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Übergeek 바둑이: They might do a better job, or we could become something like the book "Lord of the Flies" once they got into power. Absolute power can mean absolute corruption, even for a 10 year old. :-)
Temo: Re: Van Jones is a racist and typical of the far left and their despicable actions
Artful Dodger: Where is the breakdown of 'who dunnit' to back up your statement?
Yes, 500 kids shot, 36 fatally according to the article you quote. But where does it say they were done at school? All it says that they were kids and indicates that this is street violence rather than going into school and going crazy with guns like a "Columbine" type horror.
So, at this moment in time regarding mass killings in schools in America, white kids lead the league.
Temo: Re: But where does it say they were done at school?
Artful Dodger: True... dead is dead, but you were going on about what someone was saying about shootings at schools. Not terrorists killing kids, or gang killings but what the guy was talking about ie "Columbine" style mass shootings.
The article does not state for whatever reason who is doing the shooting as in a statistical breakdown. Of the shootings who did them? Is it all by kids or young adults, how many were by adults? How many were at schools?
I ask this detail being given as it gives a more accurate understanding of the figures and what they mean in relation to your post.
It's like a recent debate here over assisted suicide. One guy who was against it said a number might try and use it to get a quick inheritance. But that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder. A different matter and one that should not effect the rulings on letting people end their lives with dignity.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): It can be a very fine line between assisted suicide & murder. I tend to fluctuate in my opinion on that. All I know is I never want someone to put me in the position of making that decision. It is terrible either way.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
Ferris Bueller: Assisted suicide has been basically decrimilised in the UK. A recent case in court where a mother helped her daughter die with dignity ended in no prosecution. The likes of Terry Pratchett have helped to state the obvious...
.... We put animals down if they are in terrible pain or terminally ill, but humans till now have had to die horribly in the UK or go abroad to countries where sense prevails and folks are allowed to choose to die peacefully.
It's not a case of the person assisting making the choice, but only helping the person who wants to end their suffering to do it.
Temo: Re: But where does it say they were done at school?
Artful Dodger: The story you are speaking of was dated last July.The comments made by Jones(long gone from the Obama admin), were made in 2005.What is your point?
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): I watched Terry Pratchett story 2 nights ago....that was in 2008....how much worse has he gotten since then. For those that dont know him he has Alzheimers - the one that affects the rear of the brain, not the one that affects the frontal lobe. My friend has that, (FRONTAL LOBE) she is 60, and in 18 months she has gone from working in an office and being completely lucid to being completely in another world....she has no idea who she is or where she is going....so sad.
Temo: Re: But where does it say they were done at school?
Artful Dodger: No, he said there has not been a "Columbine" type killing spree by a black kid in a school, in that he is accurate. There has not been a case of a black kid doing a "Columbine".
as to black on black crime, it happens as does white on white, asian on asian, black on white, etc, etc.
If you want less kids shooting kids, tighter gun control would help. I thought it was crazy when a few months back I saw a kid in the US showing off his gun collection. He had over 10 firearms. What on earth does he need them for?
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): "Assisted suicide has been basically decrimilised in the UK. A recent case in court where a mother helped her daughter die with dignity ended in no prosecution"
We had a similar case in Canada, but the father was put in jail
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
Bernice: Let us say he did the 34th Richard Dimbleby lecture on Feb 1st this year and Tony Robinson had to deliver it for him. It was called "Shaking Hands with Death"
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): ok thanks...I did notice he had trouble reading from one of his books at a Uni he was giving a lecture at....he kept saying a shadow was falling over the page....so sad.
Temo: Re:No, he said there has not been a "Columbine" type killing spree by a black kid in a school, in that he is accurate. There has not been a case of a black kid doing a "Columbine".
Artful Dodger: A Scotsman picked up the cheque when we went out for dinner the other week, it does happen
here is what Terrty Pratchett has....courtesy Alzheimers UK...
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), also known as Benson's syndrome, is a progressive degenerative condition where damage to brain cells is particularly focused at the back (posterior) of the brain, the region responsible for visual processing. This damage to brain cells leads to cell death and loss of volume or 'atrophy' of the posterior cortical regions − hence the name. In the vast majority of cases the underlying cause is Alzheimer's disease.
The death of brain cells is accompanied by accumulation of toxic proteins, amyloid and tau, that form plaques and tangles in the same way as is seen in typical Alzheimer's disease. PCA may therefore be referred to as an atypical variant of Alzheimer's disease.
