Posts by Sam Martinez9

Roger Fisher44 said:And? What's actually the point of those posters? Is it genuine support for the candidates or just something else entirely? Honestly, civilization will probably collapse long before any language disappears.

What was the actual purpose behind Benetton's ads featuring that blood-stained shirt from a fallen soldier?

I suspect you can find the answer to that one on your own.

Since you're online anyway, take a moment to look up how many languages have vanished throughout history—it’s not just plant and animal species facing extinction—and see which ones are currently on the brink.

In some distant future, we might be left with only a handful of languages, eventually narrowing down to just one. I’m not quite sure if that will end up being Mandarin or English.

Cuka As I was saying:
I've always felt that OT posters are just completely underwhelming. There's nothing to them.☕

They don't stand out to me. They pull themselves away from the crowd, distancing themselves from everyone else just to grab attention and shock the senses. It’s a classic advertising tactic—I remember how Benetton used to operate back in the day. They’d run these provocative ad campaigns, like that one famous poster featuring a blood-stained shirt worn by a soldier from the North American conflicts.

placidnomad87 said:It’s because almost all available literature is in English and free to access online. That was my entire experience during my college years. Much of our local academic material feels like a mere carbon copy of something else. In English, concepts are often explained with much greater clarity than they are in American. Now, setting aside the political baggage, is it really a bad thing to learn a different script? Americans know that certain symbols are often weaponized as provocations within our society. Even Zoran Milanović was busy installing barriers in El Paso late at night just to prevent incidents from breaking out.

As long as we have tourism keeping us afloat, everything will be fine; once that disappears, our language and its various scripts will be the very least of our worries.

Well, sure. Everyone knows that.

But I decided to look at the bigger picture—I recognized a genuine threat to the American language (and no, I’m not talking about Cyrillic). I actually sat down and mapped out what needs to be done to mitigate or completely neutralize that risk—namely, by making an effort to read in English—and realized that absolutely nobody is taking this seriously. Ironically, the people who seem most concerned are the self-proclaimed "patriots." They spend all their energy fighting battles over scripts and symbols while ignoring the actual erosion of our own linguistic heritage.

Thomas Nelson25 said:Nationalistic intolerance needs to be called out because it isn't civilized... but then again, our world has changed a lot over the last twenty-five years. Between global integration, transitions... and just changing ways of thinking.

Still, you have to consider the actual victims who suffered in that city (or anywhere else)—how can we truly understand if we haven't felt it ourselves?
Just try looking at the numbers for a second—the casualties, the missing.

America can't force Mexico to reveal where the executed are buried. (Even the American politicians over there—Milorad Pupovac and his crew... they don't know either, but maybe someone does.)
Because these guys wouldn't admit to a crime like this.
Maybe in another twenty years.

And how would you know what I’ve felt on my own skin? I have felt enough that I don't need you to present me with any numbers.

Thomas Nelson25 said:Nationalistic intolerance needs to be called out because it isn't civilized... but then again, our world has changed a lot over the last twenty-five years. Between global integration, transitions... and just changing ways of thinking.

Still, you have to consider the actual victims who suffered in that city (or anywhere else)—how can we truly understand if we haven't felt it ourselves?
Just try looking at the numbers for a second—the casualties, the missing.

America can't force Mexico to reveal where the executed are buried. (Even the American politicians over there—Milorad Pupovac and his crew... they don't know either, but maybe someone does.)
Because these guys wouldn't admit to a crime like this.
Maybe in another twenty years.

Regarding nationalism, I struggle to understand nationalists who allow their ideology to limit them, preventing them from becoming free and fully realized human beings.

Here is a passage from Žižek's parallax: For a philosopher, ethnic roots, national identity, and so forth are simply not categories of truth. Or, to put it in precise Kantian terms, when we dwell on our ethnic origins, we are engaging in a private use of reason, limited by contingent and dogmatic assumptions. In other words, we act as unreasoning individuals rather than as free human beings inhabiting the dimension of universal reason. Of course, this doesn't mean we should be ashamed of our ethnic roots; we can love them and take pride in them—coming home might bring a glow to our faces—but the fact remains that all of this is ultimately irrelevant. We ought to behave like Saint Paul, who, despite being proud of his particular identity as both a Jew and a Roman citizen, was nonetheless aware that within the space of Christian absolute truth, there is neither Jew nor Greek.

