rigney

There are hundreds, if not thousands of reasons why slavery should never have begun here in America. But every thing from religion to simple greed played a huge part in the practice. And while every reason can be debated, it's likely slavery itself would have faded away quietly as America began a new cultural and second undustrial revolution in the late 1800s. But, destroying an antebellum culture of the south did nothing to enhance the former slaves lot. For most of them, their lives went from slavery to depravity as their standard of living plummeted to squalor. History will show that things actually were made much worse for them. And while it took another hundred years to acquire this freedom, it still isn't totally resolved? Where there had been in most cases a measure of congeniality between owner and slave, at the wars end there was nothing left in most cases other than an out and out hatred. Most southern land and slave owner lost everything, money, land and slaves. Fair?, hell yes! But the freed Blacks gained little more than empty promises and another hundred years of torment and torturous freedom. Those perpetrating and bringing the war to fruition, made a killing. Had we, as winners in 1865, proceeded to kill off the remaining few million southern whites, I'm sure there still would be some stones left unturned to haggle over, even today. But, like everything else; as a simple conjecture, what if the south had won the war? Then what? But of course, the same arguement could be applied, had Genghis Kahn, Hitler, Tojo, or perhaps even the muslim breotherhood of today would take over the world? Do we have a plan for that?

No where in this post was I trying to bring slavery into the mix. The whole idea was to say that throughout history not everyone has ever been satisfied at the same time. Again! pain and suffering of the poor and destitude, is as prevelant today as measels, mumps and chickenpox. The people in Egypt want a change! Right now they don't give a damn to what, just change. Obama put it in the same prospective. "Change"! But to what? How, or can we even deal with such a radical upheaval if it comes to this country? The war between the states was not to be taken out of context, only to visualize what can happen.

There was no linking to anyones comments jackson. The tragedy of both eras is something we had best keep in mind. Today there are folks on both sides of the ledger who would rip this nation apart, if for nothing more than to prove their point. Pain, suffering and being destitude is nothing new and something that will never end. If there is a God, he or she will sort it all out, not us. Each day we fight for supremicy and a breath of fresh air. Enjoy it while it's yours.

I took this thread from another topic, not to plagiarize but to show how things don't differ much in time. Few of us "are not guilty" of making assumptions, accusations and innuendoes when not fully informed of or understanding the embodiment of a particular piece of history. Especially, if those half truths happen to fit our purpose. Tragedy is something we link much more readily to than happiness. Is this video very different than what is happening in today world? If so, will you explain?. This was a tragedy of the 1860s. Kennedy was a more recent tragedy of the 1960s. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIJaxu3w4-U&feature=player_embedded#!

Is this how we forestall armageddon, to involve our government an any and all world disputes? Who the hell are we to chide anyone? Let's not throw our muscle around, but allow the world to react to their own problems. What would happen if such a chrisis came to bear here in the states? Who, in your wildest dreams would come charging in to the rescue? Yea!, sure. Everyone! Our US government chides Egypt over arrests, and press restrictions. "WOW, BIG CHARLIE BAD ASS IS IN THE ROOM AGAIN" Where the hell were we when these people actually needed us most? Let's hurry up and kick Mubarak's ass out of office so the Egyptian people can really work with subversive's. 02-02-2011 11:29 AM EST |By BRADLEY KLAPPER and MATTHEW LEE, Associated Press In total safety, President Barack Obama speaks of the situation in Egypt in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (Associated Press) -- The United States criticized the government of President Hosni Mubarak and condemned violence in Egypt's capital as clashes between protesters and pro-government supporters demonstrated there would be no easy resolution to the unrest destabilizing America's closest ally in the Arab world. A day after President Barack Obama pressed Mubarak to loosen his grip on power immediately, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the U.S. "deplores and condemns the violence that is taking place in Egypt." "We are deeply concerned about attacks on the media and peaceful demonstrators," he added in a statement. "We repeat our strong call for restraint." His comments came after the protests in Egypt's capital took a dangerous turn when several thousand Mubarak supporters, including some riding horses and camels and wielding whips, attacked anti-government protesters. In scenes of uncontrolled violence, some of the assailants were dragged to the ground by demonstrators and beaten bloody while the two sides rained stones and bottles down on each other. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley also urged calm. "Egypt's path to democratic change must be peaceful," he said in a post to Twitter. He criticized the government over detentions and press restrictions. "The civil society that Egypt wants to build includes a free press." The strife in Egypt was occurring a day after Obama prodded Mubarak to quickly loosen his grip on power, sternly telling the world that the longtime leader's transition from the presidency "must begin now." Mubarak said Tuesday he would not seek re-election in balloting set for September. Yet he seemed determined to shepherd the political changeover from his authoritarian 30-year reign to an uncertain future. The half-concession was angrily rejected by throngs of protesters in Cairo who say they are fed up with poverty and corruption and want him to step down immediately. It also did not appear to satisfy Obama. After days of scrambling in the White House over how to react to the enormous and unanticipated protest movement, the president unmistakably sided with the demonstrators, even if he stopped short of demanding Mubarak's immediate resignation. After speaking to the Egyptian on the phone for half an hour, the president offered high praise for the protesters and the Egyptian army. But Obama did not welcome or even directly mention Mubarak's announcement that he would not stand for re-election. "An orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now," he said. And he had no kind words for Mubarak, though his Egypt has been critical to securing America's interests in the Middle East, including access to oil transport through the Suez Canal and a peace treaty with Israel under Mubarak's predecessor, Anwar Sadat. Behind the scenes, the White House had attempted to nudge Mubarak to the exits over the past 48 hours, dispatching former U.S. ambassador to Egypt Frank Wisner as a special envoy to deliver a message to him: The U.S. saw Mubarak's tenure at an end, didn't want him to seek re-election and wanted him to prepare an orderly transition to real democracy. Speaking Wednesday to American ambassadors gathered in Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the unrest in the Middle East showed the importance of strong U.S. diplomacy. "What's going on today _ recent events in Egypt and certainly in that broader region _ remind us all how crucial it is to have top-notch leadership on the ground and how quickly the ground can shift under our feet," she said. "This is a critical time for America's global leadership," Clinton added. She said the United States needs to "be more nimble" in dealing with fast-paced international developments. Holy Mary Mother of God, help us! PPS, And I'm an uncivilized agnostic!

