Pat Oliphant for September 02, 2011

Saw this type thing in the middle east for over 7 years. I have found that if you stand in front of them you will be safe.

Same thing was happening in Afghanistan.

Then we showed up.

the crips? bloods?

I thought it was the Left talking with the ones that disagrees with them.

Remember Tombstone, Arizona, and the image of the “old west”?? If the “movie heros” had really existed, and the gunplay depicted, nobody would have gotten west of St. Louis.

Yup. In much of the world, including, unfortunately, our own Teabagger Land, democracy is defined as two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch. There isn’t even a word for “compromise” in their language.

In the strict sense you are correct, of course,and I am perpetuating a myth about several languages, but as a figurative statement and a practical matter…

Good stuff to think about……………..(ouch)

While that is an Arab saying, I think it speaks to a larger truth about human nature. I think a reasonable explanation for our current state of political infighting and gridlock could be the end of the Soviet Union. Its fall and our becoming the only superpower may very well have removed a critical driver of our willingness to cooperate with one another. An interesting short story by Howard Fast in “Time and the Riddle” is all about this issue.

And the beat goes on.

Bush, Obama, who can tell the difference when it comes to foreign policy that is dictated by the barrel of a gun?

It’s unbelievable that in the 21st century there’s still countries being torn apart by tribal conflicts. Could you imaging Scotland or Ireland being divided by feuding clans? China being unsettled by regional warlords? It’s medieval.

thisisretarded, “tribalism” isn’t restricted to those places where tribes and/or clans are still defining terms. If you include “sectarian” violence, you can include Ireland in your list of divided nations, at least well into the 20th Century (although currently it’s not as bad as it has sometimes been).

Racial divides, religious divides, regional divides, cultural divides, ideological divides, wherever a line is drawn separating people into “Us” and “Them”, there’ll always be the potential for violent conflict and a struggle for primacy. I suspect the only hope is for everyone to understand that EVERYBODY is “Us”, that the Stranger (whether close at hand or far away) has as much claim on our commonality as our cousins, our brothers, even ourselves.

Actually this is a DNC meeting circa 2008, Obama tribe vs Clinton tribe, which you should prepare for again next year.

I’ve got an idea. Why don’t they all share in the ruling. Each tribe sends a member to be part of a council that rules.

wish that were true. When I think of Democrats and guns, I think of Jarred Laughner. Mark Chapman. John Hinkley. Vince Foster. The list is longer, but the point is that there’s an inconvenient list of Democrats associated with guns. Actually, my real point is more ominous. If something untimely happens to the current President before the next election, experienced minds will suspect the latent Machiavellian machinations of the Clintons.

Remember the ending of “Lawrence of Arabia” ?

Islam is a culture of death and blood-shed. The only order that they understand is an iron boot standing on their throats, and the boot has been removed. What do you expect to happen once that happens?

Believe it or not, people learn from the past. Otherwise, we would still be tribes fighting in Europe, too. What makes you think they can’t?I actually listened to some of the NTC fighers and bloggers and I was impressed. A few weeks ago, a phone interview of one of Ghadaffi’s sons (who was supposed to have been surrenered) was cut short. People feared he was dead, I didn,t hear anyone saying ‘’Good riddance’’ or anything like that, they wanted him to be tried in a court of law.

Sea of Glass, people. I know it’s distasteful to some, but it’s really the only way to solve the problem…

Sad with all the finger pointing, name calling, and accusations to really know (while trying to ignore) that your political party is just as bad if not worse than those you condemn. tsk!

Our foreign policy isn’t just dictated by the barrel of a gun. That’s just ignorant.

No, crazy is continuing to appease these animals and thinking it will change because you want it to…