From a teacher in the Nashville area.
"We are worried about 'the cow' when it is all about the 'Ice Cream.'
The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.
The presidential election was heating up
and some of the children showed an interest.
I decided that...
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Had to get out of here for a few days and find some intelligent debate over at The Blaze. You Lefties tend to drive me up the wall. (Obviously I'm not talking about ALL of you). But I had to drop back in today due to the news coming out today about NPR.Or as... Read More
You are too kind
xoxox
T
Certainly she does not represent all conservatives, all republicans, all 'young' people etc. Hell, no one does. She has her opinion built (and tainted) by being raised by her father and being exposed to the behind the scenes of a political campaign. A lot of folks go through an idealist period of their lives, perhaps she's still in hers. I'm a non-extreme kind of guy, whether it's conservative or liberal, and she's of similar attitude.
I'm a snack vendor in and around Atlanta. Most of my work is inside the perimeter (285). While Atlanta is a diverse city with many niche "sub city's", outside of those areas is your typical intercity crowd....
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I will again ask, If "collective salvation" is not liberation theology. Than what is it?
Second, if "redistributing the wealth" is not a socialist/marxist view, than what is it?
OK. Let's have a proper discussion about this.
First point, if you need to "again ask" some questions (which is fine in itself -- asking is good!), you should avoid being all opinionated about those things ahead of time.
"Liberation Theology", termed that way, is far more a 3rd world phenomenon than a first-world (developed country) one. Third world countries have had far more severely unequal distributions of wealth than is usually found in developed countries, and the churches in those countries have often preached to the large numbers of very poor. LT was particularly found in Latin America and was (speaking very generally) seen as a means of achieving social change. Some LT advocates were far more radical in this than others. There is a reasonably strong link between the views of some adherents of LT and views associated with Marxism.
"Black Liberation Theology" is not entirely different in principle, but is quite distinct. It is particularly about the legacy of slavery and oppression of black people in the US. Again, some ... I shouldn't use "BLT" because that'll sound like a sandwich, but you get what I mean ... some BLT practitioners are more radical than others. But I am not aware of much connection between BLT and Marxism. BLT as I understand it is more a critique of and reaction to black oppression than an advocacy of class-based revolution.
Remember in all of this discussion the tension that can arise in the church (esp. the Catholic church) between the policies and practices of the "elites" (the Pope and the Vatican, basically) and the priests out in the local churches. The local priests are often more radical and "activist" than is compatible with the more conservative higher authorities in the church. You can see this in contexts like the Catholic church's reaction to Nazi Germany, where the Vatican eventually signed an agreement with the Nazis. (The mainstream Catholic church had its own horrid historical legacy of persecuting Jews.)
Remember, too, that the Church had long had its own historical battles of ideas to do with the liberation of the poor. For centuries. That's why I suggested you get a copy of "The Name of the Rose", which has as its background a doctrinal dispute (from the Middle Ages!) between Franciscan and Benedictine monks about Christ's attitude to the poor and what it means for Church practice. (In the film of the book, you see the Benedictines taking tributes from very poor peasants.) The thing you need to grasp is that debates about the poor and dispossessed have been at the heart of the Church since the time of Jesus. You might recall that Jesus himself had a lot to say about the poor. The Reformation occurred as a response to the growing wealth and corruption of the Church, at the expense of the poor.
Right then. What about Marxism/socialism?
Marxism is more complicated than I can do justice to briefly here. But it is an analysis of society based primarily on class, and it has at heart a view of the ownership of the means of production.. Marx challenged the idea of the private ownership of the means of production.
Read that again. Marx challenged the idea of the private ownership of the means of production. He wanted the ownership of the means of production ("capital", basically) to be socialised. This is a far stronger proposition than "sharing/spreading/redistributing the wealth".
You know how "a square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square"?
Well, someone who is a socialist will likely advocate for redistributing wealth, but someone who advocates redistributing wealth is not necessarily a socialist (at least in the Marxian sense).
Hell, every time a Republican (or anyone!) votes for the US Farm Bill, they're voting to redistribute wealth on a grand scale.
So...
My main point on both issues is that whatever Obama's faith may be, it is NOT Christianity. Furthermore, whatever "redistribute the wealth" is. It certainly is not capitalism. Can we at least agree on those points?
Oh, hell no. You're fucking miles off. Those are the two dumbest non-propositions I've been asked to agree to in years.
