I am a Licensed Practical Nurse, and I'm trying to find out--- (1)How I can get a nursing license in Belize. (2)Can I work if I've only 'applied' for a work permit. (3)If I have to wait on permit, how long? (4)Can I bring my car, a 1997 Taurus in and not get charged a lot of money. (5)Can you live there and not have to take malaria drugs the rest of your life. How deadly is 'your' form of the disease, anyway? I know you can gain immunity to it eventually.

Where will you be living in Belize? The question of malaria would depend on your location. In San Pedro that would not be much of an issue. You will have to appy for a work permit and licensing thru the government. No you cannot work if you have "applied",only after your license and work permit have final approval. This can take anywhere from 6wks. to 6yrs. So don't expect to go to work immediatly. You will get charged a considerable amount of duty on a vehicle. If you are thinking of taking it to S.P. that also requires additional permits and they don't really want cars.

That's another question. I don't know where to live there. I hear some places are cheap, but I don't know where the work is. I'm a 51 yo guy with an 18 yo daughter and a little dog. To tell the truth, they say next year they are starting a military draft in the USA, and will draft men and women 18-26, regardless of their situation. I'll walk down there before I let my daughter be a mercenary for a corrupt government....

Try Canada.

Actually, they've got it rigged for Canada. They will extradite you. Forgot to mention I'm a pro-guitarist and moved to Tulsa Oklahoma from Nashville, and played at the Grand Ol' Opry regluarly, and all the clubs in Nashville. (not trying to sound like a bigshot here, just telling the truth) I wonder if I could play there till I got a work permit, and if I'd make enough to live on. Can play anything....

Music gigs require a work permit, as does any type of work, even as a volunteer without pay.

That must be the only place in the world, then. Even Nashville doesn't care if you're in the union, and nobody reports their income. I'm sure some people work 'under the table'....But on the other hand, I'm not driving 2300 miles to find out we'll starve, either.

Sounds like you need to come down and check out Belize for a few weeks before you pull up roots in the States. Anything is possible down here, but you might not even like the place, living here is great but its not for everyone.

I'm a tough old fart, I jog 3-4 miles in the Oklahoma heat, (95-100), and don't mind roughing it. My daughter might whine a little, though. That would be great to come down and check it out, but I don't know if I can afford it. Really, I don't like the american lifestyle, with such a focus on money and 'things'. I think there's more important things in life. Are there really places you can stay for $10 a day? I hear you can pick your own herbs. (I don't mean pot, haha).

Just what Belize doesn't need. Somebody who doesn't report their income in the States, wants to come here and "work under the table" against the Belize law taking a job from a Belizean and who wants to get his off spring out of the country so they do not have to serve in the military. We do need a place for these kind of people to go to. Look at the brighter side. Britain sent it's criminals and undesireables to Australia and it didn't turn out too bad. Maybe space exploration will have it's benefits.

PS: now don't get me wrong. If luathas has some principles and is going to give up his citizenship and make the move, then at least he stands for something. On the other hand, if he just wants to pick and choose what he takes and gives to his country, then he doesn't deserve any country and no country deserves him.

I bet you think the US is a great country. You're entitled to your opinion. Did I say I didn't report my earnings? I assume you can read, and not make assumptions. If you think going overseas to rob little brown people of their assets is a good thing, then so be it. I think the multi-national corporations and the 'elite' wealthy (the only ones who benefit from these sordid adventures), need to look elsewhere for cannon fodder. Why did the settlers come to America in the first place? Duh, lemme tink....Oh yeah! To kick the Indians off their land and grab everything? Nah, couldn't be. Besides that, why would I work under the table for long, when I make nurses' wages? (like I'm the first and only one to do that). Please....

"Forgot to mention I'm a pro-guitarist and moved to Tulsa Oklahoma from Nashville" and "Even Nashville doesn't care if you're in the union, and nobody reports their income." That is what I read and it sure seems like a reasonble assumption to me. Could it be the writing is the problem and not the reading?
Once again, I disagree, as is my perogative, with your actions and your characterizations of the country. I was just inquiring to see if you had any principles that you were willing to stand for or if you just use your views to justify the actions that you want to take and to justify your not having to do what many others have done when they were called upon.

Maybe I march to a different drummer.

How hard is it to figure if I've got principles, if I'll give up my life and friends here to get away from this? You just like to attack people. I'm just trying to do the right thing.

