Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on July 30, 2010 at 10:03pm

The fact the many Moslem women are sequestered from knowledge, the news, the outside world, and only allowed to learn what is in the Koran, which makes it abundantly clear what her place is, doesn't in any way effect the way her life is lived? She can't withhold sex because her husband has the right to rape her, and she can't slit his throat while he sleeps because she would be doomed to hell.

Permalink Reply by Doug Reardon on July 30, 2010 at 11:45pm

I was just using Moslem women as one egregious example. I don't think our culture is anything to get pumped up about either. I am not part of this government, I was just born here. Your reaction seem a little over the top. I don't know what it is you think I said, but whatever it was that you think I meant, you're sadly mistaken. Did you not note the "?" at the end of those two sentences that seem to have so perturbed you? So, get right with Bob and chill dude.

Permalink Reply by Reggie on July 31, 2010 at 6:25am

If our involvement in those countries is for such glorious purposes and we are fulfilling that purpose, why is it that the young men and women we send over there are, when they come back, committing suicide at a rate that EXCEEDS the casualty rate while they are there?


Wow. I do love how anything plays into your fantasy narrative. Go ahead, Larry. Don't just beat around the bush by asking such scandalous and insinuating questions. Tell us the reason why war veterans are at higher risk for suicide.

Permalink Reply by Reggie on July 30, 2010 at 11:58pm

Just think if this lady was condemned to flipping burgers and listening to Justin Beiber!

Permalink Reply by Rhiannon Smith on July 31, 2010 at 1:42am

Listen, I understand where you're coming from. But it's not effective in getting people to understand us if we make ourselves out to be so much more superior and knowledgeable. We don't KNOW that there's no god. We're just open to more knowledge than they are.

Permalink Reply by Reggie on July 31, 2010 at 6:19am

Your examples given earlier to Doug were imagined. Mine was real.

We get it, though. You don't like 'Merika. But while you bemoan "Amerikan" atrocities of music and fast food, why do you tacitly support International ones by claiming the Prime Directive? Will you go on the record as supporting Honor Killings if they are culturally relevant?

Permalink Reply by Reggie on July 31, 2010 at 6:42am

Listen, I understand where you're coming from. But it's not effective in getting people to understand us if we make ourselves out to be so much more superior and knowledgeable. We don't KNOW that there's no god. We're just open to more knowledge than they are.

Of course you can't prove a negative; that is a straw man and not something I have ever proposed.

But, can you prove that effective communication excludes being forceful or offensive to some people? You make the claim that it is not. How do you know that? Or is this along the Accommodationist desire to never distinguish the difference between respect of people and respect of beliefs?

Again, to clarify, I am not advocating smugly going around telling people they are stupid. But when even your quiet atheism still offends some religious folk, how will you appease them? Or will you tacitly support their beliefs with your deference and conversion?

This huge concern over being offensive is being blown out of proportion. When you have mutually exclusive world views and you are in the minority fighting for the correct one, you will offend people. If you don't, then you really are ineffectual.

Think about any socially progressive movement in the United States over the last 200 years and name one where people were not offended or harsh words were not used. Let us name one movement that was effective, that changed such a core belief in a large amount of people, and didn't offend hardly a soul and examine it as a model for expanding a reality based view.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next ›
• Page