Sunday funny
By Dana Summers at Townhall.com…
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Dec.21, 2008 6:07 am |
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LOL, good one Jill….a picture tells a thousand words…
This picture is so true!
I laughed right out loud with this political cartoon, and then immediately almost felt like crying. The reality behind the cartoon is not funny at all.
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.”
I think they add the word “dangerous” to offensive. When you ask the to share examples of danger, they just ad hom attack and say right wing extremists have done moore damage to the planet and leave.
You know, I’m an atheist, but I am far from offended by people’s Christmas displays. I couldn’t care less that they’re up everywhere.I think that unfortunately, a lot of atheists overreact to things that are really, really silly and manger displays are one of them.
But that’s my 2 centavos…
Agreed, Rae. I don’t give a darn about your displays. Seems like lately y’all have been way more wound up about our atheist sign in Washington.
The only thing that really offends me is Christmas music- because it’s been playing since Nov. 1st and there are only about 20 songs that are played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
Would somebody PLEASE play “Oi to the World” covered by No Doubt!?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy43I5Ncc_M
Erin, that’s because that sign was particularly offensive. It didn’t just say “celebrate peace for humanity” or something.
“You know, I’m an atheist”
:(
Rae :”The only thing that really offends me is Christmas music- because it’s been playing since Nov. 1st and there are only about 20 songs that are played over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.”
Thats just the radio in general. Its like that year round.
Erin,
The sign seem pretty pissed off really. It insulted Christians quite a bit both through direct insults and through implicit insults. But what would I know, Cristiuns r dum.
How sad that cartoon is a fairly accurate portrayal of how things are these days.
O Come O Come Emmanuel….
Public religion for the sake of ostentasiousness is perhaps more obscene than a porn shop. It is funny when people make fun of Muslims for stopping work for their call to prayer, but think nothing of gaudy passion plays and tacky nativity scenes.
Such acts of holier-than-thou grandstanding just makes the real sinners apparant, it says nothing about their commitment to repentance, grace or humility. It says everything about their desire to prove to the world that which they fail to prove to God.
@Oliver: I wouldn’t know- I quit listening to the radio 3 years ago (though I have been known to listen to NPR/MPR on occasion.
Great post here!
Would you like a Link Exchange with our new blog COMMON CENTS where we blog about the issues of the day?? Check it out please…
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com
I await YLT’s condemnation of Obama’s ostentatious and gaudy speeches and campaign events, which are chock full of holier-than-thou grandstanding.
YLT: “It is funny when people make fun of Muslims for stopping work for their call to prayer, but think nothing of gaudy passion plays and tacky nativity scenes. ”
Who makes fun of Muslims stopping for prayer during work?
It’s not the public religious displays that bother me. What I am against is the agenda of religious people(not all of them).
I don’t care what religious beliefs people hold. That’s their right. What I am adamantly opposed to is religious conservatives trying to make abortion illegal, take rights away from homosexuals and persecute them, force students to pray in school the Christian way even if they belong to other religions or are atheists or agnostics, force schools to teach superstitions such as creationism as scientific fact, thwart vital medical and scientific research because of their obscurantist religious views, have the government pry into the bedrooms of American citizens and interfere with what consenting adults do in private, arbitrarily censor and ban any book, magazine, film,television program , DVD or website those in power find”indecent” and obscene”, even though not every one agrees on what is offensive, deny help to the poor, and also to those who are out of work through no fault of their own and can’t find work, and turn this country into the very thing that so many have come here to escape.
Robert: “It’s not the public religious displays that bother me. What I am against is the agenda of religious people(not all of them).
I don’t care what religious beliefs people hold. That’s their right. What I am adamantly opposed to is religious conservatives trying to make abortion illegal, take rights away from homosexuals and persecute them, force students to pray in school the Christian way even if they belong to other religions or are atheists or agnostics, force schools to teach superstitions such as creationism as scientific fact, thwart vital medical and scientific research because of their obscurantist religious views, have the government pry into the bedrooms of American citizens and interfere with what consenting adults do in private, arbitrarily censor and ban any book, magazine, film,television program , DVD or website those in power find”indecent” and obscene”, even though not every one agrees on what is offensive, deny help to the poor, and also to those who are out of work through no fault of their own and can’t find work, and turn this country into the very thing that so many have come here to escape.”