By turning your back on your country when it needs you? Uh huh.

Tell you what. IF I get moved to Belize, or even if I don't, I'll try my hardest to live up to your lofty expectations. Now, are we happy? p.s. (they have a great politics chat room at Yahoo)....

Touche! Or is that Douche?

Some of these folks on this forum live in Belize, some are part time visitors and some want to be living in Belize with US standards. It just doesn't work that way.

This person wants things just like we do, so let's not just give him/her the boot. I would prefer to be steered in the right direction.

For one thing you need to know, Jesse is correct. To live in Belize there is a required document to work or even volunteer. There are fees for these documents.

If you choose housing on the mainland of Belize you will find it may be cheaper.
There is another forum for the mainland you may want to join or just read.

It's certain you will find some of the information by doing searches. Ask only what you really, really need to know.

http://www.belizeforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

Take a peek and read some of this forum. Be patient, it is a slow country that doesn't want you to move cause you are upset with the one you are in, they want you happy with the one you want to move into.

It's best to begin a new adventure by keeping it friendly no matter how disgruntled they make you feel.

Good Luck, Belize is awaiting you if you choose Belize

See luathas, I also leave my friends and life in the States to live in Belize for half of the year, although I do not consider that having anything to do with principles. I do consider not paying taxes to be selfish and not serving your country to be cowardly. And, I have no respect for people like that. I do respect people who would stand for their principles and give up their citizenship for their beliefs. I would still not agree with them, but I would respect them. I have not seen anything you would do that reflects on your principles other than move to a country where many would love to live.

You are possibly not interested in my thoughts, but I will close by saying you have received some good information from others on this board. Your plan to move to Belize and try and to earn a living will be met with many obsticles. Do further research and do not burn your passport or let your daughter burn her bras as yet.

Trust me the salary for nurses isn't all that great, How do you plan to live while waiting for a work permit?? And you will a contributing member of society in Belize, how?? Get over yourself.

Still say, try Canada. Belize does not need another person on the take. Give something to the Country, not take.

Just taking a wild guess here, but casting a "vote" is probably out of the question.Ah, our disenfranchised youth.

You don't really beieve the US government will draft women, do you luathis? If they do, there is some serious sh*t going down and I'll re-enlist my 51 year old self, too.

Don't know how much you've been around or how much you've seen but I'll tell you something, we ain't perfect in the US, or even close, but it's still the best thing going in this world. There ain't no Shangrila! A few months in Belize might even convince you. There are more Belizeans trying to get into the US than vice versa, for good reason.

And ya see the thing is, if you'll run from one place then you'll run from another when times get tough. Who wants a new citizen with that attribute? Much better to be moving towards something than away from something.

NY gal said "
If you choose housing on the mainland of Belize you will find it may be cheaper.
There is another forum for the mainland you may want to join or just read."

You may also find it to be an 8X10 hut without A/C, electricity, running water or window screens. An 18 year old american girl will be in for a serious culture shock. Unless you are bringing a lot of US$ with you she would be better off in the military.

News flash, you can pick your own herbs in the US too if you plant them! And the soil is a hell of a lot richer.

Well, you convinced me. Everything I believe in is wrong, and you are all right. The usa is the greatest place in the world, and I'm enlisting tomorrow with my kid. I hope to kill many arabs, or whoever they decide is the bad guy this time. Would have responded sooner, but had to go to work and dodge the tax man....see you around.

By the way, it was the USA that did the 9/11 attacks on us, to rile up dumba--s like yourselves into a war frenzy, so they could go steal the middle-east oil reserves and control the market. Definately worth killing for or even dying. I think we all ought to be grateful to live here, and get down on your knees to Bush and the Bush Junta(that never was elected in the first place). Since most of you old, fat, white, silly people get your news from Fox or CNN or whatever, you are probably unaware of most of what goes on in this great country. All you know is the propaganda they spoon feed you, in your Prozac-ed little worlds....Don't believe me? Look up Operation Northwoods. OR look at the aclu site. Wake up, retards. You're already living in a police state, and the government totally controls your media.

Tried to be nice and you wouldn't let me. Go figure. Hey Lovey--go take your medicine.

Obviously, the anti-government controls your media. Or is it the voices in your head?

