I guess in time, I will need to get back to the Subject I was Previously Focused on, which is Libertarianism, yet since I have such a diverse Audience, something New has come up in the Mean Time.
Since our Spiritual Beliefs have an Effect on how we View our World, this can not help but to have an Effect on our Politics. Many Environmentalists are overly Zealous in their Cause Primarily because they have a Very Different View of the Relationship between God, Man and Nature then Christians do.
First, I will Explain the Christian View on God, Man and Nature and then I will be Explaining the Political Implications. Please Bear with me as I Explain a Religious Idea, for I will not be Explaining why this Idea is also a Political One until the End. For now, let me just say that we all have World Views and that the Christians are not the Only Ones who have such World Views.
Here is the Christian View on how God Feels about His Own Creation...
"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26, KJV)
According to the Bible, the Main Difference between Animals and Man is in the Fact that unlike the Animals, Man is Made in God's Image and this is the Reason why man has been Given dominion over the rest of God's Creation. There are some who have Reacted Negatively to this Verse because they Feel that it Gives us License to Ravish and Abuse the Earth, yet I do not at all believe that this was God's Intent.
In the Comment section of another Blog, I recently said this...
"Certainly Man is expected to Treat God's Creation with at least some level of Respect and not Ravish her until she is Totally Barren and Empty of her ability to Sustain Life. Such a Level of Disrespect should not even be given to that which we have been Given Dominion Over. Certainly we should be Better Stewards of that which God has Entrusted to us."
The Very Fact that Man has the Power to be so Destructive in Relation to Nature is Evidence of the Dominion that he has been Given, yet just because we are the Ones who have the Dominion does not Mean that we have the Right to Ravish and Trample on that which has been Entrusted to our care.
Here is another Verse that Shows that God does indeed Value His Creation...
"26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; 29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31) Therefore take no thought, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or, 'What shall we drink?' or, 'Wherewithal shall we be clothed?' 32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:26-33, KJV)
And also...
"29) Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." (Matthew 10:29, KJV)
If God did not Value His Creation, He would not take so much Care to Nourish her and "Cloth" her, yet...
"30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:30-31, KJV)
So we are Clearly the Favored of God's Creation and are most Precious to God. Here are a few more Verses...
"35) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35, KJV)
This Exact Statement is also Repeated in Mark 13:31 & Luke 21:33. Also see II Peter 3:10, which Adds more Detail.
Which Leads us to the Next Thought...
"18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (II Corinthians 4:18, KJV)
To Keep this in Balance, I must add that somehow there are those who have Gotten the Impression that Christians require that we "Renounce this natural world". The Word "Renounce", though, is a Little too Strong, for this Implies Abandoning and Refusing to Acknowledge. Even God does not do that. Instead He "Feeds" and "Cloths" His Creation. We are just not Supposed to Value it above other Things that are Spiritual in Nature. It is more of a Priority thing, than a "Renoucing" thing.
On the Other Hand, if we Value Nature so much, so as to View it as God and thus, Worship it, then we end up Renouncing God Instead.
The Last Couple of Verses that I want to share may come across as Confrontive to those who love Nature, yet do not Acknowledge the Creator, yet without these Last Verses, the Discussion of the Biblical View on the Issue is not Complete.
"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1, KJV)
"19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20) For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20, KJV)
And...
"25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Romans 1:25, KJV)
The First two of these verses talks about how there is Evidence of God in His Creation and the Second describes the Worship of the Creation as is Viewed in Christianity as a Form of Idolatry, just as the Bible also says...
"3) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3, KJV)
Ok, now for the Political; Like Usual, it all comes down to Balance. Protecting the Environment is Important, but not at the Expense of the Livelihood of Man. Plants and Animals are Important, but not more Important than Man.
By now, you may be saying that we should Keep our "Religious Views" out of Politics, yet in this case it is not Possible to entirely Remove our "World View" from our Political Views. Either you Believe that Man and Nature are Totally Equal, or you do not. There are no other Options, and to Believe that Man is not Created in God's Image and is nothing other then another Animal is no less a Spiritual Opinion, than to believe that Man is Created in God's Image.
There is an Inequality in this Country based on the Fact that Atheism is not Viewed as a Religious Idea, yet how can the Belief that there is no God not be a Belief about the Nature of God? So you see, Atheism is a Religious Opinion as well because it is an Opinion about God. Quite Apart from that, though, there are Religions that Teach the Belief that Animals are equal to People because of the Reincarnation Cycle, thus Making this a Religious Idea.
No matter how you turn this Issue, the Underlying Factor that Drives our Environmental Politics is Religious in Nature and to Deny this Only Confuses the Issue.
As you can see, the Christian View of the Relationship Between Man and Nature is quite Different than the View held by Buddists and Hindus, yet again we need to Understand this is Accordance to Balance, for it is not Correct to Assume that Christians do not Value Nature, cause we do and we are Required of God to be good Stewards of that which He has Entrusted to us.
Consider this, for Example, if a Dog Owner Trusts someone to care for their Dog, can the one who has been given the Responsibility for the Dog Neglect to take care of the dog? No One Argues against the Idea that People are the "Pack Leaders" and not the Dogs, yet if you Neglect to meet the Needs of that which you are in Charge of, you are Behaving Irresponsibly.
Things need to be kept in Balance, though, for Nature does not Rule over Man, and therefore, what Man Needs in order to Exist, should not be Disregarded when Making Environmental Decisions. This is Why Economy and Jobs is just as Important as the Environment and Why things must be kept in Balance when making these Decisions.
Interestingly, the Comment Section has Taken Off more in the Direction of a Validity of Scripture Discussion, rather then a Discussion about Environmental Issues.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Breaking Out of Chaotic Christmas Bondage
Well, Christmas is Over and I always seem to come to the same sort of Conclusions once I have had the Time to Reflect about the Season. I think that for the Most Part, Christmas is more about Business, Expectations and the Fulfilling of Traditions, than it is about Spontaneous Giving. I just sort of Feel Like I'm on a Roller Coaster while the Holidays are in Progress and it actually Takes a Few Days after it is over with for me to get out of my Obedient Robot Mode and back into a more Spontaneous Mood Again. I can Actually Give more Freely and Spontaneously from the Heart at Times other then Christmas. It's Odd that it's this way and I've been Working on this Problem for Years and yet just don't Know how to Find Freedom from the Christmas Chaos.
