The Wow I Can't Believe That News Story Thread

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by Frownland

Totes. I never said that war criminals couldn't have a cool life, good ideas, or meaningful influence. Their decision to be a part of the military is amoral because of the horrors of war that it entails and the acceptance of those horrors that their involvement perpetuates.

^ Well that has the merit of consistancy at least! "Totes":

Unfounded allegations of murder? I define murder as killing a human being. What do you think happens in war?

^ Let's be aware that, afaik, there is not a single country or legal system that agrees with your definition. Although I have little sympathy with them, even those hallowed guardians and guides to morality, the organised religions, usually* distinguish between killing people in armed combat and killing people outside of armed combat.
* Yes, some religions, e.g. Buddhism, take a different position.

Also, for every immoral war of aggression, isn't there, of necessity, a corresponding war of defense in which the morality is more, er, defensable? While many men (perhaps yourself included) are honourable pacifists, there comes a point at which most people prefer to take up a gun to protect what is theirs.
( In Britain, during times of conscription, this point was neatly summed up like this: any conscripts displaying a reluctance to take up arms were asked this question- "If you saw an armed soldier raping your sister, what would you do?" Anyone who thought they would resort to violence was not thereafter considered a pacifist. )
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In more pressing news, isn't anyone else alarmed that the US is edging ever closer to a constitutional crisis? The much-vaunted devision of power seems to be under threat and the "system of checks and balances" is not checking or balancing any longer. Trump is demanding that the DOJ reveal info which will damage their ability to do their job, not just now, but permanently. The Dems aren't being given so much as a seat at the table, and the bulk of the GOP are silent on Trump's escalating abuses of power. As one guy said, in the face of acknowledged Russian meddling, the GOP are not defending the country, they are defending Trump.

[DwnWthVwls]

When has the US ever gone to war because "it's the right thing to do"? It costs massive resources to fund a war, they ain't going unless they are getting something out of it. The people who serve in the military are the puppets who enable this.

You may view some of the things these soldiers aided in as helpful and good, but that doesnt negate the above, which I think is what Frown and other like minded people are arguing.

The US is analogous to the "friend" who helps you if you pay them, with the soldiers being the help? Idk, haven't put much thought into the analogy or where/if it falls apart, feel free to critique it.

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Also, it's possible to not respect people for one thing and respect them for another thing. I'm sure Frownland doesn't disrespect his military family members and may even be close with some of them. That doesn't means he has to respect them for serving in the military.

^ True.

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

There's a reason its considered poor writing when you begin a sentence with, "in my opinion". Its redundant and obvious.

^ Not true. Outside of surreal/pyschedelic poetry,, etc, good writing is about conveying ideas with clarity. As we are constantly jumping between fact and opinion and it's frequently polite, if not necessary, to clearly distinguish between the two. As they say these days, "You are entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts." Amid allegations of Fake News, it's a distinction that's becoming more and more relevant, imo.

[DwnWthVwls]

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ Not true. Outside of surreal/pyschedelic poetry,, etc, good writing is about conveying ideas with clarity. As we are constantly jumping between fact and opinion and it's frequently polite, if not necessary, to clearly distinguish between the two. As they say these days, "You are entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts." Amid allegations of Fake News, it's a distinction that's becoming more and more relevant, imo.

Yes, true. I don't think you are from the US, but this is how it is taught:

https://www2.ivcc.edu/rambo/tip_form...ting_voice.htm

1. Do not use first-person pronouns ("I," "me," "my," "we," "us," etc.).

Using these expressions in analytical and persuasive essays can make the writing wordy, can make the writer seem less confident of his or her ideas, and can give the essay an informal tone. Use of first-person pronouns is unnecessary in the kinds of essays you are writing for the course. Readers will know that they are reading your thoughts, beliefs, or opinions, so you do not need to state, "I think that," "I believe that," or "in my opinion." Simply delete these expressions from sentences, and you will be left with stronger sentences.

Example
I think that this character is confused.
This character is confused.
(The second sentence is less wordy, sounds more formal, and conveys a more confident tone.)

"One," "the reader," "readers," "the viewer," or something similar sometimes can be used effectively in place of first-person pronouns in formal papers, but be careful not to overuse these expressions. You want to sound formal, not awkward and stiff.

Example
I can sense the character's confusion.
Readers can sense the character's confusion.

I can find more examples if you'd like.

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

When has the US ever gone to war because "it's the right thing to do"? It costs massive resources to fund a war, they ain't going unless they are getting something out of it. The people who serve in the military are the puppets who enable this.

#QuotedForTruth

The only LEGIT war was the Revolutionary War to gain freedom from The Crown, and that was before we were even a "country." So you are correct.

There are SO many threads that are basically knocking on the SAME door: HOW DO WE FIX THE WORLD?

[OccultHawk]

The Revolutionary War was a bunch of bull****.

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

The Revolutionary War was a bunch of bull****.

Well, if we had rooted out the Freemasons, Jews and Zionists, it would have worked. Now, The U.S. is just another arm of The Crown.

[OccultHawk]

Originally Posted by [MERIT]

Well, if we had rooted out the Freemasons, Jews and Zionists, it would have worked. Now, The U.S. is just another arm of The Crown.

Slavery and indigenous genocide really was an incomplete package. Some pre-Hitler Nazism would have been the cherry on top to complete the utopia.

Did you know George Washington was a Jew? Valley Forge started out as an underground synagogue.

[Oriphiel]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Did you know George Washington was a Jew?

Jew don't say.

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

Slavery and indigenous genocide really was an incomplete package. Some pre-Hitler Nazism would have been the cherry on top to complete the utopia.

Did you know George Washington was a Jew? Valley Forge started out as an underground synagogue.

Can we EVER have a REAL discussion around here?