ramit

9 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

Forest fans were regularly singing about us even though we're 2 leagues apart mate and it wasn't one or two of them! It's as if the severity of our punishment was not enough for fans to endure, we needed to watch our club burnt to the ground. Of course often it was just a relatively modest portion of opposition fans, but then you have the likes of Birmingham City who went out of their way to make it feel unpleasant.

The way I feel about it is that I don't mind if a man doesn't help me when I'm on the floor, but if he kicks me while I'm down, he'd best hope I don't get up again. Some teams' fans created divides during our troubles that it'll take a long old while for some of our lot to forgive and whilst I don't dwell on it much myself, I certainly don't blame those who remain angry.

How sad is that eh.  I know football can get tribal, but rejoicing in near endless suffering is shameful behavior.  I try to see the possibility of decency in most folks, so I hope that some of those who acted that way, now realize they went too far.

Come on Derby County, win this 3-2

Getting all worked up over what others get all worked up over gets me all worked up and that gets Mrs ramit all worked up and now I am getting the silent treatment.  Thanks @Mucker1884

My general thoughts on citizenship is that it is permanent, that allowing the state to withdraw it sets a precedence.  Leaving someone stateless appears an unacceptable situation, pressing some other state to take over the responsibilities of the original state of citizenry hardly seems a suitable solution either.

8 hours ago, Gee SCREAMER !! said:

After the way they loved it would be my wet dream.

Did they all rejoice in our suffering, or was a vocal minority in the forefront?

On 20/02/2024 at 06:43, RadioactiveWaste said:

And if they don't they'll get Gibson to send them legal threats until they do....

I must be getting soft, I don't wish what we went through on any football fans, not even Forest or dare I say Leeds

8 hours ago, Crewton said:

Brimming over with empathy aren't you?

Pointing out some ludicrous claims made means that I lack empathy?  Another ludicrous claim.

"Putin didn't just kill a person, he wanted to kill our hopes together with him, our freedom, our future."

"The fury, the anger, hatred for those who dared to kill our future"

The future leader of Russia?  Really?

She knows exactly why Putin killed Navalny and will share that info soon, stay tuned, don't miss an episode.

8 hours ago, Crewton said:

Coup? Do you mean the Maidan popular revolution?

Yanukovych bowed (he said) to "economic pressure and blackmail" from Moscow to drop plans he'd previously supported for Ukraine to sign a free trade and association agreement with the EU, setting himself against the will of the people. He ordered police to break up the protest camp in Independence Square, which they attacked several times, and when eventually those protesters marched on Parliament, the police opened fire and killed nearly a 100 people. Yanukovych subsequently fled into exile in Russia in order to protect himself from arrest. Following his arrest, the extent of Yanukovych's corruption and robbery from the state was revealed : the private estate, the luxury "pirate boat", the holiday home under construction in the Crimea, the $141M in a Swiss bank account....the list goes on and on. He also signed off a further 25 year lease for the Russian Black Sea Fleet base on Crimea, which has proved mightily handy to Putin.

Ukrainians would be quite happy if Russia had never interferred in their lives.

The president was duly elected, but was toppled in a western supported coup that you call a popular revolution.  A revolution which aimed it's guns at anything Russian, language, culture or heritage.  The people in the east were never asked what they wanted, they became personae non gratae  in their own country.  We shall have to agree to disagree, even as I will agree with you somewhat in that Yanukovych was not an exemplary leader.

16 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

Have you seen Eastleigh high street Ramit?

No I have not, but from what I understand, poverty is increasing in England

16 hours ago, Highgate said:

Here I agree 100%.  I think I've even said on this thread that I don't ever believe conscription is justified, even in a situation such as Ukraine finds itself in now. It should always be up to the individual to volunteer for war and it should never be compulsory in my opinion. However, I admire those with the courage to join up when their country has been invaded.

Hypothetically what would happen if no one when came when the politicians declared war?  Well that would be marvelous and in this case it would mean that Russia wouldn't have invaded Ukraine in the first place and all would be well, as Russians would simply have ignored Putin's 'special military operation'.  Ukrainians didn't have this luxury though...because if their soldiers and volunteers hadn't turned up Ukraine would now be part of the Russian state.

