Oh please, I'm feeling a little sick...
In short, this thread is a whole lot of wank. Sure Get Real has some tenacity and defends his position and opinions very well, but that does not mean that his opinions are not flawed or erroneous in many respects. Posting a few links from factual sources is only part of it but when you unfairly criticize or target certain countries or attempt cheap and nasty methods of taking "pot shots" at those countries, then that is where
credibility is lost.Most members have done this from time to time. The countries that seem to be targeted are US, UK, Israel and there might be some others that can be included. Turkey I leave out because it is only natural and to be expected that the country that continues to occupy RoC Sovereign territory will be treated harshly by Cypriots in particular.
This is not to say that people can't criticize in a fair manner any country they like, as long as it is done in a fair and equitable manner and that they honestly feel there is reason to do so. For example, one may wish to criticize US Foreign Policy, or Israel's treatment of Palestinians, new illegal settlements and its abuse of Human Rights and International Law. All that is fine, but when people let their prejudices, passion, or personal feelings get in the way and unfairly come up with erroneous conclusions which they
supposedly cross reference against Legal Documents and Conventions to unfairly criticize a country because of their hatred whilst not taking into account any valid considerations, then their credibility is at stake. An example was recent discussion involving America's Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People expressing disgust or their disagreement over the enormous loss of life is absolutely fine. I am sure that even the very people that dropped those bombs have similar feelings. They are human too, and regret would surely weigh heavily on their minds throughout their life. But saying it was a violation of International Law is quite another thing. Also, there was a lack of in depth consideration at the repercussions of not swiftly ending the war or the subsequent mounting death toll that will result from a full scale invasion of Japan. This is just one example.
But in summary, I feel that some countries are unfairly treated due to a lack of in depth analysis and basically because some people will look for any opportunity to criticize certain countries quite unfairly just for the hell of it. Expressing opinions about certain things is not the issue, and not to be confused with this at all.
Shnauzer,
welcome back!
Your thread is flawed for a number of reasons. Firstly, Get Real is not the only person to provide factual analysis on this forum and defend values and opinions in a tenacious fashion. There are many more who do the same.
But he IS a person that expresses his disdain of those countries mentioned above. You could say that some is warranted, but this is not the case every single time.
But since he agrees with your village Cypriot mentality of criticizing the US, Israel et al even when the analysis is flawed or criticism is not deserved, then that is a
reflection on both you just like it is when someone sees it fit to open threads about a mythical Jew from London, who did certain things to warrant him being thrown overboard in the Thames with cement boots.
Then, you shamelessly attribute the "The Sun" to all those that do not wish to jump on your band wagon. Well, that is most ridiculous because in this day and age, most younger people get their news online from alternative sources such as Al Jazeera, The Onion, Huffington Post etc. Murdoch is just one facet, but the internet has allowed millions to gain a very informed analysis of what is occurring around the world and they are intelligent enough to form opinions one way or the other. But effectively,
you are saying that those that do not agree with your analysis and opinions are automatically "Sun" readers. Well, that is OK Schnauzer, but since we are playing that game, then allow me to say that both you and Get Real should stick to reading
Women's Weekly and that both of you should stay out of politics because it is not a game where either one of you can come along and mouth off just because you don't like America or view them as "evil".
You need to have clever and factual analysis, and where warranted your credibility increases when you are both capable of also attributing some credit to the many good things they may be responsible for. For example, many Afghans do in fact appreciate the good that has been achieved in parts of Afghanistan by getting rid of the Taliban. Life has and is still improving for regular Afghan citizens without the Taliban and those Afghans are most appreciative. This of course is highly subjective, but it does not absolve anyone from analyzing the situation on the ground in a fair manner.
Basically, since Miltiades is absent, let me just say:
THAT YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF PLONKERS who believe politics is like a football match.
You talk about America this and America that. Amerikanothaktilo and so forth. Some of you talk about the Brits in the same fashion. Israel too.
But all of you have no right to be playing Russian Roulette and just so that we are clear, I hold your generations personally responsible for the current occupation in Cyprus, and my generations and others that follow have to try and clean up the messy legacy YOUR generations left behind all because you are all too bloody stupid (Makarios + AKEL) to keep your personal feelings out of politics and behave in a manner that has just one sole purpose in the interests of the RoC.
IDIOTS, the lot of you!
