Is a man that is worth more monetary-wise worth more than one who has little monetary value? Is this how you value self-improvement? Make something of yourself from or for monetary gain, become a slave to the pursuit of the $$. I have friends or more correctly aquaintences that their every waking moment is used for pursuit of $$ and if that is what making them happy then more power to them. I do not equate ones self worth with a $$ amount attatched to their bank account. Some of the dumbest most backward people I know are the one's with a lot of dough, and vice versa.
I truly am interested in how you developed your world view.
Forgive the interruption: I hadn't thought much about that before you posed this question to Alpha. I now realize that I was what you would call a 'liberal' until the year 1998. Voted for Bill Clinton twice. Then, in 1998, I became a gun owner. Looking back now, I almost see it as a "Road to Damascus" moment. It opened up a whole different world view for me, which was a shock, because I thought I had a pretty good handle on things up until then. Voted for George Bush in 2000.
Knowledge is essential to living freely and fully; understanding gives knowledge purpose and strength; wisdom is combining the two and applying them appropriately in words and actions.
Yes Chris, we would both have to write a couple of novels or at least a very long dissertation where the abstract would be a short book. I certainly know that this forum is not the place for a discussion I would like for us to conduct and if you go to the SE shoot we might just have that opportunity to do so. I do believe you are wrong about Jesus being your flaming liberal as I also think it is wrong to think that Jesus would have been a republican. I also believe you are wrong about relying on evolving truth that is based upon you being the final judge to its validity, but that is another discussion I would really like to have with you. Thanks for responding and I was not surprised by anything you said, assuming from your other posts I have read on this forum that you were pretty much where you summarized in the above post. I hope to have a chance to engage with you some day one on one, which I would find interesting indeed. Mike
P.S. Remember that behaviors we try to justify in our lives many times become the real driving force behind what we say we believe and that truly is a form of dishonesty and in some cases denial. Would be interesting to see how much of what you believe is true is based on your behavioral habits and attitudes. Once again, thanks for responding and maybe we will find that occasion to meet and talk about all of this.
.......Some of the key values that help drive my positions include freedom, fairness (in opportunity, not necessarily outcome), and compassion.
Obama talks about "fairness" quite a bit, but all his blathering about the subject seems to be to convince America that wealthy people are just greedheads and the government should pass legislation to rectify the situation by taking it from "contributors" and to give it to "non-contributors." Judging by what you have said in another thread, you are probably approaching the "1%" income-wise. How is that going to go over, when they want to raise your taxes another 10 or 20 percent? So, what's your definition of "fairness?" Mine is to treat everyone the same, regardless of their income, social status or ethnicity.
I think there is one and only one truth/reality and we all have our own flawed and incomplete understanding of it based upon our own perceptions, knowledge, and experience.
That is all well and good, but what is that only one truth/reality you say is out there and how is it discovered in light of our incomplete understanding which is based upon our own perceptions, knowledge, and experience unless there is something beyond and above or own perceptions, knowledge, and experience that we can trust, and if so what or who is it, that reveals this "only one truth/reality" you claim is so (I agree there is only one true truth, but reality is to subjective unless based upon this "only one true truth" )? We need to talk but not on this forum. If you are interested in pursuing a dialog with me, send me a PM with your email address and we can see how deep the well is and how long a rope we will need to draw up a bucket full of this "only one truth/reality." Mike
Mike,
You're right.
We don't have a complete understanding.
In our vanity, we think we do.
Who the heck are we? Specks in a universe created by (I'm gonna say it) GOD.
All of our racial, political, social problems would disappear if we sat back on our haunches (spelling) and come to the realization that we are not in control.
God is.
He gave us the freedom of choice. What we do with it is the question.
I would welcome a PM.
Jim
I mean something much more mundane than you seem to be implying. I'm am talking about the world/universe we inhabit from the stars and galaxies, to our friends and neighbors, down to atoms and molecules, etc. We all inhabit the same objective reality we just have different ways we chose to perceive and interpret it.
