Posted by
Brantley on Monday, August 18, 2008 4:42:35 AM
So I have tried to be very careful in my response. I wanted you to know that I did consider what was said. Personally I liked “You seem to indicate that you feel you are this rational person who listens and thinks and is infleuenced by rational argument.” Unless I am much mistaken, it seems you’re calling me irrational and incapable of rational thought. This could be taken as almost combative; not at all conducive to compromise and teamwork. For instance, the way you worded it “They don't ignore what they call trolls. They should--it would make the discussion so much more helpful.” Which, is by fact not helpful, if we don’t listen then it’s not a discussion it’s patting each other on the back. For one thing, it could be taken as you’re calling me a troll. I personally don’t care, but it is a very aggressive statement if you’re willing to try and work through an issue between two members of the same society. Second, even if you’re not actively calling me that, it’s the exact sentiment that they shouldn’t feel. One of the things that makes this country great is that the minority has a voice. I’m not talking about the ethnic minorities, I mean the smaller voice. I have heard too many times (sorry, read) that someone should march into Washington and take over and kick the pinko-commie-qu33rs out of the country and then we’d live happily ever after. Where is the American spirit in that? Where is “We the people…?” Hell, where is the “love thy neighbor?” Just because one doesn’t get one’s way, cause at some point everyone doesn’t get their way, that doesn’t mean it’s over. It is supposed to mean you try harder next time, and this time you just do the best you can with what you have.
As for immigration, I agree, the country needs something. What that is, I’m not sure. I’d say, we need to relax what is required to become a citizen, and then make it such that if you’re caught without the proper paperwork, then you’re deported. I say make it easier because if it was easy enough, I’m sure more people would. I do believe the nation relies on immigrant work/guest workers, so to say they’re not welcome I feel is foolish. I’ll research the actual empirical data on that at a later time. But to say that America is closed goes against what this country was, literally, discovered for.
As for abortion, I am hopeful that it will never be illegal. The reason is simple, and unfortunately something that probably won’t ever be resolved. You defend the baby’s right to life. I get that, I really do. But, I believe in the mother’s right. Perhaps it’s a religious question, I mean did God give Mary a choice? I think he should have, I mean something like that should be her choice. But I have to agree, having just read over what is defined as Partial Birth Abortion I’m not sad that it’s illegal. I have one caveat, and that is birth defects. I can’t imagine choosing to bring a child into this world to suffer such an existence. That would be the most difficult decision ever, but I’d feel the right one. If you’ve ever been around someone who is severely deformed or retarded, I wager you’d understand. So depending on when it is medically possible to determine if the baby has any deformities/defects I would say that is the cut-off for abortion. I am adamantly against using it as birth control, after all that’s why we give them the condoms in the first place…
I just researched the Patriot Act. It is a bit too much legaleeze, but I do recall a case a few years ago where a man was wrongfully arrested when the police used the Patriot Act to listen without any wiretap order or warrant. (Looked it up, think it’s Mayfield vs USA) Now, I know that I’m not up to no good (regardless of what you and your type think of me). I am willing to bet you’re not up to no good. But I do think the government should have evidence, gathered without looking into my private affairs (email, phone, etc) before they actually start listening to my conversations. That is guaranteed under the 4th Amendment, and is not guaranteed in the Patriot Act. So when constitutional-conservatives are in complete agreement with an act that has in fact been found in court to be unconstitutional, is in my mind very confusing.
I agree, I think whoever wants to get married should be allowed to. Let them experience the same joy and sadness. I don’t think any church should be required to marry someone though, that would to me be just as unconstitutional as not allowing them. I don’t think the government can tell the church whom to or not to marry, as well as the church should have nothing to do with telling the government who can and cannot marry. That you see something as a sin is your choice. The part of the bible I always liked the most was that sins were between the sinner and god. That in fact if you’re judging them you are equally sinning.
