kaik

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Posts by kaik

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  4

  Forbidden ( in some places) Political Jokes

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  first from the former east germany.

  (i know its old, but i hadn't heard it before - so maybe you have not either).

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8vdqaayaqg.

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  kaik

  Yeah, I remember these jokes. People got arrested for them, lost their job, suspended from ranks. Horrible time.
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  26

  Who are the Players in the Ukraine crisis

  by designs in

  1. social
  2. current

  interesting shout down occured in eastern ukraine between two factions of the christian orthodox following a deadly shoot out.. ukrainian orhtodox leader patriarch filerat condemned putin and company as being against god's will while pro russia patriarch kirill spoke of the west trying to destroy holy russia.. like the syrian war there are multiple players adn complex agendas.

  how do you see the political landscape changing depending on who prevails..

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  kaik

  Russia does not have the economy to challenge USA & NATO. It is less developed than Poland, and has much lower GDP per capita than majority of EU. Its international export is equal to that of Netherlands. Russia is 1/2 of strenght what was USSR. Prolonged confrontation with the West will further delay a closure of the gap between the wealthy West. On top of it if faces a demographic change when 20% of its population is non-Russian.

  Since the October 1917 revolution, Russia was often identified as King of the North due its communist past. Russia does not have much to gain from interference in Israel. 1/6 of population there have ancestral ties to Russia. Russia and Isreal are not mutually hostile countries, therefore, Russia is not the King of the North. Russia never had its military present in Levant. Westerners often omit China as the possible King of the North. During the Mongol conquest of the Middle East in the 13th century, Mongol army got as far as Giza. They got defeated at the battle of Ain Jalut in 1260, where Mamluk stopped expansion of the Mongol Empire into Egypt. It is considered as one the most important battle of the human race. If anything, 21st century will belong to China.
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  26

  Who are the Players in the Ukraine crisis

  by designs in

  1. social
  2. current

  interesting shout down occured in eastern ukraine between two factions of the christian orthodox following a deadly shoot out.. ukrainian orhtodox leader patriarch filerat condemned putin and company as being against god's will while pro russia patriarch kirill spoke of the west trying to destroy holy russia.. like the syrian war there are multiple players adn complex agendas.

  how do you see the political landscape changing depending on who prevails..

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  kaik

  I was in Ukraine many years ago and it is culturally, economically, and socially divided country where the division is around Kiev. Western part was under Austrian Empire, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, while eastern part is russified. Each culture left mark on Ukraine. Lviv used to be a regional capital of Austrian Galicia until 1918. The city center resembles smaller Vienna with its architecture, boulevards, art nouveau style public buildings. Western Ukraine was until 1945 outside soviet control, while Kiev and eastern Ukraine was under Stalin, so half of the population lived only 46 years under Moscow control. This is also reason behind current crisis. Russia after 1991 is often compared to German's Weimar republic. It was economically broken and isolated. Almost everyone in Eastern Europe and almost every Slavic country except Serbs dispise Russia because of communism. The feel of revanchism was always there, but Russia lacked strong leader and economy to do so. This changed in past ten years under Putin. Russia sense a weakened EU and waning NATO influence to achieve its comback as a dominant European power. Russians did not want to participate in European integration which was detrimental for my generation that was part of the 1989 revolution that ended Soviet control and communist system. In 1989-1992 there was rather extensive debate if European integration would be from Atlantic to Ural mountains or from Brest to Brest, cities located in France and other in Belorussia. Russia eventually opted to stay out, created CIS, and returned when EU is weakened enough to fill the geopolitical void. Russia in the past 25 years oriented more toward rapidly developing 3rd world than European countries, USA, and Canada.

