Army: serve or not?

College Confidential Community
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<p>"Akash, plz, help me here with Israel and Palestine.. I see everyone here is American, except you.. they're too biased"</p>

<p>Theyre not biased,just unaware.Stardragon,I disagree with a lot of ur posts in this thread,but the fact is that the compulsary military service in Israel is not really successful.Also,Israel is relly mistreating the Palestinians.And I know this bcoz I stayed for a month In Israel just before the breakout of the Intifada.</p>

<p>"How dare you blame us for terrorism in the world?"
Hipoodrome,this is because a certain Osama Bin Laden was among the thousands of Mujahideen trained by USA to fight in Afghanistan against USSR.Because after the conflict ended,the USA quickly withdrew,leaving a lot of weapons in the hand of these ppl,who later became the Taliban and were also responsible for terrorism in Kashmir.Because the USA propped up a certain Saddam Hussein in order to battle with Iran.</p>

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<p>Stardragon,I disagree with a lot of ur posts in this thread</p>

<p>A lot, but not all.. I hope:)</p>

<p>Theyre not biased,just unaware</p>

<p>Yes, I so wonder how mass media in USA hides the truth from Americans: it misguides Israel situation, Saddam Hussein, Taliban, Bin Laden and so on. Americans don't want to believe that USA created terrorists, but lost control over them.</p>

<p>USA vainly defends Israel, and that's why Arabian world is against America. But only Israel needs it, neither USA, nor Arabs.</p>

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<p>The USA is not responsible for terrorism. Maybe we indirectly helped the terrorists 20 years ago, but we have spent gobs of money trying to suppress and protect other nations(including Russia) from this. </p>

<p>You are Russian, as you stated. So, how do you feel about the resent attack against young children in Beslan? Is it Russia's fault for not preventing this? Do you think that these terrorists are justified in killing 350 innocent children? Are your mind still so warped that you think that The Palestinians have a right to kill civilians for their cause. Can't you see that no one will ever negociate or want to help the Palestinians if they continue these heinous and dispicable crimes? </p>

<p>"Do you know why China will overpower America? Because they never give humanitarian help Give all this help your children. Or am I wrong that 30% of American children suffer from obsesity and so on? Why don't you want to help them?" </p>

<p>The fact that we suffer from obesity shows that we actually take care of our people, unlike China and Russia. We spend humanitarian aid on China. If you have ever visited, you would see large amounts of children in the streets, along with many beggars. Infants are abandoned in dumpsters and on railroads in China. China doesn't spend an adequate amount on helping it's own people. It's too stingy, and The United States not only helps its own citizens around the world, it promotes peace through stopping poverty. Maybe China will "overpower the US" like you said, but that's not our goal. We're the most powerful nation in the world. That doesn't mean that we want to take over. </p>

<p>"Don't you know that Mass Media in America is controlled by Jews and Israel? That's not crazy statement, remember about it. I like to analyze facts, not just retell them word by word."</p>

<p>Right. Thanks for that little factoid about how Israel secretly owns American media. O, and thanks for the evidence and analysis, also.</p>

<p>"I'm sorry that you think terrorists are Al-Qaeda"</p>

<p>I'm sorry that you are so brainwashed that you can't see that Al-Qaeda are terrorists!!!!</p>

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<p>"The USA is not responsible for terrorism. Maybe we indirectly helped the terrorists 20 years ago, but we have spent gobs of money trying to suppress and protect other nations(including Russia) from this."</p>

<p>USA is responsible for the short-sighted nature of its foreign policy.USA should spend those gobs of money on fighting terrorism,coz it arose out of their mistakes,and should not expect ther rest of the world to feel grateful to them for clearing up their own mistakes.</p>

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<p>so, stardragon, jews run the mass media. im not even jewish and i find that offensive. it nice to see that anti-semitism is mixing with innacurate interpretations of history very well over in russia. how about u worry a little more about putin turning u back into a quasi-communist autocracy rather than worrying about the "jews controlling the american mass media."</p>

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<p>Exactly, northrams. The US does have a Jewish population, but dragonstar acts like they're taking over the US or something.</p>

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<p>So, how do you feel about the resent attack against young children in Beslan? Is it Russia's fault for not preventing this? Do you think that these terrorists are justified in killing 350 innocent children?</p>

<p>This terroristic act was to exonerate the war in Chechnya, to exonerate anti-democratic reform of elective system in Russia. So it has a different character and aims. If you don't understand it, you are so narrow-minded that I begin to not trust all your words. </p>

<p>But I'm not afraid, and even don't think to do it. I don't take terrorism seriously, just because I see the nature of all these happening, as you don't see (at least you seem not to see).</p>

<p>Can't you see that no one will ever negociate or want to help the Palestinians if they continue these heinous and dispicable crimes?</p>

<p>Not at all. Why should anybody want to help them? They are legal inhabitants of that area. Palestine has been existing there for several thousand years, Jews - only 58 years, but already began so many wars and conflicts. Their religion is the only religion which lets kill all other people except Jews. I don't trust them, they bring only blood.</p>

