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This is the caption that came along with the picture...

Subject: Life in Iraq - The little things!
Here is a soldier stationed in Iraq, stationed in a big sand box.

He asked his wife to send him dirt, fertilizer and some grass seeds so he can have the sweet aroma and feel the grass grow beneath his feet.

If you notice, he is even cutting the grass with a pair of a scissors. Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Upon receiving this, please say a prayer for our soldiers that give (and give up) so unselfishly for us.

Tammy attached this image:




Last edited by Tammy at 03-Nov-2004 20:44[/font]

Tammy

The photo says it all no need for further comment.
Thank you for posting the photo.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

looks better than my lawn!



For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Sometimes we are in such a hurry that we don't stop and think about the little things that we take for granted.

Like food??

Sudan - a place where the international community is desperately needed yet stands aside becuase it is not politically expedient




tiny_clanger attached this image:


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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

wait for a second, stop looking so very far away from home.

poverty and the like are on your doorstep.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

yes, they are. But why is that relevant. There is no humanitarian catastrophe like Darfur on my doorstep. Yes there is poverty, but there are also safety nets set up to catch people before they reach the level of having their children die from malnutrition, or diseases that could be easily cured.

What is hapenning in Darfur is ethnic cleansing, not "poverty" to confuse the two is dangerous at best.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

true.

sorry, i just get grouchy when people go on about troubles OS and think that it is enough, when it would be more beneficial for them to actually DO something here and now.
I have a lot of 'friends' who think whining about problems is enough.

I apologise for lumping you in with that lot, i think i go on autopilot sometimes bad habit. sorry.


EDIT: and i suppose its relevant because its a little thing... and its the little things that matter, like do you give the guy on the street that loose change in your pocket, or do you spend the time talking to the lonesome old neighbour who is just dying to talk to SOMEBODY.

you dont realise how important the little things are until you lose them and i'm talking TINY things, like speach, rain, walking, etc. Yes, food would certainly come into that category, but what you are talking about is a BIG thing.


Last edited by Callatya at 04-Nov-2004 08:31

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Sudan - a place where the international community is desperately needed yet stands aside becuase it is not politically expedient

Not everyone everywhere is "standing aside".


http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/sudan/darfur.html

Copy and paste the darn url please (no spaces). I can't get it to link correctly for anything.... Sheeshhhh

And what our country is attempting to do doesn't end there...


I had to chuckle the other day when someone made the comment that they should have the ability to vote in our national elections since what happens here affects their home country as well. I understand that what they were saying was somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I gotta say, first thought that came to my mind was "sure, I'd be willing to give foreigners a say in our government when they step up to the plate and do what the US does around the world and rarely gets positive recognition for." Thing is... I would like to have a say in their government too then.



Last edited by Tammy at 04-Nov-2004 09:01

I was not referring to crisis humanitarian aid, i was actually talking about military intervention to protect the people who need protection and get food and equipment to the dying. I believe that this requires the deployment of a first world military, and I'm not usually one for military deployment.

Calla - I do what I can locally. I am a strong proponent of "think globally, act locally." Local action is very important, but we must never, ever lose sight of the big picture

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Tiny...

The last I heard Kofi Annan has urged the Security Council at the UN to take "prompt action" to stop intensifying violence in the Sudan's Darfur region.

Is that first world military enough for you? It is being brought before the Security Counsel as we speak. So far the Security Council has been reluctant to do much to end the violence. Where is the European Union in all of this? NATO?

Do you suppose countries such as the United States should take matters into their own hands by deploying their military to the region to bring an end to the inhumane treatment of the people without UN approval?

Last edited by Tammy at 04-Nov-2004 13:55

Getting a tad bit political, please keep this clean, no country bashing

Just forewarning

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

Watch yourself.. politics are no nos, remember?

Now what ticks me off is that there are many people in these countries getting paid millions of dollars to bat around a silly white ball while there are people in the same countries starving and homeless...

*bites tongue hard to avoid political comments*

I think it's important to remember that many of the people who care enough to do something about global problems are the same ones who care deeply about local problems too. I cared enough to do something very personal about Somalia when it had its troubles a few years ago.

No, I have to stop here.

I'm afraid I just can't discuss Somalia without getting political.

Oh yes PLEASE ban cricket!

I'vve had to listen to it on the radio for 2 days already and i'm bored stiff!

Thats another small thing i like, talkback radio.

And its raining today

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I completely respect FishProfiles policy on no politics.

We have many well intentioned people here at FishProfiles that feel compelled to attempt to make a difference in the world by challenging world policies and bringing about debate on world issues. That's great. We really need a forum to do that in. I understand we can't do it here though.

I came to the conclusion long ago though that part of the problem here at FishProfiles is half truths. We have many young impressionable minds on these forums that are formed by what they read and perceive to be the truth. If so-and-so says it, it must be true. That is unfair. It is unfair to the young minds and it is also misleading information. VERY recently I had decided to speak out when I have noticed these "half truths". Not to start flame wars but to level the playing field. Not to be political but to bring out the facts. For literally months folks have been permitted to give little jabs here and there in regards to certain issues. They stop just short of breaking the "no politics" rules. Which in itself is playing politics which is very much allowed here.

I respect Tiny for her beliefs. She and I both came to the conclusion long ago that we think differently about almost everything. It doesn't mean we can't get along. It also doesn't mean that we can't have a respectful discussion on these issues.

Truthfully... I don't see where this thread took a political turn until the word political was mentioned.

Give us alittle credit here. You moderators know who the forum trolls are. You know who will have the tendency to make this thread turn ugly. Don't punish the vast majority for the actions of a very few.

Maybe that is something Adam should consider... For an added "donation" maybe he could open a *private* forum for the over 18 age group to have open and honest discussions.

There.. that is about all Ihave to say on the subject...

I agree with you, Tammy I see what you are referring to, and as someone with a more than passing interest in political science, I see what it can lead to.

You know, we have a community here, a communty of hundreds of diverse people from many different states, a people brought together by fishkeeping, but each with a unique set of values besides that. I would never meet someone like Tammy if it wasnt for our shared interest in Fishkeeping, someone who holds values so different from my own, someone who had a stake in the election result of the swing state in the most important election in the world.

Yes, we do disagree, but in our discussions, Tammy has made me go "huh! Really?" and go and look up some event, and learn an entirely new perspective on it. I hope I've had the same effect

And by allowing members to be informed by other members with different values, we become more rounded individuals with a more cosmopolitan outlook (at least the genuine people who want to) and that can only be a good thing.


/tiny gets off her idealistic soapbox - muddies the water like no other brand

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions