shiner

Good point! And not just Chechnya but the whole Muslim world. Allah will be one busy mofo that day accepting all those "peaceful, loyal" souls (who all sympathize with what the Islamists are doing throughout the world) And so will his boy Mohammed

Getting drunk on hard liquor makes one really f***ed up. Personally, it makes me angry, dumb, and even knocked out. Getting drunk on beer makes one feel really jolly and energetic. Sometimes too much. Getting drunk on wine makes me feel drunk but still myself. I'm neither to emotional, or messed up, or happy or sad. I'm drunk but I'm MYSELF. What do you guys think?

I think Sudan and a few others are more primitive. But when such a talented people have to compare their country to Sudan to make themselves feel better, there is something wrong.

We should continue acting like each of us is the center of the Universe.

No Vigil, We should not do what you suggested in terms of being humble. We should become delusional and pretend that Yerevan was equivalent to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago in the '60s and '70s

Accel, Sorry to ressurect your thread, cause it might not even apply anymore, but I just saw this while I was browsing, and could not resist because I feel the same way now as you did then. And the conclusion I've come to is that when you reach a certain age and you don't have someone of the opposite sex in your life it really messes you up.

Gamavor, I don't understand your post on Iraq. If those fanatics would not exist, foreigners would poor into Iraq setting up businesses, etc. As far as conspiracy theories on oil, I don't know. Accel, What should they do about Cuba? If there were no sanctions you would accuse them of supporting Castro. If they would turn away those seeking asylum you would accuse them of being inhumane. If they would remove Castro, you would accuse them of being an occupying force like in Iraq. If they do nothing you would accuse them for not caring. And this does not even include the conspiracy theories. By "you" I mean all critics. But most of those critics can't provide any alternatives.

Different reasons. The most common one a weak economy, from which a whole bunch of other problems arise. Now what makes one countries economy weaker over the other? I was just thinking about this the other day, and I asked that in that "How a society develops thread"? Of course some factors are natural resources, geographic location, neighboring countries, etc. Then of course there are other reasons such as religious persecution, etc. If the insinuation is that the US is meddling in other countries affairs, makes them weaker, and then sucks its people out into America I really don't see it (at least not in the majority of cases). All communist countries had people defecting to the US and I don't think the US was making those countries communist deliberately. On the contrary the US was opposing the communism. Africa is a poor continent. I don't see how it is because of the US. If anything the British are responsible for its colonization. India is poor as well. Is it because of the US? If anything the US is contributing to its economy by outsourcing jobs (involuntarily). China is benefiting from more free trade now. Is the US holding it back. If anything it is helping. EVEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST. All these Arabs would drown in their own oil with no US market. I don't see how the US has hurt the Europeans. If anything it has helped them in both world wars. And its probably even helping now through its economy. Wouldn't a weak Wall Street hurt the whole world in such a global economy? London, a huge financial center, would not benefit from a catastrophe in New York, on the contrary it would suffer. So would Tokyo. In the case of religious persecution let's take Iran for example. I really don't think the US likes those Muslim fundamentalists, on the contratry they liked the Shah. And how about Iraq? Do you think that it is the US stopping Iraq from integrating into the global economy and raising its standard of living? I think its those backwards fools kidnapping foreignors and discouraging outside investors. The examples are endless. I just don't see that perspective.

Gurgen, I was not talking about that. I was referring to immigrants who live in the US after desperately fleeing their homelands, and then being ignorant when it comes to acknowledging the advantages they have here. They get caught up in harshly criticising their adopted country which they have come to by their own choice, on the premise that their impoverished homelands (which they left by choice) were somehow "better". There are many like this. We even have some on this forum.

When this "evil" empire called the US falls to pieces, maybe all these immigrants who hate America will start liking it. The poverty, chaos, weak economy, lack of opportunities, etc. will remind them of the underdeveloped countries they desperately fled away from and miss so much. And then they can feel more at home.

