You Trouble-Maker!

mule!

sometimes, i just can't help myself, old friend......besides, everyone knows all the "official" stories. i figure that if they get BOTH sides of the truth, then we can see some "well-rounded" opinions.

it was a tragedy, and a bloody, brutal conquest, but there is probably no way in hell that it could have happened any other way.....

spot - your co-worker's comparison is pretty fair. a lot of people will hesitate to admit it, but it doesn't change the fact.

one big difference is the total cultural shock suffered by the indian tribes. i cannot over-emphasize the complete difference between the stone-age life of the indians and the "hi-tech" changes brought by europeans. click the link and take a good freakin' long look at fireboat, by c.m. russell, and yu will begin to get an idea of what was happening.

as to your comments about "de-humanizing" the "enemy," i'd have to agree that it makes it easier to kill them and/or herd thjem around like sheep. this is a necessary thing to do in legitimate war, but in conquest, it is an atrocity.

i didn't say it was ok, i said it was necessary. in order to kill your enemy, to take the life of another human being, you've gotta overcome a LOT of built in scruples; thou shall not kill, and other stuff like that. de-humanizing your enemy might be the only thing that allows you to do this. their just filthy, rotten, murdering heathen BASTARDS, right?

i agree about your religion statement. when religion is involved, all bets are OFF.

Mule,

     Problem with religon is that no matter where you put a man he's gonna be scared.  If he ain't got nothing to become scared of then he'll think somethin' up.  Part of our genetic code I guess, but when it comes down to it we're a bit paranoid.  If we were God like we'd know everythin' and there wouldn't be anything to worry 'bout.  But, this just ain't so - we worry 'bout makin' a mistake, bein' on the wrong track, or what ever ya want to call it. 

      Second weakness we got is hook'd to the first - square think'n and lack of knowledge.  Genetically we pass down infermation through instinct.  Ain't a baby alive that won't Jerk away from a loud noise.  So when we decide somethin' we go fear, and emotions based on instinct or real experience that bites us in the arse.

       Third we don't move around much, dont' see much neither - hell look at how we fall in love.  It ain't no world wide search - fer some you just literally Fall into it with some big eye'd girl the "does" it fer you.  BTW - we don't understand why were leg men, or otherwise - it's wired - the same way we're wired to react when a baby is cry'n - you help.  Part of the species, genetic or otherwise your a sum or your experiences.

      Now we got a real problem, technology jam's up the rest.  And I mean all of it, we can change a not so attractive person now, into a knock out - some prefer fake stuff, some like naturals.   Money's now a factor of attractiveness too, slobbery lookin' million's who's got the muscular structure of Mr. Burn's on the Simpson's are attrative to Gal's (maybe genetically).  Then you've got it interfearin' with our genetic inheritance - loud noises are part and partial to today's world.  I don't know what the sum total is but it's an awful good chance to mess up a mechanism to pass on our genetic dispositions.

    So, we need God even if you don't beleive in one for the most part to take some fear away.  At least for most of us, otherwise you'd drive yer own self nuts with paranoid concerns.  On the other side of that coin, it's a great comfort to not have to worry about things that will kill ya, or making mistakes that you can be forgiven for.  It's easier to swallow when bad things happen to good people, and it helps keep the system in tact.  Now as fer the existance of God, I think there is one, but I have an hard time swallowin' that the church's are following the real and single one God.  Millions in each religion, and each religion puts out a declaration where the other one's wrong, and going to some sort of hell.  

    I think the biggest problem with religion is common language - heck set down with a parrallel (multiple versions side by side in one book) version of the new test. and read them.  Some mean completely different things.  If you have to depend upon the written word your in trouble.  Heck, who picked the books that went into anyway?  The old church that had political control - uh-oh, weren't these the same folks who sold indulgences for the forgiveness of any sin you might commit in the future.  BTW if anyone see's one of those sittin' around I know I'm gonna need it cause I make more mistakes then I ever planned on.  Just human i guess.

    Ok, now what - yep, I beleive in God, but not religion.  First time you judge a feller by anything other than his actions you've screw'd up.  Maybe that's why some of you fellers don't understand why I seem to fratrinize with the "enemy," in an opinion discussion.  There ain't no enemy, we're just foolish men, actin' like men do.  Some of us try fer higher standards morally, or Ethically - them'd be actions we'll be judged by.  Either way I ain't pretty much scared of much fer long, oncest I get over my gut feel of a situation.  But that impulse controll is really sets most apart.  If you have the where with all not to react based, on emotion, instinct, or fear - then and only then you got a shot, and only a shot at making a decision based on the truth.  But getting to that truth is a whole nother matter in itself.

Spot