Mrebo

darth_ender said:

How did they exams go? (they did happen yet?)

Recently, someone I know told me about their parent who expresses all kinds of intolerant views regarding racial minorities, gays, etc. When confronted about it, he said it's partly a reaction to society's trajectory on those issues. I suppose that would include suppression of speech and the tendency to popularize and exalt certain form of diversity.  Reminds me of the super-villain cliche of "YOU CREATED ME!" But I think there might be something there.

I recognize that I sometimes play the role of this guy:

But I believe the aptly-named imperialscum and Hey, it's me are similarly reacting. I think they are speaking to the broad trends and not intentionally labeling each and every liberal and/or Muslim in a negative way. As I've previously mentioned, I date a liberal so I know they're not all...terrible.

Shopkeeper threatened with arrest for displaying hateful t-shirt.

I want to go live in the 80s. Time machine, please.

I had a genealogical breakthrough last night. Discovered a great-grandparent with the surname Maxon. Apparently that's Scottish?? Woe is me.

Bingowings said:

I'm sorry I didn't realise you were Buddhist Extremist who isn't a human being.

I want to be that.

Faith of the Heart. Ugh.

I don't think we've yet referred to Buddhist extremists in this thread.

Watching pilot of Enterprise (have seen a couple of random episodes of the series previously). It's so bad. Not unwatchably bad...but it's pretty dull due to the deliberate pace, weak dialogue, bland camera work, poor digital effects...it's too obvious in everything it does. Now I'm going to go finish watching it...

The Day the Clown Cried

Hey, it's me. said:

The Burka is not compulsory in Islam. There are already cases arising where it has been used as a guise to commit crimes. Plus it is a very unsocial statement (in my view) and its wearers are basically saying 'I don't want to be part of your society'.

I think it's fine if people don't want to homogenize (not that I'm homophobic). I'm okay with people being anti-social. Whether they wear all black and scowl, peer out from behind tattered curtains, or be Amish.

The English and History being taught in Mosques was aimed at Muslim immigrant adults who arrive in the UK. And if they don't or refuse then I'm sorry what is your purpose of moving here? You will not be able to find a job without being able to speak English and having some general knowledge of the history and culture of your adoptive country is very beneficial. If you've come for a better quality of life then its hardly a massive sacrifice to do this is it? Failure to do this will ultimately result in deportation. 3 strikes and your out if you will.

Requiring english to become a citizen is fine. What sort of system you have that there immigrants are allowed to stay indefinitely I don't know. It seems like in the absence of becoming a citizen, immigrants must eventually leave, english-speaking or not.

Warbler said:

I did, you're still a bigot and women should still be allowed to wear Burkas if they want.    As for concerns about 11 year olds.   I couldn't chose not to go to Sunday School when I was 11.   Part of freedom of religion is the right a parent to bring their child up in his/her religion.  

Warbs, you've been accused of bigotry and it seems like you would step more lightly in throwing the accusations at others. I'm with you that women should wear burkas if they want. France banned even headscarves, which is quite loony to me.

Warbler said:

Mrebo said:

 In our society, those enablers are typically liberals. Then those lefties, as you call them, blind themselves to the truth to continue their enabling in good conscience, more or less.

ah . . . more bs blaming the liberals for all the worlds problems.  wonderful.

Not all problems, just this one. I'll get around to the others ;)

TV's Frink said:

Mrebo said:

And liberals love non-Christian religions.

Well that's a broad brush...I hate all religions. :p

No match for a good blaster at your side, kid.

CP3S said:

Hey, it's me. said:

No you misunderstand Boost (the Queen indeed! Lol)

These few would be a start.

1. Heavy penalties for Mosques that knowingly allow extreme Imams to preach at their mosques and jail time for repeat offenders. Also the banning of extremist preaching at universities, in the street and everywhere else besides mosques.

This one isn't a bad idea. In the US, we would probably see this as a violation of freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but much of what is taught by some of these guys are teaching is easily categorized as hate speech.

