BD - I sincerely hope you manage to actually live the faith you continually ram down our throats on this forum (Not good enough to say you make mistakes - surely OLO is an opportunity to lead by example?

I note also you fail to comment on what JC would preach about Islam.

Another biological fact for BD - On physical strength - women have greater endurance, men greater immediate strength. This is subject to exceptions and what the f*ck does it prove anyway? Women have as much right as men to participate in ALL areas of our world.

Suggest male supremists like yourself are simply easily threatened by women. On that thought you appear to be easily threatened by Muslims, homosexuals, atheists, agnostics, science, philosophy, all other religions except your spurious version of christianity.... oh the list goes on. Ever thought of seeking some pyschological assistance with these fears? Oh, right, you're scared of psychologists too.

:-(

The claim that there is no other country with the military fire power of the USA is larrrrrfable, beyond belief. That premise alone puts this article in the bin.

Of course, Russia, dont have any military power. They have carefully contrustucted very useful propoganda to affect that illusion. To paraphrase the art of war "cultivate the perception that you are weak in the mind of an opponent." That way, they underestimate and leave you alone, free to fly under the radar and go much further than if under their watchful eye.

For heavens sake get a grip. Apart from the extensive technical know how of the Russians, they could merely, with the strike of a pen, refuse to accept US$ for their oil (they have more than iran, iraq and venezuala, combined) and instead take say Euros, and the US dollar's defacto reserve currency status (on the back of oil and commodities in general) would crumble over night. That, would collapse the illusion of USA as a the 'leading' super power faster than a bunch of split atoms over Washington.

Isreal and USA are each others lap dogs. Their 'power' is in fact a hall of funny mirrors. Spend long enuff in that circus tent and the distorted perception starts to look normal.

Massive changes are coming. May take several generations to play out, but they are baying at the door and no amount of spin will change the path we are on. China will not sit around for ever funding the debt laden US economy. USA has been issuing their worthless chits for a long time know and thankfully for their debt driven consumer junkies, the rest of the world has been passing those bumb cheques around and never cashing them.

Writing is on the wall. Open an eye and read it.

Dear Scout
thanx for your concern over my welfare.

On the physical strength aspect.. females have more endurance..I quite agree. The point about the male having more immediate strength is clear.. protection and preservation of the group.

Because of this, I don't agree that females have the 'right' to be in front line combat positions. (the gender mixing aspect aside).
Even if they had the 'right' it would be stratetically foolhardy to put them there. (non direct combat roles are ok).

How would Jesus preach about Islam ? good point !
I tried to address that with reference to how he dealt with 'falsehood'. (Pharisees etc).

The Lord Jesus, and Paul had different approaches to falsehood. Paul was scathing of doctrinal falsehood, yet he spoke very discreetly to the Greeks "The god you say is 'unknown', Him I proclaim to you"
Of the Circumcision party he described them as 'dogs'.

Jesus Himself came to demonstrate his credentials as "Messiah" it was enough for him to heal,preach, do signs. He is now the reference point for assessing falsehood and truth in the Spiritual realm and regarding our eternal destinies.

Take care.

BD the fact that you equate Islam with 'falsehood' says it all. Your stance is both hypocritical and ignorant. It is not as you claim "I'm not perfect" this is a weak excuse to use when your objective is clearly and demonstrably then denigration of any belief system that does not concur with yours.

As for combat, police work etc there are women who are brilliant at these occupations - they are not for all women, but then these jobs are not for all men either. In my work as a housing officer I have witnessed a police woman bail up four drug dealers effortlessly. You would deny the contribution that women have to make to our world purely because of your patriachal views.

I know that anything I or others have to say will not stop you from fostering a climate of fear and paranoia.

JC taught love YOU teach fear.

Scout... my beliefs about women and combat are well founded.

Here is an excerpt from a law document examining the development of the concept of Self Defense law.
Referring to early England.

"In these early times there was no State interference by an imposed body of criminal law. This came about only gradually as strong men imposed their will on various communities, and gained their support by bringing a semblance of order into what was a fairly chaotic situation, 8]"

Note the phrase "as strong men imposed their will"......

I suggest your opposition to this, and your quoting of the 'exceptions' which justify the rule is evidence of a dogmatic position yourself.

I've seen female police being pushed and shoved in crowd control situations where clearly the issue of 'core strength' is THE issue.

I don't know why you even try to defend this very natural situation of man/womankind.

Jesus preached 2 fundamental ideas

1/ Repentance
2/ Faith

because.... "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"

He did indeed preach love, as part of the ethics of the Kingdom.
The ultimate "Love your enemies" is portrayed in Pauls words: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

Scout, I don't find it hard to understand your view about my position in respect of 'Falsehood'. But you don't seem to make much effort to grapple with the issue yourself. I speak from a framework of belief in 'Truth' as found in Christ. You seem to be of the view that:
- 'Its all relative,
-it doesn't matter,
-all paths lead to the same destination.

This is ok as far as it goes, but in reality you are trying just as hard to impose your view on me as I am on you :)

There is a difference between rejecting falsehood and rejecting people.

When I speak truthfully from my clearly expressed convictions, you then condemn me for 'vilifying/denigrating' Muslims and others, and in so doing, you commit the very same thing towards myself.

Its all good. Truth doesn't come cheap, let the struggle continue.

I attended a peace conference last week and witnessed US activist, Cindy Sheehan, one of the most inspiring people in the western world in these biblical times. Yes, she is committed to the peace of Jesus. She quoted another woman: her adversary, Condalisa Rice, who said once "Sometimes, you just have to bomb people".

Then George W Bush proclaimed: "I think I will have to start speaking intellectual". Indeed.

Let's look at some real agents for Jesus. Martin Luther King Jr. was one: "If we can't change Governments and corporations, then we can only change ourselves". This inspired Rosa Parkes to sit in the white section of a bus, and the rest was history.

The Christians in the peace conference were the most active in their actions against the war in Iraq. For example, the Christians Against All Terrorism. They risked their lives in the name of peace and Jesus. They demonstrated at Pine Gap, breached national security, and took illegal photographs of secret sections of the military base. They were caught, charged, and could face 7 years in jail in a court case due in Alice Springs next August.

War promoters in the established Church think that Jesus is on their side. They are wrong. He is not on the side of the US empire, or any war in the name of greed, lies, theft of oil, vengence and pure malice.

The rest of you don't have the guts to make a stand for Jesus in peace against something that is wrong. If you hide in the dark, then you are part of the darkness. If you do this in the name of Jesus, then you are worse than Judas. You have no right to call yourself a Christian.

I don't call myself Christian. I humble myself without any aires or graces, as this is an endulgence. BTW, my tag: saintfletcher is an ironic in reference to my Street.

But I respect those who demonstrate that they live like Jesus would live, and do what Jesus would do. I end asking one simple question. Who would Jesus bomb?