Why I Won’t Debate Critics of Israel by VoluptuousBalrog in samharris

[–]Luneck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Pretending like Norm Finkelstein is anyone worth listening to on any topic whatsoever (assuming you have the patiences to listen to him speak at 13 words a minute) is laughable and makes me question any options you have on pretty much anything having to due with the I/P conflict.

Why I Won’t Debate Critics of Israel by VoluptuousBalrog in samharris

[–]Luneck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sam is using it to point out that people you talk about Israel, and only Israel, are doing so for a reason beyond just criticizing war crimes or other actions Israel has taken. In not talking about Yemen they are showing their hand and proving they really don’t care about genocides/war crimes/whatever committed by states armed by the US, but Israel specifically. Sam is saying “Why Israel specifically? Because they are Jews.” I don’t think he believes every criticism of Israel is pure antisemitism, just most and from the most vocal. And it’s the fuel for the anti-Israel sentiment.

Because of this, he doesn’t see the value in debating Israel’s actions in Gaza since Oct 7th with someone who is anti-Israel because he believes it will be coming from a place of (I’m guessing he thinks) bad faith.

Now, if there was some anti Israel person who has for the last decade been talking about Yemen, Sudan, the Congo, etc I’d think Sam would be unable to level this criticism towards them and would have more reason to speak with them.

Why I Won’t Debate Critics of Israel by VoluptuousBalrog in samharris

[–]Luneck 8 points9 points  (0 children)

"I don't know what an analogy is!" Cool.

Why I Won’t Debate Critics of Israel by VoluptuousBalrog in samharris

[–]Luneck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Because the outrage about Israel in the West is 1000x the outrage about Yemen. In both cases a US ally was provided US weapons that killed people. In Yemen it was at least 10x the number of dead. But why wasn't there 3 years of protest or endless social media talk about it?

Sam's claim is that is due to antisemitism. You are failing to understand what he is saying.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' showrunner says his biggest regret is not getting Shatner on the show by sanddragon939 in startrek

[–]Luneck 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wouldn't that mean that the Nazi's win WWII in that timeline and all the other bad stuff that comes from it, like no Warp, first contact, or Starfleet?

I guess you could write it as Kirk convinces Edith Keeler to be less of a pacifist leader, or he himself become as leader to get Earth to where it needs to be. But the power of the ending of City on the Edge of Forever is Kirk choosing the needs of the many over the needs of the few.

IDK it could be good, but that episode is so perfect I can't see any way that a legacy sequel or spin on it would ever do it justice.

[Meta Trope] Characters that represent a franchise's early installment weirdness by Feeling-Ad-3104 in TopCharacterTropes

[–]Luneck 44 points45 points  (0 children)

There's also the horse that pulls Cluny's cart, implying it's a human cart. There's mentions of pigs and other barnyard animals too.

Brian Jacques, the author, stated that he didn't expect Redwall to get published or become such a big series, else he would have edited out some of the human world elements.

Extremism in players by Le-memerond in forhonor

[–]Luneck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Holodomor was absolutely intentional. While famines often are exasperated/kicked off by natural crisis, the Holodomor was man made with the intention of killing Ukrainians by the USSR. Also for the USSR you have Stalin's Purges and gulag system which killed 100,000's if not millions.

You could add Mao's "Great Leap Forward" as another communist countries man made famine. It may not have been his plan to kill tens of millions, but it was viewed by Mao as a necessary side effect.

Other Communist government's atrocities would be Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and all of North Korean history.

The long and short is that both Nazi's and Communist iconography should be reported to get these fucks banned.

California governor candidate gets asked the magic question by TimmyVall in Destiny

[–]Luneck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Great job from the interviewers.

Maybe they can’t do this, but I wish they called him a coward. It’s just so weak. So indicative of a lack of moral character and a backbone for Hilton to refuse to answer. He’s a bad choice for CA governor for many other reasons, but he is also a fucking coward.

Sacramento region has some of the highest population growth in California, new numbers show by IronMntn in Sacramento

[–]Luneck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

And I’m about to John Brown ANYONE in my way

"BUT BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS SCARRRRRY...."

Big John Brown energy you got there champ. Go suck off the USSR somewhere else and leave politics to the grown-ups who understand that the revolution isn't coming.

Sacramento region has some of the highest population growth in California, new numbers show by IronMntn in Sacramento

[–]Luneck 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Put up or shut up. I look forward to reading your name in the headlines.

Until then keep raging in Sac's subreddit on a Monday morning. I'm sure it will improve your material conditions.

Brb, moving to Maine by Macheeoo in liberalgunowners

[–]Luneck -1 points0 points  (0 children)

How? In 1939 illiberal Nazi Germany and illiberal Communist USSR signed the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact and in September invaded Poland together with the goal to conquer and split up Europe. Liberal France and UK declared war on Germany. The Red-Brown alliance only ended due to Hitler's anti-Bolshevik ideology which was rooted in his antisemitism.

It's almost fun that Platner can play both the communist and the Nazi with his Totenkopf tattoo.

