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Is this fear thing to do with the fact that so many people carry guns in America, to ‘protect’ themselves? I’ve often wondered how I would feel if, in this country most of the people around me were armed…[ok. I live in Derby/Nottingham so I suppose they probably are].
if you are lawfully carrying a gun in most states you can’t see it, it has to be concealed and there are places you cannot take a gun regardless which are very strictly enforced.
But for example, if my house was burgled tonite, I would have no issue with going downstairs, giving them a warning to leave holding nothing and then firing if they do not comply. I wouldnt try to kill them, but certainly maim them.
In this state, and in many rural states, this law is almost a necessity because you cannot police everywhere. In this part of WV, and I believe the whole state, though there may be exceptions, you can shoot tresspassers on your property once you have warned them to leave and they don’t or if they are trying to remove something from your property.
The police and ambulance will come by and pick up the wounded or the carcass. If criminals are the only gun carriers and there’s no police anywhere near, what are you going to do, throw spitballs at them??
BTW, I used to live on London Road, in Derby, in Alvaston!
Craig
Take this discussion to the Lounge, if you want to keep it going – that is where any political debate should take place, not in the Racing Forum.
Oh dear, oh dear Craig Biddick. Your views, no matter how much you try to defend them, will undoubtedly have alienated you from many members who were supportive of your attempts to integrate into the professional race commentating fraternity.
If you publicly expressed similar thoughts in this Country your fledgling career would be over immediately, regardless of how proficient you or others might think your commentating skills are.
Surely, someone has advised you that, when you maintain a public profile and are therefore representative of the middle, neutral ground, the very last thing you should be doing is going on a world wide public racing forum expressing your somewhat distasteful thought processes.
Sadly, this is so indicative of someone who has, by his own frailities, set himself up to fall from grace before even learning to walk.Gosh Craig, that post was like listening to your favourite Grandad reveal hat he’d supervised the morning shift at Treblinka. And we were all so rooting for you.
Perfectly put Max.
"Were"
being the operative word.
Hmmm… I had Craig down as a mild mannered racing commentator, not a right wing angry Republican rootin’ tootin’ reactionary.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
I try not to judge people personally in a negative way, Craig, though I have failed here on a couple of occasions, and regret it; specifically, McCirrick and Robbo.
I don’t personally like the former, and make no apology for criticising his oafish behaviour towards the young lady who shares the mike with him, but my more general antipathy towards him for his politics, I don’t feel so good about. Not the vilification of his politics but my personal rancour.
As for Robbo, I’m at a loss to understand how I got swept up in personal attacks on individuals on what now seem to me to be quite baseless grounds. I don’t mean he’s not a bit oafish sometimes, but he is a character, and after all, we can’t all be sensitive hot-house flowers. We need extraverts, too. Life would be very dull without them.
However, in view of your politics, I marvel that you’re not being held in an insane asylum. Perhaps you really are, and your website is a fantasy!
Addressing politics later, I’ll move to the Lounge folder, and tell you about the real nature of the cold war, and the reason why the US and the UK are maelstroms of violence.
In view of Craig’s self-inflicted mortal wound I can well imagine the telephone line between ATR and Turfway might be a touch busy. It would not surprise me if someone from ATR hadn’t already wielded the axe. Live by the sword and ……..
And to think that Clare’s naieve comment about teeth would fatally ruin the budding career of someone thousands of miles away. Who would have thought it? God works in mysterious ways.
I suppose there’s always hospital radio.Dear Everyone:
Firstly, I humbly ask for your forgiveness and for the record, say I am very sorry if my comments have made me in the yes of people a hate mongering right winger. That was never my intention and I am sorry if I have been a disappointment to some of you.
However, my views are not right wing, extremist or hate mongering. I see far worse things written about Thatcher every day on political forums that I have said about Obama. I certainly wouldn’t threaten the mans life as I respect the office of the President, I happen to think he is a lousy President and a man of dubious virtue, as I thought Bush was a lousy President.
