tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post329852894920037836..comments2023-10-03T07:01:41.144-05:00Comments on Always On Watch: Semper Vigilans: Our Immoral PresidentAlways On Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-28831719540828105372012-05-21T09:58:57.549-05:002012-05-21T09:58:57.549-05:00Hello Again, AOW,
Thanks for your response. I thi...Hello Again, AOW,<br /><br />Thanks for your response. I think we are mostly in agreement, even though you may not feel -- as I do -- that it's <i>shame</i> that things are the way they are. <br /><br />What you said about the children of interracial unions reminds me of yet-another institutionalized cruelty that I think we may finally have outgrown; that is the harsh treatment and social rejection humanity once felt perfectly justified in visiting on "illegitimate" children -- bastards, if you will. <br /><br />The idea of perpetually punishing an innocent child, who was in way responsible for the way in which he entered the world, for the perceived sins of his parents seems preposterous and indecent today -- or at least I certainly hope it does. <br /><br />The same holds true, of course, for children of mixed parentage. I'm not much in favor of miscegenation, myself, BUT it would no more occur to me to make special efforts to give the children of such couplings a hard time than it would occur to me to bomb St. Peters in Rome to rubble, because Pope Pius didn't do enough to oppose Hitler at the time the Holocaust was taking place -- or any other idiotic rationale for mayhem and vandalism.<br /><br /><b>There are many and varied forms of cruelty and insanity. People always seem to be looking for a plausible pretext that enables them to vent their spleen and find ways to punish and deprive others. It's especially offensive to me when this perverse desire gets cloaked in the garb of "Righteousness."</b><br /><br />The world is a difficult and dangerous place at best. We ought never to be in the business of making it even more difficult for others.<br /><br />As you know-- because I've said it so many times here and there and beyond -- I despise "activism" in general. Militant behavior in the name of ANY cause is bound to arouse more opposition -- even bitter enmity -- than sympathy. Even when successful, militancy leaves an enduring legacy of resentment that festers just beneath the surface poisoning future relationships.<br /><br />As I said above: <b>Once upon a time Christendom was in the business of torturing "heretics" on the rack, burning them at the stake, disemboweling them with red hot pokers, tossing them into "oubliettes," or having them drawn and quartered. <br /><br />Thank GOD we do not condone or tolerate such practices any longer.</b><br /><br />Our having grown past that proves that we <i>are</i> capable of improving our character both as a species and as individuals. In many many ways The Old Normal, which we Conservatives tend to regard with nostalgia was <i>not</i> the blessed, beautiful, flawless thing we'd like to think it was.<br /><br />I believe the prevalent attitude toward homosexuality is just as wrong as our former policies regarding "heretics," and any and all fellow human beings who incite suspicion and resentment because they appear "different" on the surface.<br /><br />It may take anther century or two, but eventually this too will change, and we'll all be much the better for the excision of yet-another cause for hateful and destructive behavior.<br /><br /><b>If we were true followers of Jesus Christ, we'd spend all our times searching for ways to love, support, encourage and aid others. He didn't even condemn those who tortured Him and slowly murdered Him in the cruelest, most barbaric way imaginable. With that in mind how any of us who call ourselves "Christian" could <i>dare</i> to hold others, who've done us no harm at all, in contempt and derision defies analysis.</b><br /><br />And that must be my final word on that -- at least for now. I don't believe in beating a subject into the ground.<br /><br />My best always,<br /><br />~ FTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-53777777843223569372012-05-21T08:14:35.243-05:002012-05-21T08:14:35.243-05:00FT,
I must need more caffeine! I just saw this po...FT,<br />I must need more caffeine! I just saw this portion of your comment:<br /><br /><i>I'm sorry Mr. Huntington chose to bear down in this particular subject. </i><br /><br />He posted this with my pre-approval.<br /><br />And, actually, I think that the topic does need discussion. It is going to be one of <b>THE</b> major cultural debates for the foreseeable future here in the United States.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-72308293418434135582012-05-21T08:07:21.584-05:002012-05-21T08:07:21.584-05:00FT,
Forgot to say....The man was was divorced by h...FT,<br />Forgot to say....The man was was divorced by his lesbian wife isn't well adjusted, either -- not by a long shot. How do you tell you friends, "My wife left me for another woman"?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-53054276497088831072012-05-21T08:05:46.069-05:002012-05-21T08:05:46.069-05:00FT,
