rinselberg POLL 03: Other posters' reputations

**rinselberg** · 09-28-2004, 02:44 PM

This is the third of four polls that I have in mind for the Just Conversations forum. I put no time limit on the poll. The poll is entirely my own idea. The questions were screened for acceptability by the OptiBoard forum moderators. My only objective is to have some fun.

"Scales" refers to the balance scales icon that can be used to add to or subtract from another poster's reputation.

The scales icon is at the upper right corner of every post.

"Scales message" refers to the message that can be sent (as an option) when adding to or subtracting from another poster's reputation.

**Spexvet** · 09-29-2004, 12:58 PM

I only add to reputation.

**chip anderson** · 09-29-2004, 10:16 PM

Spivex: I do believe the beginnings of this country were achieved by violence.

You folks even kept your right to govern and tax us Southern folks by violence.

Even the "colonization" of this continent by the white man was achieved by violence. Unless some of the Indian casino gambling traps work better than expected, it isn't temporary.

I may have been taught wrong, but victory over our enemies in WWI and WWII was achieved by violence.

The Romans achieved their empire by violence. The Greeks did the same. The Mongol did the same. The Huns did the same. The British, Spanish, and French Empires were all achieved by violence.

True many empires including most of these have fallen but they lasted a good long time. Probably longer than anything Ghandi established. It all depends on how you define temporary. Of course the Empire of the Prince of Peace is suppose to last forever.

Chip

There is nothing wrong with shooting, as long as the right people die.
Harry Callihan

**rinselberg** · 09-29-2004, 10:52 PM

The Prince of Peace that many of us have seen in various artistic representations down through the ages is actually modeled on the face of Alexander The Great. That's what I saw on the History Channel. Lately of course, a more authentically Semitic representation of Jesus has become popular. No moral, political or philosophical point to be made here. Just thought it would an interesting but momentary digression from the Conversation.

**Spexvet** · 09-30-2004, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

Spivex: I do believe the beginnings of this country were achieved by violence.

You folks even kept your right to govern and tax us Southern folks by violence.

Even the "colonization" of this continent by the white man was achieved by violence. Unless some of the Indian casino gambling traps work better than expected, it isn't temporary.

I may have been taught wrong, but victory over our enemies in WWI and WWII was achieved by violence.

The Romans achieved their empire by violence. The Greeks did the same. The Mongol did the same. The Huns did the same. The British, Spanish, and French Empires were all achieved by violence.

True many empires including most of these have fallen but they lasted a good long time. Probably longer than anything Ghandi established. It all depends on how you define temporary. Of course the Empire of the Prince of Peace is suppose to last forever.

Chip

There is nothing wrong with shooting, as long as the right people die.
Harry Callihan

Chap,
Southerners tried to subjigate and terrorize an entire race through violence.

Timothy McVeigh tried to start a rebellion through violence.

The Christian Church tried used the Spanish Inquisition to convert pagans through violence.

The local crime you keep whining about is committed with violence.

Just because something is, doesn't mean it is right.

Hopefully, someone with a gun doesn't think that you are the right person to kill.

All this hate, Chap.
I still worry about you.

**Joann Raytar** · 10-01-2004, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by rinselberg

The Prince of Peace that many of us have seen in various artistic representations down through the ages is actually modeled on the face of Alexander The Great. That's what I saw on the History Channel. Lately of course, a more authentically Semitic representation of Jesus has become popular. No moral, political or philosophical point to be made here. Just thought it would an interesting but momentary digression from the Conversation.

Wondering how we got here? Or just digressing?

**rinselberg** · 10-01-2004, 05:21 PM

Well Jo, strictly speaking, I guess I can't really defend the logic of my post. Spexvet's poster signature has prompted Chip to offer some observations (above) about the uses of force Vs. pacifism, ending with a reference to Christ. And then I chimed in with my little bit about Alexander the Great. I guess I didn't want to be left out of the Conversation. But what do you say about this Jo? Did you know that historians have said that Alexander the Great is the physical model for many of the more enduring images of Christ, down through the ages? Don't we all enjoy the feeling that we know something that we think that most other people don't know? This is what motivates the little "teaser" that follows, before my poster signature. I love advertising! But I know for a fact that you already saw this other post about the Most Wanted Iraqis playing cards. I was monitoring the Who's Online display.

For some of the little known history that inspired CENTCOM's famous deck of Fifty-Two Most Wanted Iraqis playing cards, use this Web link to my recent post:

Most Wanted Iraqis playing cards: You never count your Iraqis when your're sittin' at the table

**Joann Raytar** · 10-01-2004, 06:23 PM

Good catch about the spexvet's sig file - I thought I might have been the only one who noticed. ;)

As to Alexander the Great, why his image I wonder.

http://www.livius.org/aj-al/alexander/alexander18.html

Alexander ruined his own country, draining its human resources: after his reign, Macedonia never regained its former power.

???

**rinselberg** · 10-01-2004, 07:02 PM

I think I understand it some. Over three hundred years passed between Alexander and Christ. By the time of the Crucifixion, Greek culture was still dominant all around the Mediterranean, and especially the eastern part: Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and Judea. Greek was actually the most widely spoken language in the Roman Empire. The dark side of Alexander's conquests and the suffering he caused, forgotten. The conquests and the glory remembered. Before Christ, I guess Alexander was the first really world scale celebrity. That's how I see it coming about. Alexander's image was well established, but by the time that Christianity began to catch on and there was a desire to make images of Jesus -- who knew what he looked like? They used Alexander's image as the next best thing.

Interesting in that the article you provided also connects Alexander with the image of Satan in Western Culture. The two sides of Alexander, again. Interesting also, that there's a big commercial movie just about to come out about Alexander. I've been seeing the teasers for it on TV. (You noticed that?) Thanks for that article!