I think that is the more hilariously over-the-top post Ive seen here so far.
Now just to make it clear, even considering that you took everything to the extreme (deny help to the poor, for example) are you trying to imply that this is the agenda of Conservative Christians or of Christianity? If you are, be careful how you associate correlations. It doesnt mean it is a religious agenda simply because religious people support some of those plans.
O Come O Come Emmanuel….
Posted by: Carla at December 21, 2008 12:56 PM
Lately whenever I hear this song, I get horribly choked up – I can’t even sing it (as we did today at church).
Part of it is due to Jennifer Fulweiler’s post – about the photo album from the deputy commandant of Auschwitz and the willful ignorance of the staff. I also read of trains filled with Jews going to the camps passing near a church, and the congregation learned to sing louder to drown out the sound of the trains passing. They didn’t want to be reminded of what they knew was happening.
About a month ago I vividly saw this when I heard the song: It is WWII, before Christmas, a work detail of Jews is outside a church, and they hear the song being sung by a practicing choir – and they recognize the word “Israel” and it draws them to listen intently to the song. Upon returning they see captive Israel – inside concentration camps. Some ask a fellow prisoner priest what it means. He explains Y’shua of Nazeret is Immanuel and sings the song for them. Then in the quiet of a cold night within the uninsulated baracks building, I see Jews huddled softly singing this song in Hebrew, eventually crying out for their Savior.
When they learn Jesus is called the Light of the World, and the righteous servant – they recall how the shamash is used to light the other candles on the menorah during Chanukah, and they get it – completely.
Some might be offended that I might consider that Jews might have accepted Christ in the midst of the Holocaust, but God showed himself in the camps – such as the work of St. Maximilian Kolbe.
I also see the rest of the world in the prison of sin, like the staff at Auschwitz – oblivious to the need to love their neighbor.
And if some believe God’s presence is offensive, imagine how offended they will be by His absence, if they reject him.
Oliver 3:42PM
Good point. We have a large foreign Muslim community in my city who are often traditionally dressed. I hear no ridicule. We have Native Americans who practice their traditional religion, even bringing religious articles to surgery. I hear no ridicule. Every effort is made by hospital personnel to show respect both culturally and religiously. One of our doctors always wore her hijab(sp?), it was never an issue. I even complimented her on how beautiful and flattering her scarves were.
Posted by: Robert Berger at December 21, 2008 3:44 PM
Here Robert – you can fight with Jesus Christ:
[NIV: Matthew 28:16-20.]
Your entire issue is with Him. We’re just being obedient to his commandments. And that last statement – He’s present at all times with His own.
Posted by: Rae at December 21, 2008 11:11 AM
So Rae – does that mean that you know for certain that there is absolutely no God? If so – when did you get this omniscience? ;-)
I suppose having an argument would be out of the question…because you’ve already one.
@Chris: I’m by definition a weak atheist- also called an agnostic atheist. So no- I’m not certain. Based on my observations I do not believe there to be a “God”, however, I am not going to say with certitude that there is no God- that would be foolish and just as arrogant as a diehard theist who believes without a doubt that there is a God and that it’s impossible for there not to be one.
Happy first night of Hanukah everyone.
are there any Jewish pro lifers that post here? I believe that most of the pro-lifers (with a few exceptions) are Christian, and Hannakauh doesn’t apply.
Thou art very classy Miss LizFromNebraska.
Posted by: Hal at December 21, 2008 7:29 PM
Hey Hal – Happy Chanukah!
Scarlet Letter, why bother wishing someone a happy (whatever) when nobody here celebrates it? The vast majority of pro-lifers are Christian. The vast majority of pro-aborts are atheists. It’s a valid question to ask if anyone here actually celebrates Hanukkah.
Hello Hester! I recognize your name. {FACE_WINK} I read the SCARLETT LETTER in high school. I’d rather read GRAPES OF WRATH over and over than that book or A Separate Peace or THE BELL JAR.
Yea verily, my biography was ever so poorly written by Mr. Hawthorne. He was an overly verbose man who lived for tawdry details.
Posted by: LizFromNebraska at December 21, 2008 8:54 PM
Liz – there is an organization called Jews for Life that is socially conservative and very pro-life in their efforts.