 

 

If there was respect between countries and local politics were left to its inhabitants, the coup in Ukraine would never have happened, an act which directly led to this war, but granted that is another item on the wish list, governments not meddling outside of their borders.

8 hours ago, Highgate said:

And it's a very good book, a genuine diatribe from a man who had the experience to know exactly what he was talking about. But you have to remember the sort of wars he was involved in. The great arm-wrestle between European Imperial powers that was WWI, the American-Philippine War, the Banana Wars in central America where the US was involved in 'nation building' that suited their economic interests, and so on.  He died before Japan attacked the US in WWII. Having read his book I really don't think he would have suggested that the US not fight back against the Japanese in 1941. 

It's true that war is a racket and it is promoted by business interests and their sponsored politicians for their own profit. But it is also true that war is sometimes justified. Just like it was justified to wage war against Germany and Japan in WWII, or it was justified for countless colonized nations fighting against their colonial oppressors throughout history, or right now, for Ukrainians to fight against an invading Russia in a war started by a man who doesn't believe that Ukraine has the right to exist. Putin is genuinely an existential threat for the Ukrainian nation.

These are not mutually exclusive concepts, they can both be true at the same time. Just because there will always people who will profit from war doesn't mean that nations have to, or should, surrender when invaded by an aggressive neighbour. 

 

I understand where you are coming from, even as I disagree on idealistic grounds.  I don't think any war is justified, for citizens should not be considered property of their state to be thrown into battle at the whim of war mongers and merchants.  It is because governments and their financial masters can count on men to do battle when called on that they prepare for and go to war. 

What if they gave a war and no one came?  War is over if you want it?  It really is that simple.  Not doable you may say, well it must become doable for in these times of ever more lethal weapons and technological gadgets, the fate of humanity is at stake.  We can longer afford our barbarity and cave man mentality toward each other.

7 hours ago, Tamworthram said:

Their time may be coming to an end (although I doubt it any time soon) but “thankfully” is only the right word if the next super power that replaces them is better. I can’t say that I’m hugely optimistic. 

No more super powers, cooperation between countries, a fair and working UN and the lion shall sleep with the lamb. 

Oh well, one can dream.

13 hours ago, sage said:

I'd imagine around £10k pw. He got given a new contract in the championship, when we were more flush and on the back of early promise.

 

10 or even 8 is too much.  If he is offered a new two year contract at 6k, I don't other clubs would top that at this stage in his career.

8 hours ago, Ram-Alf said:

Unfortunately their time is now, It will be tomorrow, Next week, Next month, Next year and so on and so on.

Read this...you may or may not be surprised, It has also happened here in the UK and will continue to happen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-68137582

I am more optimistic, or pessimistic as it may be, heh.  Sure they still wield considerable power, but their petrodollar is waning, their technology no longer all superior, their political muscle weakening as countries increasingly look for their own advantage instead of only the USA's. 

I see indications and similarities to the last days of Rome, as their homeland divisions grow and their leaders get ever weaker.  Their lashing out in places like Ukraine and Israel, while threatening China and Iran are indicative of weakness, not strength in my view.  Ukraine is not going their way, Russia is not weaker now, sanctions have not had the desired effect, even Iran makes fun of them, but yes they are probably more dangerous now than ever before, as countries prepare for a new future of multi polarity.

My views are so upsetting to some here that they react by throwing insults instead of laying out decently thought out counter arguments, which I am sure they are capable of, but I am seemingly not worthy of such debate.  I am anti war, oh the horror, my goodness what idiocy, what an affront to democracy, decency and freedom and I don't know what.  I am just as frustrated by some folks views here as they are of mine, but I try to be civil for reasons of my health and basic human consideration. 

I am against the American empire and it's military industrial complex, an empire that speaks incessantly of democracy and freedom but wants nothing of the sort, only vassal states, only it's own views and superiority must prevail.  The USA stands with Israel's mass murder in Gaza, supply and politically enable them and this appalls many naturally, yet they support their military machine in other ventures, something which I find strange.  Their time however is thankfully coming to an end, whether their staunch supporters like that or not.

8 hours ago, ariotofmyown said:

Oh right, I was there thinking it was a just war, where 2 sides were both fighting for an undeniable truth that was worth dying for.

