elmateo33

elmateo33

39p

60 comments posted · 0 followers · following 0

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Lord of the Rings and ... · 0 replies · +1 points

A Russian wrote a book based on LOTR from the view of Mordor. I like it!

"In Yeskov's retelling, the wizard Gandalf is a war-monger intent on crushing the scientific and technological initiative of Mordor and its southern allies because science "destroys the harmony of the world and dries up the souls of men!" He's in cahoots with the elves, who aim to become "masters of the world," and turn Middle-earth into a "bad copy" of their magical homeland across the sea. "
http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2011/02/1...

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Osama Bin Laden Dead a... · 0 replies · +1 points

Thanks for the comment Will. I tried to find the article you refer to but couldn't find the right one. Feel free to post if you have the link.

But in any case, I think I know exactly what you are referring to. I find it a bit troubling to see a bunch of Americans celebrate an assassination. I understand their reasons but it just seems out of place.

Further, what nobody seems to be discussing is this sets a huge precedent. Assassinations in other countries are now allowed so long as there is some large injustice to attribute it to. People now are swept up in a kind of euphoria and not thinking about longer term consequences..... by that I mean further assassinations.

Finally, I wonder what Americans would think if another world power carried out an assassination of a "terrorist." I bet the discussion would be legalities, precedents and consequences for international law and the status quo.

This event has changed the way the world works more than most people realize in my opinion.

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Osama Bin Laden Dead a... · 0 replies · +1 points

*Updated 5.2.2011*

Well, I wanted to take a peak at the Pundits and if they agree with any of my predictions.
Looks like I'm correct on two points so far.

1. Osama wasn't that important

Foreign Affairs - http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67467/leah...

Al Qaeda is stronger today than when it carried out the 9/11 attacks. Accounts that contend that it is on the decline treat the central al Qaeda organization separately from its subsidiaries and overlook its success in expanding its power and influence through them.

2. The USA didn't consult Pakistan before the strike.

"They didn't know whether they could get in and out before the Pakistani government — which had not been informed about the raid before it was launched"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-05-0...

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Casey THE PUNISHER · 0 replies · +1 points

Just a quick note here.

Just finished watching "Let Me In," the American version of "Let the Right One In." For the record, the Swedish version is better.

But what occurred to me is how much we cheer when the bully finally gets his comeuppance. I remember how popular this was in "A Christmas Story" and the two movies above feel like the right movie for the times.

Instead of a good beating, they get their heads ripped off by Vampires. Oh, how we love to see this while watching the movie.

Funny thing is that when retaliation happens in real life the administrators suspend the victims. I repeat, administrators are mostly morons. I knew this as a kid and I know this for sure as an adult.

Ironic how adults secretly would cheer the vampire in the movie but in real life have absolutely no sense of justice.

To stretch this out even further, I think this may be a reason Anonymous is so popular in the cyber world. Large companies and governments running roughshod over individual rights then a bunch of anonymous geeks come along and start kicking the crap in out of them in cyberland. Yay!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV2CMfhCeo

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Violence and Islam in ... · 1 reply · +1 points

Saw it and at first glance it seems troubling. Then I think, just replace the Koran with the Bible and Mohammad with Jesus and it could pass for a Sunday school lesson for all the little Christian boys and girls. Seems the "big three" believe everyone else but them is going to hell.

1. Islam - Believe in the Koran or go to hell
2. Christianity - Believe in Jesus or go to hell
3. Judaism - If you're not Jewish then you're not a chosen one, tough luck.

The difference is that many Jews and Christians are now "modern" and selectively ignore their own teachings. There are plenty of modern Muslims as well but they do not get any press because, well, it wouldn't sell any newspapers.

So, in the West we always get to see the inflammatory stuff.

In Europe I see a couple of things:

1. Just like many immigrant communities they do not yet feel comfortable so stick to themselves and actually become "MORE MUSLIM" than regular Muslims back home. It is like some Japanese/Americans here who try to be even more Japanese than the Japanese in Japan.

2. Europe has a major influx of Muslims which is like payback for your former Empires. In the USA we have Mexicans and of course being different, many people do not like it and so form the Tea Party and whatnot.

3. I cannot remember a time when different nationals ever really got along in Europe. Always fighting some war or another. Now you have people who are even more different than the different people you are used to.

4. Modernity - It would seem that many regions in the Muslim world are still stuck in the Dark Ages religiously. They move over to Europe who left the dark ages long ago and have a lot of catching up to do. By catching up I mean learn to either ignore your own religions teaching or just abandon religion entirely.

But as I mention above they are outsiders so cling even more fiercely to their home culturally

In any case, it will not do to continually demonize them. That is to say continually complaining about Muslims isn't going to make the situation any better.

The question should be, what outcome do you want?

1. Send them all back home? - This isn't very nice and will not happen
2. Continually demonize any and all Muslims? - I don't think this will help in changing their opinion. Would continually calling a fat person fat all of a sudden encourage them to go on a diet?
3. Integration into society - Lessen up on all the badgering, they will eventually go to "discos," "drink alcohol" and "get a German boyfriend." Like I said, Christianity preaches the same and the majority of Christians I know have no problem drinking a beer or letting loose in a disco.

They just need time to integrate which will take a generation or two. It will not happen overnight and certainly not happen by continually complaining about them.

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - SPEAK AMERICAN - Fun l... · 0 replies · +1 points

If you can't think a thought, you are stuck. but if another language can think that thought then by cooperating we can achieve and learn so much more - Patricia Ryan
http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_ryan_ideas_in_a...

This is exactly what I was trying to explain above in "Mentality Change"

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - What's in a Headline? ... · 0 replies · +1 points

$%$#^%$#^%$#!!!!!!! I just read another one. I am turning off my reader.

1. Obama's war speech sounds like Bush - Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapma...

Again, didn't read the article but if I just connect the headlines... Ok,, Republicans say he is too timid, "others say" he sounds like Bush. Bush = Republican.

I give up. I'm taking my ball and going home.

12 years ago @ The Global Citizen - What's in a Headline? ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I have to stop reading the headlines. On this one I quickly scanned the top just to get to the nonsense as the headline implied.

Republicans blast Obama as "timid," "passive" on Libya http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20048267-5...

"We have upwards of ten countries in the tinderbox of the world, the Middle East, in various stages of revolt," he said. "For the leader of the free world, the United States of America, it is not appropriate to be sitting on the sidelines and just watching history unfold without exerting some leadership." - Minnesota Governor, Tim Pawlenty

Last I checked, the White House authorized military intervention of a sovereign nation. Not a small thing.

The Republicans are really reaching here. Maybe Obama should put on a flight suit and make a statement from an aircraft carrier?

13 years ago @ The Global Citizen - USA - Muslim Hearings · 0 replies · +1 points

3.26.2011 - Update!!

You know what I heard on the news today concerning this???

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! What a WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS!

REP KING = FAIL! Go crawl back in your hole you bigot.

Yours truly,

El Guapissimo.

13 years ago @ The Global Citizen - Japan - Dishonest Gove... · 0 replies · +1 points

The confusion continues.

Fukushima scaremongers becoming increasingly desperate.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/25/fukushima...