Yeah, I know this belongs in 'The Bar' but the attempted car bombing in NYC's Times Square is just another painful reminder of the kind of potential world our kids and grandkids are inheriting. What on earth happens to people to make them want to go out and kill strangers en masse? Whatever their gripe (or political ideology), what makes them think that an act such as this is going to garner any kind of sympathy or support for their position? In some ways, it's the ultimate expression of insisting that everyone else come around to YOUR way of thinking. Sure, it's a stretch, but we can certainly see mini-models of this type of behavior even here on SZ. We need to keep in mind that the other guy may have a valid point of view as well.

chas

"See Something.......Say Something"

I'm sitting at the kitchen table with my grandson having breakfast. We have so much to be thankful for, and it's wonderful just to have him with us. He'll be 3 years old in June, he so smart it's scary.

I agree with much of what Chas said--I only wish I could do more to change a lot of things that are going on today, things that will impact his world in the near future.

Gary

Yeah, Gary. I know what you mean. I spent a delightful afternoon with my two (and their dad) which is probably what prompted these feeling. As to your grandson being smart, let's hope that he and his generation are smart enough to see the folly of following OUR generations mindset, and make a safer world for themselves than what we provided for them.

chas

Couldn't believe it. Last night i had a rare gig in NYC at the NYC Athletic Club on Central Park. When I came out at 11PM to load up (and thats another story!! But I did learn that I can fit my whole setup on my mini rack & roller and move it in one shot, so thats a plus ), I kept hearing sirens coming from one direction. Got out of the city no problem and didn't know a thing about it until I put the news on at home.
Scary stuff. NC or Fla. is looking better all the time

Bill in NJ

I find that negative conversations, although at times they are needed do not help but they can bring you down. If I present a negative situation I also give a solution. If there is no immediate solution I keep myself focused on what I can do (personally) to improve my side of the world.

For my wife and I it is marriage counseling and helping those that find it difficult to handle this world.

Chas, this is no reflection on you, it�s just what your post triggered off in me. Too many people complaining and few are doing much about it.

IMHO, John C.

Chas, that is a good questions which we fail to ask and answer to our selfs. If we actually
did that i dont think things like this would be happening, our ignorance does this.
I dont really wanna get into this, it will be heated but just my two cents.
And in my own opinion noone out of boredom will just go out to kill people.
They are not justifiable and very wrong reasons but those reasons trigger them
and those people become with animal instincts in them, this world is a very bad place.

John, I'm going to acknowledge your point of view and respectfully disagree. Refusing to acknowledge the negative things in life is hardly a solution to anything. Also, I wasn't exactly "complaining" and I DID propose that we could begin by respecting the other persons point of view (and by so doing, respect the other person).

My post probably does NOT belong here, but it was not a "negative conversation" as much as an observation about the human condition, along with a suggestion on how we might improve upon it. Again, I respect your opinion and appreciate your comments.

chas

Hey, Chas (you old softee)! You nailed it again, as did Gary. I just picked up my new "adopted" little guy (Andress) from school (didn't feel well).

He's from Mexico and just old enough to begin to worry about the political issues, hate and harassment he's noticing.

Let's ALL do what we can to make the world a better place for our current and future "little ones".


Russ (proud; worried adopted Grandpa) Lay

While I watch an oil disaster creep slowly towards some of the most beautiful beaches in the States (maybe in the world!), potentially ruining not just this season (already hit hard enough by the recession) but potentially devastating the region for decades to come, I am wondering whether 'See something, say something' actually works...

We have been 'saying something' for decades about the risks involved in drilling for oil in one of the most ecologically sensitive, seafood industry important, and tourist intensive areas of the country. Important safeguards are ignored, oil-friendly governments have slashed oversight budgets to the point that it's 'do anything you feel like' for the multi-billion dollar oil industry, and warning after warning are drowned out in a Teabagger rant of 'Drill, baby, drill!'...

'See something, say something' only works if someone is LISTENING.

Pray for us all on the Gulf Coast. We are watching potentially our livelihoods destroyed by the greed and incompetence of Big Oil and an uncaring nation. I guess as long as YOUR gas prices stay low, it's just the cost of doing business, eh?

I hear you, Diki. It's hard not to be/sound bitter when you learn that a simple $500k switch/valve could have prevented this disaster. But because it wasn't required by OUR government (many countries, such as Norway, do), a company making 20 Billion in profit in ONE QUARTER, elected not to. So as much as you want to tell people not to be bitter and angry (especially those so affected by this spill), it's really hard not to feel their pain.

Diki, hang in there. We're all hoping for some kind of weather miracle but according to CNN, this thing has TRIPLED in size in the last three days.

Of course it's not just the government or BP to blame. It's everyone from the politicians who cozy up to big oil in return for monster campaign contributions to 'joe the average invester' who insists on and expects unrealistic, unnatural, and impossible returns on their BP stock investments, even if safety has to be compromised to boost the bottom line. We need look no further than the recent coal mining tragedy for an example of how profits trump safety every time.

Sadly, we (our generation) will probably not be around to see a change in this trend. Hopefully, our kids and grandkids will.

BTW, I think Donny is right, in that with the constant threat of terrorism, anyplace and any time, we all DO need to be vigilant (just not to the point of paranoia). As we saw in the NYC case, it CAN save lives.
Like the saying goes, "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you".

chas



[This message has been edited by cgiles (edited 05-03-2010).]

Sorry, chas, but if you can get legally shot dead simply for walking up and knocking on the wrong door in the wrong neighborhood, the paranoia already HAS gone too far in this country.

While news programs report crime about 75% of the broadcast (and the shenanigans of the oil industry and corrupt lobbyists and politicians get brief coverage) the REAL villains in our country slide by with hardly a mention.

I applaud the sharp eyes and prompt action by the street vendor that averted the Times Square disaster, but wish that everybody ELSE was as vigilant and willing to come forward about corporate crime and corrupt politicians.

'See something, SAY SOMETHING' has a lot more important areas to be applied in than just terrorism. Perhaps a hundred or so might have been hurt if the bomb had gone off. But millions are affected by corrupt health care practices, environmental crimes, tobacco and junk food promotion, and many other areas where people seem content to NOT say something.

And vote back in the very people that ignored those that said something in the first place.

Chas,
I wrote -- �Chas, this is no reflection on you, it�s just what your post triggered off in me. Too many people complaining and few are doing much about it�.

My comments was not about you or your post, it was about me and what came to my mind. I do understand what you wrote and I am not in disagreement.

I have listened to people complaining about many different topics and my reaction is always the same, �And what will you be doing about it?�

Russ wrote, �Hey, Chas (you old softee)! You nailed it again, as did Gary. I just picked up my new "adopted" little guy (Andress) from school (didn't feel well)�. He IS doing something about it, beautiful.

I am very much in favor of people discussing negatives with the purpose of growing and understanding. Few people learn from good times so talking about negatives has it�s place, an important place, in counseling my main purpose is to bring people to these areas.

So Chas, it is not you or your post, it�s all about my feelings. And thanks for responding so respectfully.

John C.

I was never a big fan of JFK, however he put it best when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you--Ask what you can do for your country!" Food for thought.

Gary

1st-century B.C. Roman statesman and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero once declared, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country."

and

The sinews of war: unlimited money.
�Cicero, 1st century BC

Peace just doesn't pay that well. Figures...

WAR IS A RACKET

WAR is a racket. It always has been.

It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.

A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.

...read the entire article:
http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm

------------------
Bo pen nyang.

A wise man once said.

Change ourselves
Change our family
Change our neibourhood
Change our town
Change our State
Change our country
Change our WORLD

It all starts with ME


Cousin Ken

In that case, I promise to never drill in the Gulf....

OK, problem solved!

The potential bomber lived for 3 years in my current town of Shelton, CT about 2 miles away from my house, then moved to Bridgeport, CT near my parents.

Talk about close

Now that's Scary Frank.....it could be anyone. See something....Say Something !

Should we be checking Fran's garage? I know if I see him leave a parked vehicle anywhere near Yamaha headquaters, I'm calling the FBI .

chas



chas

Good one, Chas.

Gary

Don't worry I'll keep an eye on Fran tomorrow on the way to Benny Cintioli's Music store to shop in Philly!
http://www.cintiolimusiconline.com/

If Benny has a Roland FR-1 V-Accordion, check it out for me will you, Donny...

No-one carries them anywhere near me.