[lit-ideas] FW: Re: 3 SUICIDES AT GUANTANAMO
- From: "Andy Amago" <aamago@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "lit-ideas" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 09:50:06 -0400
I should have written, ...demand the right to "protect ourselves". Guns
are just our version of macho. Overt macho has been dead a while in the
U.S. (I wonder if Walt Whitman killed it? Seriously.) I don't know that
living under constant threat of having someone physically beat you up is
any better than living in a society that has a lot of guns. The
"naturalness" of physical beatings starts with beating children. Anything
we know is natural, and if we know beatings, well, beating someone is
natural.
>
> This is manhood in a lot of the world. Here in the U.S. it's alive and
> well, but it's more hidden, such as when we invade countries or demand the
> right to carry guns to protect ourselves. Hand to hand is not favored and
> is called assault and battery. If you're such a fighter, Omar, and
> fighting is so in the natural scheme of things, then you have no right to
> complain about the U.S. Birds of a feather, Omar.
>
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: 6/14/2006 8:26:51 AM
> > Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: 3 SUICIDES AT GUANTANAMO
> >
> > I am not stronger than anyone I know, but then I know
> > quite a lot of people who are into martial arts,
> > fighting and so on. I've never practiced any martial
> > art, myself. I take my chances with such people but I
> > don't necessarily come out on top. I had an encounter
> > two years ago with an Irish guy who is smaller than me
> > but has practiced boxing, jiu-jizu, almost anything
> > you can think of, and you could probably I got beaten
> > although I stood my ground and also he hit me first.
> > Hitting first is very important in fights, especially
> > psychologically. Also, I was probably in a better
> > shape when I was 30, now I have put on unproductive
> > weight and also after my ancle injury two years ago I
> > am not as light on my feet as I used to be. So, no
> > hybristic superpower here, only a guy who is pretty
> > strong and is not afraid.
> >
> > O.K.
> >
> >
> > --- Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> > > Omar,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Ah the hubris of being 35. I remember it well. I
> > > was a gymnast in high
> > > school, rather tall for that at 5' 10" but I managed
> > > at a wiry155 pounds.
> > > When I got out of the Marine Corps at age 20 I was
> > > 160 pounds. I worked on
> > > the docks to supplement the G.I. Bill and by the
> > > time I graduated at age 24
> > > I was 165 pounds. I had always worked out with
> > > weights to some extent but
> > > at about the age of 30 decided to do it seriously,
> > > heavy weights 3 hours a
> > > day, 3 times a week for several years. By the time
> > > I was 35 I weighed 187
> > > and was stronger than anyone I knew. I did get mad
> > > a time or two at
> > > different people and challenge them to step out in
> > > the parking lot. When
> > > you're the strongest person you know it's hard not
> > > to do that - especially
> > > since anyone could see how strong I was and wasn't
> > > about to step out into a
> > > parking lot to fight me. At work they always called
> > > upon me to move the
> > > heavy file cabinets, desks etc. My boss nicknamed
> > > me "superman." So I know
> > > what you're going through, Omar.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Alas, I have to tell you it doesn't last. At age 71
> > > I still have the
> > > weights, but it gets harder and harder to do any
> > > serious lifting without
> > > pulling something or other and then it takes a long
> > > time to heal. I was out
> > > running with my dogs on June 4th and tripped on
> > > something and went down hard
> > > on my left hand which somehow or other jarred things
> > > all the way up to my
> > > shoulder. It still hurts. I think even Mike Geary
> > > could whip me today.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > But isn't this what the U.S. is being accused of?
> > > Isn't the U.S. a bit like
> > > you are at the present time? It can whip anyone it
> > > knows and so challenges
> > > nations to either shut up or step out into he
> > > parking lot with it. While
> > > Europe is a bit like I am now - much older than and
> > > not nearly as tough as
> > > it used to be - all that saber rattling seems so,
> > > so, well juvenile. Why
> > > can't the U.S. and Omar act a little more like me?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Lawrence
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > > On Behalf Of Omar Kusturica
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2006 10:33 AM
> > > To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: 3 SUICIDES AT GUANTANAMO
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > *
> > >
> > > --- Phil Enns <phil.enns@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Omar Kusturica:
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > > "Now, Phil, I suggest that you shut your Canadian
> > >
> > > > theologian liberal
> > >
> > > > Christian mouth the fuck up."
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > > No.
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > > Paraphrasing Eric, "Nyah, nyah"
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > *Come on, Phil. You don't really want a serious
> > >
> > > confrontation. (If for no other reason, you wouldn't
> > >
> > > want to gratify me.)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >> Phil Enns
> > >
> > > > Toronto, ON
> > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > > p.s. I am not liberal.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > *It's just a part of your multiideological identity.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > O.K.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > >
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> > >
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