No, I was just saying that. And I did not even realize that phenomenon until now. Because if you live in a closed society, with no or extremely little access to the outside, you develop your opinions on the little that you see and hear. In Armenia at the time all you heard was how communism was so great etc., how the USSR is going to leave the US behind etc., how people are so happy, etc. Over time you have no choice but to believe it. It's not like you have the ability to fully research yourself. Now I realize why so many Armenians truly believe that. I almost don't blame them. But still when they finally see something else, they can start changing a little bit and realize a few things on their own.

Wow, Maybe there even were people in the US who were standing in long lines at the Soviet embassy itching to move to Armenia.

Why are some countries really developed and others on the opposite third world extreme? Of course natural resources are a factor, but does it also have to do with the character/traits of the people? Do you have to go back to the very beginning of tribal ancestry, to determine the differences between tribes that reflect the behavior of modern day descendants? Why can't third world citizens do the things necessary to become first world using common sense? Some can. The Japanese are a great example of a really developed country which arose from practically nothing. But why can't other countries? I realize that natural and geographic resources are a limiting factor for some more that others, but isn't there more than that? How much of a role does the character, genes, traits, etc. of the population play?

Really? I thought that was only what you were supposed to believe as a result of communist propaganda.

Did you guys hear about that school in Russian taken hostage by Chechen terrorists? They say there are 400 people in there, over 200 of them children. What I want to know is who is really behind this and all the hype? Putin? Bush? The oligarchs? The oil companies? Washington? The Kremlin? It can't be a bunch of idiot Muslim fanatics, because Islam is a "peaceful" religion.

You should hear Armenians talk about how they had "everything" in Armenia in the good ol' days of the 70's. You would think they were living in paradise. I guess they were not starving like in the earlier 40's and 50's which made it seem so.

Edward, The only definition I know is the popular one you stated at the beginning of your post, basically "holy war (within the context of religion)". I as an average citizen don't know anything that goes on behing closed doors of cabinet meetings, and what everyone's ulterior motives truly are. Yeah I watch the news almost everyday, but that version is not necessarily reflective of what truly goes on. Even so I don't think (though not 100% sure) that the whole Muslim problem is made up. The point is 9/11 did happen (and I don't think it was planned by Bush or any Americans). Two planes recently went down in Russia, Spain suffered a major bombing, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and many other organizations exist, Iran is a messed up fundamentalist state with bad things on its mind, there are countless Muslim fanatics running around everywhere. Those are facts, and they should not be ignored in my opinion.

Accel, I agree, he is not indebted. But the point I was emphasizing is that he (and others) are here by their own choice, and they are staying also by their own choice, so there must be something attractive keeping them here. Thus it does not make sense to completely ignore this factor. But I think you realize this too, so we are on the same page.

Accelerated, You are right. The US definitely benefits from immigrants. They are usually hard working and contribute to this country as they integrate to it. They especially benefit from intellectuals, experts etc. But the irony is that those intellectuals and experts also want to come here (and other really developed countries) to maximize their talents. So both parties benefit. And both parties should acknowledge this. There is no point in coming here to maximize your talents while denigrating the society that has given you those opportunities. Yes it is true you are giving back through your abilities. Like I (and you) said both parties benefit, and neither should be ungrateful to the other. That would be ignorant.

Yeah but there are places where he would not have it even if he was willing to pay taxes. Otherwise why does he (or anyone) choose this place in particular. I don't think it's random.

Just the fact that you have a place to work and make money is a MAJOR advantage. Furthermore it is the ONLY advantage that has made others leave their countries and come here (but it's a huge one)

But on the contrary you know the US exists because you are here taking advantage of the opportunities it offers you, so it's not the same thing.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the topic, but Americans as a whole don't even know Armenia exists.

Do the Jihadists and Fundamentalists realize that in an all out jihad against the "infidels", the "infidels" have the ability to wipe out the whole Muslim world off the face of this earth? Its like me going up to a guy with a machine gun and saying I'm going to kill him in a fist fight! Are the Muslim radicals that ignorant or are they counting on the "infidels" to be "nice"?

Anything is possible. I know the article has some hints, but why exactly would Russia be such a close ally of the mullahs? The mullahs need to be overthrown for sure, I just don't know how or by whom.