Sorry in all that pontificating I have been most rude in not thanking you Ak for the coffee. Re your comment by Graham Taylor on the Euro 2012 Championship I was pleased to see Roy Hodgson had appointed Ray Lewington as his number two.
Sorry to everyone on this as we seem to have taken over the Nest with a political discussion - I am more than happy if a Mod wants to move this to a thread of its own to spare those who do not like political debate from having their quiet drink spoiled. Or I can start a thread if anyone thinks it appropriate. I know I am alone on the Poppy debate. I think it is because I see the celebration as doing harm and not being a quiet memorial - but as you imply Charlie - enough said on it. I am talking of the second not the first Gulf War in my bully reference so you agree there Charlie. I do not agree that we went into Afghanistan simply to get Bin Laden and in fact have never before seen that argument put forward. Why did we not invade Pakistan if that were the case when we found he was there? My argument on Israel is not spoilt by the Israel reference - it is a very commonly used example because men branded there as terrorists went on to become Presidents. Opposing sides in a conflict quite often see their side as being in the right - not surprising as otherwise you presumably would not fight. I did not refer to troops in South Africa but to men like Nelson Mandela who was branded a terrorist by his government - was he or was he a freedom fighter? I don't follow your connexion to being OK to kill anyone - as a Pacifist I don't believe in the right to kill anyone. All I am saying is that a person who one side consider good is considered evil by the other - Americans lauded Bush but Muslims loathed him - it is a matter of perspective. How can you say I do not respect the views of others - if I did not I would be abusive rather than conduct rational debate. I respect all other opinions - they are as likely to be as right as mine (to an impartial outsider) - it is just that naturally I believe my own views to be correct as you and others do yours or would not hold them. In fact if disrespect were to be levelled you have twice accused me of things I have not said - wanting to disarm the UK and suggesting I have condoned killing because I recognize that opposing sides views on who is a freedom fighter and who is a terrorist differ. My guess is you do not like the kind of person I am - I am opposed to violence be it by individuals or governments and despite your saying you respect my views I think you are just being polite - I think you loathe my views. You on the other hand respect the state and as a n ex servant of the state champion it - that is fair enough and you represent an awful lot of people. I have found this forum to be heavily biased towards the military - always in the past there seems to have been a fair split between those advocating Armed Forces actions and those opposing them - on here I think it is by no means even and quite a few have indicated a military / police background or connexion Hey ho though - that is what debate is about and I am quite happy not to debate if my views or style of writing are considered offensive - they are not meant to be.
8 from 320.000 is 0.000025% 5.500 from 81.700.000 is 0.000067% I was a bit incorrect. So we need to have about 22 people to match Germany
Dear Leo If by any means I have offended you or caused you distress I appoligise profusely, I have never been and never will promote or instigate violence. I carried a gun everyday at work for the last 26 years of my career and to this day state that the Police of this nation should never all be armed (They can do enough damage with a pen and pencil). I have arrested a lot of people in the years that I was a Policeman and only once was I involved in violence doing it (and that was at a football match when I had to arrest a WHU fan you was attacking a 14year old Charlton Fan). Every time I arrested anybody I always apoligsed to them for depriving them of their liberty, but in my opinion at the time it would be wrong not to do so. I never once received an official complaint against me and I was given the Police Queens Medal that I am proud of. I worked for the Police but was never a Servant of the State, I never had Superior Officers only Senior and I was trained to think as an individual not a Fighting Machine as you appear to imply by your comments. For you to say I do not like the kind of person you are is very hurtful, if you knew the kind of person I am, I would hope you would withdraw that comment. I know of all of your problems and you were kind enough to e-mail me when you used your nom de plume and I admire you for all you have put up with. I thought we had become friends and could have a bit of bantor as we have in other threads. The sad thing about this is we can never express our true feelings correctly just using words on a text, they are open to misunderstanding. I am 100% positive if ever we had the opportunty to meet we could freely have this debate, leave friends and yes Respect Each Others points of View.
Ak I am so slow - again I bow to your superior knowledge and great sense of humour, % of population brilliant.
