Whoops...just noticed that the august date i was looking at was actually the date the last poster joined!!! LOL double ooops!

You need to upgrade your account in order to see them.

My point is all the while they were claiming that we were only in Iraq 'temporarily' they were spending billions on a huge and permanent embassy. One that supports military troops. The place is massive. That does NOT look temporary to me.

Human nature and the evolution of our species makes the prospect of "peace", an impossibility. Our psyches are programed to retain our most primal instincts for dominance, acceptance and conformity to our ideals and to eradicate perceived weaknesses to aid in the survival of the species.

Unless there is a way to mass reprogram the human psyche and eliminate the core primal survival instinct, our concept of peace can never exist.

RESOLUTION – what can we do to intervene, to stop these irrationally violent acts?

Here is my opinion and how I support it.

OPINION: At this point, the most powerful nations in the world have a vastly different view of growth than ever before in history. These nations are no longer seeking to colonize or even to cease other lands by force. There is simply too much at stake for this kind of warfare. However, this is not the case in the middle east. They struggle over land for religious reasons, just as early Europe did for centuries. From the violent warring conflicts of religious ideologies and the desire to rule from a singular religious point of view irrational acts of violence emerge, one such act is the suicide bomber. In my opinion these countries need to be absolved of their religious dictatorships and freedom for the citizens of these states is of utmost importance to relieve these conflicts and the violence.

MY SUPPORTTING EVIDENCE:
1. The history of suicide bombings as outlined by Dr. Andy and the psychology surrounding the violence of state dictated religions.
2. The social psychology I have learned pertaining to cognitive dissonance, authority, culture, and our reactions when placed into situations that challenge our beliefs.
3. What I know about the culture of the Japanese and why I believe there is little difference between the Kamikaze pilots and the suicide bombers
4. What I have learned about the history of developing countries and what I see in the world. This empirical evidence suggests that when people are free to believe as they wish, and feel they are properly represented within their governments and its laws, they are less likely to be manipulated to the point of extreme violence.

Notice I have not specifically given an opinion on whether evolution provides a genetic predisposition for violence – however, I do submit to you that psychological state is “naturally” more inclined to allow our need to be sociable when our ‘beliefs’ are truly individual and not so much dictated by group indoctrination. This need for sociability IS a product of natural selection.

Red,

Other than a few facts and ideas about how men have the capacity for violence and/or suicide, and religion being used to encourage or enlist this behavior, what do you feel was the purpose of this lecture?

I think in most cases of suicide bombers, men or women, their is a feeling of hopelessness within their cause or predicament, and a lack of other more effective weapons, so they become the weapons.

In their mind, it is easy to imagine that as far as the war is concerned, they have little chance of dominating or inflicting damage with the resources they have so they resort to suicide bombing because they consider themselves dead already, or eventually. I think the promise of an afterlife with virgins is secondary.

That isn't what I asked.

Obama could end both wars by dropping the bomb, would that make him a war criminal?

Jesus Christ is Lord of my life...He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!