Controversial Subjects

US intervention

New2grammar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:05:32 GMT

I wonder why the US spend so much energy, time and money in countries like Israel, Afghanistan, Korea, Japan and Iraq. What does it gain from intervening in those countries' politics? Please, no hateful messages. I'm curious about it. I would appreciate American and international replies.

Definition of "democracy"

Ruslana — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 17:05:23 GMT

Hey guys,

Out of curiosity, I decided to check what the common definition of democracy is. Surprisingly, Wikipedia says that:

...there is no universally accepted definition of 'democracy'...
...There are several varieties of democracy, some of which provide better representation and more freedoms for their citizens than others...
...democracy describes ... a political philosophy...

For me it means that people haven't agreed on this term, and in each particular case the term can be interpretted differently (as one wants). So now... I'm imagining all those mass media debates (all over the world!) about so called "democracy" and wondering: what the heck are people talking about if there's no even a commonly used and accepted definition of this conception??

What do you think about this issue? Does it seem to you a big carefully planned political game aimed to powder people's mind (or anything like that), or do you consider it normal that such a frequently used term doesn't have any unambiguous definition?

World's biggest problem

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Dec 2005 00:26:21 GMT

What is the world's biggest problem today?

1) Aids
2) Gun crime/gun love
3) Drugs
4) War
5) The WTO
6) The WHO
7) The Beatles
8) Madonna
9) Racism
10) Globalism
11) Global warming/polar inversion/wobble
12) The bad dudes under your bed
13) American foreign policy
14) Knirps

Forgotten Tibet

Dominik — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 08:56:29 GMT

âWhere ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.â Dalai Lama

In a latest exclusive interview with the BBC in his home in exile Dalai Lama called the situation in Tibet desperate. "China's repression must come to an end. The stability, unity must come from heart, not simply physical control by force. It is the wrong method. They simply feel they have gun so they can control. But more suppression, more military occupation, more resentment."

Tibet The Story Of A Tragedy

47 years in tibet

Chinese soldiers shooting tibetan pilgrims at mount everest

Bad news for Beijing: Australia Coverage Tibet Protes

News Tibetan Cry to The World China Massacre in Tibet

Should Taiwan be part of China?

canvas — Fri, 02 Jul 2004 15:43:06 GMT

If there are some Chinese here, what do you think?

Politically correct term for black people

Dejanm83 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:08:02 GMT

Is it PC to say "black people"?

I'm sorry if I'm repeating the topic, but I tried searching and got hundreds of results, and none in the first couple of pages were relevant.

I am an English student from Bosnia and Herzegovina (south-east Europe), and I'm writing a paper on politically correctness, so I need thoughts from Americans...

It is my opinion that "African American" is not precise. It is limited to citizens of America with African heritage. What about black people in other countries in the world? What about black Americans from Cuba, the Carribeans and so on? "Black people" encompasses all those groups.

Can anyone tell me if it is offensive to use "black person/people", and if so, what is the accepted term which would denote the whole group...

Thanks!

Guns forever!!!

Lawyee — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:57:14 GMT

No, this is not a thread about Guns'n'Roses - unfortunately. I just came across the recent US Supreme Court decision which upholds the second amendment to the US Constitution which grants the right to have and bear a gun. From a legal point of view, there is nothing surprising about this - if it is granted by the Constitution, it should be preserved. I just hoped that the Supreme Court will take into account that this amendment was passed in a very different era, when it was more necessary to protect oneself (because the state was not able to do so). I think that this right in the present situation appears odd to the rest of the Western Culture (cannot speak for other cultures) and it should be reviewed.
My question is:
1.Do you think that the right to hold a gun is really a human right which should be preserved? If so, why isn't it protected in the same way in other states (at least in the Western civilization)?
2. Do you think that bearing a gun creates a safer society?
3. Do you think that it is an infringement of this right to create a system which controls the bearing of guns and grants this right only after passing several exams (psychological, legal, technical etc.)?

