I watch, shocked, every day....

[expat]

This is what my mom would have done if she seen me on television participating in stupidity like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wE59DVI07Y

Rick

That is just the half of what my mother would have done...........the real pain would have been once I was at home......

Matt

[expat]

I don't understand why people continue to say, "Why doesn't the US just ban individual gun ownership?"

The US doesn't ban individual gun ownership because its constitution, which overrules any other state or federal law, explicitly forbids it. You might as well say, "I don't like the people who are elected to office in the US. Why don't they ban free elections?" or "I don't like what FOX (or CNN or MSNBC) says. Why doesn't the US ban them?"

Rant over. Nothing personal intended.

Firstly I am a gun owner, so pro......but In United States v. Cruikshank (1876), the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that, "The right to bear arms is not granted by the Constitution; neither is it in any manner dependent upon that instrument for its existence" and limited the applicability of the Second Amendment to the federal government. In United States v. Miller (1939), the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government and the states could limit any weapon types not having a “reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia” (taken from Wiki).

Lets face facts, the laws are driven by those who want to sell a product and with the lobbying that goes on behind closed doors controls those who want to limit gun controls. However as a perspective to those who are always calling for gun control...........On average, more than 100 people per day died in car crashes in the U.S. The death toll for a single day can range from 45 to 250 people, that equates to 33,000 to 40,000 people per year depending whether it is a good or bad year for the stats. On average, 12,000 people die from gun related deaths each year. Both of the "product" producers say they are blameless and how people use their "products" cannot be controlled by them..........Only one grabs the headline though.....

Matt

[OldAirmail]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics - Mark Twain (And/or others )

Give me any side to represent, and I'll come up with statistics to back it up.



It's interesting that both African American protestors and those who support the right to own weapons of self defense both mistrust law enforcement agencies.

The main difference between the two, is that the protesters look to the government to rein in those law enforcement agencies, while the other believe that the government is the problem.

[Fozzer]

The never-ending problem for me, is when I think of "America", (The USA), I get confused as to what; "Americans" are!.... ...!

All I ever see on my daily TV and News are; Africans, Mexicans/Latinos, Europeans, Chinese, Hawaiians, Indians, Asians, South Sea islanders, etc, etc, who all look different, and who are suspicious of each other, and never seem to get on with each other....

A right-old mix up, with each society having various problems, both with themselves, and with each other...

...and I wonder to myself; what actually are, the group of people referred to, as; "Americans"...?

I just cant identify them!... ...!

It all seems to have escalated from the olden days of just simple Hollywood; "Cowboys and Indians" intolerance of each other!

Too many "different" societies?... ....!

Paul.

[OldAirmail]

You have it pretty much right: We are no longer a melting pot.

[expat]

Lies, damned lies, and statistics - Mark Twain (And/or others )

Give me any side to represent, and I'll come up with statistics to back it up.



It's interesting that both African American protestors and those who support the right to own weapons of self defense both mistrust law enforcement agencies.

You are quite right, stats can show any view you want.

And your second comment..........rather an astute observation. Don't now what the answer is........A drive in the country maybe, no wait according to the stats you are three times more likely to be killed in a car crash than be shot.......

Matt

[Fozzer]

Baltimore:

The charges so far...>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32554371

Paul.

[pete]

...and I wonder to myself; what actually are, the group of people referred to, as; "Americans"...?

We all came originally from Africa/orient. What are 'english/fench/brazillians/algerians/russians' ?

Humans have been moving around this little planet for centuries. To think of any country as a 'people' is simply ignorant.
Thinking of 'race' is small minded - no matter what race you think you belong.
Intelligent people think of humans as humans. There are clashes at sports games. Within families. Political events. All over. Bars. Wars. Tribes. Gangs. Political groups. It's human to clash. Not race. Human. Animals that we are. We are territorial and flawed.

The bottom line is understanding flaws and consequences.

[OldAirmail]

For most people, I don't think that it's about race.

The larger issue for many is their culture.


I recall some years back, when the Islamic immigrants in France wanted Sharia law on the "books" along with French law.

That, if I remember right, was met with a very swift NO.

Then they wanted France to permit their women (who normally can't drive a car in their old country) to cover their faces on the drivers license.

NO.



There are many cultures, like Japan, that mingle their culture and their laws to maintain their "culture".

And they do it without any shame. None is needed because it's so ingrained.


I work with a Chinese man who was born in Vietnam.

His family fled Vietnam, not so much because of the communists, but because of the strong animosity of the Vietnamese to the Chinese living in Vietnam.


How well received are the Muslims from Africa, or the ethnic Romani (Gypsies) in the UK?

As I said: I believe that it's more a cultural thing than a race thing.

Anybody want some statistic?

[expat]

Interestingly, three of the police officers that are charged are black officers........I wonder how that will now play with the rioters......?

Matt

[logjam]

As I understand the latest. It may be a case of pure negligence. Hauling a handcuffed man around town in a Black Maria at speed without strapping him in, broke his neck. Then again, the driver is said to inquire about his cargo, therefore, he must have been worried that something could be amiss. In that case it surpasses negligence.

[OldAirmail]

Interestingly, three of the police officers that are charged are black officers........I wonder how that will now play with the rioters......?

Matt

I don't think that it'll matter at all.

The "Police", of one sort or another, have been used for the control & suppression of African Americans for so long that the mistrust and hated of them is unquestioned.

Unfortunately, their guilt or innocence doesn't matter either. The fact that injustice has occurred in the past requires retribution today.



Marilyn Mosby's Comments

"To the youth of this city, I will seek justice on your behalf," Mosby said. "This is a moment. This is your moment."

No talk of finding the truth, no one wants to hear that.

Retribution. Now there's a word that rings out.



Sadly, most people who want to be police, want to make a difference in their town, their country.

All too often, what they end up making is a target.

[Fozzer]

Regarding "Baltimore"...

Look at the face of the criminal....

...and you realise that its a case when the Cops got it right this time.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-32833795

Paul.

[OldAirmail]

That part about the protesters in Ferguson being paid keeps bothering me.

Ferguson 'Protesters' Are Now Protesting That They Didn't Get Paid

A little more

I had thought that if I waited a while, some of the news organizations would check it out - NADA.

It looks like no one wants to touch this story.



All hell would blaze up if a conservative did something similar.

And I wouldn't like that either.

[BLAZE]

This is what my mom would have done if she seen me on television participating in stupidity like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wE59DVI07Y

Rick

That is just the half of what my mother would have done...........the real pain would have been once I was at home......

Matt

Shoot! .. If I was lucky, my DAD wouldn't find out! He was my fear.
He not only had a heavy hand .. it had a belt in it!

I'm not one to complain about that though, that man kept me out of alot of trouble
by whipping my butt from time to time. I know for the most part here, being we are
basically around the same age group, I'm preaching to the quire.

My dad taught me something these kids today don't have.. R E S P E C T!