Tough sledding Chief! So, just how do you plan on backing any of this up? By the way, even as a young Hill Billy; I loved "mikvos". We got one every week whether we needed it or not, and weren't even Jewish. And heck, we called it masturbation, not ejaculation. It was a good ceremony if the water was still warm and Dad hadn't scrubbed too much coal dust off his ass. But I'm In the big city now and simply can't afford water prices.

Well bless your heart DH, for a moment I thought you were harmless. May I ask, what is a "meritless, free thinking idea", unless you are referring to those who try eating an ice-cream cone through one of their eyes or forehead. Am I to assume you are angrily, one of them?

When the dominos start falling, it's only a matter of time until "Nut Cases" here too; start determining America's future. That is, unless we are extremely diligent. A tidbit from Michigans Upper Peninsula this morning. Likely this nut wasn't even serious, but it works right into the middle eastern scenario. Threatened, they will listen, reprisals, and they will "fold". Online threat leads officials to close Northern Michigan University, Marquette public schools 02-02-2011 11:12 AM EST MARQUETTE, Mich. (Associated Press) -- Authorities have closed Northern Michigan University and the city of Marquette's public schools because of a threat to the university. University spokeswoman Kristi Evans said Wednesday an online threat was made to harm students, faculty, staff and administrators at the school in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Evans had no further details about the nature of the threat, which was discovered shortly before 8 a.m. Evans said an emergency notice was transmitted on the laptop computers provided to all 9,400 students. Text messages were also sent on cell phones. It is uncertain if the closure will last beyond Wednesday.

Will our own government ever learn that dictatorships are never truly stable? Think I took this out of a link Pangloss had put up for debate. The (ever) was mine. But then, what government of any nation has ever been truely stable? Change will come from time to time, "Hell or High Water". But as long as no mandates are given to run around cutting peoples heads off, hanging them from goal posts or stoning them to death; "religious or secular", these governments are alright with me.

Diplomacy? Right now our diplomacy is at the bottom of the barrel. Unless it's a handout of money and aid, who the hell wants to talk to the United States about anything? We can't even tend our own problems.

Dominos, Chinese Checkers, or Monopoly? In a word, leave them the "FUCK" alone! Even water eventually finds its own level, and this will happen unless the good old U.S. of A. starts digging ditches for one or both of the combatants. Some myhem and blood shed? No doubt! But it shouldn't be our kids blood this time.