I hope an aggresive foreign power (which assainating it's opponents at home) never invades your city/country and kills your friends. I assume you won't want any help/arms to defend yourself because a guy off Coast says it's a racket?

War is a racket is a quote from US Marine Corps general Smedley D Butler who also wrote a book with that title.

Assainated?  Been there, done that, but thanks for your concern.

8 hours ago, ariotofmyown said:

A Robert Kennedy tweet a GB News video with Neil Oliver in.  Whatever it says, I believe it already!

The world is a much better place now we get our news and views from cranks. It's maybe why we keep getting such great leaders in power!

That's right, don't listen, just name call. 

I will break it down for you, war is a racket, the longer we deny it, the longer it persists.

Sometimes even a politician tells a truth

8 hours ago, Ram-Alf said:

Substitute strong for mad leaders, How many Russian citizens did Stalin have murdered/killed during his "strong leadership" 20million...ish, If you ever or have the time have a look at this Film...it's great.

...A film that takes a swipe with a laugh at what Stalin's Central Committee did during Stalin's death.

PS there'll be no insults from me...just a reasoned debate 👍

I saw it, it was terrific.  Stalin was a genuine power mad paranoid sadistic maniac, no arguments from me there.

9 hours ago, Ram-Alf said:

It's only my suspicion ramit nowt else, Just like the October 7th incursion into Israel.

I'm almost 68 years old seen some sh!t from around the world in that time, Russia this last 30 years has seen freedom a good relation with the west to a Country so devoid of freedoms by a megalomaniac/Narcissist/absolute fruit loop that in Putin who sends his henchmen to kill those who oppose him anywhere in the world and at home sends fear in his own people, Of course fingers will point at him, Just like fingers pointed at him when Prigozhin's plane fell out of the sky 🙄

The World order is teetering on a precipice that could go either way, I've lived a good life but their's millions who have yet to really start theirs 😔

https://news.sky.com/story/alexei-navalny-police-in-russia-crack-down-on-protests-as-human-rights-group-claims-at-least-100-arrested-13073537

 

Yeltsin led Russia into suffering they had not seen since mid Soviet times, there were lots of western goods but most could not afford them, or much else for that matter.  Whatever folks may think of Putin, he revitalized Russia and for that many Russians love him, no matter what else he chooses to do on the side.  It has always been a rough country with strong leaders required it would appear.

Propaganda in the west is non stop when it comes to Russia.  I am 63, I grew up with the Russian bogey man being fear mongered to the crowds and frankly I am long since tired of it.  I don't believe for a second that their aim is world domination, or taking Europe even, they have an enormous landmass, they don't need any more, what they need is to improve the infrastructure in their huge lands.

We don't agree Ram-Alf and that's fine.  I want to thank you for keeping it civil, I respect that.

8 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

Silencing their most vocal and dangerous political opponent. It's difficult to see that his murder, if indeed, that is what it was, strengthens NATO's, or specifically the US's position at all, indeed it removes a potentially willing advocate for a more democratic Russia. With numerous dissidents and journos all having suffered unplanned defenestration events, it does rather seem that being a vocal opponent of Putin's carries an extreme health warning. That said, we should acknowledge that it's not just the Russians who have blood on their hands. 

Navalny's death blamed on the Kremlin would create a martyr I suppose, not that it matters much, lines being so clearly drawn between the sides.  A distraction from the recent interview and bad news on the Ukraine front?  Perhaps.  That won't matter much in the long run either, I think. 

To be clear, I don't think there are many good guys in this fight but we the people get caught in between, coerced to take sides, when most of us just want a peaceful future for our kids and ourselves.

7 hours ago, Ram-Alf said:

Kremlin critic Bill Browder says three reasons behind timing of Navalny 'murder'

One of the many questions that surround Alexi Navalny's death is why it happened now, almost three years after he returned to Russia.

Author and financier Bill Browder said there were three reasons for the timing.

Firstly, Vladimir Putin wanted to eliminate a political opponent.

Secondly, he wanted to show Russians that if you oppose Mr Putin you will face death.

And thirdly, it sent a message to those sitting at the Munich Security Conference, where world leaders meet to discuss defence issues, that Mr Putin can "cross every red line and get away with it".

Firstly would have been done long ago, if that was the reason.

Secondly, would have been done long ago, if that was the reason.

Thirdly, what? 🤣