In Any War Between The Civilized Man ....

[Aeson]

Yeah. I hadn't checked in since it was still on a single page and decided it wasn't worth my time to read the rest once I saw it had devolved to Ben and Aeson arguing about metrics or some stupid **** like that.

You are a moron. Semantic arguments are vastly superior to Semitic ones.

[Uncle Sparky]

Anti-Semantic.

[Aeson]

Yes. Canada has proven itself superior once again. I want to change my "moron" to "anti-Semanite" in the previous post.

[Aeson]

(Not to be confused with anti-Semenite ... which we definitely couldn't accuse Tupac of.)

[Aeson]

(Or anti-Seamanite for that matter)

[Uncle Sparky]

That would be meaningless...

[Aeson]

Anti-punite

[Guynemer]

Anti-dentites.

[Ben Kenobi]

Perhaps you could use your situation to learn how to have a little bit of empathy towards those in situations who cannot immigrate (or move back in some cases) to where they would like to live?

Oh, are you talking about yourself? Didn't know that was the case. Last I still heard you were over in the Phils and I seem to vaguely recall it not going so well. Anyways, I'm not up on your life.

[onodera]

Ben, should various Native Americans be given their ancestral homeland back?

[Aeson]

Oh, are you talking about yourself? Didn't know that was the case. Last I still heard you were over in the Phils and I seem to vaguely recall it not going so well. Anyways, I'm not up on your life.

Yes, I'm obviously the one you should have empathy towards when speaking about the savage Muslims who only care about the Jew gold in Israel/Palestine

As for my situation in regards to migratory potential, I'm in the Phils (where I've chosen to be) and could easily go back to the US if I should so choose. It wouldn't be that difficult to take Net with me to the US either if at some point we should so choose to go that route.

There are billions of other people on earth who are not so free to choose their location. That might be where this specific empathy I'm talking about could be usefully employed ...

[Ben Kenobi]

Ben, should various Native Americans be given their ancestral homeland back?

That's a good question.

I grew up in a small town in Northern BC - where land claims are a huge issue. There are several questions that need to be considered.

1 - what to do about those who have bought land on territory that the native peoples claim. They will have to be compensated for the full and present value for their property. The one responsible for the land - the Crown should be the one to repay them.

2 - what about the infrastructure? Most of the land claims are made without reference to the overlying infrastructure, roads, highways, etc. Some are entirely inaccessable by paved roads, some can only be accessed by planes, some overlap with other claims, etc.

3 - do the natives really want to be self-governing? Everything I've seen suggests that the answer is no. They would rather be part of Canada than outside of Canada. Most would not be viable on their own, as the reserves themselves would not have enough people nor infrastructure to function without some sort of agreement with Canada.

4 - what to do about the natives that want to stay? Will they lose their claims to the land or will they retain it? If they choose to stay in Canada how do we decide who belongs with who?

5 - There are something on the order of 130 different land claims in BC alone. You're not going to have 130 distinct nations in BC that are independent of Canada - that's just unworkable and ungovernable on the scale of the HRE. Is there going to be a tribal confederation? Are all the different tribes going to have their place? What is the heirarchy going to be?

6- Sovereignty issues. National defense - coinage, etc.

My answer in light of all of these - is no. We can accomplish more by keeping them in Canada, and establishing their treaty rights to specific areas on the level of municipal government. This needs to be done - kicking the can as BC has done is a huge problem. These claims need to be settled in a way that's beneficial to everyone and I don't believe that giving them the land and cutting them off altogether is productive, for Canada and for them.

Personally - if the Carriers were to tell me and my family that we had to sell our land to them - we'd fight them in court as long as we could. I have no problem selling it, but only if I get to decide to whom it goes. I do not want it going to the local band, because they have done a terrible job looking after their own people.

[Ben Kenobi]

There are billions of other people on earth who are not so free to choose their location. That might be where this specific empathy I'm talking about could be usefully employed ...

Insofar as Israel is concerned, my sympathy rests with them.

[Aeson]

Insofar as Israel is concerned, my sympathy rests with them.

Obviously.

Contrary to your implications here, empathy/sympathy are not restricted to just one group of people, or one "side" (ignoring that the "sides" you're painting here are hardly homogeneous). You could support Israel's right to defend itself while still having empathy for innocent Palestinians who have lost their homes/loved ones in the conflicts as well.

[Ben Kenobi]

Contrary to your implications here, empathy/sympathy are not restricted to just one group of people, or one "side" (ignoring that the "sides" you're painting here are hardly homogeneous). You could support Israel's right to defend itself while still having empathy for innocent Palestinians who have lost their homes/loved ones in the conflicts as well.

I have an affinity for the Jewish people. While I'm sure you can love all the sides equally, I cannot. Insofar as Israel is concerned, I stand with her against her enemies.