tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post338850387416405060..comments2024-03-26T00:37:34.943+01:00Comments on Venezuela News And Views: September 11 2012, a letter to my North American friendsDanielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-73832143241247889262012-10-02T18:08:19.011+02:002012-10-02T18:08:19.011+02:00I think it is better for both of us that I do not ...I think it is better for both of us that I do not reply.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-26784659961289141202012-10-02T14:54:20.034+02:002012-10-02T14:54:20.034+02:00BT:What I find amusing are the contortions you und...BT:<i>What I find amusing are the contortions you undergo in this process.</i><br />Daniel: <i>In all honesty, after reading you twice I am not sure I got your point..... If there is more to it, please enlighten me.</i><br /><br />If your ideological blinkers are so strong that you are unable to perceive the contortions I pointed out in your recent statement on US foreign policy, there is not much I can do to further enlighten you. But regarding further proof of your contortions regarding US politics, I came across a recent Thugo quote: <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/30/us-venezuela-election-obama-idUSBRE88T0FE20120930" rel="nofollow">"I hope this doesn't harm Obama, but if I was from the United States, I'd vote for Obama."</a> You and Thugo have finally found something you can agree on!<br /><br />Regarding your three-pointed comment about my POV, you are spot-on on your first point. Your knowledge of US politics, while greater than most outside the US and inside the US, is not as great as you believe it. I am reminded of the old joke about Argentines: how do you get rich? Buy an Argentine for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth.<br /><br />The gap between what you think you know about the US and what you actually know about the US most likely occurs not because you are a furriner, but because you apparently get most of your news from yellow dog lib sources. Had you remained in a university environment in the US, instead of returning to Venezuela, <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2012/09/30/pat-caddell-press-has-become-threat-democracy-and-enemy-american-peop" rel="nofollow">the same would have probably occurred.</a> <br /><br /><br />At one point I did dislike you for making partisan, ignorant comments about US politics. I would have preferred your being more neutral. I changed from dislike to laughter when I read your recent comments on US foreign policy, compared with your previous- and current- support of Obama. Someone for whom I never voted put it well: "There you go again."<br /><br />But as a read on Venezuela, you are well worth the time. For example, your previous electoral predictions have been rather good. Your narratives give a good feel for what it is like to be on the ground in 2012 Venezuela. As Charlie Parker once said, "the stories, the stories."<br /><br />Ironically, my time working in Venezuela was pivotal in changing me from a yellow dog lib into what I would term Post Liberal. In an Anaco cafe- it was not a bookstore-I purchased a copy of Carlos Rangel's <i>Del Buen Salvaje al Buen Revolucionario.</i> The book helped articulate the contrasts between the "progressive" catechism about Latin America I had picked up at university and what I saw on the ground in Latin America.<br />Boludo Tejanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-437417965645458662012-09-24T05:38:30.615+02:002012-09-24T05:38:30.615+02:00You seem to have implied that Obama was appeasing....You seem to have implied that Obama was appeasing. Thus I imagined you wanted a stronger response, of a military nature. Maybe nuking was too strong, but the real point was: what is it you propose.<br /><br />By the way, since this thread started the Lybian government has taken actions, justifying perhaps the patience of the US.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-4314872517064767412012-09-22T19:37:41.760+02:002012-09-22T19:37:41.760+02:00why would you even think that is an option ?
why w...why would you even think that is an option ?<br />why would you imply that is what I thought ?<br /><br />You're better than that <br /><br />JJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-82387164749948213472012-09-22T19:34:39.863+02:002012-09-22T19:34:39.863+02:00you are in need of rehabyou are in need of rehabAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-64694085481110195292012-09-16T22:41:43.570+02:002012-09-16T22:41:43.570+02:00And what else would you nuke once they nuked Saint...And what else would you nuke once they nuked Saint Peter's square? Get a grip!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-26731297400804011392012-09-16T04:10:30.241+02:002012-09-16T04:10:30.241+02:00Not Benghazzi; I'd start with Mecca.Not Benghazzi; I'd start with Mecca.Span Owshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10144861546996033462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-18704405895698728942012-09-16T00:40:18.955+02:002012-09-16T00:40:18.955+02:00And what do you suggest? Nuke Benghazzi?