Believe me, your explanation is likely to be as close as I will ever come to understanding Einsteins principles of relativity. But I'm only a theorist (dreamer) who believe there is something more than just numbers. Math and Physics? No! I can't go there. But if I may explain my position? I believe after a short pause, less than a Pico-Pico second, our universe began a new cycle. Call it the Big Bang, Creation or what ever. But it no doubt happened. Our world is here and so are we. If the heat generated at that initial moment was anything like they are findings at the Cern labs in their latest experiments, it was more than just a big bang. Perhaps in the trillions of degrees K. Pressure of such heat would have caused expansion to the nth degree? The first of the two videos I added to #12 says that the speed may have been 'many times" that of light. Since I cant argue the point, I will accept it. Now comes the tricky part that gets me in trouble each time I voice it. Why is our universe relegated to an encapsulation of its own design? Can't it just be a free wheeling universe that will eventually find its way back home, even if only in piece and parts and trillions of years from now? Natures abax governing universal design will say when and how it is to happen, not us. Me, I just love a mystery. Believe me, your explanation is likely to be as close as I will ever come to understanding Einsteins principles of relativity. But I'm only a theorist (dreamer) who believe there is something more than just numbers. Math and Physics? No! I can't go there. But if I may explain my position? I believe after a short pause, less than a Pico-Pico second, our universe began a new cycle. Call it the Big Bang, Creation or what ever. But it no doubt happened. Our world is here and so are we. If the heat generated at that initial moment was anything like they are findings at the Cern labs in their latest experiments, it was more than just a big bang. Perhaps in the trillions of degrees K. Pressure of such heat would have caused expansion to the nth degree? The first of the two videos I added to #12 says that the speed may have been 'many times" that of light. Since I cant argue the point, I will accept it. Now comes the tricky part that gets me in trouble each time I voice it. Why is our universe relegated to an encapsulation of its own design? Can't it just be a free wheeling universe that will eventually find its way back home, even if only in piece and parts and trillions of years from now? Natures abax governing universal design will say when and how it is to happen, not us. Me, I just love a mystery.

Glad you came aboard Jackson, I was feeling kind of lonely. But I'm not here trying to be counterintuitive to these having a firm grasp on physics, only questioning as to my ignorance. I really don't expect explicit answers to something that happened billions of light years ago. These guys are sharp and I appreciate their intellect, just not in a condenscending manner of which I don't believe they realize. In my time frame, I get pissed when someone tells me that I should read up on the issues and relate them to a better understanding. I'll not even try going there! I've read tons of material and realize that I'm whipping a dead horse, "me". If you've looked at this post with even the slightest notion of a professional thought, I put a couple videos in #12 that gave me more insight into our universe than anything I could have ever imagined. Both guys related information I thought was impossibe. To me, yes our universe is part of a never-ending cycle, and having nothing to do with philosophy.

Using the aboriginal Australians to demonstrate productivity, class differential and overall knowledge of a situation is rediculous. Checks and balances have determined these gentle people's lives for many centuries, perhaps for even thousands of years? Theirs is no third world economy, nor a fourth or fifth! The economy they have known for so long is what they are clinging to. No, they don't make automobiles, airplanes, trains or sky scrapers; and many have never seen the inside of a class room, but most are content with their lives. Have you ever witnessed a hoard of "maggots" devouring a carcass? They are no more parasetic than their parents, Flies., but they leave nothing. The Aborigine. like the Inuit; takes from the land that which is needed to sustain them, not to devour, destroy or lay waste to. Hopefully one day, we; being the elite, may learn this lesson.

It isn't the complexity of physics that bother me, since I know absolutely nothing about them, but the way they are sometimes explained. Read this about an hour or so ago and found it interesting. It may be only a fourth grade primer to some, but it was news to me. http://homepage.mac.com/stevepur/physics/riding/Riding_session_6.pdf Didn't think you were being hard-nosed, it's just that I don't understand the mechanics of a convex, saddle shaped, or a flat dimensional demonstration of the universe. The polka dots on the balloon? I believe the astronomer Alex Filippenko dreamed that up some years back and has used it ever since along with his stretch band to describe red shift and expansion. I do read, but as I said earlier, it's a little late in the game for me to be going into physics. Mechanically I understand just about anything that is explained to me. But to say there is no inside to something that has an out side, is mind bending ay best.

Read it over! But even as a laymen, should I simply nod my head up and down and leave it go unchallenged?

If that's supposed to be kissy kissy, I'm not impressed. And laymans questions, why the hell should they not be considered? Who do you think pays for all of the scientific work that remains in limbo? Don't let your intellect run off to where you think 'your" theories are the only solutions to physicist's problems.

Would you run that by me in laymans terms. I've said on several occasions that I'm here to learn, not to get involved in an argument with those of you with more knowledgeable than me. Why the arcane wording? I'm not trying to draw someone out to prove a point. Ignorance belongs to me. Questions are all I have. Wish I could answer a couple of them on my own.

