Posted on 01/28/2005 8:43:55 PM PST by Destro
There you go again getting off track on your own premise you are a pitiful example of proper debate on these threads. All you do is sow confusion and doubt. Your question is answered friend! Evil how ever cloaked is the reason didn't you listen to Ronnie RayGun? The Empire of Evil is the problem!
Smart of Syria to do so. When the world's super power hints of regime change in Syria - would you expect them to sit back and allow it to happen? Supporting said insurgents may keep America too occupied to mount an invasion of Syria and also it allows for the Syria's Sunnis - who are restless (The Christian and Alawite Muslim dominated army wiped out a whole militant Sunni town once to keep them in line) a place to go off and die. Just like America rather fight the jihadists in Iraq - Syria would rather have the jihadists die in Iraq as well.
Welcome to real world realpolitik - dirty ain't it?
I don't think Mexico is in fear of the U.S. invading and repressing its population, and shipping the rest to the Gulag.
Meanwhile NATO - sounds like the so called Northern Confederation of yours - supported two wars against Christians on behalf of jihadist Muslims. What other Northern Alliance of tribes do you know that has the resources to invade anywhere on this earth?
So you are supportive of Syria's actions, even though those actions lead to the deaths of American soliders.
That's really special.
It was once - during WW1 when the Kaiser offered Mexico the Southwest USA in exchange for a military alliance - which helped America declare war on Germany more so than the sinking of the ocean liner. But Americans don't do history.
Not a supporter - but I understand it. Don't you? Care to war game with me sometime?
I don't debate "BAIT" & "SWITCH" artists like you. You are pitiful and terribly knaive!
France is the shemozle.. Russia is the shemille...
LOL. What do you say about Russians who openly wonder why NATO has expanded to their doorstep?
bait and switch is you! who went all apocalypse on me in your post - can't handle that I turned it against you? Tough.
That having been said, I have always admired the tenor and quality of your posts. I seldom share your charity toward those with whom I disagree or the respectful way in which you debate the things that matter.
I cannot say how encouraged I am by the first two paragraphs of your post which takes care of my concerns raised in #175. If Putin were to make more public witness as to the Orthodox Faith and his reliance on it, I have no doubt that he would reap the benefit of such witness here in the US. Not among the left, of course, but the left will founder here for its attacks upon religion and upon believers.
The concept of Passion Bearers needs more exposure in the West and the distinction between them and the Holy Martyrs deserves notice and every consideration. I was involved in anticommunism for many years and seldom encountered "Russophobia." Many of us were very enthusiastic for Solzhenitsyn despite vast differences on the role of Church and State in our era. We had to consider that he might have had the better of that argument. At his height a generation ago, he towered above virtually all others as a champion of civilization in a dark time. He certainly put the sniveling likes of Gerald Ford and Kisinger to utter shame.
Some of us are concerned that communism may have survived underground in Russia to nurse its wounds and to burst forth anew at a later date. To watch is not to fear or hate Russia but to recognize that Russia has been damaged by 70 years of communist rule. Our hope is for Russia's progress not for a perfection unattainable in the affairs of men.
Given that I disagree with you on the papacy and shall not change as probably you will not change either, I think that Westerners should generally be open-minded enough to take into consideration the claims of Orthodoxy and to refrain from being upset by the truth. What is true is true. It is not for any of us to be upset by the truth. There are probably many things on which Russians and Orthodox might surprise Westerners and Catholics. All of us should have the good grace to accept what is true. Our views have been better exposed to you than yours to us. I know nothing of the Monk Andrew or of the three Orthodox saints whom you reference. I think I may have heard the name Alexander Nevsky. This is no doubt my fault more than yours but I appreciate your efforts to provide such information and I do pay attention.
The article here speaks to that at scenario # 5: After withdrawing in 1991 to a geopolitical position not too far removed from that of the Time of Troubles, how could Russians fail to notice the historical analogies? The only real alternative -- integration into a common defense structure offering wider assurances, such as NATO -- was denied them (while their neighbors got in, with the criteria bent to discriminate against Russian interests much in the manner described by Milanovic); they were left to think of their own security in traditional historic geographical terms.
Ira, I love Russia. Your women are the most beautiful in the world. Your history is tragic and gripping. You have a nation of wonderful rich resources, and a bright and inventive people.
Problem is, Putin decided that whole democracy thing wasn't to be.
Some argument! The author contends that the Russians are justifiably concerned of a parallel between the present and a century or so ago, but neglects to consider that the Eastern Europeans may be concerned about what happened a decade or so ago.
I think you mean 'serving the Emperors'. I think the "Miracle of the Kolyva" is instructive. Destro knows what I'm talking about.
The Orthodox have a commemoration "Theodore Saturday" which commemorates an event whose name strikes Westerners who have imbibed too much Thomism as bizarre. The Miracle of the Kolyva was a sign of God's presence and care for the Church, which did not involve the overthrow of any natural order, but simply a good intelligence report: one of the pagan emperors wanted to disturb the Christian's fasting, and ordered that blood from the pagan sacrifices be sprinkled on all the produce in the markets. The plan to trick the Christians into breaking their fast and (worse in some minds, irrelevant in others) partake of food offered to idols was foiled because St. Theodore who served in the Emperor's bodyguard was a secret Christian, and passed the word of the plot to the local bishop with the suggestion that Christians eat only kolyva--boiled whole grain wheat--from Christian
farmers fields.
There were plenty of secret Christians during the Roman persecution, and plenty during the Bolshevik, just as there were plenty of martyrs under both (indeed more under the Bolsheviks).
The American media and American public are pro-Russian. They are just anti-Russian-mafia and anti-Russian-expansionism, and not sure just who in Russia from Putin on down is a mafioso or an expansionist.
Whatever comrade, whatever. Give my regards to Moscow.
Whats stopping you? Need help packing?
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