The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Malala at the UN.

 

Whichever misled extremest shot her, shot his whole organization in the guts as well.  They can now die slowly of this bleeding sore they have caused.  Someone said that "Taliban" means "teacher".  Well, they have surely taught themselves a lesson.

 

With the happenings in Egypt, things are not looking great for Islamists.

[Bdub01 201]

Good for her! She has a great life ahead of her. She's done more in her sixteen years already than most peeps in a lifetime. She's a great inspiration to all!!!

[Cpt Johnny 58]

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[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I think that Afghanistan is a completely lost cause, and worse than Iraq, Syria or Haiti. Pakistan is not much better.

 

The situation in DRC is also very dire.

I wouldn't quite say that. I'm sure we can agree that a country like Vietnam was a hellhole in the 60's, just look at it now? Not always negative.

[Bipin 3,402]

I'd say those aforementioned regions, Johnny, are "lost causes" for the simple reason that many of their indigenous members aren't ready for the change suggested most often by western powers or those aligned with them. As in many cases, change for better or worse will occur when those who are facing the change are willing to accept it, not when outside powers deem that time is now. However, it seems as of recent the tides are turning in many regions towards human rights, equality etc.

[Cpt Johnny 58]

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[LexusInfernus 908]

I'd say those aforementioned regions, Johnny, are "lost causes" for the simple reason that many of their indigenous members aren't ready for the change suggested most often by western powers or those aligned with them. As in many cases, change for better or worse will occur when those who are facing the change are willing to accept it, not when outside powers deem that time is now. However, it seems as of recent the tides are turning in many regions towards human rights, equality etc.

The reason I said they are lost causes is because of their culture, buddy. They must change their rigidly feudal and patriachal societal system in order to resolve the problem of fighting factions as well as mistreatment of women and girls. Get everyone to work in legal and ethical occupations (subject to various interpretations). Most importantly, get them to stop growing poppy.

 

Pretty sure you guys just said the same thing. 

 

As for growing poppy, if you want them to stop, you got to give them a more profitable alternative. Oh right, there aren't any. Well in that case you got to massively subsidize any alternatives. 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

 

I wouldn't quite say that. I'm sure we can agree that a country like Vietnam was a hellhole in the 60's, just look at it now? Not always negative.

How can you compare them to Vietnam? Vietnam has always been a highly progressive and competent country for the past 2,000 years. Everyone should go and read up on their history of repelling the various Chinese dynasties (including the Mongol Yuan dynasty). If you want to compare Vietnam to anyone else, try North Korea.

 

I'd say those aforementioned regions, Johnny, are "lost causes" for the simple reason that many of their indigenous members aren't ready for the change suggested most often by western powers or those aligned with them. As in many cases, change for better or worse will occur when those who are facing the change are willing to accept it, not when outside powers deem that time is now. However, it seems as of recent the tides are turning in many regions towards human rights, equality etc.

The reason I said they are lost causes is because of their culture, buddy. They must change their rigidly feudal and patriachal societal system in order to resolve the problem of fighting factions as well as mistreatment of women and girls. Get everyone to work in legal and ethical occupations (subject to various interpretations). Most importantly, get them to stop growing poppy.

 

Hey, dont forget England and most European countries used to be like that too.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Hey, dont forget England and most European countries used to be like that too.

Yeah, actually our culture made us the dominant cultural force in the world. It was our constant warfare that accelerated state and nation building, formed complex bureaucratic systems allowing for states to become more than just something in name, accelerated technological progress, science, and eventually resulted in us pretty much conquering the whole world. 

 

Even today, while Europe's importance has decreased significantly, our concepts of economy, science, politics and military are still dominant and widely used to varying degrees (and success) by pretty much all nations of the world. Right now the ideal is still to become like us. 

[Bipin 3,402]

 

I'd say those aforementioned regions, Johnny, are "lost causes" for the simple reason that many of their indigenous members aren't ready for the change suggested most often by western powers or those aligned with them. As in many cases, change for better or worse will occur when those who are facing the change are willing to accept it, not when outside powers deem that time is now. However, it seems as of recent the tides are turning in many regions towards human rights, equality etc.

The reason I said they are lost causes is because of their culture, buddy. They must change their rigidly feudal and patriachal societal system in order to resolve the problem of fighting factions as well as mistreatment of women and girls. Get everyone to work in legal and ethical occupations (subject to various interpretations). Most importantly, get them to stop growing poppy.

 

Pretty sure you guys just said the same thing. 

 

That's what I had figured. 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Better organization of living comes from within, not without.  The notions that improve life and living conditions must come from the people involved, and not by any ideology imposed from elsewhere.  Life in most third world countries is short, dark and ugly.  This will continue until there is some enlightenment.  There only real problem is that they are a couple of centuries behind our level.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I reckon we should enlighten these irrational backwards nations. Introduce the scientific methods we use. 

 

There is nowt like a steam engine to enforce normality into peoples brains and make them understand the power of reasoning and logic.

[Cpt Johnny 58]

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[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Our society has produced many powerful and productive women.  We still have the glass ceiling, however many holes seem to have been punched in it.  The sooner the male half of the race discovers that they contribute very little to reproduction, the better.  I'd just love to see a pregnant man.

 

Vive le difference.

[AkemiAzula 280]

As a male I suppose I am expected to be defensive of the status quo, but as a pauper and a working class male I also have little to thank the status quo for. So I consider my position on women to be fairly rational and impartial. 