What you appear to be saying is that adamant p...FT,<br /><i>What you appear to be saying is that adamant prejudice on the part of a presumed majority will forever prevail no matter how decently, kindly, intelligently or constructively a despised minority lives their lives.</i><br /><br />To a certain extent, yes, that is what I'm saying.<br /><br />I do well recall how lonely the children of mixed-race marriages were when I first encountered those children in my classroom about 30 years ago. These mixed-race children were treated just fine at school and at school functions, but never invited to the parties at other children's homes. Never.<br /><br />Also, it may not exactly be prejudice that makes heterosexual parents "afraid" of same-sex parents. Like it or not, some heterosexual parents have strong religious objections to homosexuality. Furthermore, the gay rights activists who prance around in demonstrations (You know the ones I mean!) do <b>ZERO</b> to allay those "fears" and <b>MUCH</b> to disgust the vast majority of people (including some gays, I'm sure).<br /><br />I maintain that we don't know the long-term consequences of children being reared in a gay household. I know of only one child (now an adult) who was reared by his openly-lesbian mother (who divorced the boy's mother). That young man is so maladjusted as to beggar belief; in my view, that maladjustment is partly due to having come from a broken home. Of course, I know of only this one case.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-29400919142065922082012-05-21T07:42:00.765-05:002012-05-21T07:42:00.765-05:00Good morning, AOW!
What you appear to be saying i...Good morning, AOW!<br /><br />What you appear to be saying is that adamant prejudice on the part of a presumed majority will forever prevail no matter how decently, kindly, intelligently or constructively a despised minority lives their lives.<br /><br />If true, that speaks very poorly for humanity. In fact it says the desire to believe the worst about others in order to feel better about one's own shortcomings is a fundamental part of being human. It says that in truth Reason plays little or no part in the formation and maintenance of our attitudes -- that most always have and always will prefer to live their lives based on the fears and fantasies they project onto others in preference to accepting Reality. It is an admission that people rarely-if-ever <i>think</i>, but simply <i>react</i> in most situations.<br /><br />In that case the problems you outlined are probably an accurate description of what may be likely to occur. That doesn't justify it, but it's an unpleasant -- actually tragic -- reality I suppose one must accept. "It is what it is," as people say today.<br /><br />No wonder we have been branded a "Fallen" species!<br /><br />I'm sorry Mr. Huntington chose to bear down in this particular subject. It tends to bring out all sorts of unthinking, gratuitous, cold-hearted nastiness bound to produce little or no constructive effect. I'll make every effort to avoid darting into the fray next time the issue arises, since, apparently, no good could come of any attempt at reasoned debate. <br /><br />If only we human beings could encourage ourselves to practice The Golden Rule in every transaction! That would mean cultivating an ability to put ourselves into the proverbial shoes of others, imagine what their lives must be like, and then act toward them the way we wish others would act toward us.<br /><br />The world will never change to accommodate any one of us. I believe the key to success in the art of living could only be found in meek acceptance of Reality followed by the determination to deal with it as graciously and generously as possible. <br /><br /><i>"Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God by which you are sealed unto the day of Redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God, who for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."</i><br /><br />Thank you again and again, AOW, for your capacity to allow people to express themselves without hyper-judgmental interference or vituperation your part. It's a rare and great gift -- particularly in the blogosphere.<br /><br /><i>"This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it ..."</i><br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-82839875948885933562012-05-21T05:54:05.059-05:002012-05-21T05:54:05.059-05:00FT,
Two matters about gay households that may affe...FT,<br />Two matters about gay households that may affect the social development of children and might lead to a sense of misfit -- or even worse:<br /><br />1. I'm not sure that most heterosexual couples would be comfortable sending their children to a gay couple's house for a sleepover at the home of children of gay couples. Homosexual does not equal pedophile, but that is the perception of the part of many.<br /><br />2. When children first go to school (age 4-5), children naturally assume that all households are like theirs, that is, with parents of opposite sex or, in the case of gay couples, with parents of same sex. I know for a <b>FACT</b> that is difficult to explain to young children of intact marriages that the parents of another child in the class are single or divorced.<br /><br />-------------<br /><br />Gay marriage can be legitimized, but such a step will not change the views of people who don't accept gay marriage as an acceptable lifestyle. Statistics at this point indicate that a large majority of Americans do neither favor nor accept gay marriage, and it's not going to matter to a lot of people how "good" a gay couple is.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-39553228870717334262012-05-20T16:14:44.725-05:002012-05-20T16:14:44.725-05:00How do I feel about homosexuals raising children?
