Activism and Politics => Politics => Topic started by: Melissa-kitty on September 04, 2008, 01:09:20 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Melissa-kitty on September 04, 2008, 01:09:20 PM
Post by: Melissa-kitty on September 04, 2008, 01:09:20 PM
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=F38C00F0A68939EC7136E0033656F767?diaryId=6817 (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=F38C00F0A68939EC7136E0033656F767?diaryId=6817)
I believed once.. about some inherent dignity and greatness about America. That it had problems, but we behaved (mostly) without barbarism. That we didn't torture people. We followed the law. We were accountable. We didn't kill people without ample reason. I served in the military, honored to serve my country.
I know now that things were really never as I thought in my innocence and naivety. But, things really have changed lately. I'm grieving for what has been lost. and am fearful for what is yet to come.
Tara
I believed once.. about some inherent dignity and greatness about America. That it had problems, but we behaved (mostly) without barbarism. That we didn't torture people. We followed the law. We were accountable. We didn't kill people without ample reason. I served in the military, honored to serve my country.
I know now that things were really never as I thought in my innocence and naivety. But, things really have changed lately. I'm grieving for what has been lost. and am fearful for what is yet to come.
Tara
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Flan Princess on September 04, 2008, 01:51:43 PM
Post by: Flan Princess on September 04, 2008, 01:51:43 PM
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg501.imageshack.us%2Fimg501%2F7264%2Fsigquoteme8.jpg&hash=4bdd2537d456ffa8a73909ef1c5ee65d8cfecdae)
Just in case anybody can't read it, it says:
Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but not everyone wishes to be on the side of truth.
-- Richard Whately
Just in case anybody can't read it, it says:
Everyone wishes to have truth on his side, but not everyone wishes to be on the side of truth.
-- Richard Whately
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 04, 2008, 02:23:26 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 04, 2008, 02:23:26 PM
QuoteI believed once.. about some inherent dignity and greatness about America
Salem witch trails ring a bell?
Thanksgiving: Pilgrims looted an unoccupied Indian camp and stole their stored food. They were starving. "Forgiven"
Believing is not good enough, you need the facts and rational thinking.
Posted on: September 04, 2008, 02:16:16 PM
Then there is the willingness for Americans to tolerate corruption. Just about everything we buy from China is made in a way to violate our laws if that facility was on American soil. Why do we prohibit slavery and pollution here but support it elsewhere? Then if we can not buy it we invade the country all in the name of consumerism.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: gennee on September 05, 2008, 10:24:16 PM
Post by: gennee on September 05, 2008, 10:24:16 PM
What made America great was that people were actively involved in making it a better and more civil place. That premise still holds true today. I am a volunteer with a grassroots organization which seeks to create independent media that speaks about the concerns of poor and working people. I am also involved with a few organizations that are working for transgender equality. I never set out to be an activist but I can't sit idly by while the country is falling apart and transgender are discriminated against.
Gennee
:)
Gennee
:)
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 06, 2008, 08:12:10 AM
Post by: lisagurl on September 06, 2008, 08:12:10 AM
QuoteWhat made America great was that people were actively involved in making it a better and more civil place.
At the expense of the rest of the world?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: gennee on September 06, 2008, 09:15:31 PM
Post by: gennee on September 06, 2008, 09:15:31 PM
Quote from: lisagurl on September 06, 2008, 08:12:10 AMQuoteWhat made America great was that people were actively involved in making it a better and more civil place.
At the expense of the rest of the world?
I believe that this can still hold true today. As transgender people we are making in roads because people are involved. I work for a grass roots organization which seeks to create an independent alternative to mainstream media. Do we do it at the expense of denying someone else their rights? Of course not. Yes, there were many things done that way and it shouldn't have. It doesn't mean that we have to follow suit.
Gennee
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:35:31 AM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:35:31 AM
QuoteDo we do it at the expense of denying someone else their rights?