Although PCA is caused by Alzheimer's disease, it can also be due to other diseases including dementia with Lewy bodies and Creutzfeld Jacob disease. PCA is a rare condition, thought to affect less than five per cent of people with Alzheimer's disease, although epidemiological studies are lacking and PCA has been under-recognised in the past.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
Bernice: I know, it is sad. He's one of the greatest author's of today... Much better than that Harry Potter woman. The Belgariad series is far better ;)
Yet it looks like he will turn his illness into a blessing for the rest of us Brits. Finally we will lawfully be able to die in dignity.
Temo: Re:No, he said there has not been a "Columbine" type killing spree by a black kid in a school, in that he is accurate. There has not been a case of a black kid doing a "Columbine".
Artful Dodger: Well, maybe he's not 100% accurate then. But how do children in the USA get to get firearms legally so easily? You cannot drink till you are over 21 in the US so why not similar rules for firearms?
Over here when joe public could own a gun for shooting at a shooting club they had to be approved by the police and store the firearms in locked bolted down heavy duty metal boxes. Also they had to be stored that a thief would have to break open both to have a usable weapon, as the gun had to broken down into two parts. Eg with a rifle remove the bolt mechanism.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): I'm not opposed to dieing with dignity, I'm just concerned with one family member being saddled w/ the responsibility of assisted suicide. And, there is too much room for abuse. If a team of Drs & family members are in on the decision, and a concensus is built around the wishes of the patient, that would be another matter altogether in my opinion.
I am close to this issue. My mother commited suicide in whole lot of pain. Who is to judge her for her decision? I believe she rests in peace now. But I sure would not have wanted to be the sole decision maker in assisting her to do so.
I think people should be free to own nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, too. There will be a few irresponsible owners, but far more will be responsible.
Pedro Martínez: there is no responsible use for a private citizen to have a nuclear weapon, there are multiple responsible uses for guns however, so your comment is apples to oranges
Vikings: LOL. One of the amendments to your constitution actually provides that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. It does not specify what arms, so it applies to all weapons, just like the word “people” applies to all the people within the jurisdiction of the constitution. So I don't understand your comment. By the way, I'm not trying to sound intelligent here, so I don't have to ask for help with the big words.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
Ferris Bueller: One step at a time, I think it's a long way from as such (re an old sci fi book) a 'suicide' switch gets designed. Quite frankly being a spiritualist I don't see it being a choice but the right thing to do. Bodies break, they are biological machines. Conciousness is a different matter. And from a personal experiance point of view... Long term illness can be a right bugger... There are worse things than discorporation. Things that make hell look like a nice day on the beach.
Temo: Re:No, he said there has not been a "Columbine" type killing spree by a black kid in a school, in that he is accurate. There has not been a case of a black kid doing a "Columbine".
Artful Dodger: I'm not against people having guns, but if there is a problem with kids getting guns via their parents, it is the responsible thing to sort that out. Instead of busting people for stupid things like posessing weed, (700,000 of the them in US jails helping the war effort) sort out those parents and make the USA a safer place.
Pedro Martínez: One of my relatives got concerned I know how to make thermite and the plastic version of it... Went on about terrotists and all.. I admit I like fire.. love a bonfire. But I have respect for what it is.
Temo: Re:I think people ought to be able to own a gun. It's a right and should be honored.
Artful Dodger: A lot of people here think an armed society is a safe one. I disagree. Guns get stolen & used on the "law abiding" citizens they were meant to protect. That may not justify taking away all gun rights, but, I think reasonable gun control is in order. Under 18. Teenagers & children do not generally have the judgement to own a gun. They are wired differently than adults, & are more likely to do things on impulse. People with mental ilnesses who have a history of violence. Their illness prevents them being responsible with a gun. Certainly, criminal background checks are in order for violent criminals. I don't believe the 2nd Amendment was enacted to protect such things.
I know some of these laws are on the books, but they are often not as enforced as they need to be. And, anyone can go to these gun shows & pick up a gun, often a high caliber automatic which is needed by only by law enforcement or the military. I blame the gun lobby for a lot of this nonsense.
Temo: Re: ...that by nature is not assisted suicide, but murder.
(V): Generally, I agree with you that excruciatingly painful & chronic or terminal illnesses should not be mandated to linger on, especially against the will of the victim. But, I do think safety nets are in order to protect against abuses. In most circumstances, one person should not be responsible for assisted-suicide.