And what do you suggest? Nuke Benghazzi?<br />Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-63839084421991923102012-09-15T17:33:10.227+02:002012-09-15T17:33:10.227+02:00What Bush ruined , Obama buried
USA is weak , as...What Bush ruined , Obama buried <br /><br />USA is weak , as exemplified by the events of this past week in Egypt , Sudan , Tunisia and Yemen <br /><br />The White House and State Department responses are a disgrace , the apologizing , the appeasement <br /><br />Obama makes Jimmy Carter look like a stand-up guy --- he is a fool and History will judge him on all his failures , especially these weak actions , even as the Liberal Media bends over backwards to make him look goodJJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-30343498166939433662012-09-14T13:53:26.355+02:002012-09-14T13:53:26.355+02:00The whole argument of whether or not the yearly co...The whole argument of whether or not the yearly convocation / honoring of the victims of 9/11 is nonsensical in my opinion.<br /><br />1. Honoring and remembering are NOT necessarily the same as grieving. Most people are not grieving they are honoring<br /><br />2 Nobody knows how long it takes individuals to overcome the loss of loved ones in the tragedy.I might see the need for emotional healing, whereas some else might not, and this is a personal choice.<br /><br />3. Coming together in a Memorial service is often very healing for those who felt a personal loss.It can form part of the healing process itself.<br /><br />4. Coming together as a Nation is good for cohesion<br /><br />5. Comparing the meaning of one loss with another makes no sense.We cannot put a dollar or cents sign, or a number on an emotional impact. Emotions are irrational,and cannot be treated in a rational way most of the time.Some people can, most cannot.<br /><br />6.Most people are not able to react to your post, in a rational way....thus you can see what I mean about<br /> the futility of applying rationality to the irrational.<br /><br /><br />Therein lies the basic reason that Politics are so misleading, and so fundamentally damaging<br /><br />firepigettefirepighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158275219887987252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-40945895593614014492012-09-14T05:55:30.243+02:002012-09-14T05:55:30.243+02:00JUVENILE! Thank you! You made my day!JUVENILE! Thank you! You made my day!Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-68941274632434016732012-09-14T05:54:29.715+02:002012-09-14T05:54:29.715+02:00In all honesty, after reading you twice I am not s...In all honesty, after reading you twice I am not sure I got your point besides a "you know nothing about the US and I don't like you, and a very possible you really suck". If there is more to it, please enlighten me.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-23543748896624765592012-09-13T20:33:44.455+02:002012-09-13T20:33:44.455+02:00Daniel:
...as the GOP is evolving, the less likel...Daniel: <br /><i>...as the GOP is evolving, the less likely it is I will vote for them.</i><br /><br />!Que bolas! Now you are a US citizen. So you now travel around with THREE passports? What a howler.<br /><br />Daniel:<br /><i>You are going to get over it: as the GOP is evolving, the less likely it is I will vote for them.</i><br /><br />Au contraire , I have long accepted that in looking at US politics, you most resemble a yellow dog lib. Were you a US citizen, you would no more vote for a Pub than you would vote for Thugo in Venezuela. That is a given. Given your living inside the university bubble in the US, I suppose this was inevitable.<br /><br />As far as I can tell, your thinking goes like this: Thugo→Jesse Helms→ anyone who has the effrontery to disagree with a lib.<br /><br /> I accept as a given that in terms of US politics you are , in effect, a yellow dog lib. What I find amusing are the contortions you undergo in this process. Really, Daniel, you are quite entertaining. Your position in this thread can be summarized thusly: "I am upset enough at the 'watching your navel' approach to foreign policy of the Obama administration to condemn this approach in my essay on US foreign policy, yet were I a US citizen, I would still vote for Obama in 2012."<br /><br />Te hacés payaso. <br /><br />Please keep writing about the US, Daniel. I can always use a comedy break.<br />Boludo Tejanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-9182750258342856182012-09-13T16:34:17.554+02:002012-09-13T16:34:17.554+02:00Deep breath taken. Ahhh...Thanks! But look! In spi...Deep breath taken. Ahhh...Thanks! But look! In spite of that deep breath, your posting is still a deliberately insensitive, juvenile piece of provocation, saturated with embarrassing delusions of intellectualism. I wouldn't recommend that you take a deep breath just yet. The stench of deteriorating relevance must be powerful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-28994098131190005172012-09-12T23:56:05.314+02:002012-09-12T23:56:05.314+02:00WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Martin Dempsey, the...WASHINGTON (Reuters) - General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with Pastor Terry Jones by phone on Wednesday and asked him to withdraw his support for a film whose portrayal of the Prophet Mohammad has sparked violent protests - including one that ended with the death of America's envoy to Libya. "In the brief call, Gen. Dempsey expressed his concerns over the nature of the film, the tensions it will inflame and the violence it will cause," Dempsey's spokesman, Colonel Dave Lapan, told Reuters. "He asked Mr. Jones to consider withdrawing his support for the film." U.S. military officials are concerned that the film could inflame tensions in Afghanistan, where 74,000 U.S. troops are fighting. The Taliban earlier on Wednesday called on Afghans to prepare for a fight against Americans and urged insurgents to "take revenge" on U.S. soldiers over the film.<br /><br />I would call this "bullying" by the U.S. govt against those who criticize Islam.LThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10506645156280694428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-70402165833969344252012-09-12T21:17:13.440+02:002012-09-12T21:17:13.440+02:00I think you need to take a deep breath.I think you need to take a deep breath.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-89538039646231596362012-09-12T21:15:42.463+02:002012-09-12T21:15:42.463+02:00Syd, then again we should never forget the media f...Syd, then again we should never forget the media feeding frenzy which is at the heart of some of the misunderstandings in this thread. Media likes to have issues to revive for slow days....<br /><br />Maybe Kepler below is right, I have become a mere charming provincial in Yaracuy, woefully uninformed of what happens in the world and what is adequate to grieve on or to forget....Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-50738423552546091872012-09-12T21:12:54.561+02:002012-09-12T21:12:54.561+02:00Syd
