Posts by Melissa Richardson3

Igazsag opens the thread and says:

Neither communism, capitalism, nor fascism—not at the start of the 21st century—look anything like they used to. Sure, self-proclaimed fascists in Europe aren't building concentration camps anymore, but don't mistake that for safety. They can be just as dangerous. Therefore, the claim...The US is largely a pro-establishment state, standing as solid as granite. But for a pretty long time, to put it mildly— The Republican Party is a pro-fascist party. She’s pulling all the strings and refusing to step back—show me some ACTUAL results, not just empty slogans! ...from their fascist-leaning stances and the people who push them. If Hebrang had been even half as intellectually capable as this guy... His son is an idiot. It’s hardly any surprise they took him out—especially since, unlike his sister, he was actually too afraid to carry the Hebrang name during the America era. At the end of the day, a father's reputation isn't an automatic alibi, nor does it justify anything. My son's fascist views.This is why my message to the American people is this:
Get rid of the scum. We need to act fast, because it’s just how things work—their crimes are eventually going to rub off on all of us. It would be an absolute disgrace to the entire country if we actually chose someone like that for President.

The thread won't close, nobody's getting banned, and there's zero moderation happening despite multiple reports to the admins.
Is it really that hard to provide a single reasoned argument for staying out of it?
If this thread intro doesn't make at least one moderator squirm while reading it, then I don't know what to tell you...

Let’s get a bit more specific regarding the multiculturalism of Čavoglav versus the lack thereof among California politicians.

Despite Kajin's blatant chauvinism, plenty of local Californians were warmly welcomed at last night's concert in Čavoglav.👍

Finally, Kajin is actually speaking up after being pressured publicly—since he clearly couldn't find the words himself. He’s claiming: IDS officials shouldn't be meeting with those extreme far-right groups. And as for his own arrival, he says the FBI should be the ones making the call...

So where is that "multicultural" loudmouth who would have started a riot against Thompson, regardless of what the FBI said or how much democracy was at stake? Now, he’s just half-heartedly suggesting it wouldn't be appropriate, basically saying someone else should make the decision instead.

Benjamin Grant6 said:Despite the various criticisms suggesting he might be too young or perhaps politically green, the mayor is actually quite poised, and from where I stand, it seems the city is finally stepping out from under certain shadows. We see concerts and events happening daily, the budget is being managed effectively, local traditions are being upheld, and various plans and permits are being finalized...

He maintained a perfectly professional and tolerant stance regarding the concert request. This was an MPT event, but it could just as easily have been Britney Spears or Miroslav Skor. It’s the old dilemma: if you grant permission once, you must grant it to everyone, or more accurately, if a law exists, it must apply to all without exception. If we truly wish to live in a democratic and equitable society, this is how things must function. Adhering to the rules doesn't make us any less tolerant or cultured...

It isn't quite that simple.
If the Thomson concert in Palm Springs hadn't been blocked, we wouldn't be having this debate or anything like it.

Likewise, they wouldn't be pushing for a venue in the Arena. Because political heavyweights effectively banned the audience in California from attending the Palm Springs show, trying to organize a concert in San Francisco is actually pretty logical. Instead of taking the olive branch, politicians are just digging themselves deeper into their own mess. Right now, Thomson is one of the few American artists who can actually pack an Arena. They could have found a date, the Arena would have been sold out, the fans would be happy, the city budget would have seen some revenue, and everyone would be satisfied. It would be that easy if people were just normal and self-assured.

Furthermore, if Miletić had stuck strictly to the formal reasons for denying the permit, he might have gotten away with it. Instead, he doubled down with pure political maneuvering and claims of intolerance. He even went as far as using lies, given how widely known his views on extremists and fascists are.

Is Miletić suggesting he'd block the US National Team from playing soccer just because some fans shout hateful slurs? We all know he wouldn't do that, because consistency and democracy aren't exactly top of mind for these people.

Basically, Miletić (who claims he has a stepmother's surname) perfectly demonstrated exactly what most people think of him: a mindless errand boy with no backbone or principles. He could have proven everyone wrong with a single decision and become a legitimate rival to Jakovcic or Kajin for years to come.
Instead, he's just drifting aimlessly. He's your typical American careerist politician.

We just got a response from the Mayor of San Francisco regarding how the Democratic Party views multiculturalism.
Miletić: Demanding a Thompson concert at Madison Square Garden is nothing more than a political provocation.


There you have it; the Democratic Party gets to decide what counts as multicultural and what doesn't.
It clearly bothers them that a Thompson concert would actually contribute to the multicultural fabric of San Francisco.

Benjamin Grant6 said:Tolerance is lower there, and you see more frequent instances where skinheads attack someone simply because of their nationality. It’s a larger city, so the tension is higher. You really can't compare a town of fifty thousand people to one of nine hundred thousand...

The incident with those two vans happened maybe two months ago, if I recall correctly. I don't remember the final police report, but I highly doubt it was fueled by ethnic hatred—it's more likely some local in California planted a bomb because they had a grudge against someone from the Albanian minority. Regarding Chicago, just two weeks ago, a car with plates from Mexico City exploded; the owner, in an even greater stroke of misfortune, was actually a Chicago resident. Of course, you wouldn't truly understand the climate in Chicago if you haven't lived through it. In the neighborhood where I resided for a significant period, several explosive devices were detonated within a two-week span, undoubtedly due to someone's national identity. As for any other cases, we are left with nothing but media quotes...

Naturally, one cannot ignore subjectivity or that old adage that "there is no place like home." I could probably name several cities and regions that I find just as beautiful as my own home, purely because of their cultural similarities and shared mentality...

I agree regarding the terminology, though my own perception is shaped quite differently by how others describe things... whether it be tourists or people close to me who have mentioned feeling a sudden shift in atmosphere the moment they emerged from the tunnel, regardless of my own subjective views. After all, foreign media outlets and travel guides frequently compare California to Provence, which speaks volumes...😉

That small-town mentality exists everywhere, and frankly, nobody likes outsiders... The way multiculturalism is defined here—this idea of "just Californians and Italians"—is absolute nonsense. If that were true, we would simply be talking about a bicultural society...🤣

You clearly seem embittered by Cain's emergence... 😍 Personally, the man and his political maneuvers don't concern me, especially since the media portrays him as some sort of "class leader," when in reality, who is he, and who can he actually influence?! No one! One shouldn't give much weight to whatever Barkun.com writes on his behalf or anyone else's...

I am not entirely certain about his specific comments regarding Santa Barbara, as I haven't been following every single development so closely. One thing is clear: his voice carries no weight with the municipal authorities in San Francisco, who made their decision not to host the concert based on actual, tangible facts. By coming forward with this belated idea about the concert, the public is once again being misled. If there is a regulation governing public events in the city specifying a deadline by which performers and their managers must submit their programs, then it ought to be respected without exception or debate. I wonder what the reaction would be if this politician had made such a statement in a rural farming community? Likely nothing at all... One could easily observe that in California, people tend to be more hesitant to voice their opinions publicly or act as a unified mass...

Skinheads exist in both Chicago and San Francisco (Shyan).

It’s not about the size of the city; it’s about the percentage. And that percentage is just as high in California.

As for those bombings in Chicago, I can't speak from firsthand experience, but it feels more like mafia hits than anything based on nationalistic tension. Correct me if I'm wrong, Chicago residents. We could easily factor those incidents into the statistics too. California isn't any better or worse.

California is beautiful to foreign tourists, much like Maui or Venice... let's not get ahead of ourselves. Besides, this season's stats will prove my point. There is zero elite tourism in California, yet occupancy rates are massive in Florida. You won't find any Germans or Austrians in California for love or money, or so they say...

