World is Falling Apart Thread (Locked forever)

[Ack]

I love that in an effort to try to patch up whatever this phone call issue /tweets that followed with the PM of Australia, during the press release, Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, called our Prime Minister, Malcom Turnbull, Trunbull, like 5 times.

Saying that Trump had nothing but respect for Australia and it's people.

Also because a lot of people in the US don't seem to know, here is a map of the military facilitates that the US have / operate out of in Australia to "help secure our shared interests in the pacific."


For those that don't know Pine Gap is a joint CIA / NSA / Australian run facility.

Having read up on the military relationship between the United States and Australia during the Vietnam War and the significant contributions you gave and loss of life you suffered at our behest, I humbly ask you please don't begrudge America the recent stupidity in our leadership and understand that whenever, if ever, it is necessary, we will more than happily go to the mat for you.

[CRTGAMER]

I love that in an effort to try to patch up whatever this phone call issue /tweets that followed with the PM of Australia, during the press release, Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, called our Prime Minister, Malcom Turnbull, Trunbull, like 5 times. Saying that Trump had nothing but respect for Australia and it's people. Also because a lot of people in the US don't seem to know, here is a map of the military facilitates that the US have / operate out of in Australia to "help secure our shared interests in the pacific."

For those that don't know Pine Gap is a joint CIA / NSA / Australian run facility.

Looking at the smaller grid map at the top right, I never realized how large a land mass Australia is. Been to Perth and Tasmania while in the Navy, a beautiful country. Not knowing the entire story history on the refugee/immigrant status that President Obama was involved in; what is your take and the general concensus from down under? Do Australians feel compelled to keep the refugee/immigrants or should all the people be relocated to the U.S.? Ignoring that phone call, how do Australians feel about the U.S. military and scientists station in Australia? Not trying to corner you; just curious straight from Australia on these issues.

Back in the U.S. it is absolutely insane on the double standard concerning the 7 country Immigration 90 day hold ban. The same exact countries were banned the same way by President Obama and previous administrations. In all administrations the purpose was in hopes to prevent terrorists from sneaking in among the huge influx of innocent immigrants. So is the immigration anger against the president or has the way of thinking concerning the ban security changed over the years? I lean towards anything President Trump does will be disputed, which has not fazed him in keeping to the campaign promises.

Everyone's favorite commentator (kidding don't freak out) will once again be interviewing the President during the Super Bowl pregame show on Fox. There was talk that Lady Ga Ga will push a political agenda at half time. Though inappropriate if she does, be interesting how the crowd will react based on how many to the right and left attend.

[marurun]

Obama didn't ban immigration from those countries. You are mistaken.

[dsheinem]

Though inappropriate if she does

Why would you consider this "inappropriate"? Some of the most effective political protests have taken place in contexts where audiences weren't looking to engage in politics. A powerful expression on such a large stage would be a beautiful celebration of free speech and absolutely an appropriate context in which to protest.

I hope she does something specifically about sexual assault. That would be a well-situated rebuttal to both our Cheeto in Chief and the NFL.

[jp1]

"Cheeto in Chief"....I love it.

[SpaceBooger]

Obama didn't ban immigration from those countries. You are mistaken.

I just read yesterday that there was no ban by Obama, it was a slower more thorough vetting process that slowed immigration to a crawl.

I also just saw the new tweet by the Cheeto In Chief that there was a "radical Islamic" terrorist attach in France and tell the US to "get smart". People are coming out of the woodwork to find falseness in his tweet. The only thing about it that I have confirmed was that the man who was at fault was from Egypt... which is not one of the countries that the president banned.

[CRTGAMER]

Why would you consider this "inappropriate"? Some of the most effective political protests have taken place in contexts where audiences weren't looking to engage in politics. A powerful expression on such a large stage would be a beautiful celebration of free speech and absolutely an appropriate context in which to protest.

Agree. Another advantage is the audience attending will not just be on one side or the other which is usually the case in most political rallies. However, it is a paid event by the patrons and she is contracted by the NFL for the half time entertainment; not for any sort of political statement. Still, it would be interesting in the crowd reaction showing the left and right ratio of attendees. One of the Superbowl ads spools off the history of their company; a counter point of the immigration issue. This on the other hand is appropriate, the beer company (not the patrons or NFL) paid for the TV spot.

