Ryan Rice
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Ryan Rice commented on If you were advising the President on Iraq, what advice would you give him? on January 17, 2008, 11:25 AM
bspang85,So we broke it we bought it? Oh wait, this is a democracy and I didn't vote for the man that decided to go to war. All that blood is on HIS hands not mine. I would love for Iraq to succeed, but Menendez is right, they have to do it themselves. We have permanent bases built in Iraq, it looks like we are going to be there forever. Even if we "Bring the troops home" there's still gonna be 20,000 over there bunkered in the bases. We aren't going to be able to stop Sunnis and Shiites from fighting over power and land. That is unless we want to empower another dictator like Saddam.
Ryan Rice commented on John McCain: Vietnam in Iraq on January 17, 2008, 11:10 AM
We lost in Vietnam, yet we won the cold war and we now have trade relations with Vietnam. I don't understand the correlation that osama bin laden is looking at Iraq as a stepping stone. Mccain is saying if we pull out of Iraq Bin Laden is suddenly going to get on his raft and paddle over to the US and attack us. I'm pretty sure the ongoing fighting has more to do with Sunnis and Shia fighting for power rather than Bin Laden. Bin Laden is in Pakistan, if he's such a problem... why don't we get him?
Ryan Rice commented on Is Religion necessary? on January 17, 2008, 10:50 AM
I feel religion was a necessary social evolution for mankind. It creates structure, through rules and consequences with simple terms. Through this the status quo is maintained and upheaval is subdued. Without it ancient totalitarian agricultural societies would have been difficult to develop. Today morality is taught by religion, and it's social pressure may be the only thing keeping some potential socio paths from acting on their urges. But thats something we can never test to be sure of. However, looking at trends, there is evidence that secular countries like Sweden certainly have less violence than a predominantly religious country like the United States. So is religion currently necessary? Not really, it's an attempt to force socially accepted behavior on people. Isn't that what state laws are for anyway? Religion doctrine often gets in the way of Scientific progress as well. Evolution is a prime example. It's funny how one of my Christian friends doesn't accept evolution but does accept that the Earth rotates and isn't at the center of the universe. I like to point out to her that that fact was blasphemy when Galileo discovered it. Religion in this example has caused a stunt in knowledge and understanding. Lastly, I would say that Religion inspires people, and that is one of the ways it has grown and one of its redeeming qualities. But inspiration can be found in many places; love, adventure, the search for the truth. To put limits on these based on old superstitions depresses me.
Ryan Rice commented on If you were advising the President on Iraq, what advice would you give him? on January 17, 2008, 6:25 AM
bspang85, So we broke it we bought it? Oh wait, this is a democracy and I didn't vote for the man that decided to go to war. All that blood is on HIS hands not mine. I would love for Iraq to succeed, but Menendez is right, they have to do it themselves. We have permanent bases built in Iraq, it looks like we are going to be there forever. Even if we "Bring the troops home" there's still gonna be 20,000 over there bunkered in the bases. We aren't going to be able to stop Sunnis and Shiites from fighting over power and land. That is unless we want to empower another dictator like Saddam.
Ryan Rice commented on WHAT IS GOD? on January 17, 2008, 11:53 AM
God is a bipedal deity with a white beard, a list of things he doesn't want you to do, and loves Christmas and the US economy.Sorry, I hope God has a sense of humor too.Seriously though, I believe the two most popular views on God are the personal and creator one. At least in Christianity. I always appreciated the view of Frank Lloyd Wright: "I believe in God, I just spell it Nature."