OLD, FAT, WHITE, SILLY

maybe some of you out there are, but, i must clear the air, , , , , I AM NOT SILLY

Honey, You've Got to stop doing sit ups under parked cars! :rolleyes:

I can't sing, can't dance, and I'm to fat to fly, may as well be silly. :p

Hey luathas, all I can say is God help your daughter if she has to listen to your crap all day!! You are of course able to give your opinion as freely as you have because multitudes have died to enable you to do it!! But you more than likely could care less about that. All the males in my family for decades have served and served proudly. Some did not return. Yes they died so pukes like you could vent your idiotic ideas,while
reaping the benefits of living in YES the greatest
society in the world.

Why don't you take your guitar and go sit on top of a mountain somewhere and write a stupid anti american song. Then take your song and move to France with the rest of the malcontents who forgot who saved their sorry asses awhile back.

Oh by the way I don't think Belize is looking for
creeps like you to move to Belize.

And your practical nurse!! I thought someone as worldly as you could at least manage to get his RN.

You tell people to look into the ACLU???? Wow now I see where you get "Your Propaganda". You nut cases still believe the election was stolen??? That says it all.

Do everybody a favor, don't go to Belize.

Come on you guys. I think one of our less favorite trolls is back, and you are falling for it, hook, line and sinker.

Capt. Bicho, where are ya when we need ya?

Why can't we all just get along?

Sirena :rolleyes:

luathas, if you are real you are one sick dude. God help your daughter.

luathas said, "I'll walk down there before I let my daughter be a mercenary for a corrupt government...."

Hopefully, your daughter will realize she IS 18 and start walking on her own,......away from you.

eeeps. This thread has frightened me a bit about what I am likely to encounter in Ambergris Caye. I am coming there to chill out and relax, not worry about getting lectured by right wing radicals. Not everyone in the world thinks that the USA is a good place and not everyone in the world thinks that the occupation of Iraq is either legal or moral and not everyone in the USA thinks that being conscripted by what they perceive to be an unelected,corrupt government constitutes 'fighting for their country'. There is nothing wrong with being patriotic and I admire those who are proud of their country, but while luathas may not have had the best manner with regard to putting his views forward, the attitudes that were expressed by those who disagreed with them, did them no favours either and may have come across as ignorant, xenophobic and borderline psychotic. As my mum said, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your fat mouth shut.

ps. before assumptions are made and I am attacked for being anti american - I am not. In fact, I spend a great deal of time defending the USA and its people from those who cannot separate their dislike of the American government and tend to tar all USA folk with the same brush. What I find difficult to stomach is when USA folk buy their own rope and hang themselves reinforcing the prejudice of the international community by spouting defensive, poorly considered rubbish. I have USA citizenship, my family live in the USA and I would fight for my country or way of life if it were a just war.

It is a "just" war. Just us! :rolleyes:

Unfortunatly I think Seashell might be correct. It does have the "troll" pattern. It might be noted that the thread started out as a normal request for information and was I think answered in a fairly polite manner. The troll usually starts dropping little teasers as he reels us in. If it is indeed the troll he's pretty scary .Just hope those who have physical contact with him know what a time bomb he could be.

Ah, therein lies the key, "I have USA citizenship, my family live in the USA and I would fight for my country or way of life if it were a just war". "IF"
Fortunately, there are enough Americans who serve their country in some capacity when their country needs them, not just when THEY feel it a "just" war.
Collyk, I'm glad you have your USA citizenship and you are enjoying all the benefits this great country of ours has to offer.

collyk said, "I am coming there to chill out and relax, not worry about getting lectured by right wing radicals. Not everyone in the world thinks that the USA is a good place and not everyone in the world thinks that the occupation of Iraq is either legal or moral and not everyone in the USA thinks that being conscripted by what they perceive to be an unelected,corrupt government constitutes 'fighting for their country'."

I say, "To those that fall in the above category, they have an option, one they never exercise however, and that is, move to another country". I wonder why?

collyk also said, "As my mum said, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your fat mouth shut."
Good advice from your mum! I'd like to modify it somewhat. "If you don't have anything nice to say about America, keep your fat mouth shut."
God Bless America.

