Hanaguma

True. But... The anti-war protesters in the 60s were actually students. Not outside agitators. The faculty and uni staff in the 60s didn't join the students There was no outside money being pumped in. They actually protested the war in Vietnam. Today's callow youth have morphed their protest into the usual neo-Marxist screed against capitalism and America.

I smell Soros money... lots of the student 'protest' groups trace their funding back to the Open Society Foundation. Politico ran an article about it a day or two ago; https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/05/pro-palestinian-protests-columbia-university-funding-donors-00156135

Also telling is that many of the protesters were not actually students, or even faculty. Upwards of half seem to be either professional protesters or plants sent to cause trouble. Not just me saying it, NPR agrees, and they are most definitely NOT right wing; https://www.npr.org/2024/05/04/1249188864/nyc-columbia-city-college-gaza-protests-palestinian-campus Mayor Adams of NYC said the same, and he also is not a friend of conservatives.

...and how many on the left have thrown accusations of Naziism, being Hitler, etc have been thrown Trump's way? The latest being DeNiro's childish screed last week. So enough of the faux outrage please.

Yeah. I remember a couple years ago there was a "no oil" protest in Germany at a museum in Munich. The protesters glued their hands to the floor and vowed to stay. After an evening, they left. One complained of a swollen hand and demanded medical attention. They were all huffy because they weren't allowed to have food delivered during their protest. Soft as puppy poo in a hailstorm these lefties.

Great quote from the president of the University of Florida; At the University of Florida, we have repeatedly, patiently explained two things to protesters: We will always defend your rights to free speech and free assembly—but if you cross the line on clearly prohibited activities, you will be thrown off campus and suspended. In Gainesville, that means a three-year prohibition from campus. That’s serious. We said it. We meant it. We enforced it. We wish we didn’t have to, but the students weighed the costs, made their decisions, and will own the consequences as adults. We’re a university, not a daycare. We don’t coddle emotions, we wrestle with ideas.

First thing I thought when I saw the line up of these so-called "civil rights leaders" was, 'I smell Soros money'. As to why women don't become engineers, perhaps because they don't want to be engineers? Same as not too many women are roofers or electricians or bricklayers. Also the same reason a lot of men aren't elementary school teachers or work in the HR department. If you look at the federal workforce in the US, African Americans (especially African American women) are OVER-represented compared to their percentage of the overall population. Guess we need a bit of Affirmative Action there too. Those are good jobs with benefits and security.

You need to check a little more closely. A lot of the items on the schedule are movements, or recieving a briefing, or someone else llike KJP doing something. Oh, and Joe spent the weekend at his beach house, no events. Friday was one event, the ceremony. On Joes schedule he started at 430pm and finished at 445pm. After that, off to Delaware and the beach. Thursday, 2 events in the afternoon. Wednesday, a campaign event in the late afternoon, which Joe attended for less than an hour. Tuesday, a digital town hall campaign event in the afternoon. See a pattern here? Joe needs his beauty sleep. Almost nothing scheduled before lunchtime.

I wouldnt go so far as forcing them, but creating another one does no good. I would also tie any aid to certain behavior and civil standards. Many people want aid to Israel tied to their behavior. Fair enough. Lets have the same standard for Gaza. No aid until the hostages are free, and until a civil society can be in place. It's frustrating- Gaza could flourish under the right conditions and with proper freedoms. But it cannot when the head hackers and homophobes are in charge. The size issue is also ignored by the anti-semites. The Arab states are 50 TIMES the size of Israel in population, and 500 times the area. Who is David and who is Goliath?

Not "the actions of some individuals". The legal apparatus of Gaza and the West Bank. Being gay is a death sentence by LAW. These laws are supported by more than 90% of the population. The aid given does NOTHING to "promote basic human rights", as they did not exist in Gaza before October 7. No political freedom, no freedom for minorities or women or LGBT people. The world has no need of ANOTHER state that holds these primitive and inhuman beliefs. There are plenty already.