Rae,
It is our understanding of the “unknown” which we call our respective faiths. I think you’re right on that we really have no right mocking one another for our inabilities to prove that which cannot be proven (by definition).
If I may offer my own testimony, I just can’t pass up the opportunity these days to share my beliefs with a willing ear. I obviously wouldn’t expect a conversion, but perhaps one day.
For me,
I believe in the historical Jesus. If not because of the extensive records of His existence, then because of the Church which He founded that still exists and accuracy with which it can trace its beginnings.
I believe that Christ was God. If not because He said so, then because all four Gospels attest to it and because everyone that knew Him was clearly willing to die before denying that fact.
And if nothing else, I believe in God. I cannot prove he exists by my actions. It’s my honest reflections about the splendors of life that make me believe. I think about the way I feel around my girlfriend, my best friends, my family, a newborn baby… the way I feel at Christmas or when my team wins a ballgame. I just know there’s got to be more than just physics and biology to my experiences.
I am a Jew that reads these threads very often Liz, so thanks to Hal for the Chanukah wishes! Happy Chanukah to you too Hal! I gladly wish Christians Merry Christmas on Christmas too.
Happy Kwanzaa, everybody.
I think worrying about manger displays is just plain silly.
Atheist or agnostic, if you feel compelled to protest, then aren’t there about 50 crillion other things that are worse and more pressing problems?
Alex: And if nothing else, I believe in God. I cannot prove he exists by my actions. It’s my honest reflections about the splendors of life that make me believe. I think about the way I feel around my girlfriend, my best friends, my family, a newborn baby… the way I feel at Christmas or when my team wins a ballgame. I just know there’s got to be more than just physics and biology to my experiences.
Alex, Merry Christmas!
That was a heck of a nice post. That feeling of transcendence can come from other things, too, but you sound like a really nice guy.
Since we’re on the topic of Hanukkah, here’s one of the most awesome Christmas songs ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrd9p47MPHg
I have to laugh when people feel “offended” by crosses on the highway to mark where loved ones were killed, or manger displays or The Ten Commandments. There is nothing inherently offensive about them. The ones who are offended, decided to “take offense” at something. That is a choice. Also, you cannot base a lawsuit on being personally offended. The remedy? LOOK AWAY! WALK ON BY! MOVE ALONG!
I happen to think Menorrahs(sp?)are beautiful and would not “take offense” at something that means so much to someone else.
You know what Doug? I tried to guess what the video was before I clicked on it. I just knew it was Adam Sandler and I was right. You are sick in the head. Just like me.
I am not going to say with certitude that there is no God- that would be foolish and just as arrogant as a diehard theist who believes without a doubt that there is a God and that it’s impossible for there not to be one.
Posted by: Rae at December 21, 2008 7:12 PM
—-
4 questions frame any worldview, guiding each person’s actions.
What is our origin? (How did we get here?)
What is the meaning of life? (Why are we here?)
What is our morality? (How should we live?)
What is our destiny? (Is this all there is?)
The answers to these questions need to be consistent and cohesive – both with the scientific evidence and philosophically when related to each other.
There is one more aspect of answering such questions which cannot be found outside ourselves, but must come from within – that is a lawful desire to find that cohesive consistently valid truth, whatever it’s origins, whatever it might mean.
Agnosticism says it cannot know for certain, and in so doing undermines their own arguments.
If you are uncertain of what you believe to be true for yourself, why should anything you say matter then to anyone else? You don’t know if a higher purpose (meaning) for your life exists.
It takes far less faith and certainty to believe in a loving Creator God, than it does to imagine we came from nothing, live in an accidental, but finely tuned universe, that morality that protects the weak and innocent arose from nothing, and that somehow along the way, love was found to be the best “solution” to our mutual coexistence. Atheism and agnosticism fail to explain “good”.
The first problem is within – tampering with the evidence of your life invalidates your observations.
At its best, agnosticism is self-doubt, at its worst: self-deception.
Without God, people have a hard time explaining themselves!
How do atheism and agnosticism explain “evil”?
Rae – I came across this from the very next blog I read:
http://faithfulreflections.wordpress.com/2008/12/20/truth-and-consistency/
I believe it is relevant and very well said.