Would you want to have this kind of (absolute) right in your state? Why do Americans need this kind of right?

To take it less seriously, watch this:
(Bowling for Columbine - Michael Moore)

P.S.: PLEASE, do not take this thread as a chance to offend Americans for whatever you choose (mostly foreign politics). Thanks

Hate?

Philip — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:42:13 GMT

This is in response to a thread in a language section that asks for alternatives to the word 'hate'. I thought this response belongs here rather than there.

I have a psychologist friend who insists that 'hate' is really a combination of 'love' and 'fear'.

Hate is a very expensive emotion, in that it brings no reward or satisfaction.
If one hates a person, that is a lot of emotional energy to expend on someone supposedly not worth the effort.

The object of one's hatred must be very important in the life of the person doing the hating, otherwise, the emotional expenditure wouldn't be worth it. Might this mean that the person actually loves rather than hates the object of the emotion?
The person doing the hating must be afraid of the object of the emotion, afraid that the person might hurt the other again.

Scenario: I've been linked with a lover for eight years, and then that lover dumps me for someone new. I've truly loved this person. Now when I claim that I hate the ex-lover, perhaps I am combining that love that I've had with fear that I might be hurt by this person again.

attempted murder or murder

New2grammar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:29:29 GMT

If an attacker caused a pregnant woman to lose her baby, is it an attempted murder or murder?

Thanks in advance.

What does the society focus?

Chibi — Sat, 31 May 2008 10:16:52 GMT

Many say that society does not place enough emphasis on the intellect - that is, on reasoning and cognitive skills.

I myself do not agree with that. Based on the article I have read, the writer said: "the primary difference between European and Japanese education is that the European go to school to learn and graduate with an expected amount of knowledge and reasoning skills while the Japanese system teaches more how to behave in society, interact with people in a group and some factual knowledge based especially on memory". Actually, I think both these education systems have paid attention on reasoning and cognitive skills. The matter is that how these skills are perveiced or interpreted by each person.

Reasoning and cognitive skills, in fact, are skills of analysis, logic, critique. They have much influence on a person's behaviors, emotions and also remarkable decisions. How can a person feel sorry or happy about an event if he does not understand it; and how can he understand it if he does not have a good perception - a reliable analysis? These things are completely acquired in a long period of learning which happens in real society. So we cannot say thay society does not place emphasis on the intellect. Moreove, this emphasis possibly depends on the specific purpose of people in society.

What do you think about this issue? Can you share?

Wenchuan earthquake & Tibet disturbances

Ruslana — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:14:17 GMT

Well, for those who believe in inexplicable power and for those who don't...

In the middle of March we all heard about mass disturbances in Tibet, and a month later a terrible earthquake took place in Wenchuan country. Considering that Tibet is a holy place and thus is somehow sensible to... people's mood & energy (?), do you think that the disturbances (the negative atmosphere in the region) could "provoke" the earthquake?

I know it may sound meaninglessly, but do we really know anything about such correlations?

Are women manipulative?

Sextus — Sat, 07 Jan 2006 18:05:05 GMT

The topic I want to discuss is whether or not women tend to be manipulative, or at least more manipulative than men.

I'm just asking you about your personal experience. And girls: don't be angry at me, since I'm just asking a question.

Cheers,

Sextus

Ben Laden vs. Bush

Goodman — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:35:05 GMT

Offtopic from another thread. - Mod.