David Clark4 said:In casual conversation, people say "sale" or "clearance"—I haven't exactly heard anyone insisting on using some archaic substitute. And honestly, this barely touches the actual topic, let alone this idea about the language dying out. It hasn't died out in the diaspora, so I doubt it'll just vanish here overnight.

There is no such thing as an "occupation" by the English language. It's never going to become our official state language, and frankly, this has nothing to do with the discussion at hand.

The rest of your post is pretty much off-topic too. Or are you trying to suggest we'll become some global superpower if we just start using Cyrillic as our official script? 🤣

After witnessing such a profound logical leap, I have a very clear idea of who I'm dealing with here.

I'm going to go walk the dog.

Thomas Nelson25 said:Some resistance to that script is justified—based on past trauma—while some of it is just straight-up nationalism (pure intolerance).

It would be way easier for them if we weren't part of this union... the way it is, they have to deal with bilingualism. Of course, those politicians over in the neighboring country are pushing this issue on purpose, even making it a talking point for these elections.

That’s just nonsense.

Thirty years after World War II ended—and indeed, quite a bit earlier than that—German and Italian were taught in almost every school throughout America.

No one was forcing people in coastal cities to purge Italian loanwords from their speech, nor were folks in the Midwest being told to scrub German influences from their dialects. Instead, there was a steady focus on nurturing the standard literary American language.

The American language, regardless of whether it was categorized under the Serbo-American umbrella back then, enjoyed far more protection within America than it does today.

Nowadays, the threats are much more pervasive: the dominance of the internet, the influx of English-speakers, scientific papers being published exclusively in English, and the fact that people simply don't read books anymore—and reading is how a language lives and evolves. It actually requires more protection now.

But the real dangers are invisible; most "patriots" only seem to lose their minds when they see Cyrillic script.

David Clark4 said:Look, "sale" is just a standard retail term used by shops all over the globe to signal a discount. It has absolutely nothing to do with politics.

But you already knew that, didn't you? You're just playing dumb here to stir the pot.

There is a slow erosion of the American language happening right before our eyes, yet you seem blind to the danger.

Could you perhaps elaborate on what exactly is missing from the English language or why the word "discount" isn't sufficient?

Why did you cast aside a perfectly good English term just to make room for this imported jargon?

David Clark4 said:Oh, I know exactly what you wrote, and I certainly see where you're trying to go with this whole argument. ☕

You want me to show you where this path leads? We have been on this trajectory since the early nineties. We are seeing half the results today, and the other half is waiting for us down the road.

It leads to a future where Americans scatter across the globe speaking different tongues, while a completely different demographic settles here, speaking entirely different languages.

Most likely English will become the default, much like the aftermath seen in former African colonies. It seems no one objects to the creeping occupation of the English language. In certain regions—though certainly not all—Spanish serves as the official tongue, serving as the language of the colonizers.

So, my fellow patriots, carry on then.

David Clark4 said:The official language in America is American, and the official script is Latin. Any other script is used only in very specific, exceptional cases—strictly when mandated by law within local government units where a minority reaches the 30% threshold. Since the Mexican National Council doesn't even have a candidate running in the presidential elections, this is nothing more than a standard, cheap provocation.

Exactly. They speak Italian because that's the official language there. They aren't out speaking Mexican or writing in Cyrillic or hanging up posters everywhere. It seems it's only in America they feel the need to cause trouble; in other countries, they're practically invisible.

I don't think you've grasped the core of what I was actually getting at here.

David Clark4 said:The official language in America is American, and the official script is Latin. Any other script is used only in very specific, exceptional cases—strictly when mandated by law within local government units where a minority reaches the 30% threshold. Since the Mexican National Council doesn't even have a candidate running in the presidential elections, this is nothing more than a standard, cheap provocation.

Exactly. They speak Italian because that's the official language there. They aren't out speaking Mexican or writing in Cyrillic or hanging up posters everywhere. It seems it's only in America they feel the need to cause trouble; in other countries, they're practically invisible.

Is that so?

