Heartland

With it's 70 million habitants and the second largest army in NATO, second only to the USA, Turkey has been trying for a long time to aproach the western world, while maintaning their islamic roots. Although it is an islamic country, it's a secular one, just like Portugal or Spain are catholic but secular. Women are actually forbidden to wear the veil while working in government facilities and institutions, but with it's great poverty, the uneducated become easy prey for extremist religious group. They say, the state is wrong, only returning to a religion based state can we become great again and so on and on. Although Turkey has to resolve some of their internal issues regarding human rights to achieve the standards required by the west (EU), Turkey is an example of what other islamic countries could achieve, a more modern and fair society.
Maybe the west should start paying more atention and helping a bit more the fight of Turkey against religious extremist groups.

Istambul, the city that marks where Europe ends and Asia begins was attacked by Al Quaida. Among others, the british consul died and brit interests are starting to become a target. I think this is just the beginning of what is to come.

I do admire the way that Turkey manages to be a muslim country that isn't run by small minded fundamentalist nobheads, And I sincerely hope that Turkey IS supported by the west as it is the only middle-eastern democracy, but I hope people do not overlook Turkey's problems.

Turkey does have an oppressive government and an appalling human rights record in recent years. Every year, Britain recieves asylum seekers from Turkey who have suffered appallingly at the hands of the government and police.

So my point is: yes, try to help Turkey fight terroristrs and fundamentalists, but don't gloss over their problems.

Having visited Istanbul, the living conditions on the Asian side of the bosphorus are considerably worse than the European side.
This must cause bad feeling to the West alone, things will not get any better now. Our friends George W and Big Tone have started something that they certainly won't be finishing....

I'm starting to get slightly scared.....

I Prophesy Disaster - The Plains Of Meggido

Here are some clues:

Turkey - friend of Israel
Turkey - friend of the U.S.
Great Britain - friend of the U.S.
The U.S. - friend of Israel
Israel - Oppressionist occupying state.

Spot any pattern?

mugabe wrote:Here are some clues:

Turkey - friend of Israel
Turkey - friend of the U.S.
Great Britain - friend of the U.S.
The U.S. - friend of Israel
Israel - Oppressionist occupying state.

Spot any pattern?

nope. but i do spot a ridiculously over-simplified view of geopolitics.

this year i'm going to have nut roast as a mark of respect

khepri II wrote:this year i'm going to have nut roast as a mark of respect

Does that involve tanning nude?

RicheyJames wrote:

mugabe wrote:Here are some clues:

Turkey - friend of Israel
Turkey - friend of the U.S.
Great Britain - friend of the U.S.
The U.S. - friend of Israel
Israel - Oppressionist occupying state.

Spot any pattern?

nope. but i do spot a ridiculously over-simplified view of geopolitics.

You want over-simplification?
Okay:

We are ALL f*cked and we all gonna die, some of us sooner than others.

To rip off Neil Gaiman - life is a sexually transmitted disease and it is invariably fatal.

To continue - I'm a writer, I'm paid (on very rare occasions - sob) to make things up.

Knew you'd be pleased.

Erudite wrote:You want over-simplification?
Okay:

We are ALL f*cked and we all gonna die, some of us sooner than others.

To rip off Neil Gaiman - life is a sexually transmitted disease and it is invariably fatal.

To continue - I'm a writer, I'm paid (on very rare occasions - sob) to make things up.

Knew you'd be pleased.

and...? no, seriously, is there any point at all to this post?

I don't understand it.

RicheyJames wrote:

Erudite wrote:You want over-simplification?
Okay:

We are ALL f*cked and we all gonna die, some of us sooner than others.

To rip off Neil Gaiman - life is a sexually transmitted disease and it is invariably fatal.

To continue - I'm a writer, I'm paid (on very rare occasions - sob) to make things up.

Knew you'd be pleased.

and...? no, seriously, is there any point at all to this post?

The point, as always, is the sharp bit at the end.

oh my aching sides.

although, after applying the logic of your second post to your first, the only conclusion i can arrive at is that the your point was to advertise the fact that you once made something up and wrote it down?

No, the point, Richey, was you attacking someone for over-simplyfying something. Ultimately, when you strip it down the main truth in life is you are going to die.
The final quote was me whoring the fact I'm a writer.
Sorry, it's got to be done.
Man's got to eat and all that jazz.

Sheesh, am I drunk or has everyone had a humour bypass?
No, don't answer that...

I really wish you would lighten up Rich!

Don't post and drink at the same time.

I learned my lesson earilier this week, right Richey?

Black Planet wrote:Don't post and drink at the same time.

I learned my lesson earilier this week, right Richey?

Is that don't type and drink at the same time - you'll only spill it!

hallucienate wrote:

khepri II wrote:this year i'm going to have nut roast as a mark of respect

Does that involve tanning nude?

more pain that way Hal

years since i've been tanned.

I'm bad and i know i'm to blame

Erudite wrote:No, the point, Richey, was you attacking someone for over-simplyfying something. Ultimately, when you strip it down the main truth in life is you are going to die.

well done you've found something i can't argue with. but i still don't see the relevance of your statement to the discussion in hand. care to enlighten me further?

The final quote was me whoring the fact I'm a writer.
Sorry, it's got to be done.
Man's got to eat and all that jazz.

Sheesh, am I drunk or has everyone had a humour bypass?
No, don't answer that...

your second post claimed that the "point" was the "bit at the end". the end of your first post pointed out the fact that you claim to be a writer. i therefore deduced that the point of your post was merely a convoluted method of advertising the fact that you are a writer.

now who looks like they've had a humour bypass?

Black Planet wrote:Don't post and drink at the same time.

I learned my lesson earilier this week, right Richey?

indeed. the supplementary being "think before you post" but we'll try one lesson at a time...

Erudite wrote:

Black Planet wrote:Don't post and drink at the same time.

I learned my lesson earilier this week, right Richey?

Is that don't type and drink at the same time - you'll only spill it!

Ruined several keyboards that way.

RicheyJames wrote:

Black Planet wrote:Don't post and drink at the same time.

I learned my lesson earilier this week, right Richey?

indeed. the supplementary being "think before you post" but we'll try one lesson at a time...

I am still old enough to ..probably ... be your mother....

But keep on teaching and I will keep on learning.

Richey, I bought you some flowers can I have your address so I can send the boys round with them?

Black Planet wrote:I am still old enough to ..probably ... be your mother....

and i still doubt that

Red Sunsets wrote:Richey, I bought you some flowers can I have your address so I can send the boys round with them?

that's terribly sweet of you but flowers have this strange tendency to wilt as soon as i look at them...