Here's a thought.

What would the reaction be if I emailed a senator or congressman and told them my thoughts and feelings about Alito (or any other issue). What affect would a Canadian living in Japan have one these people? Do you think that they would even care?

I hate being on the outside looking in.

Extraordinary rendition. Foreign devil.

I don't know what this means...

Your letter would be one of hundreds they receive every week.
They do read them though. They have pages to do that work,
and figure which pile to put your letter in for a reply
that sometimes looks almost as it it was actually written just for you!

When I send mail to my congress persons, I'm tyrying to add to a perticular pile.
When a certain pile gets big enough, they pay attention!

If you letter contains a few choice and select keywords,
your letter will get very personal attention,
and "they" might even knock on your door for an up front and personal chit chat!

But I worry that when they read "Canadian" or "living in Japan" they will simply tune out.

Possibly. They aren't there for you.
Yer not a constituent

I guess the question becomes then, should I care? If I cannot make a difference, should I bother caring about the US, or the people who live there?

"I don't know what this means... "


Extraordinary rendition is when the US government sends its representatives to your country of residence, and treats you to a free vacation in a central Asian or eastern European country, with travel provided by the CIA on their very own Gulfstream jet.

COOL! Will Dick Cheney give me a "pep talk" on the flight?

Will I get to go "waterboarding" and learn what a "palistinian hanging" is all about?

Sounds like a gas

"Will I get to go "waterboarding" and learn what a "palistinian hanging" is all about?"

Only if you are innocent of any wrongdoing. If you are truly a terrorist, no vacation. They will offer you a job.

Gee, on the outside looking in, that's how I feel and I'm a CA constituent. At least both of my Senators plan on voting NO on Alito but most of the others I've contacted don't give a hoot who the hell I am...I'm not in their state. That doesn't stop me. They NEED to hear from ALL of us. We're all citizens of the world and this man, Alito, will set us back a couple of hundred years. What hurts us here in America will hurt others worldwide. (Kennedy's office was really nice.)
I, and other American citizens, care what you think. Our Senators rarely care what any of us think as long as the dough keeps rolling in and they can keep getting elected with or without helpful machines.

Contact them all. You have every right. Go for it!

e.g. Ben Nelson, supposed Democratic Senator, is voting FOR Alito and his office says he doesn't listen to non-constituents. His office also says that 90% of his constituents agree with him. I say, bullshit. His vote on Alito affects ALL OF US! (Nelson is a DINO!)

I am a member of a British moms' board as well, so I can tell you they contact US officials when they feel moved to do so. But yes it would probably be water off a duck's back as you don't vote in the US. The British moms contacted Schwarzenegger about Tookie William's execution.

But hey, wouldn't you rather try to make a difference than do nothing?

You know, technically Canadians are American aswell, since they live on the American continent. Kinda like Russians are Asians or Europian depending on which side of the mountain they are on. So just mention you are an American living in japan and forget to say you are a Canadian National. I mean hey if they want to play by the edge of the rules, then why not you?

I think that if I ever typed or spoke the words "I am an ======an" my heart and brain would explode simulaniously.

Its true, technically everyone who lives in the Americas in American, from Canada to Chile.

You are very correct on this fact. I've often felt that it was sort of weird that we claim "america", rather than the US, so for my part, I try to be conscious of it and say United States instead of just American, because it's not exactly what I am getting at.

Trust me. You guys didn't claim it. The rest of us gave it up

Well I am bringing it back. I am gonig to start calling everyone who just lives here American. I am willing to share the dream, even if right now its a nightmare.

I'll stick with "Canadian" thanks.

Funnily enough, if you walked into any place in Canada and started calling people "American's", you'd be in for a tough night.

Trust me MM, the rest of us don't mind not being "American."

You know, if I read somewhere that all Canadians are weak and homosexual, should I believe it? No. It would be even more vile for me to spread this "fact" before truly understanding the sentence.

Why do you believe everything you hear about Americans? Same with a Jew or a Cambodian. The moment you start to draw a line seperating you from someone, you will always BE seperate from them. Everyone knows this is what drives the hate in the world, the envy, the greed, the ignorance.

We are ALL human. Is there an answer of bringing true togetherness around the world?

Ya know Scorp,
you sound more and more like you have the Canadian atypical "America envy."
If you would stop over compenating so much,
I might actually believe the words!

It likely wouldn't even be read, much less considered seriously. Republican or Democrat, with our current political system, you are always on the outside looking in, unless you are a lobbyist with special privileged access to a politician. One person can make no difference. Only a very large group of people working together to accomplish agreed-upon goals can make a difference.

