Why don't you do something about it?

[Caj]

It strikes me reading these threads that after the recent Australian and US elections there are alot of people that are very angry with the current state of the world, and in particular the fact that Bush and Howard won these elections.

Some of these posters are so filled with hate that they have stated that they are happy when American troops are killed in Iraq, and wouldn't mind if Australians troops were also. Furthermore they have accused those of us who disagree with their view of the world of being morons, racist, murderers etc.etc.

I was just thinking that perhaps instead of sitting at your computer expressing your outrage and spouting your moral and intellectual superiority on an internet forum for football supporters, don't you think it would be a better idea to get of your fat a*ses and do something about it?

Yes, I know that in reality there is nothing you can do to oust Bush from power in the US (although you somehow think that Howard voters were responsible for getting him in ), but if you are all so much smarter than the rest of us then surely you can start work on getting the ALP back in to power at the next election.

Have any of you considered that instead of the hours that you waste posting on this forum (and many other sites I'm sure) could be better spent achieving this goal?

Perhaps this time could be spent undertaking volunteer work for your local ALP member in your electorate, who knows if you're as brilliant as you claim to be you could even be elected to Parliament at the next election.

If you are as horrified as you claim to be, but the only action you bother to take is to post your disgust on Bigfooty behind the safety of your PC, then you're no better than those coalition supporters who you so proudly label as morons and scum

 

[demon_dave]

the same can be said about the morons, maybe they can get off their fat arses and join the armed forces to fight in Iraq or the soon to be war in Iran

 

[Weaver]

I was just thinking that perhaps instead of sitting at your computer expressing your outrage and spouting your moral and intellectual superiority on an internet forum for football supporters, don't you think it would be a better idea to get of your fat a*ses and do something about it?

It is a bit presumptious to assume that you can bundle everyone together as being outraged. For some it is bemusement, cynicism or despair which are entirely different things.

 

[otaku]

the same can be said about the morons, maybe they can get off their fat arses and join the armed forces to fight in Iraq or the soon to be war in Iran

umm, why should they? That is what the armed forces are there for, and that is why the voted the goverment in.

If you want to change the situation, you should do more than simply bitch and moan on BF, is what I think Caj is trying to say.

 

[teams]

It is a bit presumptious to assume that you can bundle everyone together as being outraged. For some it is bemusement, cynicism or despair which are entirely different things.

yeah and how about us apoliticals. We are scum morons with the best of them.

Those with left leanings are only missing out on the joy of power. In Australia I would consider the labour party as having an influence. The coalition knows it has limits to how far it can before they'll lose favour. For instance if Howard had his druthers, medicare would go. The labour party can be said to be holding it in place, if not in quite the regard that they would personally do if in office. I really don't see that it makes much difference which side is in power in Australia. The nation just goes along one day at a time. Sure the senate is a rubber stamp next year but that's what we wanted. When we don't want it, there will be a change of government. My vote against Howard last time came from declaring war on Iraq whilst Blix was still in there. If Blix had of had the guts to stay, I would be happy. The UN would not have been over played by the USA.

In the grand old USA its a bit different if it is true that the result belonged to the side that best tapped bible or so called christian values. Very little doubt that the way to win an election in a western democracy at this stage is to believe in the christian god. Intersting to see how Blair goes.

 

[Contra Mundum]

How are we gonna make the workers rise: educate, agitate, organise!

 

[purplesoul]

The fact that people discuss, debate and argue the issues on forums such as BF shows an interest and raises awareness in the community. Surely this is better than just ignoring issues completely.

 

[funkyfreo]

Very little doubt that the way to win an election in a western democracy at this stage is to believe in the christian god. Intersting to see how Blair goes.

You need to insert the word FUNDAMENTAL in there somewhere. Has the US, UK or Australia EVER had a non-Christian PM/President?

 

[skipper kelly]

It strikes me reading these threads that after the recent Australian and US elections there are alot of people that are very angry with the current state of the world, and in particular the fact that Bush and Howard won these elections.

Some of these posters are so filled with hate that they have stated that they are happy when American troops are killed in Iraq, and wouldn't mind if Australians troops were also. Furthermore they have accused those of us who disagree with their view of the world of being morons, racist, murderers etc.etc.

I was just thinking that perhaps instead of sitting at your computer expressing your outrage and spouting your moral and intellectual superiority on an internet forum for football supporters, don't you think it would be a better idea to get of your fat a*ses and do something about it?

Yes, I know that in reality there is nothing you can do to oust Bush from power in the US (although you somehow think that Howard voters were responsible for getting him in ), but if you are all so much smarter than the rest of us then surely you can start work on getting the ALP back in to power at the next election.

Have any of you considered that instead of the hours that you waste posting on this forum (and many other sites I'm sure) could be better spent achieving this goal?

Perhaps this time could be spent undertaking volunteer work for your local ALP member in your electorate, who knows if you're as brilliant as you claim to be you could even be elected to Parliament at the next election.

If you are as horrified as you claim to be, but the only action you bother to take is to post your disgust on Bigfooty behind the safety of your PC, then you're no better than those coalition supporters who you so proudly label as morons and scum

Its kind of a catch 22 situation. Without what you posted this thread would be redundant.

 

[llosis]

You need to insert the word FUNDAMENTAL in there somewhere. Has the US, UK or Australia EVER had a non-Christian PM/President?

Probably not in the US. Wouldn't be sure about UK.

