Falko

Sure, call it garbage rather than taking the arguments presented and disproving them with your arguments. Maybe you don't have any. You're mentioning "standard of brilliance"... come on, show me some, bring it on, disprove Ed! At the moment you're only dodging. The way I see it the ball is in your half of the field. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

It is neither. You gotta do better! My scoreboard: Ed vs Anvil - 2:0 Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Why is it that most US citizens actually believe that the rest of the world is behind in civil liberties? Sidenote: At this very moment there are US citizens held captive by the government, without being charged of a crime, without any evidence, without contact to a lawyer or their families. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Yes, a culture that finds it ethical to kill their children rather than taking full responsibility for their lack of maturity. Maybe you should change the law, so that the parents will get executed for the crimes of their underage children. That'd be a hell of a fry fest, not? And the kids will be forced to watch. Like "you didn't do what Mum told ya so now she get's fried." Whoops am being to cynical maybe. You're painting black & white. Of course punishment is due, but there are gradations! They might realize that, but still lack the intelligence and/or maturity to act accordingly. It's been said all over, but I have to repeat it: Deterrence doesn't work! They should make that 18. Or better yet, abolish capital punishment completely, so the US finally joins the rest of the western democracies in their fundamental belief that the state does not have the right to take a life. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

They may receive the death penalty for crimes committed at juvenile age, but are not eligible to drink alcohol until the age of 21 because they are considered "too immature". Whow that kind of hypocrisy blows my mind! WTF does it matter what age they were when executed? The date when the crime was committed is important. If they were minors at that time, they must not be judged like an adult! How pervert is that? Next time a 10 year old in a sandbox bashes his friends head in in an uncontrolled outbreak of childish rage, we just wait 8 years to execute him and everything will be perfectly legal. Please read this Quote: The juvenile death penalty is based on the false assumption that 16- and 17-year-olds possess the cognitive and emotional maturity of adulthood. Health professionals know that this assumption contradicts medical and scientific knowledge of adolescents’ development and capacities -- and that executing young offenders is inappropriate and unjust. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

That source claims the death penalty in Germany has been abolished in 1987, without further explanation. That is not correct, the date only applies to the former GDR! The other Source is more accurate: Germany (none since unification, abolished in FRG in 1949 and in GDR 1987) Sorry for the nitpicking. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

> No, it's the fact that I feel that a murderer has forfeited their right to live, Believe it or not, I'm with you there. I have nothing but negative feelings towards a murderer. But it doesn't matter what I or you think, what matters is whether we grant the state the right to take a life. > except at the pleasure of the state. What do you mean by that? Nice try, but wrong question. My "satisfaction" regarding a murderer being alive or not doesn't matter here. Where I DO feel satisfaction is that I live in a country that recognizes the right to life as being inviolable. The justice system has no authority about a persons life, and rightfully so. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Are you not? Sounds fair to me... try it and report back. Don't do it, it looks crappy. (SCNR) BTW a short while ago the Federal constitutional court of Germany decided that it is illegal to have crucifixes on the walls of schools in Bavaria (one of the more "conservative" federal states in the south). Religion has no (and I mean NO) business in any governmental institution. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Tasteless. I am also guilty of not always being the politically-correct type, but this comment is not very funny. You seem to be having morbid fun with the thought that a human (guilty of a horrific crime, but still human after all) is being put to death. Or is it just that eye-for-an-eye tastes so sweet for some people? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Voted No. "Evil" is just an expression trying to categorize events and thoughts that humans perceive to be negative. Since everything that happens in this world is due to basic forces of nature (i.e. physics) it cannot be categorized in terms of morality like "good", "evil" etc. That's what man does anyway, because he's desperately trying to categorize his surroundings in an effort to create a set of rules which supposedly make it easier to survive. "Evil" is just a human expression, not an entity. It's all in the eye of the beholder anyway... what I may consider evil can be a good thing for another person. On second thought, this is only the answer to my interpretation of your original question, because it's not really clear to me what you mean by "really exist"? Evil existing as... what? ...... confused. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Bwahahaa!! Good one. Well who knows what the future brings, maybe the device can distinguish if it's pig or human flesh that it's penetrating. Then again... with some fellas out there it might have a hard time telling the difference... Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Not me. The bullet. Ever heard of signal processing? These microchips are all around you, everywhere. And they're pretty cheap in mass production. So that price... is highly exaggerated. But yeah, ridiculing the idea of smart weapons, or smart bullets in this case is easy. Why bother with advancing technology? Shoot to kill, aim for the head, pull trigger, splat! Maybe because you lack some imagination? Relax, noone wants to take away your bullets and handguns. Imagine a SWAT team trying to arrest a Terrorist who has knowledge about what his brothers in crime are planning, their whereabouts etc. He's more worth alive than killed, because his knowledge will help arresting even more of his kind. Still he's armed and a lethal threat to the LEOs when they attempt to detain him. I can see "smart" weapons to be a good alternative to handguns in this case. But I digress... this is not what the original post is about. I don't own or need a gun, but I can see why people vote no on exchanging their handguns with non-lethal weapons. If "smart" tranquilizing handguns would prove to be reliable and working, and people have seen the results, I'm sure many people would give it a try. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