AFW,

Here's an idea,
why don't you actually try writing a letter to your congressmen,
then you'll have a knowledge based on experience,
instead of the converse!

Your letter would be "round filed", Scorp, or at least I hope it would.

My elected officials are not here to represent you, they are here to represent me. Your opinions of my country are only relevant as regards international law. You have no say-so in my representative democracy.

You, of course, know this, so I have to ask; what is the point of your question?

I would like to see my government more concerned with America's place in the world than is currently being demonstrated, meaning I dislike, probably as much and maybe more than some non-Americans, the bullying, colonial, holier-than-thou position we've taken. As I work in the international community I am very familiar with the resentment now being (rightfully) directed at the US, and I am ashamed of my government. As such, I work toward government more interested in international diplomacy than in international aggression, whether through military might or economic force. A lot of us do.

For what it might be worth to you, the American people cannot be summed up by the American government, and the majority do not think we have greater rights than the rest of the world, nor do we think we live in the greatest nation on earth. We think that ours is a great nation, with a wacky political system and problems with government corruption (must be nice that you Canadians don't have any corruption in politics), but a great nation none-the-less. We're here working to correct what we see wrong.

Dammit, VT, I love the things you say!!!!!! Or maybe the way you state them so well. Either way, well done!

I think Ambroff (sp?) just proved that one man can do alot.


VT, your responce is great.

There is a thead poll here that asks, how did you learn about the PNAC?
Most replied with, surfing the web and that lead to discovering the POAC.

Huh! Imagine that!


I would imagine that not every person who similarly discoveres the POAC actually signs up!
If I were to make a wild guess, lets say 1 in 50 sign up after reading the forum and or the front page.
Further, if 10 people signed up after a web search discovery,
that would mean 5000 people have read the forums and didn't sign up.

Now, do you talk politics with freinds, family, co-workers and the other people in your life?
Do you suppose 5000 visitors talk with the people in THEIR lives?
Do you suppose the things they discovered, or reaffirmed as a result of spending time here isn't reflected in their discussions?
And the people they talk too, who in tern talk to the people in THEIR lives?

This is the ripple effect, and that effect can potentially be HUGE!
All because of a few people!
In this case, 2 people. TJ and Robin! And who knows who all influenced them?




When you say one person can't effect change,
that's pure Bull Shit!


In recient days I have been battling the negativity on this site.
I give a shit about it because of that ripple effect I just told you about!
Visitors come through here and they read what we post,
and share what they learn with others!

I simply do NOT want to teach anyone that it's ok to throw in the towell!
I want these people to feel empowered when they leave the site!
I want them to feel it's not a lost cause, and that one person can make a differance!

Those of you who have polayed the role of the negative influence,
I first question your patriotism.
Second, I call you hypocrites!

This is the WHITE ROSE Forum, named after the WHITE ROSE SOCIETY,
because of the many similarities between Germany in the 30's and some things happening in the US today!
However, the White Rose Society was people working in extremely opressive times, to CORRECT a problem.
NOT WHINE ABOUT IT!

If you are a member of this forum,
then you in effect state that you recognise and sympathize with the ideals of the White Rose Society.




If you are not a part of the solution,
then you are a part of the problem!

This is a great forum Sky and in fact the only online forum I belong to, but does that mean I am 100% bound to YOUR ideal of what White Rose is? Do you even know? They keep recordings of liberal radio stations? Does that say some sort of politcal agenda or ideal?

In fact these past couple of days I have been researching alot about "White Rose" and I have learned they SHARE this forum with another group of people. I am not an offical member of ether grouping of people, but I enjoy the debate here and the information that is shared. Does this mean I, in effect, state that I recognize or sympathize with an ideal that is not clearly stated?

In fact, your whole post is one of redicule and exclusion, Sky. Like we dont know satistics. Reminds me of something a preacher would say to a congregation that does not adhere to his version of the bible. I didnt know you are the one who defined what Liberals and Progressives believe Sky. Damn and this whole time, I thought it was just a collection of ideals from the middle of politics. Well excuse my blunder.



Never heard such a bigger pile of bullshit in my life. Oh and before you get to it Sky. Yes, my whole post is totally wrong, because it disagrees with all the NEGATIVE stuff you are saying. So yes, excuse my challenge to your authority over progressives and their ideals. Oh, you can make events like this lessen if you make a book for us all to follow too, like the Christians! That would be niffty!

Sorry that you insist on hanging on to your negativity MM.

I guess it sucks to be you!

In my view, I am not negative at all, I think you define it in someways. If you want to think of me as such go right on.

I like how you didnt even comment on how I called you out. *laughs*

I wrote a big long rant here, but I'm gonna say "fuck it."