Actually, I've heard the Canadians call us "barbarians" (to my face), followed by "thank God for the barbarians..."As a Scot that has never been there I am loathe to make sweeping judgements..... hang on...no I'm not... Americans are nuts!![]()
Actually, I've heard the Canadians call us "barbarians" (to my face), followed by "thank God for the barbarians..."As a Scot that has never been there I am loathe to make sweeping judgements..... hang on...no I'm not... Americans are nuts!![]()
Path, we met, enjoyed eachother's families, friends, company, food, passionate discussions round table...and you thought it was pretty nice and well worth the engagement...It's wierd to me, and wouldn't be my type of church, but so long as it's safe then whatever floats your boat.
Personally, I think the gun ownership thing is a little more complicated here than many other first world nations. I'm not pro-gun at all, but I still recognize it's complicated. While I'm against handguns as they are made for only one purpose- an illegal, dangerous and unethical one in my opinion (to harm or kill a human)- many people own guns in the more remote/wild areas of the US for hunting or defense against animals.
I don't hunt, but I really respect those who get their food from hunting. Many areas are overpopulated with deer or elk, and hunting both keeps populations in check and provides food for a lot of families. Additionally, there are some backcountry areas with mountain lions, brown bears, and moose that can get rather dangerous to enter without some form of defense. I live in the mountains with black bears without any gun, but I also am very wary when the mountain lions are spotted around town and I've grown used to dealing with bears over the years (plus, black bears are smaller and more easily startled away than brown bears).
So, anyway, there is my 2 cents. I don't get the handgun mentality (stats show it's more likely to kill you or a friend/family member than an intruder) but I get the rifle mentality.
Coming from one who doesn't own guns, doesn't hunt, doesn't believe in a standing military force for a nation, and doesn't believe we need to be able to protect ourselves because the "government, and affiliates will do that for us", you seem to know all the answers. Try walking down Connecticut Ave. in our nation's captital, at about 10 at night...the city counsel doesn't believe in guns either...I'll over simplify it for you POO, it's about power... plain and simple.
American are obsessed with weaponry, militarism, power and domination. We are a very disturbed society, one that spends over 700 billion dollars a year on "defense" but can't afford to give health care to the people.
Unlike POO I don't respect people who kill other animals for sport. What with game reserves, blinds, decoys, scents, calls, tree stands, trail cameras and high caliber weaponry, hunting has little to do with tracking, stealth and being one with nature. I'll wager that the number of people actually feeding their families with their catch is pretty miniscule. Hunting is an act of violence and domination over another being.
Gun ownership is largely about two things:
1. Having the ability to instantly seize control of a situation and gain the upper hand in order to intimidate, threaten, dominate, maim or kill the unarmed.
2. A false hope that it will protect you against all of the people who engage in Reason #1.America's obsession with guns and violence is another reason I dream of emigrating north to Canada. (But it's just a dream.)
Coming from one who doesn't own guns, doesn't hunt, doesn't believe in a standing military force for a nation, and doesn't believe we need to be able to protect ourselves because the "government, and affiliates will do that for us", you seem to know all the answers.
He's not risking anything. First ammendment does not alienate Churches or pastors from expressing their opinions. And there is no such thing as "seperation OF church and state". It is seperation "from church and state". And it means the United States government can not establish an official state church, nor can the goverment withhold an office from a person because of their beliefs.that pastor must really feel strongly about it because hes risking his exempt status... so really if it was all about filling the coffers... wouldnt that be shooting himself in the foot?
I appreciate my rights as an American and I appreciate them even more as they get taken away.
Hmm, perhaps CZ, but then, you would have soooooo much trouble with one little corner of the world...I think it is called, the US.I thought it was merely an opinion.
But if you wanted to appointment me dictator of the world, I could turn it into an answer!
