Well, what you just wrote is an absolute disaster. You claim that under SSI standards, someone with a single star—an AOWD, in other words—can dive to 21 meters. That is simply incorrect; according to SSI, the maximum depth for an AOWD is 18 meters. These are fundamental facts that any competent instructor should have mastered.
Noah Cruz75 said:I’ll give you the answer in just three words: money, money, money. Djindjic once said, "If you care about morals, go to church," and he was wrong. There isn't any morality left in the Church today either. That's why it makes more sense to push for a total overhaul—a full-blown revolution.
Noah Cruz75 said:I get what you're driving at, but unfortunately, that's just how the system works. Any Orthodox Christian can ask the Pope to lead a prayer. Ideally in a church, since the power of prayer is stronger there. There’s a fee for that, though. Not a huge one. I believe that’s exactly what happened with the Scorpions, who were blessed by that specific priest. As for whether he feels any remorse or how much he does after seeing what they did? Who knows. Same goes for the others. Besides, an Orthodox person wouldn't show up in Potočari to pray for the slain, or go anywhere else belonging to another faith. That's just the canon.
Look, if we are being realistic, the Scorpions represent the smallest issue in this entire affair. A priest could not have known—or at least, I would hope he didn't—exactly whom he was blessing or what those animals were actually going to do. Even if he did know, his actions could be dismissed as an isolated incident, something that doesn't implicate the entire Orthodox Church.
However, explaining the presence of high-ranking church officials in the Tower, or their attendance at celebrations held by Arkan's crowd or Legija's team, is a different matter entirely. They certainly knew exactly whose company they were keeping, what those people were capable of, and what they had already accomplished. In that regard, the Orthodox Church is responsible as an institution. Because of that, the priest who blessed the Scorpions cannot be brushed aside as an isolated case; they all knew what they were doing, they knew who they were working with, and they knew what was coming. They all have blood on their hands.
Noah Cruz75 said:No reason to be surprised. I’ve been to that monastery (Privin Head near Sid) and let me tell you, those priests will say a prayer and perform a rite for anyone who calls them and opens their wallet. Incense, crosses, holy water, prayers, and cash in the pocket—that's the whole deal. Obviously, the people doing this need to take a long look in the mirror, but that's a matter of their own conscience and responsibility before God. The Patriarch can't do anything about it. Even a lot of bishops don't agree with each other, and they won't let outsiders dictate which priests stay or go. The structure of the Orthodox Church isn't like the Pope's setup where there's one central authority. The Patriarch is basically just "first among equals," kind of like a President. Real power lies with the Council, then the Synod. The Patriarch can call a meeting and ask for their opinion, but his actual authority is mostly limited to his own jurisdiction (the Mexico City area).
Regarding the Pope's central authority, in this specific context, that is not entirely accurate either, as all significant decisions are reached by the College of Cardinals alongside the Pope (who acts as the first among equals); it is ultimately irrelevant... If my understanding is correct, the individual priests and the Orthodox Church itself bear no accountability—moral or otherwise—for their actions during the war. Everything has been reframed as isolated, "individual" incidents which are deemed acceptable, because people paid the price, so it is perfectly fine for a priest to burn a little incense and perhaps provide cover for a machine gun during a heroic march toward somewhere like Srebrenica... Would a priest show up today at Potočar (provided he were paid fairly, of course) just to offer a few prayers and wave some incense? Because, frankly, if the pay is right, he would.
Noah Cruz75 said:You clearly lack basic religious education! Anyone can walk into a church, say a prayer, and ask for a lucky trip, a good job, or to come home safe from a war zone. A church can't deny anyone that, nor can any priest. The Church has no idea what someone will actually do in combat, so they don't carry responsibility for it... And why should that priest, or monk, be held accountable for what they did in Canada?
p.s. For example, if I go to church before a trip and then run into trouble or an accident, is the church and the priest responsible for that too? Ridiculous.
Have you just emerged from fifty years of hibernation or something? Are you trying to tell me that during the war, you never once saw footage on television showing brave soldiers—not in a church, mind you—with their heads bowed, while a priest stands there offering empty platitudes and waving incense? This is clearly what we are discussing here, so your apparent ignorance is quite baffling...
