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Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Robert Tulip

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Here is a letter published today by The Australian newspaper (using my family name)

http://m.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/l ... 7065694181

The canny, taciturn, frugal and dour defeat the fiery, excitable and dreamy. True Scottish character emerges victorious.
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Chris OConnor

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Penelope wrote:I would wish for the whole of Europe to be united.....like the United States, you see? I mean, you don't see Arkansas, or Ohio or any random states calling for Independence from the rest of the US do you?
We do have some states periodically mumbling about seceding from the union but fortunately this has never gone beyond an annoying mumble.

I love your optimistic or idealistic attitude but can you really see "all of Europe" uniting? Look at the list of countries that comprise Europe.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF COUNTRIES IN EUROPE

A
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
B
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bulgaria
C
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
D
Denmark
E
Estonia
F
Finland
France
G
Georgia
Germany
Greece
H
Hungary
I
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
K
Kosovo
L
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
M
Macedonia
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
N
The Netherlands
Norway
P
Poland
Portugal
R
Romania
Russia
S
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
T
Turkey
U
Ukraine
United Kingdom
V
Vatican City (Holy See)
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Penelope

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Chris wrote: but can you really see "all of Europe" uniting? Look at the list of countries that comprise Europe.
There are only 28 member states of the European Union and they must apply for membership. I don't know what criteria they must meet before they are accepted. Certainly Turkey have been applying for years and not been accepted.

I am happy to see the 28 member states and wish the UK would completely embrace the monetary system and everything. However, I am among a minority in that respect. But nothing unites people more than a common enemy, and although I am not saying that China is the enemy, they are growing and becoming powerful at a tremendous rate and we need to be aware of that and brace ourselves accordingly, I think.

At the moment, I would say that the USA are the leading World power and they have been very benevolent leaders, comparatively speaking. A bit like the Roman Empire were, I suppose. I rather think China might not be so benevolent if it became the strongest.

Anyway, that is why I advocate working towards unity and decry those who want to descend into little Englanders. I am a European.
Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.

He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad....

Rafael Sabatini
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Chris OConnor

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Thanks for explaining your view a bit further. You're in Europe so you have a much better understanding of these things.

When you talked about Europe unifying all I could think about is the prospect of Muslim nations joining hands with Christian or secular nations. And I just don't see that happening. But perhaps you know of Muslim members of the EU?

You make a lot of sense about it being in all of Europe's best interest to unify since China does seem on the rise and does not seem likely to be very benevolent if they became the strongest. I was watching a show last night that said China executes more people per year than any other nation. Yes, they're bigger but still, when total population is accounted for, China kills more frequently. And they kill you for crimes that most countries do not such as drug dealing. Quite frankly they make me very nervous as their power grows.
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Penelope

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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I don't think their are any entirely Muslim countries in the EU. I thought you might find this interesting from Wicki:-

Religion in the European Union is a diverse matter with significant levels of belief in all EU member states. The largest religion in the EU is Christianity, with its largest denominations being Roman Catholicism, Protestantism (especially in the north), and Eastern Orthodoxy.[2] Smaller groups include those of Islam, Judaism, Indian religions, and some East Asian religions, most concentrated in Britain and France. Also present are modern revival movements of ancient pre-Christian European religion including Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry.[3]

Over the last several decades, religious practice has been on the decline in a process of secularisation.[4] Eurostat's Eurobarometer opinion polls showed in 2010 that 49% of EU citizens did not believe in God.[5] Many countries have experienced falling church attendance and membership in recent years.[6]

Countries with the fewest people reporting religious belief are the Czech Republic (16%), Estonia (18%), and Sweden (18%).[5] The most religious countries are Malta (94%; predominantly Roman Catholic), Cyprus (~90%; predominantly Orthodox), and Romania (~90%; predominantly Orthodox). Across the EU, belief is more common with age and is higher amongst women, those with only basic education, and those "positioning themselves on the right of the political scale (57%)".[7]
Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.

He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad....

Rafael Sabatini
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Penelope

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Re: Would you excuse me - whilst I have a little rant...at Scotland...

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Thought you might enjoy this:

Subject: Fwd: FW: bit of satire
>
>
> On her radio show, Dr.
> Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant Orthodox Jew, homosexuality
> is an abomination according to Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned
> under any circumstance.The following response is an open letter to Dr.
> Laura, written by a U.S. man, and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as
> well as informative:Dear Dr. Laura:Thank you for doing so much to
> educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from
> your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I
> can. When someone tries to defend the h#mos#xual lifestyle, for example,
> I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an
> abomination ... End of debate.I do need some advice from you, however,
> regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.1.
> Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female,
> provided they are from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims
> that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why
> can't I own Canadians?2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery,
> as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think
> would be a fair price for her?3. I know that I am allowed no contact
> with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness -
> Lev.15: 19-24.The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but
> most women take offense.4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a
> sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9.
> The problem is my neighbours. They claim the odour is not pleasing to
> them. Should I smite them?5. I have a neighbour who insists on working
> on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am
> I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do
> it?6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
> abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosoxuality.
> I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of
> abomination?7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of
> God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
> glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
> here?8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the
> hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by
> Lev. 19:27. How should they die?9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching
> the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football
> if I wear gloves?10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by
> planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by
> wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester
> blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really
> necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town
> together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16.Couldn't we just burn them to death
> at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their
> in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)I know you have studied these things extensively
> and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident
> you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is
> eternal and unchanging.Your adoring fan,James M. Kauffman, Ed.D.
> Professor Emeritus,Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special
> EducationUniversity of VirginiaP.S. It would be a damn shame if we
> couldn't own a
> Canadian.
Only those become weary of angling who bring nothing to it but the idea of catching fish.

He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world is mad....

Rafael Sabatini
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