I know you do. It makes me very sad as well as it is, after all, my home country and where all my family live. I don't remember it being like this when I lived there. Has it changed that much in 15 years or did I have blinders on before?
Guns- Putting it in perspective in my real world.
- Thread starter Underock1
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I know you do. It makes me very sad as well as it is, after all, my home country and where all my family live. I don't remember it being like this when I lived there. Has it changed that much in 15 years or did I have blinders on before?
Same here. No reason to worry due to the area I live in. It would be different if I was in a big city.
In the US my sister and at least two of her kids have alarm systems on their houses. And they live in suburbs, not a big city. I doubt any have guns.
Warrigal
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:grin: You can try Underock but once started these topics tend to develop a will of their own, like rogue robots. They can ignore their creator, even turn on him with ferocious intent.
Underock1
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QuickSilver
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Yes... I agree... the last 15 years and particularly the last 8.... It seems like the combination punch of 9/11 and the election of a Black president really did some damage to our national psyche for some reason...
QuickSilver
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So let's examine that for a minute.. 9/11 was the first time the US was attacked in on our own soil. At least such a major attack. Other countries, particularly Europe understood more what that is like.. SO... it was the first time that many Americans realized that we were hated so much by a culture.. ie.... Islamic extremists. Up until that time.. the vast majority believed the entire world adored us.. and wanted to be just like us... and envied us... and so on. It was a rude awakening to be sure. To top that off.. these people were "different"... they had an "odd" religion and odd names.. They weren't "like" us. and they used methods of warfare that was completely foreign to us.. Sneak attacks and covert operations.. Odd weapons too... airplanes.. or who knew what else. So.. Americans had the option of arming themselves and they did... paranoia set in.. How could our huge military protect us from THAT?
Enter Barack HUSEIN Obama... Not only was his name odd... he was BLACK!! OMG... two of White America's biggest fears rolled into one. Not only did racism come into play... but Islamophobia... because anyone with a name like that simply had to be one of "Them"... So started the campaign to paint Obama in that light. One of "THEM".... Black..... Muslim.... was is a surprise that people believed he was coming to get them? Coming to take their guns for whatever nefarious reasons.. Conspiracy theories sprung up like mushrooms and gun sales skyrocketed.. Of course none of that was or is true.. but in reality something like 62% of republicans believe some of it, or all of it. . Is it a wonder that the crazies are feeding into this national psychosis and acting out? Particularly with the easy availability of guns.. ?
QS, that's it in a nutshell. I've been accused here of being anti-American. But if I still lived there I'd be allowed to say the same things. I was a blind patriot when I lived there, but the blinders came off when I moved across the pond. I'm not anti US but anti all the crap that has and is going on there.
QuickSilver
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It embarrasses me as well... In fact.. I've been told on this forum that I should perhaps leave the US if I hated it so... Fact is... I LOVE my country and would like to see her be better.. That's not hating America... that's loving it.
Ditto. Same here. I hate what is happening to it and want to be a great country again.
For my perspective, it is not Obama the 'black man' that is the problem at all. Race has not been a problem since he arrived.
But the way he has run our government with not much done through the Congress and the ever increasing debts that so many see and worry about. His mishandling of our Constitution and the ways we are supposed to be living within the US. Those are some of the problems that have folks ready for someone less ready to destroy what over 200 years of experience have brought us. Some of Obama's ideas run from the federal government are supposed to have been run by the states if they wanted them, or ignored by the states.
So it is not that he is a 'black man' at all, just the way he is operating outside the limits of the Constitution. He has shown himself to be a poor leader for the US.
Looking forward to next year and the election as then, hopefully, we will have a real leader for the US take over. Either party will do, just as long as they take us back into the Constitutional ways that helped the US to stay strong for over 200 years.
If you believe that race is worse now than it was before Obama became President, you have a twisted mind for sure.
Jackie22
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Just the fact that President Obama is not given credit for his accomplishments by so many is due to simple racism...IMO.
He does get credit for what he has done correctly. He does also get blamed for his poor attention to the budget and the gross debt he has allowed to develop, as the public does give credit or blame to all politicians in this country.
It is not racist at all.
Shalimar
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Not wishing to further stir the pot, but purely in the interest of fairness, I would like to remind certain recent posters that shortly after the Phil/Shali/QS/ upset on this thread, QS posted an apology. I also apologise for any hurt my words may have caused. In the heat of the moment, none of us are perfect. Pax, and let us try for a new understanding among friends.:love_heart:
QuickSilver
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Thank you Shali.... I really don't know why some are so eager to stir up trouble... Boring lives perhaps... So again I apologize for having lost my temper... We all have our sensitive issues... that is mine... I will try in the future to not let that color my responses..
In addition, anyone speaking to our friend Phil.... tell him I shall be happy to accept HIS apology and will gladly re-extend mine..
QuickSilver
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Shalimar
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Jeez, even in the isolated Great White North, we come out of our igloos, mush the dogs, and marvel in the dark at how having a black President illustrates just how close to the surface racism lurks among certain segments of America.
Will I ever press the 'Send' button at the end of these words?
.... the answer turns out to be NO...
Instead of the words I wanted to say, let me say this.
Since 1998, my wife and I have spent six months each year living in the States, and we love the country and the people.
We tried to take up citizenship, but because we are white Europeans, this is not possible.
... Had we been off-white, things would have been so much easier.
Yes, there are some things wrong with the States, but you are a democratic country that shines a bright light around the world. You are an example of what can be achieved with your national pride.
You are a proud nation. Never allow anybody to take away that pride or your freedom.
.... the answer turns out to be NO...
Instead of the words I wanted to say, let me say this.
Since 1998, my wife and I have spent six months each year living in the States, and we love the country and the people.
We tried to take up citizenship, but because we are white Europeans, this is not possible.
... Had we been off-white, things would have been so much easier.
Yes, there are some things wrong with the States, but you are a democratic country that shines a bright light around the world. You are an example of what can be achieved with your national pride.
You are a proud nation. Never allow anybody to take away that pride or your freedom.
QuickSilver
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- Midwest
The fact that we can have these debates and are free to speak our minds is part of the greatness... We are after all one big dysfunctional family..
Shalimar
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You bet, QS, with foreign relations. Lolololol.
Shalimar
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- Vancouver Island Canada
Hey, we are mixed nuts, in a good way. Lolololol.
Good Post, Hanfonius. 
In my opinion, I think the anti gun group are the ones spreading paranoia, such as gun owners are killers waiting to happen, because they are following their constitutional right to own guns. Most gun owners are law abiding citizens....it's the criminals that need to be stopped. Gun free zones are turning into kill zones. They are letting criminals and mentally unbalanced people know there are vulnerable people inside. How many people would post a sign outside their home advertising it's a gun free zone?
In my opinion, I think the anti gun group are the ones spreading paranoia, such as gun owners are killers waiting to happen, because they are following their constitutional right to own guns. Most gun owners are law abiding citizens....it's the criminals that need to be stopped. Gun free zones are turning into kill zones. They are letting criminals and mentally unbalanced people know there are vulnerable people inside. How many people would post a sign outside their home advertising it's a gun free zone?