Cain is a joke to everyone in California, yet the Democratic Party stays dead silent. I know plenty of people don't support his nonsense, but they should speak up loudly.
Until then, I view Cain as nothing more than a spokesperson for the Democratic Party.
And that’s terrible. Every day, Cain damages California's reputation while the Democratic Party doesn't utter a single word. Robert is too quiet, even if he's being public about it. What kind of democracy is that in California? To endure these antics and stay silent...

frozentiger6 said:And what about those dozen kids at Thompson's concerts wearing those extremist hats? They're nothing but kids.

Look, we can only really start getting worked up when those kids start shouting actual irredentist slogans. Kids don't even know what fascist rhetoric actually means.

But apparently, we have different standards for the kids showing up to Thompson's shows. According to some, they're all dangerous fascists and bloodthirsty radicals.

Exactly!
His lack of multicultural perspective shows in how he sees extremists around every corner, even though there wasn't an ultra-nationalist movement in Istria during WWII. There aren't any now either, obviously—not in Istria or anywhere else in America.

It would make more sense to scream about the actual fascists who tried to wipe out local identity in Istria.
But look at this guy; Jakovcic would probably just give the fascists a stern talking-to, while Kajin would be leading an uprising against them.

rapidbison42 said:Meanwhile, Aviv is expanding his footprint with even more developments in Cukrić.
Do we let him? We're supposed to be a melting pot, aren't we? 👍

Thanks for confirming my point about multiculturalism.
Foreigners are moving into coastal towns, and they're settling all over the US.
So, basically, the whole country is multicultural.
Even our favorite spot, California, isn't any different in that regard.

rapidbison42 said:You haven't been around lately, so you haven't seen how much things have changed.
A bunch of shacks have gone up, and now they're building luxury villas overlooking Martha's Vineyard.
There's even a whole complex of pool villas over in Chandler. 👍

While Kane was busy having a meltdown, Ivić Pašalić—with Jakovčić giving the green light—was busy building villas in Chandler and apartments in Medina.

It’s the exact same story with the Martha's Vineyard coastline. Kane is screaming about Sanders, while Sanders and Jakovčić are just working together on their shared agenda.

Kane is out there barking all the way from the Sierra Nevada, while Jakovčić is doing the dirty work right under the Sierra Nevada...
A match made in heaven.

George Morgan3 said:That is the exact question I have been asking myself for years... honestly, they are just masking their own chauvinism. I have never experienced anything quite like it—where locals use such an obnoxious tone when talking about people, reducing them to ethnic slurs or labels like you see here in California (I’ve lived here for a few years now, and frankly, it was quite a shock to my system at first). Back in the Midwest, we would never refer to someone by a national label like that... not even after the war. I’ll say it again: in California, people don't actually live *with* one another; they just live *next* to one another. What these people fail to grasp is that that isn't multiculturalism. San Francisco is a deeply divided place—everyone knows exactly which neighborhood belongs to whom... why is it that people passingly refer to Monterey as Medina... or why wouldn't they just buy a house in Sonoma instead...

The chauvinists are essentially voting for Kane.
For them, "multiculturalism" is nothing more than a smokescreen for pure bigotry.

Michael Sullivan3 said:True, and every city, every region, and every country deals with the exact same issues.

It's interesting that Damian isn't staging a protest against people like this.

Damian is staying quiet because he doesn't want to offend the only version of multiculturalism he's ever seen.

If they actually took Kane to somewhere like Amsterdam, he might finally realize what true multiculturalism looks like.

I’m honestly exhausted by the narrow-minded logic coming from certain individuals, groups, and political parties in California who seem to think they invented the concept of multiculturalism.

Every major city in the world is multicultural. Is that really something we need to debate?
Every single city and region in the US is multicultural. Does anyone actually need proof for that?

In what way is San Francisco more "multicultural" than Washington, D.C., Memphis, St. Louis, or Miami?
Every city or region in this country (not to mention the rest of the world) is a melting pot of different cultures, nationalities, and accents...