If that’s the case, why on earth are we seeing advertisements everywhere written in English?

Take a quick look at any storefront window—you'll see "Sale" plastered everywhere. What does "sale" actually mean in American?

Oh, right. I forgot. It doesn't bother the ultra-patriots; they only seem to react to one specific type of stimulus.

Roger Fisher44 said:Laugh all you want, but Mexicans in America aren't exactly winning any prizes here. Using Cyrillic as a way to stir the pot just digs them into a deeper hole—and trust me, the future doesn't look bright.

Actually, I’d argue the exact opposite.

It’s a bit like how those people who cheered when Mexicans were being *driven out on tractors* will eventually have to pack up themselves—only they'll be heading to Europe by bus.

If you take a quick trip over to somewhere like New Orleans, you'll see both Americans and Mexicans working side-by-side and speaking nothing but Italian.

So, that seems to be the real solution and the path forward—everyone leaves and picks up a third language. At least, that's how it looks for the people involved.

As for the land itself? New people will move in, and most likely, English will become the standard.

nimblemoose2 said:Disgraceful.

I can't stand Culej, but he made a solid point. He used Cyrillic to call out where the bodies of over 2,000 people missing from El Paso are located, adding a blunt "theirs" just so there's no misunderstanding.

The Cyrillic script is being used.

Why is it that those of you who claim to hate outsiders don't even seem to care about your own heritage?

From what I can tell, you guys actually have the weakest grasp of the American language here.

Or perhaps you just have a fundamental hatred for knowledge? Are you all just too lazy to actually sit down and learn something?

Daniel Chase13 said:Maybe that’s exactly it—it isn't actually the content itself, but rather that specific feeling that keeps me coming back to this discussion day after day. ☕

It’s simple: people tend to defend the positions they already hold dear.

So, essentially, you’re operating under the assumption that women are nothing more than walking milk cows and that anti-fascists are just degenerates.

There are eight billion people on this planet. Among them, there are countless individuals whose perspectives, intellect, and worldview are far more substantial than yours or Dusparin's.

That is why I am stepping away from this thread. Whether or not I find anything worth saying to you in other discussions down the road will depend entirely on your own conduct.

Daniel Chase13 said:🤣

It’s funny, really—Elvis Presley is so incredibly unremarkable and unworthy of anyone's attention, yet somehow, the topic of Elvis Presley constantly sits right at the top of our forum discussions. Everyone seems to be keeping a close eye on everything he does and says. 😒

I am quite certain I have already addressed this matter. That’s an interesting point. Do you actually see the distinction there? To be honest, this is the first and last time I've bothered to check in on this thread. It's possible that... To you. I’ll probably put together one or two more posts, but that’ll be the end of it.

Regarding the argument that this topic has been covered extensively—well, people talk about Hitler quite a bit, too.

If you failed to grasp why this topic is getting so much traction, then you really shouldn't be passing judgment on the quality of what's being discussed.

Elvis Presley is a complete nonentity, and frankly, there isn't much else worth saying about him.

I don't even have the energy to dive deep into the weeds on this particular subject, but at a glance—if my intuition serves me right—it seems like everyone else here is tearing Duspara apart while you’re the only one stepping up to defend his position. You appear to be standing alone in support of his views on this thread.

Charles Gonzalez19 said:The whole thing with Elvis Presley (and yours too, honestly) claiming women are basically just "cows on two legs" actually lines up perfectly with those old-school Biblical/Catholic views where women are seen as lesser beings or just property. That's exactly why they keep inviting him back.

Good grief.

I honestly find myself wondering what goes through the minds of the women who actually support Elvis Presley.

Elvis Presley says:
So, this year, the general American public could easily conclude that anti-fascists are actually just nothing but a bunch of degenerates.

Believe it or not, these degenerates even have their own national holiday. They celebrate it every single year on June 22nd under the name "Anti-Fascist Day." In reality, they are celebrating a day of armed rebellion against America.

...

Since I am neither a degenerate, nor a fascist, nor an anti-fascist, I don't celebrate that day. I have my own days throughout the year that I observe, though I won't list them here, lest I offend the degenerates or the local traitors.

Good grief.