  The biggest supporter of Russia is Germany. Germany likes when Russia pressures its former satellites and been successfull to postpone further integration of the postcommunist world into European economic structure. There is only one single highway between Germany and former Eastern Block which was opened after 20 years of delays (highway between Prague and Nuremberg). Railway lines, pipelines, energy grid is extremely difficult to interconnect due hostility of Germany. Pipeline between Czech Republic and Bavaria (Kralupy-Ingolstat pipeline) almost never completed as Germany was less dependable than Russia. Gas network was much easier to connect with Austria. Railway power grid between Germany and eastern neighbors are not compatable, making intracontinetal transport slow. Many former German officials are working for Russian companies. Germany is currently hostile toward Poland, because it is the biggest supporter of Ukraine and major opponent to Russia. There are almost daily verbal exchange between Polish and German leadership. From reading Polish sites, it seems sometimes that Poland should be more worried about Germany than Russia. Russo-German alliances are nothing new, they existed during 7 Years War or before 1941 when national dictator was a good friend with a communist one. Germany often dreams of good all time before the collapse of the Berlin Wall when it was protected by USA, Soviets were on its borders and they did not want any responsibility for European stability. The fear to lead Europe is sometimes considered the biggest weakeness of present EU. Germany would prefer instead extensive EU, smaller European economic zone that was there before 1994 and Russian control everything east of it.

  Ukraine will eventually succumb to Russian pressure. Many in the former eastern block are worried that they are the next target. Russia never hide the intention to revive former Soviet Union under different name. This is also reason why NATO support in Eastern Europe is high, often in 70%. With a Germany backing, they can achieve it in year or so.
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  26

  When You Look Back At The History of Jehovah's Witnesses/Russelites---Has Anything Really Changed?

  by minimus in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  they have been, from their inception, a sect that was considered different from mainstream christianity.

  they loved being different.

  they bragged about being "persecuted.

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  kaik

  I agree with Band on the Run, Russell was crazy. I got feel from reading Studies in the Scripture a picture of guy who does not understand the world's dynamic with his ethnocentric views. He dedicated in his work how much coal, steel, and ships are produced in 1870; what is the military expenses of powers long time gone. These facts, releveant to 19th century and irrelevant in 21st century, have no whatsoever spiritual meaning. WT and JW were born in crazy mind and continue carrying the legacy for another 130 years. The had not changed, they only adapted after failures in 1925, 1975,...

  Kitledge, I would use instead word gulag, politburo to describe the mother org.
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  26

  Who are the Players in the Ukraine crisis

  by designs in

  1. social
  2. current

  interesting shout down occured in eastern ukraine between two factions of the christian orthodox following a deadly shoot out.. ukrainian orhtodox leader patriarch filerat condemned putin and company as being against god's will while pro russia patriarch kirill spoke of the west trying to destroy holy russia.. like the syrian war there are multiple players adn complex agendas.

  how do you see the political landscape changing depending on who prevails..

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  kaik

  The imporatance of Russian oil export into European Union has been decreasing for the last 10 years. The pipelines like Frensdhsip I-III served communist block but after the fall of communism, Central Europe is much diversified (Ingolstad, Schwechat, Adria, Leuna are integrated from different sources than Russia). Freindship I bypass Ukraine via Belorussia and Poland to Germany. Ukraine plains a minor role when it comes to oil transport.

  Gas transport is different issue which comes through Ukraine via Transgas. This is more headache for southern Europe and Balkans that are not integrated into Western gas network like Czech Republic, Germany, Poland and Austria. Southern Stream is not completed and European Union will eventually move toward shale gas deposit by thise time the line get completed. Because it is spring, the demand for gas is low and especially last winter was mild, so anyone who gets hurt are Russian companies. Of course situation will be differeing in October with the start of the heating season.
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  154

  How many here (believers) believe in the Hell fire doctrine and why??

  by jam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's obvious the bible is very clear on a actual hell of fire.

  "cursed into the eternal fire with the devil and his angels", rev.20:15.

  "lake of fire", rev.21:8 "fire and brimstone".

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  kaik

  I always wonder on this, especially after I was reading Dante's Inferno and was fascinated in medieval view of afterlife. Jews do not have fixed answer on this; I had asked rabbi what was his view on it and there is no universal agreement about it. Some people believe that hell is a voluntary separation of individiual from the G-d, opposite of light and happiness. Others believe that Gehenna is a place were souls go there after death for purification. Only rightious people can ascent to Heaven. However, some people will stay in Gehenna forever, because their soul cannot be clensed. I will ask my jewish in-laws which option in Judaism they believe.

