US vs Them

[Dominus Digg]

Article

Further backing up my point sadly, is this actual event occuring between Russia - eager to not let China steal their global badass position - invading Georgia.

[Nicole]

I guess I don't see a big problem with the photo. I mean, not to fucking bright in the era of heightened sensitivity we live in, but really...big fucking deal. There were many jokes like this in my childhoold where the punchline was making mock-asian eyes, and these were not made only in company where no asian was around to take offence. One of Hawaii's biggest comedian does sketches and jokes in which over the top racial stereotypes are central characters and he isn't considered edgy, he performs at elementary schools!

Kind of boneheaded for this to be an advertisment, but I think the negative reaction to this would be similar if it had been someone's picture taken for personal amusement with their teammates, which really blows my fucking mind.

The Russia V. Georgia thing...it's hard to have a firm opinion, because the news is very focused on the Big Bad Russia kicking cute little Georgia in the stomach, but didn't Georgia perform the first military act vs. a "breakaway province?" I know US sympathies are historically in the FUCK REGIONS THAT TRY TO BREAK AWAY FROM THEIR MOTHER COUNTRIES, AND BY THIS, I MEAN YOU, COFEDERATES!, but most of what I remember from grade school is that the map of that part of the globe keeps changing.

I know I skipped through social studies in school, and I'm ashamed. And in the middle of this is not the best time to brush up on my geopolitical knowledge, being that anything I look up in the way of news articles online in english will be in the context of the current conflict. Ugh.

I guess I'm sort of for the Olympics, for almost the exact same reasons. When looking at the globe, I see a scaling up of our current structure. States are separate entities represented in Congress, and countries too have (sometimes even elected!) representatives that are our face to the world. People from different cities and states have heated rivalries over their sports teams, which often degenerate into mockery, namecalling, pranks, and even violence. I don't think it's worse when it's a national identity rather than a local one associated with the team loyalty. Still us v. them, just on a different scale. Competition is healthy when everyone agrees to the rules.

I don't get sports, of course, but good for those that do.

If I cared in the first place, I'd avoid the Olympics because China creeps me out. All the shit they're doing to present their country best face forward for the global spotlight...the pretty little girl lip synching for the one that can sing, the restrictions on manufacture and business during this period to lower pollution, the facelift given the city...didn't they even send out instructions for citizens to be more inviting and welcoming, with lists of behaviours better fitted to other parts of global culture?

Fuckin' creepy.

And by this...

" In group / Out group tensions are hard wired into humanity like the reasoned examination of the world, the search for spiritual enlightenment, man’s love of big boobs and woman’s love of chocolate and shopping. "

Do you mean "hardwired into some people, but not others?" Cos reasoned examination of the world and search for spiritual enlightenment are sometimes often exclusive of each other, not all women love shopping, and I'm almost positive not all women love chocolate nor all men big boobs.

[Dominus Digg]

The photo is a small indicator of the bigger issue - for which the Russian invasion is an even larger symptom of: the Olympic spirit of friendly global competition doesnt mean shit.

Group tensions are are hardwired into all humans as social biases, universal akin to the eternal questions of How and Why, which guide the first examples.

The latter two examples are comedic hyperbole. I'm an ass man myself and do enjoy shopping for certain things :D

[dr. funk]

i truely believe that it was a powermove by Georgia but a stronger statement by Russia's offense sayin, if u want n NATO, u'll have to show bigger balls. The E U's problem might be smellin all the way to the states. the funny thing about it, is that its on the eve of the political season, if there are cold war implecations someone plz tell me if the ad council wrote any new catch phrases

[Dominus Digg]

Can we really afford to get involved even if does stink all the way to Denver?