penelope1013 has left 8 comments

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

Chibchawannabe, No, I know first-hand that FARC, and the other groups like them, are not the only people living in the jungles of Colombia. But, as with any liberal, you didn't listen to what else I said/wrote - "...why is it the American government's place to get people out of the Colombian jungle?" Shouldn't this be the responsibility of the Colombian government? I, too, am really sorry to hear you are not Colombian. That means you are just some liberal American who thinks your ideas are right just because you grew up with freedom of speech and because liberal ideas happen to fall out of your head and onto your tongue. Do you have any real connection with Colombia at all? Where are you getting your so-called information - National Geographic? I, at least, live in a Colombian community - have a Colombian spouse and family. I, at least, seek and find information regarding what is going on between the US and Colombia OUTSIDE the media. I stay informed about policy between Colombia and American using sources other than the media, and I look openly at all the information without passing my personal opinion on it. I may not like everything I see or read, but if I look at what choices are left to us - to both the Colombians and the Americans - then I can see that sometimes the only possible way was chosen. I respect that there is no easy answer for problems of these magnitude. I'd be surprised if you - on the other hand - have ever done more than read some liberal article here and there...maybe caught a CNN 35-second-spot about Colombia, or worse, signed onto one of those "The USA is bad" web sites for liberals...and voila, "You're an expert on any subject American is involved in!" If you really think you know what is better than the American and Colombian governments combined - then maybe you should run for office. I know you'd get the "I'm a bleeding heart liberal vote", but lately a lot of those people have decide to join the real world, so be aware that vote gets smaller every day. Life is hard and the choices we make as responsible adults are even harder. You'd do better to bring your ideas to the "arena" and act like a person willing to make matters better rather than stand around whining because things aren't going your way. You'll find more gets done when you become a part of the team than when you stand on the side-lines whining about how you want things done. And, as for Roundup, where do you live that people can’t even read? I know everyone makes mistakes, but simply reading the Roundup bottle will tell you that application will not work. In fact, I can't imagine knowing anyone who would think that would work. I think this is just another example of how liberals tend to do things. It doesn’t matter what is obvious or what the instructions are, a liberal is going to do it their own way and blame someone else when it doesn’t work. And, Chibchawannabe, don't address anything to me anymore. Don't call me by name in any of your responses. I don't want to have anything to do with you. I don't believe you have any real proof to back up anything you say – you waste my time. I want NO association with you at all.

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

To Chibchawannabe As with all liberals, you take excerpts from what you want and excuse the rest. You must read the statements as a whole. As far as I'm concerned, helping anyone poorer than the USA AND who asks for help is in the USA’s best interest. I can vote on this issue – my vote can change things. Colombia being a 3rd world country does not have the way or means to pull itself out of the trouble it is in, however if its government was stronger and refused what help the USA offered - of course the USA would not cross your boundaries. That is not the case, the Colombian government has asked for help. The USA is not here to fix all the ills of the world. Countries stand with their hands out, wanting anything free - particularly money - the USA offers unconditionally. But let the USA set any boundaries on our help, and you think "WE'RE" wrong? So be it if FARC as do other guerrillas choose to live in the jungles where the spraying takes place. Terrorist play a dangerous game (I know, I have a very close Colombian friend whose father was kidnapped for 15 days). Maybe the Colombian government, who ordered the spraying in the first place, should be responsible for getting the innocent people out of harms way. Why is that something the USA has to do too? It really doesn't matter because whatever explanations I offer you, I feel sure you will always have another side, another view to shove down my throat. I believe you are wrong and nothing you tell me will change the way I think - as I'm sure you do the same. If you think the USA is so wrong, and you don't want to be involved with the USA, then don't. Don't use our products, don't use our advantages, don't use our technologies. Live in your jungles and put up with the spraying that your own government ordered. The USA is not Santa Claus, you can't take what we offer and then spit on us when you don't like something else we do. And, yes, I do believe a federally-funded drug treatment program would be in the USA’s best interest. A nation-wide campaign explaining that addiction is a disease and should be treated as such is something the USA needs - desperately. I know such a program would be utilitized by Americans as well as many, many people from other countries. Don't think just because Colombia produces and sells drugs to the USA that Colombians are not also using drugs. Addiction is not a disease limited to the USA.