Too much coffee…
I forgot to add that it is not a cross or a manger scene that some people find offensive. It is the symbolism that they object to.
How do atheism and agnosticism explain “evil”?
Posted by: Carla at December 22, 2008 7:16 AM
Carla – they don’t. We tend to see things from a Christian perspective, but the Marquis de Sade was at least consistent with his philosophy and application.
If there really is no God, then morality is meaningless and ultimately everything is insanely permissible, with absolutely no limits to what is expressed and how. Raping and killing others becomes a poetic art, a display of raw materialistic power.
As a matter of subjective opinion followed to it’s logical conclusions, there is no reason why dominance cannot be exerted by nations upon other nations. Law is merely political expediency.
The pantheon of atheistic leaders – Stalin, Mao, Pot, Kim tends to show utter political power depravity. The two Hussein sons – Uday and Qusay showed where it leads in terms of pornographic cruelty.
“To save us all from Satan’s power” isn’t nonsense when one can see the evidence of Christ’s salvation clearly in the world’s history.
The war is a spiritual one and it is still being fought. What people don’t realize is that they are the battleground.
Hmmm.
You mean they look around and see child abuse, abortion, murder and 9/11 and do not call it evil?
Happy Hanukkah, Stef. I did not know there was actually someone who celebrated what’s known as the Festival of Lights that posted on this blog. I like the story of Hanukkah, which is such a beautiful miracle (8 days with the small amount of oil lasting all 8 days). I hope you enjoy eating Latkes. Those sound really yummy.
Funny how I learned about Hanukkah from a Rugrats (Nickelodeon cartoon series) special……
Doug,
Adam Sandler’s song is about Hanukkah, not Christmas.
I think some people don’t understand the two are not interchangeable.
Here’s a great article in my local paper’s religion section about hanukkah:
http://journalstar.com/articles/2008/12/22/living/religion/doc494c045d41e3d070921941.txt
They also had Francine celebrating the holiday on the special Arthur’s Perfect Christmas.
You mean they look around and see child abuse, abortion, murder and 9/11 and do not call it evil?
Posted by: Carla at December 22, 2008 8:16 AM
—-
Yes – but it’s worse than that – many are calling most of that “good”. (I believe we’re still on topic. :-)
BTW – here’s an article I wrote regarding the clash between Chanukah and Christmas:
http://www.thrufire.com/blog/2008/12/chanukah-confrontations/
If there really is no God, then morality is meaningless and ultimately everything is insanely permissible, with absolutely no limits to what is expressed and how. Raping and killing others becomes a poetic art, a display of raw materialistic power.
As a matter of subjective opinion followed to it’s logical conclusions, there is no reason why dominance cannot be exerted by nations upon other nations. Law is merely political expediency.”
Chris, you should stick to explaining your own beliefs, you’re not very good at explaining atheism.
“4 questions frame any worldview, guiding each person’s actions.
What is our origin? (How did we get here?)
What is the meaning of life? (Why are we here?)
What is our morality? (How should we live?)
What is our destiny? (Is this all there is?)
The answers to these questions need to be consistent and cohesive – both with the scientific evidence and philosophically when related to each other.”
1) Don’t know, don’t care.
2) There isn’t any. There doesn’t need to be a “reason” for us here- and I think it’s sad that you think you need a reason to be here and jsut can’t accept that sometimes things just are.
3) A combination of mutually assured destruction and the whole “golden rule” thing.
4) We make our own destiny, and yes, our life on earth is all there is (in my opinion).
“There is one more aspect of answering such questions which cannot be found outside ourselves, but must come from within – that is a lawful desire to find that cohesive consistently valid truth, whatever it’s origins, whatever it might mean.”
Or you know…some people don’t have the desire and don’t really care, like myself.
“Agnosticism says it cannot know for certain, and in so doing undermines their own arguments.”
In your opinion.
“If you are uncertain of what you believe to be true for yourself, why should anything you say matter then to anyone else? You don’t know if a higher purpose (meaning) for your life exists.”
It shouldn’t matter unless somebody decides to be all offended by my opinions. In all honesty, I’m surprised you’re making such a huge deal out of the fact I’m a weak atheist. I don’t believe a higher purpose for my life exists- I wouldn’t care if one did.
