JFK

[The Captain]

Watching the Oliver Stone film "JFK" for perhaps the 100th time, it struck me that what I enjoy most of all about this profound movie is its message: fight for the truth, no matter the risk. It led me to thinking, what are some questions I'd really love to know the answer to when it comes to politics and the history of my country?

Some that I came up with include:

- What REALLY did happen to JFK? The film makes quite an argument, partially realistic, other not so much, as to the possibility that a coup might have occurred which led to Kennedy's assassination. Since much of the records of the time are still sealed away for the next two decades, it really seems if possible, still as shady today as it did at the time.

- Much of what is going on in the present Bush Administration I'd like to know about, but most of them are already being discussed elsewhere in this forum.

- How close are our ties to the Bin Laden family? It's well documented the Bush the first has ties to some very shady families abroad, including the prominent, and now infamous Bin Laden family from Saudi Arabia, I believe. What exactly is the connection here?

- Why are Americans so crazy with death and killing? This is really a topic for another thread, but I'd be interested to know what our government thinks.

- Why are cigerattes, guns, gambling, alcohol, etc, still VERY legal? Is it really because the government can profit off of them?

These are some questions I have. What are questions you have about your government, history, etc, etc of your country?

Take care all.

[Big D]

- What REALLY did happen to JFK? The film makes quite an argument, partially realistic, other not so much, as to the possibility that a coup might have occurred which led to Kennedy's assassination. Since much of the records of the time are still sealed away for the next two decades, it really seems if possible, still as shady today as it did at the time.

I'd say it's likely his death was an assasination carried out by a lone individual, a terrorist or fanatic, you might say. Actually it's been suggested that, had Kennedy lived, he'd have gone down in history as a disliked and corrupt president rather than a great leader, as soon as news of his affair(s) and mafia links came to light. He died before the world knew of those allegations, though, so he's remembered more for his many good achievements. Incidentally, a superb episode of Red Dwarf dealt with what would've happened if he'd lived...

- How close are our ties to the Bin Laden family? It's well documented the Bush the first has ties to some very shady families abroad, including the prominent, and now infamous Bin Laden family from Saudi Arabia, I believe. What exactly is the connection here?

Anywhere there's money, there'll be corporate links across the world. However, I'd like to believe the view that Osama is a "black sheep" of his family, rejecting their acceptance of western commercial influence and presence in the Middle East.

- Why are Americans so crazy with death and killing? This is really a topic for another thread, but I'd be interested to know what our government thinks.

The media need audiences in order to make money. To keep snaring viewers, they must maintain an ever-increasing, constantly-competing level of sensationalism. Marketing human suffering is a uniquely "sensational" practice, so they do it in order to keep people tuning in.
"Oh, those horrible people at ARSnEtworks - what terrible, degrading image are they going to force on us next? Let's watch and find out!"

- Why are cigerattes, guns, gambling, alcohol, etc, still VERY legal? Is it really because the government can profit off of them?

Yep. Those things = money, regardless of the risk they pose. The NRA sponsors politicians, so politicians ignore overwhelming public support for tighter firearms control. Besides, if you try to restrict any of those things, a few million "passionate" folk will take to the streets, screaming and burning and rioting about their "rights", i.e. their right to blame others when they kill themselves with carcinogens, their right to carry a lethal weapon in public, and the right to drive their families into poverty by wasting all their cash at casinos.

These are some questions I have. What are questions you have about your government, history, etc, etc of your country?

I've got remarkably few questions about my own government and history... except, perhaps, the question of how and why Robert Muldoon (not the gamekeeper from Jurassic Park) was such a successful Prime Minister, for so long, in spite of being a rule-bending, law-breaking, unpleasant rogue.

[Shadow Nexus]

Well, about illegalization of cigarrettes and guns, I must say...well, let's see, just think about what the ilegalization of cigarrettes and alcohol would mean: Does the name Al Capone sound familiar? Well, then imagine if you ilegalized cigarrettes too. I really would not support it, I have enough trouble with marihuana being illegal, since it gets adulterated by smugglers and well...the only thing I smoke is what I (Or my friends) cultivate.

Guns are another thing, though. Smokers and drinkers would use the black market, but I don't thing such thing would work so much with guns. Of course, there's the typical gun freak who would, but I don't think you can compare.

On the other hand, remember how important is the weapon industry in USA. I believe it was Gorvachov who said Russia would stop producing weapons if USA did too. Reagan replied the end of weapon industry in USA would mean the sink of the economy. Thats how things are going, nice, eh?