  I personally think the eternal punishment is unjust and terrible thing to do. Think about all the hardship on Earth and as a payback is eternity in hell equally from A. Hitler to atheist who never hurt anyone.
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  44

  I went to one of my previous halls remodel today and they did not recognize me...

  by confusedandalone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i definitely look like a worldly person by jw standards... however i went to my old hall because they are remodelling and they are in the final p[hase.

  it was not on purpose.

  i had bnusiness on the street and happened to drive past.

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  kaik

  confusedandalone , were you able to keep the hardhat?
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  28

  Remember this picture?

  by Zoos in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i went to a small non-denominational church yesterday - first time in a church since i left the borg 4 years ago - and this is how i observed several of the members singing.. .

  boy... do those people love to sing.. .

  i try not to judge the sincerity of others but i was a little put off by the experience because it looked fake, showy display-ish.

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  kaik

  I remember this picture, but I will need to see the pic in whole. In my KH we had opera singer, she was very good and sit right behind us, so the music was not that bad. But in generall, I do not like the gospel or church music where people hip hopping and getting into trans. I went to several medieval monasteries and I enjoyed the organs and chorals song by monks. Totally different experience.
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  11

  The Generation that will not GO away

  by raymond frantz in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi guys looking for all watchtower quotations for the "overlapping generation" doctrine from it's very inception .could you please help ?.

  www.jwdoctrine.com.

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  kaik

  1914+115=2029. They can pull this cr.p for another decade to claim the generation that will never die.
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  26

  Who are the Players in the Ukraine crisis

  by designs in

  1. social
  2. current

  interesting shout down occured in eastern ukraine between two factions of the christian orthodox following a deadly shoot out.. ukrainian orhtodox leader patriarch filerat condemned putin and company as being against god's will while pro russia patriarch kirill spoke of the west trying to destroy holy russia.. like the syrian war there are multiple players adn complex agendas.

  how do you see the political landscape changing depending on who prevails..

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• 

  kaik

  Russian Orthodox church is very reactionary and extremely nationalistic church which see itself as a spiritual leader of Russia and its leaders as a protector. There is nothing unusual in Russia where Orthodox priests bless skinheads to attack people from Caucasus, westerners, etc. Ukriane Orhodox church differs from Russian, it was heavily influenced by Catholic church and western Ukriane has is considered Greek Catholic church, which is blend between traditional Catholic Church and Greek. They also have specific good relationship with Rome. Ukraine church was never national as were Serbian or Russian, and they never had a protector like king or tzar. Ukraine church is based on medieval Kievan Rus which was cross-road between Central European Christianity and Byzantine Empire until its conquest by Mongol. Russian church developed from it, but it was isolated until 18th century from most of the foreigner thinking. Kievan Rus was influenced by Latin thinking and until 1450's it was considered as a part of the Western Christendom. During the council in Basil or Konstanz in 15th century, there were regular requests for Kievan patriarchs to attend by several Central European catholic leaders.

  Unfortunatelly, Ukraine is failed state and it been well predicted since 1990's that country will face a civil war. Ukraine-Russian relationship are often compared to Serbo-Croat antagonism, only to be supressed by lack of national awakening in Ukraine. I think this is already happening, and Ukraine will be in the mist of the full scale invasion from Russia. As someone who lived post 1968 Czechoslovakia occupied by Soviet forces, Russia is playing the same scenario as it did during Prague Spring. It will stirr problems, occupy the country and incorporated to its empire. Question is where Russia will stop and I am sure their goal is taking over of entire Europe. In the past 200 years Russia occupied every country east of Paris. Every Slavic country was invaded by Russia since Napoleon. During the 1970's there was a joke under communism where teacher asks children to tell them which country Russia neighbors them. .. the answer was whatever country they feel like to. West is too naive to to think Putin will stop with Kiev.