The Introduce Yourself thread!

[Rico Dynamite]

Originally Posted by Scribbler1

Welcome. Middle eastern, eh? No shortage of discussions regarding THAT area.

thanks, and yeah. i kinda lucked out on that one, but wish my field hadn't come into vogue in quite this way. while the rest of my co-students were studying Latin America because of NAFTA and East Asia because of MFN/WTO, I decided to go against the grain and study eastern Europe and the Middle East.

[Scribbler1]

Originally Posted by Rico Dynamite

thanks, and yeah. i kinda lucked out on that one, but wish my field hadn't come into vogue in quite this way. while the rest of my co-students were studying Latin America because of NAFTA and East Asia because of MFN/WTO, I decided to go against the grain and study eastern Europe and the Middle East.

It would appear your field SHOULD HAVE come into vogue a long time ago. Anyway, the thread isn't for extended conversations so I'll be seeing you on the boards and again, welcome.

[AmnLega]

Hello, i am Airman Alex Lega, 19 y/o, a meber of the 91st MSFS stationed in Minot AFB, ND. (North dakota is really flat) My job consists of gaurding Nuclear Missles. The Air Force is great, but I soon hope to be cross training into the Army For airborne infantry.
I am a registered Republican and an extremley dedicated conservative. Like many Teenagers, i got mixed up in all that leftist propaganda and nonsense when i was in high school. But the i got a swift kick in the ass by listening to one of the greatest poilctical minds of our time, Michael Savage. I love listening to talk radio, reading, and video games of course. I look forward to posting on this forum.

[Scribbler1]

Welcome, Alex. See you around the boards.

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by AmnLega

Hello, i am Airman Alex Lega, 19 y/o, a meber of the 91st MSFS stationed in Minot AFB, ND. (North dakota is really flat) My job consists of gaurding Nuclear Missles. The Air Force is great, but I soon hope to be cross training into the Army For airborne infantry.
I am a registered Republican and an extremley dedicated conservative. Like many Teenagers, i got mixed up in all that leftist propaganda and nonsense when i was in high school. But the i got a swift kick in the ass by listening to one of the greatest poilctical minds of our time, Michael Savage. I love listening to talk radio, reading, and video games of course. I look forward to posting on this forum.

First, thanks for defending my freedom. Second, as a dedicated conservative, you'll find this a target-rich environment.

[Scribbler1]

Thanks for reminding me, JP. I make it a point to thank each and every person who serves in our military who graces any forum I'm on, but It just slipped my mind this time for some reason.

Thanks for your service Alex. And again, welcome.

[Richyrich03867]

You better start doing the airborn shuffle, hitting the gym and staying out of the dining facility if you want to go Airborne, it is a hell of a lot more strenuous than guarding missiles, Airman!!

P.S. thank you for serving.

[lliberltwtarian]

Hey. My name is Matt. I am 16 years old and currently a junior in high school. I plan on attending college and if i had my choice i would attend the United States Military Academy, as i hope to one day also be airborne. I recently became involved in politics with civil liberties as my hot button issue. I consider myself to identify more with republicans but consider myself a libertarian. Anyone who thinks they might share a similar political philosphy pm me.

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by lliberltwtarian

Hey. My name is Matt. I am 16 years old and currently a junior in high school. I plan on attending college and if i had my choice i would attend the United States Military Academy, as i hope to one day also be airborne. I recently became involved in politics with civil liberties as my hot button issue. I consider myself to identify more with republicans but consider myself a libertarian. Anyone who thinks they might share a similar political philosphy pm me.

I'm a Jeffersonian Liberal who has NEVER voted for a Democrat. Welcome aboard and attending the military academy can be quite a feat. Good luck.

[denicast]

Greetings!

I am a 38 year old married mother of an adorable 18 month old son, so I am not sure how much time I will have to commit to this forum. Parents of toddlers on this forum know what I mean. I have a Political Science degree with a minor in British and American Literature.

For over a dozen years, I was a registered Green Party member. Then I got angry with Nader and the Green Party that I left the party to be "Decline to State." Being "decline to state" means that I am disgusted with all of the parties on various levels. Being a woman means that there is absolutely no reason to ever be a republican, especially since the religious right has hijacked the party.

I am pro-worker. I will never break a picket line and feel that what is best for workers is what is best for our country. In a consumer-driven economy, it is essential that workers/consumers are making enough to drive demand for products and services, which are provided by workers. I believe that millions of dollars have been spent over the past couple of decades to convince the average american to not identify with being a worker and to vote against their own best interests.

In order for markets to work, they need to be properly regulated. Unregulated markets misbehave and work against the best interests of consumers and workers. The best restraint on capitalism is an informed democracy. I also believe in supporting local small businesses instead of multinational corporations. There are a lot of companies who try to pass themselves off as American companies, but end up acting like extra-national companies working against the best interests of America and Americans.