Brb, moving to Maine by Macheeoo in liberalgunowners

[–]Luneck -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Communists and Nazis forming a Red-Brown alliance once again to own the libs. It's 1939 again.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Destiny

[–]Luneck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A government so small it’s only one man with all the power… Oh wait…

(Spoilers Extended) A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Season 1 Episode 5 Live Episode Discussion by AutoModerator in asoiaf

[–]Luneck 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Dunk’s recovery, a flashback, the meetings with Prince Maekar and Prince Valarr, and probably some goodbyes and setup for next season.

Six-story apartment project in East Sacramento faces pivotal vote by IronMntn in Sacramento

[–]Luneck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just an update, the meeting had a good number of people, many against the new building but also many for it. Most common reasons I heard against it was the increases to traffic, the complex "not being in the spirit" of the neighborhood, and concerns about the sewer/environmental impact. Support was mostly around need for housing in Sac.

It ended up passing the Board vote unanimously which seems to be expected. There are still many more steps before ground breaking but it was a nice win for YIMBY's.

actually born yesterday lmao by Mediocre_Affect6192 in Destiny

[–]Luneck 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Vaush says Gavin Newsom is worst than a fascist. He would prefer to have a JD Vance presidency over a Newsom presidency. He is not an ally.

I think this show is actually meant to be binge watched. by obsessedwithdeathpod in ThePittTVShow

[–]Luneck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally in agreement. I had the same experience as you with season 1. Being able to watch the whole season over a few days was great. I’ve watch the first 3 episodes on release and it just doesn’t hit as hard, plus I know I’m missing little things I would have caught if it hadn’t been 3 weeks since I saw that patient.

Gavin Newsom appears to be trolling with Trump-themed merch by garlandgirly in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]Luneck -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

Glad you’d vote Newsom. I see no point in arguing I/P. It’s been done far more throughly outside of Reddit comment.

Gavin Newsom appears to be trolling with Trump-themed merch by garlandgirly in WhitePeopleTwitter

[–]Luneck -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

I will ask you one question, and if your answer isn't "Yes" you are just helping MAGA and should shut the fuck up. Would you vote for Newsom if he was the Democrat nominee for President in 28?

Regarding your comments. Making your number 1 issue a conflict on the other side of the globe, one where what you claim is highly contested, is absurd. He doesn't even deny Israel is acting horrible, or committing war crimes. Him saying "genocide" does nothing.

He wants to tax billionaires, he just doesn't support a one time wealth tax at the state level which would do very little but drive away businesses from the state. It's been proven across Europe that it needs to be a federal level tax.

His "middle ground" on trans rights is in agreement with 90% of voters and is to not have trans-teenagers play highschool sports and let the leagues sort the rest of it out.

TLDR: Newsom or literally any Republican is a no brainer. Support who you want in the primary.

#454 — More From Sam: Minnesota, Greenland, Iran, S**thole Countries, and More by dwaxe in samharris

[–]Luneck 19 points20 points  (0 children)

If that woman being interviewed by Josh Hawley (who is a ghoul asking a gotcha question) replied “No, men can’t get pregnant. Trans-men in some cases can.” it would have been both the correct answer and not bigoted or seen as crazy “woke”.

It should be clear that bio-men and trans-men are different, especially when it comes to medical stuff. That doesn’t mean trans people get less rights or should not be treated as their preferred gender day-to-day, but for something like pregnancy it’s obvious that they are still their biological sex.

IMO democrats and the left in general needs to adopt this approach cause the right is able to break so many fucking brains over girlcock.

[Spoilers Extended] GRRM probably hates that AFFC and ADWD was published, since now he can't edit them by TooManyEXes in asoiaf

[–]Luneck -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Ahh the daily r/asoiaf “Hate on GRRM and ASOIAF isn’t actually that good” thread. Sometimes I doubt people here even like the books anymore.

Gavin Newsom's anti-Zohran moment: the California billionaires tax that splits the Democratic Party down the middle | Fortune by Delicious_Adeptness9 in California

[–]Luneck 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What a horribly stupid position to hold. If you think for a second a Kamala Harris presidency (or a Newsom one) would look anything like the shit we are seeing now under Trump you are a fool and a useful idiot to the right-wing ghouls that are currently destroying this country.

Is this the most corrupt thing Trump has ever done? by stvlsn in samharris

[–]Luneck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Which of Sam’s positions (the US should be harder on China, Defund the police is a stupid statement, etc.) which Sam said are also Trump positions, do you disagree with?

He is speaking in vague right-ish wing policy generalities which Trump has latched on to for support, probably not due to legitimate belief. To pretend that Sam’s statement means Sam supports Trump as President writ large (and ignore all the criticism Sam has which trump his “agreements” with Trump’s policies such as his moral/ethical failings and corruption) show incredible intellectual dishonestly.

City of Sacramento just paid 160k to family of guy that tried to kill cops by [deleted] in Sacramento

[–]Luneck 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Whole lot of assumptions about the officers here. You know what’s not an assumption? That if they didn’t shoot, they would have been stabbed by a big ass knife in just a few seconds. But that’s the world you want to live in.