Universe, stars, galaxies, people, atoms, molecules, etc. and you call that mundane??? And we just have different ways we chose to perceive and interpret it, implying that there is a conflict concerning what is true about this "only one truth/reality" (which you are willing to leave up to the finite) and you are suggesting that this is mundane???? Interesting indeed - well my offer to discuss this between you and me still stands, unless that is to mundane. :jester: Well I enjoyed it while it lasted :jester:
I get a kick out of folks who say they aren't racist.
“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” – Will Rogers
I get a kick out of folks who say they aren't racist.
A couple days ago, I looked out our front window and saw two girls walking up to a neighbors front door. They were white, had on long sleeve shirts, skirts to their ankles and were carrying something. Since I am ethnocentric, sexist, and believe in religious stereotypes. I assumed they were Jehovahs and shut the front door and shut the blinds...... :tooth:
You know what? I was also completely right...... Took the neighbor 1/2 an hour to get rid of them.
I made assumptions based on the color of their skin, their sex, the way they dressed, and the way they carried themselves.. Just like everyone else does......
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
I think to some extent we could all be considered a bit racist, or you could say we all "profile" everyone. For example: I see a black man wearing a suit and walking like a normal person - I will probably not even think twice about him and forget I ever saw him (unless I really liked the suit) a few mins later. Of course I'd be the same about a white guy.
Now say I saw a black man saggin his pants, bandana, shirt 3 sizes too big, and gold chains. I'd watch him like a hawk until I was away from him or I was sure he wasn't going to be a threat, but then again it's not his skin color as I'd do the exact same thing to a white guy dressed like that.
Everyone tried tellin me I wasn't voting for Obummer because I'm a redneck racist from the south. I tell everyone the same thing: I wouldn't care if he were a transgendered ET, with pink polka dot and green skin, who was bi-sexual, or you know just "another old white dude" I don't like his policys and I think he's bad for the country.
I don't think race is really quite the issue the media would have you believe. I think that "the establishment" who ever "they" may be, purposefully try to make race an issue be it black, hispanic, or middle eastern. Most people I know have no problem with hispanics in general, they have a huge problem with illigal immigration. Most people I know don't have a problem with blacks in general, they have a huge problem with gang bangers and thugs (yeah the white ones too). Most people I know don't have a problem with middle eastern people in general, they have a huge problem with religious whack jobs who wanna kill everyone. I'm willin to bet if everyone would quit playin the race card every 5 seconds and point out what ever the actual problem is, more things would get settled with less pointless bickering.
It's all good. I'm not trying to be a jerk, but I just cannot stand reading a wall of text. I apologize if I got under your skin at all.
No Worries ADRidge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You didn't get to me man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Opinions and view points, this is what the G & A board is about!!!!! keep up the good work!!!!
I know I get carried away with some topic with, especially when I have an interest in them, most of us do.... I ain't no writer nor gunsmith I know that.I have been posting here since
1999, and if ya think no paragraphs are bad [which they are, and especially on a long post] you should have been here back in the day before spell check!!!!:spittingcoffee:
I think to some extent we could all be considered a bit racist, or you could say we all "profile" everyone. For example: I see a black man wearing a suit and walking like a normal person - I will probably not even think twice about him and forget I ever saw him (unless I really liked the suit) a few mins later. Of course I'd be the same about a white guy.
Now say I saw a black man saggin his pants, bandana, shirt 3 sizes too big, and gold chains. I'd watch him like a hawk until I was away from him or I was sure he wasn't going to be a threat, but then again it's not his skin color as I'd do the exact same thing to a white guy dressed like that.
Everyone tried tellin me I wasn't voting for Obummer because I'm a redneck racist from the south. I tell everyone the same thing: I wouldn't care if he were a transgendered ET, with pink polka dot and green skin, who was bi-sexual, or you know just "another old white dude" I don't like his policys and I think he's bad for the country.