 

One of the very first memories I have is of my neighbour's daughter Becky MacLeod. She said she wished to get a job when she was older. My mother was always against women gaining employment, but I sided with Becky. I have stood my ground since. It was my first opinion that I can remember.

 

It always seemed illogical, especially in this day and age, to exclude such a large proportion of society from employment.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, since women are also the bearers of progeny and thus responsible for continuation of the race, some exceptions need to be made for them.  Maternity leaves are really necessary.  This leave should be on the order of seven years in order that the child be properly brought up, not by strangers. 

 

My wife did exactly that, although she did some contracting from home during the period, and once the kids were in school, she returned to the work force in essentially the same position as when she left.

 

Professional women who do something like this will have better adjusted children and need only keep up with the profession in any spare hours, and perhaps attend any professional sessions applicable.  Having a parent at home is frightfully important, especially with the bubble wrapped generation.

[LexusInfernus 908]

The real point should be that women get a choice in the matter. If they want to pursue a career that's great and they should totally be given the opportunity. If they want to stay at home and raise a family that is also great and that should also be possible. As long as no one forces them to do either and they get the opportunity to do both. The whole pay gap and glass ceiling are things that will disappear eventually as it becomes more and more normal that women contribute just as much as guys to a company, and a new, hopefully less sexist generation begins to take over from the old guard. 

 

But before anyone can make an informed decision about their own future, they need an education. 

[AkemiAzula 280]

Parents and families are archaic and highly flawed organisations. I think any sane rational man would agree that continuation of such a backwards system ca only continue to hamper civilisation. I learnt more useful things from watching tv than from my idiot parents.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Parents and families are archaic and highly flawed organisations. I think any sane rational man would agree that continuation of such a backwards system ca only continue to hamper civilisation. I learnt more useful things from watching tv than from my idiot parents.

Now I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this position.  I can't help it if your parents were not up to the job, but let me tell you that mine were, and I tried my very best to be a good father to my children.  Since both now have families of their own, I feel that I have succeeded.

 

Parenting, in this high-speed civilization where one has to run ever so fast to stay in the same place, has become a damaged institution.  The pressure from the peer group to seek material items (keep up with the Joneses) has resulted in dual career parents and bubble wrapped kids.  I feel that this is retrogressive and not progressive.  Once the family has raised its tent (house) and has the means to be warm/cool and eat properly, it becomes moot as to whether more is really needed.

 

As a parent, one always wants a "better life" for the children.  What this is defined as often goes astray.  "The professions" are not always the proper goal for some children as many are unequipped to proceed with the education and experience needed to truly become a "professional" anything.  Some would just as soon enter a trade, and this should also be encouraged.  While there may be some separation between the professions and the trades, I've yet to see an impoverished plumber or electrician who seriously pursued the mastery of their trades.  On the other hand, I've met physicians who were driving cab.

 

The abdication of the parental responsibility to the school systems and the subsequent dilution of the parental authority in the schools has damaged and will continue to damage our children.  Discipline has become so lax that the bubble-wrapped generation term is most apt.  There has been a considerable amount of interference with the education system by educaterers, who are more interested in the social interaction of students than advancing their knowledge and skills to become productive adults. 

 

Over my years as both a parent and an educator, I have seen the system continuously softened up and made more and more boring for more and more children.  It is now time to rethink education methods, and to start really making use of the advanced technology which has received only lip service in the classroom  I am not sure that the classroom should not be abolished except for science and trade laboratories.  I think the second line of my signature lines say it all.

[AkemiAzula 280]

Bah humbug, Sir. Family units are dead as print. The logical solution is a Star Wars type education system by computers like on the clone army. Parents are backwards and dated rubbish.

 

Science is the way forward. Steam power and computers are the warriors of progress. Bah humbug to this backwards worshipping of families. Might as well go back to flint axes and mammoth hunting.

 

The future is electric, not flesh.

 

(sorry Moose. I do value your experience and opinion, and always strive not to be Anakin Skywalker on these boards... But in some areas my feelings are too powerful to resist... I simply can not sympathise with the 'grown up = better' philosophy. Feel free not to respond. I'm sure this is likely to stray off topic. But my beliefs regarding this are very powerful and forceful... and soon become a Death Star...)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

^ Well, I am going to ask you now, Mark, just how many children have you raised?  If you've never played the game, I suggest you keep silent about the rules.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Aside from the fact that we do not have computers that can teach people like in Star Wars, so far as I know, children not raised in traditional family units tend to be worse off, with lower IQ's, lower education results, higher chance on substance abuse and higher chance on crime. And the few people that really took it far and tried to raise their kids in a scientific method (in this case behaviorism) ended up being abusive to the point the kids killed themselves before they were 30. 

 

While other studies clearly show that having parents (can be same sex parents) that play an active and positive role in raising their child also has positive results in children, who do better at school, are healthier and are less likely to get involved with drugs or crime. 

[Cpt Johnny 58]

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[AkemiAzula 280]

Bah preposterous. I don't approve of childhood in the first place. When I was a child I was perfectly capable of being a grown up, but because of the grown up's weakness and foolishness this was impossible. Their destruction is my eternal aim.

 

Backwards practices such as families are silly. As much as they can work in some situations in most cases they perform less than ideally. The reason people who don't have families tend to resort to drugs, crime etc is because of lack of infrastructure. This is like pointing out the failings of Trevithick's locomotive in favour of the plentiful supply of well fed horses, Sir.

 

Besides as I said to Becky back in 94, if she wishes to pursue a career, why shouldn't she? I'd certainly not wish to deprive her of that by forcing her to marry me at knife point lol.