My biggest issue is that it seems that those who state "I'm not trying to force my religious beliefs on anyone else, why can we live and let live?" are the same people who ARE taking away the rights of others and forcing their beliefs onto others.
Stop saying that people are free to do what they want, then behind the scenes voting to take away the freecoms.
Stop saying that you are not forcing your beliefs on anyone, then behind the scene voting to force your beliefs on everyone.
Do what you want, just be honest about it.
Intrepid wrote:Doktor S wrote:Intrepid wrote:From the very same people who insist that they live in the land of the free. Free as long as you agree with them, I suppose.
How about free to fight against the type of oppression the 'moral majority' represents?
How about the type of oppression you are representing? It seems it depends on whose bull is being gored.
Huh?
Is that one of those 'I'm-rubber you're glue' or 'I know you are but what am I" arguments?
I am humbled by your greatness!!!
The 'moral majority' ACTIVELY campaigns to remove rights now held and change the science curriculum to include non-science. What sort of 'oppression' am I representing again? Personal liberty? I must have forgotten.
Has religion been removed from American schools as it has in Canada? Do schools insist that NO religion be part of the school. Yet, halloween is actively part of the curriculum and forced on children whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating?
I['m sure Intrepid fails to see the irony there.
Intrepid wrote:Has religion been removed from American schools as it has in Canada? Do schools insist that NO religion be part of the school. Yet, halloween is actively part of the curriculum and forced on children whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating?
I am old enough to remember religion being 'forced' in Canadian schools. I still remember being sent home for finally refusing to stand up and pay homage to an invisible man via the 'lords prayer'. I got suspended for a week. I was 10.
I really don't remember halloween being 'forced' on me at any time during my childhood, or any other time for that matter. I assume by 'part of the curriculum' you refer to arts/crafts usually taken part in by elementary level students around halloween? If so, you must acknowledge the same sort of 'curriculum' extends to xmas.
For people who do not know; christmas is practiced, big time, in Japan, a primarily buddhist/shintoist country.
cicerone imposter wrote:For people who do not know; christmas is practiced, big time, in Japan, a primarily buddhist/shintoist country.
You know who else practices in japan?
NINJAS!!!!!!!!1
snood wrote:I can't figure it - near as I can tell, some people just like to bust on Arella.
Please try to separate "busting on Arella", from busting on Arella's positions.
In case you have not noticed there is a very conspicuous lack of support for her positions on this thread from the usual cheer leading crowd.
Doktor S wrote:Intrepid wrote:Has religion been removed from American schools as it has in Canada? Do schools insist that NO religion be part of the school. Yet, halloween is actively part of the curriculum and forced on children whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating?
I am old enough to remember religion being 'forced' in Canadian schools. I still remember being sent home for finally refusing to stand up and pay homage to an invisible man via the 'lords prayer'. I got suspended for a week. I was 10.
I really don't remember halloween being 'forced' on me at any time during my childhood, or any other time for that matter. I assume by 'part of the curriculum' you refer to arts/crafts usually taken part in by elementary level students around halloween? If so, you must acknowledge the same sort of 'curriculum' extends to xmas.
I am not talking about when you were 10 years old. I am talking about now.
I do not believe that you would be sent home for not saying the Lord's prayer in school. If that is, in fact, true then it would have been a very rare exception as it was never "forced" in all my years in school.
I am talking about children being told to wear costumes to school; making witches etc. Again, I am talking now.
The schools don't even mention Christmas. They call it Winter Festival and the like. There is nothing about Christ in any of the activites, crafts, plays etc.
I fail to see any similarity.
timberlandko wrote:I['m sure Intrepid fails to see the irony there.
You are, I am assuming, referring to the Christian religion when you refer to my remarks.
Just to clarify..... I am talking about ANY religion. I know for a fact that many children were kept home from the local school yesterday because of the halloween activities at the school. They were from many different religions and denominations and came from many different countries.
No, Intrepid, I was referring to the irony you inflicted on yourself by your remarks - irony your response just now serves to compound.
Somehow the irony got lost because I missed it.
I would only like to see some equality.
Obviously - and unsurprisingly.
Arella Mae wrote:Maybe I don't understand because I thought I did answer your question. Which question specifically are you asking about? I'm a bit lost here......
The Question:
Since there seems to be no evidence for casino gambling causing an increase in crime (when population increases are also considered), why do you support making it illegal?
Maybe you're not sure exactly why you think it's wrong. I can accept that.
Maybe you know exactly why, but you prefer not to say. I guess I could accept that, too.
(At this point, I am mainly concerned with my own ability to form a clear question.)
[quote="mesquite"][quote="snood"]I can't figure it - near as I can tell, some people just like to bust on Arella.[/quote]
Please try to separate "busting on Arella", from busting on Arella's positions.
In case you have not noticed there is a very conspicuous lack of support for her positions on this thread from the usual cheer leading crowd.[/quote]
And just what does "lack of support for her positions on this thread....." have to do with anything? It doesn't as far as I'm concerned.
It appears that perhaps you are taking that "lack of support" as evidence you are right? Hmmm..........that's interesting Mesquite. We've had many conversations and I'm not POSITIVE about this but haven't you said something to me before about if "X number of people believe a stupid thing it's still a stupid thing?" Now, I am almost positive I do know one person that definitely has said that to me, but I am assuming, in this situation (and please correct me if I am wrong) that you would say that even if "x believe......................it's still a stupid thing?
It doesn't bother me in the least whether you, my friends, my husband, anyone agrees with me or not on this issue, Mesquite. The fact is, I am not doing a single thing wrong according to the constitution of the United States of America and you and others have yet to provide any evidence that I am. All I have gotten from you and others is "your opinions". Now, I am constantly asked for "proof, evidence, etc." to back up my claims. So, unless you can tell me where it says I CAN or CANNOT or I MUST or MUST NOT use any certain thing in deciding my vote then I'm not changing my view NOR MY VOTE! So give me the evidence and the discussion will be forever ended as far as I'm concerned.
If you could show me where it says those words, I would change my view and quite possibly my vote. Until then, that's my right and I'm not giving it up for anyone else whether you or others think I'm taking away anyone's rights or not. As I said, I consider yours and others berating me for my views on this is tantamount to trying to take away MY rights as an American citizen. I highly suspect that at least some of you would like to make it a law that religious views could not be considered when voting so yeah, I take it that some of you actually would like to remove that right from me. Now, can you be honest about that?
And for those that can't see my point...................don't know what to tell you.