I don't think race is really quite the issue the media would have you believe. I think that "the establishment" who ever "they" may be, purposefully try to make race an issue be it black, hispanic, or middle eastern. Most people I know have no problem with hispanics in general, they have a huge problem with illigal immigration. Most people I know don't have a problem with blacks in general, they have a huge problem with gang bangers and thugs (yeah the white ones too). Most people I know don't have a problem with middle eastern people in general, they have a huge problem with religious whack jobs who wanna kill everyone. I'm willin to bet if everyone would quit playin the race card every 5 seconds and point out what ever the actual problem is, more things would get settled with less pointless bickering.
Racism is just a word, so overused and misused that it's lost its sting to most folks. Hell, I was called a racist by a telemarketer one time, just because I told him why I did not donate to the Fraternal Order of the Police (they use the money to buy influence in Congress, for issues that I don't support). He called me a Republican racist, and no reference had been made to me being a Republican, anybody's race, or anything else that would have triggered such an accusation. I simply told him I did not support the same issues that the FPO does.
For my part, I consider it to be nobody's business what my prejudices are, as long as I treat people with at least the minimum amount of respect that anyone deserves.
There is a difference between stereotyping and racism. We all stereotype and a sometimes those stereotypes aren't always fair or correct, but that's not necessarily racism.
Not according to the Rhyming Reverends......
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
A couple days ago, I looked out our front window and saw two girls walking up to a neighbors front door. They were white, had on long sleeve shirts, skirts to their ankles and were carrying something. Since I am ethnocentric, sexist, and believe in religious stereotypes. I assumed they were Jehovahs and shut the front door and shut the blinds...... :tooth:
You know what? I was also completely right...... Took the neighbor 1/2 an hour to get rid of them.
I made assumptions based on the color of their skin, their sex, the way they dressed, and the way they carried themselves.. Just like everyone else does......
When I was a LEO, there was a knock at My door, I was stumbling all around with gear, trying to get organized enough to be on My way, it was a pair of female JWs, I opened the door all the way, and when they saw My gear a couple of long arms and a holstered sidearm etc.... I heard them stammer hamana hamana hamana hamana we will come back later when you are less busy, I never saw them again.
"There is some evil in all of us, Doctor, even you, the Valeyard is an amalgamation of the darker sides of your nature, somewhere between your twelfth and final incarnation, and I may say, you do not improve with age. Founding member of the G&A forum since 1996
When I was a LEO, there was a knock at My door, I was stumbling all around with gear, trying to get organized enough to be on My way, it was a pair of female JWs, I opened the door all the way, and when they saw My gear a couple of long arms and a holstered sidearm etc.... I heard them stammer hamana hamana hamana hamana we will come back later when you are less busy, I never saw them again.
Also using my stereotyping of Ja-ho-vees, I figured they weren't alone. Once I started looking out different windows, I saw 4 more. I have a 3'' x 6'' NO SOLICITING sign at my door bell, and for some unknown reason they didn't ring it this time. Doesn't normally stop them...
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." Thomas Jefferson
Yes it is clearly racist. News flash, racists do in fact still exist. However, it is also being used to try and paint a much larger portion of the country as racist which is also wrong.
A saying I've heard before is:
Not all republicans are racist, but all racists are republicans.
This statement is largely true, but it's also dirty political trick. This sort of charged rhetoric and word association type statements are targeted at the unthinking masses who bombed their SATs and unfortunately they work to a large degree. It is the same sort of strategy used by so many conservative talk show personalities that's helped convince so many people that Obama is actually a Muslim. Just part of the dirty world of partisan politics.
Alpha is right. Racism does exist. For most of a century it was an overt part of the Democratic party. It is now part of the "you can't make it without government" mentality.
I thought the bumper sticker was straight-up hilarious. There. I said it.