I am intensely interested in military strategy and the history of war. My favorite conflict of study is the Peloponnesian War because it is true epic cautionary tale of a superior military power overcome by its own arete or sense of superiority.

I am against war because of our inability in modern times to wage total war. Total war is a concept that you must completely wipe out your enemy by any means possible. Waging less than total war means waging limited warfare that turns into an open-ended war of attrition. I was against the Iraq war, because it was clear to me prior to the war that the Bush Administration was acting on questionable intelligence and would try to wage war "on the cheap" with no consideration for what would happen after Saddam was toppled. It turns out my suspicions were right. In cases like this, I hate to be right.

It is indisputable fact that our military is stronger than all militaries on this planet combined and everyone on the planet knows this. This is why no one bothers to take us on conventionally, and just lets extra-national terror cells conduct unconventional war on us using our own technology against us. Treating terrorists as if they are a conventional military target elevates common criminals to the undeserved status of soldiers. Since we cannot conduct total war and our enemies are extra-national, we need to show more brains than brawn.

I am civil libertarian. I like government out of my personal decisions and out of my bedroom. I believe a government that can ban abortion can make abortion compulsary, because the underlying assumption is that a woman has no sovereignty over her body. I believe that the religious right has little to do with Christ and more to do with controlling and punishing behavior -- especially the behavior of women. Having government being in the position to intervene in our moral decisions is the height of big government.

I believe in the de-criminalization of marijuana, so we can focus on keeping molestors, rapists, and other violent criminals off the street. I believe that individuals should be able to opt to die on their own terms (including being able to get help from their doctor) and not be second guessed by anyone else.

I firmly believe in individual liberty and responsibility. Our system of government exists to protect minority opinion from tyranny of the majority. I would fight to protect speech and expression I violently disagree with, but I will also speak out to counter that speech in debate.

I believe that a civilized society is judged on how they treat women and children. Based on my research over the years, the United States has treated women and children poorly. Our culture and social policies tear more families apart than together. Our actions betray our claim that we are a christian country.

My spirituality is a mixture of progressive episcopalian, quaker, fallen catholic, and buddhism-curious.

On a lighter note, I am a big film buff especially Kurosawa, Film Noir, big epics, and political potboilers. My shameful mental-junkfood is reality television. I love history, art, music, and taking walks with my son.

[Scribbler1]

Hello, Mom, and welcome to USPO. Looking forward to see you in the boards.

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by denicast

Greetings!

I am a 38 year old married mother of an adorable 18 month old son, so I am not sure how much time I will have to commit to this forum. Parents of toddlers on this forum know what I mean. I have a Political Science degree with a minor in British and American Literature.

For over a dozen years, I was a registered Green Party member. Then I got angry with Nader and the Green Party that I left the party to be "Decline to State." Being "decline to state" means that I am disgusted with all of the parties on various levels. Being a woman means that there is absolutely no reason to ever be a republican, especially since the religious right has hijacked the party.

Oh boy, you'll have fun here. Personally, I can't imagine a mother ever wanting any parts of the "Party of the Grim Reaper" (Democratic), but "decline to state" works too.

I am pro-worker. I will never break a picket line and feel that what is best for workers is what is best for our country. In a consumer-driven economy, it is essential that workers/consumers are making enough to drive demand for products and services, which are provided by workers. I believe that millions of dollars have been spent over the past couple of decades to convince the average american to not identify with being a worker and to vote against their own best interests.

OK, so you have socialist leanings. I support Union workers too. Right up to the point that there jobs are sent overseas. Seems a pity to lose all of those good-paying jobs because unions protect the incompetent and extort an unrasonable wage...but we can get into that in another thread.

In order for markets to work, they need to be properly regulated. Unregulated markets misbehave and work against the best interests of consumers and workers. The best restraint on capitalism is an informed democracy. I also believe in supporting local small businesses instead of multinational corporations. There are a lot of companies who try to pass themselves off as American companies, but end up acting like extra-national companies working against the best interests of America and Americans.

And many of those multi-nation corporations became such because of the regulation of business by THIS democracy.

I am intensely interested in military strategy and the history of war. My favorite conflict of study is the Peloponnesian War because it is true epic cautionary tale of a superior military power overcome by its own arete or sense of superiority.

My personal tastes lie with the Greeks and the battle of Thermopoly. 100,000 Persian soldiers held to a standstill by 300-500 Spartans for almost 2 days.
Despite being betrayed by another Greek, the Spartans, once engaged in a battle NEVER retreated. Eventually, the Persian bowmen killed all of the Spartans from a distance because they were too scared to face them in hand-to-hand combat after the thousands of Persian bodied piled up on Day 1.

I am against war because of our inability in modern times to wage total war. Total war is a concept that you must completely wipe out your enemy by any means possible. Waging less than total war means waging limited warfare that turns into an open-ended war of attrition. I was against the Iraq war, because it was clear to me prior to the war that the Bush Administration was acting on questionable intelligence and would try to wage war "on the cheap" with no consideration for what would happen after Saddam was toppled. It turns out my suspicions were right. In cases like this, I hate to be right.