I like the idea! Why wouldn't it be technically possible? There are scales who can determine your body fat percentage. (AFAIK they do it by measuring electrical resistance of a weak current induced in your body) Why not use a similar technique in a bullet, or "little torpedo" for that matter? My guess is it also wouldn't be too difficult to determine the "mass" of the hit body. These 2 values should be enough to estimate the amount of tranquilizer required to effectively disable the attacker. Just brainstorming: - Bullet hits offender - gives medium electric shock to create an initial stunning sensation - simultaneously estimates body weight and body fat percentage - injects the correct amount of tranquilizer ...all in a split second. Could work.... not? This will give the attacker a higher probability of survival. "So he can live to tell where he has hidden the other hostage." That's a very good reason! Even leg or arm hit would do the job! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Do you have examples? Are policemen in the US forced to use "new" kinds of weapons that are less effective than a handgun? Would be hard to imagine... Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Hail again, my Kamerad. I suppord your view und tinck ve shudd ixterminate dem low liferrrs NOW! If you were meant to fly nature would have given you wings. Maybe you should consequently stay on the ground from now on! God forbid that will happen. Oh doh! He did, didn't he? Let me check my bible. Oh-double-doh! I don't have a bible. Oh my what do I do now? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

I somehow dislike the meaning of the word "normal". The norm is boring! Never expected that skydivers (who IMHO are lightyears away from "the norm") would be bashing something that is "not normal" when it comes to family values. All it comes down to in the end is if a parent/parents love their child and care for it in a responsible manner. The rest (like classic family structures etc) is all an illusion, a "picture" that in itself means nothing. my 2 Pfennig duh eurocents. edit4typo Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

What is "normal"? Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

that meant an AND not an XOR But thanks for the additional info, didn't know that. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Bwahahaha!!! *gasp* Good one. Sorry, had to say it, I love funny metaphors! Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Jeffrey said can not can't. They democratic concept wasn't invented in the US, but the US were the first country in history (1787) to implement a democratic constitution which includes the separation of powers (legislature, judiciary, executive). Poland was the first country in Europe to do this in 1791. Not the only one, but the "best". Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Good! Then they will learn to distinguish the assholes from the real friends early. A skill that will prove to be most helpful later in life. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Add the following quote to the other 4: You really contradict yourself in a fashion I find most exhilarating. You point your finger at germany but when it comes around and you have to acknowledge that more or less the same restrictions and proceedings are in place in the US, you suddenly "interpret it differently". Yeah sure. Maybe it's the US patriotic reflex that one can find often in these Forums? I can't help but jump on this because I'm sick and tired of some of the statements which imply that the US is the only authentic democracy in the world, and all the rest is somehow behind. I have some food for thought, just read it, let it sink in, and please switch on your irony detector: - Europeans don't live in caves. We DO have electricity. - We do enjoy the same rights and freedoms as you do in the US. Mileage may vary in both ways for several reasons, but we are free people. - BOOBIES (SCNR) on prime time TV. You're the parent, you're responsible for what your children may watch. - No beeps and gaps in Music Videos. It's art and it's free! - Germans are peace loving and much less violent in comparison to US statistics. An example in figures: 859 murders in the whole Republic of Germany in 2003 within a population of approx 82.000.000. (Source). Compare that to New York which is considered a rather "safe" city: 597 murders within 8.000.000 people. (Source). You do the math! - Did I say we don't live in caves? Come visit us, you might like it! You may even wear your "Bush sucks" T-Shirts wherever you go. edit4spelling edit2add: German statistics in english language Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

There was another Poll on that subject just recently: Clicky I didn't vote on this one as it directly addresses US citizens. Would've voted for Evolution tho. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Whow that's what I call a flip-flop! Are you really sure you know what you stand for? Are you for freedom of speech or not? Are you the same person who said and even better and on top of it all And finally I have nothing to add. You said it all. This concludes the thread for me. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)

Quoting you with bold font emphasis by me: Let me answer to this by quoting you from a few posts up: Replace "germans" with "americans". And then read again. Ich betrachte die Religion als Krankheit, als Quelle unnennbaren Elends für die menschliche Rasse. (Bertrand Russell, engl. Philosoph, 1872-1970)