But it doesn't mean I am a hateful racist. I can find irony funny without being hateful.
Black comedians integrate (using this word ironically) racist remarks in their routines about white people all the time--not to mention copious amounts of stereotyping.
“There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” – Will Rogers
Alpha, I think you are a political hack, I don't think you even own a gun.
Even though I tend to disagree with about 90% of the political stuff Chris posts........THAT (the part that's bolded) is the stupidest thing I've ever seen posted on this forum.
Im not racist. If I were, I would judge everyone the moment I saw them. I dont judge anyone, but base my bias off of what they show me of themselves. Somebody please do me a favor and google statistics of crime and race. I think the results will be obvious. It is what it is. If, just IF i were to be racist, why the hell do others care? Whippdy doo if I do hate someone because of their race, sex, religion, etc??? Its my perogative. I could care less who hates me and why, even if it is for an assinine reason. Call me a cracker, oh well. Call me a Mick, oh well. I'll still go about my business just as you will yours. As for the bumper sticker, it kinda bunches us republicans as racist black haters by the opinion of one idiot.
Even though I tend to disagree with about 90% of the political stuff Chris posts........THAT (the part that's bolded) is the stupidest thing I've ever seen posted on this forum.
Yep. Me, Eli, and quite a few other members here on this forum have had the privilege to meet Alpha (Chris) and he is good people. We differ a bit politically, but he is one of us. If you were to meet him in the flesh, you would know that he is a good guy.
I stake my honor on that.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
Replies
Forgive the interruption: I hadn't thought much about that before you posed this question to Alpha. I now realize that I was what you would call a 'liberal' until the year 1998. Voted for Bill Clinton twice. Then, in 1998, I became a gun owner. Looking back now, I almost see it as a "Road to Damascus" moment. It opened up a whole different world view for me, which was a shock, because I thought I had a pretty good handle on things up until then. Voted for George Bush in 2000.
P.S. Remember that behaviors we try to justify in our lives many times become the real driving force behind what we say we believe and that truly is a form of dishonesty and in some cases denial. Would be interesting to see how much of what you believe is true is based on your behavioral habits and attitudes. Once again, thanks for responding and maybe we will find that occasion to meet and talk about all of this.
That is all well and good, but what is that only one truth/reality you say is out there and how is it discovered in light of our incomplete understanding which is based upon our own perceptions, knowledge, and experience unless there is something beyond and above or own perceptions, knowledge, and experience that we can trust, and if so what or who is it, that reveals this "only one truth/reality" you claim is so (I agree there is only one true truth, but reality is to subjective unless based upon this "only one true truth" )? We need to talk but not on this forum. If you are interested in pursuing a dialog with me, send me a PM with your email address and we can see how deep the well is and how long a rope we will need to draw up a bucket full of this "only one truth/reality." Mike
You're right.
We don't have a complete understanding.
In our vanity, we think we do.
Who the heck are we? Specks in a universe created by (I'm gonna say it) GOD.
All of our racial, political, social problems would disappear if we sat back on our haunches (spelling) and come to the realization that we are not in control.
God is.
He gave us the freedom of choice. What we do with it is the question.
I would welcome a PM.
Jim
Craig, everytime I see this it cracks me up again. I bet you were the class clown in school, LOLOLOL!!!
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Are you serious?
Universe, stars, galaxies, people, atoms, molecules, etc. and you call that mundane??? And we just have different ways we chose to perceive and interpret it, implying that there is a conflict concerning what is true about this "only one truth/reality" (which you are willing to leave up to the finite) and you are suggesting that this is mundane???? Interesting indeed - well my offer to discuss this between you and me still stands, unless that is to mundane. :jester: Well I enjoyed it while it lasted :jester:
A couple days ago, I looked out our front window and saw two girls walking up to a neighbors front door. They were white, had on long sleeve shirts, skirts to their ankles and were carrying something. Since I am ethnocentric, sexist, and believe in religious stereotypes. I assumed they were Jehovahs and shut the front door and shut the blinds...... :tooth:
You know what? I was also completely right...... Took the neighbor 1/2 an hour to get rid of them.
