TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - I'm not mad at Bush for invading, but the poor planning

Dr G · 04-28-2004, 05:46 PM

I really was going to stay out of this one for a number of reasons. But as I spent about a year in the middle east [Bahrain, Karachi, Abadan, Kuwait, etc.] some time ago, I became interested in their culture [especially the bedouin arab [3 groups - fallahin=farmers, beledin=city folks, and bedouin=desert merchants - very different sorts of folks - just like here], religion, politics, etc.

The thought that they can agree [or even be forced to agree] on any subject is hilarious. They represent, although in the current state of affairs much reduced, an incredible people who have brought to the world a number of things we sometimes overlook. For a "short" list of English words that are Arabic in origin, try

http://www.zompist.com/arabic.html

While you are at it, consider the ideas behind those words and the difficulty in originating them.

It is a tragic commentary on current society that we are currently engaged in war in Iraq BUT at this point [regardless of any opinion I or anyone else might have] a little less petty whining about the press, politics, whatever--- might be more helpful than not.

If you are distressed with life in the United States, Canada, etc. where your life is pretty much removed from the risk of immediate death; where you can gripe about almost anything [however irrelevant it may be], and where you can generally sleep soundly at night --- get real, take a trip to Iraq.

At least one of our brother members is doing just that at the expense of the government. One of the interesting things about the military is that they have not only "plan A", but "plan B" and so on, ad infinitum. [It is a part of being military]

Maybe, when it is all over we can place blame, etc., but in the meantime we all might do well to think before we shoot off our mouths.

04-28-2004, 05:46 PM	#31 (permalink)
Dr G Pianissimo User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 147	I really was going to stay out of this one for a number of reasons. But as I spent about a year in the middle east [Bahrain, Karachi, Abadan, Kuwait, etc.] some time ago, I became interested in their culture [especially the bedouin arab [3 groups - fallahin=farmers, beledin=city folks, and bedouin=desert merchants - very different sorts of folks - just like here], religion, politics, etc. The thought that they can agree [or even be forced to agree] on any subject is hilarious. They represent, although in the current state of affairs much reduced, an incredible people who have brought to the world a number of things we sometimes overlook. For a "short" list of English words that are Arabic in origin, try http://www.zompist.com/arabic.html While you are at it, consider the ideas behind those words and the difficulty in originating them. It is a tragic commentary on current society that we are currently engaged in war in Iraq BUT at this point [regardless of any opinion I or anyone else might have] a little less petty whining about the press, politics, whatever--- might be more helpful than not. If you are distressed with life in the United States, Canada, etc. where your life is pretty much removed from the risk of immediate death; where you can gripe about almost anything [however irrelevant it may be], and where you can generally sleep soundly at night --- get real, take a trip to Iraq. At least one of our brother members is doing just that at the expense of the government. One of the interesting things about the military is that they have not only "plan A", but "plan B" and so on, ad infinitum. [It is a part of being military] Maybe, when it is all over we can place blame, etc., but in the meantime we all might do well to think before we shoot off our mouths.