Osee

You were just trying to use a lie to confuse and convince people about another lie. Ironically, the Tiananment Event was brought to the attention of the world by several Chinese students and you guys believed it, now the Chinese students around the world are telling what are the truths of Tibet and Taiwan, and you just ingnore them.
We do not have freedom of speech? LOL. Do you think USA has freedom of speech? Recently a black groom in USA got 50 gun shots by two white policemen, these policemen were later declared no guilty for the reason they were being too nervous. 50 guns shots vs being too nervous? Are you kidding me? Yes, you have freedom of speech, but who in USA on earth have the freedom of speech?
USA declare it is a democracy country, but raising your head and look over at Iraq, is that what a democracy country should do? Your government says Ben Laden is the No. 1 terrorist. But let me ask you a question: how many people has Ben Laden killed in this world? How many has USA killed in Iraq? Now tell me who is the No. 1 terrorist in this world?
Let's look further into this Iraq war: American children from poor families are sent to fight for getting the oil of Iraq, these oil is selling to poor families by some rich persons controlling oil. So the poor devote their children's lives to buy oil from the rich perons controlling oil. Is this what a so-called democracy looks like?

USA declare it is a democracy country, but raising your head and look over at Iraq, is that what a democracy country should do? Your government says Ben Laden is the No. 1 terrorist. But let me ask you a question: how many people has Ben Laden killed in this world? How many has USA killed in Iraq? Now tell me who is the No. 1 terrorist in this world?

Let's look further into this Iraq war: American children from poor families are sent to fight for getting the oil of Iraq, these oil is selling to poor families by some rich persons controlling oil. So the poor devote their children's lives to buy oil from the rich perons controlling oil. Is this what a so-called democracy looks like?

Hi OSee,

I agree with some of your comments on the topics discussed here thus far. Having said that, if you are using the Iraq war and Ben Laden scenario to drive home your points on âfreedomâ, I think you are stretching it a bit. Ben Laden has no qualms about killing innocent Americans, or anybody who is not one of them, It wonât matter if they are children, women, or elders, they are all âequal opportunityâ targets. The Iraq war is another can of worm which I hesitate to open but I say this, if we went there for oil, why are we paying close to $5 a gallon where I live? Itâs not a joke, military engagement and killing go together as well as bodies and graves, just like the bodies of the American soldiers whose names are no the War Memorial Monument in Washington DC. I agree, there is a twisted side of freedom of speech in America and there are certain issues with of human right which are not brought to the scrutiny as were with the Chinese. I am calling a spade a spade. Hope itâs not a problem.

China and Tibet

Osee — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:46:34 GMT

Here are two videos providing oppinions about China and Tibet. The second one is made by a youth, forgive his angry words.

Tibet: The Truth (A Political History)

Olympic boycott?

Cool Breeze — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:09:50 GMT

The Beijing Olympics will commence soon. It has been suggested that owing to China's poor performance in human rights and nonexistent freedom of the press, the Olympics should be boycotted. To my mind the International Olympic Committee is to blame. The repression in China was widely known in 2001 when the IOC assigned the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing. It would be wrong to "punish" the athletes who have trained hard for years by not allowing them to compete. If the dignitaries, and athletes for that matter, want to boycott the opening ceremony, that is fine with me. If countries boycotted the actual competitions, it would only benefit China as it would be able to win more medals due to the boycott. The effect of the boycott would be the exact opposite of what was intended unless nearly all participating nations were to join in the boycott, and that is extremely unlikely to happen.

Furthermore, Olympics have been boycotted before with little adverse effect on the host country. Olympics have been held in countries with a dubious record in human rights and democracy.

What is your opinion?

Hitler, DID ADOLF HITLER KILL THOUSANDS OF JEWS IN THE HOLOCAUST?

Jet Jaguar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 05:35:14 GMT

So I wanted to know if

JEWS DIED IN THE HOLOCAUST.I heard somewhere that JEWS DIED in the HOLOCAUST.But im not sure.Please explain.

___

[Image removed â MrP]

What makes a poem a masterpiece?

Sepitro — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:50:13 GMT

What is it that make a poem a masterpiece?

Is it the combination of style, rhythm and symbology?

How would you define a masterpiece?

Also, if possible please give examples.

Offensive National Nicknames

Old Man Gordon — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:33:03 GMT

In another forum, someone wrote that they found the term "Brit" offensive. Is this true for other Brits among us?

