This Forum is not dying

[Eden]

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Interestingly... Asians are very racist as well. It's a natural human phenomena it seems (the ancestoral tribes that believed they were better than the next one and had less respect for neighboring tribes survived better in warfare probably) that needs to be countered by education.

Asians are suprisingly and hugely racist, especially towards other Asians.... when I worked at the VA alot of the other employees were from various Asian nations, a lot of them were first gen immigrants and a lot of them weren't shy about sharing their opinions. One of my close coworkers was Phillipino. Didn't he have a strong opinion about every other Asian nation.... he had a real thing against the Chinese, even though he was part Chinese himself.... I found it to be rather bizarre

[nns1400]

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Religion does achieve it somewhat. But that doesn't mean it is truth. There are a thousand different religions, most of which arguably have a positive moral effect (and arguably a negative one when beliefs clash or are weird). But only one of those thousand different religions can be the truth. And if 999 are at least partly false, then there is a high probability that the last one is false as well.

So IMHO religion and spirituality can mostly be positive. But there are sacrifices made that are only felt sporadically... like when religions go to war. Most of those who have faith feel better and stronger for it, at least they believe they do. It is something that is probably an instinct within us, like suckling when we are newborns. It doesn't mean that it is truth. This is the main challenge for those struggling with faith. They instinctively know faith will make them happier and stronger... but they can't force themselves to have faith in what they determine is a lie.

Sorry for soap boxing. And we have now gone full circle. I'll PM you about my struggles with "faith" if you like...

God damn it, Cranky, I have to go to bed!

Someone "determining" it's a lie doesn't mean that's the truth either...does it?
The truth is the truth regardless of how many people do or don't believe it....

God is real or God ain't...who believes either one doesn't make a whit of difference.

Go ahead with that PM...I'll meet you back here with this same post in six months...

[Crankyfeet]

Sorry but it is kind of a paradox for me to say "Asians are racist". It is a racist generalization in itself. I suppose a better way would be to say that "racism is prevalent and common in asian cultures".

[nns1400]

Originally Posted by Eden

Asians are suprisingly and hugely racist, especially towards other Asians.... when I worked at the VA alot of the other employees were from various Asian nations, a lot of them were first gen immigrants and a lot of them weren't shy about sharing their opinions. One of my close coworkers was Phillipino. Didn't he have a strong opinion about every other Asian nation.... he had a real thing against the Chinese, even though he was part Chinese himself.... I found it to be rather bizarre

When my dad was in Vietnam they all thought it was funny that the Vietnamese hated the Cambodians...because the Americans couldn't even tell them apart...

Everything's relative...

[Eden]

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

Sorry but it is kind of a paradox of me to say "Asians are racist". It is a racist generalization in itself. I suppose a better way would be to say that "racism is prevalent and common in asian cultures".

I think we understand that you don't mean every Asian person is a racist. It's a generalization of course. My co-worker, though he had some interesting opinions wasn't judgemental about specific people, just because of their race. He was generalizing too.

[Crankyfeet]

Originally Posted by nns1400

When my dad was in Vietnam they all thought it was funny that the Vietnamese hated the Cambodians...because the Americans couldn't even tell them apart...

Everything's relative...

Its hard to tell a Forty Fortian from a Smoyervillian, but they know...


(hey Malkmus... do you like that term "Smoyervillian"... )

[nns1400]

I think generalizing about people generalizing is racist...

[Crankyfeet]

Isn't saying things like "White people can't dance" or "White people can't play basketball" racist?


Even though we all know it's true...

[limerickman]

I see Barack Obama's clergyman is getting a lot of stick for saying "God damn America".

It's reported here that the clergyman's words were taken out of context and that the clergyman was actually quoting an Iranian politician who said "God damn America".

However the clergyman went on to say that he agreed with the general thrust of the politicians statement "God damn America".


What I find perplexing is how the politicians/talking heads/pundits get so exercised over religion in terms of the candidates in the USA.

Most electorates ihere n Europe don't give a happeny damn about the religious/agnostic/atheist views of their politicians.
And long may that continue, I say.

[Anticyclone]

Originally Posted by nns1400

I think generalizing about people generalizing is racist...

As someone once told me, 'all people who generalise are idiots.'