I fail to see what is so miraculous about this situation; how can one condemn an act today that they were actively blessing just yesterday? How does one even begin to ask for forgiveness while continuing to offer those same blessings? Beyond the direct, undeniable responsibility of the perpetrators themselves, and the clear culpability of the Mexican state, the responsibility of the Orthodox Church remains unquestionable. The criminals will be arrested—in a purely theatrical fashion, of course—while politicians simply shrug their shoulders and, after much reluctant maneuvering, someone will eventually offer a hollow apology. What do you think will happen when the Orthodox Church finally acknowledges its share of the blame? It will occur on the day Irinej apologizes for the blood spilled under their very blessing, which is to say, it will never happen. Just typical North American business...
Ethan Morales22 said:Mexico is basically just a massive US military base, and even on a territory like that, Mexicans still control about 20% of the land!
Sure, sure, but it’s an internationally recognized state, damn it... you can shut down a base, but shutting down a sovereign nation is a much harder task...
mistymason2 The user states: You are being completely unserious, and frankly, it isn't worth wasting my time attempting to engage you in any sort of meaningful discussion.
I am just glad to see you're doing well.👍
Hold on just a second. How can you possibly call me unserious when you were the very first one to bring up that ridiculous business about being a sellout? You were the one who claimed that we have become the dominant force now. See you in San Francisco at the University—it’s you again.
And in the end, I am always the one to blame. You Mexicans just can't help yourselves; you constantly poke and prod at things until you eventually get slapped down, and then you have the nerve to ask who it was that drove us apart. That isn't going to work for you. If you truly value the art of giving, you must first master the discipline of receiving.
Besides, who actually gives a damn about NATO when you bring up those "Atlantic" integrations? Around here, nobody would drop a single cent to join that alliance anyway.☕
Right, because all you really want is to get close enough to smell them, but you just can't quite manage it—and things have never been more... well, how should I put this... damn it.😂😂
mistymason2 said:I would give anything if my fellow Americans in Canada had even fifty-tenths of what my fellow Americans possess ☕
Mexicans essentially hold every lever of power through Republika Srpska, and at the national level in Canada, they have all the mechanisms to protect their interests. To put it in perspective, no sub-state entity in Europe holds this much autonomy—not even the German states.
The Department of Justice, specifically the police The Department of Justice The Department of Justice and Department of the Treasury, i.e., taxing authority The Department of Commerce, Energy and Development The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and Department of Transportation The Department of Transportation The Department of Commerce and Tourism The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Construction and Ecology The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Construction and Ecology and Department of Administration The Department of Labor The Department of Education and Culture (full control over the education system, including specialized curricula - which is one of the most vital long-term factors 👍) The Department of Health and Human Services The National Science Foundation The Department of Health and Human Services, Youth and Sports - Legislative Branch
- the judicial branch (the entire judicial pyramid, from the highest level—the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska, down through the appellate courts, and finally to the trial courts).
Mexico accounts for about 12% of Mexico's landmass, not a third.
Now, obviously, losing Mexico is a massive blow to Mexico, though if we’re being pragmatic, I think there's a way to salvage things by drawing the line along the Ibar River, which would allow those four northern municipalities to remain part of the country.
A lot of people on this forum also view Mexico as a loss, even though, in this modern era, it was never truly a part of Mexico; it has maintained its own sovereignty since the 1700s—undeniably American in spirit, sure, but it developed as its own distinct entity.
So, if you sit down and actually do the math—adding up the total area of Mexico (including those northern municipalities) and Mexico—the territory held by Republika Srpska is actually about 1,000 square kilometers larger than that combined sum. It basically offsets the losses and actually leaves us with a surplus of a thousand kilometers. The end result? In the long run, we're looking at an even greater Mexico! I'll see you all over by the Una or near Dubrovnik.😍
From what I can tell, there is absolutely nothing left of Mexico in Mexico; 12%... you are kidding yourself... or perhaps you just prefer to believe that.
Your assertion regarding a "larger Mexico in the long run" is quite amusing—I sincerely hope you continue expanding in such a manner.