Waging war on the cheap?! I guess that you haven't seen the tab for the second Iraq War yet.

It is indisputable fact that our military is stronger than all militaries on this planet combined and everyone on the planet knows this. This is why no one bothers to take us on conventionally, and just lets extra-national terror cells conduct unconventional war on us using our own technology against us. Treating terrorists as if they are a conventional military target elevates common criminals to the undeserved status of soldiers. Since we cannot conduct total war and our enemies are extra-national, we need to show more brains than brawn.

Agreed to an extent. The Minutemen took on the British Army using similar tactics and it worked for us......but this is different. The average Joe Iraqi isn't interested in backing the insurgents. Most come from foreign countries to fight.

I am civil libertarian. I like government out of my personal decisions and out of my bedroom. I believe a government that can ban abortion can make abortion compulsary, because the underlying assumption is that a woman has no sovereignty over her body. I believe that the religious right has little to do with Christ and more to do with controlling and punishing behavior -- especially the behavior of women. Having government being in the position to intervene in our moral decisions is the height of big government.

You'll have fun in this forum with those beliefs, too.

I believe in the de-criminalization of marijuana, so we can focus on keeping molestors, rapists, and other violent criminals off the street. I believe that individuals should be able to opt to die on their own terms (including being able to get help from their doctor) and not be second guessed by anyone else.

Why not legalize marijuana, crack and herione? Why stop at decriminalization if you are a true social libertarian?

I firmly believe in individual liberty and responsibility. Our system of government exists to protect minority opinion from tyranny of the majority. I would fight to protect speech and expression I violently disagree with, but I will also speak out to counter that speech in debate.

Ditto.

I believe that a civilized society is judged on how they treat women and children. Based on my research over the years, the United States has treated women and children poorly. Our culture and social policies tear more families apart than together. Our actions betray our claim that we are a christian country.

Compared to where? Compared to Muslim countries, we're extremely liberal.
I also agree that a society is judged on how it treats children. That's why I don't want to see them murdered by the millions for the convenience of their "mothers".

My spirituality is a mixture of progressive episcopalian, quaker, fallen catholic, and buddhism-curious.

In a word "rudderless?"

On a lighter note, I am a big film buff especially Kurosawa, Film Noir, big epics, and political potboilers. My shameful mental-junkfood is reality television. I love history, art, music, and taking walks with my son.

Good for you. The time spent with your son is NEVER wasted. I have 3 college kids now and have enjoyed their growing up immensely. You have lots of fun ahead of you. I can't count the number of softball, baseball, soccer, hockey, basketball, etc., teams that I've coached over the years. To this day, my 20 year old son and I spend a lot of time together. He never went through the phase where "Dad" wasn't cool. May you have the same luck.

Well, I wanted to give you a smattering of what to expect in this forum. We're generally civil and always willing to debate.
Welcome.

[Scribbler1]

jp, I think she was just introducing herself and giving a little backstory and not challenging anyone to a debate here.
And I agree with both of you about time with your kids. I am so proud of the man my kid turned out to be its disgusting.

[denicast]

Waging war on the cheap?! I guess that you haven't seen the tab for the second Iraq War yet.

When I said "on the cheap" I wasn't talking about the cost in dollars or in lives, but the fact that we didn't go in with enough troops to do the job. The Bush administration made the assumption that all we had to do is go in, topple Saddam, and be greeted with open arms. My feeling was that we would at least go in with the same level of force we did in the first Gulf War. I was thinking a larger force given the fact that invasion and occupation is a more comprehensive task than repelling an inferior invading force. It was pretty easy to predict that we would have an insurgency both native and foreign, and have a problem with coming up with a government seen as legitimate in an occupied Iraq. No matter how indisputably terrible and hated Saddam was having a foreign invading and occupying force in one's homeland does breed resentment, especially if you do not provide the essential level of security and services they need (and come to expect in even a horrible totalitarian government). You also run into the problem that since we have invested so much into this effort we naturally want the eventual Iraqi government to be friendly to US interests, but in trying influence that outcome we will undermine the legitimacy of that government. Westerners have a terrible track record when it comes to dealing with nation building in the Middle East, so excuse me if I am not very optimistic in our chances now.

I am also upset that while we are building schools in Iraq, our schools in this country are being shut down and underfunded.

[jpsartre12]

Originally Posted by Scribbler1

jp, I think she was just introducing herself and giving a little backstory and not challenging anyone to a debate here.

I was just trying to give her a taste of the things to come.

And I agree with both of you about time with your kids. I am so proud of the man my kid turned out to be its disgusting.

I hear you. I have one in grad school and two doing undergrad now. The last just graduated HS as valadictorian two weeks ago, topping her brother's salutatorian two years before.