i think that if i had to describe my basic attitude toward life, the universe, and everything in one sentence, it would be this:.
generally, and on reflection, life is better today than it was yesterday.. very anti-thetical to the wt view of things, i know.
sng
I think that if I had to describe my basic attitude toward life, the universe, and everything in one sentence, it would be this:
Generally, and on reflection, life is better today than it was yesterday.
Very anti-thetical to the WT view of things, I know. What's yours?
SNG
i saw that today the supreme court threw out the case with the atheist father arguing that the under god phrase in the pledge of allegiance was unconstitutional.
i guess the case was thrown out on a technicality because the daughter does not live with her father but with her christian mother thus making the father's case invalid.
i knew about this case but i did not realize that is was dubbie prez.
ThiChi:
Who made this claim? Not I...........
I misread your statement about "our fathers" to mean "the founding fathers." Apologies.
The phrase "under God" in the Pledge seems, as a historical matter, to sum up the attitude of the Nation's leaders
I don't think the question is whether American leaders, or even Americans in general, have generally believed in God. The question is whether it is appropriate for the state to have an opinion on a religious matter. In mandating that the pledge of allegiance be recited in schools, the state is using its position to create a state endorsement of a particular belief, which is is not constitutional. It would be equally unconstitutional (and absurd) for the pledge to contain words such as, "One world of life alone in the universe." Any citizen can privately believe anything he wants. The state cannot hold opinions on religious matters.
FunkyDerek:Point taken. What Ben Franklin would have thought does not bear directly on the discussion, although it is interesting to try to understand what he meant as an author of the Constitution. As to discussions regarding the Constitution's meaning, they are definitely valid, since the Constitution is the basis for much of our law.
SNG
i saw that today the supreme court threw out the case with the atheist father arguing that the under god phrase in the pledge of allegiance was unconstitutional.
i guess the case was thrown out on a technicality because the daughter does not live with her father but with her christian mother thus making the father's case invalid.
i knew about this case but i did not realize that is was dubbie prez.
ThiChi and Richie,
If you think all the founding fathers were devout religionists, you ought to read Ben Franklin's autobiography. This intelligent and important man was basically non-religious. His ethics sprung from observations of the natural world, cause and effect, and rational thought. I believe that Franklin would agree that religious overtones have no place in a national pledge.
SNG
i saw that today the supreme court threw out the case with the atheist father arguing that the under god phrase in the pledge of allegiance was unconstitutional.
i guess the case was thrown out on a technicality because the daughter does not live with her father but with her christian mother thus making the father's case invalid.
i knew about this case but i did not realize that is was dubbie prez.
The court threw out the case because Newdow did not have legal custody of his child, so he had no legal basis on which to argue the case on her behalf. He could not show that he was being harmed by the pledge, since the custodial parent (the mother) agrees with it.
There are many parents who do have custodial rights who are dissatisfied with the pledge. I think it's only a matter of time until this case is heard and the core issue examined.
Personally, I do think that teachers leading children in the chant does amount to a state endorsement of a religious idea, which is clearly unconstitutional. Besides that, don't you think the pledge sounds better in its original form? For me it is much more inspiring:
One nation,
Indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all.
Now those are words everyone can live by.
SNG
i was thinking about this yesterday and i was thinking that my state pennsylvania must have one of the highest concentration of dubs either in real numbers or per capital.
i'm just basing this on a hunch, no data to back it up.
also, this is where russel did get his start, kinda scary.
Whew. That's a relief. You have maintained Portland's coolness factor in my mind. :-)
SNG
comments you will not hear at the 6-13-04 wt study (5-1-04 wt) (abbreviated)
review comments
will be in black and parentheses ().
Omigosh! I hadn't thought of these replies as comments, as in comments at the WT study! Ooh ooh, can I just read a couple paragraphs verbatim? Would that count? :-)
You're a way cooler conductor than any I've ever had. Go Blondie!
SNG
with my phd!
finally after all these long years.
the funny thing tho is that i'm walking through the ceremony, but not getting my diploma... yet.
Wow. That's awesome! Congrats!
SNG
i was thinking about this yesterday and i was thinking that my state pennsylvania must have one of the highest concentration of dubs either in real numbers or per capital.
i'm just basing this on a hunch, no data to back it up.
also, this is where russel did get his start, kinda scary.
Odrade:
Oregon is a RELIGIOUS state.
Oh man! And I was just defending Oregon as a really cool, liberal place to my friend! Well, how does Portland specifically stack up?
SNG
omg..........i am so nervous.... they only came cause 6 months ago, nodenial brought up a series of questions and the co asked if he could come back with the tattling brother (pm me if ya want to know about the tattling brother).
i came down about 5 minutes after primping........just got outta the shower, and got ready...almost came down "braless"...but my modesty wouldn't allow me (lol).
i looked at the co and said: you know the last time you visited, nobody ever introduced you to me......i knew you were the co but that's it"..(i said that because i wanted them to know i felt invisible).
They live in a small, fearful world, CB. You're a much bigger person than they are. Sorry you had to endure their antics.
SNG
the 2 jw convension-halls in the netherlands have now a bank/credit-card accespoint to give contribution to the wts with your bank or creditcards.
do you know this happens in other country's?
it is really strange to see that brs&srs are giving donations with their visa & mastercards.
Okay, mega super-duper cool points for whoever posts the first pictures on the credit card kiosks! C'mon...you know you want to be the winner!
SNG
