No Shorts Allowed !!!

Here is a little quote from one of the sources about world war II(that is an American intake on it): The Battle of Stalingrad The German Invasion In 1941 the German army poured into the Soviet Union in the largest attack in human history. Soviet forces quickly retreated deep into Russia and Hitler sought to take over the Soviet city of Stalingrad. Hitler's forces were successful for a brief time but the Soviet army counter attacked and surrounded the Nazi troops who froze during the harsh Russian winter. Only half the German soldiers survived the Soviet onslaught and Hitler was handed his first defeat of the war by the Soviets in the winter of 1943. The heroic battle of Stalingrad proved to be a turning point in the Allied war against the ***. This is just for people thinking like GEEK which is "we(US) won that war for everybody". In aother words I am trying to say that it was not done by Russia alone or USA alone, it was an allied thing that brought the success... P.S. I am just trying to give some recognition to those who shed their blood for peace today.Can you imagine what the world would be like now if had Hitler carried out his entire wicked plan...

Originally posted by Alex May be we are just mis-informed and sometime, somewhere, sombody decided to divide it and we just did not know about it (forgive me if it sounds sarcastic but it is not my intention, I just want to understand why we know different things about the same). Let me tell you that we do manage the concept of North America, South America and also Central America but as differente regions not Continents. I think the justification for regarding North and South America as separate continents is because there's only a small bridge of land connecting them. I believe the same justification is used for regarding Africa as a separate continent. I have no idea why Europe and Asia are considered separate continents, or how anyone ever decided where to put the dividing line between the two. By the way ¿do you know where the name of America comes from? AFAIK, it was named after Amerigo Vespucci.

Originally posted by hooked-on-swimming actually my father is a retired captain and he told me how they used to put fire under their tanks to get them moving in their training sessions in Siberia.. Haha, I actually just realised I underranked my own father, he retired as a major...

We had seven continents when I went to school and they still teach this in schools.www.ri.net/.../t7con.html My brother who was in the Canadian Navy (Third Largest navy at the end of World War 2) had to have 7 ironed in creases on the bottom of each leg. These represented the 7 seas, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific, Indian, Antarctic, and Arctic Oceans. I wonder how many of these bodies of water have you been in. I have swam in all of them. George

Originally posted by aquageek No one denies that the communist victory over the *** was important but, come on, what difference would it have made if the US wasn't involved, zippo? Oh yeah, we also had to fight the Japanese, not put up token resistence to them like the USSR did. Then, to celebrate the communist victory the Ruskies enslaved half of Europe for the next 40+ years and killed millions of their own citizens. How's that for a testament to the courage of the peoples revolution? Let's face facts, the US was the reason WWII was won. The British and the Russians made noble stands on their own but it all came down to us getting involved. With the same approach I can say that even if US got involved the war wouldn't have been won if it weren't for the Soviet Union.It was an allied victory.And we did not "celebrate" it by killing millions of people, it was Stalin who was a freak, do you think we enjoy that part of our histrory?He is no better than Bush now...he is killing people in Iraq including young american soldiers who are sent there.And it definitely was not 40+ years.

OK, too much passed me by today to reply! I can't keep up. Four new pages of posts - many of them long! I did read a couple though. 1. George - I didn't know that Canada was #1 at one time. But it doesn't surprise me. I've spent a lot of time in Canada (the eastern half). Both in the "boonies" and in cities - Montreal in particular. It is a beautiful country and I love Montreal. 2. Dima - Sorry to hear you are not as happy hear. You are correct about the freedom of speech thing - particularly in most of the "industrialized" countries. That's impressive about Sweden with the small gap between rich and poor. I would be curious how they manage to achieve that. Is everyone doing well or is everyone doing poorly? I am still partial to my home though! 3. After that, I realized I wasn't going to catch up with all of the posts since my last. I need to start spending more time on the internet at work!

I just said Reagan finished it up. I'm well aware it was a long time in the making, the fall of the brutal series of dictators in the USSR. He definitely should not get all the credit, or any more than he deserves anyway. He did repopularize the jelly bean, which we should all be thankful for. I've been to Europe and find it most fascinating for all the reaons you have pointed out. I'd go again soon but the exchange rate is horrible now. I plan to take my kids there when they are older and show them just how necessary deodorant and good oral hygeine is. We might even stop by the Louvre if our personal hygeine tour ends early. I hear there are some nifty pictures in there. I'm sure Russia is one heck of a place now that you can speak freely, read the non-gov't press and buy meat and cars that have more than 2 cylinders. Just think how even nicer it will be in ten years when the US is done subsidizing your nuclear garbage crisis and retooling your 1950s factories to produce adequate goods for sale on the free market. I'm glad you are here, Dima, so you can pay your taxes to support our volunteer military to bring democracy and freedom to other people of the earth. I guess now that Russia is free, no one else really deserves the opportunity to be free either. Freedom isn't easy and it isn't cheap but it beats the alternative.

Ok...I've tried to stay out of this but I have to address one of Heather's comments! When you called Paul's voting for George Bush 4 times " a horrid mistake" you really made me angry. I too voted for George Bush Sr and Jr 4 times. That is a personal and political attack and is not allowed on this forum.

Originally posted by swimr4life That is a personal and political attack and is not allowed on this forum. Since when?

If we are going to continue discussing about the USA involving with another countries business let me tell my poin of view about Irak: it was probed that there was not reason to invade Irak, Don´t want to say anything about the US Intelligent Department. Many other countries were invited to join the "attack" appart of Spain and the UK but non of them did because there was no real justification. And after a short period of time their citizen of these two countries were so angry with their goverments. I think George just wanted revange, because his father was not able to take Sadam out of the power at Irak and after NY, now he had an excuse, as Bin Laden still loose somewhere, and the think about take freedom to Irak is false, as I do not think that they live better now. Anyhow it was also probed that the US population aprobed the invation as George was elected again (I still can not believe it). And do not get me wrong, the attack to the towers got me mad as it got mad a lot of people outside the US. I guess there will be much to say from you after reading this. And I would like very much to read it. Happy week end. Alex.