Following Uncle Janko's lead with the Off-Topic board, I have decided not to post anymore on the politics board. I get too carried away and too impassioned. At times my comments are taken out of context and what I imply is not what is always inferred. At times I post with a grin or smile on my face but the words posted are not received in that context. Friendships and feelings are too important and humans are too valuable for misunderstandings to create such hostility as these posts sometimes do. So, goodbye politics board.
Oh, come on! Admit it Jimmy. You are just tired of me kicking you behind all over this section of the forum every time we have an argument. No, seriously you will be missed, especially by me. I will have to find another conservative that is willing to go all twelve rounds with me.
Rev Jimmy! Don't leave. Even though I think GW is a troll - and I almost never agree with you - I can tell that you are intelligent enough to formulate an argument and not get too personal with it! Come back - I need the excercise!
Dont leave me alone!!! Oh no mommy...There are liberals under my bed!! Seriously, Dont go jim, I get excited sometimes here( spelling errers) but isnt it great that you have an outlet to chat. Lets try something different here. We are both Libertarians, and the best part about that is we have common ground with everyone here....soimetimes. You just have to find the issue.. Current events have really started to suck. The partisanship is at a all time high. Bush could Sh!t gold bricks and they would stil hate him. As soon as the Dems get back into control there will be another campaign for the other side...It sucks.... Anyway, Id like to see you stay. Good Luck...
Interesting Jimmy. However, we cannot hurt others feeling, nor can we be offended by others. They must choose to feel hurt, and we must choose to be offended before feeling that way. If you believe otherwise it's completely counter to individual responsibility, a libertarian belief system, and self-responsibility. If people can determine how we act, feel, and respond, then what control do we truly have over our own lives? Surely, you jest. How can a post create hostility? Well, we must take a look at what hostility is before we can learn how a post can create such a thing. What is hostility? -a hostile (very unfriendly) disposition; "he could not conceal his hostility" -a state of deep-seated ill-will -the feeling of a hostile person; "he could no longer contain his hostility" -aggression: violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked So, how can a post "create" hostility? When you hit submit on the website to post your message all you are creating is a dynamic-text webpage posted in our humble land in cyberspace. It cannot create hostility. After all, doesn't God give you freewill to decide to love or hate? God does not create hostility. If God let's you decide if you want to love or hate, and he does not create the feeling for you, isn't it simply logical to believe that a message board post is not more powerful than God? If God does not create hostility, than neither can your message board post. However, at the same time one could argue that the message board post and God do have something in common. Wait. Sounds strange, eh? Yet, the message board post and God do have something in common. Ok, enough what is it? It depends on how we see God or how we see the message board post that will determine how it will cause us to react, well, that is if we have a reactive personality. So, I think it's safe to say that your post could not create hostility as people react based on interpretation, life experience, and their own belief system. Wait. There is one exception to that. If you are truly more powerful than God, then it could be possible for you to create a message board post that is so cleverly crafted, precise, and powerful that it pierces the hearts of mere mortals, and it causes the exact reaction that you are looking to create. That is, of course, if you are more powerful than God. I'm wondering, which is it Jimmy? Are you wrong in your belief that your post can create hostility or are you more powerful than God? I'm waiting as soon I saw this I ordered my woodworker to carve out a brand-new wooden alligator that can be burned in a ceremony to you to pay tribute. We take our deities very seriously, as I am a simply a mere mortal and I stand in awe of the most powerful God, and I'm wondering if all this time I've been worshiping the wrong one. :::Gasp::: I'm literally shaking in fear at the entire thought that this could have happened to me. I've lived a good life, and I could have been worshipping the wrong God all this time! :::Gasp::: Oh, I need air! I'm eager to find out as I will have a craftsman standing by to carve a giant image of Jimmy Clifton out of stone that I can put in the center of a giant marble building, with walls lined in gold, and plush surroundings, so we can gather on Sunday to worship you if indeed you are more powerful than the God I've been worshipping all these years!
Does this include "touchy" social issues? It seems to me that most "conservative" opinions are labeled as Racist or Sexist or Nationalist and immediatly put into the "ignore" catagory. It SEEMS that anytime a difficult question is raises, then you are attacked as a "ist" and the intellectual debate stops. I mean is it racist to point out that 73% of Africain American ( hate that term) babies are born out of wedlock and are therefor much more likely to live in poverty..by the fault of the mother? Is it racist to point out that previous cultures that migrated here learned english and became a "yankee" instead of trying to import the parts of their old society they ran from? Is it nationalism to view my fellow Americains (all of them, even liberals) as top priority as far as human resources go? and, is it a total waste of academia to have liberal studies like Feminist Studies or African American Studies? What exactly do these paths prepare you for outside of being a lifetime Govt Employee...and being able to piss and moan and sound legit. These are all difficult questions, and are looked at very differenly depending on your point of view. I personally have a view on all three questions, some of which will annoy the H3ll out of some people. You can usually tell you have won the debate when people start call people names. Please dont flame me for asking the questions.... I would like to point out that this is a VERY tolerant Forum as far as online chats go and they people here are pretty free thinker, and MOST of the time when reality stares someone in the face we all agree (see FLA Lobby Thread). There are some staunch Liberals here (DesElms are you reading?) and very conservative people like myself. I love the fact that I can find liberals here that have a brain, and some MAY have changed my opinion on some issues. I do miss Jimmy, and I understand how he feels attacked, but Jimmy you have to fight the good fight, and stand up for what you believe in...Even if EVERYONE thinks you are wrong..... I think you are right on you statement on a Libertarian System. I am all about a self-sustaining life, and find the government only gets in the way. COME BACK JIMMY!!I NEED BACKUP! Hope everyone here had a great christmas, or Chaunuka, or Kawanza or Yule..whatever you celebrate.....
