formerly33

The difference is, Levi is trying to lay the blame entirely on Islam (though, in his defense, at the same time he isn't, rendering his argument little more than confusing) rather than Islamic terrorism. Yet he gets angry with Pseudo for calling him out on it, insisting that because he disagrees with him, he's a lefty puppet regurgitating liberal propaganda. I find myself agreeing with most of what Levi says, but every now and again he has to bring the root of the problem back to Islam. As many Muslims will tell you, ISIS is not Islam. Islam is not ISIS. But if you disagree with Levi on that one subject (let me repeat, ONE), he has to remind you that he's right and you're wrong. That's a surefire way of rubbing someone the wrong way. I'm not saying Pseudo or I or anyone else has been the model of professionalism, either; at this point in the conversation, I feel like most of us have descended to a level of childish bickering. I find that surprising. I quit reading the baseball threads on this site a long time ago for this exact reason, and reading the banter on this thread has proved equally fruitless.

First of all, you're stereotyping Pseudo and jumping to conclusions about why he believes what he does. That's flat out rude and unlikely to accomplish much. As for your second paragraph, that's what I was saying. And as for the rest, I just want to ask if you know any Muslim people. This is a bit touchy with me because I do. Oh yeah, even Muslim men who respect my right to be different, a woman who can be whoever and whatever I want (heck, even more so than some Christians I know). Here you are again, stereotyping. Islam is not the problem. Radicalizing Islam is. Unfortunately, that's a huge problem right now. But everyone has the right to follow their own beliefs AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT HURTING OTHERS. So yes, ISIS is a problem. Muslims are not. And again, it's disrespectful to not be open to differences of opinion until we're on board with you. If I was totally on board with you, I wouldn't have a differing opinion. And as much as I respect you and value your opinions, if everyone was the same, I'm not really sure if we would accomplish much. There'd probably be nothing to accomplish.

But you're still assuming that people have to take "sides." When you're no longer open to the opinions of other people, you've taken a side. Half this country's problem is our eagerness to take a side. Why do there have to be different sides? Why can't we just offer solutions and respect one another's differing opinions without shouting, "You're wrong!" or jumping to the conclusion that they're on the other side? No one's going to ever change their opinion on a subject if all they hear is that they're wrong. I know it never swayed me. It's thoughtful discussion and mutual respect that incites change. And, in the end, we're not so different ... I assume we're all on the same side in wanting a better world to live in. I know I'm being an idealist, but we could strive for that in this forum, at least. Yesterday you were getting mad at Mike Sixel for speaking of views other than those on this site. It seems you're doing the same thing here - unless you're implying PseudoSABR doesn't value humanity. Then (and I'm sorry to say it) you're the one who's just plain wrong.

Nude day, you say? I don't think things would go very well if I celebrated in style at Orchestra Hall tonight ... sigh.

Not sure what you're implying here. My views have not changed. Just your view on my views, perhaps? No. Boiling it down to unprofessionalism in the police force ignores all of ... something else. No need to lay it out in English again. You know what I'm talking about. Though I have to add, if all the people who say "all lives matter" are worried about is the antagonistic origin of BLM, why did they retort with something undeniably equally bad? Worse, imo. Why?

At this point in the conversation I just want to remind people that BLM isn't just about lying down in highways. Taxes.

But people are passing aside black lives. Yes, "all lives matter" sounds wonderful - I don't disagree with that. But the phrase has antagonistic origins and insinuates that in this day in age, all lives are treated as if they do matter without a single exception to the rule. That simply isn't true. You are right; it's stupid, pointless, and even harmful to assume all cops are racist. Racism, however, does exist, and the police force isn't immune. I've heard of enough cases of police brutality in which blatant racism played a key roll to know this. To me, it seems stupid, pointless, and harmful to assume it's not a problem. It may be hurtful to a certain segment of the white population to hear the phrase "black lives matter." Guess what - it's hurtful to another segment of the population to hear that the only (ONLY) issue here is police brutality. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/09/09/you-really-can-get-pulled-over-for-driving-while-black-federal-statistics-show/ We all agree there is a problem. You can focus on police brutality. Or you can focus on police brutality directed towards black people. Or you can focus on lack of professionalism in the police force. Or you can focus on lack of professionalism in the police force directed towards people of different ethnic groups.

Well then. http://media.thedailytouch.com/2013/09/jabba_GIF.gif

http://img.pandawhale.com/90165-I-hate-you-gif-Anakin-Skywalke-epbW.gif Okay. Maybe that's a bit far fetched.

