by Simon 40 Replies latest social current
Yep. It's a double standard, and it sux. And I'll even throw simon a bone here.
Why is it that clinton got so much hassle for smoking one J, and dubya hardly raised an eybrow for admittedly doing coke? And endangering people with his car while drunk? I'm conservative, but the republicans are real a--holes with their witchhunts, like monicagate. Especially the rabid senators who had affairs themselves. Disgusting.
Just a note to any of you guys who intend to visit the UK.
Don't bring in anything remotely associated with firearms, even replicas, ammo, anything at all, not only in hand baggage but in your main luggage too.
Penalties are draconian and your chances of getting bail before coming to court are virtually zero.
Englishman.
Thanks, eman,
but what if I have a poin-ted stick?
Simon, I'm afraid your hatred for all things American is coming out loud and clear here. So is your bias against gun ownership.
Alan. This is rediculous. I'm all for improved security but it has to be applied consistently and fairly and this is just giving people a 'let off' for carrying weapons onto planes which has to be a *bad thing*.
Never mind the dope carrying a weapon around and not realising it ... that is so irresponsible.
Alan,
Having known Simon for quite some time, I know for a fact that he is not anti-American.
What he is, IMHO, is anti-anything that he sees as having an adverse or unfair effect on others.
This does, again IMHO, make him anti-establishment in that he deplores the negative effect of some big businesses. He also deplores spin-doctor type politics as typified by Blair & Bush. Plus he loathes the harmful effects of pollution on our Earth.
The US is always going to be the worst offender in most of these areas, partly because of its size and partly because it's slow to implement greener policies, possibly due to the pressures imposed by big business.
Personally, I like to consider many of the benefits that the US has given the world, which, IMHO (again!) does much to redress at least some of the balance against the negative points.
On the other hand, I too would get quite pissy if someone continually criticised my own countries policies over-much, even if they did keep telling me how much they liked English people.
It's OK for me to criticise them BTW, but when foreigners do it, you'd better watch out!
Englishman.
Woof woof.
Arf arf.
I think maybe the problem with this thread lays here?
Quote from the website linked.
after authorities found a loaded gun in his bag at a screening checkpoint,
Simon then wrote
Some dumb congressman taking a loaded Glock pistol onto an aircraft.
Flash then wrote
sneaking a gun on board!
Simon then concludes
and this is just giving people a 'let off' for carrying weapons onto planes
So in just a few posts, we have a report that a congressman was found to be carrying a gun in his luggage at a screening checkpoint, being stated by two posters that he carried the gun onto the plane.
A little careless typing perhaps?
BTW, I do agree that he should have been jailed, the law is (or should be) the LAW, for EVERYONE.
All Bold mine.
I was taking "attempting to carry a loaded gun onto a plane" as being the same as "carrying a loaded gun onto a plane". We're unlikely to hear about the latter because, be definition, they have not been caught. So any reports will always be about them being caught at the screening which is why they are there.
What is needed is a clear message that people have to be responsible and accountable for their actions or careless negligence.
Thanks for the comments Englishman - I think that was a good summary of where I stand & my outlook. I just want a good world for my kids to grow up in and don't like to see their future being threatened by greed, corruption and incompetence. I also hate to see injustice and double standards applied.
On the other hand, I too would get quite pissy if someone continually criticised my own countries policies over-much, even if they did keep telling me how much they liked English people.
It's OK for me to criticise them BTW, but when foreigners do it, you'd better watch out!
This is where we probably differ most - I'm the first to criticise my own country but am also happy to accept criticisms that other people make as long as they are fair and accurate (but I'll dispute it if they are not).
It still amazes me that **some** people don't get the message yet and haven't figured out that if someone makes a fair criticism and you say "yep, you know ... you're right - that sucks" then there is no argument and bad feeling. It's only when people try and defend the indefensible that they start getting all upset and feeling threatened. I guess it's easier to shoot the messenger than accept the message sometimes.
There seems to be a rediculous notion with some people that everyone must accept that their country is the best and most accomplished in every aspect and this is clearly a laughable notion.
There are a lot of good things about America but, infortunately, a lot of ills and it would be a shame if people stopped fighting for a better tomorrow and just accepted a slow decline.
This is where we probably differ most - I'm the first to criticise my own country but am also happy to accept criticisms that other people make as long as they are fair and accurate (but I'll dispute it if they are not).
It depends on how much criticism and in what manner it is made.
We don't take kindly to criticism of our kids, for example. Number 3 son is a fearless fellow and will back away from nothing, but someone else might see his fearlessness as aggression. If they were then to say that my son is aggressive I would be very upset. Fearless would be OK though.
By extension this love for family carries through to our love for our own country, our wider family. I know that England has some severe problems right now, but I don't want to be continually reminded of that fact by a non-citizen of this country. At some point loyalty comes into play, loyalty to ones own country, and if an outsider does much more than raise an eyebrow quizzically he will be toldd to bugger off even if his point of view is 100% accurate.
There's things about the US that I love, there's things that appal me too. But I'm not going to make more than a passing reference to those things because it would cause deep offence to some of the posters here, many of whom I care about very much.
Englishman.