To force an religious Enterprise to hire a person that behavior is contra to their beliefs is denying someone else their rights.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 10:38:31 AM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 10:38:31 AM
To allow a religious enterprise to get away tax free is an insult to the rest of us also.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:47:30 AM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:47:30 AM
Quote from: tekla on September 07, 2008, 10:38:31 AM
To allow a religious enterprise to get away tax free is an insult to the rest of us also.
As long as it is non-profit and does not receive tax funds. Something Bush as skirted around.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 10:53:51 AM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 10:53:51 AM
Skirted around it? He went thought it like a demolition derby. And there are very few non-profit groups, the perferred term is "not for profit." If you've ever seen the HeadQuarters of the leading "non-profit" corporations, its pretty obvious that someone is making big bucks from them.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 02:12:35 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 02:12:35 PM
QuoteIf you've ever seen the HeadQuarters of the leading "non-profit" corporations
My roommate worked in a Chicago Bank on the Salvation Army's stock portfolio. They could fund the Iraq war alone. I have to laugh every Christmas when I see the volunteers collecting change for them.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Gabrielle on September 07, 2008, 02:20:21 PM
Post by: Gabrielle on September 07, 2008, 02:20:21 PM
Quote from: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:35:31 AMQuoteDo we do it at the expense of denying someone else their rights?
To force an religious Enterprise to hire a person that behavior is contra to their beliefs is denying someone else their rights.
I don't see why anyone would want to work for an organization that is actively working against us getting out rights.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 02:29:09 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 02:29:09 PM
How about an x-ray technician in a Baptist Hospital?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 02:29:34 PM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 02:29:34 PM
Heck, I don't see where anyone living in the real world would want to work for people who have invisible friends.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Flan Princess on September 07, 2008, 02:40:32 PM
Post by: Flan Princess on September 07, 2008, 02:40:32 PM
Quote from: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 10:35:31 AMSo I take it denying medical care to a patient, say, for birth control pills or reproductive assistance, due to a practitioners religious beliefs is OK too?QuoteDo we do it at the expense of denying someone else their rights?
To force an religious Enterprise to hire a person that behavior is contra to their beliefs is denying someone else their rights.
Or am I just taking this out of context.
edit for clarity:
I understand the freedom to associate with like minded others, and by definition to discriminate against those whom one doesn't like.
But when does this "right" start to negatively others so they can't obtain a decent job, medical care, or any other privilege in society?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 04:51:25 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 04:51:25 PM
QuoteSo I take it denying medical care to a patient, say, for birth control pills or reproductive assistance, due to a practitioners religious beliefs is OK too?
We all have choices in this country. A private practice has the right to not serve you but a public Enterprise must. Now if we only had public services then you wold have a point. However not every club is open to the general public. Yes your rights stop where another's start. But remember all rights carry responsibilities.
Posted on: September 07, 2008, 04:49:14 PM
Is it not true that this board has a selective membership?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Flan Princess on September 07, 2008, 05:05:49 PM
Post by: Flan Princess on September 07, 2008, 05:05:49 PM
Quote from: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 04:51:25 PMSo I take it this (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=5603908) should not have happened?QuoteSo I take it denying medical care to a patient, say, for birth control pills or reproductive assistance, due to a practitioners religious beliefs is OK too?We all have choices in this country. A private practice has the right to not serve you but a public Enterprise must.
QuotePosted on: September 07, 2008, 04:49:14 PMYes, but in a way so that anyone can register and post/respond without submitting to an interrogation as to why they chose to register in the first place.
Is it not true that this board has a selective membership?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 05:07:49 PM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 05:07:49 PM
You have no right to a job, or to any privilege.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: Keira on September 07, 2008, 07:44:56 PM
Post by: Keira on September 07, 2008, 07:44:56 PM
America hasn't changed at all.
In 1820, 1890, 1920, 1930, 1960, 1980
I'm sure many of the elite said the same thing.
Whining about the good old days always comes from those who stand to lose
if the current situation continues (for example, blacks actually voting
and making a difference... Sooo frightening for some).
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 08:06:41 PM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 08:06:41 PM
I'm kinda in the Voltaire camp, that this is the best of all possible worlds. Sure things are messed up, but I think (outside of the government, and we never took that as being all too important in the first place) are better now for more people then they have ever been.