Is 'Aussie' offensive to you Aussies? Canucks?

As a Yank, I'm not offended in the least by the term, unless it's preceded by 'stupid' or something derogatory.

Most of these are just shortened forms of the country's name, so only the thinnest-skinned people would take offense.

May 1968

Pidr1nhu — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:54:18 GMT

How could you possibly analyse the effect of May 1968 on today's societies and values?

Link: http://www.france24.com/en/20080505-debate-may-sixties-france-society-values-revolution&navi=DEBATS

surprising history of Federal Reserve System

Jing — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:16:51 GMT

Does anyone know the real history and property of U.S.A Federal Reserve System? I am shocked when I read some history book about it. I cannot almost believe that. The Federal Reserve is not the central bank of U.S.A controlled by U.S. goverment. It is actually a private bank system which controlled by private bankers, Rothschilds. The U.S. goverment has no power to issue DOLLARs. That's to say, all American citizens have to feed the bankers with tax forever. Does anyone know the history of Fed, especially native American?

Europeans united

Lawyee — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:37:25 GMT

Hi, as I came across a movie that seems to warn us of integration as a step to the One World Government, I would like to ask you what do you think about the integration of states. As far as I am concerned , the only really working concept is the European Union (please let me know if you know about other integrations, which are really beneficial for their citizens).

1. Do you think that integration can unite the people together and help them to resolve their conflicts? In fact, the relationships between French and German people are better now than they used to be sixty years ago-has this anything to do with the integration?

2. Do you think that integration reduces our rights of self-government and democracy, or maybe sovereignity of nations? In my opinion in every developed country, citizens are not interested in their policital affairs and the rate of people voting is decreasing perpetually. Do we really have the reason to be afraid of losing our rights because of the integration?

Citizens of the European Union, do you feel lack of rights?

Why do they puplish harmful paints about Prophet Muhammed?

Miss_muslima — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 19:39:32 GMT

Hello:

Please lets discuss:

Why do they insist to puplish so harmful paints about Prophet Muhammed?

Are you agree with and what do you know about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?

Greetings

Expat Show Beijing

lusisi03 — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:16:05 GMT

Expat Show Beijing will gather all services and products dedicated to the expatriate community in Beijing. It will bring together 150 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors in China WTC, Guomao, from 4th to 6th of April 2008. Not only will you be able to get in touch with companies from financial advisors to international schools, but you will also have the opportunity to meet with Beijingâs expatriate and charity associations, take part in fun activities, get kids to participate in sports competitions, or get to learn aspects of Chinese Culture.

Children of war

Dominik — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:23:14 GMT

Don't they deserve a peaceful childhood? Why must they pay for adults' greed? Is money more important than their lives? How could we save them? Don't be indifferent!

Nuclear Weapons Programs, Should They be Banned ?

Seto — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 07:05:17 GMT

Since the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, nuclear weapons have been detonated on over two thousands occasions for testing and demonstration purposes. The only countries known to have detonated such weapons are (chronologically) USA, Russia, UK, France, China, India and Pakistan. North Korea recently declared that it had carried out its first test of a nuclear weapon challenging the whole world who asked it not to. Also, various other countries may hold nuclear weapons but have never publicly admitted possession, or their claims to possession have not been verified. For example, Israel has modern airborne delivery systems and appears to have an extensive nuclear program with hundreds of warheads though it officially maintains a policy of "ambiguity". Iran currently stands accused by a number of governments of attempting to develop nuclear capabilities, though its government claims that its acknowledged nuclear activities, such as uranium enrichment, are for peaceful purposes.

Some would predict the start of the World War III due to this critical case between Iran and North Korea and the rest of the world, mainly with its first power, America.

Now, do think that other countries own the decision of developing such programs, be it for peaceful purposes or not ? Or that such programs should be banned ? and why.