Syria: US Involvement

On the same note, if your group only consists of a few thousand people, a small tribe or cast, and someone decided to eliminate said group that would be genocide. I don’t see that the number of people is really the point so much as it is the deliberate and willful destruction of another group due to intolerance or prejudice.

I see genocide as targeting a group (no matter their size) to eradicate based on them being different from your group. I see it as a willful crime of intolerance and hate.

Now, I am not entirely familiar with the French Foreign Legion. I was under the impression that they were comprised of peoples from many different countries and nationalities but were controlled by the French government or something like that. What I mean, is that one does not have to be French to be in the French Foreign Legion. Is that correct? Like an “elite” commando, military for hire. I’m sure that is a gross exaggeration, but it is the impression I got from other sources (I can’t think of exactly where at the moment) but I’m sure it is not entirely accurate.

Rickie The Grey wrote: Having said that, pray for peace on earth. Meditate on peace and send loving thouughts to those you think need them the most. Good vibes make a difference if we unite our thoughts for a common cause.

I'm courious of all of you that have posted how many of you Jedi have: prayed, meditated or directed your thoughts toward a peacefull resoltion of this situation?

i'll start: as i dont believe my thoughts control anything but myself, i have not.

Personally, I feel the U.S. should keep its fat nose out of Syria's business. I am a great supporter of revolution in opressed nations but I feel that the people desirous of a coup should handle it themselves. The last thing we need is another Middle Eastern conflict strung out over a decade.

I wonder if the President would be willing to put this issue to a vote in Congress? I doubt it, but it would be nice if he let the people weigh in on this matter.

Edit: He's looking for Congressional authorization for this. I should watch the news more!

You can't successfully pray for a peaceful resolution because it's not a conflict. It's a bunch of guys waving their d*cks around saying "mine's bigger than yours". Meanwhile everyone is cheering "fight! fight! fight!" and hoping to boost their ratings for their school newspaper and get in with the popular crowd.

ren wrote: It says "esepecially", not necessarily. the etymology mens to kill a race/people. You're not killing a "race" if you kill only a thousand out of a million.

If there were only ten Jedi, and someone with a bad haircut and shaky morals who'd been hanging out with an aging senator for far too long came by and killed all ten, that's genocide. Because they were a distinct people, and now they are gone.

Connotation vs. denotation. Semantics doesn't get you far when discussing morality.

Now, I am not entirely familiar with the French Foreign Legion. I was under the impression that they were comprised of peoples from many different countries and nationalities but were controlled by the French government or something like that. What I mean, is that one does not have to be French to be in the French Foreign Legion. Is that correct? Like an “elite” commando, military for hire. I’m sure that is a gross exaggeration, but it is the impression I got from other sources (I can’t think of exactly where at the moment) but I’m sure it is not entirely accurate.

The legion accepts all nationalities but is part of the french army. Most of the commandment is french. It is customary for people to sign in using a fake name and nationality. most legionnaires have previous military experience and are looking for more action.

The legion is elite, they fight where no-one else wants to fight, train in the harshest places on earth, and would commit genocide against SAS or US rangers without even breaking a sweat. They don't surrender, they don't abandon weapons or their dead. Basically, once they're somewhere, they stay and fight until the fight runs out of enemies.

Rickie The Grey wrote:

Rickie The Grey wrote: Having said that, pray for peace on earth. Meditate on peace and send loving thoughts to those you think need them the most. Good vibes make a difference if we unite our thoughts for a common cause.

I'm curious of all of you that have posted how many of you Jedi have: prayed, meditated or directed your thoughts toward a peaceful resolution of this situation?

This is a very good point you make. I had not actually stopped to do that until reading this post of yours yesterday, but have done so several times now. It is easy to forget, when debating a topic intellectually, that we are still responsible as Jedi for using our connection with the Force to further what peace we can. Thank you for reminding me, Brother. And thank you for having the courage to ask this of us, at what turned out to be the risk of getting shot down for it.

Desolous wrote: i'll start: as i dont believe my thoughts control anything but myself, i have not.

I like the saying, "I control nothing; I manage everything." We all participate in the Administrative Intelligence of the cosmic level of consciousness. I do not believe my thoughts affect anything but myself either, but what is the personality if not a bay of consciousness connected to the larger ocean of the universal Self? Where can one be said to absolutely stop and the other begin? Is there anything in the Force that is not possible through sufficient application of will?

Whyte Horse wrote: You can't successfully pray for a peaceful resolution because it's not a conflict.

A situation may or may not be definable as a "conflict", but it is still incumbent upon us to seek and support peaceful outcomes, in all situations. Is it not?

Khaire frater!

You make excellent points as usual! You know, I had not stopped to pray or meditate on the situation. Still, I'm not sure it would change my immediate impression of the situation, "conflict" or not. For one thing, the Syrians don't WANT us to intervene anyway.

Other than that fact, and the need to avoid another war where our boys get killed, I don't usually pray to the Force. I send positive energy, I meditate, and I attempt (with varying degrees of success, haha) to work with it. I personally don't see the Force as having any capacity to hear or react to prayers as it isn't, to my mind, sentient. *shrug* As I have said before, however, I am mo expert and this is sliding into realms best touched by a different topic.

For now, seeing as how the now is all we have, I think we Americans should mind our own business.