“It takes far less faith and certainty to believe in a loving Creator God, than it does to imagine we came from nothing,”
In your opinion. I find it much more difficult to believe that there is a magical sky-daddy up there waiting for us to scrwe up so he can punish us for eternity if we don’t “repeeeent!”
“live in an accidental, but finely tuned universe, that morality that protects the weak and innocent arose from nothing, and that somehow along the way, love was found to be the best “solution” to our mutual coexistence.”
It’s not about love. It’s about what I said before- MAD and the Golden Rule. We only look out for NUMBER 1 (and I’m not talking about Commander Riker).
“Atheism and agnosticism fail to explain “good”.”
Yes it does, and it’s just as subjective and arbitrary as your “God’s” definition of “good”.
“The first problem is within – tampering with the evidence of your life invalidates your observations.”
That makes no sense at all. Please explain.
“At its best, agnosticism is self-doubt, at its worst: self-deception.”
In your opinion. Again- I personally find it foolish to ever be certain of anything chiefly because alleged certainty has a nasty way of biting people in the arse later on.
“Without God, people have a hard time explaining themselves!”
In your opinion.
Posted by: Chris Arsenault at December 22, 2008 7:11 AM”
“Carla – they don’t. We tend to see things from a Christian perspective, but the Marquis de Sade was at least consistent with his philosophy and application.”
Yes, we do. Again- I reference MAD and the Golden Rule.
“If there really is no God, then morality is meaningless and ultimately everything is insanely permissible, with absolutely no limits to what is expressed and how. Raping and killing others becomes a poetic art, a display of raw materialistic power.”
I’m calling flat out bullocks on this one, Chris. Not EVERYTHING is permissible. You will NEVER find a sane atheist who says raping is all jolly good and killing is wonderful. Seriously. Rape violates bodily autonomy and is never justifiable. Killing also violates bodily autonomy but can be justifiable. Killing is generally bad- even in the animal kingdom- because it lowers the fitness of the species, however, like in the animal kingdom, killing is sometimes moral, and I think that you would agree that killing can be moral in certain circumstances- atheists would as well.
“As a matter of subjective opinion followed to it’s logical conclusions, there is no reason why dominance cannot be exerted by nations upon other nations. Law is merely political expediency.”
Um…duh. That’s called imperialism and the oh-so-Xtian USA was quite fond of imperialism until WWII.
“The pantheon of atheistic leaders – Stalin, Mao, Pot, Kim tends to show utter political power depravity. The two Hussein sons – Uday and Qusay showed where it leads in terms of pornographic cruelty.”
Okay, seriously- you have NO idea what you’re talking about. At all. Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and Kim are atheists, yes but their atheism is generally IRRELEVANT to what they do. They do not kill in the name of “atheism”- they killed in the name of communism. Yes, atheism is a part of communism, but it doesn’t have to be. Yes, Marx thought religion was a sign of a weak mind (and I agree with him) but that doesn’t mean most atheists want to kill off all theists (even though you annoy the living crap out of us). Have you ever really talked to a well-spoken atheist? I admit, I’m not the most well-spoken/well-read atheist in the world, so what I say probably should be taken worth a grain of salt but you are SO unbelievably off-base with your accusations and comments it’s embarrassing.
“To save us all from Satan’s power” isn’t nonsense when one can see the evidence of Christ’s salvation clearly in the world’s history.”
Yes. It is nonsense. There is no Satan. Just you (not specific- general you).
The war is a spiritual one and it is still being fought. What people don’t realize is that they are the battleground.”
The biggest trick the Devil (SATAN) ever played was convincing the world he doesn’t exist, Rae. He has fooled MANY people.
If Satan didn’t exist, the world would be a much better place.
Adam Sandler’s song is about Hanukkah, not Christmas.
(Heh.)
I know that, Liz.
Rae at December 22, 2008 12:04 PM referred to my statement:
You said That makes no sense at all. Please explain.
Okay – it’s about intellectual honesty.
I could quote Genesis, but you’d just laugh. Instead, I’ll illustrate my point using your responses. You agreed on Dec 21 @ 7:12 PM that you cannot state for certain that there is no God – and that such uncertainty extends even to theists.
