Monday, November 24, 2008
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As Thanksgiving Week Opens
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Posted by:
Hugh Hewitt at
9:00 AM
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Victor Davis Hanson pens a blunt ten-point assessment of our current situation, but I think he should follow up with the 10 best things he sees about him. (HT: RobinsonandLong.com)
Number one among the hopeful signs is a new generation of leaders in the making who have fought in the war over the past seven years and who are clear-eyed about the enemy and about what it requires to defeat the enemy.
Number two is the arrival of General Petraeus at CentCom and the new focus on Afghanistan allowed by the unfolding victory in Iraq. Today's Los Angeles Times carries a story on the possible shift of more Marines to the Afghan battlefield. Whether it is a mixed Army-Marines force, or one tilting towards the USMC, the Taliban and their terrorist allies seem destined for a very difficult four years as the president-elect has made their defeat his key overseas objective.
There are other enormously encouraging developments, including the distribution of vast amounts of technology to millions of individuals whose counterparts a generation ago would have been blessed to have a typewriter. Technology of course doesn't convert ignorance into genius, but it does facilitate the exchange of information and the rise of genius. (For one example, visit www,amaze.fm. launched a month ago, which allows you to sample musicians who have never been close to a record label deal.)
VDH might also have noted that the ongoing collapse of the old media has opened up the world to information networks --some already here and growing like Townhall.com and PJTV.com, others still years away from launch-- which are supplanting the already greatly diminished power of the old media.
Some of my colleagues bemoan what they see as old media's triumph in the November elections, but they mistake the bias of the old media for its effectiveness. While the partisan cheering of the MSM for the president-elect was full-throated and un-ending, it isn't possible to argue that the MSM brought about the defeat of John McCain. It wasn't close enough to argue as much, and the country generally knew everything about Barack Obama that it wanted to know. The new media will now exist as a crucial check on the new Adminstration, the adventures of which will not be receiving much in the way of critical examination from their pets in the MSM.
Then there is the non-collapse of capitalism. Shock after shock has hit the free market system in the past three months, and each has shaken but not toppled the confidence of the average American. There aren't runs on banks or panic in the streets. Increasingly sane and sober voices are emerging to note that this is a nasty recession, but that market cycles bring nasty recessions, and they also bring their end. Full-scale interventions may not have worked as well as anyone would have liked, but the overall effect has been to steady the system and convey the truth that the U.S. economy remains the world's leader.
VDH's pessimism about the public education system is hard to rebut --in part. Some public school systems are in collapse, while others turn out thousands of extraordinarily bright and accomplished students with enormously appealing skills sets and bright futures of enormous productivity and achievement. Figuring out how to increase the number of the latter while shrinking the former is a huge challenge, but one that can be met.
So, as Thanskgiving Week opens, there is much to celebrate, including a country whose commitment to freedom and opportunity allows for the rise of a president-elect from the unlikeliest of circumstances. Anything is possible in America, and usually much good comes from that basic, unchanging fact.
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weren't supervising Girl Scout Troops. No one has pounded on their dainties about that outrage. Jeepers, I'm surprised. You..?
The check is in the mail. |
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The reason I support the Boy Scouts is they do not allow these degenerates ANYWHERE NEAR our young men.
After reading this thread, I have written them a check for $1000.
I encourage all to do likewise.... |
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to "Delete" posters here, even P*I*G*S like Rac-Ho'. Sometimes justice just has a way of finding its level, Babycakes.
The dainty high chair you're pounding on for the outvoted Boyos holds no interest for me until you and the sisters go down to Hoover Street & Crenshaw Blvd Turf and show the Pro-Prop 8 Homies your stuff. The VOTE has been held and counted. You LOST. Mostly because 70% of the very high Black turnout voted FOR Prop 8. Nope. Didn't think so.
Hey, ussins' ain't protesting Bammo's win. He done it fair and square.
As for the other swill, you musta' got me mixed up with somebody religious, Bud. Now, dance the darling thong back to kosland.