If my view on gun use has offended people, once again, I apologize. I live in a country where the constitution allows me to defend my family and property from intruders. If they are carrying out a robbery with a gun or threatening my family on my property with a gun, I have the constitutional right to use a gun as well. I choose not to carry a gun (for one thing I am not a good marksman and have the physique of TJ Hooker) but my wife carries a gun as she is allowed to do.
Somebody suggested I may be an elitist. Bearing in mind, I lived in Government housing for my first five years in the USA in an apartment complex with some of the highest violent crime in the State (shootings and stabbings were a regular occurrence as were lock downs.) And I now live in a three bedroom house that cost all of 45,000 GBP and most of my views are so far removed from the right wing, gun toting bible belters I live with, that I have recieve very nasty comments from God fearing right wingers every time I fill in on Talk Radio.
I understand there is resentment in the world towards the USA, not because "we are so good" but because, to put it mildly, our political leaders have made bad moves (and a few good ones) for most of my thirty plus years on this planet.
At the same time, the people I choose to associate with, the people I work with on a day in and day out basis are not like our leaders. It doesn’t matter what party they come from. Bush was just as bad, but different.
If there are two things about this country I resent its 1. the intrusion of religious beliefs into the lives of people – this was especially apparent during the Bush era and 2. the intrusion of Government into the lives of people which is increasingly apparent in the current administration.
If people want to say I am too extreme to be a neocon, I have no problem with that. But its demonstrably not true and although it wont be needed here can be easily proven with verifiable witnesses.
For example, I am an Atheist, (out of the closet and in a Bible Belt state these things matter to a lot of people) Pro-Choice, Pro-Gay Marriage, Pro-Gun, in favor of the "Fair Tax" (a blanket sales tax to replace income tax) a member of the Straight And Gay Alliance (SAGA) and someone who refuses to be part of an organization that uses Robert’s Rules (the US equivalent of parliamentary procedure.)
I fought with virtually no support for three years to have the golf club I joined when I come here to change its unofficial "Whites Only" policy. I was shocked when I first learned of this and in 2004, it changed (despite being singled out for very nasty treatment by some people) and we now have a thriving facility where all are welcome. I proudly attend a Historic Black College and University and make a point of making sure it is acknowledged in every press release regarding my background.
Of those standpoints, the only one that drifts right of center is being Pro-Gun. I understand there are only two parties in the USA. I didn’t vote for Obama, neither did I vote for McCain. There are many people in this country who are either Constitutionalists (imo, a cover for being a right wing hypocrite, marked by their ability to quote leaders no longer around to defend themselves) and Libertarians, to who I belong.
Libertarians believe Govermnent should play a minimal role in the lives of people, politicians of all hues are mainly a waste of time, they tend to believe strongly in the separation of Church and State, are often agnostic or tending towards atheism as their world view and believe the constitution is a handy document but not the God given document inspired by God for the creation of a special country, which is the view of Constitutionalists and Republicans.
How this makes me an extremist, or someone who should be in an insane asylum, to the equivalent of a Treblinka guard or not worthy of the much appreciated and valued support I have got here, I honestly cannot tell you.
But, again, I wholeheartedly apologize and humbly ask for your forgiveness and I am sorry if I have disappointed anyone.
I am not going to post any more on this thread. Anyone here is welcome to email me if they want or seek verification of what I have said or want to talk privately to me. My email is: britishracecaller@gmail.com
Kind Regards,
Craig
A Pat Buchanan, Bob Barr libertarian more than neo-con but the Obama rant was worthy of notorious foaming at the mouth hate monger Michael Savage.
Incredible. I cannot believe that, okay probably more of a self-promoter than media icon, someone would ignore advice about the futility of defending their position and the need to refrain from publicly expressing their personal religious or political views. And yet, Craig, you choose to then give us a diatribe of nonsense. Talk about don’t shoot the messenger….in this case the messenger has shot himself.
Best lay low for a while Craig and reflect on the qualities required of a racing commentator. It’s not just about being able to call them home. It’s about presenting yourself as a rational, decent human being. There are media people on this forum who must be cringeing reading your comments. Those same people have learnt the art of knowing what is and isn’t acceptable to say in public. But more than that, they would probably never dream of, or admit to, entertaining the kind of thoughts expressed by yourself.
