4 replies to this topic

[Bryan]

I'm bored, I hate the holidays. Get out of that Christmas spirit and let's have some intelligent discussion here shall we?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmBnvajSfWU

There are two things I'd like you guys to address. The lyrics of the song itself, and the video that goes along with the song. I'm going to hold off on my views for a bit, but I'm curious as to the responses of this rather diverse community we have.

(Besides iargue. And anyone that has a picture of their biceps/abs as their avatar on a neopets forum.)

Almost forgot.

Discuss

[Blissey]

http://www.geekologi...ife-patrick.jpg

[redlion]

"What's the bigger threat to society - BAE systems or homemade IEDs"

That encapsulates the whole idea.

I think that various national military-industrial-complexes pose the greatest threat to global stability. People with bombs strapped to their backs are fighting hopelessly against ultra advanced weapon systems. What group that is today classed as a terrorist organization could ever hope to defeat a Seawolf class nuclear ballistic missile submarine? None.

Terrorism is a reaction to the imbalanced nature of modern warfare. Developing nations can never field armies competitive on the international scene (where superpowers like Britain, France and the US dominate) so they always lose when war is officially declared. But officially declared war is neither the start nor the end of conflict. The United States never officially declared war in Vietnam, but our 'police action' claimed the lives of over fifty eight thousand US citizens, not to mention over 1.5 million Vietnamese dead. The Viet Cong were terrorists in their day (at least according to the US) but now they are hailed as the liberators of Ho Chi Mihn City.

Terrorist is a word used to describe any non-state actor who acts violently against a state in pursuit of an agenda. Whether they go down in the history books as terrorists or freedom fighters depends almost solely on the outcome of the conflict.

[Sweeney]

(Besides iargue. And anyone that has a picture of their biceps/abs as their avatar on a neopets forum.)

I'm pretty sure I'll just agree with you. On the quoted, and the video.

And most things.

[Bryan]

So, just curious. What do y'all think of him comparing Nelson Mandela to events like Fallujah and Hiroshima? Also, he mentions the IRA. I don't claim to know much about the IRA, but my brief knowledge shows (in my mind) that it was a legitimate cause. So what basis does he have for calling it Terrorism?

Also, to delve a bit deeper into the subject...

Was Building 7 Terrorism?
Was Nanothermite Terrorism?
Diego Garcia was Terrorism.
I am conscious the contras are terrorism.

Remember the allegations of nanothermite in the WTC rubble? Remember how it was blamed on terrorists. Did we ever find out why there was nanothermite in the buildings?

Also, the contras. They were hired 'terrorists' by the U.S. against Nicaragua. ICJ ordered the US to pay reperations... we never did.

I'm going to assume the Mandela/IRA things are just ironic statements, but I don't know Lowkey, so I don't know the exact message he's trying to portray.

And finally to the video. Do you think it's effective in complementing his lyrics, or do you feel it gives a different meaning? Notice the words on the walls in prison (Gitmo?) and the ending with all the pictures. To me, it feels like he's trying to appeal more on the emotional level than a logical level, and it has a completely different meaning (imo).