Johnathan's Ramblings on the Election Ok, ok, I'll throw my two cents in...

While I do not particularly support the "war" or care a whole lot for Bush, I kind of agree with Victor on the elections in that I'm going to try and be optimistic about them. I'm pretty sure that the only people over there who DON'T want freedom are the insurgents (just look at the election turnout)... although if you think about it, that's what the insurgents claim they're fighting for: freedom from US occupation. Hell, for all we know, the insurgents could even want democracy, but they just hate the US, so they're gonna keep killin people until we leave.

Now, I aslo agree that we shouldn't just pack up and leave... I'm not too big on starting something you can't finish and the US has definately started something over there. I don't like the way some things have been handled (for example, the cases of torture... no human being deserves to be treated like that), but I feel that we have an obligation to help in getting these people on their feet.

I've been told by my military (intelligence) buddies that things are getting better over there and that the media is responsible for making it all negative (imagine that). I don't know if any of us can make a truly informed position on the situation over there because quite frankly, we're not THERE experiencing it first hand... we're HERE sitting in our comfortable computer chairs eating popcorn and watching/listening to random news stories here and there. My point is that we have no way of actually knowing whether the bad truly outweighs the good over there. I'm not saying we should just let the administration feed us BS, either, hehe, but I feel that there is probably a lot going on (good and bad) that we don't know about.

The bottom line: the war should have been handled differently, but it wasn't. There's nothing we can do now to change that other than help finish what we started. I think the elections were indeed a good step in the right direction and apparently (again, due to the high turnout of voters) most people over there DO want democracy. I think that when we've got them on their feet and decide to leave, the insurgency will more than likely die out due to lack of support and loss of their war cry.
  ¶ 11:50 PM 0 comments

  Victor: You know Steph has a point. The elite population running the world has its own agenda. Not to sound too conspiracy theory, but I wonder how much all these ideals of democracy, equality, etc. really mean to them? Is it just a way to pacify the masses in order to facilitate the realization of whatever schemes they have in mind? Would a indivdual choose personal advancement over moral integrity? I suppose when it comes down to the individual, its a case by case process, but when it comes to the leadership... well they are people too right?   ¶ 11:18 PM 0 comments

  victor: [regarding the iraq elections] I am a bit more optimistic about the results of todays elections. I think we here in the US are too detatched from events in the middle east to fully appreciate the "small and precarious step" that the nation of iraq took today. We have had over 200 years to work out the kinks of democracy (having seperated from a monarcy somewhat rooted in religion prior to it). I think if we are expecting the Iraqis to hit the ground running with democracy, we are going to be sorely dissapointed. Its not going to be a easy road, I agree with all of you, but I think if the will power of the people is strong enough, democracy could prevail. I understand the cultural differences and the social inhabitions that may make the transition more difficult but its moving (however slowly) toward democracy. If you consider the Japanese at the end of the 18th century with the Meiji revolution, there had been almost 1000 years or more of shogun/imperial rule. I believe the Japan culture is deeply rooted in its traditions and have very strong reverance for its culture, history, and subsequently its eventual destiny. Yet they managed to overcome the old system and transition into the new. I know it was a whole mess until the American's dropped those two bombs but that is why the international community is so intereted in assisting the development of the nation, to make sure that democracy is carried through properly and that things go well.  ¶ 6:31 PM 0 comments

  [admin post] I am happy to welcome GTMel24, meghan, armando, Sarah, and Mr.JuJu... jujusan to the forum!   ¶ 6:24 PM 0 comments

  ummm.... nothing to say... just posting to waste everyones time, really.
  ¶ 4:35 PM 0 comments

  oops...I didn't read before I posted - sorry if I repeated some of the same things Kelli did...

- Brittany  ¶ 4:15 PM 0 comments

  ...by the people BRITTANY: First off, I would like to say that I think this is a very interesting idea. I have always been intrigued by open conversations between relative strangers because it offers so many perspectives. I sense the most growth and strengthening of character in my life when engaged in active, intellectual discussion (not that I expect everything on here to be all stuffy and debate-ish, but I think you know what I mean). Having said that, I feel that I should post something. Victor suggested that perhaps I should relate the details of my family’s weekend adventures (moving in an ice storm), but I think that I will skip such and jump to another suggested topic: the Iraqi elections.

The elections in Iraq are something that I have been regarding with detached curiosity. It’s not that I’m uninterested in the fate of the country…or that I have no interest in politics - it is simply that I’m not entirely sure how to feel. This is supposedly what we have been working toward since day one, but now that it’s here, things still seem entirely too uncertain. Election turnouts have been declared a “victory for democracy”, but the ever-ready skeptic in me finds such claims a little over-the-top. It is certainly a step in the right direction, and I am overjoyed for individuals who are able to experience new freedoms. But militant groups are staunchly anti-democratic and therefore, will not respect the results of this democratic election. Violence and destruction will inevitably continue. There is potential for peace…and it is quite possible that the new (though insanely complex) elections will liberate the Iraqi people. One has to wonder, however, if it can truly be considered “democracy” with so much outside influence.