I made assumptions based on the color of their skin, their sex, the way they dressed, and the way they carried themselves.. Just like everyone else does......
Is it still funny? Yeah a little
I think to some extent we could all be considered a bit racist, or you could say we all "profile" everyone. For example: I see a black man wearing a suit and walking like a normal person - I will probably not even think twice about him and forget I ever saw him (unless I really liked the suit) a few mins later. Of course I'd be the same about a white guy.
Now say I saw a black man saggin his pants, bandana, shirt 3 sizes too big, and gold chains. I'd watch him like a hawk until I was away from him or I was sure he wasn't going to be a threat, but then again it's not his skin color as I'd do the exact same thing to a white guy dressed like that.
Everyone tried tellin me I wasn't voting for Obummer because I'm a redneck racist from the south. I tell everyone the same thing: I wouldn't care if he were a transgendered ET, with pink polka dot and green skin, who was bi-sexual, or you know just "another old white dude" I don't like his policys and I think he's bad for the country.
I don't think race is really quite the issue the media would have you believe. I think that "the establishment" who ever "they" may be, purposefully try to make race an issue be it black, hispanic, or middle eastern. Most people I know have no problem with hispanics in general, they have a huge problem with illigal immigration. Most people I know don't have a problem with blacks in general, they have a huge problem with gang bangers and thugs (yeah the white ones too). Most people I know don't have a problem with middle eastern people in general, they have a huge problem with religious whack jobs who wanna kill everyone. I'm willin to bet if everyone would quit playin the race card every 5 seconds and point out what ever the actual problem is, more things would get settled with less pointless bickering.
No Worries ADRidge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You didn't get to me man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Opinions and view points, this is what the G & A board is about!!!!! keep up the good work!!!!
I know I get carried away with some topic with, especially when I have an interest in them, most of us do.... I ain't no writer nor gunsmith I know that.I have been posting here since
1999, and if ya think no paragraphs are bad [which they are, and especially on a long post] you should have been here back in the day before spell check!!!!:spittingcoffee:
I agree:worthy::applause::that::agree::win:
For my part, I consider it to be nobody's business what my prejudices are, as long as I treat people with at least the minimum amount of respect that anyone deserves.
Not according to the Rhyming Reverends......
I'm strangely comfortable with pink and purple paisley polka-dotted Martian hermaphrodites who are Constitutionalist Libertarians.
But, that's just my opinion.
I could be wrong.
When I was a LEO, there was a knock at My door, I was stumbling all around with gear, trying to get organized enough to be on My way, it was a pair of female JWs, I opened the door all the way, and when they saw My gear a couple of long arms and a holstered sidearm etc.... I heard them stammer hamana hamana hamana hamana we will come back later when you are less busy, I never saw them again.
Also using my stereotyping of Ja-ho-vees, I figured they weren't alone. Once I started looking out different windows, I saw 4 more. I have a 3'' x 6'' NO SOLICITING sign at my door bell, and for some unknown reason they didn't ring it this time. Doesn't normally stop them...
But it doesn't mean I am a hateful racist. I can find irony funny without being hateful.
Black comedians integrate (using this word ironically) racist remarks in their routines about white people all the time--not to mention copious amounts of stereotyping.
As I posted elsewhere. One of George Zimmermans relatives stated on the news, ''George is not a racist, he's Hispanic.''
Even though I tend to disagree with about 90% of the political stuff Chris posts........THAT (the part that's bolded) is the stupidest thing I've ever seen posted on this forum.
Yep. Me, Eli, and quite a few other members here on this forum have had the privilege to meet Alpha (Chris) and he is good people. We differ a bit politically, but he is one of us. If you were to meet him in the flesh, you would know that he is a good guy.
I stake my honor on that.