soalbundy

You seem to think I support the Muslim's viewpoint, I don't, I am not a Muslim or a Christian, I don't identify with any religion although I can find points of agreement with the philosophical aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism but one should give credit where credit is due, not every Muslim is a potential terrorist. Jews also view Judaism as primary over the state and yet nobody calls them out on it and I don't agree with the momentary anti-Jewish hysteria happening at this time. Religion, once a necessary unifying element in ancient societies, has outlived its usefulness. Today terrorism is more about international politics than religion but it's a useful cloak that is used to justify a multitude of sins. Even the Nazis had 'Gott mit uns' stamped on their belt buckle.

There was a time when Muslims, Jews and Christians were able to live harmoniously together. Considering the atrocities committed by the crusaders I don't think we should get all precious about similar atrocities committed by the Muslims.

Surin province, no it isn't hot and dry, at the moment we have a sort of European spring time weather.

If you read what I wrote carefully you would see that I was referring to the 'Islamic golden age' which took place from the 8th to the 14th century where they made significant advances in mathematics, astronomy and medicine until the Islamic religion radicalized society to the extent that progress withered and the seats of learning were transferred to the West. Today, due to the lack of division of secular and religious law, Muslims aren't able to return to an age of reason.

Three cheeks? Most, if not all, religions are a source of trouble, perhaps Buddhism is an exception because they don't proselytize but Islam tends to be exceptional in this respect and tends to go hand in hand with bigotry, ignorance, extremism and violence with no desire to apply logic. The Arab world was a beacon of light in the middle ages, leading the world in mathematics, astrology, medicine and science in general until Islamic extremism took a real hold on society and the Islamic world took large backward steps from which they never recovered. During the middle ages the Christian world swam in bigotry, ignorance and violence but recovered and applied themselves to logic, taking up where the Arabs left off (not without a fight from the church). Today Christian bigotry still exists but secular forces have the upper hand, this isn't possible in the Islamic world because religion has forced them so far backwards that discussion is no longer possible, to reason would result in death and so intellectual ignorance is the result. I have met many Muslims in Germany and in Southern Thailand who are fine, gentle people as long as they stay in their own bubble world within the restraining influence of secularism but don't scratch the surface too deeply, there are the monsters of intolerance and ignorance waiting to appear.

I don't know where this quote came from but I agree with it. "Not every Muslim is a trouble maker but where there is trouble there is a Muslim."

Which is why conscientious objectors in the two world wars were generally imprisoned. Identifying with either religion or country can mask a multitude of atrocities, as Samuel Johnson said in 1775, "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel". I don't base my sense of self on religion or country but I find it wrong that a bunch of foreigners can enter a country, any country, and try to change the very fabric of its sense of community, that includes these over zealous Christian missionaries.

So much for integration, alone that statement shows that Muslims are a danger to any country that takes them in. They slowly nible away at the customs of any country they reside in, I remember many years ago when I lived in the state of Bavaria, Germany, which is predominantly Catholic, all the crosses in every classroom of the schools had to be removed because they could eventually annoy Muslim students or their parents. I just can't understand why the governing bodies in Western countries bend over backwards to facilitate these people.

He opened fire on 4 youths, one can only presume his intention was to kill.

Sounds like an intelligent comment, your son gets a slap so you kill 4 youths.....tell me again why most of the civilized world are surprised that Trump got elected.

Probably zero time at school either.

Way to go papa, show your son what real intelligent man does, it will be the last lesson for several years while you're in the slammer, during which time he may meet a proper man to model himself on.

How does a 20 year old just lose consciousness? been eating some funny sweeties maybe....

So no bikini girls bathing them.....how boring, what pervert gets off watching elephants.

Where would the American consumer be without this 'cheap crap', they'd have nothing to buy on credit.

He doesn't like honesty either.

Whose a clever boy.....that went well didn't it?

Using debt to put food on the table isn't viable. China is buying up farmland around the globe and changing its northern deserts into farmland. China plays the long game, the US needs instant gratification and to hell with the future.

All politicians are greedy sociopaths but some produce good results for the general population that they despise, if only to enhance their own position. These days there is a dearth of good, far thinking, charismatic politicians, one must be thankful for the few that we have. Politicians such as Trump or Starmer are not only inept they are dangerous in their stupidity.

So is the US but at least China actually produces stuff (much of which is bought by American consumers)

It all depends what the debt is used for. If debt is used for improving infrastructure, for R&D and other complementing schemes for improving competitiveness then it is a good thing, it would allow the debt to be repaid or its percentage of GDP to be minimized. If however it is used, as is the case in the USA, to pay interest on the preceding debt, causing ever new debt to be raised it is obviously detrimental. I cant see that Thailand has a problem at the present time however looking to the future it could become a problem if, for instance, there was a collapse in tourism due to worldwide financial instability (which looks ever more likely) or if weather patterns changed so as to make farming ever more nonviable then yes it would make sense to considerably reduce debt now while they can. Despite Thaksin's poor personal reputation I consider him to be a far thinking politician with a keen political instinct.

It isn't just Europe that faces headwinds, I saw an interesting program on YouTube explaining the FED's economic Ponzi scheme of money printing causing ever more debt for minimal returns, it will cause the inevitable collapse of the FIAT monetary system worldwide starting with the demise of the dollar as a reserve currency. All currencies use the dollar as a benchmark for their own value but there is nothing backing up the dollar except for trust and this is fading rapidly. All it needs is a calamity, perhaps insignificant at first, that will cause the leaking dam to burst open fully. We live in interesting times.

Yes but some people can't read, I have a finely tuned instinct for dangerous situations in the making, even before anything starts to happen I remove myself quietly, it's stood me in good stead in my younger days when such situations could occur, now usually nothing happens to old farts.

Making a stand is all very well until they realize a year later that it is inevitable and file a tax return for 2025......then comes the question, "we can't find your tax return for 2024 in our system, did you make one? If not we will assess you on your 2025 return with a fine". Fighting the tax office is an expensive and pointless exercise.

Different cultures have different humour, Thais, like the Americans don't get subtle humour it has to be in your face but Thais are easy to take offence at anything to do with their or the country's dignity.