Of course, there are things one never gets ov...Syd<br /><br />Of course, there are things one never gets over. They are called personal tragedies for one reason.... I have them, of course.<br /><br />But making a national tragedy your own personal one even if you were not directly affected is another thing.<br /><br />Remember that my hobby numero uno is history and I always see things in historical context. So perhaps I am ready to bring down 9/11 to its just measure whereas most people are not. I can see why this can come across as insensitive and I apologize because it is not my intention. But my point is still valid even if not acceptable.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-65881045554835812412012-09-12T21:07:19.844+02:002012-09-12T21:07:19.844+02:00Ahem... Free will is a judeo christian concept an...Ahem... Free will is a judeo christian concept and probably the only religion that embraces it in full (though many in the clergy think it should be otherwise).Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-51648218770638197672012-09-12T21:05:54.583+02:002012-09-12T21:05:54.583+02:00Yes Kepler, you flushed me out. I know nothing.Yes Kepler, you flushed me out. I know nothing.Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12128609182544333477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-5217897795366569622012-09-12T19:33:50.735+02:002012-09-12T19:33:50.735+02:00Well, let's don't play Who Has More Pain i...Well, let's don't play Who Has More Pain in Their History. It's a no-win spiral to the bottom. But c'com, you honestly don't think a blog of this nature posted ON September 11 isn't deliberately inflammatory? You aren't shallow, although masking something so offensive as this as innocent political commentary, is. It's also disingenuous to pretend otherwise. Just like the mediocre, cretinous "filmmaker" and the twice-born, hell-bound Florida preacher deliberately poked the "eternally offended" muslim hornets' nest, WANTING to provoke the violent response in the middle east that murdered our ambassador, you deliberately chose the most offensive possible date to air your this-time very shallow commentary. Keep me posted on the appropriate date that we should "get over" Ambassador Steven's death. Will you let us know on the anniversary of his slaughter, or perhaps his birthday? His wedding anniversary? You see my point...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-68171780845978905072012-09-12T18:30:05.550+02:002012-09-12T18:30:05.550+02:00I wouldn´t say that I've perceived hate agains...I wouldn´t say that I've perceived hate against the US in Europe in general. What I have seen in my admittedly very informal observations is that European people tend to view the US as a kind of strange place, where weird things happen, and weird laws are enforced. I guess it has to do with TV seldom missing the chance to show some wacky news from the US. I always tell people that in a very televised land of 300 million, wacky stuff is bound to happen and to be televised for all the world to see, and that I don't think there are necessarily more wacky news from the US than the world average, but rather that we are shown more of it on TV. But more seriously, the recent wars and the role of Wall Street in the financial crisis I believe are two big factors promoting indifference about the US among the average European.Césarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10179783094054311399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-64293818246931124832012-09-12T17:28:24.612+02:002012-09-12T17:28:24.612+02:00Kepler,
Often, different people come to different... Kepler,<br /><br />Often, different people come to different conclusions because they are starting with different premises. So examining all the premises of each argument is a good place to start.<br /><br />I don't think invalidating a persons background is a good place to start.It actually creates a fallacious argument.If we were to do that, your lack of experience living in the US as an adult would certainly disqualify your expertise on the matter.<br /><br />Sticking always to the Al Jazeera version of reality of the Middle East does not constitute a valid point either.<br /><br /> You said: "it seems your stay in the US and later your isolation in Yaracuy have left you with a particularly tunnel vision of the world."<br /><br /><br />Going back in history to past grudges to justify present attitudes is very artificial because who can arbitrarily choose the cut off point? Kepler? or Al Jazeera ?firepighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158275219887987252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-35059895034978971652012-09-12T16:44:17.328+02:002012-09-12T16:44:17.328+02:00And now we are enjoying the results of Libyan and ...And now we are enjoying the results of Libyan and Egyptian muslim extremists who obviously fear freedom of speech; therefore we should forget 9/11! I will not broad brush stroke all of Islam as a bunch of loonies whose only intent is to win converts through fear to their way of understanding a right relationship with God. These extremists bring discredit to any intelligent person's search for truth. If we accept that God is omnipotent, we cannot accept that the only way to Him is through fear. He doesn't want it nor need it. To understand omnipotence is to accept that free will is at the very center of God's relationship with His creation. If He forces us to accept Him, He does not need to be omnipotent. We therefore have the freedom to reject Him. However, we will never be outside His influence.Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4080946.post-27837416177026172992012-09-12T16:39:56.392+02:002012-09-12T16:39:56.392+02:00Ann,Perhaps some might consider it rude as well th...Ann,Perhaps some might consider it rude as well that Anonymous was indulging in some pretty heavy, and unadulterated psfery.firepighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15158275219887987252noreply@blogger.com