CP3S is right it would be a violation. Conservatives hate "hate speech" laws. And liberals love non-Christian religions. So it would be a non-starter here in the US anyhow.

The KKK, Westboro, whoever...has the right to express their views, however extreme. Only if imminent lawlessness is intended and likely from the speech can it be punished.

I think there are really good reasons for that, no matter what country one lives in. There's also the slippery slope problem once you start calling some speech inherently dangerous.

2. English language, and UK history and culture to be taught compulsory at every Mosque for Muslims who do not know how to speak the language and are oblivious to UK history.And then tested by an independant adjudicator on their fluency and knowledge.

Telling religious organizations what they should teach also rubs against the American conception of freedom. Schools should be required to teach english. And if someone doesn't learn your language...then what?

3. NO Sharia courts in the UK. You live by our laws when it comes to family matters like every other resident of the population.

Absolutely! This should be a given. Any country that is willing to let Sharia into their court system is asking for it and just plain stupid. I'm with you 100% here. Religious freedom shouldn't extend to allowances for things that are otherwise illegal (maybe with a few small exceptions. For example, I appreciate that the use of ayahuasca, a potent hallucinogen, is legal in the US for practitioners of Santo Daime, even though I can't legally acquire ayahuasca for my own personal use).   

Agreed, should be a given. Respect should be given to cultural understandings and importance (as is given to the Amish in the US), but everyone should be under the jurisdiction of the same sets of laws.

4. The banning of the Burka as its a security risk.

Burkas bother me. I absolutely hate what they represent. But I have a hard time getting behind this one.

I'm with CP3S here. I thought France's ban was heavy-handed. A Burka is not a security risk any more than a backpack or a large coat.

For the record, I was responding to Frink's comment.

I'm glad it wasn't only me.

Johnny Ringo said:

Maybe they could call it the Xbox 180.

*giggles* Well done.

That's one! :P

James Gandolfini

There's still time, Bingo!

The problem is not the tiny subgroup of demonstrably dangerous deviants. It's the large mass of enablers. In our society, those enablers are typically liberals. Then those lefties, as you call them, blind themselves to the truth to continue their enabling in good conscience, more or less.

I'm having trouble just because there are familiar names connected to unknown characters and my brain is trying to figure out the connections/importance. The Redblade name adds another wrinkle that gnaws at me. Now I know you explained the name difference and it's an idea with merit, but it is another complication that the brain wants resolved. If I could strip out my expectations and knowledge of the OT, it would be much easier! The premise about the racer pilot Anakin is great.

As per the issues raised by Neverar, holocrons bug me as too EU, especially since totally absent from the OT. I'm fine with Mandalorians (was a story I was looking forward to pre-PT) and a Mandalorian technically appeared in the OT.

I think one has to be careful with being tongue-in-cheek as it can knock one out of the story. I was going to use a joke about pod-racing being "very dangerous"...but on reflection it just makes one react based on something outside of the story. Chuckling at future-Vader's apt name may be a bridge too far, but others should comment...I wish more people visited the writing threads even if they have no interest in writing.

The problems with immigration in the UK remind me of the problems with immigration in the US. Rather than eastern europeans it's Mexicans, but the same concerns about jobs and welfare are being raised. When it comes to Mexicans, one is said to be racist if one expresses reservations. I think it's useful to hear how the same kinds of issues are debated elsewhere...

A strong female Jedi would be a fun role. I have no desire for a female temptress. I do intend to have a very charismatic male Darth character who plants the seeds in Anakin's mind, seducing him intellectually. So in a way, there will be that role, without the inherent sexuality.

The female Jedi could play a supplementary role, winning Anakin's admiration, sort of the good angel to the Darth's bad angel (in terms of seduction). We would have Luke's Mom doing her thing on Alderaan while Anakin is running around with Obi Wan and the female Jedi (and others?), leaving the audience wondering about the feelings between them.