Part of being an American is EXERCISING your right to disagree with what your government is doing. What frightens me lately in America is the observation that all too frequently when someone actually DOES this everyone gets all over their case like white on rice and tells them in subtle or not so subtle ways that they are NOT patriotic, that they are UN American (they should MOVE to another country because in their hearts they truly feel that the war is unjust and they believe the occupation of Iraq is not moral??? Huh? When did THIS happen in my country? If we had to act like we ALL thought alike, America WOULD be another country!! Cold War Russia or Nazi Germany!) Many wars were fought in the past expressly to protect freedom of speech and I'm sure MANY people (my grandad, dad, uncles all) GLADLY fought and/or died for that...so what's the problem with people actually USING that freedom? I don't get it. I may disagree with you but I will FIGHT for your right to disagree...not tell you to get the h**l OUT because you don't share my views. Why protect a freedom no one can actually USE???? It doesn't make any sense. If this "troll" stirred up the pot some it's revealing some really murky things.

Sirena

I think what has caused ire here is the "I don't like it, so I'll leave" mentality. No we don't all share the same views about what our govenment does,and we have every right to voice our opinion. We can express that at the polls and a hundred other ways, but we stay and try to work at it. Sure hope that is the message I sent to our kids when they were 18. Postulating that the U.S. government staged 9/11 and quoting sources that are right up there with the National Enquirer, probably added a little fuel to the fire. This is not a deep thinker.!

I do not have a problem with people expressing their views and objecting to policies of the government that they disagree with. What I have a problem with is people who do not stand on their principles and only use their objections to their advantage or when it suits them. I do not have a problem with the true consciences objector that stands by his principle and accepts the alternative that society has ruled i.e.; go to jail. I do not have a problem with the person who uses civil disobedience and demonstrates to support their principles as long as they are willing to accept the consequences that society and the rule of law have deemed appropriate. I have a problem with the person who finds fault with war, any war can be found to have fault, only when it might effect them.

If a person is willing to take what a country offers, both the good and bad and live with both, I have no problem with that. If they only want to take the good and not give back by serving when their country calls or by standing on their true principles and trying to effect change even if that causes them a personal sacrifice, I do not think they deserve to live in that country and should move elsewhere.

Back on the subject, I expressed my objections to luathas position that “people in Nashville do not report their income” and “work under the table”. And it appeared to me that he condoned that behavior and was enquirering to see if he could do the same thing is Belize and he would be moving their to keep his daughter from serving her country or at least remaining and standing on her principles, if those were her principles. I disagree with both those reasons to come to Belize and in a way I believe I am doing him a favor by saying so. If he comes with that attitude, he is in for difficult times and will possibly suffer legal consequences more sever than the ones he is running away from in the US. And not to be so presumptive as to suggest what he might do, but I have seen others with similar attitudes that the first phone call they make when they get in trouble is to the US Embassy.

collyk said: "This thread has frightened me a bit about what I am likely to encounter in Ambergris Caye. I am coming there to chill out and relax, not worry about getting lectured by right wing radicals."
None of these people live in Belize. You won't be confronted with radical lecturers. Come to visit. You'll meet friendly peaceful folks.

Beautifully stated, bywarren.

Sirena said, "Part of being an American is EXERCISING your right to disagree with what your government is doing."

I'm in total agreement Sirena, what ticks me off however, is when the "disagreeing" is done with obvious hatred towards America. (My sensitivity may have something to do with serving my country during two wars and loosing some close friends in each one.)
Nothing wrong with disagreeing, that's what can bring about changes. Hopefully, changes for the better.
But bad mouthing the greatest country in the world (with all its faults) is not in the same category as disagreeing. When I disagree with some of my countries actions, I never loose sight of all the great things this country has made available to me. So, to those of you inclined to disagree with your government, do so to your heart's content. That's the beauty of being an American. But do so without the hatred towards our country.

Thank you Jesse!!!
This board can get rough. Belize and Caye Caulker welcome all who come. Consider staying on Caye Caulker and visiting A.C. and other locales of Belize.
PEACE be with you ALL!
Dan

Jesse is right, you will meet a lot of friendly people in Belize. Keep in mind, these are responses to what was asked or stated. If you run into me in Belize and ask for my opinion, you will get it in person just as you get it here. If you don't ask for it, you will not get it.

Agree with Lovey and Seashell...sounds like a troll.

I sure hope he/she is a troll. My short fuse was getting pretty damn short. I am proud of myself for keeping my big mouth shut. I am also proud of my Country !