Say did you want to tackle that test tease (spoiler below) questions? Curious of how you felt about that Tennessee Congressman?

Obama didn't ban immigration from those countries. You are mistaken.

I just read yesterday that there was no ban by Obama, it was a slower more thorough vetting process that slowed immigration to a crawl.

Semantics. Similar immigration restrictions under Obama, Bush, Clinton mentioned for the point of the missed the question.

So is the immigration anger against the president or has the way of thinking concerning the ban security changed over the years?
I lean towards anything President Trump does will be disputed, which has not fazed him in keeping to the campaign promises.

@ SpaceBooger - If I remember right, I think your are a teacher too, care to jump in the spoiler? Now where was that other Educator?

I posted that Litmus Test a couple pages back to get dialog on this sensitive issue. Nice to see well mannered solid comments concerning race in at least a few posts without judging another persons point of view. Having known about the test for some time, I was unsure how the reaction would be and held off posting it.

I kicked the idea around of holding back the spoiler until a later Reply, but that would have been unfair. I think the reactions would certainly had been much more passionate. When Time did that story concerning the "misplaced MLK bust", I though about posting it back then. It is absolutely nuts how so many of the News jumped on that. Do we also do this at times yell out racist just to brag that we are not racist?

I am curious and have questions for the ones that did look at the test tease.

1. Ask yourself honestly. What was your first reaction before opening the Spoiler?

2. With the spoiler opened, how did your reaction change?

3. Do past injustices justify creating unbalanced groups or situations such as shown in the Litmus test?

4. In that test showing a real event, Should that Tenessee White Congressman representing 60% black constituents be allowed to join the Black Caucus to have an equal representation for his district?

5. Should anyone be allowed to join any designated Caucus including Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc; if for positive purpose to get and give all the data for their constituents?

[marurun]

Obama didn't ban immigration from those countries. You are mistaken.

I just read yesterday that there was no ban by Obama, it was a slower more thorough vetting process that slowed immigration to a crawl.

Semantics. Similar immigration restrictions under Obama, Bush, Clinton mentioned for the point of the missed the question.

[/spoiler][/quote]

Not just semantics. Obama implemented a more thorough vetting process but notably did not halt any immigration and didn't include green card holders and some other categories. The objections to Trump's immigration EO aren't that he's slowing immigration. He's shut it tightly, left green card holders and existing employees in the cold, and doesn't have a rationale behind it or a plan forward.

Similar is not the same, and the contexts and rationales are very different. We will see how Dictator Trump fares in court.

[BogusMeatFactory]

Not just semantics. Obama implemented a more thorough vetting process but notably did not halt any immigration and didn't include green card holders and some other categories. The objections to Trump's immigration EO aren't that he's slowing immigration. He's shut it tightly, left green card holders and existing employees in the cold, and doesn't have a rationale behind it or a plan forward.

Similar is not the same, and the contexts and rationales are very different. We will see how Dictator Trump fares in court.

Not to mention that Trump revoked greencards to over 60,000 U.S. citizens without notice or provocation... something Obama did not do either.

[CRTGAMER]

Not just semantics. Obama implemented a more thorough vetting process but notably did not halt any immigration and didn't include green card holders and some other categories. The objections to Trump's immigration EO aren't that he's slowing immigration. He's shut it tightly, left green card holders and existing employees in the cold, and doesn't have a rationale behind it or a plan forward.

Okay. What of the public opinion question?

So is the immigration anger against the president or has the way of thinking concerning the ban security changed over the years?

ABC News covered the Berkley event (run the video) with the focus on how far we will go to protect Free Speech looking into the free speech of individual protesters.

http://abc7news.com/news/video-trump-su ... t/1733004/

There were plenty of sub-plots at the protest against Yiannopulos, but also against people who were protecting the suppression of free speech. The conflict arrived in the form of polytechnics, smoke, strife, and anger--not only about the speaker and what he might say, but also about his right to say it, even in the birthplace of the free speech movement. In a free country with free speech in iconic Berkeley, no matter what a person's politics we were all witness to violence.