Nothing wrong with a bit of political discussion in the nest ,it is meant to be a virtual pub right , and I`m sure political issues are discussed in pubs the world over.
Ditto - nor will I ever forget the impact he made when we signed him. ..excepting, of course, Muslimland.
Leo indeed, OFH ref the 7 man bench has been discussed for a few months , it was in March when (more than 3 clubs went to the authorities and bitterly complained ) the majority of members now wish the sub ruling to be reversed ,and this was informally agreed in march ,Now after a couple of months lobbying , said authorities will reverse the decision ,I would like to give the source , suffice to say it is Derby County linked !
Charlie - you sir are a Gentleman and I can assure you I have been caused no distress. I have no doubt that you were exemplary as a policeman and to receive the Queen Medal is an honour you are rightly proud of. I meant no disrespect in addressing you as a servant of the state - although should probably have said the Queen as that is how I view all public officials - myself included when I worked for the Inland Revenue. I tried but obviously failed to draw a distinction between the Armed Forces and the Police and recognise you were with the latter not the former. I am aware that my views are not middle of the road and meant only that I suspected that as someone coming more probably from the opposite side of the road and who supports military action abroad you must get fed up with "peace loving hippies" like me - clearly I am wrong in that too and apologise sincerely and gladly withdraw the comment. Unfortunately we write these comments pretty quickly and in my case probably without the kind of re-consideration before sending that would apply to ordinary e-mails. I get excited by good debate and just put over my views. I can honestly say though that I respect all other views except ones which involve sexism, racism homophobia and the like. I value these boards as to be honest at the moment they are a distraction from some pretty ****ty things happening in my home life which everybody here probably knows about too well. If we ever get to meet up I will be honoured if you allow me to buy you a pint. Cheers
Leo I thank you for your remarks and I to agree with you 'I can honestly say though that I respect all other views except ones which involve sexism, racism homophobia and the like.' In fact I would stand beside and voice the same opinion. We differ regarding the use of Forces, this is a good thing as without it there would be nothing to stop our Country from turning into a Dictatorship. As for your offer of a pint I would greatfully accept, together with a chat, an airing of views and hopefully time for me to be able to return the offer. I wish you and your family well and better health in the future.
Leo and Charlie, you remind me of two blokes I once saw in a bar in Ushuaia, Argentina. They were having a very heated political discussion, which seemed out of place in such a laid back town. They were getting more and more vehement when one of those pauses that sometimes happen in a conversation occurred. The two men looked at each other, burst out laughing, hugged each other and one said, "Another beer?"
They must all be very honest in France then OFH - what illegals do here is get rid of their papers just before they claim asylum, so the Border Agency has no idea where to send them back. Also it seems that our legal system bends it's knee more to the ECHR than most other countries.
Cheers NZ, but isn't that life, how are your shakes?. I was in a 6.8 Earth Quake in Cyprus 1999 (on the day of the total Eclipse - Spooky) anyway it was the aftershocks that got to you in the end.
Haven't felt any shakes for about 3 weeks now. You are right about the aftershocks. The Feb 2011 quake that killed people was an aftershock from Sept 2010 and they go on for ever - so does the damage. At the bottom of our garden is a waste water junction where all the waste water pipes from the houses around meet. It burst, yesterday, as a result of all the earth movement over the last 20 months. Fortunately for us we live on a slope and all the grey water is flooding the unbuilt land below us. It pongs a bit but our chickens, who live near the burst, don't seem to mind. I won't be eating the eggs for a few days, though!
And the French on cheese with the same qualities...Mrs H has just come home with a ripe Camembert that I would prefer not to share the same room with...
At least all of your pupils will be much skilled in driving on wet roads, hang on in there H and have a nice glass of wine or what ever takes your fancy and relax when you get back.
Afternoon from a very noisy West West London - the Tornados based at Northolt to cover Olypic security are up and about practising and they are VERY low level. Our offices have been rattling all afternoon - I bet Biggles is having a great time, but I am glad I do not live in Ruislip. Great debate Chas & Lenny - it's what the Nest was always intended for.