Stick to what you know best, Craig, i.e. horseracing and leave the contentious stuff to others.This is not, Marble, a point about Craig being denied the opportunity to express his views, whether they be of an extreme or passive nature. The point is that, over the past few months, Craig has sought the support, advice and opinions of The Racing Forum members in the pursuit of his desire to be one of the faces of a particular aspect of horse racing. I recall showing my support by getting a plug for him on ATR.
However, I am sure that I am not alone in wishing that Craig had kept his bigotted opinions to himself. Had he been just another member then, fair enough, within certain limits he would be entitled to write whatever he chooses. But as someone who desires a more public profile then it would be extremely foolish to make statements likely to be classed as in bad taste and rather obnoxious because then you run the risk of losing half your supporters as well as possibly closing doors which were once open. The personal attack on his President and The First Lady will not have gone unnoticed by the powers that be.Marble wrote: and I think your all a bunch of hypocritical/sentimental wankers.
Marble,
I’ll think of you sentimentally next time I’m taking a tug. Enjoy.Ken:
Firstly I apologize for posting here to to other posters.
If you thought my comments were racist or bigoted you better explain how they are (maybe in the lounge) because I have never publicly or privately used the mans race as an issue against him.
In fact I can show you newspaper columns I have written applauding him for making it a non issue (well as much as one can in this society.)
As for a personal attack on the President and First Lady…firstly it wasn’t a personal attack, I wasn’t there to do it to them and I really think Obama has better things to think about than what I think of him. I was expressing my view.
Now, if you are going to throw accusations of bigotry around, please come with some evidence to back your statements up instead of foretelling doom for me, publicly wondering whether my employers should be told I am not a fan of Obama, or would you rather them know I am a racist bigot as you quietly seem to imply someone should call them and inform them…
Ken, I am sure you are a nice guy and I appreciate the support you have given me in the past, but I am calling you on this. I have never attacked a person on this forum, but if you wish to say I am bigoted, please back it up and show me how I am bigoted.
Don’t hide behind excuses like: "Well if you can’t see it, I can’t help you!’ Nothing I have said here is racist or bigoted. Show me where I am wrong and I will do everything in my power to put it right.
Step up to the plate, please.
Craig
I’m just on my way out Craig, but I’ll try to reply to your request later. I’ve nothing against you as a person – I don’t know you – but I was saddened that you appear to have shot yourself in the foot. However, God loves a sinner and I’m sure you’ll overcome a little local difficulty.
Bye for now.
KenI’m just on my way out Craig, but I’ll try to reply to your request later. I’ve nothing against you as a person – I don’t know you – but I was saddened that you appear to have shot yourself in the foot. However, God loves a sinner and I’m sure you’ll overcome a little local difficulty.
Bye for now.
KenThis must be the God I don’t believe in!!!!
Take care,
Craig
Craig
If you are not already familiar with his endeavours, Google Robert Tracinski. In my view the most consistent libertarian currently writing and an excellent commentator on US politics.
(I entirely share your view of President Obama. Some, of course, dislike him – or indeed support him – because he is black. That is utterly irrelevant to his worth. What makes him everything you say is that he is a collectivist with highly dubious associates.)
I’m just on my way out Craig, but I’ll try to reply to your request later. I’ve nothing against you as a person – I don’t know you – but I was saddened that you appear to have shot yourself in the foot. However, God loves a sinner and I’m sure you’ll overcome a little local difficulty.
Bye for now.
KenThis must be the God I don’t believe in!!!!
Take care,
Craig
Craig, for what it’s worth as an evangelical Christian, you have certianly caused me no offence by expressing your views and although we would disagree on one or two things, I am inclined to agree about Obama. Can’t work the bloke out and his missus looked about as pleased to be in the UK as you would be at the Christian convention my wife and me attend every year – I notice Prince philip kept out of their way. I cannot remember which French Philosopher (Voltaire, I think and wasn’t he an atheist) it was that said "I may disagree with every word you say, but defend to my death your right to say it" That is what free speach is all about. Keep on posting mate and good luck at Turfway.
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