Again, thanks to all for the well-wishes...
I'll post some info after I start my training in April. Until then, there's a lot of home and music projects I gotta tie up beforehand!
[OT] I've arrived in Afghanistan
MB, I hope you make it back in one piece. Although I often disagree with you, my understanding has benefitted greatly from your always thoughtful and patient words. It all makes more sense after you brought up Ayn Rand...everyone I've ever known that's into Rand's utilitarianism has rubbed me as being kind of an asshole, but at the same time I end up having a good deal of respect for them too. Maybe you're not an asshole....maybe you're a dick! As we all know now...the world needs dicks to fuck assholes, otherwise our dicks and our pussies end up all covered in shit!
But seriously, the best of luck to you, and know there's a few forum junkies here thinking of you.
But seriously, the best of luck to you, and know there's a few forum junkies here thinking of you.
shtreimel wrote:Oh, I'm sure a few plays of John Lennon's "Imagine" and some photocopied pages of Chompsky would've solved everything.D K wrote:this is serious shit.
grow up.
Wow! There's some real morons on this board.
M Breqs is going to fight in a completely legitimate war - one that was launched in DEFENSE (seeing as the US and NATO was attacked), thus justifying any prospective use of force. And I'm pretty sure that just about everyone on this board lives in a country that endorsed this war or didn't voice opposition. There's a reason for this.
And, yes, killing is justified when in defense of life - whether you're coming from a absolutists/relativist/athiest/religious approach. Some people need to study their philosophies or religions more b/c this point is very clear in just about every discipline of thought.
Of course, he's not just going in shooting and will likely only use lethal force when it's absolutely necessary - a sign of a civilized nation's soldier. His compensation shouldn't be of any issue since he's not violating any of his principles by serving. He's doing what's right, what he thinks is right, and he's compensated accordingly. M Breqs isn't a soldier of fortune, people.
I really can't believe people are defending the f'ing Taliban here (well, yes I can, I've seen communism defended on this board). If they're not evil, then they're certainly bad. Anyone that doesn't believe in fundamental Islam is to be converted by the sword. In fact, this internet forum wouldn't even be allowed under Taliban rule. Their 'legal system' endorses gang raping young girls for the crimes of other family members. They virtually enslave women. Summary executions? Why not.
What's not to defend? Oh, wait, they're just "different". It's not our place to stop their behavior, even if they do harbor and supply terrorist organizations that are committed to the destruction of the free west (liberal democracies, human rights, etc.).
Are people defending them b/c they don't believe in a "right or wrong" (i.e. relativists - see Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia for definition and examples) or is it b/c they are just so anti-US that their thoughts on this matter are pre-decided?
Idiots, enjoy the free societies you live in and all the benefits you derive from them, including acting like an ignorant asshole on this forum. No need to recognize the blood and sacrifices of those that came before you, who had died and/or fought in wars (gasp!) to win over the very freedoms that you enjoy today.
M Breqs, I wish you the best of luck and success on your new assignment. I hope Afghanistan becomes a better place because of you.
\,, / (^_^) \,,? /
A brilliant quote from one of my favourite movies... and an oddly accurate (though simplistic) description of the division within our world.ethios4 wrote:MB, I hope you make it back in one piece. Although I often disagree with you, my understanding has benefitted greatly from your always thoughtful and patient words. It all makes more sense after you brought up Ayn Rand...everyone I've ever known that's into Rand's utilitarianism has rubbed me as being kind of an asshole, but at the same time I end up having a good deal of respect for them too. Maybe you're not an asshole....maybe you're a dick! As we all know now...the world needs dicks to fuck assholes, otherwise our dicks and our pussies end up all covered in shit!
But seriously, the best of luck to you, and know there's a few forum junkies here thinking of you.
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noisetonepause
- Posts: 4938
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Translation: Four legs good, two legs baaaaaaaaaaahhhhd.kramerica wrote:Wow! There's some real morons on this board.
M Breqs is going to fight in a completely legitimate war - one that was launched in DEFENSE (seeing as the US and NATO was attacked), thus justifying any prospective use of force. And I'm pretty sure that just about everyone on this board lives in a country that endorsed this war or didn't voice opposition. There's a reason for this.
And, yes, killing is justified when in defense of life - whether you're coming from a absolutists/relativist/athiest/religious approach. Some people need to study their philosophies or religions more b/c this point is very clear in just about every discipline of thought.
Of course, he's not just going in shooting and will likely only use lethal force when it's absolutely necessary - a sign of a civilized nation's soldier. His compensation shouldn't be of any issue since he's not violating any of his principles by serving. He's doing what's right, what he thinks is right, and he's compensated accordingly. M Breqs isn't a soldier of fortune, people.
I really can't believe people are defending the f'ing Taliban here (well, yes I can, I've seen communism defended on this board). If they're not evil, then they're certainly bad. Anyone that doesn't believe in fundamental Islam is to be converted by the sword. In fact, this internet forum wouldn't even be allowed under Taliban rule. Their 'legal system' endorses gang raping young girls for the crimes of other family members. They virtually enslave women. Summary executions? Why not.
