no, i havent been in the military - i went to some lengths to avoid national service, but that doesn't mean i'm not entitled to an opinion.

the soldiers are not protecting us, they are blowing up peasants thousands of miles away. i can't be bothered to get into one now, but it suffices to say that i do not agree with the agendas which they are choosing to fight for, and i would rather take a bullet to the head than to be shooting people for the us and uk governments.

I believe the exact opposite. I am thrilled that the U.S. is finally formulating statutes for "hate crimes," and I think shutting up racists (and shutting down racist groups) is worth everyone's time and energy and money.

I agree 100% & I think the parents should be liable.

I agree.

Our military presence in the Middle East clearly has nothing to do with protecting our freedoms (except maybe to drive gas-guzzlers/petrol-pigs) and evidently has nothing to do with 9-11. However, I have no problem fighting & killing if we are attacked on our own shore, and I'll admit to wishing that we could have rounded up Bin Laden and others responsible for 9-11.

I also feel that people who have not been in the military are entitled to have an opinion about it!

As Jack Nicholson stated in "A Few Good Men"...stand a post.

I also have not been in the military, but I don't call our soldiers murderers....I believe them to be doing what they believe is right for their country. Everyone can have an opinion..and that, folks is MY OPINION.

Blessings,

Emilie

I agree with this.
There is usually a proviso, though, and I think that symbols - even offensive ones ~ should be up for discussion.

Maybe this is what Yowo means ~ not sure ~ that the idea that 'Islam is of the Devil' should be up for discussion, and not conmpletely banned from conversations.

However, putting this slogan on the T shirts of children, and then sending them to school, is not opening a debate, it is simply behaving badly. It is being cruel ~ cruel to his own children, and to any Muslim children.

I think that it was right that the children were sent home to change ~ and right that they weren't expelled. It's not their fault that their father behaves like this ~ and now they may learn tolerance at this school. Hopefully the parents will get some education, too.

Yes, a subject with many opinions. We shall need a new thread for them, though.

The Modern Military
http://www.wineintro.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=383109&#Post383109

PDM, we won't need a new thread. My opinion is just that and I don't wish to take folks of course from this topic. I have nothing relevant to add anyway, so please continue on course.

Blessings,

Emilie

I think that's a good idea, since several posts (my own included) were veering off-topic a bit and slso since it's an interesting topic in and of itself.

Nicely put.

completely disagree.

before nazi's viled swastika, it has been used for thousands of years by different civilizations - esp in India. (swastika is associated with well-being - goodness for everybody)

last 100 years should not blind our thoughts about Swastika. please do not say it is inherently insulting - it is not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika

in UK ?

I did not know it is compulsory.