Ohhhh, and all my Gay Male friends from the 70's & 80's are dead. The Plague. Behavior. Miss the Boyos, but they ALL died long after the Behavior was nailed as the cause of death from that Plague.
Cute, but not real bright. Know what I mean, Jelly Bean? |
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our society doesn't value education. The GOP just nominated a woman who took how many years to get a non-descript degree in a non-academic subject from a second tier institution? McCain graduated at the bottom of his class?
When we nominate poor students, and chastise those like Obama who did well, who are smart, who are practical, then what do we say to our children? Education is for the 'elite'? Be dumb, be proud? Don't read a newspaper because you are too dumb to understand there might be a bias just because humans are not machines? Listen only to rightwing talk radio and fundamentalists who will only tell you what they want you to hear, then you can parrot it back. |
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I think you gloss over the problems with public education. It is in free fall; it is not fixable. Impossible.
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West Hollywoodians, legions of the Boyos, like smacking around elderly church ladies and well mannered non-aggressive LDS members. BUT, when it comes to protesting the 70%-30% Vote FOR Prop 8 from the California Black Voters...You guessed it. Not a Gay Goon in sight of Hoover Street Crip turf or Crenshaw Blood territory...Watts..? Do I hear Inglewood..? Nope, didn't think so. Might get their frillies all messed up. 'Nuff said. |
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yeah right, and my a..hole plays the Star Spangle Banner at sunrise, each morning, too!!!
You is a riot, pathetic one, Allah Akbar!! You better watch your step, pathetic, you won't be able to talk your way out that one. |
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I'm "untethered", meanwhile, your "budds" are invading churches, accosting church goers as they enter, and now the latest, "blacklisting" those who donated to Prop.8. Please let me continue to be "untethered", while you and yours, engage in "selective" hijinks, and maintaining that scrawny 50 year old body to that elite pinhead of yours. Breathtaking is the word to describe, your sides, cowardice. Allah Akbar!! Hey, pathetic one! |
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Your comments are spot on.
Indeed, for the moment, Islamo-fascists are in check. As you must know, there is strength in numbers.
With the continued sewing of, "seeds of hate" and lies, these fascists will continue to reach new muslims willing to believe their story.
Earlier on this thread, "Dustoff" gives a nod to the tens of thousands of disenfranchised muslims in urban areas around Paris. The violence wrought by them can only be controlled for so long by police. France's policies do not include these muslims with adequate employment opportunities.
It will only continue to foment anger within these communites. Radical Imams continue to gain strength in places like, France, England, Scandanavia, Spain. Even here in the U.S. mosques operate freely, as should be the case. But the messages delivered within would render Jeremiah Wright's infamous sermons flacid by comparison.
Islamo-fascists have the advantage of HUGE numbers of potential ears to spread their hate.
Be ever vigilent... |
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of Muslims........
BECAUSE the military and law enforcement stand between him and the murderous Islamic fanatics....... |
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I ain't scared of Muslims. And I don't respect any religious fool. You are really becoming untethered, man.. |
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yeah you, the ones going nuts, jumping up and down, wringing your hands, blocking intersections out there in Californication; invading churches while services are taking place, women tonguing one another at the pulpit; sending "white substances" in unmarked envelopes, to Mormon churches; burning Bibles on church steps; and the latest hijinks, "blacklisting" all donors to Prop.8, picketing their restaurants, demanding that individual donors be fired from their jobs. Reminding those who were blacklisted in the 50s, that guess what it's now come full circle, ain't it!
Gotta' question for ya'! How come all you brave nitwits, how come your not invading, how come your not burning, how come you ain't "tonguing" one another, in any, MOSQUES?!! You know, MOSQUES, that's where Muslims worship, you know the ones, their women are all covered up, no skin showing. Away from the preying eyes, of infidels, don't cha' know! They voted 100% for Prop.8. Did that just escape you nitwits, cause i've yet to see any thing done to them. How come?
No longer can the left ever talk about, make movies about, wring your hands about, BLACKLISTING. That "dog just don't hunt no more", you leftists nitwits. What's da' matter, afraid that leftist pinhead of yours might become separated, from that scrawny leftist body of yours. You people are nothing more than, just everyday, run of the mill, cowards. You make me sick! Leftist scum. The bottom feeders, they feed on you! Leftists scum, scared shyteless of Muslims. HAHAHAHAHAHA...too, funny.... |
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We already know you are an adolescent. Seriously, no need to waste your time confirming same. |
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...indeed, this rachow is a "pig". She loves typing the word, "blow-job", as many times as she can, in some symbolic gesture of titillation.
"Pig" is a worthy assessment. And for this you draw the chatisement of "Napoleon", himself a complex of sorts as I discovered this past weekend.
>:D |
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Earlier you whined and pissed and moaned about growing up as a "kid" and, from your perspective, recalled a day when you did not have religion forced down your throat as seems to you the case today.
I, in turn reflected upon a similar time in history---when you were a "kid", when prime time television often was seen showing "inspirational" entertainment; the reading of the bible by hollywood-types such as Charles Laughton, Chalrleton Heston, Ed Sullivan. We heard religious songs sung by the hottest stars of the day, such as Elvis. This did not even garner a so much as a wimper from you----WHY? 'Cuz the ellimination of same is to your liking.
Well not my liking, chump. We are both lamenting how things have changed, but for different reasons.
Frankly, no one has ever tried to shove religion upon me. The couple of times those kindly couples from LDS churches knocked on my doors early on a Saturday morning, I simply conveyed to them I was not interested. They smiled and walked away.
The same cannot be said during those times in my young adulthood when homosexual men came onto me in mor ethan one instance. They did not simply walk away, but were more cagey and wiley in having sought out their "prey" (myself).
It's all perspective pal.
I would much rather have a couple of respectful LDS evangelizers knocking on my door than a lecherous homosexual.
***Again, you had no comment when I commented about prime time television no longer featuring even a hint of "inspirational" entertainment. You entirely ignored this FACT. |
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Again the blame America first crowd wants to seek moral equivalence Francis Marion and William Moultrie with animals like Ramsay Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
The difference of these two situations is: the Brits were in America to prevent the Colonials from breaking free from the Crown. The United States was forced into this action finally as a result of September 11, 2001 to free the people of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Incidentally, I am unable to find "due process" anywhere in the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War. They will receive a fair trial followed by a first class hanging. |
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HERD OF Dounces
Headed off a Cliff,
better get out of the Way!
While Hope & Change
are getting to the their "there"
promised Hope, promised Change There their!
It is a very Happy Happy Happy Place!
There! |
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To ensure the idea of individaul liberaties, and especially where different interpretations and conflicts will run deep, and ever-expanding individual rights and traditional morality evolves, does the society burden to ensure the liberty of each person's indiviuality?
These days in our campuses, our liberal professors, intimate and fail students who do not endorse their orthodox teachings.
At the campus they devise radical ideological academic tests for entrance and successful exit.
The American Founders, in the Constitution, by introducing the "no establishment" clause ensure that state remain NEUTRAL in religious matters. The purpose was to PERMIT religion, and allow people of faith to practice without difficulty.
Christian religion, traditionally mostly guarantee the liberties in the modern world. We have rendered Ceaser's and kept religious diversity and inividual rights, and been quite tolerant of secular laws. |
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What horrible things are being done at Gitmo and to Gays? I bet nobody at Gitmo gets their head sawed off like Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg.
Why not use the correct terminology (homosexual) as opposed to the euphemism (gay)?
The good Colonel raises an important point I urge you to consider. The existence of God is undeniable and certainly nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. If you ask for his help and guidance you will not be disappointed. I promise you! |
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"Stalin didn't hate God
he simply didn't believe in God. Many of us don't. I'm not too worried about it, why are you?"
What if you're wrong? |
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"then the majority of Americans support socialistic policies. "
if this is true or just that a majority of the country wanted something other than republican for now.
I think the study of what happened during this election is going to go on for some time. |
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"at least I don't sound like a carbon copy of the senile and irrelevant old man VDH...."
lol, that was funny |
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against parents whose beliefs are different from those of the government schools.
That is government endorsement of religion. The government endorses the beliefs taught in the government schools and discriminates against parents who do not endorse those beliefs but have contrary beliefs.
This is a violation of the first amendment to the U.S. constitution.
Idiot Jane not withstanding. |
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is saying some one has a socialistic agenda the same as calling someone a socialist? |
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"Anyone, for instance, who assailed Obama for being a socialist, and therefore a secularist, and therefore anti-american, and therefore dangerous..."
by Palin please or anyone else
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"and that this is because religion and tradition are no longer respected, so that liberals are worse than wrong, they have an evil agenda to corrupt the young and destroy religion (sounds a lot like the persecution of Socrates"
sounds like a carbon copy of rochoe |
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Must have been the mother Nutter of all Nutters.
rochoe |
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I suspect by your definiton ever President was:
"someone who believes in the rapture with his or her finger on the nuclear button?"
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From were I sit (at my PC) it seems that you are very insecure in your beliefs if that when someone says God Bless American for the POTUS podium you feel that their religion is being forced upon you. |
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fascinating how you replaced the word, "normal" with your earlier point of "most".
They are two different things.
It is normal to hear of someone playing the lottery and winning in excess of $100MM. However it does not happen "most" of the time. |
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entertainment of "inspirational" nature on PRIME TIME was not, "occasional". It was regular, it was often, and it was hugely popular----NOT SO TODAY.
Again, your myopia about what constitutes as "most" hetero sex (vis a vis "gay sex") is ignorant. |
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"Off topic though...religion needs to be banned from government. The occasional reading of some religious thing on Ed Sullivan is hardly the kind of out there religious crapola we have now. I'm tired of people telling me how pious they are. Sick and tired of it. Basing their political point of view on it. Do you really want someone who believes in the rapture with his or her finger on the nuclear button?"
you cannot separate faith and politics. I will never happen. you can have a secular government in a religious country, I think I know an example, do you? |
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You still did not prove your arrogant comment about "gay sex" being "not much different from most modern hetero sex"
You provided an act which assuredly would not comprise "MOST" hetero sex, but then, I already stated that you could not prove such a dramatic and wrong claim. |
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Hard to believe, isn't it, that up until 40 years ago, "progressive" meant somebody who believed in fighting against fascist dictatorships.
Mitch Miller
Fred writes: Monday, November, 24, 2008 1:44 PM
of course, that's all based on the complete neglect of Afghanistan due to the wrong-headed invasion of iraq...
but why quibble with the losers...
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"And if you don't know what acts are considered 'normal' sex acts these days, you need to read up a bit. But keep thinking that the only sex people have is missionary, man on top, in the dark. Lots and lots of young folks consider oral and other entry sex to be quite normal. You'd call it sodomy. Or are you ok with hetero blow jobs (which cannot create a baby) and not with gay blow jobs?"
and you you do not think this has be going on since man became aware and learned that sex was pleasurable as well as for procreation, you have lived in the dark ages for some time now.
Do you think that the worlds oldest proffesion wouldn't have practiced many different sexual acts?
I am not sure what your point here is.
and again I knew you would argue the point about not creating babies, but it is, whats that saying, a red herring. |
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I do not listen to Stern or Leykis( I know who he is and have listened to him)
I have lived 19 years in Canada, 4 years in Euorope and 22 years in the USA.
SO neither am I young. |
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Even Elvis Presley, one of the hottest "acts" in the 50's and early 60's was given to "inspirational" performances during prime time. He regularly sang inspirational songs, i.e., "Peace in the Valley" on variety shows.
Although Presley was never a favorite of mine--my point is that this type of music, from a headliner act, is nonexistent in prime time television today.
MTV, VH-1, would laugh at such an act.
Our culture today, as defined by "prime time" programming, would not be exposed to that which was shown regularly 50 years ago. |
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good job.
we need to be fair and balanced. :-) |
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"Dobson, Palin, Falwell
Robertson, Santorum, nutters all..." including Wright, Farakhan, Sharpton, Jackson, Kucinich.
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"Dobson, Palin, Falwell
Robertson, Santorum, nutters all."
and how is this an example to support a point of an argument?
scary if you think this makes your point.
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Who is Leykis?
Stern sounds like your preferred pablum.
You infer that I am young/
Although I appreciate th ecompliment, it again proves how wrong you are on most of your comments. |
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"We see the same thing in America itself: the secular, liberal northeast outperforms the more religious south and midwest on most important measures of public morality"
I think there are many things that constribute to what you are concluding and religion may or may not play a significant role.
climate does as well.
While traveling through Europe from Germany to Spain it was plainly obvious that as the climate became more moderate as we headed south the infrastructure of the countries we were in became less developed.
I see the same thing when traveling to TJ or Cabo.
An Iraqi associate, enngineer, I have here in the office noticed the same phenonomem in the middle east during his travels.
BTW he was a professor of Engineering at an College in Iraq and yet is still a very strongly practicing Muslim.
Another exception to your rule Nappy.
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writes:
"My observation of the US is very different than yours. I'm in my mid-50's. When I was a kid, people went to church, etc, but they kept their beliefs to themselves. You'd never have someone try to convert you, or tell you how wonderful their religion was. Live and let live, unless they were wacky Jesus freaks or Jehovah's witnesses. Nutcases."
Oh yeah, given your age, you were a "kid" in the late 50's, and 60's. That was a time when variety shows were hugely popular. Ed Sullivan regularly had "talent" on with religiously based entertainment.
Ed Sullivan himself read from the bible. One such example was his reading of, "The Stranger", a story about Jesus.
Charles Laughton also read from the bible.
Charlton Heston also read from the bible.
None of that type "Inspirational" entertainment exists today.
My point?
ACTIVISTS have had their way in routing that experience from television today. So, if your going to paint a picture of religious people sharing their views/beliefs today----also give time to that which has been severed from our popular culture. |
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"who insist that the public domain reflect personal religious faith, and who want to pervert all political differences into religious and moral differences, with all the intransigence and mistrust the latter sorts of disagreements, throughout history, have involved." |
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"but they do demand that their women bear children"
you are so arrogant to assume that this is not a mutual desire. Contrary to you,it appears, women today are most usually far more educted than men. (just poking for fun)
"even if the child is the product of an incestual rape."
I know of no-one personally holds this position. do you?
this is the leftist rhetoric to instill FEAR into the so-called wise and educated who know best for everyone else.
Hmmmm there is that word FEAR. |
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...I just returned from spending the first two weeks of Novemeber in Italy. I was planning on driving to Naples, then on to Capri. Our family in Florence advised against it. The "Camorra" gangs are out of control there, have been for years.
And you glossed over the incredible unemployment among tens of thousands of urban muslims around Paris. That problem continues unabated. It will only get worse. And you did no even get to the problems in Spain.
As for short-sighted comments on this thread about the health care in Italy. Forget about it. The lines and long waits for any significant medical procedure is loathed by the residents.
All that said, everything is hunky dory in Monaco. However, they are hurtin' from lack of tourists (mostly Americans). |
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"blow jobs gay? How about back entry? Are you telling me that your wife doesn't blow you? If she does, then she's a sodomite."
bad argument, it is still in the act of hetoro sex with, although you will attempt to argue, it done for the initial and primary purpose of procreation. Gay sex can NEVER been done for that reason. |
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"Stalin didn't hate God
he simply didn't believe in God. Many of us don't. I'm not too worried about it, why are you?"
What if you're wrong? |
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writes:
"gay sex is
not much different from most modern hetero sex.
I can assure you that even that sweet girl at your local market and her boyfriend engage in conduct that 20 years ago would have been criminally prosecuted."
PROVE IT.
Start with the "gay sex" part.
The fact is---you can't. It's simply your opinion and your effort to repeat something so often, you hope it becomes rote.
You appear a perfect example of public education's finest.
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I desparately need an Editor.
please forgive my poor writing |
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None of the professional and very religious people I know believe in the early interpretations of fire and brimstone. Religious imagery and tools to teach right from wrong have changes over the centuries. As people gotten wiser and wealthier and more knowledgeable the teachers of the lessons of the bible have been able to change how the lessons are taught.
You are grabbing onto and very outdated image of what you call people who are Christians. I do not know any of the so-called “fundies” and yet know very many deeply religious people.
As for Europe being ahead of us, from my 4 years of living there, I disagree. My conclusion is purely anecdotal, but while I lived their Europe seemed to be 10 or more years behind North America. Maybe, just maybe there are now just going through the sexual revolution that we have been through and in the years to come the pendulum will swing back toward the right. They have been electing more right leaning leaders of late. Maybe the people of Europe are seeing some looming problems if they continue on the path they have chosen.
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Bet not.
Try Naples, where many are without jobs or even France where in the slums they burns cars by the thousands and police stay out. You want to see gangs who could give a zip about laws.
I think you know zip about EU. (rochoe) |
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that the greater portion of humanity needs to have rules and laws?
maybe your idealistic society can only exist within a very small population of people with the same frame of reference. That humanity is far to large and diverse for all to come to this wonderful enlightenment you dream of?
maybe someone new better, that the rules are required.
I wonder who that someone was? |
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So, the troll graduated Phi Beta Kappa from a top ten school. No Latin instruction. Arrogantly arguing admittedly ignorant with no foundation in classical academic thought or training, absolutely certain they are credentially indemnified from any recognition of their own stupidity.
Point. Hanson.
You can't build a society with relativist postmodernism or Marxist dialectic, but you can certainly tear one down.
Impressive, this new era of university. How do they get their graduates to feel so good having spent so much money learning so little.
Peel away the haughty rhetoric and typically you'll find petrified adolescents clinging to memories of Bambi and Rainbow Bright, with a nagging feeling that perhaps they'd be better off with guns and religion.
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could it be that the relaxing of society frowning upon sexual activity at a young age and without care for the consequences have led to the large number of single parent households and children being raised poorly? |
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that most of the populations of Europe are progressing at a negative growth rate?
that the trend seems to be that soon the fundy islamists will be the larger population.
how do you think you would be treated in a the Islamist Republic of Europe?
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"and wealthier, and then wealthier, more educated individuals just no longer believe in magic and fairy tales. In other words, to get back to Hanson's silly"
this makes me laugh
I know many Intel employees who are very much religious.
Architects
Engineers
Doctors...
your argument holds no water |
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"Europe is simply further along the cultural path than we are. I'd much rather live in Rome, Italy than Rome, New York or Rome, Georgia. Somehow, they don't have the poverty and despair we have here."
lol |
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I am an engineer that has lived in the 3 different countries and was not raised with any religious influence.
what an extreme elitist statement
"There is a public effort to make the average citizen more educated and wealthier, and then wealthier, more educated individuals just no longer believe in magic and fairy tales."
talk about showing prejudice and fear of something you do not understand.
WOW, you have just defined yourself.
Me, I have many gay friends and associates and do not have any fear of them or what they may do to me. I just do not agree with their lifestyle. but if they wanna live that way, lel'em knock themselves out. All of them are great people. |
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how is gay sex correct?
what does it accomplish other than narcissistic pleasure?
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I lived in Europe for 4 years. and Canada for 19.
I do not buy into the "burn in hell" dogma.
I beleive the burning is what you will feel inside for doing something you know to be wrong.
going back in time is a weak argument.
during WWII people were just begining to learn what it meant to live in a diverse society and the ignorance or lack of experience led to the unfortunated imprisonment of the Japanese.
That said, it is so easy to look back at what was done a label it as wrong because of how history occurred.
But there is no way of knowing what would have happened if the government did not do what it did.
There is no possible way to argue, it was done. |
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"That lefty educators have been indoctrinating the youth since 1969, and yet for 28 of the past 40 years we've had Republican presidents, and 12 years of a republican led congress? You can't be serious."
the teachings of the family unit have been stronger to overcome the influence of the "lefty educators".
but the judges and the left are doing their best to shift the strength from the family to the government or ngo institutions.
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when they were 2 I taught them to not run out into the street for fear of being killed by a car.
now that the are older they understand that it is not a good idea to run into the middle of the street.
God teaches in the same way.
Have you not come to learn that the things the Bible says not to do, are not good or right things to do?
if not, why not? |
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"Believing in God means you believe in fear. God rules by fear."
to the same point that I teach my children to avoid things that will kill them.
By my primary method is based upon approval and love.
Maybe 90/10
how do you raise your children? |
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Great job with this post, Hugh. You show great American optimism while sticking to your guns at the same time. I'm always one of the first to criticize you but I feel a tad hopeful reading what you've written here. We do have a lot to be thankful for. Maybe best of all, you echo the spirit of some of the e-mail exchanges I was privileged enough to have with Dean Barnett over the last few years. Dean argued hard for his side but was always realistic about the state of things, all while being uplifting at the same time. What a great guy the Chowdah was! Good job Hugh. |
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"we live in a religion option country that is way secular. Christians just say that (and add the judeo part so they don't show themselves up as being as anti-semitic as they are) because they are projecting what they wish this country still was"
you conclude this based upon what? |
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you crack me up saying "So long as you do what you think God wants you to do, so long as you teach your kids right from wrong, no amount of societal influence can bend them to the wrong side."
I do want I want to do, we have free will.
If I do things in life, raising my children etc., based upon the moral foundation I have developed those things will meet with God's approval.
You know that feeling you get when you do something you know is good and correct, that feeling you get inside independant of logically analysing if it is the right thing to do?
Most people in this country still beleive that feeling is God. You may not but most do. |
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BTW, we live in a Judeo-Christian country with a secular government. |
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Sorry, but statement made no sense. Try again.
By the way, how did Stalin and hating of god worked out for his people. |
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... don't forget that a lot of people who vote still depend on the MSM for their information, and arrive late to the party (pardon the pun).
To fight this requires more of what everyone is already doing (note the drop in MSM subscriptions vs. FoxNews and new stuff like PJTV), plus ...
We really need to ensure that the MSM does not get to exercise undue influence on aceing out conservatives from the primary selection process. In the past, the GOP has overcome this, but in a marginal year where no clear conservative choice emerges (like 2008, sorry Hugh, Romney was viewed by long-time conservatives as being late to the party, too), the MSM can influence selection.
2 more things will help to overcome this:
1. Close the open primaries and prevent last-minute primary registrations. Republicans should nominate Republicans. Your article at Townhall on this last week was spot-on.
2. Moderators for primary-season televised primaries must be registered Republicans. That will drive the editorial staff at MSM outlets into pure apoplectic responses (that alone would make it worthwhile!) |
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We're in the vortex of a rapid culture in decline led by the secular left. This is the real meltdown. |
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I noticed you stopped before Item 6. What's your accent sound like? |
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"Shock after shock has hit the free market system in the past three months"
What free market system? |
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Hugh,
I read with interest your post "As Thanksgiving Week Opens" as well as the article you linked from VDH. VDH is correct and I can not share your optimism for our country. The voters have elected a President who does not honor our constitution, does not believe that words really have specific definitions that are unchanging (i.e Marrige), believes that larger government and more centralized planning is the way to economic prosperity. In a nutshell, President Obama does not love our country and it's founding principles but instead loves the idea he has in mind of how a country should be run. This, in my view, is true of all of the current Democratic leadership. We have taken a huge lurch to the left and the resulting demise of our country as it was founded is inevitable.
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"Number two is the arrival of General Petraeus at CentCom and the new focus on Afghanistan allowed by the unfolding victory in Iraq."
of course, that's all based on the complete neglect of Afghanistan due to the wrong-headed invasion of iraq...
but why quibble with the losers... |
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VDH has, as usual, summed it up. As for public schools, yes, some are doing fine in some academic areas. It's the zeitgeist that's killing us. |
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Your contention that "it isn't possible to argue that the MSM brought about the defeat of John McCain." Likewise, the second part of your assertion: that the American people knew everything they needed to know about Barack Obama. I can accept the premise that the electorate would have rejected McCain no matter what, but the latter point is patently not true. The American people were not generally informed about Obama, and his victory is a frightening confirmation of the unabating power of big media. |
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And they are doing wonderful. But we as parents, need to make sure our children are being taught correctly. My daughter came home with a report on Kwanza. I called the teacher to have her do a report on something else. The teacher said she wanted the children to understand other 'holidays'. I pointed out that Kwanza was not from Africa at all, but invented by a professor at UCLA in the 60's. My daughter would be fine to write a paper on Chanuaka or Christmas, but Kwanza will not be one of the options. She got her paper changed, as did others and did get an 'a' on the paper. I have no beef with public schools. They serve their purpose. My children will be going off to college in a few years, and I think they'll be well prepared to go.
Eddietoo. If your a product of homeschooling, you give it a bad name. I know many children who are homeschooled, and they are not as closed minded and bigoted as you tend to be. |
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It's predatory how educators and schools take too much credit for the intelligent students and too little responsibility for the idiots. I've driven by more than one school with a garish sign out front touting the name of this or that award-winning student, as if they had something to do with the God-given brilliance of the student being self-servingly celebrated by them.
There are brilliant children in our society who will grow up to be exceptionally intelligent adults. This has ALWAYS been the case from the beginnings of human society. Strike this population from the data on school performance at the real picture becomes clear.
Our national and institutional paradigms of collectivized child education are broken and not sustainable. Money does not fix it. Arguably, money has made it worse. Sloth and folly have become a gilded gateway to guaranteed retirement with full union benefits.
So little difference between the Detroit automakers and our American institutions of education; so little, yet most are blind to it.
That we inflict this culture on our children is perverse. |
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I think we have to accept that most people got their news from the MSM and voted accordingly. |
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I saw how my own kids were NOT being taught.. So I went from being a fire fighter to a night teacher.
Gezzzzzzz I worry for this nation. |
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"The new media will now exist as a crucial check on the new Adminstration, the adventures of which will not be receiving much in the way of critical examination from their pets in the MSM."
To start, some blogger should start a church watch. Articles today are poiting out that he has skipped Sunday service for working out every Sunday since the election. I suspect the Obamas have no real interest in Sunday service. It was just a place to press flesh with the right people. We could have our first relgious apathist in the White House.
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unconstitutional. What more do you need to know? |
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A further note. Almost all classes are taught to the level of the failing academic. This teaching to reach the "at risk" student makes most classes boring for academic achievers. The straight "A" student is rarely challenged and coasts through at the speed of the class.
My grandchildren attend Montessori schools and the teaching method of learning at each student's pace, the older students in the class helping teach and the pride of achievement enhances the educational process. |
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"Figuring out how to increase the number of the latter while shrinking the former is a huge challenge, but one that can be met."
Simple..bring back vocational technical schools. Trying to put every student on an academic track is just plain stupidity and asking for low achievement and drop out.
Teach these "at risk" students the basics - reading, consumer math, life skills, etc. then let them choose a vocational field that interests them and can actually get them excited about school and prepare them for employment in something other than food service. |
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I agree that sweeping generalizations cannot be made about public educations's failure or success. It's a very mixed bag. The school districts where I used to live in California (three in the Coachella Valley) are also mixed in their effectiveness, and even within each school.
Since moving to Texas and witnessing what three of my grandchildren are being taught and are learning has been SUCH AN EYE-OPENER! The teachers are better trained, as is the training itself, of course. My grandkids are being pushed and pulled and are learning everything well. Each child is different, of course, and each excels in different areas, but the point is that the home-to-school communication is far better and parent involvement seems to be much higher, even in the high school.
There are reasons to hope for improvements in the future, I agree. And I am witnessing only one small facet of the whole arena! |
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