Yes indeed. The more people there are talking sensibly about a complex issue, the more likely it is that progress will be made towards resolving it.

So true. I think we are doing our bit, here. No-one has fallen out over this thread, but we have had a sensible discussion. It's a shame the rest of the world cannot always do the same.

It helps that we've seen each other naked. :D

Okay, so first we ban all clothing and then we uncover other differences, right?

First we ban all clothing.

Then I pleasure myself looking at all the sexy people.

Then...we uncover other differences. :D



Let's be honest...can you take anyone seriously when they have a boner?

Your spelling was not all that bad, I could read it :D

And I did enjoy hearing your veiws on the subject, please continue to post.

I don't get people who don't embrace their fellow human beings and the uniqueness that each human represents..... just seems that we are a world full of misery and those miserable oh so love some company.

Gentlefolk,

I’m uncertain if anyone else might find this interesting, but Tony Blair recently gave a rather extended speech, if not precisely on this topic, then on one rather close to it. Well worth the time to listen to it.

The text of the speech can be found Foreign Policy Speech I

For a video of this speech on Britain's foreign policy (21 March 2006)

While not everyone will agree with him, I do find most of his points consistent with my experience in the Middle East of a few years ago.

It is an interesting speech. I've always liked Tony Blair and, like you said, I may not always agree with him, but he is very eloquent in stating his position. Thanks for sharing that, jseal.

Please take him! No, really! Please take him! :D

I'll trade you ... two Clinton's and one Joe Biden! Please. :D

(Oh yeah, one Gore as a bonus gift.)

Woo hoo! Another Blair-hater! Never voted for him, never will!

I just dont get Blair, wheater you like him or not he is a very inteligent man what the hell is he doing hanging out whit a man like Bush? i dont get it.

I respected Blair when he first took office i though he had alot of views that was right for europe ate the time but now he is starting to look more and more like a whipping Boy for Amerikan warmongers (See bush and others)

I will enjoy the day i read about bush in my childrens history books 20 years from now, or even my gandchildren.

He is going to get butcherd.

Admiral

Just as an aside. In the local paper today were two articles that I thought were an interesting contrast to how the West sees religion.

Article 1 was that the City of St. Paul (near where I live) banned Easter references from the city offices. Not real sure why, but I can only speculate "Church and State"

Article 2 was a report that the in Afghanistan some moderate to hardcore Clerics were demanding death for a former Islam believer who had converted to Christianity.

Is it any wonder that Westerners feel persecuted by Political Correctness gone horribly astray and that we get such a bad read on Islam? These types of examples are sadly too easy to find.

I don't see this as "PC gone astray"...rather, it's more like upholding the part of the Bill of Rights that says Congress shall make no law favoring any church or religion, that keeps us from turning into a Theocracy that burns people for not following the Official State religion...