What's not to defend? Oh, wait, they're just "different". It's not our place to stop their behavior, even if they do harbor and supply terrorist organizations that are committed to the destruction of the free west (liberal democracies, human rights, etc.).
Are people defending them b/c they don't believe in a "right or wrong" (i.e. relativists - see Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia for definition and examples) or is it b/c they are just so anti-US that their thoughts on this matter are pre-decided?
Idiots, enjoy the free societies you live in and all the benefits you derive from them, including acting like an ignorant asshole on this forum. No need to recognize the blood and sacrifices of those that came before you, who had died and/or fought in wars (gasp!) to win over the very freedoms that you enjoy today.
M Breqs, I wish you the best of luck and success on your new assignment. I hope Afghanistan becomes a better place because of you.
Kramerica, saying that Hitler's regime or Stalin's regime were moral relativists shows exactly how much you care about history. Saying that NATO was attacked by the Afghan nation (hence justifying a counter attack) shows exactly how much you care about international law.
Keep flexing those muscles, boyo, they're all you have.
Suit #1: I mean, have you got any insight as to why a bright boy like this would jeopardize the lives of millions?
Suit #2: No, sir, he says he does this sort of thing for fun.
Suit #2: No, sir, he says he does this sort of thing for fun.
how can you not?shtreimel wrote:[
bOunce...you assume I equate terrorists with soldiers. I don't. ..).
basically your argument is like saying if a gang of bullies pick on one kid at school, and the kid fights back he's a terrorist - he's not legitimately defending himself because he doesnt belong to a gang
remember, America invaded these countries
if someone invaded America and obliterated their military infrastructure, then the remaining resistance would be "terrorists" or "insurgents" in your books
bounce would have that view because he's grown up with a david and goliath style empire vs terrorist thing in his own back yard - how else do you think the Irish could have stood up for themselves in the past? There's no question what the British did to the Irish (and Scots and Welsh etc etc) was fucked up and unjust, but how could they face the British in any conventional military sense? - the only means they had left was guerilla style "terrorism" - of course these days not many people are sympathetic with the IRA, but then modern Ireland is no longer in the shadow of the British in the sense it was - I reckon if I lived there in 1900 when my grandfathers family left I would have had some views on the matter
anyway, my point is that the view you just expressed is pretty thick and bigotted - a complete inablity to see the other's point of view
I really dont have an opinion on Afghanistan because I kind of think if it was really there that the "armies" that reportedly attacked America were trained then retaliation was inevitable, but I will never, ever forgive or forget the disgusting act of colonial conquest the "coalition" forced on the Iraqi people
America et al were really just stupid and murderous to get involved in Iraq, almost to the extent that they have made the WTC "terrorists" look like they had cause to fight the "evil opressor", and while I dont agree with them and think it would be better for all involved to accept the new status quo and stop killing innocents, I do understand why there are still people fighting in Iraq.
anyway, I just felt like chiming in on that
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noisetonepause
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try to be safe. And good looking out for doing what you believe in.
And don't mind the moral relativists here, you do what you gotta do to fight back the totalitarian idealism held by those we call terrorists.
.02,
rob.
And don't mind the moral relativists here, you do what you gotta do to fight back the totalitarian idealism held by those we call terrorists.
.02,
rob.
http://www.robtronik.com | DJ Mixes, Blogtronik, Event Schedule
I don't think there are any swedish terrorists out there. Haven't checked lately though. 
rob.
rob.
http://www.robtronik.com | DJ Mixes, Blogtronik, Event Schedule
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Pitch Black
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Machinesworking
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M. Breqs, out of curiosity, why don't you just join the police force in Canada? I'm serious about this.
I respect a soldier to a degree, but in the end of the day a soldier is a cog in a wheel of a machine that sets an agenda that may not be what the people of say, I dunno? Afghanistan want. Sure, we might be better than the Taliban or Russian army, but really I see this as not much different than Vietnam. We might have the right principals, but our methods are unwelcome. Too many foreign soldiers have been on afghan soil IMO to really do any good, and I'm not sure our governments care enough to get it right personally.
On the the other hand, there are far too many cops that are just plain power hungry violent conservative assholes, and I think you would be one who could avoid that to a degree. You would more than likely raise the bar for the police force, and make a difference IMO.
Once again, why go to foreign countries and try to force democracy and our law on people who don't want it? Why not be the person who enforces the law of the land you live in fairly?
I respect a soldier to a degree, but in the end of the day a soldier is a cog in a wheel of a machine that sets an agenda that may not be what the people of say, I dunno? Afghanistan want. Sure, we might be better than the Taliban or Russian army, but really I see this as not much different than Vietnam. We might have the right principals, but our methods are unwelcome. Too many foreign soldiers have been on afghan soil IMO to really do any good, and I'm not sure our governments care enough to get it right personally.
On the the other hand, there are far too many cops that are just plain power hungry violent conservative assholes, and I think you would be one who could avoid that to a degree. You would more than likely raise the bar for the police force, and make a difference IMO.
Once again, why go to foreign countries and try to force democracy and our law on people who don't want it? Why not be the person who enforces the law of the land you live in fairly?