...How do I feel about homosexuals raising children?<br /><br />1. Any number of women have become mothers while trapped in bad or unsuitable marriages. Many of these women have discovered their true lesbian nature long after they were married. <i>[The same is true for many men as well by the way.]</i> At any rate, the natural biological mothers of children may enter into a lesbian relationship while raising their children. I don't think the State -- or anyone else -- should ever have the right to interfere in that strictly on the basis of the homosexual nature of the alliance <i>alone</i>.<br /><br />2. Should two Gay Men (or two Lesbians) be permitted to adopt? I have to say "It depends," -- just as it would when heterosexual couples attempt to adopt children. Some prosperous, stable gay couples may be able to provide children with affection, understanding and material advantages they could never get otherwise. "Screaming Queens" and compulsive drug-addicted orgiasts obviously could not. As I said, "It all depends ..."<br /><br />Naturally, I believe that in most cases having your own mother and father bring you up is the best thing for a child -- IF the parents are decent, responsible, loving people. Heterosexuality <i>per se</i> is no guarantee of virtue, however.<br /><br />I tend to believe it's probably better for a child to have two parents of the same sex than ONE <i>SINGLE</i> MOTHER or FATHER.<br /><br /><b>I see that there's an ASSUMPTION on the part of many, who have no understanding or empathy, that homosexuals by their very nature cannot help but live poorly, irresponsibly and self-destructively in unwholesome and degrading circumstances. Such an assumption must be based on ignorance and prejudice, because such is no more the case with these people than it is with those society deems "normal."</b><br /><br />Prejudice always takes the worst possible example -- sometimes derived entirely from inner fears and vain imaginings -- of what it is that may be that's despised and rejected, then insists that this dismal example is most TYPICAL of the group deemed undesirable.<br /><br />It's as stupid and as reprehensible as insisting that all black people are NIGGERS who act like JIGABOOS, all Jews are SHEENIES, MOCKIES and KIKES, all Hispanics are SPICS, all Italians are DAGOS, WOPS or MAFIOSI, all "POLACKS" are STUPID, all Irishmen are DRUNKS or all Germans are NAZIS, etc., etc., etc. <br /><br />I hope that answers your question, AOW?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-17375087029724603372012-05-20T12:19:15.375-05:002012-05-20T12:19:15.375-05:00FT,
Have you seen THIS?FT,<br />Have you seen <a href="http://weaselzippers.us/2012/05/19/naacp-evolves-on-gay-marriage-now-supports-marriage-equality/" rel="nofollow">THIS</a>?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-74155314519154057922012-05-20T10:41:59.841-05:002012-05-20T10:41:59.841-05:00FT,
And one more thing....It is now becoming comm...FT, <br />And one more thing....It is now becoming common for people to think that any same-sex friendship has a sexual basis. Frankly, I resent that attitude.<br /><br />I could say the same about opposite-sex friendships. I resent that as well. Some years ago, my friend John visited here one evening before Mr. AOW got home; indeed, Mr. AOW got home after John left. My neighbor, a neighbor who was a good friend, came hotfooting it up the street to tell me that I shouldn't be putting on such a questionable display. Sheesh. Even my parents, about as straight-laced as they come, were disgusted that my neighbor actually thought and said such a thing! John and I had been friends and friends only for decades; we are still friends (although he moved back home to Illinois about 25 years ago. <br /><br />I never told John about what my neighbor said. He'd have been upset -- so upset that he'd likely have made sure that he never again visited before my husband arrived home. Silly situation, huh?<br /><br />BTW, the one neighbor wasn't the only one to say something. Another neighbor came over the next day and winked at me and said, "Had a little evening delight yesterday before your husband got home, huh?" Sheesh. Mind in the gutter!Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-64765153458676546622012-05-20T10:34:45.014-05:002012-05-20T10:34:45.014-05:00FT,
BTW, I believe that inheritance taxes OF ANY K...FT,<br />BTW, I believe that inheritance taxes <b>OF ANY KIND</b> are a form of robbery. Assets in an estate were taxed many times over before death.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-64325063059877512842012-05-20T10:33:29.973-05:002012-05-20T10:33:29.973-05:00FT,
