Leland, you would understand if you had an early car. The, ummm, founding fathers of, ummm delicate lightweight bumpers, errr....
Nah, I'm not that funny
Seriously, this whole thing has at least partially assisted me in understanding the different mentality towards guns in the US. I would probably still be a hippy if I lived in the US too.
Yeah, I fully know I shouldn't make it my business as to how you guys sort out your own business, but on this one particular topic it is sort of morbid curiosity. I knew when I started it that this would be a hotly contended topic, but I started it anyway not because I like the conflict and definitely not because I have an axe to grind, but rather because it really is quite interesting to me. (OK, I admit once I get going I like to debate (ok, ok, argue)).
Why do I care? Well, I don't really. Just curious. People have a tendency to assume that the way they do stuff (or a variation of it) is the best way. It is hard to break out of this narrow perspective, and sometimes you have to see how the other half (or other 260m people in the case of the US) live.
If you want a good laugh about New Zealand, we just came almost top in a new UN crime survey. Unfortunately, top = most crime. It was all over the newspapers here...
We (apparently) have around 20 times the crime rate of Columbia. I would have never known... One suspects they didn't adjust for the different methods each country uses for measuring crime.
A better example that NZ really is just a statistical anomoly? Yesterday's newspaper article was about the semi-derelict state of our main Airforce cargo planes - Hercules. How 1960s. The fighter pilots use Skyhawks.
There are only 4 million people here - probably 1/10 the size of California in a land area that is about as big. It can be hard getting a world view.
And Leland - I laughed my ass off at this:
when it comes to protecting their right to free press/speech, they get their panties in a wad when people talk about having the gov't put controls on film material... sex, violence, what have you
You're right - hypocrisy of the highest order...
Congrats on the wedding
. I'll be joining the married fold in July next year and am looking forward to it (not the organising though
)