Unfortunately, there is still the arduous task of constitution writing, and I suppose there is nothing to do but wait. This has the appearance of an opportunity for global unity and cooperation (something that has been lacking), but how long will the cooperative feelings last? For the sake of the Iraqi people, and for the sake of our troops, I hope that things will successfully fall into place. I’m very interested in hearing others’ opinions on the issue. Have a great day! :)
  ¶ 4:11 PM 1 comments

  sarah: i finally looked at victor's email. so now i am part of the crowd. next post will be something far more interesting i promise.
  ¶ 8:57 AM 0 comments

  [admin post] and a hallo to Bethani, stephanie, yunayuyu. welcome welcome.   ¶ 1:13 AM 0 comments

  victor: oh man, i had a great time tonight playing with my quartet. its been a few weeks since I have played with anyone, it felt good. I am so tired though... so anyways I had a question. Every morning when I go to work my car is always caked in ice. It dosnt matter if it had been raining or not the night before the car always has a nice layer of ice or icy particles all over. I look around and none of the other cars have that problem. Why would condensation building up on it so easily? Does my car sweat alot or something?... ???  ¶ 9:59 PM 2 comments

  [admin post] i just wanted to welcome some new comers: cathrin, johnathan, mandi, goodie, kelli, and LouiseHJ. ok ill let you get back to SS now   ¶ 1:23 PM 0 comments

  I think our freedom is being dictated because we are believing what is being presented to us. Society tells us a college education will help us obtain the job we've always wanted, and we will be happy, and in this 'perfect job', we will make lots of money and have everything we could possibly want. But ask those who have it all if they are truly satisfied. If society is right, and America is the greatest, richest, most powerful country, then why do people still want more, stealing, lying, and cheating to get more? We have it made, shouldn't all be right and perfect here? Most of us have a job, transportation, a TV, and plenty of clothes to choose from. Having a job and money doesn't satisfy, and it's obvious, otherwise we would be satisfied. Society is telling us a lie, and we are not satisfied. We need to realize that what we value determines our satisfaction. Society is telling us to value money and achievements and whatever is best for us, but it's not working out so well, because many, many people are not truly satisfied. So we need to stop believing the lie of society and realize that our true satisfaction does not come from these things.

True satisfaction comes about because our need for that satisfaction is met. But who could know that need better than the one who created the need, God.

- Mandi  ¶ 9:09 PM 2 comments

  victor: i was talking to mandi earlier today about satisfaction. It seems that often times true satisfaction is so elusive. You run that mile in under 5 minutes... you make your first million... you win that competition, but for what? it seems that society has already dictated our very lives. From what is right/wrong to the very meaning of success and happiness. I know that not everyone follows the mold but I wonder if the American dream to have the freedom to be who you want to be has been hijacked and transformed into some subtle totalitarian system (that was the first to come to my mind) where we are following a predestined path under the guise of the so called freedom. So are we our own person? To succeed in the society we live in, we have to follow its rules... the society is built around the cocept of freedom yet to deviate from the given path often leaves you ostricized... so do we really have the precious freedom the we all seem to hold so dear?   ¶ 7:43 PM 0 comments

  victor: haha i actually gave that a try boylan. yes i am a mindless repetative slave but what are you going to do? it got me through tech didnt it? anyways if you are massive and huge like me, you will also hear the blades of grass snap under your weight as your walk through the grass. Added to that, the fact that I havnt cut the grass in quite some time, there was alot of snapping to be done. the downside to this is that my driveway has been frozen over and living on high ground in such situtaions keeps me home-bound (i had been wanting KFC for some reason).   ¶ 6:07 PM 0 comments

  Hello Hi. This is Brittany...I don't think I know anyone but Victor, so I feel like I should introduce myself. :-D Have a great day!  ¶ 5:39 PM 0 comments

  [admin post] excuse me, let me introduce Brittany to everyone and help her feel comfortable. she is studying at Georgia College and State University, has helped me with my graduate school essays, is extremely bright, and enjoys long walks on the beach. can we have a small round of applause for her? hehe   ¶ 5:28 PM 0 comments

  Not quite boring




If you have a moment, step outside (no seriously).

This only works if you're kinda far from human traffic noises, but give it a shot if you're in a city.

Step 1: Go outside.
Step 2: Curse my name for telling you to do so.
Step 3: Listen.

Hear that? It's the sound of the ice on the trees cracking in the breeze. (wow, we're rhyming now.)

Listening to the snap, crackle, and pops is kinda strange, it's not one of those things you're used to hearing. Which is why it's all the more fun to just stand there and share in nature's music.

Now, proceed to the next step.


Step 4: Shout "damn it's cold" and stumble back inside.
Step 5: Find out you accidently locked yourself out, forcing yourself to walk around to find an open door.
Step 6: Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

--
boylan  ¶ 5:07 PM 0 comments

  [admin post] excellent glad to see susan, bart, and jason (brittany? i see you but not on the forum, are u having any problems?) on the forum. not to mention miss poo poo pants down there. I would LOOOOOVE to tell how she got that name but I think it would be proper if you asked her.   ¶ 4:12 PM 0 comments

  [admin post] ok well thanks for accepting the invitation. i believe this will be how it works: each of you have posting privileges so feel free to initiate a topic, respond at will, post links, and invite others. do introduce yourself so the others know who you are and i will try and figure out how to give everyone admin rights soon.

  ¶ 2:17 PM 0 comments

  [admin post] anyone, if not everyone is welcome to join the forum. i hope it will become a place where people will come to to exchange ideas, talk about life, and share experiances. just leave me your email in the comments and i will send you an invitation.

  ¶ 1:48 PM 0 comments