I know it's hard for those on the Left to admit these are Obama's policy's. I guess we'll just have to debate until the end of time as to what Obam'a's goal for America is. I suppose anti-colonialism is a more accurate term than either Marxism or Socialism. It really doesn't matter what YOU want to call it. The main point I was making is that this president has a completely different vision for America than any other president in history. He does not believe in the free market. He does not believe in capitalism. Call me what you want but I have no doubt he is implementing the Cloward and Piven strategy.
Eh?
I'm not particularly "left" by world standards, but let me just say -- I have a hard time admitting that because there's NO FUCKING EVIDENCE FOR IT WHATSOFUCKINGEVER OUTSIDE THE FEVERISH IMAGININGS OF THE GLENN BECKS OF THIS WORLD.
So why should I admit something which is simply unsupported by anything but demented ramblings?
Really -- why?
I mean, if I said "Those on the Right have a hard time admitting that the world is a flat plate and underneath it's just turtles all the way down,", you'd be within your rights to smile, nod, and then walk away and totally ignore me. So why -- on what fucking planet, through what bizarre rationalisation -- should I take your claims here seriouslty?
Really -- why?
And if you're going to tell me that 42% of the US population pays not taxes, could you care to give me a link to the source of that claim. Otherwise it just sounds like one more example of "shit you made up"> It'd be nice to have that verified.
noun \s-sh-li-zm\
Definition of SOCIALISM
1
: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2
a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and...
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So can we at least admit the facts? Obama IS a Socialist/Marxist.
Sio, now, listen closely. No sarcasm. No namecalling.
I want to know, for real, why I should not treat you like a five year old when you say shit as dumb as that.
"Spread the wealth" is not Marxism. IT IS NOT MARXISM. If you think it is, we are done done done done done. You go on ignore. I cannot even try to reason with someone so pleased with their own ignorance.
If you don't know what the fuck Liberation Theology really is, try researching it. Jesus Christ, try renting a copy of the movie "The Name of The Rose", or download it, and watch the scenes of the Benedictine monks debating the Franciscan monks about Christ's attitudes to poverty. These scenes are set centuries before there ever was anything called Liberation Theology, and yet they are concerned about the same issues -- poverty and unequal distribution of wealth. These issues have been discussed and debated within the Church for almost as long as there has been a Church. Thousands of years!! Do you really not know about the Reformation? Really?
Are you one of those "Christians" who doesn't actually know anything about religion?
If so ... then you are the problem. You.
I'm an atheist, and it seems I know more about the Bible and Jesus than you do.
If you're still learning, then learn. Goddammit, stop fucking preaching and getting your "facts" and labels completely wrong. You're under the influence of corrupt and stupid and uninformed people. Go out and learn some shit.
Seriously. Learn.
Sharpton is a politician just like any other, only his office is in a church (presumably).
You know, I long for those days of old when folks felt that BOTH sides had something to offer.
Obama is not, has not been, and is miles and fucking miles away from fucking liberation theology. You should be ashamed and embarrassed!
You quoted Deuteronomy and now you're weasellijng away from it. Seriously? Is that what you usually do? Either have the courage of your hand-cutting convictions or shut the fucking fuck up.
Milton Friedman -- that viciously nasty liberation theology anti-business crackpot (haha!*) -- used to say that "to spend is to tax". George Bush spent like a drunken fucking sailor while cutting taxes at the same time, having inherited a budget in fucking surplus. Completely in fucking denial.
You know who else was in denial? The Tunnel_Visions of this world. How do I know? Because I argued about it on the SG boards for years when Bush was president where one neo-con whackjob after another wanted to insist what a Great President Bush Was, and what chaos would ensue if a Democrat got into power.
Now the Republicans are running from Bush's disastrous legacy, while trying to make out that the problem wasn't of their own making. Pathetic. Completely fucking miserably pathetic.
*God I hope you can manage sarcasm.
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What an amazing event! I attended the AFP Defending The Dream Summit all day Friday and was at Beck's rally Saturday. Truly inspirational. It's been quite amusing watching the lame stream media and the left try to report on this story. First off. I was there. At least 500,000 people. All peaceful crowd (except for Sharpton's goons). I went with 9...
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Great blog
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I've been to see the ASO too, but I've never seen anything like you describe. Hell, I've never heard any voice from an ASO stage that wasn't singing. A lot of the entertaining establishment, along with being left-leaning, also love to spout their political and social beliefs to the crowds. Why, I don't know; ego I imagine. Personally I hate it regardless of whether they are left or right, because, for your very reason, I paid for you to perform, not lecture on your personal beliefs or some cause you support. As you said, this obviously doesn't apply when you go to see someone who you EXPECT to hear that kind of thing from, like if you went to see Lewis Black for example. When a political stance is part of your performance then, yes, it's fine.
I'm not certain I'd punish ASO too much though. First, there's no telling they even knew this guy would do that; rockers have a habit of springing that shit on unsuspecting hosts. And two, honestly, I'd say a good number of ASO attendees are NOT left wing. If it were me, and I felt as strongly as you do, I'd just write a letter expressing my distaste for the outburst but phrase it in a general manner, not partisan. Again, whatever his beliefs are, he should have kept them to himself. Opposing that though, would you feel the same way if he read a pro-Glenn Beck letter?
And the irony of so many left wing artists who are sickeningly rich and debaucherous on the very capitalism that has made them rich isn't lost on me
And the fat cats who'll trash a forest for a profit and then demand a nature scenic vacation are just as pathetic. Eh, rich folks just suck, huh?
the Mosque in NYC...
- It apparently isn't all that close to where the WTC was. Is there some distance that's relevant? How close is too close? Is it like 4 blocks is too close but 5 is OK?
- Muslims want to convert every one in the US. Isn't that the same thing that Christians do in every single country they go for missionary work? I mean they don't just go and dig irrigation ditches without plopping a church down. And honestly, are people that malleable about their religion that they're afraid of being converted?
Gay marriage...
I don't know your stance but honestly I've yet to hear a single argument to support banning gay marriage that ISN'T based on religion or a plain old 'ick' attitude. Is there an argument against it that doesn't apply to all the current allowed marriages? Divorce rate among straight couples is nothing to be proud of; elderly and sterile people can't have children either (or straights who just decide not to); Straight parents aren't all great parents; If gay parents make their children gay, then why are so many kids of straight parents gay; etc. You know what I'm getting at? I'm honestly curious because I haven't seen anything that can clearly show a real social detriment of gay marriage that isn't present with straight ones, and how the 'marriage' part makes all the difference where just being a couple does not (especially given that every right can be had through enough lawyers)
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I think you're also right that many Obama supporters are disappointed in him. Or just perhaps the expectations were unrealistic. He has strong ideals and vision, he is highly educated and experienced with public policy, he is clearly a liberal (this is NOT bad word) and very charismatic, he is vastly inexperienced with how Washington politics work. There is nothing wrong with being a liberal, it's a term for a grouping of core beliefs on society. If it's an insult to be one, then a conservative or a libertarian or whatever else is also an insult. What would be worse for him, in my opinion, is if he called himself a liberal and then enacted non-liberal agendas. He did speak on a new way of running things in a way that appealed to lots of people, but he hasn't been able to hold to many of those 'ideals' because Washington politics don't work that way. I believe Obama, and just as much GW Bush, both wanted what they thought was best for this country. They didn't go up to be president with the intent of f*cking this place up.
The only workable system , i can imagine is a government that stays out of everyone's business including the so called social values. Many conservatives don't want government intervention in their businesses, but yet are the first to complain to the government because two men married each other.
What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
NEVER FORGET DECEMEBER 7, 1941, AND SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Subject : Gonnorrhea Lectim Disease
Information about Gonorrhea Lectim:
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You left the part out where everyone was sure Jamie was going to be moving away in a month and he had nominated the head cheerleader (who was in all the remedial classes) to take over for him. Of course, Olivia in turn nominated the weird kid who's only interaction with his classmates was through his Tourette's outbursts.
It didn't help Jamie either that his older brother had just come in and stolen every school supply in their classroom and had given them to all of his friends.
Their federal funding is a very small percentage of their annual budget (I've seen 2% repeatedly) and it's from the NEA which hardly forms a strong government arm. You recall and earlier post from me where I knew that HAD at one time received government grant money, but didn't know if they still did, so I stand corrected on that. I think at the time of forming such an organization, some grant money to get started is a good thing, but it is past time they stop taking money from mom and dad, even if it just for their cell phone.
Thinking and politics? Never a good mix