I did Break One Tradition this Year. I did a Pot Roast, rather then a Turkey. I've decided that doing Turkey for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas is just Plain Nuts and that a Pot Roast would be Simpler. Once I Broke this Tradition, I've decided that this is what I'm going to do from now on. As Crazy as it seems, Breaking Out of Christmas Bondage is Probably going to require that I Break Traditions Often. The Hard Part is getting the rest of the Family, including my Husband, to Cooperate.
I've Often Heard it said that Christmas is not about the Gifts, yet once we cut back on the Number of Gifts we bought, it became more about the Food and I resented that because I would Actually much rather buy Gifts then Cook a Turkey. When People say that Christmas is not about the Gifts, and not about the Food, and not about the Cards, etc. etc. etc., if we were to really take this Seriously, there would be very little left for us to do, other then Listen to Christmas Music, watch the Christmas Specials on TV and go to Christmas Programs. Yet we just can't seem to Resist Getting Caught up in all the Busy Expectations and Traditions.
I guess it is a Priority Thing in relation to what to Keep and what to Cut from our busy Schedules, yet the Lack of Agreement among the Family Members over what these Priority Decisions should actually be is what seems to Keep us in our Bondage.
I just Shake my Head Year after Year after Year, wondering if I will ever Resolve this Issue, for it just seems to Defy any Workable Solution.
It is Important to Remember, though, that the True Meaning of Christmas has more to do with Freedom then with Bondage, for Christ was Born on Christmas and the Purpose of His coming was to Die on the Cross, in Order to Free us from our Bondage to Sin and to Free us so that we can Experience the Joy of Forgiveness and Eternal Life.
The Heart of Christianity is based on Relationship, not Expectations Based on the Traditions Created my Man. Our Incorrect Priorities, though, do not Change who Christ, Himself, is.
Considering this, isn't it Ironic that as Christmas is Approaching, we are so Caught up in the Bondage of Expectations and Traditions. I Guess Christianity is a Mystery. There is some Very Real Life Changing Potential within it, yet a lot of People end up Focusing on the Wrong Things and this Clouds the Deeper Meaning of what Christmas, or more specifically, what Christianity actually is.
I did Break One Tradition this Year. I did a Pot Roast, rather then a Turkey. I've decided that doing Turkey for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas is just Plain Nuts and that a Pot Roast would be Simpler. Once I Broke this Tradition, I've decided that this is what I'm going to do from now on. As Crazy as it seems, Breaking Out of Christmas Bondage is Probably going to require that I Break Traditions Often. The Hard Part is getting the rest of the Family, including my Husband, to Cooperate.
I've Often Heard it said that Christmas is not about the Gifts, yet once we cut back on the Number of Gifts we bought, it became more about the Food and I resented that because I would Actually much rather buy Gifts then Cook a Turkey. When People say that Christmas is not about the Gifts, and not about the Food, and not about the Cards, etc. etc. etc., if we were to really take this Seriously, there would be very little left for us to do, other then Listen to Christmas Music, watch the Christmas Specials on TV and go to Christmas Programs. Yet we just can't seem to Resist Getting Caught up in all the Busy Expectations and Traditions.
I guess it is a Priority Thing in relation to what to Keep and what to Cut from our busy Schedules, yet the Lack of Agreement among the Family Members over what these Priority Decisions should actually be is what seems to Keep us in our Bondage.
I just Shake my Head Year after Year after Year, wondering if I will ever Resolve this Issue, for it just seems to Defy any Workable Solution.
It is Important to Remember, though, that the True Meaning of Christmas has more to do with Freedom then with Bondage, for Christ was Born on Christmas and the Purpose of His coming was to Die on the Cross, in Order to Free us from our Bondage to Sin and to Free us so that we can Experience the Joy of Forgiveness and Eternal Life.
The Heart of Christianity is based on Relationship, not Expectations Based on the Traditions Created my Man. Our Incorrect Priorities, though, do not Change who Christ, Himself, is.
Considering this, isn't it Ironic that as Christmas is Approaching, we are so Caught up in the Bondage of Expectations and Traditions. I Guess Christianity is a Mystery. There is some Very Real Life Changing Potential within it, yet a lot of People end up Focusing on the Wrong Things and this Clouds the Deeper Meaning of what Christmas, or more specifically, what Christianity actually is.
Friday, December 16, 2011
A Truce for Christmas
I was Considering Ignoring my Blog and still may eventually do just that, yet there is something else going on besides just Christmas Business. I am also Getting Tired of Debating and Arguing, for it Clashes, sort of with the Mood of Christmas. So I may just Ignore the Political Part of my Blog and yet Still Occasionally Check to see if someone has Decided to just Chat.
It Seems Like there is always something going on Every Year at Christmas Time that Adds to the Business and Makes Getting Things Done Difficult. This Year it has been too many Doctors Appointments; the Regular Doctor, the Dentist, a Gum Specialist, an Endocrinologist, etc., etc.
Apparently, I've got Gum Disease and Need a Deep Cleaning. Fun, Fun, Fun. I had a Bout with Thyroiditis; could Possibly have a Connection to bringing on the Gum Problems. My Last Blood Test relating to the Thyroid was Normal, but not in time to not Intrude on the Holiday. My Husband's had some Pre-Cancer Treatments and well, you get the Idea. This is not the Way I Like to Spend the Holidays.
Just Thought I'd Share my Complaints. How is everyone else's Christmas Going?
It Seems Like there is always something going on Every Year at Christmas Time that Adds to the Business and Makes Getting Things Done Difficult. This Year it has been too many Doctors Appointments; the Regular Doctor, the Dentist, a Gum Specialist, an Endocrinologist, etc., etc.
Apparently, I've got Gum Disease and Need a Deep Cleaning. Fun, Fun, Fun. I had a Bout with Thyroiditis; could Possibly have a Connection to bringing on the Gum Problems. My Last Blood Test relating to the Thyroid was Normal, but not in time to not Intrude on the Holiday. My Husband's had some Pre-Cancer Treatments and well, you get the Idea. This is not the Way I Like to Spend the Holidays.
Just Thought I'd Share my Complaints. How is everyone else's Christmas Going?
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
A Very Good Link Relating to Libertarianism
Well, I Considered doing a Post on the Link that was Left in the Comment Threat, of my Previous Post, by Grant Davies, yet it Contains such a Large Number of Issues that it has been Hard for me to get my Head Wrapped Around it, though, yes, I have Read it. I guess for now, I'll just Stick with what I said Briefly about it in my Previous Comment Thread, which is.
"So Far, I just Think that some of the Article that Grant Left a Link to represents Typical Libertarian Arguments and some of it represents Arguments that could have been Made by any Republican. I Agree with some of it and Find some of it to be Extreme. And then there are those Parts that are just plan Humorous because they are Nothing more then Responses to the Sort of Name Calling that could have come from anyone from any Party that is into that sort of Name Calling.
"Here's my Favorite...
"'92. Libertarians are closet secessionists and neo-confederates.
Response:
"'If anyone makes this objection to libertarianism, RUN LIKE HELL. Get out of there, before they eat your brains.'
"lol. That One Made me Laugh."
Posted by Lista, December 9, 2001, at 9:48 PM
I was going to Write more about this then that, but perhaps that is enough for now. Perhaps I'll have more Luck after Christmas. For now, I'm just Repeating Stuff that I have already said. Here is another something that I Wrote about it in one of the Comment Threads on Z-man's Blog. This Time I was Responding to a Comment of the Soapster that goes like this...
"If the people took the time to delve into libertarian philosophy and educate themselves instead of merely adopting as gospel what they hear from pundits and presstitutes they would come to realize that they themselves can place whatever restrictions and/or regulations upon themselves that they so desire.
"If, however, they wish the edicts and directives to come from on high, well then libertarianism isn't for them. They are better suited for any of other collectivist 'isms'"
Posted by the Soapster, 12/08/2011, at 3:45 PM
And Here is my Response...
"Soap,
I have not Learned about Libertarianism from Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts or Directives. I have Learned about Libertarianism from you.
"Now that I have Read the Link that Grant Davies left on my Blog, though, I have come to Realize that not all Libertarians are as Extreme as you are, for there were a Few of your Ideas that were Listed as Controversial among Libertarians, such as Government Police Departments. In his Link, it says that 'Most libertarians believe police departments are a legitimate role of government and should be provided by the public sector.'
"The Restrictions that we are Free to Place on Ourselves is not the Issue. The Issue is the Restrictions that Need to be Placed on Others in Order to Protect us, (or Deter, if you like that Terminology Better), from the Harm and Injustice that Others may Inflict on us."
Posted by Lista, 12/08/2011, at 5:23 PM
And...
"When I Read another Link that was in the above Link and Related to Fire...
"http://www.lewrockwell.com/hornberger/hornberger183.html
"...I found another Extreme that Libertarians are not in Agreement on. Here is a Quote from the Link about Fire Protection/Deterrence...
"'That's reason enough to reject such collectivist notions as government-owned fire departments, as well as such immoral and destructive socialist programs as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education grants, agricultural subsidies, bank bailouts, food stamps, foreign aid, and other welfare programs.'
"The Original Link to One of the Humble Libertarian Pages, though, says...
"'Libertarians absolutely do not advocate the government ripping off people who paid into Social Security. They deserve to get back the money that they put in.'
"If the First Quote is Misinformation, then it came Directly from a Libertarian, not from any Outside, 'Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts' or 'Directives'.
Posted by Lista, 12/08/2011, at 6:01 PM
Like I said, I was going to Write more, but there are so many Issues in the Linked Piece, that I don't Hardly Know where to Begin. For now, I just want to Point Out how Odd it is that Libertarians seem to Think that just because I do not Agree with them, that I Know Nothing about the Issue, or that what I do Know has been Picked Up from "Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts" and "Directives" that came from someone other then an actual Libertarian. In Reality, I have very Obediently Read something now, yet though I Found some of it Interesting, I have not Changed my Opinion on most of the Issues.
For anyone who is Curious about Libertarianism, though, this is a really good Link to Check Out and Read and I do not at all Mind Recommending it.
"So Far, I just Think that some of the Article that Grant Left a Link to represents Typical Libertarian Arguments and some of it represents Arguments that could have been Made by any Republican. I Agree with some of it and Find some of it to be Extreme. And then there are those Parts that are just plan Humorous because they are Nothing more then Responses to the Sort of Name Calling that could have come from anyone from any Party that is into that sort of Name Calling.
"Here's my Favorite...
"'92. Libertarians are closet secessionists and neo-confederates.
Response:
"'If anyone makes this objection to libertarianism, RUN LIKE HELL. Get out of there, before they eat your brains.'
"lol. That One Made me Laugh."
Posted by Lista, December 9, 2001, at 9:48 PM
I was going to Write more about this then that, but perhaps that is enough for now. Perhaps I'll have more Luck after Christmas. For now, I'm just Repeating Stuff that I have already said. Here is another something that I Wrote about it in one of the Comment Threads on Z-man's Blog. This Time I was Responding to a Comment of the Soapster that goes like this...
"If the people took the time to delve into libertarian philosophy and educate themselves instead of merely adopting as gospel what they hear from pundits and presstitutes they would come to realize that they themselves can place whatever restrictions and/or regulations upon themselves that they so desire.
"If, however, they wish the edicts and directives to come from on high, well then libertarianism isn't for them. They are better suited for any of other collectivist 'isms'"
Posted by the Soapster, 12/08/2011, at 3:45 PM
And Here is my Response...
"Soap,
I have not Learned about Libertarianism from Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts or Directives. I have Learned about Libertarianism from you.
"Now that I have Read the Link that Grant Davies left on my Blog, though, I have come to Realize that not all Libertarians are as Extreme as you are, for there were a Few of your Ideas that were Listed as Controversial among Libertarians, such as Government Police Departments. In his Link, it says that 'Most libertarians believe police departments are a legitimate role of government and should be provided by the public sector.'
"The Restrictions that we are Free to Place on Ourselves is not the Issue. The Issue is the Restrictions that Need to be Placed on Others in Order to Protect us, (or Deter, if you like that Terminology Better), from the Harm and Injustice that Others may Inflict on us."
Posted by Lista, 12/08/2011, at 5:23 PM
And...
"When I Read another Link that was in the above Link and Related to Fire...
"http://www.lewrockwell.com/hornberger/hornberger183.html
"...I found another Extreme that Libertarians are not in Agreement on. Here is a Quote from the Link about Fire Protection/Deterrence...
"'That's reason enough to reject such collectivist notions as government-owned fire departments, as well as such immoral and destructive socialist programs as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education grants, agricultural subsidies, bank bailouts, food stamps, foreign aid, and other welfare programs.'
"The Original Link to One of the Humble Libertarian Pages, though, says...
"'Libertarians absolutely do not advocate the government ripping off people who paid into Social Security. They deserve to get back the money that they put in.'
"If the First Quote is Misinformation, then it came Directly from a Libertarian, not from any Outside, 'Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts' or 'Directives'.
Posted by Lista, 12/08/2011, at 6:01 PM
Like I said, I was going to Write more, but there are so many Issues in the Linked Piece, that I don't Hardly Know where to Begin. For now, I just want to Point Out how Odd it is that Libertarians seem to Think that just because I do not Agree with them, that I Know Nothing about the Issue, or that what I do Know has been Picked Up from "Pundits, Presstitudes, Edicts" and "Directives" that came from someone other then an actual Libertarian. In Reality, I have very Obediently Read something now, yet though I Found some of it Interesting, I have not Changed my Opinion on most of the Issues.
For anyone who is Curious about Libertarianism, though, this is a really good Link to Check Out and Read and I do not at all Mind Recommending it.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Capitalism & Socialism, Driven by Greed & Envy
Here is a Quote from the Blog of Grant Davies.
"There is no perfect society. There are no perfect people. Critics say that greed is the driving force of capitalism. My answer is that envy is the driving force of socialism. Change to socialism is not an improvement on the imperfections of the current system." - Svetlana Kunin - American Citizen - Russian Immigrant
My Complaint is not Against Capitalism and not Against Socialism, but Against the Extremes of both. There are Problems in Capitalism because of Greed and there are Problems in Socialism because....well, you Know, Envy when Taken too Far is just another form of Greed, yet Envy comes in Degrees and Envying someone who has a Roof Over their Head and Food on their Table is not the Same as Envying someone who has a Large House, Cadillac, Porch, Lincoln Town Car or Corvette, so in this Context, it Seems rather Silly to Speak of someone who has Envy towards another who actually has a House, some Food and some Medicine, as if they are Evil in some way.
In Capitalism, Big Businesses have the Power and in Socialism, the Government has the Power. I Believe in Balancing the Powers. The Answer is in the Middle. The Answer is a Little Bit of Both. The Answer is Compromise. The Answer is to allow the Powers of Free Enterprise (Big Business) and the Powers of Government (Including Benefits to the Poor) to Balance each other Out.
Without the Involvement of the Government, the Poor have no Power at all, and by Poor, I mean the Genetically Challenged. Whether it be Mentally, Emotionally, or anything else, those who Lack the Genetic Ability to Thrive in a Capitalist Society have no Power at all without the Help of the Government and this is the Real Reason why Governmental Programs Exist. It is also Important to Remember that Handicaps come in Degrees and not Everyone who Struggles more then the Others within a Capitalist Society has a Handicap that is Obvious. A Slightly Lower IQ, Low Energy Levels, ADD & ADHD, Depression & Various Emotional Problems, etc.
"There is no perfect society. There are no perfect people. Critics say that greed is the driving force of capitalism. My answer is that envy is the driving force of socialism. Change to socialism is not an improvement on the imperfections of the current system." - Svetlana Kunin - American Citizen - Russian Immigrant
My Complaint is not Against Capitalism and not Against Socialism, but Against the Extremes of both. There are Problems in Capitalism because of Greed and there are Problems in Socialism because....well, you Know, Envy when Taken too Far is just another form of Greed, yet Envy comes in Degrees and Envying someone who has a Roof Over their Head and Food on their Table is not the Same as Envying someone who has a Large House, Cadillac, Porch, Lincoln Town Car or Corvette, so in this Context, it Seems rather Silly to Speak of someone who has Envy towards another who actually has a House, some Food and some Medicine, as if they are Evil in some way.
In Capitalism, Big Businesses have the Power and in Socialism, the Government has the Power. I Believe in Balancing the Powers. The Answer is in the Middle. The Answer is a Little Bit of Both. The Answer is Compromise. The Answer is to allow the Powers of Free Enterprise (Big Business) and the Powers of Government (Including Benefits to the Poor) to Balance each other Out.
Without the Involvement of the Government, the Poor have no Power at all, and by Poor, I mean the Genetically Challenged. Whether it be Mentally, Emotionally, or anything else, those who Lack the Genetic Ability to Thrive in a Capitalist Society have no Power at all without the Help of the Government and this is the Real Reason why Governmental Programs Exist. It is also Important to Remember that Handicaps come in Degrees and not Everyone who Struggles more then the Others within a Capitalist Society has a Handicap that is Obvious. A Slightly Lower IQ, Low Energy Levels, ADD & ADHD, Depression & Various Emotional Problems, etc.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
I guess I could Post something Political but I'm going to be Very Busy soon and it's usually not Best to Open your Mouth and Say Something, Unless you have the Time to Defend it. I guess that means that if you are Low on Time, then it is Best not to Open your Mouth.
This Actually isn't a Time for Arguing anyway. Instead, this is a Time of Thanksgiving and I am Truly Grateful for all of my Family and Friends. And I Thank all of you who Follow my Blog and Comment Once in awhile. May you all have a Very Happy Thanksgiving. Don't Eat too much now, ya' hear.
This Actually isn't a Time for Arguing anyway. Instead, this is a Time of Thanksgiving and I am Truly Grateful for all of my Family and Friends. And I Thank all of you who Follow my Blog and Comment Once in awhile. May you all have a Very Happy Thanksgiving. Don't Eat too much now, ya' hear.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Is Abortion Legal in the U.S.?
Yeh, Ok. Some of you who already Know the Answer to that Question are going to Think that that is such a Silly Question, yet I've just Recently been Informed that the Question "Is Abortion Legal?" is Typed into the Google Search Engine Globally 90,500 Times Monthly and Locally 60,500 Times Monthly. So there are a lot of People who do not seem to Know, so here is my Response.
Are you Kidding? Of Course it's Legal, but many People here in the United States Feel that it should not be. Here is the Story...
During Most of America's History, Abortion was Outlawed as the Wrongful Taking of an Innocent Life. In the Mid-1800s, State Legislatures began Passing Strict Bans on Abortion and by the End of the 19th Century, Nearly every State had Laws Strictly Prohibiting Abortion.
In 1973, there was a Supreme Court Case Known as Roe vs. Wade, in which the Court Ruled that State Laws Banning Abortion were Unconstitutional. This Decision was Based on the Idea that the Woman's Right to Privacy was Legally more Important than the the Rights of Unborn Children. The Supreme Court Ruled that Unborn Children were not "Persons" and thus, were not Entitled to any Rights Under our Constitution. As the Result of this Ruling, Laws Banning Abortion in 40 States were Instantly Nullified and the Rights to Life of Unborn Children were no Longer Protected. Every Year since then, over one Million Legal Abortions have been Preformed in the United States.
This is not a Court Decision, however, that all Americans Agree with. Many People, Including Christians, are Appalled by how Easy it is to Get an Abortion and by the Legal Protection of what has been Called "Abortion on Demand", which is Basically the Right for a Woman to Get an Abortion for even the Smallest of Reasons. Sure there was a Clause in the Ruling that Relates to the Woman's Health, yet the Description of what this means and the Definition of the Word "Health" was so Broad that it basically Allowed for "Abortion on Demand", as I have just Described.
Ironically, the Same Groups that now Defend the Right of a Woman to Choose, "Pro-Choice", were the Same Groups that Stood Against it just Over a Century ago. In the Late 1800s, Mainstream Newspapers, such as the New York Times, Worked to Expose the Negatives of Abortion. Early Feminists, such as Susan B. Anthany and Elizabeth Stanton Condemned the Practice as a Evil that Victimized Women. Even the Professional Medical Community Lobbied for Anti-Abortion Legislation in the 1800s.
Perhaps I'll Post more Later on Different Court Cases in our History that Relate to this Subject, yet for now, I just Wanted to Get something Out there in Response to a Question that Apparently 90,500 of you are Asking.
If you Want to Know more about the Pro-Life Side of this Issue, here are some other Posts that I have done on the Subject, with Discussions of the Subject in the Comment Sections. For the Pro-Choice Side, well....there are lots of other Web Pages, so that you can Learn Both Sides of this Issue, but Please do not Only Read the Other Side. Here is my Take on the Issue.
Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Rape
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator
Are you Kidding? Of Course it's Legal, but many People here in the United States Feel that it should not be. Here is the Story...
During Most of America's History, Abortion was Outlawed as the Wrongful Taking of an Innocent Life. In the Mid-1800s, State Legislatures began Passing Strict Bans on Abortion and by the End of the 19th Century, Nearly every State had Laws Strictly Prohibiting Abortion.
In 1973, there was a Supreme Court Case Known as Roe vs. Wade, in which the Court Ruled that State Laws Banning Abortion were Unconstitutional. This Decision was Based on the Idea that the Woman's Right to Privacy was Legally more Important than the the Rights of Unborn Children. The Supreme Court Ruled that Unborn Children were not "Persons" and thus, were not Entitled to any Rights Under our Constitution. As the Result of this Ruling, Laws Banning Abortion in 40 States were Instantly Nullified and the Rights to Life of Unborn Children were no Longer Protected. Every Year since then, over one Million Legal Abortions have been Preformed in the United States.
This is not a Court Decision, however, that all Americans Agree with. Many People, Including Christians, are Appalled by how Easy it is to Get an Abortion and by the Legal Protection of what has been Called "Abortion on Demand", which is Basically the Right for a Woman to Get an Abortion for even the Smallest of Reasons. Sure there was a Clause in the Ruling that Relates to the Woman's Health, yet the Description of what this means and the Definition of the Word "Health" was so Broad that it basically Allowed for "Abortion on Demand", as I have just Described.
Ironically, the Same Groups that now Defend the Right of a Woman to Choose, "Pro-Choice", were the Same Groups that Stood Against it just Over a Century ago. In the Late 1800s, Mainstream Newspapers, such as the New York Times, Worked to Expose the Negatives of Abortion. Early Feminists, such as Susan B. Anthany and Elizabeth Stanton Condemned the Practice as a Evil that Victimized Women. Even the Professional Medical Community Lobbied for Anti-Abortion Legislation in the 1800s.
Perhaps I'll Post more Later on Different Court Cases in our History that Relate to this Subject, yet for now, I just Wanted to Get something Out there in Response to a Question that Apparently 90,500 of you are Asking.
If you Want to Know more about the Pro-Life Side of this Issue, here are some other Posts that I have done on the Subject, with Discussions of the Subject in the Comment Sections. For the Pro-Choice Side, well....there are lots of other Web Pages, so that you can Learn Both Sides of this Issue, but Please do not Only Read the Other Side. Here is my Take on the Issue.
Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Rape
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator
Monday, November 14, 2011
Abortion Costs, yet Information Competition is Rigid
Abortion has Emotional Costs, yet these Costs are not always discussed and are often Down Played by those who Work for Pro-Choice Organizations. Unfortunately, though, there is Considerable Competition when Pro-Lifers try to get this Information Out there and it would appear that the Pro-Life Position is getting Crushed in the SEO War. That is "The Search Engine Optimization War."
Before I get into the Meat of this Post, I just want to say to anyone who has found this Post, by some Touch of Luck, by way of a Search Engine, Please do yourself a Favor and Read about Both Sides of the Issue before you make the Decision to have an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.
Meanwhile, I'm Still Working on how I Feel about the Web Page that I gave a Link to in my Previous Post. I Suppose that if I Use their Title, I can Help them to get more Hits. It's Called Pro-Lifers Urgently Need to Engage in the SEO War.
To Quote the Main Theme, "The pro-life movement is making great strides right now. However, there is one area where the fight for life is not going well at all, and it happens to be one of the most important arenas for evangelizing the culture: the online world."
Now that this has been Brought to my Attention, come to think of it, I've Written Several Posts on Abortion and yet they are rarely ever Hit. There is just too much Competition out there. It wouldn't be so bad if the Competition was coming from other Pro-Lifers, but it is not. There are Far more Pro-Choice Blog Posts, then there are Pro-Life Ones. I'm Guessing this is because there are lots of Abortion Clinics and Pro-Abortion Organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, that are Advertising their Pro-Choice Ideas on the Internet, so much so, that the Pro-Life Voices are being Drowned Out by them.
I Like the way that the Article puts it..."To put it bluntly: The pro-life movement is getting crushed in the SEO war." That is the Search Engine Optimization War.
Here is another Quote that I very much agree with...
"I’m guessing that one of the first places women turn when they learn of an unexpected pregnancy is the internet. And, as you can see, they are bombarded with sites that dehumanize their unborn children and paint abortion as a simple, easy option that will make their problems go away."
The Next Site that I Visited and Looked at is Entitled 5 Things Every Catholic Should Know About How Search Engines Work and from there I found a Link to Google's Handy Key Word Tool.
At First I Thought that I should Use Phrases that are Typed into Search Engines Often, such as; "Abortion Costs, Cost of Abortions, Abortion Clinics" and "Is Abortion Legal?"
Yet I Later Realized that I Might have more Luck with Phrases that have less Competition, such as: "Home Abortion Methods, Early Abortion, Abortion Risks, Abortion Pictures, Abortion Doctors, Abortion Methods, Abortion Side Effects, Chemical Abortion, Abortion Procedure, Abortion Definition, First Trimester Abortion, Process of Abortion, Medical Abortion, Anti Abortion Facts, Pro-Choice Abortion, Types of Abortions, Reasons for Abortion, Is Abortion Legal?, Abortion Timeline, Abortion Statistics, Abortion Types, Abortion Complications and Surgical Abortion."
I have Placed the ones that were Ranked Higher in the "Global Monthly Searches" then 10,000 Hits in Bold Print and the Ones that Ranked Higher then 20,000 Hits have been made Larger. The Phrase "Is Abortion Legal?" has a "Global Monthly Searches" Rating of 90,500, even though the Information Competition is Low.
Naturally, I would Like Pro-Life People to have this Information more then my Opponents, yet the Purpose of this Post is not for the Sake of Starting an Argument about Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, but simply to get you to Ask yourself, Shouldn't those who are Making this Important Decision have all of the Information and not just that which is Presented by Pro-Abortion Sources?
Before I Close, I just wanted to repeat again to anyone who has, by some Touch of Luck, Found my Page through a Web Search. Please do Read Both Sides of this Argument before Making any Decision about getting an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.
I have also done a Number of Posts on this Subject. You can Click on the Abortion Label to the Right, on those Listed below "Favorite Ramblings" or you can Go to the Next Post Down, Abortion Clinics/Should I have an Abortion?, for a Whole List of my Previous Abortion Posts.
Before I get into the Meat of this Post, I just want to say to anyone who has found this Post, by some Touch of Luck, by way of a Search Engine, Please do yourself a Favor and Read about Both Sides of the Issue before you make the Decision to have an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.
Meanwhile, I'm Still Working on how I Feel about the Web Page that I gave a Link to in my Previous Post. I Suppose that if I Use their Title, I can Help them to get more Hits. It's Called Pro-Lifers Urgently Need to Engage in the SEO War.
To Quote the Main Theme, "The pro-life movement is making great strides right now. However, there is one area where the fight for life is not going well at all, and it happens to be one of the most important arenas for evangelizing the culture: the online world."
Now that this has been Brought to my Attention, come to think of it, I've Written Several Posts on Abortion and yet they are rarely ever Hit. There is just too much Competition out there. It wouldn't be so bad if the Competition was coming from other Pro-Lifers, but it is not. There are Far more Pro-Choice Blog Posts, then there are Pro-Life Ones. I'm Guessing this is because there are lots of Abortion Clinics and Pro-Abortion Organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, that are Advertising their Pro-Choice Ideas on the Internet, so much so, that the Pro-Life Voices are being Drowned Out by them.
I Like the way that the Article puts it..."To put it bluntly: The pro-life movement is getting crushed in the SEO war." That is the Search Engine Optimization War.
Here is another Quote that I very much agree with...
"I’m guessing that one of the first places women turn when they learn of an unexpected pregnancy is the internet. And, as you can see, they are bombarded with sites that dehumanize their unborn children and paint abortion as a simple, easy option that will make their problems go away."
The Next Site that I Visited and Looked at is Entitled 5 Things Every Catholic Should Know About How Search Engines Work and from there I found a Link to Google's Handy Key Word Tool.
At First I Thought that I should Use Phrases that are Typed into Search Engines Often, such as; "Abortion Costs, Cost of Abortions, Abortion Clinics" and "Is Abortion Legal?"
Yet I Later Realized that I Might have more Luck with Phrases that have less Competition, such as: "Home Abortion Methods, Early Abortion, Abortion Risks, Abortion Pictures, Abortion Doctors, Abortion Methods, Abortion Side Effects, Chemical Abortion, Abortion Procedure, Abortion Definition, First Trimester Abortion, Process of Abortion, Medical Abortion, Anti Abortion Facts, Pro-Choice Abortion, Types of Abortions, Reasons for Abortion, Is Abortion Legal?, Abortion Timeline, Abortion Statistics, Abortion Types, Abortion Complications and Surgical Abortion."
I have Placed the ones that were Ranked Higher in the "Global Monthly Searches" then 10,000 Hits in Bold Print and the Ones that Ranked Higher then 20,000 Hits have been made Larger. The Phrase "Is Abortion Legal?" has a "Global Monthly Searches" Rating of 90,500, even though the Information Competition is Low.
Naturally, I would Like Pro-Life People to have this Information more then my Opponents, yet the Purpose of this Post is not for the Sake of Starting an Argument about Pro-Choice and Pro-Life, but simply to get you to Ask yourself, Shouldn't those who are Making this Important Decision have all of the Information and not just that which is Presented by Pro-Abortion Sources?
Before I Close, I just wanted to repeat again to anyone who has, by some Touch of Luck, Found my Page through a Web Search. Please do Read Both Sides of this Argument before Making any Decision about getting an Abortion, even if you have to Scan Back Several Pages in the Search Engine Results in Order to Find that which is Presented by the Pro-Life Side.
I have also done a Number of Posts on this Subject. You can Click on the Abortion Label to the Right, on those Listed below "Favorite Ramblings" or you can Go to the Next Post Down, Abortion Clinics/Should I have an Abortion?, for a Whole List of my Previous Abortion Posts.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Abortion Clinics/Should I have an Abortion?
Here's a Web Page that Concerns me. It Indicates that there is a Bias in Relation to Search Engines and Abortion. If you are Considering an Abortion, Please do Read some of my Abortion Posts because it is Important to Hear Both Sides of the Issue before you Decide. I Sincerely Hope that I have Typed the Right Words in the Title of this Post, in Order to Gain the Privilege of Adding to the Information that you Need in Order to Make this Important Decision.
You can Click on my Abortion Label to the Right if you Like, yet for Easier Access, here is a List of the Titles of the Posts that I've done to Date on the Subject. This Way you can Pick and Choose the Ones that most Interest you.
Practical
Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Abortion & Rape
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator
Political
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics
I may Eventually do more Posts on this Subject, but for now, I would Also Suggest that you Type in the Words Post Abortion Syndrome, or PAS. Somehow I haven't Got Around to Posting on that Subject, yet there Definitely is such a Syndrome and a Typical Abortion Clinic may not Necessarily Tell you about it, so it might be Good to Go Ahead and do your Own Research. If you are Reading this as the Result of a Web Search, then you Obviously are doing some Research and I Commend you for that.
You can Click on my Abortion Label to the Right if you Like, yet for Easier Access, here is a List of the Titles of the Posts that I've done to Date on the Subject. This Way you can Pick and Choose the Ones that most Interest you.
Practical
Abortion & Fetal Development
Abortion & Do What I Want with "MY OWN BODY"
Abortion & Pregnancy Options Analogy
Abortion & Rape
Premature Baby Fawn Survives in an Incubator
Political
Abortion & State Sovereignty
Biased Science because of Politics
I may Eventually do more Posts on this Subject, but for now, I would Also Suggest that you Type in the Words Post Abortion Syndrome, or PAS. Somehow I haven't Got Around to Posting on that Subject, yet there Definitely is such a Syndrome and a Typical Abortion Clinic may not Necessarily Tell you about it, so it might be Good to Go Ahead and do your Own Research. If you are Reading this as the Result of a Web Search, then you Obviously are doing some Research and I Commend you for that.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
For all those Lurking in the Shadows, Be at Peace.
Hi,
I'm still here, but I'm Drawing a Blank. There are People Lurking in the Shadows of my Hit Counter, Some of which Visit quite Often. I can Even Think of Something that I could Post, but I'm so Tired of Arguing.
The Blogosphere is such a Crazy Place. So Often it Feels Like an Unfriendly Place. Very Possibly there are even Unfriendly People that are Reading what I am Writing Right Now. It's Ok, though, for I Know that some of them are just Frustrated, Angry or Perhaps Even Afraid.
If Someone says something that we Consider Incorrect, we become Angry. Wouldn't it be Better to just Calmly Express our Point of View. We Take Things so Personally at Times.
Here is a Point of View that is Common on the Blogosphere.... Everyone is Responsible for their Own Feelings. Hmmmmm. Interesting. What about the Verses in the Bible that say we are to Bear One Another's Burdens?
Here's what I Believe to be True. We are Responsible for Our Own Feelings when in the Presence of Untrustworthy People. It is Good, though, to Strive to Be Trustworthy, Encouraging and Helpful whenever we are able to do so.
When I Feel a Certain Way, I sometime Wonder if I should just Pray Rather than Talk...
Lord Jesus,
Please Bring Peace to my Friends on the Web. Please Calm their Hearts of all the Things that Cause them to Feel Disturbed. Please Help us to Better Communicate. Please Help us to Understand and not Misjudge. Please Help us to Speak Clearly. Please Bring Peace to the Web.
For those who are Afraid of the Truth, Lord, I Ask that you will Help them not to Run from it by Insulting, Changing the Subject, Asking Unrelated Questions and the Like. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhhhhhh! Be at Peace.
Lord Jesus, Please Bring Peace to Those on the Web. Amen.
This Prayer was at Least in Part Inspired by a Certain Flow Chart that Explains How People Avoid Genuine Discussion and Use Diversionary Tactics Instead. Here is the Link. Those of you who do this, I Wonder if you Know who you are.
Meanwhile, I sincerely Apologize to anyone who I have Offended Lately. I Never do Mean to. It just Seems to sort of be the Way Blogging is.
I'm still here, but I'm Drawing a Blank. There are People Lurking in the Shadows of my Hit Counter, Some of which Visit quite Often. I can Even Think of Something that I could Post, but I'm so Tired of Arguing.
The Blogosphere is such a Crazy Place. So Often it Feels Like an Unfriendly Place. Very Possibly there are even Unfriendly People that are Reading what I am Writing Right Now. It's Ok, though, for I Know that some of them are just Frustrated, Angry or Perhaps Even Afraid.
If Someone says something that we Consider Incorrect, we become Angry. Wouldn't it be Better to just Calmly Express our Point of View. We Take Things so Personally at Times.
Here is a Point of View that is Common on the Blogosphere.... Everyone is Responsible for their Own Feelings. Hmmmmm. Interesting. What about the Verses in the Bible that say we are to Bear One Another's Burdens?
Here's what I Believe to be True. We are Responsible for Our Own Feelings when in the Presence of Untrustworthy People. It is Good, though, to Strive to Be Trustworthy, Encouraging and Helpful whenever we are able to do so.
When I Feel a Certain Way, I sometime Wonder if I should just Pray Rather than Talk...
Lord Jesus,
Please Bring Peace to my Friends on the Web. Please Calm their Hearts of all the Things that Cause them to Feel Disturbed. Please Help us to Better Communicate. Please Help us to Understand and not Misjudge. Please Help us to Speak Clearly. Please Bring Peace to the Web.
For those who are Afraid of the Truth, Lord, I Ask that you will Help them not to Run from it by Insulting, Changing the Subject, Asking Unrelated Questions and the Like. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhh! Be at Peace. Shhhhhhhhhhh! Be at Peace.
Lord Jesus, Please Bring Peace to Those on the Web. Amen.
This Prayer was at Least in Part Inspired by a Certain Flow Chart that Explains How People Avoid Genuine Discussion and Use Diversionary Tactics Instead. Here is the Link. Those of you who do this, I Wonder if you Know who you are.
Meanwhile, I sincerely Apologize to anyone who I have Offended Lately. I Never do Mean to. It just Seems to sort of be the Way Blogging is.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Problems with Debating & even with Rules of Debating.
Well, I Guess I'll do another Post because I have more to Say, even though, so far, no one appears to be Talking on my Previous Post. This is Actually just a Continuation of my thoughts from my Previous Post (the Next Post Down).
I have already Mentioned how sometimes the Rules can Create Problems because of the Subjective Nature of them. We have a Problem, though, because I have Found that the Absence of Rules can Create a sort of Chaos, in which Nothing Constructive gets done. I guess what Needs to Happen is that we Need to have a Fair, Reasonable and Unbiased Referee.
In the Comment Section of My Previous Post, I Mentioned the Problems of Preaching, or just Stating One's Opinion, or even Stating Facts, yet not being Willing to Enter into a Discussion about those Opinions, or the Validity of the Stated "Facts".
Another Thing that Frustrates me is that when I Think about how Few Comments I get at Times, I Wonder if the Only Way to Get People to Talk is to be Controversial and Opinionated and to Stimulate the sort of Debate that does not Follow any Rules and at Times Ends up being a Waist of Time. When too many Rules are Added and People are Expected to Behave, so many of them just Stop Talking. As Odd as it seems, it really does Appear at Times that People Love to Argue, get all Angry and Heated Up and Waste Time.
Perhaps some are also Unwilling to Admit the Extent to which they Love to Argue. Some will even Deny that they are Arguing or Debating or Expressing any sort of an Opinion. "I'm just Stating FACTS and FACTS can not be Debated." was the Way it was Expressed to me Recently. Never Mind, though, that the Facts Presented are all Related to Faults and Extremes Relating to the Person's Opponent and that the OPINION on what these Facts Mean is Very Strongly Implied.
Yes, I guess I am now Talking about someone and Perhaps I shouldn't be, yet somethings like this just Need to be Addressed and Corrected. In Truth, the Only way that FACTS can Truly "Speak for themselves" is when ALL the Facts are Presented and not just that which can be said that is Negative about one's Opponent. Yes, "Facts are Facts", yet they are Biased, not just Based on what is Presented, but on what has been Left Out and so this is where Bias and OPINION comes in and this is Why to Present Facts and then Deny one's Participation in a Debate is Foolishness.
Sometimes there is no End to the Number of Rules that a Person would have to Apply in Order to be Rid of all the Poor Debate Tactics that People Use. Now I am Speaking in General again.
If anyone is Listening, Please do Comment. I do so want to hear what others have to say about Debating, Civility, what is and isn't a good Debate Tactic and What, if any, Rules should be Applied. Thank you.
I have already Mentioned how sometimes the Rules can Create Problems because of the Subjective Nature of them. We have a Problem, though, because I have Found that the Absence of Rules can Create a sort of Chaos, in which Nothing Constructive gets done. I guess what Needs to Happen is that we Need to have a Fair, Reasonable and Unbiased Referee.
In the Comment Section of My Previous Post, I Mentioned the Problems of Preaching, or just Stating One's Opinion, or even Stating Facts, yet not being Willing to Enter into a Discussion about those Opinions, or the Validity of the Stated "Facts".
Another Thing that Frustrates me is that when I Think about how Few Comments I get at Times, I Wonder if the Only Way to Get People to Talk is to be Controversial and Opinionated and to Stimulate the sort of Debate that does not Follow any Rules and at Times Ends up being a Waist of Time. When too many Rules are Added and People are Expected to Behave, so many of them just Stop Talking. As Odd as it seems, it really does Appear at Times that People Love to Argue, get all Angry and Heated Up and Waste Time.
Perhaps some are also Unwilling to Admit the Extent to which they Love to Argue. Some will even Deny that they are Arguing or Debating or Expressing any sort of an Opinion. "I'm just Stating FACTS and FACTS can not be Debated." was the Way it was Expressed to me Recently. Never Mind, though, that the Facts Presented are all Related to Faults and Extremes Relating to the Person's Opponent and that the OPINION on what these Facts Mean is Very Strongly Implied.
Yes, I guess I am now Talking about someone and Perhaps I shouldn't be, yet somethings like this just Need to be Addressed and Corrected. In Truth, the Only way that FACTS can Truly "Speak for themselves" is when ALL the Facts are Presented and not just that which can be said that is Negative about one's Opponent. Yes, "Facts are Facts", yet they are Biased, not just Based on what is Presented, but on what has been Left Out and so this is where Bias and OPINION comes in and this is Why to Present Facts and then Deny one's Participation in a Debate is Foolishness.
Sometimes there is no End to the Number of Rules that a Person would have to Apply in Order to be Rid of all the Poor Debate Tactics that People Use. Now I am Speaking in General again.
If anyone is Listening, Please do Comment. I do so want to hear what others have to say about Debating, Civility, what is and isn't a good Debate Tactic and What, if any, Rules should be Applied. Thank you.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Rules for Debating
I Wonder if I should Post Something that I Came Across Recently that is Actually sort of Interesting. It is a Debate Flow Chart that has some rather Interesting Guide Lines on it. If you want a Larger View of it, just Click Here.
This came from the Blog of someone Known as Soapbox or the Soapster. In my Initial Comments on his Post, it is apparent that I was not real Trusting at First, due to the Fact that so many of the Ideas and Rules are Subjective and thus, without a Referee, these Rules may not Work too Well. For Example, rather someone's Argument is shown to be Faulty is Often a Subjective Call, as well as Judgments about rather or not our Opponent is being Rational and Following Reason. Whether or not One Position is more Realistic then another, or the Evidence Offered is Adequate are also Subjective Judgments, as well as the Judgment about whether or not an Argument has been Resolved or not, so that the Discussion can move on to the Next Point, or even whether or not a Certain Fact Presented is Accurate or Inaccurate.
This is why I Kept saying, in the Comment Section of Soapster's Post, "According to Whom?" Because of the Subjective Nature of these Rules, without a Referee, if a Person Desires to be in Control of a Discussion, he could Use the Subjective Nature of these Rules to his Advantage.
Considering this, I decided that these Rules Really are Good, if Used in a Fair Manner, for I Find that when there are no Rules, the Discussion will Generally Degrade into Chaos, yet I also Decided to Add Two more Rules of my Own to the 4 that are Listed on the Flow Chart and here they are below.
5.) Do not Accuse Based on your Own Subjective Opinion about your Opponent's Ability to Reason.
And
6.) These Rules do Need to Apply to all Parties and not just to your Opponent.
Let me Know your Thoughts.
Also, I don't Know why this Post is Insisting on being the Last one on a Page. Please do, though, Click on "Older Posts", for more Posts and Of Course, do Read the Comments, for I have Placed more of my thoughts in the Comments Section.
This came from the Blog of someone Known as Soapbox or the Soapster. In my Initial Comments on his Post, it is apparent that I was not real Trusting at First, due to the Fact that so many of the Ideas and Rules are Subjective and thus, without a Referee, these Rules may not Work too Well. For Example, rather someone's Argument is shown to be Faulty is Often a Subjective Call, as well as Judgments about rather or not our Opponent is being Rational and Following Reason. Whether or not One Position is more Realistic then another, or the Evidence Offered is Adequate are also Subjective Judgments, as well as the Judgment about whether or not an Argument has been Resolved or not, so that the Discussion can move on to the Next Point, or even whether or not a Certain Fact Presented is Accurate or Inaccurate.
This is why I Kept saying, in the Comment Section of Soapster's Post, "According to Whom?" Because of the Subjective Nature of these Rules, without a Referee, if a Person Desires to be in Control of a Discussion, he could Use the Subjective Nature of these Rules to his Advantage.
Considering this, I decided that these Rules Really are Good, if Used in a Fair Manner, for I Find that when there are no Rules, the Discussion will Generally Degrade into Chaos, yet I also Decided to Add Two more Rules of my Own to the 4 that are Listed on the Flow Chart and here they are below.
5.) Do not Accuse Based on your Own Subjective Opinion about your Opponent's Ability to Reason.
And
6.) These Rules do Need to Apply to all Parties and not just to your Opponent.
Let me Know your Thoughts.
Also, I don't Know why this Post is Insisting on being the Last one on a Page. Please do, though, Click on "Older Posts", for more Posts and Of Course, do Read the Comments, for I have Placed more of my thoughts in the Comments Section.
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