Well I am glad to say that I agree with most people here except on the bit that the USA is the greatest country in the world and I do have the right to say that whether anyone agrees with me or not. I am not in anyway hypocritical. I choose not to live in the USA and despite my citizenship, it is unlikely I ever will. Assumptions assumptions! I have spent enough time there to know that I could not live there for just the reasons expressed. While on one hand (a small but vocal minority) believe that the USA is the greatest country, land of the free and all that but on the other hand, if you don't agree with them, you have no right to be there at best or are physically attacked at worst (this happenned to my family because I am white and went to homecoming with a black man) or despite the fact that someone is naturalised and is a patriotic and proud American from another country, the community can turn on you terribly when things go wrong (my mother is French by birth and suffered terribly at the beginning of the current middle east conflict; people she had worked with for 30 years treated her like shit). The whole concept of the right to bear arms was laid in the consitution to allow people to take arms against their rulers. Of course, anyone who did this in the USA now would be called a terrorist. Unfortunately that small, right wing minority also contains the nutters who have no hesitation in hurting people who do not toe their moralistic or political line and who justify their behaviour by calling it patriotic. Because I treasure diversity, debate, growth and education, I live in a country where I can feel free to live the way I want to live, be who I want to be and feel safe from being attacked by my so-called fellow country folk. There are lots of great things about the USA, but unless I want to live in a big city there, I know that the fact that I am a bit unconventional would make my life a misery. I have to admit, this makes me sad.

He is so not gellin'.

A Few Quotes from Great Patriots:

George W. Bush: "if you are not with us, then you are with the terrorists"

Thomas Jefferson: "The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."

Thomas Jefferson: "It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."

Dwight Eisenhower: "In the counsels of Government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the Military Industrial Complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes."

Benjamin Frankin: "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Woodrow Wilson: "The history of liberty is a history of limitation of government power, not the increase of it."

Ronald Reagan: "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

Daniel Webster: "There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

George Washington: "The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments."

Thomas Paine: "That government is best which governs least."

Aristotle: "A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side."

George W. Bush "Do I think faith will be an important part of being a good president? Yes, I do."

collyk - just one more thing needs explained: if you dislike the countyr of your birth so much, and in your owne words, likely will never live there, Why do you keep your citizenship? Why not obtain citizenship in thatland of Utopia you have found? Could it be that it's "just in case" ya wanna come crawling home?

It's highly doubtful that the ENTIRE US would treat you unjustly (yet you lump all of us together just as you accuse others of doing), for dating a person of another race

klc man..I have mentioned assumptions here once too many...lets see..I don't dislike the country of my birth but then again I wasn't born in the USA..I also don't dislike the USA..I couldn't live there and I don't like the power of the right wing minority but if you read my posts you will see that I mention how often I defend the USA from criticism...I love the USA..I think it is one of the most beautiful countries..I think the good people are some of the best people in the world...I do have citizenship of the country I live in which is not utopia by a long shot. My family are USA citizens and I don't actively keep my USA citizenship, I don't even carry a USA passport. On the same note, I can see no reason to actively bother to dispose of my citizenship. I don't consider the USA home. I am lucky that I have a triple nationality so I have no need to go back to live in the USA. I haven't lived there for over 20 years. I have a European passport which means that I can live and work in any country in Europe. Why would I want to go back to the USA to live? I agree with you completely that the entire US would treat me badly and I stated several times that I was talking about a minority of USA folk. The issue of going to homecoming (I wasn't even dating him, he was my best friend and a musician in my band) with a black guy is one of many problems I encountered directly and indirectly when living in the USA. The awful treatment my mother received only ocurred a year or so ago.klcman, you might want to read things thoroughly before responding instead of getting your knickers in a twist.

Now, back to Ambergris Caye.

well collyk, go ahead and do what ever it is you feel like doing. I don't know why your feelings about the US should really have that much impact on your decision. If you want to try Belize, try it. If it doesn't work out, it won't. Then you can go back to whatever country it is that you call home.

dbdoberman my feelings about the USA have no impact on whatever I am doing..unless there is a reason for me to think about the USA, I don't really think about it. This thread was started by someone else and I contributed and was subsequently responded to by people who didn't agree with me. We had a discussion. End of story. Not sure at all what point you were trying to make.

I didn't understand that making a point was a criteria for posting on this thread, as most of it seemed pointless to me. But, my comment was meant for luathas, sorry about that collyk. In the confusion of a heated topic, sometime names seem, why, interchangable.

Oh please..get over yourself..if you want to have the last word..fine..but a bit of advice..sarcasm and insinuation will be honoured with a response from me, however much they seem, why, undeserving.