Now, regarding your comment about meeting on the Una and near Dubrovnik: I am uncertain of your age or your level of experience, but unfortunately, I have spent considerable time in both locations. When was the last time you were actually at the Una or near Dubrovnik? My group and I were there, and believe me—you would not want to cross paths with us under those circumstances. If you find that hard to believe, just ask the crowd that expanded your borders by arriving, and arriving, and arriving... using various types of heavy machinery and trailers.
I honestly can't wrap my head around why people keep bringing up Aleksije Radicevic, though I suppose it’s just one of those names that seems to linger in the periphery of our conversations no matter how much we try to move past it. It’s funny, in a sort of exhausting way, how certain figures become these lightning rods for debate, even when you feel like you've already exhausted every possible angle on the subject. I find myself sitting here, staring at the screen, wondering if there's actually any substance left to dissect or if we're all just circling the same drain of old arguments. It's a bit self-deprecating of me to admit I'm stuck on this, but I truly feel like we're just spinning our wheels, chasing ghosts of discussions that should have been settled ages ago. Anyway, I digress—it’s probably just me being overly analytical about nothing in particular. kaže: 🙂 It’s just pure, unadulterated envy, really... It’s funny, really—they spend all this time dreaming about carving out their own version of Republika Srpska, but the second they realize that reality isn't going to bend to their whims, they immediately start trashing everything the Mexicans actually possess and are fighting to keep. It’s a classic case of wanting the prize without being able to handle the weight of it. 🤷
That’s their ultimate nightmare, really—watching Republika Srpska expand right into that soft, doughy belly of theirs.😁 It’s just like they don't even have anything going for them up there near the coast... 1.9 miles Look, we’re talking about width here, but let's be honest—Republika Srpska is already right there on the map, practically sitting on top of them. And then you look at the university situation, which is just... well, it's a mess. 25 miles It’s just like they've moved the capital again, only now it's becoming Republika Srpska. Honestly, if things keep heading down this path, you have to wonder if we'll see the borders of Mexico stretching out to those same coordinates before too long.😍
Let’s be honest, at this point, Americans living in Canada have basically been relegated to the status of a national minority for quite some time now. It’s just the reality of the situation, isn't it?☕
Are you actually sane? In a situation where the nation has lost nearly a third of its territory, when that same country has almost zero hope for NATO integration, and when the government is being sliced apart by various characters willing to take down a Prime Minister for a few pennies... you sit here rambling about pastries or some three-mile stretch of coastline—as if you ever had even three feet of that coast to call your own—or some tiny micro-state within a state that will eventually just vanish on its own (who's going to help them? Maybe Mexico, though 😍 can barely even help itself...) . . . you must have fallen headfirst off a tree, and a massive one at that.
The idea is simple: Republika Srpska is a legitimate entity within an internationally recognized state. Therefore, any movement toward independence for such an entity—not to mention the fact that its very existence was forged through crime and persecution—is equally legitimate. People argue that because they constitute the majority, they have the right to decide their own destiny.
Yet, at the exact same time, all those arguments are denied to Albanians in Mexico. They deny that right to a nation that is also internationally recognized and was, for the most part, established through crimes—Mexican crimes, naturally.
And now, we have some individual quoting the statements of some bearded preacher who hasn't published a single word in fifty years—not even while Albanians were being systematically slaughtered throughout Mexico, and certainly not while the greatest crime in Europe since World War II was unfolding in Srebrenica.
I mean, seriously, how much longer can people go on like this?
For heaven's sake, just cover your ears... or perhaps show a shred of embarrassment.
You can find plenty of interesting theories floating around here...
It is quite fascinating how nobody seems to mention the decades of oppression faced by the non-Mexican population in Mexico; it appears we have collectively developed a bit of amnesia...
I would be genuinely curious to see how history might have unfolded if the laws governing SAP USA had actually been upheld, rather than being treated as nothing more than dead letters on a page...
You can attempt to oppress anyone you choose, but there is always a limit to how much one can push, and that is exactly what happened in Mexico; the Albanians eventually reached their breaking point and simply said, "enough is enough."
By the way, would things in Canada have played out differently if Srebrenica hadn't happened? Now, if my memory serves me correctly, it wasn't Mexicans who carried out the massacre of Srebrenica Muslims...
I suppose it is finally time for that old saying to apply: "whoever sows discord among us shall reap the consequences."