Oh, and same applies to "Austriaworld."
Some people just like to sit back and pass judgment.
Others like to DO SOMETHING.
blacksheep
JoinedPosts by blacksheep
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blacksheep
In CanadaWorld, it's okay to pretend you have a clue about the US government.
In CanadaWorld, it's okay to sit on your arse and pass judgment on the most influential government in the world.
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36
Why Hasnt America Been Attacked Again??
by ApagaLaLuz inwhat is your opinion of this?
the us recently released a report stating that airport screeners are not doing their jobs correctly, and outlined which airports were the weakest.. .
do think the reason we have not had any new terrorist attacks since 2001 is because the government has beefed up homeland security?
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blacksheep
Think of the attack in Spain. Some Arabs still have an axe to grind over the battle for Granada back in 1492......that mentality also applies here in the US. They could attack again at any point in the future, just not the near future.
Kindly explain how the US comes into Arabs' "axe to grind" over Granada in 1492. We were not even a nation then. What "axe to grind" against US are you sepaking of?
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36
Why Hasnt America Been Attacked Again??
by ApagaLaLuz inwhat is your opinion of this?
the us recently released a report stating that airport screeners are not doing their jobs correctly, and outlined which airports were the weakest.. .
do think the reason we have not had any new terrorist attacks since 2001 is because the government has beefed up homeland security?
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blacksheep
Or do you think it has something to do with the much publicized scrutiny of Bush, and the many protests by American's against the way the government has reacted to the "war on terrorism?" Do you think that the lack of support for Bush by Americans has influenced would-be attackers to not follow through?
Pretty incoherent reationale here. Why in the world would you tink that "lack of support for Bush" by Americans would influence would be attackers not to follow through??????
Beyond that, I think that the US has been burned by 9/11. We won't be burned easily again. The Patriot Act has helped immensely to curb terrorism in the US. This administration has done far, far more than any prior admins to thwart terrorisim.
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21
Just Rambling
by Yerusalyim ini was outside watching a yellow jacket fly about collecting pollen from the clovers out by the smoke area.
it was pretty neat.
how does it know these are flowers?
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blacksheep
others can attribute it to nature...point is, there is something out there greater than us.
I would agree. I just don't think that we're intelligent enough to wrap our arms around what it actually is.
Here's an example of things I experience now and then that just defy explanation. I was living overseas, when I had this dream about a JW woman I had known during my childhood (she had two chidren, and my sister and I were close to them as children). I hadn't seen or spoken with her in in over 20 years, and I cannot recall giving her a concious thought. One night I dreamed about her--she was visiting me overseas in my house, and she was giving me advice of some sort.
A couple days later I was speaking with my mother back in the states. She mentioned "You remember Ann, Steve and Sue's mom? She just unexpectedly died." I was, of course, shocked. I couldn't help mentioning that I had just dreamed about her. Of course, my JW mom was creeped out thinking, possibly, that my mind was finally taken over by demons.
Anyway, my life has been full of such "conincidences." Yes, I think there is something much bigger out there, and I believe that there is some form of life after death. But I think we just barely scratch the surface here.
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31
A 'sister' writes to Silentlambs
by abbagail infrom: [email protected] .
date: wed, 21 apr 2004 17:04:04 -0500 (cdt) .
subject: a sister writes .
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blacksheep
I get so angry at the JWs for promoting going to elders with every problem. When I was a teenager I had anorexia (wonder why?), and my family doctor told my mother to get me into counseling. What did she do? She had the elders come over. Here was these two overweight guys trying to give me advice on what to eat/when. I *never* got counseling for the disorder. Fortunately, I pulled out of it (as I got away from the JWs, again, what a surprise).
I do not think anyone should underestimate the grave disservice JW's are doing by setting up elders as the one-stop-shopping for advice, especially when they obvoiusly are NOT qualified to handle some of the things they do. Obviously, it's perpetuated abuse. In my case, I basically deprived of medical care.
