1. I do not understand the relevance of what does or doesn't go on in the U.S. to this discussion.
2. 'Voluntarily' traveling to work and live in the Dwarf Empire is not entirely voluntary, as an above message itself: the message mentions how poorly small people are treated when applying for other jobs - i.e., the problem is one of establishing a level playing field in the society itself - dwarf kingdoms etc. are merely escapes, which increase the public attitude that these people are a globally 'special' group who can perform cuddly roles, etc., for tourist amusement, and can't do anything else.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted by@Kate: Almost nothing is harmless - how harmful is khat?
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted by@faraday: seems to me the most important function of society is to allow & enable us to do so.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byI feel better already.
Concerning the article: I'm glad that Yunnan authorities are perhaps a little more human than those in the rest of the country.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byOK, now I see that you're putting us all on. Had me worried there for awhile.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byThe Air America film is very heavy fictionalized. However, the book on which it was based does mention that the opium grown by the Hmong people in Laos (the Chinese call them Miao) who were corralled into being the CIA's 'secret army' in the 1960s, did indeed often go out in Air America planes. There are some who suggest that this means that the CIA was financing its 'secret' guerrilla war with Hmong opium. This doesn't necessarily follow and is far from proven,. At any rate it does not help your argument much one way or the other.