On Dec 22 @ 7:11 AM you also stated
Then at 12:13 PM you are quite certain of the following:
Check your arse, Rae – I think it’s just been bit. ;-)
(And no – the last portion of my name in French doesn’t mean ‘hole’.) ;-)
Chris Arsenault’s quote of a passage from the Bible attributed to Christ doesn’t mean that evangelical Christians have the right to try to force the US government to make laws based on THEIR interpretation of the Bible.
I am a non-observant secular Jew, but not an atheist. We are a nation in which the majority just happens to be Christian, but not a Christian nation.
We are also a nation of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostics, and many other faiths. All I and others like me ask for that we all keep our religious beliefs(or lack of them) to ourselves.
In Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations, Muslims believe that the Koran and Muhammad’s attributed teachings are the only truth; many Christians consider the Bible and what is written in it to be the only truth.
But we can’t all just impose our religions and social agendas on every one else.
No offense meant to Christians, but I do not believe in the idea of the virgin birth, and Christ as savior of mankind, and the idea that God will damn every one else who does not accept Christ as savior to hell. This makes absolutely no sense to me, and many others who revere Christ as a great religious teacher but not the son of God by a virgin and the scapegoat for collective human wrongdoing.
If God impregnated a virgin 2,000 years ago in order to save mankind, what happened to the countless people who lived before Christ? Are they condemned to hell? And what about primitive tribes in remote areas who never get the chance to hear of Christ’s salvation ? Are they condemned to hell too? It’s not their fault that they never got to hear of Christ. Why would God consign them to hell?
And why would God allow a evil, cruel,
conniving, mean-spirited person into heaven if he or she just happened to repent and accept Christ, while condemning a kind,
benevolent, decent person who had done a great deal of good to hell simply because he or she belonged to a different religion or none at all? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Liberals don’t necessarily think that there is no right and wrong and that anything is acceptable. I certainly don’t.
Pointing out the horrendous evils of communist dicatators proves nothing, nor does it make any sense to blame Darwin, a very decent, moral and kindly man , for their excesses.
Genghis Khan didn’t need Darwin to slaughter an enormous number or people, nor did the perpetrators of the Spanish inquisition and the Catholic witch hunters, or the conquistadors who caused so much human misery in Mexico and South America.
I don’t know exactly how life started on earth or how it developed, but the notion that the earth is only six to ten thousand years old makes absolutely no sense to me. But that doesn’t mean that I’m an atheist. There is absolutely no conflict btween a very old earth and evolution and belief in God.
And there are far more important issues today than abortion. For example, how do we provide for those poor children who ARE born ? That’s difficult enough.
How do we reduce poverty, unemployment, crime, unwanted pregnancies, provide a better education for all young people, and provide for people who are out of work through no fault of their own, and keep them from losing their homes?
How do we prevent mass famine in America and the world? Or all manner of potential catastrophes?
@Chris: Aaaaack. Sorry- I wasn’t thinking (as if I ever do that?) when I typed.
I should have said, “I do not believe there is a Satan.”
Yes, my arse is a bit chaffed now… :) Thanks for alerting me to the inconsistency. It shall be rectified from now on.
Posted by: Robert Berger at December 22, 2008 4:08 PM
How do we prevent mass famine in America and the world? Or all manner of potential catastrophes?
——————————————————
Mr Berger,
If your proposed solution to the possibility of ‘mass famine in America’ is to premptively kill people, then practise the ‘gospel you preach’ and set the example for all your fellow believers and dig a hole, jump in it and recycle yourself.
I know that of YOU may die in this quest, but that is a sacrifice ‘I’ am willing to make.
yor bro ken
Rae: I personally find it foolish to ever be certain of anything chiefly because alleged certainty has a nasty way of biting people in the arse later on.
I’m mainly wondering why Rae said “arse” there. Seems more a foreign thing to me. When I was in Nova Scotia some of the people said that.
I always thought it was more British, even scandinavian….
@Doug: I say “arse” because it’s not exactly considered a swear word in the US. :) I know it is in Merrye Ol’ Englande (misspelling intended).
That and deep down, I wish I were Scottish, so I’ve been trying to swear using Scottish swear words or swearing in a Scottish accent. It’s fun. :)
Big Bobby da Berger: How do we reduce poverty, unemployment, crime, unwanted pregnancies, provide a better education for all young people, and provide for people who are out of work through no fault of their own, and keep them from losing their homes?