I note that you omitted the rearing of childre...FT,<br />I note that you omitted the rearing of children in this portion of your comment:<br /><br /><i>If it were up to me, any and ALL households where two or more people live in a sustained, mutually supportive relationship that involves economic interdependence would be given the exact same tax breaks, visiting privileges in hospitals, doctors offices, laboratories and nursing homes as lawfully married heterosexual couples. They should also be given the exact same rights of inheritance, and sharing of health insurance benefits as everyone else.</i><br /><br />What are your views on same-sex couples rearing children?<br /><br />Most people may not realize that there are significant marriage penalties built into our healthcare system and in our Social Security System as well. For example, Mr. AOW's Social Security Disability check would not be taxable if we were not married and I working (paltry though my salary is). I believe that I have to make less than $14,000 for Mr. AOW's SSDI not to be taxed.<br /><br />Spousal benefits for Social Security are not significant for many on Social Security.<br /><br />Medicaid involves even more penalties for a married couple -- but not for a couple living together without the benefit of marriage. I was advised several times by the social workers assigned Mr. AOW's case in both the hospital and the nursing home to divorce my husband so that he could go onto Medicaid and, thereby, preserve some of the small assets we have for myself and my own care later. Here in Virginia, a married couple <b>CANNOT SEPARATE</b> assets even if those assets came primarily via the family of one member of the family (as is my case) and can absolutely prove the origin of those assets. Similar laws apply to civil law suits. All my assets were on the line when Mr. AOW had a car accident and was sued for $2 million; the case settled out of court for less than our insurance coverage, but could easily have gone the other way.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-15304633767562699892012-05-20T09:18:34.605-05:002012-05-20T09:18:34.605-05:00There's a tragi-comical aspect to all of this,...There's a tragi-comical aspect to all of this, AOW:<br /><br />Fewer and fewer heterosexual couples are "bothering" to get married. More than half of all heterosexual marriages now end in divorce. A huge percentage of children now come from "broken" homes. As more and more mothers now either "have to go to work" in order to pay the rent, etc. -- or choose to "pursue a career" -- the educational system is taking it upon itself -- apparently out of some perceived "crying need" -- to act more and more <i>in loco parentis.</i>" <br /><br />To me this is really "loco" -- in the Spanish sense of the word, but it's an undeniable "reality."<br /><br />It's certainly not up to me to "educate" you or anyone else on the subject of homosexuality, but I wish others would examine my observations with less prejudice. Homosexuality is a fact of life. It's been around since The Dawn of Time. In ancient Athens -- surely the most highly civilized and intellectually advanced society in the ancient world -- homosexuality was considered normal, although most mature men also took wives and fathered children while carrying on passionate affairs with make lovers. This may seem preposterous to us with the conditioning we've had, which developed over hundreds of years, but the Athenians too were human beings just like us, and their civilization thrived brilliantly.<br /><br />It's a vast subject -- and one that's frankly tedious to me, since I figured out that logic and lack of logic in it many years ago. <br /><br />For the record I am very much opposed to Public Protest Demonstrations in general, and am not in favor of the type of people who are noisily pushing this Gay Marriage issue in order to gain political leverage.<br /><br /><b>If it were up to me, any and ALL households where two or more people live in a sustained, mutually supportive relationship that involves economic interdependence would be given the exact same tax breaks, visiting privileges in hospitals, doctors offices, laboratories and nursing homes as lawfully married heterosexual couples. They should also be given the exact same rights of inheritance, and sharing of health insurance benefits as everyone else.