The Public Opinion Soapbox

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 522

House Resolution 847 - introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) and passed today:

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3043 Location: Chambersburg

What a waste of paper, ink and time.
I can't believe they were paid to do that.

I'll say it one more time.

If you run everything, you aren't being persecuted!!

Darn, I'm getting cranky again.
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Jo · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 112 Location: Chambersburg

What a load of @#$%^&!

If they expended that much energy on real issues we wouldn't be in the shape we are in now.

You know, everyone argues over X-mas vs Christmas vs Happy Holidays. I am more annoyed by the people that say:

I always say Merry Christmas and don't care who is offended - I know the real meaning of the season.

Well, if you really know the meaning of the season you'll just wish someone well all year long and not only at Christmas and not by making a point of being anti-inclusive.
I swear, the santimonious, narrow mindedness of people really burns my biscuits. How many of these people give two shakes about helping their fellow man or showing compassion.

Sorry...I'll get off my soapbox before I get too riled up. I'm already feeling my irritation level rise to beyond acceptable proportions.

Cleansing breath...it will be fine...Montana...peace and quiet...ahhhh....[/b]
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Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~ Henry David Thoreau on hiking

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3043 Location: Chambersburg

>pushes the soapbox back towards Jo<

Very Happy

I used to know an older gentleman who would fuss at me when I told him to have a good day. He'd say, "Don't you tell me what kind of day to have!"

Laughing

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Jo · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 112 Location: Chambersburg

>accepts soapbox, hops on, shakes fist at world<

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

>climbs down, bows deeply, exits stage left<
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Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~ Henry David Thoreau on hiking

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3043 Location: Chambersburg

Ah, Dylan.

Ya know, we have a poetry thread...but I think sprinkling it amongst the other posts is much nicer.

Thank you for the unapathetic performance.
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Nevermind.

AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 522

Jo · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 112 Location: Chambersburg

I grew up in a strict household - church 3 times a week, youth group, 'Christian' school, the whole 9 yards.

Needless to say, due to such a positive (cough, cough - pardon me as I choke on the sarcasm) upbringing, my household is run vastly different.

I also do not attend anywhere and part of me finds that sad, but the larger part of me finds that a relief. The lack of legality and judgmental attitudes that my son grows up with is a blessing and I find myself espousing the morality I learned as a child without imposing the fear of going straight to hell for stepping out of line, the embarassment of my family not 'tithing' as much as the next family or the need to express myself as more pious than others by being able to quote (often out of context) scriptures from memory.
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Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~ Henry David Thoreau on hiking

.45chel · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 3043 Location: Chambersburg

I'm sorry I made you sad, AnonyMouse. I just see a trend of bad things happening when large groups of people get together in the name of their lord. People seem less likely to speak up when they see wrongs within churches and dissent is shut down quickly.
To be fair, I have only been to 14 different houses of worship, been exposed to six different denominations and five different religions total, so I'm guilty of signing off early when you consider the numbers of churches within the U.S. alone. (This doesn't count the Flying Spaghetti Monster, though it should!)

Christians get a bad rap because Christianity is the predominant religion in this country, therefore it is more likely to run across bad guys who claim to be Christian than any other belief. Christianity being a missionary religion (go forth and convert) doesn't exactly help either. Most of the Christians I know run from those, "Let me tell you about Jesus" conversations!

I just have a different way of seeing things. I still try to help others when I can. I try to treat others with respect. I talk to my son about God and explain to him that different people believe different things. My son loves to read his Bible and we discuss it. He goes to church when he visits his father's house and when he visits his great-grandparents and when he's home, we sleep in.

I play it cool and dig all jive,
That's the reason, I'm still alive
My motto as I live and learn
Is dig and be dug in return.

For the record, I've never seen you be mean to anyone (not even anonymous). I don't pretend to know what defines Christian behavior, but you seem to think before you speak (type) and you don't seem mean-spirited. Not that being mean is always a bad thing...it can be quite entertaining! Twisted Evil

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AnonyMouse · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 522

Yeah, I hear you, Jo and Chel. I hate that you had such bad experiences. I sometimes wonder about the wisdom of God that he let humans be responsible for telling the world who he is - we blow it so often.

But there are people out there who are more interested in following Jesus than following a religion. I saw that there's an article about Rob Bell in Time magazine this week. I really like him - listen to his podcast every week. He started a church with the goal of having no trace of ritual or obligation or duty - only celebration and connection and come as you are. He wrote a book called "Velvet Elvis" where he encourages people to question and test everything they've been taught about Christianity. It had a huge impact on my life.

If only people could hear more from him and less from Dobson and Robertson and Chuck Colson and Falwell (although I guess we won't be hearing as much from him).

BadKarma42 · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:40 pm Post subject:

I believe the bill was introduced because previously bills similiar to this were introduced for Islam.

Do I think it's silly that we have to have a bill? Yes.

Do I think its even sillier that we would pass a bill for other religions before Christianity? Absolutely.

BTW, I'm not a religious guy.

Jo · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 112 Location: Chambersburg

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the quote below covers just about everything right? I mean, why name religions in bills? For heavens sake (or nirvanas or utopias or whatever) we'll be here until doomsday if we start down that road.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment 1 - Bill of Rights
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Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow. ~ Henry David Thoreau on hiking

munchkin · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 235

I guess everyone here forgot how the House passed a measure praising Ramadan

I do not see anyone attacking that action

Coppy · Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 2569 Location: Chambersburg

munchkin · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 235