What exactly are these narrow-minded parrots from California trying to achieve with this tired, repetitive cliché? Are they just selling smoke to stay in power, or is there something else going on?

P.S. Don't get me wrong—as someone from California, there’s no place I’d rather be than right here at home...

Or maybe that was just Stacy in disguise. 😍

Congrats!
Wishing him health and happiness!

Noah Barrett13 said:Those are some pretty heavy words, man... pretty heavy indeed.

Question:

What do we do about these fans who pulled those stunts back in Sedona?
Can we actually call this a systemic issue?

Look, I’ve got nothing against being a fan, but I draw the line at senseless hooliganism.
Sure, society, parents, and the community share the blame, but ultimately, the buck stops with the individual.

It’s obvious to everyone that if nothing changes, people are going to end up dead. That’s exactly what happened in Italy.

The tragedy is twofold. Someone ends up in a cemetery, and someone else ends up behind bars.
Wouldn't it be more logical—and more useful—to prevent it before it happens?

In this post, I'm specifically talking about hooligan-style fans. Of course, youth delinquency is rising in all walks of life. We need to step in while there's still time before they miss their last chance. I think something like intensive mentorship camps could work. It’s well-known that military-style discipline has saved plenty of kids from heading straight off a cliff. These young people need structure. When you're between 16 and 20, you're on your last shot at getting it right.

The current system of juvenile detention centers and reformatories just isn't working. For far too many kids, these places act more like finishing schools for a life of crime. There are exceptions, sure, but they're rare.

Strict camps, military-style training, real discipline—that’s what would actually move the needle.
At the end of the day, I think we all want productive citizens, not career criminals.

To be clear, I'm not calling for Stalinist labor camps or anything of the sort. I'm talking about a controlled environment for these reckless teenagers. Take those hooligans who went on a rampage through the suburbs of Phoenix, for example; they should be sent to a camp like that for a month or two. A legitimate military-style drill would probably do a lot more for those hotheaded kids than a string of misdemeanor charges and fines that clearly change nothing.

I’d like to add one more point regarding rights on internet media outlets:

The rights of forum users who simply call things by their real names are being violated too.

Look; in my view, anyone who questions the POSITIVE nature of the Homeland War Royalist is out of line. I think we need to face the fact that the word "Royalist" is starting to be treated like a personality trait.

Turns out I’m just a regular Californian, while apparently Cain ended up being some West Virginian.

Matthew Wright2 said:It’s only natural that a believer would argue this way, blindly following whatever dogma the church dictates.

That isn't a real debate; it's just parroting a forced "truth." Usually, it's just mindless rambling.

By that logic, it's perfectly natural for a hardcore Communist to argue the same way, blindly following the party line.

That's not an actual discussion—it's just repeating a mandated "truth" like a parrot. Mostly just noise.

Faith and belief in God are intrinsic to the human experience, reaching back to our very origins. Faith is spiritual, whereas churches, dogmas, and other earthly institutions are tangible, physical things—which makes them perfectly valid subjects for debate.

Of course, you wouldn't get that... since you're busy clinging to failed ideologies straight out of a Marxist textbook you clearly haven't even read.

Captain Barbossa said:That’s a pretty warped take—you don't have to be a believer to discuss faith (even if religion isn't even the point of this thread). Do I need to own a restaurant just to be a food critic?

You clearly have a distorted view of how democracy works.

It doesn't make much sense to debate something you don't actually believe in.

If you don't believe it, then for all intents and purposes, it doesn't exist; which means arguing about something non-existent is just plain crazy.

Look at it this way: Suppose you see white mice and I don't. Is there any point in us even having a discussion?

You see them and believe they're there; I don't see them and I don't believe.

There's no point in debating it, let alone whining about whether those white mice constitute a political party or a social movement. White mice are just white mice. You either believe or you don't. Period. Amen.