</b><br /><br />For me this is an ECONOMIC issue, and has nothing at all to do with sex. <br /><br />The households that concern me might include brother and sister, sister and sister, brother and brother, aunt and niece, uncle and nephew, or two old maid school teachers living in what-used-to-be-called a "Boston Marriage." It could also include people who are just close personal friends who choose to live together partly to save money and partly for economic reasons. Any and all combinations o permutations of these and other conceivable relationships should be on an equal footing politically and economically with traditional heterosexual marriage.<br /><br />Why ANYONE should be discriminated against for ANY reason either for TAX purposes or insurance eligibility or the disposal of personal property after death is a mystery to me. It's not only illogical, it's profoundly unfair.<br /><br />As for sex, it should be nobody's business except that of the people involved. Sex is not a COMMUNITY affair. Humanity would be much better off if people could learn to mind their own business and stop meddling in situations that do not properly concern them.<br /><br />If we always followed the Golden Rule, never forgot the parable of the motes and beams in the eyes, remembered and abided by the Beatitudes, we couldn't possibly go wrong. <br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-32834271878493603832012-05-20T05:00:31.819-05:002012-05-20T05:00:31.819-05:00FT,
One of my biggest concerns about gay marriage ...FT,<br />One of my biggest concerns about gay marriage is the fact that we simply don't know how a child develops his sense of sexual identity. How much is nature, and how much is nurture?<br /><br />With gay marriage will come the right to adopt or otherwise have children.<br /><br />Also, there is a slippery slope involved along the lines of "If it feels good, it has to be right."<br /><br />Do right and wrong not exist?<br /><br />One final point....With the legalization of gay marriage, will churches be <b>FORCED</b> to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples? Will military chaplains be forced to perform marriage ceremonies? I know that many in the gay movement say that merely asking such questions is paranoid and bigoted. However, I keep coming back to the escalation of the gay movement; at first, many of those activists claimed that all they wanted was equal rights, not marriage. See where we are now?<br /><br />You mentioned: <br /><br /><i>...two people who got together, maintained a household together, shared all aspects of life together for 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years, and stayed together quite literally "for better and worse, richer and poorer and in sickness and health till death did them part," even if they are two people who happen to be of the same sex...</i><br /><br />It's hard to argue against that on the compassionate level -- unless there is a threat to public health. Of course, there is still the matter of defining "health."<br /><br />BTW, I read somewhere the opinion that we should completely abolish the term and the practice of "marriage" to solve this issue. Just say, "They are a couple," I suppose, and the couple would sign a contract. Maybe that is what will happen within this century: marriage becomes obsolete.<br /><br />We keep accommodating and accommodating, tolerating and tolerating, accepting and accepting. Where does that <b>STOP</b>? And on what basis does it stop?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-82129196564782191482012-05-19T17:51:36.764-05:002012-05-19T17:51:36.764-05:00PART TWO
Eating and drinking can become self-dest...PART TWO<br /><br />Eating and drinking can become self-destructive, minding other people's business while neglecting your own <i>[the disease most peculiar to liberalism as well as religious fanaticism]</i> is extraordinarily destructive to <i>all</i> concerned, as surely most of us we have seen. <br /><br />Heterosexual sex, when it's used exploitatively, coercively or compulsively, is <i>extremely</i> self-destructive. In fact ANYTHING that becomes addictive, obsessive, compulsive or abusive falls into that category.<br /><br /><b>On the other hand how could any intelligent, good-hearted person seriously find fault with two people who got together, maintained a household together, shared all aspects of life together for 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years, and stayed together quite literally "for better and worse, richer and poorer and in sickness and health till death did them part," even if they are two people who happen to be of the same sex?