Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[element105]

[Hank898989]

dude, i cant believe how messed up you have it. Look at it this way, who are the Iraqi prisoners?
next look at how Saddam treated Iraq as a WHOLE!!!! not just the few that were in his prisons but the majority of the country that lived under his tyrannical rule. He made the country shrink in fear, he was the defintion of a tyrant, and it's not like thats a good thing. I agree that the way some prisoners in Iraq are being treated is horrible, but you have to be pretty messed up if you can even THINK of comparing Saddam to us. To specify the extent to which Saddam tourtured the Iraqis aand the extreme difference between the U.S. and Saddam im going to ask a few questions.
HOw many people came out of Abu Gharib not in a casket during Saddams rule?
Did the U.S. use biological weapons on their own people or on the Iraqis?
Are the prisoners in Abu Gharib now being cut, beaten up, and thrown into sewers, or are they being shocked on their genitals?
How well off was Saddam in proportion to the rest of his country?
Is the soccer team being threatened to be beaten up and tourtured if they lose?
How have the Iraq national teams done without Saddam breathing down their necks?
_________________
Taiwan is not a part of China!!

[StephenLong]

[beancurdturtle]

U.S. style Democracy is a relatively young form of government compared to human history. It requires a social and economic environment that is synergistic with a democratic philosophy to be successful. This is not a common thing when you examine the world as a whole.

Domocracy in most cases has had very tentative success, and in many cases has been a failure. See what "democracy" has done for Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq - do you see a net improvement?
_________________
Daniel

�Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.�
--Dr. Seuss

[Anuradha Chepur]

Modernization is a young part of human history, of which democracy is a part.
I agree that democracy is full of holes, but till the future comes up with a better alternate, it's the best available choice.

[beancurdturtle]

[asterix]

I would say that China is moving towards democracy in an intelligent way, and that the life of most of its people has improved under the present system.
It is quite possible to live a full and happy life in a police state, just as long as you don't get caught breaking the rules.
Every government, in reality, runs a police state, as you will soon find out if you are caught breaking any laws. Even Canada, which likes to think it is a kinder gentler version of the USA, has empowered its police to suspend the driving licences of people for 12 hours, without trial or even without appearing before a judge.
This is the sort of thing the western democracies like to sneer at when it happens in places like Russia.
In the case of Iraq, it appears that religion has reared its ugly head.
Religion is touted by its adherents as a force for good, but if you look at the history of the world, you will see that more people have been killed in the name of religion than practically anything else.
This especially true of today.

[hoshi]

Costa Rica doesn't have an army and it is really great. I think all the world shouldn't have an army
_________________
God gave us two ears to hear, two eyes to see and two hands to hold. But why did God gave us only one heart? Because He wants us to find the other one!

[Anuradha Chepur]

[beancurdturtle]

[StephenLong]

[beancurdturtle]

[StephenLong]

turtle,

really? i felt nothing in my country. maybe....you should change your country. hehe
let's know what happened to you for you un-religion.
and where is red-rose busying in? i am sure no horrible diseases happened in China.

[Anuradha Chepur]

Democracy has been off-and-on in Pakistan, and that puts it
much ahead the Arab countries. People are pretty educated and a complete transition cannot be ruled out.

[StephenLong]

i don't mind having democracy or not.