That would look so sweet on my resumé!
considering the fact that...the internet is open, any information you input is subject to collection by anyone else who cares to do so.Which rights? The rights not to have your phone conversations tapped and put into a database to see if you're a terrorist?
Blame G. W. Bush for that.
The right to not be held indefinitely without being charged for a crime?
Blame G. W. Bush for that too.
The right not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment?
Oh... one more to blame on G. Double-U Boooosh!
What rights did you have in mind FS?
Actually, I just decided it wasn't worth arguing with an obstruct. Same with this issue. You are fine at finding "source" media stats. But then, you can't let an argument go either...(your own words). And how many other links did you pass over until you got the one that likened to your own opinion...hmmm? lolWant some more up-to-date statistics?
Crime StatisticsWhy does feel like another "pigs are man's closest relative" Q1 debacle?
Murders with firearms (per capita) (most recent) by country
#8 United States: 0.0279271 per 1,000 people
#20 Canada: 0.00502972 per 1,000 people
considering the fact that...the internet is open, any information you input is subject to collection by anyone else who cares to do so.
Considering the fact that cell phones are open transmittors and receptors of radio frequencies, any time you talk on one, you open yourself up to ANYONE collecting what you have said and heard.
If your kids were killed by a person, whom the world can't decide is a combatant, or soldier, because they have no borders, and are not addressed in the Geneva convention statutes, would you want them to be set free? Well guess what, Iraqis aren't screaming for their return, neither are Yeman, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt. In fact, they can't gaurantee that the detainees will survive a day, once they arrive home. Even Palau is backing down, concerning granting these non identifiables a safe haven.
Hell, no Muslim dominated country wants to take them back!!! you think about that.
Oh, well at least we haven't cut their heads off with video on Youtube. Yeah that was a real gainer...
Where are your priorities? Certainly not country, so what about community, and family well being? Who is going to protect you? You? How?
You don't have the heart to cover your own. Too busy thinking the "gov't" is going to take care of you...but then, what...don't shoot anybody?
CZ, can't have it both ways man...
Does "brick" have ears? Last time I checked, if one brushes against it, one gets skin and muscle torn up...Nicely said
Hmm, so the laws of physics apply everywhere...Hmmm, but eventually, water wears it away.
Actually, I just decided it wasn't worth arguing with an obstruct. Same with this issue. You are fine at finding "source" media stats. But then, you can't let an argument go either...(your own words). And how many other links did you pass over until you got the one that likened to your own opinion...hmmm? lol
And you like hurting people...that is a fact, that you can not pull back. It is right here on IO.
If you dont like it, dont live there.
Then I'm certain you mamma taught you this, your opinion on how you treat people, matters not on how you feel...what others perceive is what you are judged by...and frankly, you got some work there.The fact of the matter Q, is that I only had a few minutes before catching a bus home to find that data. If you only spent as much time confirming your off-base notions before posting, it might have saved us both a little effort.
It's one thing to post an opinion. I may disagree with it, but that's all I'll do. But when you post "facts" that are laughably wrong, well, that calls for a little re-education. And I'm not buying for a second that you gracefully bowed out of your argument that pigs are man's closest genetic relative. I think you saw the writing on the wall and did the smart thing admitting you were wrong.
As for the notion that I like to hurt people, that's your opinion, which I'll disagree with. This is a forum for debate, an exchange of ideas, and I am a passionate debater. My moms always taught me "words will never hurt me" and I've found that to be the case. If you find yourself being stung by my words, it might be time to take up knitting.
You could make yourself a sweater. Keep you warm on those chilly nights.
"Love it or Leave it" is an often spouted phrase by the American right (I know you're not American). I don't recall ever hearing a liberal say, "You don't like abortion rights? Why don't you move to Chile?!" or "You don't like the Clean Air Act? Why don't you move to China?!"
See, it's never really been "Love it or Leave it." What most every thinking citizen (both left and right) engages in is "America, love it or change it."
Lately, my side's been winning. I think I just may stick around.