Bradley Manning: I want to live as a woman

[joeninety]

Not to be too blunt about it, but if it weren't for people like those who served, volunteers and draftees alike, You wouldn't be here to say what you're saying. Nor would I.
If straight and Christian, we'd be in a camp somewhere.
If Gay or Jewish, we'd be in an ashtray.
Horrible but true.
Sometimes war is a necessary evil.

That's just another fallacy created by the warmongers that you have fallen into believing........Instead its not us its them right......so we invade here there and everywhere that was never a threat, decimate innocent populations into rack and ruin under the guise it was for there own good....Tell me how is that so????............Look at the bigger picture then get back to me.

[sabre666]

Actually, we aren't much of a predator species. What got us out of being "in the food-chain" was technology. Our brains developed more, that's why we don't have talons, large fangs, or ejaculate venom.

As a species on this planet, we have a much higher capacity to think our way out of trouble. That "predatory instinct" turned into a "Survival instinct". We adapted, with our brainstuff, to improve our lives for survival.

If shit were to hit the fan, one better hope to have watched a bunch of Nature Documentaries, especially now in modern times, where we are incredibly dependent on technology and consuming.

Our "leaders" want to keep the consuming instinct and fear of surviving within their followers because they gain profit. Profit, a man-made device used to collect more and more of a man-made ideological object, money.

Very true. We have evolved but we still have that predatory instinct in many of us. Look at the crime rates. The only reason they really have come down is pro-active policing (bear with me here). White collar crime and street crime are for the most part driven by greed and that predatory instinct.

[joeninety]

Very true. We have evolved but we still have that predatory instinct in many of us. Look at the crime rates. The only reason they really have come down is pro-active policing (bear with me here). White collar crime and street crime are for the most part driven by greed and that predatory instinct.

Most of those criminals would not have been had they had decent opportunities..the problem could be solved but they are part of a want.....without them what is to fear, why have police, courts, justice etc lot of jobs gone a major control tool unravelled.

You should have added that most wars if not all are driven by greed. Greed by leaders and a system you seem to have so much respect for, and a system ideaology you seem to have really bought into, something Manning did not and more power to him for standing up for what was morally right........

[EvaCassini]

Collective instinct shouldn't be confused with predatory instinct.

A Collective instinct is what everyone has, down to their deepest cell. Everything in this world is geared to abuse this collective instinct mindset which we all have. Food, games, money, power, land, furniture, cards, caps, bottles, cars, houses, people.

What's the point of war?

I'll tell you. Not to kill.

More like, "collecting" profit, man-power, allegiance, land, resources, and ideals.

With the day and age we live in now, those "white collar" crimes should not be tolerated.
As for crime rates....that's the survival instinct...

"Survival of the fittest". Those with more "power" ( either physical or mental ) has the greater advantage. Evolution dictates survival. We evolved to have greater brain capacity which then allowed us to think our way to the top.

[joeninety]

Collective instinct shouldn't be confused with predatory instinct.

A Collective instinct is what everyone has, down to their deepest cell. Everything in this world is geared to abuse this collective instinct mindset which we all have. Food, games, money, power, land, furniture, cards, caps, bottles, cars, houses, people.

What's the point of war?

I'll tell you. Not to kill.

More like, "collecting" profit, man-power, allegiance, land, resources, and ideals.

With the day and age we live in now, those "white collar" crimes should not be tolerated.
As for crime rates....that's the survival instinct...

"Survival of the fittest". Those with more "power" ( either physical or mental ) has the greater advantage. Evolution dictates survival. We evolved to have greater brain capacity which then allowed us to think our way to the top.

Well said!!!

[volkov2006]

She honored the contract of her employment...Manning didn't. Simple.

Manning may have broken her oath to the US military, but she honored the Laws and Rules of Warfare. Which overrides the oath US military service members take it is just that simple. Would we have tried a German soldier who was not part of the Nazi party, who told the German people that their government was committing atrocities, but who did not commit them himself? What if this soldier had told the Allies, gave them information about the camps, wrongdoings, and ended up saving thousands of civilian live? Would we have charged this soldier for treason, aiding the enemy, and for these atrocities?

The US government did commit war crimes, it is just that simple. If you look into the details you will see that Manning did try to go through the chain of command, and what the government considers a legitimate news source. None of them did anything so what was she to do? These things were being carried out by the US government in our (the US peoples) name, what the government and the military, give pride and shame to us all. Before Manning brought this information to our attention how many soldiers and intelligence agents saw these same atrocities and said nothing. Manning also was tortured by the US military, since when is it okay to torture anyone, even our own?