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

Plan Colombia - Reply to Greg, one very last time... Don't assume all my information about Plan Colombia comes from the media. I'm not that limited.

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

Plan Colombia - Reply to Greg, one last time I am absolutely sure your opinion is uneducated. You have stated NO facts whatsoever to support your opinion. Your first statement was "Its all about oil. The U.S. wants to control the oil in Colombia just as it does everywhere else..." Why would I think you know anything about your accusations? I, at least, have directed to you read Colombian Sen. Pablo Victor's articles. Give me some "independent media" sources to investigate and maybe I will believe you. However I am sure you cannot direct me to any indpendent media sources to support your opinion because you do not no any.
HA HA - very funny, while I am not related to Ann Coulter, and I am a bit more in the middle than she is, I do look a lot like her.

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

Plan Colombia - Reply to Greg, again OUCH! You're rapier wit has definitely put me in my place!
It isn't that I do or don't agree with you, you obviously can't read either. I didn't say you were ignorant, although that is obvious, I SAID you don't have any facts to back up your opinion regarding the USA trying to "control someone else's oil" or "get in their business." Plan Colombia is a joint effort - a plan of action agreed upon between the USA and the Colombian government. Although I commented on your age actually saying you are very immature would be overstating the obvious. Before you voice your opinion you should try learning a little about Colombia's government. IF you decide to back your opinions up with a little fact, I'll be glad to discuss it with you - otherwise I have no time for you and your uneducated accusations.

penelope1013 comments on colombian women and relatioships

colombian women and relatioships - relpy Have you asked your girlfriend why she is still active in the "amigos" page? I personally have found A LOT of little differences between Colombian and United States born American relationships. There are things I could assume from my former USA boyfriend that are not the same as with my Colombian boyfriend. These things aren't bad, just different because the culture is a little different. But, then, there are also a lot of differences between men and women of any culture. You just need to tell her this bothers you, if it does, and go from there.

penelope1013 comments on Plan Colombia

Plan Colombia - reply to Greg To Greg - You're kidding right? "Plan Colombia...all about the [Colombian] oil." This is the biggest joke I've read lately. Before you put something in black and white and sign your name to it, do a little investigation. Plan Colombia is not about control, oil control, or "getting into someone else's business." The Colombian government asked the USA for help (read some articles written about Sen. Pablo Victoria - do you even know who he is?). Spending billions of tax dollars was not something the US just decided to do, we were asked for help. Several plans were considered by both governments before the burning and spraying of coca fields. Before you blindly give you "opinion", you might try reading a little history on the Plan. In fact, it wouldn't hurt you to read a little about what is happening in Venezuela right now, which is where the US actually gets a lot of its oil.
It is easy to voice an opinion based on one or two biased media reports, but try backing it up with a little hard reading on the subject next time. Based on your opinion, I'd be surprised if you were more than 20 years old. Grow up! The USA isn't the big, bad boogy-man out to greedly take from everyone.

penelope1013 comments on Moving to Bogota too - and need lots of help!

Reply to - Moving to Bogota too and need lots of help! Keep a valid US address. Before you go, change your address on your bank account and send a postal change of address form to make your parents address, a close family or friend's house your new address. Be able to show that you've recieved your bank statements at that address. Otherwise, even though you've kept an open bank account, without a valid US address you cannot apply for a loan, get an a place to live, get a phone, etc...without paying a HUGE desposit (or high interest loan) should you ever decide to come back. This is true even if your paycheck is coming from a US company. And, even if you don't come back, having a valid US address is still a positive way to maintain your legal status. I doubt you plan to let your citizenship go, so it will not hurt to keep a valid status regardless where you live the rest of your life.

Are you an English-speaking American? Is Spanish a second language for you?