my properties here and out east.

3) A stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done.

Canadian employment equity laws exist ostensibly to ensure that pay rates are equitable regardless of age, gender or race. As with any capitalist society, goods are freely available to those who can so afford.

Free enterprise and a system driven by private capital does not a socialist state make. Nor does our equitable form of 'socialized' medical insurance.

Aberdeen, your knowledge of Canada, its military record and especially the nature of Canadians can quite evidently be characterized as fuzzy at best. In this regard you sit in good company with most of your countrymen. Fortunately, a condition of ignorance does not need to be permanent.

To anyone else who considers Canada a socialist nation, please feel welcome to chime in with your views on just how and why you perceive that our socio-political fabric should be so considered.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Canada has a strong military record, both previously as a member of the Commonwealth (and before that, the British Empire) and more recently as a stallwart NATO ally. We haven't forgotten the Canadians who fought with Britain before the US went to war in both WW-I and WW-II, nor the Canadian escorts who protected American cargo ships across the Atlantic, nor the Canadians who landed on Normandy's beaches. Nor have we forgotten the Candians who helped guard West Germany throughout the Cold War, and who still to this day man the joint NORAD command which protects our shared continent. Although Canada has obviously benefitted from having such a powerful neighbor to the south, it has without a doubt been a partnership.

In recent years, however, Canada has all but disbanded its military. It is undeniable that Canada's armed forces are a pale shadow of what they once were. Canada was the first NATO country to withdraw its forces from Germany after the end of the Cold War, and after a well-publicized incident involving a handful of Paratroopers torturing a Somali boy, the Canadian government overreacted by deactivating one of its best units -- the Parachute Regiment -- in its entirety. Today, Canada spends the least on defense as a percentage of GDP of any NATO country, other than Iceland. This has left the Canadian military of today as virtually incapable of anything significant. Even in Afghanistan, where Canadian snipers were particularly effective, they were only able to get there by relying on American transport and logistics.

A little honesty and realism on both sides would be welcome.