My issue with Edwards and his lying and the whole shebang is that it has nothing to do with anything. Politicians lie; this should be a universal truth. They’re people, and people lie. That he did it on national tv, now there’s a shocker. I’d wager that every single person on tv has lied, on tv. Here’s my rationale, we won’t know they’re lying, that’s kinda implied if they are. If they don’t oust themselves then they covered it up, on tv. Name to me one person that you would fully, absolutely, trust every single word they’ve ever uttered on tv. It’s not semantics, it’s the truth, people lie but are completely surprised when they’re lied to. I would have been so shocked to have Edwards come out all by his lonesome to say he had an affair before anyone anywhere said they had evidence, I would have passed out, I’m sure. That his cronies lied to cover him up, doesn’t surprise me any more. Before you say they’re Democrats or Liberals, don’t get so high and mighty, that is what I was showing when I mentioned all the Republicans (supposed conservatives) who have been caught doing wrong of late. Systems protect themselves, that’s what they do. Whatever you feel about his wife, shouldn’t matter. She did what she felt she had to do. Maybe for him, maybe for her, maybe because she couldn’t come to terms with the betrayal, who knows? That is not for you or anyone else but her and him to be concerned with.
Personally, I thought Kerry’s mistake was his stance. Or rather, his stances. I never liked Bush, before he was president all the way up to the day he was reelected. But I knew what he was, or what he stood for. I don’t agree with about 85% of it, or at least not how he went about things, but I knew how he wanted to get things done. Kerry had more political stances then the rest of the Democratic party combined. Every sound bite he had was something different then the last.
I didn’t know there was a Gallup.com. I wondered where the Gallup Polls came from. So from 2007 “Forty-four percent of Americans are very or somewhat worried about being victims of terrorism, a level that has been stable since late 2005.” “The prevalence of terrorism in the news greatly influences concern about terrorism and views on the likelihood of terrorist attacks. When terrorist events occur in the world, or when the U.S. government elevates the threat levels, concern typically rises.” Half the country thinks there is a bad chance they’ll die from terrorism.
In one day almost 1000th of 1 percent of our population was killed by terrorism, and now 132 million people worry they’ll suffer the same fate. That speaks to me of fear, don’t know about you. Now, you say that people are still willing to go to the Super Bowl, but a poll the gallup did find that 23% of people were less willing to go to a gathering of thousands of people, with 72 % unchanged and 2% more willing. So a full quarter of the population is now afraid of large groups of people due to a terrorist threat. We’re making improvements as a country, but yeah, I’m sticking by my statement that we’re afraid.
You mentioned Terrorists’ fear. I’m not really sure what is meant by that. Fear from terrorism? That’s a subjective argument going all the way back to what I defined as terrorism. I’m afraid we’re going to wage more wars. That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m afraid of all the sons and fathers and wives and daughters that will die in war. More troops have died in Iraq then people in 9/11, has it been a fair trade?
Alright, to recap, I’ve provided empirical evidence that in fact, Americans are still afraid. Though I’m not using it as a scare tactic, merely pointing out that in fact people do use it as such. Edwards lied, and short of maybe a small quip at the end of an article that deserves nothing more of our attention. People should be allowed to marry whomever they want, and anyone’s perceived sins shouldn’t be the domain of anyone but theirs and their god’s. I’m pretty sure I’ve made a rational argument. In fact, this time, if you feel a need to rebut, maybe you can actually point out where I faltered? You don’t see the fear, which is admirable. Actually I don’t, I don’t live in fear of anything (save maybe being called up to war again). I am aware that safety is purely in my mind and that no locks, no security system, no bars will keep out the boogey man. I get in trouble with my girlfriend because I don’t lock the door at home, I drive a jeep which half the time doesn’t even have doors, I walk anywhere in this city without fear of violence though I do go through some tough neighborhoods. Not because it’s not dangerous, but because worrying is like a rocking chair, a lot of work but it doesn’t get you anywhere. Fear is the same thing.