Why is there such a fetish for insisting on attaching dots to a balloons surface and blowing it up to demonstrate expansion? If in fact expansion is what is happening, isn't everything within the balloon also expanding? I'm talking about space that is, not things. You'll have to excuse my ignorance but I simply can't grasp the idea of just the surface of a balloon expanding without dragging along its contents at the same time.( other galaxies, etc.) At best, if we can see from our vantage point, 13, 14, or even 15, billion light years in any direction, it has to mean that not all of us are riding the crest of this outer perimiter of a"space odyessy.". Read that somewhere!

Whether we talk about "the beginning" of our universe as a huge explosion or an instantaneous expansion, how could either have happened without a center? I haven't a clue, but does it matter? Perhaps some day it may. At best, and even with using the "raisin bread" scenario along with the popular expansion theory; why would there have not been a center to this whole enchilada? Unless general math forsakes me completely; somewhere there is a galaxy with people?, perhaps not unlike us sitting at the "exact center" of this expansion saying, why is everything moving away from us? But! what if it was simply a huge explosion and everything had been thrown out in all directions? Would there have been a center? I believe so. Would there today be a galaxy sitting at the exact center? I think not. An explosion under such conditions demands everything move away at a tremendous speed, yet, creating an ever expanding void. So the closest any matter could be to the center of our universe today would be (?) billion of light years from that point. Either postulation could bring the Higgs equation into the picture. I don't know, and am only asking?

The sensationalism of "Who shot John" in this instance runs as deep as the assassination of President Kenedy. I walked those grounds for three solid hours one day, wondering how so much could have been made of a demented and determined mind to kill our president. How could a person fire three shots in a matter of three seconds and make them count for all of the wrong reasons? The conclusion was simple. A slow caravan, Count one, count two, count three. No conspiracy, only the act of a madman filled with hate!The towers, the Pentegon and the folks who died in Shanksville, Pa. were no different in that respect than the Lincoln or Kennedy murders. Hate is a powerful tool. Thank goodness the act of humanitarism and Justice is just as powerful, if not more so.

If "our government" and the terrorist perpitrating this crime had found ways of bringing all of of those explosives into the towers without being detected, rigging and sequentially setting them to go off at specific intervals, why would there have been a need to fly airliners into them to start the destruction? What a pity we can be so gullible. I suppose they must have planted explosives in the Pentagon also? Would someone in the conspiracy department run that by me? Do a stretch, stress analysis on a 1/2" bolt 3" long at a pull rate of 1 cc per sec. Grab it when it snaps after perhaps a second or so, then take care of the blisters.

With my answer in #12, I incorporated 2 videos that probably enlightened me more about our universe than anything I have ever read or seen. If the Higgs boson can be found as more than a plausible theory, the whole mystery of how things began for us "may start" to close. A professor at Berkley, Kim Greist, did a tremendous job (40) plus mins. of explaining the nothingness of space and why nothing isn't simply nothing. I've only been at this game since last May and realize that, with those two presentations; just how little I knew about our universe. The seond video by Mr. White, a Phd was just as informative, addressing the centerless universe. If you havn't seen them, watch; they are both worth while and doesn't even involve 1st. grade math. Whew!

I supposedly made a negative remark that got me a couple "red squares", demerits if you will; and just don't want to go there again. But no, I will not argue with those who believe it was a conspiracy. Their thoughts are as valid as mine theorizing what happened on that day. But to blame our government for the act of this terrorism, is not rational to me. And building #7 collapsing, I honestly believe was the result of trauma and shock experienced when the towers fell on 9/11.

Purely speculative on my part, but had those planes hit only the upper two or three floors, chances are there would have been serious structural and fire damage and the deaths at that level confined to those upper floors. Had it happened that way, I doubt if neither building would have collapsed. But since I have no idea of how much 20 to 30 floors of one of those buildings weigh, I cant be certain. So, when 6 or 8r floors are wiped out below twenty to thirty intact ones standing above them, well, buildings aren't erected with the idea of withstanding the impact of an almost "vacuum drop". When those floors buckled, you had 20 to 30 floors free fallng through that void. Someone on the BBC had a short video of the progressive sounds of the progressive dropping floors that brought the buildings down, I just cant find it again. But watch this and thank of even ten floors, falling into and through an emptiness of 60 to 90 feet or more of what should have been those destroyed and burned out floors. No explosives would have been needed. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4801566025292753615#docid=-5860825099435530591