But surely there would be have been some of our PM who would not define themselves as christians. Particularly from the ALP. I'm not sure but what about Gough, Hawke, Keating? Latham defined himself as a humanist and I doubt he would have been the only major political party leader to do so.

Anyone able to cast any light on this?

 

[funkyfreo]

Keating was a Catholic. It seems Hawke was a member of Student Christian Movement.

So Christian background at least - as I say just not fundamental christians who wear religion on sleeve.

 

[llosis]

Where does Gough sit on such matters?
Be interested to know.

 

[funkyfreo]

It appears Gough's dad was very religous, but details on gough himself are hard to find (I'm finding)!

 

[Weaver]

You need to insert the word FUNDAMENTAL in there somewhere. Has the US, UK or Australia EVER had a non-Christian PM/President?

Benjamin Disraeli was born and raised Jewish before converting.

 

[Contra Mundum]

You need to insert the word FUNDAMENTAL in there somewhere. Has the US, UK or Australia EVER had a non-Christian PM/President?

Curtin was an avowed athiest

 

[Weaver]

Very little doubt that the way to win an election in a western democracy at this stage is to believe in the christian god.

Probably wouldn't make much difference in large parts of Northern Europe.

Anyway there is big difference between a politician who believes in the Christian God and one who SAYS they do.

At the last census 68% of the population claimed to be some form of Christian, yet weekly attendance at Christian churches is 1.5 million people or about 8% of the population.

 

[teams]

You need to insert the word FUNDAMENTAL in there somewhere. Has the US, UK or Australia EVER had a non-Christian PM/President?

The comment was to do with the present or future not the past. Put it this way. If a party in a western democracy chose a muslim as a leader, they wouldn't look like getting the job up.

 

[funkyfreo]

The comment was to do with the present or future not the past. Put it this way. If a party in a western democracy chose a muslim as a leader, they wouldn't look like getting the job up.

USA, Aust yes, UK maybe, Europe you never know.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Probably not in the US. Wouldn't be sure about UK.

But surely there would be have been some of our PM who would not define themselves as christians. Particularly from the ALP. I'm not sure but what about Gough, Hawke, Keating? Latham defined himself as a humanist and I doubt he would have been the only major political party leader to do so.

Anyone able to cast any light on this?

Most US Presidents have been Methodist or Southern Baptist. The fear of papal influence was so strong that when John Kennedy was campaigning in 1960, he had to assure the American population that he was not going to take orders/edicts from the Pope! As it happened he became the first (and only) Catholic president. (Also notable are Democrat challengers Al Smith (1928) and John Kerry who have also been Catholic).

As for us, the first Australian born G-G - Sir Isaac Isaacs - was Jewish, as was Sir Zelman Cowen.

 

[PA HOG]

As for us, the first Australian born G-G - Sir Isaac Isaacs - was Jewish, as was Sir Zelman Cowen.

genuine question ..........how did they handle the Lord's Prayer in the Federal Parliament?

 

[PA HOG]

Keating was a Catholic. It seems Hawke was a member of Student Christian Movement.

So Christian background at least - as I say just not fundamental christians who wear religion on sleeve.

Hawke was the son of a Congrgational minister. In his early years he was involved in Christian Youth movements. During his travels he took a keen interest in a variety of religions and enjoyed discussing them with senior church personnel. Interested as he was, he ultimately found all religions intellectually unacceptable.

 

[Minka Beaver]

Hawke was the son of a Congrgational minister. In his early years he was involved in Christian Youth movements. During his travels he took a keen interest in a variety of religions and enjoyed discussing them with senior church personnel. Interested as he was, he ultimately found all religions intellectually unacceptable.

This might be a load of cr@p, but I heard that his disillusion came from a serious motorbike accident that nearly killed him and which has also been blamed for his alcoholism.

As for the Lord's Prayer, it probably didn't concern them greatly. I went to an Anglican school that also attracted many kids from the Jewish community and they didn't have a problem dealing with the Easter services etc.

 

[PA HOG]

This might be a load of cr@p, but I heard that his disillusion came from a serious motorbike accident that nearly killed him and which has also been blamed for his alcoholism.




Hawke wrote that he believed God had spared him following an acccident in King's Park, Perth, riding home from the law library. He was pretty seriously injured, having his spleen removed the next day. He claimed that following his treatment, he had boundless energy and was able to go long hours without sleep. Does it follow that people going long hours without sleep end up drinking? You might be onto something!

 

[Caj]

well this post has certainly moved on to an interesting tangent!

My original post wasn't asking everyone who is disgruntled with the state of Australia and the world to do something (although it wouldn't hurt you), just the posters who appear to be so passionate about the current state of play that they are happy to label the rest of us ignorant morons while at the same time boasting about the casualties in Iraq

I'm assuming that the answer to my original post is "no, the only thing i am going to do is anonymously vent my frustrations on Bigfooty to a bunch of other posters who i will probably never meet"

 

[demon_dave]

well this post has certainly moved on to an interesting tangent!

My original post wasn't asking everyone who is disgruntled with the state of Australia and the world to do something (although it wouldn't hurt you), just the posters who appear to be so passionate about the current state of play that they are happy to label the rest of us ignorant morons while at the same time boasting about the casualties in Iraq

I'm assuming that the answer to my original post is "no, the only thing i am going to do is anonymously vent my frustrations on Bigfooty to a bunch of other posters who i will probably never meet"

sometimes people need somewhere to vent their spleen, what is it that you do??