I am also really surprised at that bigoted words I am reading in this thread. This is a forum about transgender/transsexual people and the people who are attracted/interested in them. When has it become okay to call a transgender person "IT" or to refer to her in the wrong pronoun, "HE/HIM". It should not matter what the person did, or will do, whether they have completed their transition or are just starting to transition. These comments I would have expected on a site that was not geared to transgender/transsexuals, but here I would have thought that you people would be more enlightened, more understanding. I guess it just show that a lot of people here when they are pressured or emotional about a subject their true bigoted ways come out. That a lot of people are here not to support the trans community but to just get an eyeful so they can get themselves off. I was hoping to come here and see enlightened words after seeing all of the horrendous words and opinions on the internet and TV. I have no problem with peoples opinion, but when it comes to the trans community these opinions are the type of things that usually get us beaten or killed. I just have to think how many of you people who come here look at the provocative pictures and threads also find it a tragedy for a trans person being beaten or killed and then come in here and show bigoted remarks towards this person. Whether you agree with what this person did or disagree with what she did, that does not give you the right to disrespect who they are or how she wants to live her life from now on. Whether you agree or disagree does not give you the right to strip this person of her rights under the US constitution and what ever you say she did not violate the constitution she is not a traitor, unless you consider the US people the enemy of the US government or military.

I myself have not served and probably will not serve in the military. I have respect for the people who serve but unlike other people I do not see them as heroes, unless they do things to prove they are. I have no respect for military members or veterans who just because they served or are serving they believe themselves above everyone else in the US. Also believe themselves above the rules of war when serving. You have the same rights and privileges as the rest of us citizens, be proud of your service don't throw it back in our faces whenever you fell like it to prove your point. I am tired of going anywhere and hearing how we should support our troops or when a soldier walks in to a room everyone whats to acknowledge their presence and service. Also showing up in their uniform at social events just to get better service, I have seen that more than 15 times this year alone. I am tired of getting into a debate with someone only to have them tell me I am wrong because they served in the military. As I said earlier in my post how many soldiers saw the civilian deaths and said nothing, those people are not heroes they are just soldiers doing their job and losing my respect day after day, atrocity after atrocity.

One thing military personnel and government officials always say that we have to go to war to protect our freedoms. During WWII the Germans presented a threat they had a military capable of inflicting severe damage to the world. The former Soviet Union as well would do the same. Where was the treat posed by North Korea, North Vietnam, Serbia, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, or any of these other counties that we have intervened? I am all for humanitarian aid, stopping genocide, bringing peace to an unstable region, and protecting allies, but a lot of these wars that we have injected ourselves into, or wars that we started illegally. Most of these countries military capabilities are so small that it would have been overkill to attack them, and unfathomable that they would attack us. When did we become the police of the world? If there should be a police force for the world is should be the UN not the US.

[sabre666]

That's just another fallacy created by the warmongers that you have fallen into believing........Instead its not us its them right......so we invade here there and everywhere that was never a threat, decimate innocent populations into rack and ruin under the guise it was for there own good....Tell me how is that so????............Look at the bigger picture then get back to me.

The fact that there are still Jews in the world. Don't they have a right to exist?
The fact that we can be here arguing the point?
I'm not saying we're perfect but we are the best option going for now.

[GroobySteven]

Yeah. Oops.
That old German-Irish temper does run a little hot!

Look Seachai, let's just agree to disagree and stop the name-calling.
It ill-serves both of us.
Deal?

Here's the deal. Once you apologize for your last outburst and bringing my mother into it, as well as stating calling for Manning's execution is wrong, then you can stay.
You are entitled to an opinion, I don't have to give you the platform on which to preach it.
Otherwise ...

[GroobySteven]

The fact that there are still Jews in the world. Don't they have a right to exist?
The fact that we can be here arguing the point?
I'm not saying we're perfect but we are the best option going for now.

Who is "we" ?

[GroobySteven]

I myself have not served and probably will not serve in the military. I have respect for the people who serve but unlike other people I do not see them as heroes, unless they do things to prove they are. I have no respect for military members or veterans who just because they served or are serving they believe themselves above everyone else in the US. Also believe themselves above the rules of war when serving. You have the same rights and privileges as the rest of us citizens, be proud of your service don't throw it back in our faces whenever you fell like it to prove your point. I am tired of going anywhere and hearing how we should support our troops or when a soldier walks in to a room everyone whats to acknowledge their presence and service. Also showing up in their uniform at social events just to get better service, I have seen that more than 15 times this year alone. I am tired of getting into a debate with someone only to have them tell me I am wrong because they served in the military. As I said earlier in my post how many soldiers saw the civilian deaths and said nothing, those people are not heroes they are just soldiers doing their job and losing my respect day after day, atrocity after atrocity.

Absolutely - well said. Why do fire fighters not get the same level of respect (or seem to go looking for it?). I give respect where it is due to the person or their actions regardless of the badge they wear or the label they give themselves.