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[On the Left Wing]

Part of the problem is the inequality of opportunity in the world, and the corruption/greed/need for power of the people in charge.

Inequlity leads to jealousy. Leaders then use this jealousy to manipulate, either in 'terrorism' or 'oppression'.

Look at the West ; driven to create wealth. Then we're all too greedy to share this wealth.

Chappers is right, the only way to 'cure' this problem is to understand what drives the 'terrorists'.

The Palestinians want their own land, to 'govern' themselves. The Israelis want peace, but their leaders think you've got to adopt a hard-line approach and crush the 'terrorists' rather than engage. The only solution to these type of disputes is via dialogue and concessions.

However, I fear that as other parts of the world develop more, there is only going to be more areas of conflict.

I agree with all of this - except to say there are as many terrorists in the Israeli army as their are on the Palestinian side ... but while the world is ruled by rich and powerful tycoons and their puppet politicians, we all have to dance to a different tune.

 

[Sorrel]

It has been estimated that Russian forces have killed around 20,000 Chechen children in the last 9 years; the population of Chechnya prior to the Russian invasion was 2 million - it's now 800,000. I hope, GG, you are prepared to try and understand that.

These figures have got to be estimates/guesses. And I expect they're estimates from pro-independence sources. I can't believe that a proper census of the population has been carried out in Chechnya in the last few years.

So, while I agree that there probably have been many attrocities committed by the Russians in Chechnya, I don't think we should accept these figures as definitive.

 

[Sorrel]

I agree with all of this - except to say there are as many terrorists in the Israeli army as their are on the Palestinian side ... but while the world is ruled by rich and powerful tycoons and their puppet politicians, we all have to dance to a different tune.

Looking at your sig OTLW, what do you reckon about "Neighbourhood Bully" then?

(My favourite from around that time is "Watered Down Love".)

 

[fatbadger]

These figures have got to be estimates/guesses. And I expect they're estimates from pro-independence sources. I can't believe that a proper census of the population has been carried out in Chechnya in the last few years.

So, while I agree that there probably have been many attrocities committed by the Russians in Chechnya, I don't think we should accept these figures as definitive.

Well, I did use the word "estimated"...

As it is, these are the figures accepted by a number of international organisations on the ground in Chechnya, including UNHCR, Amnesty International and OSCE.

 

[On the Left Wing]

Looking at your sig OTLW, what do you reckon about "Neighbourhood Bully" then?

(My favourite from around that time is "Watered Down Love".)

Try and get hold of the bootleg CD "Between Saved and Shot" it is brilliant of that time!

As for the rest:

Well what do you expect from a Judeo/Christian?

I think more appropriate is Masters of War!

For the unitiated this is Neighborhood Bully:

Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man,
His enemies say he's on their land.
They got him outnumbered about a million to one,
He got no place to escape to, no place to run.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully just lives to survive,
He's criticized and condemned for being alive.
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin,
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in.
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land,
He's wandered the earth an exiled man.
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn,
He's always on trial for just being born.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized,
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize.
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad.
The bombs were meant for him.
He was supposed to feel bad.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, the chances are against it and the odds are slim
That he'll live by the rules that the world makes for him,
'Cause there's a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is given out to every maniac.
He's the neighborhood bully.

He got no allies to really speak of.
What he gets he must pay for, he don't get it out of love.
He buys obsolete weapons and he won't be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he's surrounded by pacifists who all want peace,
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease.
Now, they wouldn't hurt a fly.
To hurt one they would weep.
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Every empire that's enslaved him is gone,
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon.
He's made a garden of paradise in the desert sand,
In bed with nobody, under no one's command.
He's the neighborhood bully.

Now his holiest books have been trampled upon,
No contract he signed was worth what it was written on.
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth,
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health.
He's the neighborhood bully.

What's anybody indebted to him for?
Nothin', they say.
He just likes to cause war.
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed,
They wait for this bully like a dog waits to feed.
He's the neighborhood bully.

What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers?
Does he pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill,
Running out the clock, time standing still,
Neighborhood bully.