The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

The fear is that to many, freedom of religion is becoming freedom from religion. While no one is forced to worship, nor should they be, no one should be forced to NOT worship or think as they please.

I also do not think that the protests against Mosques have as much to do with Islam as is it opposed to radical Islamists.

I agree that freedom of religions includes freedom from religion. It should be that way.

I think the mosque protests are based in a "NIMBY" mindset. If there are no mosques, people can pretend no Muslims live nearby. Maybe that part is based on fear of fundamentalists, but if there's a mosque, every time a person drives by they are forced to recognize that there are enough of "them" to have a mosque.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

The reason is that the most vocal in the Islamic world are the extremists - as is the case in most groups of people.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Are they the most vocal, or are they the ones that your window on the world gives the most voice to?

I think the extremists are the ones who get the most coverage. They're easy to cover- moderates are just kind of living their lives; they may see no need to make a statement unless something happens.

[JWBear]

Yet another reason not to vote Republican.

[flippyshark]

Originally Posted by JWBear

Yet another reason not to vote Republican.

Ewww. I used to have to go to worship services that had that same unceasing droning bad music. Hearing people shouting at high emotional pitch over such thuddingly insistent music just felt like brainwashing to me, and I developed a resistance to (and revulsion for) such overwrought displays. All personal beliefs and ideology aside, we should teach children to question really hard when grown-ups resort to this kind of manipulation. We should show kids the how-to of such techniques and inoculate them from their influence. (They'll encounter this kind of crap from all quarters. It isn't just the right or the religious who employ such bluster.) Anyway, yes, pretty repugnant.

And can these people really claim that their faith brings them peace?!? (I asked my Dad the same thing once, as he spent many years living in a similar state of constant agitated pleading and cajoling hyper-prayer. It was day and night, hour after hour, and emotionally exhausting just to be around. Some people have a lot more energy than I do!)

Freedom OF Religion and Freedom FROM Religion are not mutually exclusive! They are the same thing! The faith of most every Christian I know is founded on freedom of conscience. The only way to guarantee that is to keep government free from the influence of any and all religions, and keep all religions free from the intrusion of government, except where their actions infringe on the rights of others. Why is this controversial!?!

And if church and state are NOT separate, it begs the question, which church is part of the government? They can't all be, and boy, there are a bunch of 'em! Even in the realm of Southern Baptists (to pick at random) there are countless splinters, sects and exclusionary congregations. Do these people want a state church? If so, I ask again, which one? Every church finds practically every other church to be in error and unacceptable to God. Isn't it obvious that it's best to leave all of these congregations to their own affairs and keep them out of everyone else's?

Anyway, I wasn't planning to rant, just to comment on the sh!tty church music. Peace out.

[JWBear]

Can we have him back as President again? Please?

[JWBear]

Tea Party violence - Move On member shoved to the ground and stomped on by Rand Paul supporters.

I predict we'll see more of this as the election gets closer.

[alphabassettgrrl]

JW- I sincerely hope you're wrong. A difference of opinion is not grounds for violence and harm. I hope they get it.

[innerSpaceman]

Rand Paul's characterization of the incident as a "crowd control problem" with zero remorse or even regret expressed, was also quite disgusting.

[alphabassettgrrl]

A crowd control problem??????

Um, no, it's a bit more than that.

[Betty]

As in - the crowd not having any self control?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Turns out the guy doing the stomping was wearing a "Don't Tread on Me" button.