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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ichy Smith who wrote (22549)	9/30/2005 1:50:15 PM
From: average joe	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 28931

"Rage accomplishes nothing." Quarrel? Nonsense; we have not quarreled. If one is not to get into a rage sometimes, what is the good of being friends? George Eliot I'm in a great rage now, as I understand how many lives we have lost. Stephen Lewis Their rage supplies them with weapons. Virgil Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Dylan Thomas Rage cannot be hidden, it can only be dissembled. This dissembling deludes the thoughtless, and strengthens rage and adds, to rage, contempt. James A. Baldwin

To: Ichy Smith who wrote (22549)	10/1/2005 3:32:53 AM
From: Solon	Respond to of 28931

"I simply don't see the kind of rage you seem to display as being a tool to better the world" That gratuitous remark does not respond to the quote you purported to respond to. As to your your attempt to characterise my commentary as "rage"--let me remind you that Webster's defines "rage" as "violent and uncontrolled anger". I have never been violent unless you call occasions of self defense..."VIOLENCE"? Nor is there any evidence of "obsessions". You have said little or nothing to address any substance, but you have strained yourself to introduce these silly mischaracterizations. Naturally I ask myself, WHY? There is a motive behind all contrived behaviour. You quote my: "Someone once said that the world would never be free until the last king was strangled by the entrails of the last priest. I think it was Erasmus, but who cares? The point is that you think the open discussions of primitive religions (always with direct quotes, btw) has "nothing to accomplish from it" Hardly a statement of "rage"...but you then state the puzzling: "Discussions will accomplish much. Rage accomplishes nothing. But YOU discussed nothing! You simply returned to the false accusation of "rage"! "I think that the fanatic label is not one you should be tossing around lightly" Show me where I have tossed it around lightly? You are new to this thread so are far less informed than many others as to the posters here. There ARE fanatics on this thread. It is a good English word with a defined meaning. "eating other people does seem a tad outre, but they are not exactly beliefs, are they" We disagree on this. Actions follow from beliefs and in the case mentioned the beliefs were quite complex and convoluted. "Well, at the risk of being offensive, many of the places udergoing conflict would have had fewer problems if the US wasn't so ham handed in it's diplomatic efforts. Supporting the Shah was a disaster, supporting Saddam was a collosal error, and American policy in Israel has been a text book case of what not to do. Not that I think the Israeli's are wrong, but I think without the US constantly trying to manipulate niceness, the Israeli's would be living in Israel in peace by now. The Iraqi problem should have been a UN effort. The problem that UN Officials were simply making too much money under the table to actually do their jobs, and the French and Russian Governments had too much money to lose to allow the UN to go in is something that Americans seem to ignore. If the US were to withdraw tomorrow, they would lose that supply of oil. Watch and see how well Democrats react to that little problem" Many people disagree with you and I think it is fair to say that you are disagreeing with them--and disparaging their beliefs and being highly critical. Of course, I don't know if that involves any "rage". I don't know if you are "obsessed". I certainly don't know if you are disparaging the beliefs of the Americans who were "so ham handed in it's diplomatic efforts. Supporting the Shah was a disaster, supporting Saddam was a collosal error, and American policy in Israel has been a text book case of what not to do. Not that I think the Israeli's are wrong, but I think without the US constantly trying to manipulate niceness, the Israeli's would be living in Israel in peace by now." "A softer gentler path will often provide the desired results...." Let me just assure that your homily tells me nothing new. I can tell you that in life there are times to be firm and times to be soft. There are times to be angry and there are times to be accepting. There are times to avoid argument...and to make ad hominem attacks to misdirect and to disguise a lack of solid rejoinder; and there are times to dismiss personalities and to argue for principles. I have encouraged you to drop the ad hominems and to make substantial points--if you have substantial points to make. I certainly take no offense at your attacks. I get angry every day at something. But I honestly cannot recall feeling rage--NOT EVER. I do have contempt--but that is something you did not pick up on. I am PROUD of my contempt. It stems from values (beliefs--values...you know how it goes). I have contempt for the many White Supremacist Racist Religions. I have contempt for the Black ones, too. I have contempt for the Jewish religious sect that believes Gentiles have no "souls" and are of no more of importance or value that a dog or a cow. In general, I have contempt for the mindlessness and the mind control of most religions. If you wish to attack me with ad hominems, you might find it more sensible to disparage my contempt! There are a lot of despicable and harmful beliefs out there. I truly hope you have learned to value, to judge, and to criticize what is ugly, mean, and inhuman. But you are definitely off base with "rage"! It surely would be nice to know what you believe about life and love rather than what you believe about me! I'm going to die. Ideas will live on. NOBODY is going to be interested in your ideas about Mr. Solon! But if principles and values are just slop for the pigs then please feel feel to attack me rather than discuss religious issues. People who have values understand that dangerous values must be disparaged and eradicated. But if one has no values....there is always personal insults about "rage" or whatever.... :-)