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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (52788)	7/10/2002 12:09:53 PM
From: Solon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

"Solon no one is or was slitting your throat or forcing you to worship anyone or anything" I'm sorry, Tim. I have no idea how your comment relates to what I said, to wit: "I don't want to go to a mosque every day to avoid suffering ostracism or a slit throat. But if the State is anything but neutral to religion (and that includes the right to NOT be a mystic), then the right to dissent may not be justified on a rational basis. You will then believe and act as you are required to by those who command the boys who carry the guns." "I don't want to go to a mosque every day to avoid suffering ostracism or a slit throat" This refers to the status quo of some countries where the State is run by "men of God". My comment (while using some poetic license) is hardly inscrutable. The fact that I do not want that type of system should not be a surprise to you. "But if the State is anything but neutral to religion (and that includes the right to NOT be a mystic), then the right to dissent may not be justified on a rational basis." Is this bewildering to you? If you have a religious state, where rules are derived from "men of God" using supernatural dogma, do you not understand that reason may not form the basis of dissent...but only equal or greater force? I have the sense that your experience of life is rather limited. This is not a criticism; simply an observation. Your comments appear to scoff at mild infringements of rights, as if there were no implications or precedents to consider. Such an attitude is well represented and documented in history. The roulette wheel only takes 5 1/4% of your bet. But at the end of the day it takes ALL your money. Do you want your life to be based on a roulette ball? Just kiss the croupier's ass...