And isn't this likewise the fault of the sperm donors (who should never! be styled with the ancient and honorable title of father)?
Abosolutly!!!! I have two little ones myself and they are my mission in life..That how it is when you have kids...BUT some people dont think that way, and the govt has greenlighted irresponsiblity for so long that it seems that some people dont even think that there is anything problematic about it.... hehe..My sister in law got kicked out of giants stadium for screaming to Lawerence Taylor "pay your child support you crackhead!!" how true.... but your right Ted, I should have included fathers too....
It's not just "conservative" or "liberal" opinions that get marked in one way or another, but it's more along the lines of comments that someone in Washington disagrees with, it gets demonized by them, and all of a sudden it's a bad idea. Yet, to say this only applies in the field of politics and government would not be accurate in any form. We see this in our culture, schools, workplaces, boardrooms, and bedrooms. In the words of John Locke "New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common." It's the desire to be "right" that keeps our minds tightly wrapped up where no new information or ideas can sink in. We will argue until we are exhausted for the glory of saying we were "right". Yet, what do we gain by being right? Is it entirely possible that the desire to be right is keeping us from making the progress that we need to make, and it's preventing us from collectively moving towards a common goal? It's certainly possible, and more so I believe that's the problem we are having. We need to decide to open our minds and give up the desire to always be right in order to better understand other viewpoints, ideas, methods, and cultures. If not, where will we go five, ten, or twenty years from now? Better yet, how will it effect our lives today? Tommorow? I don't think it's racist. In fact, my belief is that organizations like the NAACP do more harm than good. Let's take a look at what some of the leaders in the black community are doing for "African-Americans" across the country. Other than "exposing racism" and talking about "Being black holds you back", what else are they doing? I'm not black, but if I heard my entire life that it was a curse to be white, and I would be discriminated against because of it, then where would I be? Would it discourage me? Well, who wouldn't get discouraged if that was the ONLY message they heard. Now, there are great examples of VERY successful black men and women in the US, Canada, and all over the world, so why is it we only hear about them during "Black History Month" and people like Rev. Jesse Jackson are out campaigning on how bad they have it the rest of the time? It's not racist to say that black Americans have lower education rates, higher crime rates, and so on in their communities, but the question is: WHY? I don't think it's the things we say that are helping or hurting our great nation, but it's the questions we ask to arrive at the conclusions we come to. To me, it's all about asking questions. Internal and external. I'm not going to put this comment into a category as it is your thought. It's not right or wrong. It is what it is, and it's for you to decide. My thoughts are that people coming to live, work, and so on in our country need to learn the language. Now, should the be forced to become "Yankees"? I do not think so. Different cultures, foods, religions, beliefs is what makes America the greatest nation in the history of the world, and it will continue to make America great for years. As long as it's legal, than let them have what they want. If they want to change our structure that's what we have elections for, but at the same time we should not roll over for them because they are different, nor should we see them through a different light because they have a difference in opinion, skin color, culture, or religion. No, but at the same time as the beacon of freedom for the rest of the world, and the world's only superpower we must lead by example and encourage Americans to help our fellow man. I'm a beliver "Before you can save the world, you have to first save yourself". America can only do good for others, but insuring her own military, cultural, and economic stability for the future. I believe that is important for us to understand "African-American traditions", and the traditions of "Native Americans", as it gives us a better knowledge of our true American history, and how to better understand those around us. I'm not saying there are not problems with the system, nor can everything be learned from a book, nor should it be. There are many times I look around, and I wonder if we as a nation really understand one another. I'm not saying they we need to teach certain traditions and avoid others, but could a class on world cultures really hurt a young American? Hardly, in fact, I believe it gives them a better understanding of the world, and of how lucky they are to be here. That doesn't mean you've won a debate, but rather that you've been debating with the wrong person...
I can accept pretty much everything that you have just said. I find it really amazing that in some places people with very varied ideals can be in agreement over the ultimate goals. I think this is totaly lost in Washington. Most Americains, Dem or Rep or Indy, want everyone here to have a good, safe life reguardless of color, creed, or nationality. As i re-read my own post I had to ask myself a question. Is it political Correctness that is the real villian here? Is that the reason we can as WHY most of the time??? GOALIE...Great response, we articulated and definatlly not an attack stance. I appreciated it and definatly will take you toughts and try to apply them to my own thinking and hopefully will grow because of it..
