Text 26590, 104 rader
Skriven 2015-08-09 21:06:51 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
  Kommentar till text 26579 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
Ärende: The Metric System
=========================
Hello Michiel,

 BF>> As already stated, it takes many generations for "ordinary people"
 BF>> to change.

 MvdV> We could start an argument how much is "many" but I think we can agree
that
 MvdV> it is more than two. Some changes may need three or more generations,
but
 MvdV> other changes can go a lot faster. In less than one generation we have
 MvdV> changed form being isolated from friends and family
 MvdV> when on holiday to being reachable always, anywhere on the world.

That is a sentiment shared by many around the world.  In Europe,
Asia, Australia, the Americas, everywhere.  However, does it reflect
the actual reality?  Of that I am not so sure.

How long did it take for Americans to rebel against Britain?
I am not talking about the Revolutionary War.  I am talking about
the point of Americans going from being very supportive loyal
subjects of the King to being in a state of open rebellion
against the King.  The period of time was FOUR MONTHS.

How long did it take the world from being in total peace
to being in total war in Europe at the beginning of the 20th
Century?  Weeks.  Not months, but WEEKS.  And when the time
came for war, we called it "The War to End Wars" - thinking
the war (which began in November) would be over by Christmas
of that same year in 1914.

It took even less time to go from a state of peace to a state
of war in 1939.  And of course that war expanded when the Empire
of Japan decided to invite the Americans to participate.

We think we have done well for ourselves since the end of
WWII.  Far from it.  Wars rage on throughout the world, with
no apparent end in sight.  Those wars are on a much smaller
scale than those before, but it is not something that man
has been able to figure out how to end (without ending
himself in the process).

A tiger cannot change its stripes, and a leopard cannot
change its spots.  And neither can man change his own human
nature.

The world today sits on a precipice.  A deal has been struck
between six nations and Iran.  An attempt to keep the world from
spinning totally out of control into total chaos.

The Europeans are in agreement, that this deal is good for
all.  The Americans seem to be at odds with themselves, not
really sure about anything, as their time to decide draws
near.  What do you think the ayatollahs in Iran will do if
the USA and the world turns their collective noses at them,
forcing sanctions to remain in place while allowing their
neighbors to keep and/or develop nuclear weapons of their
own?

The clock is ticking.  And with barely over a month
remaining before the vote is taken, the die has already
been cast.  The Democratic leader of the Senate, a Jew,
has publicly stated he is voting "No."  President
Obama needs one third of the Senate to vote "Yes" in
order to sustain a veto.  Failure is not an option,
which is why you might want to start believing in
the power of prayer.

 BF>> It reminds me of the Holland vs. Netherlands issue. For centuries
 BF>> we (at least we here in Sweden) have used Holland.

 MvdV> Centuries? Hmm.. The Netherlands as we know it now did not exist as such
200
 MvdV> years ago. It was under French rule then...

Louisiana used to be under French rule.  Until they sold us out.
Twice.  Napoleon had to finance his European wars.  The USA got
hold of Louisiana by buying it from France, which had already
sold it to Spain, but that didn't matter because all Napoleon
cared about was who had the gold.  The USA was broke so had to
borrow the money from Lloyd's of London, which gladly fronted
the deal for President Thomas Jefferson.  However, a few years
later the British had a problem collecting their due and as a
result started raiding American merchant ships, which forced
the America to go to war against England a second time ...

 BF>> But slowly we are learning. One commentator on EuroSport made that
 BF>> very reflection, now that so many excellent swimmers from the
 BF>> Netherlands are doing so well...

 MvdV> So you did notice that they have "Nederland" or "Netherlands" on the
back of
 MvdV> their shorts, not "Holland".

Holy Land.

Something must have got lost in translation somewhere
down the line.  Just think of all the wars that could
have been avoided had the Arabs and the Jews heard it
right.

--Lee

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