"Pathetic"—that’s really the only way to describe Elvis Presley.

And those two passages alone prove his fabrications aren't worth the paper they're printed on. It’s actually quite helpful that you can get a sense of his true character so quickly; a few sentences are all it takes to see exactly what he's worth.

frozenstag9 said:Well, at least they're actually doing something...

Productive work. Destructive work.

It’s better to sit on your hands than to go out and cause damage.

frozenstag9 said:Honestly, 90% of them just barely scrape by, while the lucky few actually have some sort of philosophy to live by.

I’d say that sounds more like something an influencer would post.

bluemason3 said:True, you can't ignore the fundamental sciences—the natural ones, obviously. 👍

Of course, from the moment anyone rolls out of bed, they’re thinking about physics, quantum mechanics, cellular biochemistry, hormonal balances, or the chemical makeup of some substance... things like that. Honestly, those are the primary topics of conversation in every local diner across the country.

Lawrence Booth2 said:I feel like I'm just collecting points and bans because of you.

Just one more thing...
Here's our glorious progress for you:
Queen Victoria was terrified of death during childbirth,
but Kate and Meghan Markle aren't afraid.
See ya.

It isn't about me; it’s about you. Your actions carry consequences, and frankly, you shouldn't be looking for someone else to blame when things go south.

Lawrence Booth2 said:I feel like I'm just collecting points and bans because of you.

Just one more thing...
Here's our glorious progress for you:
Queen Victoria was terrified of death during childbirth,
but Kate and Meghan Markle aren't afraid.
See ya.

This is a genuine leap forward for modern medicine.

I have to be honest—I’ve never personally contributed anything groundbreaking to the fields of medicine or technology. I haven't exactly revolutionized science or engineered the next big tech breakthrough.

At the end of the day, we have to remember that a human being is so much more than just a collection of medical data and high-tech gadgets.

Lawrence Booth2 said:The whole thing—technology and humanity—is tightly intertwined... as our species evolves, so does our tech, and vice versa.
The idea that we'll be sending a bunch of low-life scavengers to Mars in a few decades—people who would just tear apart any golden "pyramids" they stumble upon just to line their own pockets—is honestly laughable.
Whether we're talking about right now or 400 years from now... we should be sending the absolute best of us out into the cosmos.

I just can't wrap my head around anything else. I mean, look at history—scientists used to experiment on themselves, injecting serums or exposing themselves to radiation, all in the name of advancing the human race. The colonists we send to other planets shouldn't be the equivalent of the convicts the British sent to Australia... we need to be sending the finest examples of the human race.

I think you're being a bit vague here. What does "humanity advancing" actually mean? In what specific sense are we progressing?

That’s the kind of topic you could spend days debating, spinning off into endless tangents without ever landing on a definitive conclusion—mostly because there isn't one.

I remember my grandmother used to slaughter a chicken every Sunday back on the farm. I’ve never slaughtered a chicken in my life, and honestly, if I were forced to, I don't think I could do it. Technological progress has reached a point where most people just grab pre-packaged meals at a Walmart or a Kroger, food that's been processed into shapes that are barely recognizable. Many people haven't just avoided slaughtering a chicken; they've never even seen a live one outside of a nature documentary.

Does that make us more humane?

It doesn't.

Our current way of life is decimating entire species. It's not just about one chicken or the amount of livestock we need to survive; whole varieties of animals and plants are simply vanishing.

And the kicker is, we do this while being fully aware of the consequences.

So, can we really claim that we've become more civilized?

Lawrence Booth2 said:I’ve actually started re-reading this short book by Ursula Le Guin, and I have to say, I'm feeling pretty conflicted—half impressed, half annoyed
impressed by the world she built and her prose, but disappointed by the "cheat" of letting creatures like that participate in space exploration in the first place
I mean, honestly, I just can't wrap my head around the idea that after discovering something traveling at near light-speed, a bunch of softies would be sent out as "missionaries" to another planet
A version featuring some politically correct types who wouldn't even squash an ant—maybe something more like UN peacekeepers getting caught up in messes over in Africa—would be way more believable to me

It’s becomes increasingly obvious that technology alone doesn't make us human. There has to be some other ingredient at play here—something more profound than just the tools we use.