[classic1]

Originally Posted by limerickman

Most electorates ihere n Europe don't give a happeny damn about the religious/agnostic/atheist views of their politicians.

Except in Ireland.

[classic1]

Originally Posted by Crankyfeet

As a generalization though... Aussies are pretty racist I think, maybe not consciously or with a strong belief, but derogatory terms for ethnics make up the common language in Australia, at least when I was living there. We never had our corresponding civil rights uprising that you guys had. But I will say it again, the term "seppo" is not derogatory or derived from anything derogatory. However many Aussies think derogatively about yanks/seppos (and pommie bastards, and slopes, and wogs, and frogs, and yarpies, and ragheads/curry munchers) whatever the term used.

Racist???? I thought thats what they actually were called. I'll have to stop using those terms in my correspondence at work, working as a diplomat with the Australian department of foreign affairs.

Originally Posted by cranky

The older generation though have a great respect for America because it was McCarthur's forces that helped head off the Japanese en route to invade Australia during WW2. They defended Australia's territory. Britain was asked for assistance, but were committed elsewhere, so they didn't send any naval help.

The same generation generally despises the Japanese. A lot of Aussies prisoners suffered greatly under the Japanese (tortured, atrocities, slave labour, general brutality) and would never forgive them.

[TheDarkLord]

Originally Posted by limerickman

I see Barack Obama's clergyman is getting a lot of stick for saying "God damn America".

It's reported here that the clergyman's words were taken out of context and that the clergyman was actually quoting an Iranian politician who said "God damn America".

However the clergyman went on to say that he agreed with the general thrust of the politicians statement "God damn America".


What I find perplexing is how the politicians/talking heads/pundits get so exercised over religion in terms of the candidates in the USA.

Most electorates ihere n Europe don't give a happeny damn about the religious/agnostic/atheist views of their politicians.
And long may that continue, I say.

I think he is under fire more for his "reverse racism" comments than for above. He is supposed to have said that it is possible for the US government to have invented AIDS and injected them into African Americans...

Also, religion always seems to be a big deal in USA in spite of it being "secular". Where else do you hear debates over whether creationism (that is what "intelligent design" is) should be taught in schools? The latest controversy is about license plates that are about to be released in Florida bearing a cross and "I believe". I wonder if the lawmakers look as favorably on this issue if there were a proposal to have a similar license plates for other religions such as Islam.

[Bro Deal]

Originally Posted by TheDarkLord

I think he is under fire more for his "reverse racism" comments than for above. He is supposed to have said that it is possible for the US government to have invented AIDS and injected them into African Americans...

Also, religion always seems to be a big deal in USA in spite of it being "secular". Where else do you hear debates over whether creationism (that is what "intelligent design" is) should be taught in schools? The latest controversy is about license plates that are about to be released in Florida bearing a cross and "I believe". I wonder if the lawmakers look as favorably on this issue if there were a proposal to have a similar license plates for other religions such as Islam.

Uh-oh. NNS is going to come after your for those intelligent design comments.

I wonder if you will be able to get scientology license plates. They could have aliens on them and a pic of Tome Cruise jumping over a couch.

[Crankyfeet]

Originally Posted by Malkmus

Sounds as of you are a crit guy. 300 watts is pretty darn good. Screw those boney little freaks that can climb.

I'm not so sure. Crits are a bit like half hour time trials with intermittent sprints... but my collective experience is zero atm. I'm looking at a flat 200m on the track. They do that at the Masters Olympics/World Championships. And you don't even have to qualify... anyone can enter.

The problem with the "boney little freaks" theory is that when I was lined up at the start of the race... I saw a lot of heavyishly (is that a word??) built guys at the start line. And most of them seemed to be able to keep up.

I read that article for racing beginners (I think Drongo posted it??) where it said that one's goals should be to just stay with the bunch in a race... not to win. They were saying a lot of beginners have their expectations too high. I'm not sure I could keep driving 100 plus miles to a race, leaving home in the darkness before dawn sometimes, if all I was trying to do was not get dropped. That's my current goal though, but I don't intend to be pack fodder for the next five years. If I can't find a level or type of race that I can compete in, I'm not sure just "participation" is going to keep the fire burning.