Where people mess up is with a misguided notion of rights. No one has a right to a job. Most people work very hard and in the end - not the beginning - find some success. The people I know who made it out of college were the ones who spent Friday night at the library not at the bar, who did books and not beer bongs, and who worked to learn all they could. The people I know in my union who do well - six figures and all - spend 30 years working to that end.
The people I know who did the best were the ones who made their own way when no other one was open for them.
I'm far more afraid that some new moron, who thinks that crashing an airplane after bombing civilian targets is somehow training for command than someone who would make the white house black. But hey, I'm a liberal.
Where people mess up is with a misguided notion of rights. No one has a right to a job. Most people work very hard and in the end - not the beginning - find some success. The people I know who made it out of college were the ones who spent Friday night at the library not at the bar, who did books and not beer bongs, and who worked to learn all they could. The people I know in my union who do well - six figures and all - spend 30 years working to that end.
The people I know who did the best were the ones who made their own way when no other one was open for them.
I'm far more afraid that some new moron, who thinks that crashing an airplane after bombing civilian targets is somehow training for command than someone who would make the white house black. But hey, I'm a liberal.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 08:30:57 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 08:30:57 PM
Quote from: Flan Princess on September 07, 2008, 05:05:49 PMQuote from: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 04:51:25 PMSo I take it this (http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=5603908) should not have happened?QuoteSo I take it denying medical care to a patient, say, for birth control pills or reproductive assistance, due to a practitioners religious beliefs is OK too?We all have choices in this country. A private practice has the right to not serve you but a public Enterprise must.QuoteShe and her lawyers successfully argued that a state law prohibiting businesses from discriminating based on sexual orientation applies to doctors.
The law was originally designed to prevent hotels, restaurants and other public services from refusing to serve patrons because of their race. The Legislature has since expanded it to cover characteristics such as age and sexual orientation.
These are public businesses not private establishments. As a worker you have the right to turn down a job offer. In one sense you are a private consultant refusing to provide a service. How ever if you open up a house painting business and refuse to paint a gay person's house because they are gay that is discrimination. But if you have a year of work planned and tell them you can get to it in a year that is not discrimination. They might challenge you in court then you would have to prove your claim. You could have a business plan that you only use white paint and they want green they would have no case but you would have to prove that also.QuotePosted on: September 07, 2008, 04:49:14 PMYes, but in a way so that anyone can register and post/respond without submitting to an interrogation as to why they chose to register in the first place.
Is it not true that this board has a selective membership?
As the owner has the right to ban anyone without a reason. You would have no legal recourse.
Do you not understand the difference between private and public?
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 08:33:37 PM
Post by: tekla on September 07, 2008, 08:33:37 PM
Do you not understand the difference between private and public?
Few do, which is part of the problem.
Few do, which is part of the problem.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 08:47:38 PM
Post by: lisagurl on September 07, 2008, 08:47:38 PM
The other situation is how Bush looks at it . I worked for the Feds. My boss wanted to do some things that boarded on crazy. The legal dept. said he could not do them, he told the legal dept to find a way that he could, and they did. The private legal community is a lot sharper than the Government lawyers and the staffers that write the legislation. They can always poke holes in the laws.
Title: Re: Dude!! What's happened to my country?
Post by: RebeccaFog on September 10, 2008, 08:15:04 AM
Post by: RebeccaFog on September 10, 2008, 08:15:04 AM
Quote from: Keira on September 07, 2008, 07:44:56 PMI agree. The stupid country is pretty much where it was during previous eras like the WWI era when that filthy bastard woodrow wilson had women imprisoned and tortured for asking to vote. German immigrants were abused all over the place, and on and on.
America hasn't changed at all.
In 1820, 1890, 1920, 1930, 1960, 1980
I'm sure many of the elite said the same thing.
Whining about the good old days always comes from those who stand to lose
if the current situation continues (for example, blacks actually voting
and making a difference... Sooo frightening for some).
It's like there are eras where we approach true civility as a nation and eras where we become a cesspool again. More cesspool than civility.