My Persian Rose is back in the hospital somewhere in Geneva Switzerland. I am so scared that she may not leave this time. I just don't know, she won't tell me how bad things are anymore. I have pleaded with her to let me come to her, but she doesn't want me to see her this way. Some friends say I should go find her anyway, but I think that if you love someone, you have to respect their wishes when it comes to something as personal as how they wish to die. I can't concentrate on work, I can't concentrate on anything. How I do love that woman!!

I'd say go see her. If I was about to die, I would probably tell my friends that I didn't want them to come see me for their sakes, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want to see them, you know? She'll probably be grateful. I might add, as you've said you can't concentrate on anything. Do whatever keeps you sane.

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Anyone who believes in the warning of the bible (prophecies concerning the end time which is now) shall be benefited from my invention. Because they won't be stupid enough to pass this! -Alex Chiu

I'm sorry, Lurker... I feel your pain.

I think Madcat has the right idea though.

God, I've no idea what to say about this... No one should have to die at that age, and no one should have to die separated from those they love. Why does this always happen to the best of us? Why do the best of people have to die like that, in the worst possible way?

At moments like this, I find myself almost hating reality, hating the world.

Again, I'm really, really sorry.

Lurker - do you think you should go see her? It doesn't matter what anyone but you thinks...

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"The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient."

Madcat, Gullible Jones... I agree, she has taught me so much just at the time when I needed a teacher and someone to love. It was a long journey across language, cultural, political, and religious barriers to find each other, but through it all she has been gentle, understanding and loving. If there was ever someone the world needed right now, it's someone like her. You are right, we always do seem to lose the best.

She's so young and full of life. She is innocent, silly, full of laughter, but can be so warm and gentle that she could melt a heart of ice. It's not right, it's not how it should be. Sometimes it chills me deep into my soul. I know it's not scientific, or logical, but I believe that her gentle soul must be needed somewhere more than it's needed here. That seems so impossible, but then, don't we find in this forum that common sense is not something to be relied on?? ; )

Don't hate reality... we have made it what it is, only we can change it. Some people in this country are ready to invade Rose's homeland. They don't understand her people and her people don't understand us. Rose reached out across that gulf... it made all the difference in the world. If she dies and we don't step in and continue what she started, who will. If no one does... Don't hate reality, refuse to give in, refuse to hate.

We can't always stop the natural disasters, or diseases that cause so much heartache. If we could just learn to come together, to hold each other all that much closer because of the fragility of life, it would make such a difference. It doesn't seem like that's even possible does it? Maybe it should be... maybe it should be...


I think that she has asked me to stay away because my appearance would split her family deeply. They don't even know that I exist. I think she is worried about my safety since technically going to her is a criminal offense without permission of the US government.

I think that, of all the things she has taught me, the most important a respect for culture. Staying here is her wish and, in her eyes, it is how life is to be lived. I think if she was well, I would go to her and look deep into her eyes and tell her that if it was still her choice to walk away that I would not stop her. I think that if her friends and family were trying to get her to change her mind, I would go to her. I think if I love someone, anyone, I should respect their beliefs on how one dies with dignity.

Thanks SciFi Chick...

I can't believe flying to Switzerland without government permission is a criminal offense... If it is, that's bloody ridiculous. Afghanistan I could see, but freaking Switzerland?!

Anyway, if you don't want to visit her, that's your prerogative... I have trouble seeing how anyone would not want the person they love to see them, no matter what state they were in. But I can't get into someone else's head.

(BTW, is there any chance of successful removal of the tumor via surgery? Or is it too deep?)

Not flying to Switzerland. Meeting with a Persian national. It becomes especially important in my case because I am being investigated for committing espionage with said Persian national.

Yeah... I told her, "American men never ask directions." It's one of the most closely guarded secrets in America. Think of the damage this could cause if we decide to invade my lover's country.

Meeting with an Iranian national without government permission is now a crime?

You know, I am starting to have some serious beef with the US government... :roll: Measures like that won't help anyone.

This is not a case of a random person meeting with another random person. GJ, if you wanted to go meet with her, there would probably be no problem. Lurker is being investigated for something involving espionage concerning this particular person. He may have been given terms that include something like, "You are not to meet this person or speak to them." Or maybe his lawyer or advocate told him that because of what is going on, it would look suspicious if he left the country to meet her and that he may face criminal charges if he returned.

In other words, I wouldn't use Lurker's case to judge, there is more going on here than you are taking into account. Lurker has talked about it some, and it does sound like he is getting a raw deal, but there is backstory to this event and it is not inherently illegal to fly to switzerland and/or meet with Iranian citizens.

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Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.

If you can't meet her, Lurker, can you send a card or a letter to show that you haven't forgotten her?

- Maha (and when I first read the title of this post, I thought you had a sick kitty ) Vailo

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When you get down to it, Science answers how. Religion answers why. - hippietrekx

I believe from previous posts that Lurker has a security clearance. When you have such a clearance, fraternizing with people of certain nationalities is forbidden without prior permission. (And that's just for a secret clearance - for top secret you're not allowed to make friends with any foreigners.)

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

Wait a minute... It's not allowed if you have a security clearence? WTH is that about? :-? Lurker doesn't do any serious government work AFAIK... (Well, his profile says he's a computer systems engineer.)

Are you serious about the top secret clearance thing?

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"The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient."

Absolutely. One of my coworkers got turned down for a top secret clearance at an early stage because one of her sisters has dual citizenship with Ireland.

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Everything I need to know I learned through Googling.

It's pretty limited when you have top secret clearance because you are considered to be guarding the crown jewels.

• Example: I had to pass through 5 palm readers to get to the computer room floor that housed the super computer I worked on. Now... in this room, there were about 75 cages that housed banks of 72 gigabyte disk drives. Each cage had a different key to unlock it and you had to have an authorized person unlock it for you and watch you all the time the cage was open.

I don't know how worried they would be if Rose was Swedish or German, but right now the Iranian government and the American governmnet aren't very good at making friends and sharing the sandbox together. So this is about as bad as fallin in love with a Russian at the height of the cold war; a card carrying communist Russian since Rose is Muslim.

Granted I am guilty of a security infraction for not reporting my contact with Rose, but international politics was never a topic of interest. I never even told here where I was or what I did for a living until AFTER I had to leave Los Alamos. I didn't want her money or her power, and she didn't want me for my position at Los Alamos, we were interested in other things.



Edited to Add:

Yeah, I was doing classified work on a the 30 TerraOp supercomputer they were installing. Obviously I am no longer doing classified work which is just fine with me. In fact, I am stretching the edge of the envelop right now by being an antiwar activist. I just can't allow my country to consider invading the homeland of the woman I love.

Just can't keep some people outa trouble.... :-k

I'm saddened to hear of your predicament. But I'm a little confused, in another thread you mentioned that you had mental illness. Do they give top level security clearances at Los Alamos to people with mental illnesses, or is that why you left? As unfair as it may seem, I can see a certain wisdom in restricting communications between US personnel at nuclear weapons labs and nationals from hostile countries with nuclear weapons ambitions.

Then again, a high schooler has enough information to design a basic nuclear bomb. The hard part is acquiring the nuclear material. You can't send uranium via email. Maybe they could let you go to Switzerland as long as they confirm your luggage doesn't contain kilograms of weapons-grade fissiles.

Assuming this is all true, I would expect them to monitor these fora...

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"Oh no no no I'm a rocket man Rocket man burning out his fuse up here alone." -- Sir Elton John

J Pax

:roll:

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"The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient."

Wow. Well, I'm friends with a German, a Brit and an Aussie, so I guess I'm out. Oh well.

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"The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient."