80sU2isBest
Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2000
- Messages
- 4,970
Hello all,
Nice to "see" ya'll again.
I just wanted to drop in and say Hi.
I will mention a few words about some changes I've gone through since I left last August. It was only supposed to have been a 2 month hiatus, but it was extended, partly because I found not arguing a lot more peaceful than arguing.
I've lost one friend and am on the verge of losing another over something that I consider a big issue, but they don't. I've seen a side of both people that I don't care for, and I'm sure they're thinking the same about me.
Even as my financial situation got a much needed shot-in-the-arm (Thanks, God!), I have altered my thinking about the healthcare situation in the United States. While I do not advocate a national health care, I am more sensitive to the medical needs of the indigent. The working poor and those who are willing but unable to work really have a hard time with meeting their medical needs. I've come to realize that the governmental welfare organizations of this nation are in drastic need of overhaul; they often do not help those who need it most. In my opinion, the government shouldn't HAVE to help the poor, but are trying to do so because the church has dropped the ball. If more churches would stop the etxravagant spending on their "mega church" dreams, and would lend a hand in the fight against poverty, we could put a big dent in the poverty problem. I know a hard working, 54 year old man who will soon be on medical disability because of Lupas. The word got out, and some local church kids helped him out by painting his house for free. That's the kind of thing all of us, especially Christians, should be doing. And yes, the change must start in my own heart.
My thinking on "hate crimes" has also changed a little bit. I used to think "an assault is an assault, a murder is a murder; what's the need to distinguish certain crimes as "hate crimes". Well, I've decided that it does need to be done, and here's why. Crimes motivated by racial, ethnic and religious prejudice as well as crimes against homosexuals because they are homosexual have a certain "contagious" quality about them; it's sort of a copy-cat situation. One bigot is emboldened by another bigot's actions. If appropriate crimes are labelled as "hate crimes", it shows that the government is very serious about punishing this kind of specialized behavior. It sends a strong signal that we will not allow another Nazi-type uprising.
I'm beginning an interesting book written by a president of the Commission On Human Rights. It's about the origins of psychiatry and the damaging effect it has had on society.
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts of the last 10 months. I am still a died-in-the-wool social and political conservative, so don't be thinking I've flipped on ya. That would never happen.
Mike
Nice to "see" ya'll again.
I just wanted to drop in and say Hi.
I will mention a few words about some changes I've gone through since I left last August. It was only supposed to have been a 2 month hiatus, but it was extended, partly because I found not arguing a lot more peaceful than arguing.
I've lost one friend and am on the verge of losing another over something that I consider a big issue, but they don't. I've seen a side of both people that I don't care for, and I'm sure they're thinking the same about me.
Even as my financial situation got a much needed shot-in-the-arm (Thanks, God!), I have altered my thinking about the healthcare situation in the United States. While I do not advocate a national health care, I am more sensitive to the medical needs of the indigent. The working poor and those who are willing but unable to work really have a hard time with meeting their medical needs. I've come to realize that the governmental welfare organizations of this nation are in drastic need of overhaul; they often do not help those who need it most. In my opinion, the government shouldn't HAVE to help the poor, but are trying to do so because the church has dropped the ball. If more churches would stop the etxravagant spending on their "mega church" dreams, and would lend a hand in the fight against poverty, we could put a big dent in the poverty problem. I know a hard working, 54 year old man who will soon be on medical disability because of Lupas. The word got out, and some local church kids helped him out by painting his house for free. That's the kind of thing all of us, especially Christians, should be doing. And yes, the change must start in my own heart.
My thinking on "hate crimes" has also changed a little bit. I used to think "an assault is an assault, a murder is a murder; what's the need to distinguish certain crimes as "hate crimes". Well, I've decided that it does need to be done, and here's why. Crimes motivated by racial, ethnic and religious prejudice as well as crimes against homosexuals because they are homosexual have a certain "contagious" quality about them; it's sort of a copy-cat situation. One bigot is emboldened by another bigot's actions. If appropriate crimes are labelled as "hate crimes", it shows that the government is very serious about punishing this kind of specialized behavior. It sends a strong signal that we will not allow another Nazi-type uprising.
I'm beginning an interesting book written by a president of the Commission On Human Rights. It's about the origins of psychiatry and the damaging effect it has had on society.
Anyways, those are just some of my thoughts of the last 10 months. I am still a died-in-the-wool social and political conservative, so don't be thinking I've flipped on ya. That would never happen.
Mike