Comments on: Seat belts in Iraq: an oxymoron?

By: Doom

Doom — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 07:25:12 +0000

I think I indicated I wore seat belts. Still, if it was an absolute safety issue, perfectly safe in all situations, perhaps I would encourage it. What most of you who keep pushing for it are indicating to me is that you have an emotional response. As I said, I wear them from my own experience, and emotion. However, my feelings should not be mandated. Can you understand that or not?

If not, don’t respond. Though, I know you will anyway. Which is exactly why you should be in control of no more than the plate set in front of you, from which you will eat. Nice kitty, nice kitty. Scat. Oh, not that scat.

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 22:13:41 +0000

Having been in a car accident where the car flipped off a freeway offramp, dropped 15 feet and landed upside down, I highly commend seat belts. It’s not a matter of machismo, it’s a matter of physics. Israelis, who understand physics more than most people, probably don’t feel the need to prove their egos against gravity and momentum.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:15:58 +0000

You might find this amusing, Neo. Link It tells about how the Left talks about "changers" from the Right, which reminded me of your comment concerning why changers always more or less go from Left to Right. Well Alphie tells us why there are so few changers that it takes the Left to actually make them up as they go along. If you are on the right and have Leftist allegiances, you just pay the allegiance fee and stay on the right so to speak. But those that harbor conservative or humanistic motives on the Left, eventually dissociate themselves from the Left because they become Disillusioned by Leftist totalitarian techniques.

By: Ymarsakar

Ymarsakar — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:41:06 +0000

Why is bonnie an idiot?

By: Trimegistus

Trimegistus — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:02:14 +0000

Bonnie:

By your reasoning it was immoral for the Union to impose its views on abolishing slavery on the Confederates.

And anyway, if you’re going to claim there’s complete moral equivalency between us and them, then we should be free to summarily behead any jihadis who fall into our hands, just as they treat our soldiers.

Oh, wait — we shouldn’t do that? We’re better than that? Then the whole moral equivalency argument is completely bogus. We’re right, they’re wrong, and you’re an idiot.

By: Good Ole Charlie

Good Ole Charlie — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:46:00 +0000

We have a similar problem here: no helmets on motorcycle riders.

My own opinion is that the first high speed skid should take care of the “cooth” problem.

And now for a Darwin Award for the first legislator who repealed the safety helmet requirement. He’s really made a difference in raising the quality of the species.

By: Richard

Richard — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:42:36 +0000

typo

seat belt usage in lowest in young males

Do they feel the same way about child seats as well?

By: Doom

Doom — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 07:08:39 +0000

I am not so concerned with machismo, or whatever name it goes by in that part of the world. Nor do I fail to wear my seatbelt, a lesson well learned on my part. What I do mind is government interference on a real choice that involves no one else, and or makes the state the family planner.

So much is involved now, however, for it to be simple. Since the government is involved with paying for people who cannot pay for their own accidental medical, it has a stake, therefore, with a stake and legislative power, it acts. Do you see where this is going? Yes, get the government out.

As for the safety issue, if enough people see enough things, they will either take responsibility for their actions or not, and they will reap or weep. Gee, what is the problem here? Save compassion for those who through absolutely no choice have bad things happen, not those who choose to live with risk and lose.

By: jay stevens

jay stevens — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:44:11 +0000

I have been working in Saudi Arabia for several years. The antipathy toward seatbelt use isn’t so much a matter of personal bravery, as Muslim fatalism. “If it is Allah’s will that I have an accident today, nothing I do will matter.”

By: gcotharn

gcotharn — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:36:24 +0000

Bonnie,

the Koran, the Prophet, and the Hadith are the reasons for Muslims to bug us about it. The “peace” which will exist once the entire world is Muslim is the reason to bug us about it. The fundamentalists number in the hundreds of millions. They are committed to that peace which will exist only when YOU are converted, subjugated, or killed. Have no doubt about their committment. Good luck talking to them…