A eye opening and provocative insight into the incredibly dangerous actions of the current regime here in America. Take what you will from it but if nothing else realize that the actions your leaders take today are not without some serious consequences for the future.
I know the debate of gay marriage is often a very personal issue for some folks and i hope to not offend anyone in this conversation. I can understand (repeat: understand, not agree with) i understand why some Christians believe that homosexuality is wrong and thus can not or should not be given the right to be ordained by God in a church. I know the arguments on this particular element of the debate. I am happy to have them discussed here also but what i dont understand is how a country that claims to not have legal influence from religious groups can not give the same legal rights to any couple wishing to take on the civil union and commitment of most married couples in America. I dont understand why or how it is argued that this is not something that should already be happening. I mean there are plenty of couples of different religions or no religion at all who can go down to the town hall and get the papers and get the legal right and benefits. I dont see how that falls into the miracle and blessing of marriage that the Christian zelots believe is being attacked by gay marriage, but not these instances.
Still all religion aside why do we not offer a civil marriage to all couples so they can have the freedom America pushes so hard on the rest of the world – even places that dont want it or need it – yet here they continue to tell people who can and cannot get married. ( i would like to immediatly say no arguments about well then anyone can get married to animals and children etc. where do you draw the line? I draw the line at consenting adults doing what they want. 18+ your life to live)
I look forward to hearing what you all think about this.
I just wanted to open up the idea of being a religious or spiritual person and supporting the death penalty. I would like to hear how that fits into beliefs and morality in your life.
I know from my beliefs and spirituality being rooted in Christianity, but also being well informed and positively effected by many forms of spirituality i find that the concept of murdering is in no way justified and definitely not encouraged. I am certainly able to see that there are attitudes that are not quite as pacifistic as mine. I do know that there are very effective peaceful methods to effect opposition and oppression. Being a believer in pacifism or peace does not require you to sit back and do nothing. That is apathy and often a misguided argument against people who are against war and violence. It is not a clear cut stance and i know that in human situations we would most of us find ourselves reacting in a manner best fitted to defend ourselves. It does seem quite obvious to me certainly from the Christian tradition that the idea of killing in retaliation is taught against. I think something like thou shalt not kill and love thine enemy are starting points.
You know i often wonder what it will take for people to become more socially conscious to issues. I guess the rising gas prices shows at least one way to make people aware of something that needs to be addressed and thats to hit them where it hurts – in their pockets. The problem of gas emissions and the overall issue of global warming is something that until now was largely ignored or even purposefully added to by “supersize me” attitudes in America. Of course now i dont suppose to think that these people have become green warriors for the environment but hey i guess if this makes them look for more energy efficient vehicles and some support for alternate fuels for cars, well i think we should take what we can get. But for the over all issue it has brought some much needed attention.
I will say briefly that the issue of global warming is not clear cut, but it seems quite obvious that it is just the right attitude to have to take better care of the planet on which we inhabit. Also i hear counter arguments that the cars that emit less gas and fumes create more pollution in the creation stages. There is always going to be something in this argument, i mean look at the side effects of the bio diesel fiasco. Of course the rising corn price is not soley the fault of the bio diesel efforts but it is certainly not helping. Over all i feel there is no clear cut option of: this is the right thing to do and this is the wrong. What we can hope and strive toward is a change in the hearts and minds of people to be not only aware of the issues but to actively take part in trying to work toward a better solution. Awareness is a big step, so for that high gas prices i say bravo!
Something that i often find perplexing is the position commonly held by certain parties or groups and how they don’t seem to hold up together in a comparison of morals. I do my best not to agree with an issue based solely on where my political or social standing falls on the issue at hand. This in of itself is one of the biggest problem facing America as so many have lost the ability to really think for them selves and just follow the color they have fallen in with.
However the issue i always find to make no sense is the predominantly conservative support for the death penalty. These are the same folks who want Jesus in the class room and are anti abortion and stem cell research BUT they do think hooking another human being up to a execution machine is not only the just thing to do but they are adamant and passionate about the murder of these admittedly detestable people. This is really a question to the people who either do or just happen to know the reasoning behind this position. I can not see how any Christian or spiritual person can attest to believing that the death penalty is the right and just thing to do or support. Ignoring the issue that there could be a wrongful conviction which i am sure there a many cases of this, but just on a spiritual ground to argue for the saving of life on the one hand in the case of abortion and the taking of it on the other with the death penalty.
Please shed some light on this for me.