It allows for a strong female character without the laziness (in my view anyways) of sexualizing her.

I agree with Luke's Mom being from Alderaan. One concern I'm working with is that if she starts as a daring part of the team but then sent away when the storyline is better served by Anakin and Obi Wan being alone. The problem there is there Anakin is her strongest link to the story...but he needs alone time / with Obi Wan.

And ultimately, if after being a central heroic character she is left to care for the babies, something of a damsel in distress, I don't know that that serves the gender dynamics very well.

The only way to preserve the strength of her character that I can see so far is not to have her take a leading role. For something of a model, see "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," where Etta Place (the girlfriend) is returned to again and again.

My working draft has her as apprentice to Alderaanian scouts searching for Obi Wan. She will be more like Luke, young and unsure of herself but not afraid to use a blaster if need be. But rather than become a great hero, she maintains the more innocent character Luke would have had.

I'm still not sure how to work her into the story sufficiently and set her aside without making it feel like she's being set aside.

Warbler said:

*Warb pulls 'Cold Steel Recon 1 plain edge spear point assisted opening tactical folding knife' out of pocket,  Quickly flips open knife with one hand, tears Gaffer apart with knife* 

*I actually do own this knife.

Background check on Aisle 5...

adywan said:

So America are now prepared to arm the Syrian Rebels because they say that the president has used chemical weapons. I'd be very wary of this. It was a very small amount used. Doesn't this ring alarm bells with anyone? Top experts have warned that these weapons were used by the rebels (the UN's investigator Carla del Ponte informed them about this after her investigation), in order to get the support of other nations and they were not used by Assad. But what's more worrying is that it is known that Al Qaeda is fighting alongside the rebels (same thing as what was happening in Lybia). So, if America start providing this military support, they are in danger of arming those they are supposed to be fighting against.

There are some terrible things happening over there, but is it all that we are being told it is? Rebels executed a 15 year old boy in front of his parents because they claimed he used the profit Muhammad's name in an offensive manner. And we've seen the pictures of the rebels eating one of the government soldiers hearts. Is this really the type of people that we should be helping? Also videos of Rebels training to use chemical weapons surfaced.

I'm hoping the Uk stays well out of this but the chances of that happening are slim to none. Shouldn't we be listening to those independent investigators instead of brushing their reports to one side without any evidence to refute their reports? 

And, before any one suggests that this is another Anti-American post by a Brit, it isn't. I'm curious to know what you guys over there think about all this.

For all the angst and opposition many express(ed) about Iraq, without that precedent intervention in places like Libya and Syria would not be so practically expected. As in Libya, we're taking sides in a civil war with the goal of not getting our own hands too literally bloodied. The need for UN approval sounds more quaint than ever before.

An unidentified US administration official is quoted:

“Would we have made [the determination Assad had breached the red line] even if we didn’t have the evidence? Probably.”

My fear is that we are mostly now naively assisting Islamist extremists who, as you say, are exploiting these conflicts to expand their influence (something we also saw in Egypt). If we are going to engage in these conflicts, I think we need to take ownership of the consequences (and try to avoid them).

Dr. Ian Malcolm said:

...so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

darth_ender said:

I guess I'm displaying my stupid ignorance here.  I didn't make the connection (due to my studying for my state board exam I guess) that this guy was the one who revealed the government snooping stuff.  Now I feel stoopidd.  I'm with you guys that such things are absolutely wrong.  I was just reading the first couple paragraphs and thinking this guy released more stuff like that guy did a couple years ago.  That's what I get for skimming the stories instead of reading in depth.  Sorry :(

Not to make you feel more stoopidder, but at least when I said "We should be wary of what we don't know, of making broad assumptions, etc..." I was referring to Warbler, myself, the author of the article, and any others saying maybe it's not as dangerous as the government claims and that it is something that can/should be openly debated. That was my little disclaimer that we could be wrong. Though I must admit, I don't know what element of free speech you see. Good luck on the exams!