</b><br /><br />You don't hear much about those kind of people. The enemedia would much prefer you to focus on "Gay Pride Parades" where participants strut around in sequined jockstraps -- or completely in the nude -- shouting obscenities and generally making asses of themselves. Or they prefer to focus on AIDS or horrifying isolated cases like the torture-murder of poor Matthew Shepard.<br /><br />We are imperfect creatures and, therefore, we're all bound to err no matter how hard we may try to avoid it. <b>My contention is that it would be far better for us always to err more on the side of Compassion and Understanding than their opposites.</b><br /><br />You -- and most people here -- have probably known a great many homosexual or bisexual people all your life, but were never aware of it, because their outward behavior seemed perfectly acceptable. And why should anyone's sex life be of concern to a community at large, <i>UNLESS there is some kind of untoward attempt to involve unwilling or uninterested parties in it?</i><br /><br />The world is full of wonders and many great mysteries. As Shakespeare said, <i>"There are more things in Heaven and earth that are included in your philosophy ..."</i> This was said to a character named Horatio, but it could -- and should -- be said to every one of us.<br /><br />Believe only half of what you see, and nothing of what you may hear. Investigate things for yourself. See if the precepts and concepts given you are consistent with reality, as you experience it. My advice, not that you asked for it, would be this: <br /><br /><b>Never let <i>anyone</i> do your thinking FOR you -- not even St. Paul.</b><br /><br />Remember the words of Mr. Jefferson, who said, <i><b>"I am unalterably opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of Man."</b></i><br /><br />My warmest, best, most hopeful regards to you.<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-36527237416687236422012-05-19T17:49:02.741-05:002012-05-19T17:49:02.741-05:00PART ONE
Thank you, Wildstar, for responding inte...PART ONE<br /><br />Thank you, Wildstar, for responding intelligently, as I knew you would.<br /><br />I am thoroughly familiar with the disapproval expressed by both St. Paul and Leviticus. Let me just say that I am one of those terrible "Thinking Christians" who does not believe that every single word in the Bible was written or dictated by God. <br /><br />I believe the Bible is the product of keen flashes of insight and great wisdom much of which is based on good Common Sense collected by many different individuals over a long period of time. <br /><br />Like any story passed down through millennia it became encrusted and in a sense <i>victimized</i> by a long series of misperceptions, imperfect understanding, distortions, agenda-driven "interpretations," and the desire of many in leadership positions to tyrannize ad micro-manage the lives of those over whom they exercised authority.<br /><br />That's what I am certain Emily Dickinson meant when she wrote:<br /><br /><br /><i>"What confusion would over the innocent Jesus<br />To meet so <b>enabled</b> a man."</i><br /><br /><br />I fully realize that what I am saying is regarded as "heresy" and is considered abhorrent by many, but now that we're not torturing "heretics" on the rack, burning them at the stake, disemboweling them with red hot pokers, tossing them into "<i>oubliettes,</i>" or having them drawn and quartered anymore, I'm willing to go out on a limb and say straight out that anything in the Bible that tends to result in insolence, arrogance, unkindness, deprivation and forfeiture -- or any other form of mean-spirited, destructive behavior -- is simply and indubitably WRONG.<br /><br />~ FreeThinke<br /><br />(CONTINUED)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-14942087325010530382012-05-19T13:43:18.878-05:002012-05-19T13:43:18.878-05:00@FT The Bible. Paul's letters makes it pretty ...@FT The Bible. Paul's letters makes it pretty clear where he stands on the issue of homosexually... Romans has a good point IIRC. I could, if I wanted to take the time, find quotes. It is a destructive practice- just like drunkeness and addictions, which it is compared with. I do not think they should be pursecuted, and did not mean that... but just as we do not think drunkeness as alright, I do not think we should think homosexually is alright. Punish or pursectuate and not condone are different... the old love the sinner not the sin comes to mind.Wildstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04824904561080806597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-84676589425675305382012-05-19T09:26:27.768-05:002012-05-19T09:26:27.768-05:00Equating "Christian Morality" with anti-...Equating "Christian Morality" with anti-homosexual bigotry is arrant nonsense.