I could be wrong, but from what I gleaned it was Daniels who approached Trump. Her own lawyer said that it wasn't hush money, just "consideration". From the Washington Post; According to Davidson’s testimony, in the days after the damaging Access Hollywood tape came out, Daniels’s manager reached out to the National Enquirer to start brokering a deal that would pay Daniels in exchange for her staying quiet about her alleged tryst with Donald Trump. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/30/trump-hush-money-trial-live-updates/

It stopped being their land when they lost a war of aggression against Israel. Much like Germany lost substantial land after starting WW2.

Since they are by and large a group of misogynistic homophobes, their fate doesn't really concern me that much. I am surprised that it concerns so many people, like you for example. Why are you willing to support people who thing being gay is a death penalty offence, where only 4% of the populace accepts homosexuality? Abortion is illegal, until recently rapists could escape punishment by marrying their victims. The current conflict aside, people with views like these deserve nothing but contempt and scorn.

My sister just bought a place about 70 minutes outside of Toronto (Caledonia Ontario). 700 grand for half of a duplex. Or, you can rent a similar place on the street for $3,300 a month. Want a detached property in the same neighbourhood? 900k, on a frontage of 33ft, property depth 92 feet. And 6,000 a year in property tax.

...which begs the question, why didn't Egypt (who controlled Gaza) or Jordan (who controlled the West Bank) bother to create any form of Palestinian state in the years between 1948 and 1967? Seems like it wasn't a priority for them, or for the Palestinians. There are 22 Arab countries in the world, and 56 Muslim countries. They could easily step up to the plate and help their Palestinian brothers find shelter and peace. But they don't. They want to put the responsibility on one country (population 9 million) and not on the Arabs (population 450 million) to find the answer and make concessions.

This is happening now. There are a lot of specialized programs for targeted industries for trainees and temporary workers to come. I think now there are close to half a million Vietnamese here, more than that of Chinese, etc. I think the difference is that Japan wants immigrants who will contribute to the country, not that requre contributions FROM it.

It is being tried, believe me. A big part of the problem is people leaving the countryside to live in urban areas that are already quite crowded. Some towns in rural areas area actually giving away housing for young families as an incentive to move there.

Ya think? I think Japan looks at places like the US and sees all the joys that immigration has brought- the crime, the drugs, the dissent, the enormous cost of caring for them, etc. and finds a better solution, that fits THEIR needs. People in Japan will put up with a bit of an economic hit if it means their kids can still play in the parks, the streets are clean, people can walk the streets at night, and so on.

Considering I am better educated, probably more. Perhaps a bucket and a half.

DeNiro is a great actor, one of the best of his generation. He is also a high school dropout who has spent his entire life pretending to be other people, saying things that other people tell him to say. Now, he does that masterfully. But it makes his opinions on politics about as valuable as a bucket of pee. I really wish celebrities on both sides would just STFU. Stick to your knitting and entertain us.

Nah, he assassinated himself without much help. Like I said, back in the day he was an honest broker, trying to right some wrongs and help his kids get accepted as fully Japanese. Fair enough and good for him. But along the way he lost the plot completely and became a crusader, hunting every nook and cranny for some perceived slight and blowing it out of proportion, He lost most of his supporters, lost his family, lost his job, and is now ironically on a work visa in the country of his birth. Glad Kobe was good to you, by the way. It's a great town still. And back then, not hard to find companionship...

I've met our Debito. He is American by birth, David Aldwinckle by name. Doesn't live in Japan anymore, he left about 7 years ago as I recall. Was cheating on his wife, got divorced, then moved to the US again with his cheat partner. His daughters don't speak to him anymore. I met him a few times at teaching conferences. He is a self entitled d!ckwad. He had a point back when he first started writing about his experiences, but went off the rails rapidly. Somewhat of a pariah in the greater 'gaijin' community here.

Yeah, I remember that incident. It was all over the media here for ages. Sorry you got caught up in it. But it WAS nearly 30 years ago. I hope the rest of your time in Kobe was better. It's a great place to live!

It's quite sad really. The PM of Japan only a couple of weeks ago was visiting Washington, and delivered an eloquent address to Congress, in English, lauding the US and Japan's relationship. A praiseworthy speech, especially when delivered in English, not Kishida's native language obviously. Poor Joe could never hope to do the same.

Again, a student's work. Six pages. No footnotes. Not published anywhere except in-house at Leeds. Sigh. Why are you so desperate to prove this? Criticisms of Biden are so hurtful?