Did you happen to see his apology to you, I did....

NYGal..an apology tainted with an an insinuation does not constitute an apology..and the problem is that I enjoy arguments and find them amusing so as long as I am baited, I'll rise to it if I have time or need to procrastinate a bit...have to laugh though as I do agree with his comment about pointlessness...but what better way to avoid annual accounts!

yep, pointless.........

trolls are alive and well. May this post RIP.

HEY SUSIE !

HEY ERNIE!

Huummm, Hey SUSIE !

HEY ERNIE. :p
Aren't we FUNNY?

HEY ERNIE...HEY SUZIE!!!! :rolleyes:

hey Prez - ya got any anti-collygen meds? DB prolly needs some too

Anybody need any Preparation H or Vitamin S?

love the logic..someone doesn't agree with me, therefore they are a troll because no real person would disagree with me...therefore it is not possible for someone to disagree with me and exist at the same time...please...

Did you ever think that someone else was the troll

Trivial
Restless
Obstinent
Lascivious
Ludicrous

Wish I had thought of that

What you mean I've got it all wrong and no one thinks I am a troll? Damn, I really enjoyed trolldom even if it was only brief.

Well, you weren't the original poster that some of us had dubbed a troll, but don't worry, you are getting there too.

no..thats right I was the one that someone suggested was the same person as the 'troll' which sadly I am not as they now have the true and first right to the name of troll..I never knew that I had potential to be a troll, but now that I know I must be true to my god given gifts. Maybe I should move to Belize and take a job from a local troll.

Personally I believe that no-one should be allowed to work in Belize unless they invest a fairly sustantial amount of money lets say 250k and above or by becoming a Belizean citizen-ps Guess who has just become a citizen?
I also believe that we do not want people to [#%!] off my friends-so to the crackpot nurse-"please do not go away mad just go away and close the door behind you"

What are you doing on the board at 6:13 am in the morning?

I am in Ëurope with "Short

Good to hear you are still kicking and speaking your mind

Good to hear from you pedro1. I've missed your wit and wisdom.

You must be talking about some Pedro1 I have never heard of. :p

GAWD ! There ain't two of them, are there ?

Bywarren, Are u ready to roast a piece of pork????

Always ready for that.

Bywarren- we are still waiting for your bloody bar-b-q-

"Patience is a virtue." "Some things are worth waiting for". And, "Some people miss their opportunities more than once."

Now Pedro, if none of those apply to you, you can always try and find me in Arkansas. Get an atlas, it is a place somewhere in the US.

Does the Great Satan still exist or is it now called Bush country.

Satan, hmmm?

Who has destroyed and dominated more civilizations than the British Empire?

Just curious. Is that 250k US or BZ?

To get back to the start of this thread, I'm an LPN (licensed practical nut) and, ByW, have a home in Arkansas as well...just south of Garfield, about ten miles east of Rogers on a little lake on the White River string the Corps of Engineers claims as theirs.

Anywhere near you?

My "summer retreat" is outside of Mountain Home on Lake Norfork. If ever in the area, look me up.

This is just stupid!..not to mention unamerican. Just because someone..no let me rephrase that...an American citizen is unhappy with "your" beloved country doesn't mean they need to turn tail and run...because "your" beloved country just happens to be "their" beloved country, too. They have every bit as much right to stay and criticize it as you have to tell them to leave.

Let's see.. maybe they don't leave because they are NOT cowards, and rather than abandon their country when they feel it needs them most,they choose to try to change it for the better from whithin, just like their founding fathers had intended when this great country was created. Voicing opposition (and not being tortured, imprisoned, or murdered)is one of the great privelidges of being an American.. who the hell are you to tell them they can't excercise that privelidge?

Gee.. stifling voices of opposition sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship..not a democracy. And I'm sick of "americans" calling other americans traitors and unpatriotic for speaking their mind. Whether you are for the war or against the war...or for this administration or against it(and I really don't care which category you fall into)you have every to speak your mind ...and so do those that disagree with what you have to say.. deal with it..or leave the country, yourself.

YES, YES, YES, THANK YOU.

LIVE AND LET LIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing to remember is,
no matter what anybody tells you,
it is never, ever unpatriotic or un-American
to question anything in a democracy.......

Yes! Thanks Beachdog. I always thought that was kind of the point of democracy!
Live and let live is why I love both the USA and Belize.