<br /><br />The problem with Obama's stance -- and all the unwarranted publicity it has generated -- is the utter cynicism -- the purely self-serving motivation -- of his sudden, apparent, change of heart.<br /><br />Like everything else the left embraces this is just another in a long, long, long series of political ploys designed to gain increasing power and ever tighter control over our thoughts words and deeds.<br /><br />That's ALL it is, believe me, and my point about Obama's "Change of Heart" opening up a the floodgates to unleash a torrent of anti-Gay sentiment from the "right" is well-taken. <br /><br />I told you how it looks to me, and many of you didn't like it. I'm a Conservative and I'm a Christian, but I do not believe in using the tenets of our faith to justify animosity towards <i>anyone.</i><br /><br />The only things I hate are Hatred, itself, and closed-minded Intolerance based on prejudice born of ignorance, superstition and mindless adherence to Tradition. I don't like the <i>smugness</i> -- i.e. the assumption of moral superiority -- that often accompanies these things either.<br /><br /><b>It may be perfectly "honest" to feel distaste for something you don't find attractive and don't understand, but cloaking a lack of understanding in the garb of <i>RIGHTEOUSNESS</i> and using it to justify zealous<i>PERSECUTION</i> of individuals or groups who've done harm to no one with the possible exception of themselves -- is frankly IGNOBLE.</b><br /><br />____________________<br /><br />Wildstar, I know you are still quite young, even though you write with an astonishing aura of maturity, I'd like to know precisely <i>why</i> you think the presence of homosexuality is harmful to this or any other society? Have you really thought t out for yourself, or have you possibly just conflated "common wisdom" with Immortal Truth?<br /><br />I would agree that homosexuality ought not to be promoted in the school system, but mostly because Sex-Education and Life -Adjustment programs of any kind waste valuable classroom time as they distract students from mastery of the Three R's, knowledge of history, science and the development of critical thinking skills. Sex is NOT a classroom subject. Period! I do, however, vigorously support policies that oppose harshness and teach us instead to be gentle, kind, considerate and intellectually curious towards things we find puzzling or perplexing.<br /><br />I assure you too that I find the public demonstrations of such groups as Act Up every bit as obnoxious as those of SDS, Code Pink or any OTHER activist groups. I happen to despise "activism," itself, as shallow, disruptive, counter-productive to worthwhile goals and fundamentally uncivilized in the main. That doesn't mean I would support having the police use machine guns or flamethrowers to stop demonstrations.<br /><br />It's always better to THNK long and hard before permitting ourselves to REACT.<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-24765838062740453322012-05-19T08:39:25.630-05:002012-05-19T08:39:25.630-05:00Yes, AOW, Dawn Steele's rendition of Burns'...Yes, AOW, Dawn Steele's rendition of Burns' best known poem in it's original Scots Dialect is charming, but I still wonder if most people ever get the point of the piece.<br /><br /><i>[HINT: It's all about the "beam" in our own eyes as opposed to the "mote" in that of others.]</i><br /><br />Thanks to Mark for the link.<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-92229570414533463622012-05-18T22:54:51.970-05:002012-05-18T22:54:51.970-05:00Yep ! Americas first gay ass President. Disgustin...Yep ! Americas first gay ass President. Disgusting !PALADINhttp://paladin.typepad.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-12603034772222055992012-05-18T20:24:57.776-05:002012-05-18T20:24:57.776-05:00Louis H. said..."....if you are not worried a...Louis H. said..."