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6wl0kHuTz1r7nc50.gif

Oh

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_menpibTM3q1qgxd2f.gif Ignore Yoda. Why?

Don't sandwich your sirs!

Okay ... I finally started Star Wars for the first time about two months ago and saw The Force Awakens for the first time today. I skimmed this thread, and I have to agree that it would be lame if Rey was Luke's daughter. I like Brock's argument about Ren ****ing up the process of probing Rey's mind ... I suppose that's long forgotten, but you'll have to find the post yourself since I lost it in my hurry. If anyone else suggested this, I must have missed it ... is it possible that Rey doesn't have a father (or mother, for that matter)? Supposedly Anakin didn't, and his midichlorian count was off the charts. This reminds me of Kylo Ren - he'll never be an impressive villain; he's Han Solo's son (don't get me wrong here - Han's my favorite - I'm just talking good ol' fashioned genetics). To resume, I've seen the argument that Palpatine was behind the creation of Anakin ... who knows. If this is the case, it's kind of ironic that he did eventually bring balance to the force by killing the Emperor. But either Rey is more attuned to her senses than Luke or else the force is stronger with her. Unless Luke and Leia had a rendezvous and had to hide the evidence (I'm not suggesting this, lol ... ugh), I think perhaps someone figured out how to repeat the process. Given Anakin's history, it would be risky doings, but it would explain the emphasis put on her meeting with Luke. I personally would like Qui-Gon Jinn to be behind this. If any of this is either too obvious or too far fetched, I'm sorry. It is my first time through, after all. Do I need to watch anything else, or should I start over with the saga? (Okay, okay ... I confess I've seen the original trilogy episodes times in the last month to rouse my family's concern about the state of my mental health ... but ... Brock probably watches them this much year round. What can I say? )

You know, it's pointless having a discussion with you if you're going to resort to name calling. If you don't want me to categorize you alongside conservative republicans, then don't call me arrogant. I'm sorry I came off that way. You keep focusing on the fact that peoples' feelings are hurt when we talk about the number of innocent black lives that are ruthlessly taken. I would like respectfully ask you to pause and think about the feelings that were hurt when these black lives were passed aside as unimportant while slain police never failed to draw media attention. I'm not saying that attention was undeserved. I'm not minimizing the atrocity of the Dallas shooting. All I'm saying is black lives matter. I won't apologize.

This reminds me of the homo erectus and their valient (albeit unsuccessful) efforts to preserve their nonpareil culture. /Chief would know what I'm talking about.

I have one more thing to say. Of course all lives matter. The problem is, while most people verbally agree on this subject, there seems to be an ongoing trend that some lives matter more than others, hence Black Lives Matter. All it really comes down to is the right's (I'm broadly generalizing here for the sake of simplicity - no offense intended) inability (or refusal) to understand the meaning of a few simple words. For clarification, allow me to rephrase it for you: Black Lives Matter, Too. Does that make more sense?

No, I can't say you do understand why people are focusing on black lives. If it's racist to focus on black lives, is it classist of people on the other side to act like the police have it all together, blindly trusting that Philando Castile (among others) needed to die without pausing to ask so much as "WTF?!"? I doubt you believe this. Blaming the Dallas shooting on Black Lives Matter (or, even more broadly, people who support them) is no different than blaming all cops (even Dallas cops) for instances of police brutality. You may call it apples to oranges if you like. I call it green apples vs red apples.

Ahem. I object to this statement. Two things: first of all, I think heterochromia is beautiful (and no, spellcheck, I don't mean petrochemical), and secondly, So, um, http://24.media.tumblr.com/87932b20752f989ce8bd2c92d55def17/tumblr_mvrkm2kFar1qk04hlo4_250.gif

Awww, they've grown up so big. <3 I love how Maddux crosses his legs ... and btw, unless Penny is short for Pennant, I think she feels bad about her name.

Before I say anything else, thanks for the thoughtful post. You're one of many examples of someone who either works in the police force or is related to someone who does who actually admits police brutality is a thing, unlike the bandwagon fans who act like they're without fault. My Facebook feed (mostly conservative homers) is so loaded with ridiculous posts/memes that I sometimes forget these people exist. So thanks. However,

I'd report this for ... I don't know; I'd think of something - broken taillight? .... but I'm genuinely curious about what you mean.

Wow. Pray tell what this has to do with whether the shooting has anything to do with policy brutality and/or racism. And if it isn't too much, allow me to ask you what was more damaging to the child, remaining in her mother's care with her father alive, or remaining in her mother's care after seeing her father killed before her eyes?

I guess those synonyms work.

Um ... unsubstantial despondence?