TrueTomHarley

I always hear out veterans. I will seek out their stories whenever I see a ‘Veteran’ designation on door or car. They have no stories to tell and, for the most part, no one wants to hear them. So I do. I often start by observing ‘how can you not admire someone willing to put his life on the line for what he believes?’ 
I just hear them out, regardless of which way it goes. Sometimes, though I do not insist upon it, I get to throw in the observation that while his/her bravery and conviction is admirable, were he living anywhere else in the world, that bravery and conviction would be directed to another entity, and isn’t that a strange way to run a world?

Yeah, I have thought about this too. The only caveat is that the West usually does not parade weapons around, as on May Day celebrations during periods of peace. “Fortresses” look much more godlike when that is done.
Then too, the push push push in the West is toward consumer goods (whereas there was almost none of that in the USSR). Thus, even if weapons are a big deal in the West, they look to something else for a god.
I did point out in ‘Don’t Know Why We Persecute’ that there are three instances in which Russia literally saved the world from nuclear annihilation. (Some are arguable, but all are plausible) 
1) When a certain colonel saw 5 incoming missiles on the Russian defense grid, judged it to be a malfunction, and told his underlings to ignore it.
2) When one of three commanding officers of a Russian nuclear ship off Cuba refused to authorize use of nuclear missiles. The other two were onboard. Authorization had to be unanimous.
3) Krushchev’s telegram to Kennedy during the missile crisis has the distinct air of walking a more inexperienced leader back from the edge.

In retaliation for the US doing the same in Turkey and Italy.

This reminds me of a pal who used to complain how ones in his territory would act all excited about what he was preaching but would not do anything about it. 
As he put it, they hear him out and say: “Wow! What channel is it on?”

Yeah, I have thought about this too. The only caveat is that the West usually does not parade weapons around, as on May Day celebrations during periods of peace. “Fortresses” look much more godlike when that is done.
Then too, the push push push in the West is toward consumer goods (whereas there was almost none of that in the USSR). Thus, even if weapons are a big deal in the West, they look to something else for a god.
I did point out in ‘Don’t Know Why We Persecute’ that there are three instances in which Russia literally saved the world from nuclear annihilation. (Some are arguable, but all are plausible) 
1) When a certain colonel saw 5 incoming missiles on the Russian defense grid, judged it to be a malfunction, and told his underlings to ignore it.
2) When one of three commanding officers of a Russian nuclear ship off Cuba refused to authorize use of nuclear missiles. The other two were onboard. Authorization had to be unanimous.
3) Krushchev’s telegram to Kennedy during the missile crisis has the distinct air of walking a more inexperienced leader back from the edge.

I always hear out veterans. I will seek out their stories whenever I see a ‘Veteran’ designation on door or car. They have no stories to tell and, for the most part, no one wants to hear them. So I do. I often start by observing ‘how can you not admire someone willing to put his life on the line for what he believes?’ 
I just hear them out, regardless of which way it goes. Sometimes, though I do not insist upon it, I get to throw in the observation that while his/her bravery and conviction is admirable, were he living anywhere else in the world, that bravery and conviction would be directed to another entity, and isn’t that a strange way to run a world?

I wonder if @xeroread that book by the former Mormon that he recommended here. I did. They do some strange doings. (the anti-cultists would go ballistic at the pressure brought to bear on missionaries wanting to leave their assignment before their two years are up.) I tried to take into account that it is written by a former Mormon, not a present one, but even so. It does not have any ‘grinding one’s ax’ feeling to it, though neither does it try to whitewash any rather peculiar procedures and beliefs.

In retaliation for the US doing the same in Turkey and Italy.

This reminds me of a pal who used to complain how ones in his territory would act all excited about what he was preaching but would not do anything about it. 
As he put it, they hear him out and say: “Wow! What channel is it on?”