<p>The fact that we suffer from obesity shows that we actually take care of our people, unlike China and Russia.</p>

<p>And why do so many druggers, alkoholics, smokers, suffering from cancer and AIDS exist in your country?? Because of your care?? At least in Russia, teenagers have much more normal health. We have many alkoholics. Yes, but if USA change so dramatically, there will be more drinkers than in Russia.
You spend your money against your country and people.</p>

<p>Right. Thanks for that little factoid about how Israel secretly owns American media. O, and thanks for the evidence and analysis, also.</p>

<p>Is it sarcasm?</p>

<p>..you are so brainwashed that you can't see that Al-Qaeda are terrorists..<--that's offensive.</p>

<p>And do you see it? so you're familiar personally with Bin Laden (I didn't know you're terrorist:)), or you personally visited Al-Qaeda bases and talked to their leader, or you personally saw the proofs of it in FBI headquarters?? Or you just trust the lie of American government?</p>

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<p>Dragonstar??</p>

<p>Originally! But what's the point?</p>

<p>I don't support completely neither USA nor Russia. Both countries did many mistakes, but we need to make our own conclusions of what's good and what's not.</p>

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<p>"And why do so many druggers, alkoholics, smokers, suffering from cancer and AIDS exist in your country?? Because of your care?? At least in Russia, teenagers have much more normal health. We have many alkoholics. Yes, but if USA change so dramatically, there will be more drinkers than in Russia.
You spend your money against your country and people."
-The United States population has about 10-12% of its population living below the poverty line. Russia, on the other hand, has over a quarter of its population living under the poverty line. Not only in pure numbers does Russia have more poverty in general, The United States cares for its citizens with welfair programs, scholarships, and many other programs like Habitat for Humanity.</p>

<p>Taken off of wikipedia.com(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living_in_the_United_States%5B/url%5D):"&gt;http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_of_living_in_the_United_States):&lt;/a>
"The standard of living in the United States is one of the highest in the world by almost any measure. On measures such as the UN Human Development Index the United States is always in the top ten. However, the United States is consistently ranked lower than Scandinavia, Canada, Australia, and Japan; Canada and Norway have alternately held the top spot for some time.</p>

<p>The United States measures better in certain categories than others. Americans are some of the wealthiest people in the world, with a very high GDP per capita. Americans are top in the world for most material possessions. The number of televisions, vehicles, and other such products per person are considerably higher than in any other country. For instance the United States has some 754 televisions for every thousand people, no other major state is even above 700, with Japan being closest at 680/1000.</p>

<p>The United States also consistently has one the lowest unemployment rates in the world, usually only beaten by Japan (which arguably has cultural advantages in this regard)."
-from wikepedia, the free encyclopedia</p>

<p>While the United States has room for improvement in domestic issues, it has far less problems than Russia. It is time that you start making statements with evidence to back them up, not just unfounded statements.</p>

<p>Again, I want you to answer my questions:</p>

<p>1) What news network do you watch?
2) Do you think the terrorists in Beslan were justified in killing 350 children, simply because of their cause-to exonerate the war in Chechnya, to exonerate anti-democratic reform of elective system in Russia?
3) Do you not think that Al-Qaeda, the organization led by Bin Laden, is a terroristic organization?</p>

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<p>Being a Russian as well (but one whose parents had the good sense to leave that cursed country in the dust and move to America), stardragon is just letting his anti-US, anti-Semitic Soviet notions shine through. The comments he's made on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are ridiculous - as if its Israel thats causing the entire problem. Its the Palestinian terrorists that are killing innocent people. There is a clear double standard in the world. Everyone is so quick to criticize Israel for trying to defend itself, yet no one lays any blame upon the Palestinians. </p>

<p>And who said that the terrorists were "freedom fighters"? Wow. What ridiculous comments. I really have nothing to say because if a person is this biased, there is no reasoning with him.</p>

<p>"Their religion is the only religion which lets kill all other people except Jews. I don't trust them, they bring only blood."</p>

<p>Wow. People, this right here is a living testament to anti-Semitism in Europe and Russia. Stardragon provides you with a clear picture of European views. This is the reason why so many Jews left Russia. You seem to have a lot of Russian pride. Russia will never be 1/10 of the country that the US is. Russia, in a thousand years, never developed their vast resources. In trying to fight the Cold War, they ruined their whole country economically. Stalin killed millions of his people and ruined the intellectual and military background of his country. The only reason it was successful in WWII was because they threw everyone they had into the front lines. You know there was only one rifle per 4 troops? Thats the country your proud of? You can stay there with your racist views.</p>

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<p>Amen! Bigjake, you are my hero!</p>

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<p>"Palestine has been existing there for several thousand years, Jews - only 58 years, but already began so many wars and conflicts." </p>

<p>Jews have also lived there for thousands of years. Israel as a STATE has existed for only 58 years. The Palestinians never even had a state. It seems to me like Jews have as much claim to the land as anyone. Jerusalem is THEIR city. And, seriously, where are you getting your information from? Jews have started so many conflicts? They barely got settled before all of the Arab countries started forming coalitions against them. What war have they started? They've been on the defense for 58 years.</p>

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<p>I want to say bigjake only two things (I have not time now):</p>

<p>1) I am NOT racist. I don't blame the man only because he/she is Jew. I criticize Israel state, but I've nothing against this nation. Absolutely nothing. Keep this in mind, making some of your statements. Really, I never heard that someone said me anti-semitist. No at all.</p>

<p>2) Bigjake, are you a jew?</p>

<p>oh, and Hippodrome. America is rich, no comments. But this doesn't mean that you have no problems at all.</p>

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<p>Thats the country your proud of?</p>

<p>Find the words, where I said I'm proud of my country!!!!!</p>

<p>You say beautiful expressions, but no proofs of them..
1) I never said "I'm proud of my country"?
2) I'm not racist or anti-semitist
3) Your statements are ridiculous
4) I will ignore your posts, coz you're offensive and rude.</p>

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<p>again, stardragon is clearly an anti-semite. why does it matter if bigjake is jewish? and why havent you addressed the factual basis behind ur claims that the jews run the mass media? living in a nation dominated by a propagandizing totalitarian government for decades you should have been taught by now to find some independent information to back up your opinions rather than swallowing party-line BS.</p>

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<p>I'm offensive and rude???</p>

<p>Oh i'm sorry for upsetting your racist emotions. </p>

<p>My statements are ridiculous??</p>

<p>As northrams pointed out, you're the one who said Jews run the mass media...thats as ridiculous a statement as any.</p>

<p>And I'm sorry if i don't find you impartial and not racist. I'm just going to post a few statements made by stardragon in no particular order here:</p>

<p>"Israeli soldiers kill children and casual pedestrians; Palestinian terrorists fight for their independence (as America did)..."</p>

<p>"Israel, once created, brings only war to the Middle East, bring new and new deaths. I'd like to cancel the decision of UN 1947 year."</p>

<p>"Their religion is the only religion which lets kill all other people except Jews. I don't trust them, they bring only blood."</p>

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<p>I particularly enjoy the second one, "I'd like to cancel the decision of UN 1947 year..."</p>

<p>I don't really understand what this implies. You want to throw all the Jews out of Israel and let the Palestinians take over a country that has already been developed for them by others? Please elaborate because I've never heard anyone say something like this before.</p>

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<p>So, as I understand, you have not found any words like "I'm proud of Russia"???</p>

<p>These words don't mean I'm anti-semitist, they reflect my political view. I can take back "I don't trust them", but all other words reflect nothing nazistic. </p>

<p>If you call me racist, what can you say about other Russians? Facists, nationalist and .... I'm the most liberal student in my region. And why should I know everything about Israel, WW2 and so on. I'm going to major in Environmental studies, not history, international affairs or political science</p>

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<p>As much as I enjoy a good debate, please remember to stay classy. Stop with the personal attacks and remember to support your assumptions, otherwise, this thread will probably get plugged soon.</p>

<p>After reading through this debate, I've seen that everyone has strong opinions about many global issues. </p>

<p>As Hippodrome asked, what is your source of news, stardragon? I wonder if you have been overly anti-american propagandized. And do you "justify the terrorists" in The Middle East and Russia?</p>

<p>And while you might say that you aren't racist, I think that bigjake has somewhat of a right to assert his opinion on your possible prejudice against Jews, especially after saying: "Their religion is the only religion which lets kill all other people except Jews. I don't trust them, they bring only blood." </p>

<p>Hopefully, you aren't a violent or racist person, but sometimes with radical statements like the ones above, people react with anger.</p>

<p>I, myself, am half-Jewish, and I find that VERY offensive. Could the same not be said about Muslim terrorists?</p>

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<p>"I'm the most liberal student in my region. And why should I know everything about Israel, WW2 and so on. I'm going to major in Environmental studies, not history, international affairs or political science[.]"</p>

<p>Stardragon, I have a question about Russia. Are people there generally anti-semitic, and do you live in a Muslim region? What are your society's general views on Israel and do they dislike The USA? I'm just wondering because I'm interested in our cultural differences.</p>

<p>Also, being a prospective ES major is a sorry excuse for some of your ignorant comments. If you don't know what you are talking about, then simply don't. I know a lot about politics, history, and foreign relations, so I feel like I am relatively qualified to make assertions. I am also an International Affairs major. Not only that, I go out of my way to document and provide evidence for what I say, other than making unfounded and ignorant statements. I know very little about environmental issues. I have a general knowledge of the issues after having taken AP ES in my h.s., but I really don't feel qualified to express my opinions simply because I don't know enough to have an informed debate.</p>