Zagnut wrote:
"This is just stupid!..not to mention unamerican. Just because someone..no let me rephrase that...an American citizen is unhappy with "your" beloved country doesn't mean they need to turn tail and run...because "your" beloved country just happens to be "their" beloved country, too. They have every bit as much right to stay and criticize it as you have to tell them to leave."

Here Zagnut really gets carried away:

"Gee.. stifling voices of opposition sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship..not a democracy. And I'm sick of "americans" calling other americans traitors and unpatriotic for speaking their mind. Whether you are for the war or against the war...or for this administration or against it(and I really don't care which category you fall into)you have every to speak your mind ...and so do those that disagree with what you have to say.. deal with it..or leave the country, yourself."

I say:
"Speaking your mind and disagreeing" with the actions of our government was never condemned, where did you read that? Certainly not in this particular thread.
That's certainly a right we all have and should exercise. However, that's a lot different than bad mouthing the country, especially in the time of war. That's the issue. That falls in the realm of burning the American flag in my opinion, and though that may be technically legal who will deny it is unamerican?

So, let me summarize so you get it straight this time. 1- there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism or disagreeing with the actions our government takes. That's the beauty of democracy. (Thanks to all those who preserved our freedom by serving our country in time of war.)

2- But it is unamerican to slander, bad mouth, or say any thing that our enemies take delight in hearing. Particularly, when Americans are dying while in the service of our country.

Kisses to you Everglades. I love it when people make my point for me. Anyone reading your post who has an iota of intelligence will be grateful for your clarity.

Dirty mind!

collyk wrote:
"Kisses to you Everglades. I love it when people make my point for me. Anyone reading your post who has an iota of intelligence will be grateful for your clarity".


Thank you collyk, you're one sweet lady.
As a "pet behaviour consultant" do you think there is anything you can do to help "doggiematic"??

I knew that........

Everglades (I shall be in the Everglades soon at the Catfish festival), no I doubt I can help him..we could try neutering...but I do run an excellent workshop on understanding irony and sarcasm ;-)

collyk, neutering's good.

Where and when is the Catfish Festival held? Florida City? Do you visit Everglades National Park when here?

dogmatic, using the terms 'pavlolvian type conditioning' and 'licking' in the same breath really does not bear thinking about...the Catfish Festival is in Kingsland Georgia...it looks like a bit of a redneck giggle...I'm going...I have gone canoeing once or twice in the Everglades Park, but my favourite is Okefenokee..

my wet flatulence doesn't usually impair my judgement but anyone around me seems strangely disoriented for a while..

Collyk, I hate to disappoint yall, but Kingsland GA is 300 miles from the Everglades and about 80 miles from the Okeefenokee Swamp.

dp wrote:
"i've heard that swamp gas, or wetland flatulence, inhibits one's ability to distinguish fact from fantasy"

Not really, especially if you don't inhale.

Crackerlarry..I don't consider 300 miles a long way. I regulary drive that distance to visit friends. 80 miles is nothing, I routinely do that sort of commute for work.

Yes this is my real name. It is correct to assume that most with such opinion do not live in Belize as my experience tells me. They do not get upset about much there. It is also true that you cannot judge the country without considerable amount of time there. I attempted to ask like questions years ago. After several visits I can tell you the month I spent there one year was a real eye opener. I'm not saying that I wouldn't stay just with my eyes wide open. I agree the 18 year old would be in for culture shock. My 17 year old was with us under protest for 30 days. She would have liked to be in the military. Corruption is in every country. You cannot escape it. I hear the story from people here talking about Mexico. It always shocks me how perfect they think this Country is. I'm not anti american just a realist. I know most of these boards are to bring tourist to belize. The people here in the US should lighten up for that reason. Hope to see my old friends soon. Right now my home is Monterey, CA USA

Lorrie, have you ever been in Belize around election time?

grumble grumble..back from a hurricane filled holiday..didnt' do the catfish festival because of a hurricane..didn't do much because there was always a bloody hurricane..did meet people who lost their homes etc though as a lot of storm refugees stayed where we were...actually I still managed to get a bit of a tan and I didn't get too fat..I am very relaxed and I spent a whole morning dolphin watching ..also did shopping for my trip to Belize..I was a bit alarmed that my mother insisted I bought a venom extractor, but she did get repeatedly bitten by vipers once so she is understandably worried...anyway...I shall log on here to keep my spirits up until I get there!