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good post, as always. Compassion is sadly lacking in the US...I hope when I visit Europe again they don't think all Americans are uneducated dolts...whatever happened to the word tolerance?....
They won't - the same year Bush was re-elected we traveled to Europe and we wondered how our reception would be considering the reputation the US has been garnering in the last decade or so and especially on the heels of the election fiasco. What we discovered was that people in Europe, on average, have a much better sense of what is going on in the entire world (including the US), actually have opinions, and do not hold US tourists personally responsible for the policies and practices adopted by the government in their country. They enjoyed our company as did we theirs, and we had wonderful conversations that stretched into the early morning hours. I hope you get to go soon, and I hope you enjoy your trip!
What a wonderful and clever poem ! And from a writer not known for his leftist tendencies either !
Your compassion is an example to all of us Mooseketeer, but none so deaf as those that don't want to hear, tried to give you points but told to spread it around first.
Homosexual behavior is acquired by free choice. So are its consequences. The physical violence is against the law, and should be punished as such, but a self destructive lifestyle will get no special treatment from me.
is your heterosexuality acquired by free choice as well? Perhaps you don't know any gay people like I have through business & friendships and realize these people did not choose to be gay or all of the horrible social stigmas attached to who they are.
Homosexual behavior is acquired by free choice. So are its consequences. The physical violence is against the law, and should be punished as such, but a self destructive lifestyle will get no special treatment from me.
Wow, how utterly heartless. I guess if you saw a gay man or woman being beat up you'd walk right on by. Gee, that's nice. I didn't know that common courtesy and human dignity were 'special treatment'.
As far as the consequences of being homosexual, a major one is having to wade through the large amount of ignorance displayed (usually through veiled contempt) by people who hide behind their religion and self-righteousness. Who's "special" now?
Self-destructive lifestyle? The only destructive influence of leading a gay life is having to put up with so many irrational humans with peanut-sized brains and black-as-coal hearts. Otherwise, it's not destructive at all unless one also eats McDonald's every day, or smokes, or drinks, or uses drugs. I guess, ultimately, we all lead self-destructive lives.
May I suggest finding the myriad threads that discuss homosexuality, especially those focusing on choice/congenital because, clearly, that wisdom hasn't filtered down yet.
Funny how some find it so easy to judge others....I think it is all a cop out. Leave individual thought and analysis of the science out altogether and let Pastor Fred hypnotize you with garbage, then everybody pat each other on the back, catching the A train to Heaven.
good post, as always. Compassion is sadly lacking in the US...I hope when I visit Europe again they don't think all Americans are uneducated dolts...whatever happened to the word tolerance?....
Once again, just to keep things rolling, I'll play Devil's Advocate here, sunnyhelena--First, I don't know that I wholehertedly agree that "compassion is sadly lacking" here....perhaps it is, perhaps not. May I ask with what other nation you're comparing us? We certainly are willing to undergo contentious societal controversy among ourselves (some of it right here on this forum) in order to bend over backward to welcome the unwanted from all over the place who want to come here, legally or not...and we do provide some benefits to practically everyone who shows up, requiring little or nothing in return--as imperfect as this may be, surely you'd agree we deserve some credit? Or at least not to be accused of a lack of compassion? Where else, if I may ask, does any nation welcome more people, from more countries, allow them in, and proceed to remind its own citizens to make every effort to include them to the extent possible? I can't think of an example just now.
As for "tolerance", that's a word which can mean just about anything one wants it to. Just exactly what are you advocating we "tolerate"? Country music? Shorts in the workplace? Dogs in restaurants? Smoking? Kiddie porn? Gay marriage? Deer hunting? Racist jokes?..as you can see, everyone is probably "tolerant" of some things, while not so tolerant of other things...."tolerance" is a very much abused term...
Once again, when I hear statements like yours, I instantly wonder, "we lack compassion, in comparison to whom? or where?"-----or "we're intolerant of what, exactly? everything? most things? very few things?".....These statements aren't fair until qualified by the speaker (or writer)...
Hope I haven't offended you........
is your heterosexuality acquired by free choice as well? Perhaps you don't know any gay people like I have through business & friendships and realize these people did not choose to be gay or all of the horrible social stigmas attached to who they are.
A point well taken, and it "happens in the best of families".
Once again, just to keep things rolling, I'll play Devil's Advocate here, sunnyhelena--First, I don't know that I wholehertedly agree that "compassion is sadly lacking" here....perhaps it is, perhaps not. May I ask with what other nation you're comparing us? We certainly are willing to undergo contentious societal controversy among ourselves (some of it right here on this forum) in order to bend over backward to welcome the unwanted from all over the place who want to come here, legally or not...and we do provide some benefits to practically everyone who shows up, requiring little or nothing in return--as imperfect as this may be, surely you'd agree we deserve some credit? Or at least not to be accused of a lack of compassion? Where else, if I may ask, does any nation welcome more people, from more countries, allow them in, and proceed to remind its own citizens to make every effort to include them to the extent possible? I can't think of an example just now.
As for "tolerance", that's a word which can mean just about anything one wants it to. Just exactly what are you advocating we "tolerate"? Country music? Shorts in the workplace? Dogs in restaurants? Smoking? Kiddie porn? Gay marriage? Deer hunting? Racist jokes?..as you can see, everyone is probably "tolerant" of some things, while not so tolerant of other things...."tolerance" is a very much abused term...
Once again, when I hear statements like yours, I instantly wonder, "we lack compassion, in comparison to whom? or where?"-----or "we're intolerant of what, exactly? everything? most things? very few things?".....These statements aren't fair until qualified by the speaker (or writer)...
Hope I haven't offended you........
When I say lack of compassion I am analyzing the facade this current administration has presented to the world...To me it is a disgrace.
I personally do not relate to a leader of a powerful first world nation who uses phrases like "smoke 'em outta their holes"..... and "evil-doers". It smacks of ignorance and arrogance.
Yes- I have many friends and Americans as a whole are decent, willing to learn...but the projected image we are getting from this administration is a very sad, selfish image. I am looking at the leaders of this nation, not individual everyday Americans.
regarding tolerance I am referring to those who are different, need help, or are elderly- there is a thread on this very forum describing how rude some people treat the elderly....
sunny
Last edited by dreamofmonterey; 08-20-2007 at 10:29 PM..
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SD, great post. Can't wait for the fine day when the laws against hate crimes and hate speech is amended to include gay people. Life is too short to have to put up with idiots that hate. We need to stop the money grubbing crap of the James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertons and Rev Ted types who milk money from people on this issue, which isn't an issue at all, but the fear mongering keeps the money rolling and keeps those loudmouths living large.
This is a great thread and a great topic! I think there are too many people minding other people's business. They don't agree with homosexuality, so they feel like that makes it appropriate to force their belief onto someone else and we have leaders who try to legislate morality, by deeming homosexual marriage as not acceptable.
Hate is all around us, in every nook and cranny. Free the Iraqis, but don't trust them. You don't want to go into THAT section of town. How many homeless people have you stepped over? Buy American, but not if that American happens to be of Asian descent...Some of my best friends are black...
Hate takes too much energy and breeds nothing positive. Cantcha find something better to do with your time?
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No offense-
. I am looking at the leaders of this nation, not individual everyday Americans.