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A 'sister' writes to Silentlambs
by abbagail infrom: [email protected] .
date: wed, 21 apr 2004 17:04:04 -0500 (cdt) .
subject: a sister writes .
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blacksheep
So, if this mother already had her "mind made up," why the need to go to the elders?
The whole premise of her letter shows a great deal of convoluted thinking:i.e., "If elders give you bad advice don't listen to it!" The role of JW's elders is to give the congregation spiritual guidance on matters. Obviously, a person seeking the advice of the elders is seeking spiritual guidance in making decisions and dealing with issues. It makes NO SENSE to do so if members of the congregation already know what they want to do, and already know what consistutes "bad advice."
This girl was lucky in that her mother made the decision that was right for her and her daughter (hope she also took legal action--doesn't say here). But to suggest that it's the responsibility of the "flock" to actually know when the elders' are actually representing "Jehovah's" wishes, or simply giving bad advice is naive and simplistic.
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The Best years of our lives...
by Jonty Parkin inhello friends!.
well, i never thought i'd see the day when i was prepared to talk about my 20 plus years in "the truth" (rolls eyes upward in despair)!
in view of what i have to show from it, i cannot help thinking that i wasted the best years of my life!
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blacksheep
Welcome Jonty!!! Sounds like you've done pretty darned good for yourself, and the best years of your life are happening right now and in the future.
I basically had to fight to go to university, but I am very similar to you in that it just confirmed and put a logical/emotional framework around the doubts that I always had as a JW. The degree/and subsequent studies opened more career and personal opportunties than I could ever have imagined. I spent my late 20's/30's making up for lost time socially. I worked internationally, which was also a tremendous eye-opener and life enhancer. (I remember thinking, as I lived peacefully in a quaint villiage in Europe: I wonder what negativity JW's would find here? I think also that the JW's are such an American thing: you travel to other countries and see more of a continuum of life--their socieities have been around a lot longer and they've sort of figured things out. Might not be making much sense..)
Anyway, I have had great experiences, some bittersweet, but that's life, after all. I have a beautiful family, home, challenging career. I think finally I have shed the "fear" that JW's brainwash you to believe: that if you leave them, you'll be punished, somehow, somewhere.
The reverse is true: if you open youself up to life and experiences, great things do happen. It doesn't mean a few bad things don't--but that happens to everyone.
Best of luck. Hope you stick around--your story is awesome. What's it like to live in China, btw??
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Will man evolve a beyound any need for religion???
by frankiespeakin insince evolution has caused our species to have bigger and better brains as time went on,,will we eventually evolve beyound any need for religion??
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blacksheep
Some of us already have.
(Thanks in part to the JWs)
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126
Why I think Bush is scary
by Simon inhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4767542/ in woodward's portrait, president bush is single-minded, and possibly simple-minded, in his resolve.
he seems to have relied more on divine guidance than the considered opinions of his top advisers.
bush told woodward that as he approached the final decision to go to war, "i was praying for strength to do the lord's will ... i'm surely not going to justify war based on god.
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blacksheep
The libertarians stand for a constitutionally sound government . Globalization is not in their interest and they are probly more interested in backing out of Iraq than any other political group .If you like conservative government I think they beat the hell out of the republicans as I can't see how globalization is a conservative policy .
So, cut and run? Not interested in that kind of weakness. But it interesting that the Dems and Reblicans have seemed to have flipped flopped on views of "globalization." Previously, the Dems promoted actively helping other nations, bringing democracy to oppressive regimes. Now, suddenly they've become far more isolationist, and the more conservative elements are leading the way to freeing other nations.
The change here is largely due to terrorist threats. Conservatives understand the true nature of this threat. We cannot afford to hide in a shell inside our borders. Terrorists have declared war, are increasingly dangerous, and truly a part of the global landscape.
To cut and run not only demonstrates extreme cowardice (as bin Laden overtly acused us of by reminders of the past), but it's downright foolish.