....if you are not worried about Obama’s fundamental changes to this United States of America"<br /><br />Really, can you delineate those 'fundamental changes' for me please? Doubtful, because you're a parrot.Liberalmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04612454539046863752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-88821617368849157592012-05-18T16:29:17.145-05:002012-05-18T16:29:17.145-05:00It should serve as a warning to all people, this i...It should serve as a warning to all people, this is what he'll do when he faces accountability, give him another four years and he won't have any accountability. To put it mildly, he'll shove you so far down the path to ruin that you cannot turn back.<br /><br />And by extension, he now also supports polygamy and every other type of depraved union man can think of.MathewKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14385674205383405783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-53270505516719755022012-05-18T11:57:12.028-05:002012-05-18T11:57:12.028-05:00Wildstar,
The fear of being branded as bigots has ...Wildstar,<br />The <i>fear of being branded as bigots</i> has turned out to be one of the worst consequences of the Civil Rights Movement.<br /><br />Does bigotry exist? Absolutely. And vile bigotry, too.<br /><br />That said, people have a downright phobia of being called "bigot." Furthermore, once somebody is <b>DISCERNED</b> as a bigot, anything and everything that individual has said is nulled in the minds of most people.<br /><br />You know -- and this isn't much of an analogy, but I'll use it anyway to make a point....I don't like Brussels sprouts. Can't stand 'em! Won't eat them not matter how wonderful the sauce over them might be. So, do I have a bigoted attitude toward Brussel sprouts? One could say so.<br /><br />You said:<br /><br /><i>Christian morality has simply dissapeared and is mocked- and we just roll over and let it happen...</i><br /><br />I think the root cause is that a lot of people in our society, including some who are Christians, have gotten away from the concept of sin. Who now believes that sin even exists?Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-4987218787819105732012-05-18T11:37:31.808-05:002012-05-18T11:37:31.808-05:00FT,
Be sure to check the link that Mark left above...FT,<br />Be sure to check the link that Mark left above! You'll enjoy it.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-56964264607746492222012-05-18T11:34:54.001-05:002012-05-18T11:34:54.001-05:00I just stumbled across this May 17, 2012 essay by ...I just stumbled across <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/2012/05/17/will_gay_marriage_force_black_churches_to_reconsider_democratic_party" rel="nofollow">this May 17, 2012 essay</a> by Larry Elder. First paragraph:<br /><br /><i><b>Will Gay Marriage Force Black Churches to Reconsider Democratic Party?</b><br /><br />President Obama's affirmation of gay marriage threatens to undermine the near-monolithic black support Obama enjoyed in 2008. Several members of the black clergy now say they intend to sit out the presidential election. One poll from last November found black opposition to gay marriage at 58 percent, higher than the rest of the country, which is about evenly split....</i><br /><br />More at the above link.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-10930124111808183452012-05-18T09:16:43.085-05:002012-05-18T09:16:43.085-05:00American morality... whats that? We lost any moral...American morality... whats that? We lost any morality years ago, and have been taught to never speak of it, defeand it, or practice it. The gay thing is in part the media and school's... but mostly the fact that any and all Christian morality has simply dissapeared and is mocked- and we just roll over and let it happen, and now we are the minority it seems. Fact is, outside of 'common' sense and Christian morals, nobody ever will see anything wrong with gay marriage, homosexuality, etc, ect, etc. And franky... this issue will not be fixed in the government before it is fixed in the hearts of the people- and thats not easy in the slightest. What Obama has done is repundent... to the select few of us. The majority don't care or agree, and even us are willing to do nothing, for fear of being branded as bigots.<br /><br />@FT Yes the media may be playing a red-herring, however this is a massive symptom of the countries desiese and needs not be ignored. There are a million things we need to focus on... and its personal opinion about what ones matter. To many of us, this does matter.<br /><br />-WildstarWildstarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04824904561080806597noreply@blogger.com