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Re: cantey_1975 - I have no explanation for why we have been here so long
I think you're right.
posted by
calmcantey75
on December 19, 2008 at 12:27 AM
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cantey_1975 - I have no explanation for why we have been here so long
It has become part routine, part addiction and part obsession. Some psychic evaluation may be in order.
posted by
gomedome
on December 18, 2008 at 11:56 PM
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I had forgotten how hilarious your post titles were.
And yes, sometimes I go back and read some of these classics, with their accompanying commentary. Shoot, we've been doing this for years now.
posted by
calmcantey75
on December 18, 2008 at 8:53 PM
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retiredrev -- typical of a dedicated believer your comment drips with
a sense of Christian entitlement. An attitude that precurses all forms of exclusion and prejudices. In this post I acknowledge that "Christian values" played a key role in influencing our societal framework, that is undeniable. But "Rules of God?" whos God ...yours? Do you see the problem and the disconnect? Must immigrants to North America be subjected to the rules of your God? How about they just be subjected to our country's laws?
posted by
gomedome
on June 22, 2005 at 8:48 AM
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America was founded upon Christian values
A nation, as also do individuals, can begin good and end up bad. America was begun with Christian ideals and our laws are based upon Biblical values. "Going to hell in a handbasket" is the downfall of rejecting the laws of God. Where would we be if "religion" had not had a part in forming the laws of America? Perhaps, in a deeper mess than we are in today! Long live the nation of America and her Christian roots.
posted by
retiredrev
on June 22, 2005 at 7:58 AM
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DamonLeigh -- How have you been?
I see your point in my choice of wording. I seem to give the impression that the immigration people have no idea how many people are coming into the country and that illegal immigration is a bigger problem than it is. But the numbers themselves would shock you. Canada, for example had approx 1.8 million applications for immigration submitted in 2001 (latest figures available) through legal channels. 160,000 were accepted that year which was our lowest in 7 decades, these numbers obviously cannot account for illegal immigration. The US does not have quite the same application rate per capita but in pure numbers is much larger than Canada. Their illegal immigration problem is exponentially larger than ours. A good guess would be 10 - 15 million applications between the 2 countries that year.
posted by
gomedome
on June 22, 2005 at 7:22 AM
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A Great...
...post, gomedome, though I have to question your statement that people try to come and live in America and Canada by the "countless millions".
I would very much doubt if even a single million try in any one year. In fact, countable thousands might be a better phrase ;-))
Good to connect again.
D
posted by
DamonLeigh
on June 22, 2005 at 6:56 AM
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yep
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 21, 2005 at 5:58 AM
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empty_handed_painter -- very good points
I particularly liked this: "otherwise -- bamboozlement can reign supreme." Just about covers all of the negatives of human behaviour in furtherance of self serving agenda doesn't it?
posted by
gomedome
on June 20, 2005 at 11:12 AM
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David1Spirit - thanx for stopping bye
Your last point is particularly poignant. A huge "what if" but one cannot help trying to envision where we would be as a species without the perspectives of ancient man holding us back the way it has and will continue to do so.
posted by
gomedome
on June 20, 2005 at 11:07 AM
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american society?
democracy is a greek concept -- actually predates that -- semitic peoples, including the pre-israelite peoples of canaan practiced democracy
much of our democratic ideals also come from the indigenous americans.
you gotta remember -- the medieveal church was far from democratic.
although there is, hidden in the New Testement, democratic values.
the first deacons were elected (same language used in deuteronomy in the election of judges. the greek word render "church" in the KJV is "ekklesia" -- which was then a democratic body.
the white stone of revelation is a stone of voting -- white for yes, black for no.
but standard christian?
hmmmmm
you will notice that the founding fathers did not mention Christ. I'm pretty sure of that. They mentioned "creator", but only in the Declaration. and that's enough of a neutral term -- can handle not only Christian, but Jewish religion, and just about any other that recognizes a creator.
good and neutral.
otherwise -- bamboozlement can reign supreme.
posted by
Xeno-x
on June 20, 2005 at 11:07 AM
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cantey_1975 -- that's it in a nutshell
Where we cannot dismiss the positive influences on our societies by virtue of the Christian based faiths held by the majority of people that built our countries, it is not entirely a positive picture. Nor is it a basis to instill the sense of entitlement that far too many Christian adherents feel they have in trying to monopolize influence in our daily lives.
posted by
gomedome
on June 20, 2005 at 11:04 AM
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Very well said
I always shake my head when I hear that phrase ........."founded on Christian values".
I guess most people have either never seen these "values" played out over history, or just are in denial to the consequences it has imposed on humans and human awareness.
There are many days I just sit and wonder how far advanced mankind would be if organized religion would never have taken hold in our history!
posted by
David1Spirit
on June 20, 2005 at 10:10 AM
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in other words, lets evolve already
out of all outdated notions. People have selective memories. Lets forget about all original intent and base all thinking in what we have learned since from modern medicine and psycholgy.
posted by
calmcantey75
on June 20, 2005 at 10:04 AM
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