Yeah, I have thought about this too. The only caveat is that the West usually does not parade weapons around, as on May Day celebrations during periods of peace. “Fortresses” look much more godlike when that is done.
Then too, the push push push in the West is toward consumer goods (whereas there was almost none of that in the USSR). Thus, even if weapons are a big deal in the West, they look to something else for a god.
I did point out in ‘Don’t Know Why We Persecute’ that there are three instances in which Russia literally saved the world from nuclear annihilation. (Some are arguable, but all are plausible) 
1) When a certain colonel saw 5 incoming missiles on the Russian defense grid, judged it to be a malfunction, and told his underlings to ignore it.
2) When one of three commanding officers of a Russian nuclear ship off Cuba refused to authorize use of nuclear missiles. The other two were onboard. Authorization had to be unanimous.
3) Krushchev’s telegram to Kennedy during the missile crisis has the distinct air of walking a more inexperienced leader back from the edge.

I always hear out veterans. I will seek out their stories whenever I see a ‘Veteran’ designation on door or car. They have no stories to tell and, for the most part, no one wants to hear them. So I do. I often start by observing ‘how can you not admire someone willing to put his life on the line for what he believes?’ 
I just hear them out, regardless of which way it goes. Sometimes, though I do not insist upon it, I get to throw in the observation that while his/her bravery and conviction is admirable, were he living anywhere else in the world, that bravery and conviction would be directed to another entity, and isn’t that a strange way to run a world?

True. I don’t think beer is good for dogs.

He is very orderly that way. He’d make a good librarian. (that old hen)

You know, after viewing JWI’s video, I look at this with more skepticism.
It is really just Frazer’s opinion that Putin, aware of the past, wants to drive its repetition, as though on a holy quest. He doesn’t really present facts to link the two. You could even paint Putin as the hero in that he wishes to preserve the traditional role and definition of family. Fraser (I think) is more “progressive” in these matters.
It’s hard to tread water in a sea of liars. I almost regret posting it. Our organization itself avoids getting so specific. Bland though their ‘current events’ articles can seem, (see today’s website lead: ‘Russia Invades Ukraine: Is Bible Prophesy Being Fulfilled?) it is safest to simply point to Daniel pushing and shoving verses and leave it at that. They’re actually just latching on to a headline, but in no way do they explore it.
(Or maybe I’m just mad that he called our tracts “cringeworthy.”)

Wasn’t he second only to Pharaoh himself? If so, that would make him Kamala Harris.
Uh oh.

Well, I don’t think anyone is enthusiastic about the idea.

He is very orderly that way. He’d make a good librarian. (that old hen)

Do you get your own lawn chair?

I wasn’t thinking about you at all when I made that remark. I meant only that I try not to argue or insult others.
Okay, okay, so you’ve got me there. Nobody has infinite patience. But even then it is only with the “dodo” word.

The entire forum could be banned as far as I am concerned. A good many players here could most charitably be described as ‘real pieces of work.’ That doesn’t mean I have ever sought to ban anyone.

The entire forum could be banned as far as I am concerned. A good many players here could most charitably be described as ‘real pieces of work.’ That doesn’t mean I have ever sought to ban anyone.

Once and for all, will you please get it right? I have not called you a “fool” or “stupid.” I have called you a “dodo.”
Not me.

Are they? It doesn’t seem that way to me. 
Death is inconvenient and it makes people feel bad. For that reason I hope to put it off as long as I can. 
But death itself doesn’t bother me. No problem here with awaiting a resurrection. Hopefully, it won’t cause too much uproar to grant me one.
Of course, you always hope the process itself won’t be too unpleasant.

I guess they have! From KGB direct to Church hierarchy, including the current head Patriarch. Just came across this beaut:
https://euromaidanpress.com/2018/11/06/more-fallout-from-ukrainian-autocephaly-russians-learn-moscow-orthodox-hierarchs-were-kgb-officers/

It did create a barrier during Soviet times, according to Baran’s book. A reference or two during Rutherford’s time to the “Iron curtain” didn’t help either. Could they not have said ‘guardrail?’