CONFLICT: the winner decides what is TRUE in history and theology

by Terry 21 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  Happy Harvester

  . . . how the U.S. frames those issues is largely a matter of political policy and little impacts on the reality of life and death per se. Opinion is mere opinion.

  When there is tragedy through natural disaster the U.S. is there with its hand out filled with medicine, cash and humanitarian aid.

  Not to take what you were saying out of context, but one would wonder about how you mean "little impacts the reality of life and death per se" in regard to (US) public/political policy, both domestically and in terms of foreign relations, particularly in regard to what happened in New Orleans during a recent natural disaster, and what is still happening regarding the global gag rule. I'd say the action (and inaction) of US political policy has major impacts on the "reality of life and death per se," regardless of opinion.
• 

  Dansk

  Not to put down what the nazi's did to the jews. But hitler got the idea from what the americans ( USA ) did to the native american population.

  That's a new one on me!

  Ian
• 

  Happy Harvester

  No country has done a better job enfranchising its defeated enemies than the US?

  Thanks for the terrific Noam Chomsky quotes, Dave!

  Here's a nice little slide show on how nicely we've done infranchising our own citizens - once our enemies - now a scraggly, nagging embarassment to the humanitarianism of our still great country. How is it that a great country accomplishes such mediocrity for its disenfranchised?

  http://www.oprah.com/uyl/slide/20020211/uyl_slide_20020211_life_01.jhtml
• 

  Dansk

  Health and Well-being:

  On Pine Ridge, life expectancy for Lakota men is only 48 years old and for women it's 56. Many struggle every day to get their most basic needs met. Many on the Reservation don't have telephones or cars. They're aren't many businesses, gas stations or grocery stores.
  
  "We're not rich in money and material stuff, but we're rich in our life...our love for our children, our culture, and our language." — Rita Little Boy

  Damn disgraceful in the 21st Century. So wonderful how the native Indians, on the whole, still have their priorities right judging by Rita Little Boy's comments. For America, one of the world's greatest democracies, to still have people with a life expectancy of 48 in its own back yard is just beyond belief!

  Ian
• 

  Terry

  The fact is that the Early Church has NEVER apostasized from the Original teachings of the Christian faith. It was carried all the way for the last 2000 years. Below I'm listing some articles regarding the Church

  You are saying more than you reckon.

  The teachings of the Christian faith are just that: TEACHINGS. That is plural.

  You can't pass "GO" unless you pause and consider the plurality.

  There was never wholesale agreement. Never. Not ever.

  Judaism had Zealots, Essenes, Saducees and Pharisees who diddn't agree either.

  Monotheism may be one god, but; it doesn't lead to one view.

  There can be no TRUE faith without wholeness and integrity. And, even with wholeness and integrity it is no guaranteed fait accompli of actuality.

  The DIVINE may or may not be present, but; the aftermath of the actual behavior and deeds of the so-called Chruch give a frightening picture of the power and force of politics combined with orthodoxy.
• 

  Terry

  I am sorry to say that Iraq will probably be America's greatest failure in this respect. Time will tell though what effect America's intervention into Iraq will have been.

  I wouldn't be quick to say that it will be America's greatest failure. If the Iraqi people don't step up to the task of making something better than another fanatic regime you have to lay the blame at their feet.

  Sadaam was a huge stone on their chest. It is gone. Why replace it with another? That is their decision and they either have what it takes to gain some measure of a better existence or they don't. But, whatever happens; the outcome is generated by how the indigenous people perform.
• 

  Terry

  I think religion is both a political tool, and a political entity, though, wouldn't you say? I 'd be willing to bet that Constantine would agree, wouldn't you, Terry?

  Constantine didn't have a clue how different these feisty Jewish Messianic sects would be! The men he was dealing with had been through history's own crucible and emerged as hardened and obstinate as human beings can be! Constantine, in effect, was trying to turn centuries of mistrust, stubborn self-righteousness and willfull fatalism into some sort of garden party United Nations assembly. Messianic Jews (there was no such thing as "Christianity" yet) were never going to budge. The shakedown would only be a temporary alliance at best.

  Two thousand years later nothing has changed even though the Messianic Jews have evaporated and only the hybrid cult of "Christians" remains (of itself divided among sects.)
• 

  Terry

  Not to take what you were saying out of context, but one would wonder about how you mean "little impacts the reality of life and death per se" in regard to (US) public/political policy, both domestically and in terms of foreign relations, particularly in regard to what happened in New Orleans during a recent natural disaster, and what is still happening regarding the global gag rule. I'd say the action (and inaction) of US political policy has major impacts on the "reality of life and death per se," regardless of opinion.

  What you are actually describing here is an interesting phenomenon in two parts.

  First, Federal Bureaucracy and secondly local corruption.

  Bureaucracy is ineffectual, slow, wasteful and idiotic on its best day. The failures of people working for a bureacracy are due to the redtape, tenure and lack of accountability.

  Local corruption is another matter. New Orleans has a long, long history of politcal malfeasance. Getting anything done is a history of bribery and graft and the path of least resistance.

  The facts are clear what happened when a bureaucracy met local corruption at Katrina's aftermath!
• 

  Terry

  Not to put down what the nazi's did to the jews. But hitler got the idea from what the americans ( USA ) did to the native american population.

  Turn a page in your history book, please. Go back...go back...go back....

  What did Israel do (according to scripture) with indigenous peoples in the Promised Land?

  This is what set the pattern and template for Christian peoples in their dealings with indigenous humanity!

  Christianity felt quite smug and certain that dealing with non-Christians (savages) was more a matter of Divine policy (Manifest Destiny) than you might imagine.
• 

  Terry

  Here's a nice little slide show on how nicely we've done infranchising our own citizens - once our enemies - now a scraggly, nagging embarassment to the humanitarianism of our still great country. How is it that a great country accomplishes such mediocrity for its disenfranchised?

  Let us be honest. The leadership of Native Americans has the same problem that the leadership of Blacks has. The leadership empowers itself at the expense of the victimization of its constituents.

  By remaining pathetic, alcoholic, drug-addicted, uneducated victims people of color whine and complain rather than mounting an internal campaign to better their own conditions through community organization and legal clarity.

  Those who bypass the "leadership" go on to get a good education and make successful lives for themselves and family. Those who remain behind have only themselves and their leaders to blame for failing them.

  Jesse Jackson shakes down corporations for cash by threatening boycotts and the black community lionizes him. But, the black community gets nothing from Jackson but an occasional pep talk.

  Native Americans never had a decent battery of effective attorney's and senators working on their behalf because they fail to police their own numbers.

  The standards of these communities are apalling.

  Do I blame the victims? Or, do I identify the core problems? You decide.