How do we prevent mass famine in America and the world? Or all manner of potential catastrophes?
Robert, good, informative post from you. Sometimes we just can’t prevent poverty, unemployment, etc. I think it’s human nature that there will be vastly “underprivileged” people, no matter what, often due to their own natures.
People who lose their jobs need to look for other work. Sounds hard, huh? You know what – that’s the way it is.
Ha! Rae, I figured it was something righteous like that.
NO DOUBT – Scottish people swearing rules!
Doug: “People who lose their jobs need to look for other work. Sounds hard, huh? You know what – that’s the way it is.”
Youre sounding more and more conservative Doug.
Meanwhile we are in total agreement on the work issue. Work is not a right, it is a privilege. I suspect that most of the people laid off at companies work unimportant jobs, or are the most inefficient anyways. At least as long as their Union doesnt have some bullsh*t seniority rule that forces the company to fire the least senior employees.
I know who I would absolutely fire in an instant if I needed to downsize when I worked at UPS. I can tell you right now it would not have been any of my workers who came to work and did their best every day.
Oliver, for a long time I’ve been an economic conservative and social liberal.
Looking back in history, there was “the decline of the railroads” as the huge employers they once were, and there too people had to look for other work, retrain, etc.
Easy to say while I’ve got a steady (busier than ever) job, though.
It is easier, but Im sure part of the reason you have that job securely is because you are a hard worker. The people who are getting axed are either being screwed by union backed seniority rules, or they are more than likely already inefficient or inconsistent workers. Im sure there is a large number of Americans who are hard workers, and are getting cut simply because that is the way the economy is going right now, but I know that they are the last to go, and the truth is, they are the ones who will go out of their way to find SOME job, even if it means more hours for less pay, until they can secure a comparable job.
So if only you can overcome the whole pro-choice thing, you can become a conservative independent. ;)
Just think how logical and ethical it really is. When can parents neglect their children for any reason other than to preserve their own life?
Hi Robert,
We do not need to discuss tribes in remote areas if my own neighbor doesn’t know of Christ’s salvation. It is my fault if they do not hear it from me. I am called to show love to others by how I treat them so they can see Jesus in me. It is our fault if we do not heed God’s prompting to send missionaries to other countries to preach the Good News. Every tribe, tongue and nation will hear God’s word and dismiss or accept Him and the gift of His Son.
Jesus said I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. HE SAID IT. THOSE ARE HIS WORDS TO US. I choose to believe Him. We are saved by grace, not our deeds so that no man can boast. Being a “good, kind and decent person” doesn’t get you to heaven. God sent His Son to die for us ALL.He hung on a cross for Carla and her sin of abortion. He hung on a cross for Robert Berger. He does not want one of His lambs to turn away from Him although He knows that they will. The remedy for our sin is Jesus.
Personally I would not worship a God that I could fully make sense out of or begin to understand. His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways.
So, what do you celebrate on Christmas? I am just curious.
For you to say that forcing beliefs on others is wrong, is forcing a belief on me, yes?
Just think how logical and ethical it really is. When can parents neglect their children for any reason other than to preserve their own life?
Oliver, that implies that the unborn are necessarily “children,” which simply is not true. Some people consider the term to apply, and some don’t.
If “neglect” is the issue, then there’d have to be some agreed-upon sense of being remiss, improperly negligent, etc., and that’s not the case.
Doug
The unborn child is a HUMAN BEING, the offspring of a man and a woman. He/She is not a dog, or a cat, or a lab or a calf or a mouse or a rabbit. You’re dehumanizing an unborn baby by saying they aren’t children. That reminds me of how slave owners considered their slaves only 3/5 human. They were human, but treated like animals.
Doug,
Every single one of my unborn babies have been children. :)
Doug,
But surely it seems reasonable that the preborn is a extended the rights associated with personhood right?
Wouldnt you agree that even if someone is seriously brain damaged, but has a chance of recovery in 9 months, that they should be protected as a person, even if they cannot reason?
We give newborns the same rights. They have no ability to reason beyond that of most mammals and some birds. Yet, we give them personhood rights. Why would a newborn be different?