Posts by blacksheep

85

Truth, Justice, and the American Way

by D8TA in

ah yes, the ?truth?

?and not by the standards of one publishing company in which we all here share something in common with.

as i?ve sat silently for months, browsing this board on occasion, and i still can?t believe there are people here who blind themselves with ?patriotism?

blacksheep

To the original poster: of late I've heard more shrill, non-solution geared carping from many liberals. It is those folks who seem to be generating the most negative energy, who seem to see crazy flag-waving conservatives around every corner shouting "US is the BEEESSST!" Simply a ridiculous caricature of people who are forced to defend some US decisions on virtually every international front, basically on anything at all. They really offer no solutions other than just be nice and cooperate with everybody.

Additionally, I personally find your veiled support of terrorist actions and retaliation on the US and other nations is shocking. Keeping score as to who started it first and who deserves having innocent people from their nation killed or injured is childlike logic and again, solves absolutely nothing.

50

Michael Jackson in the news again.....

by DebraDoll in

jw
friends

so sad..........arrest warrants were just executed against him for multiple counts of child molestation.

as a mom i am deeply appalled, as an ex witness i am saddened at his lack of power over his own life and ability to move forward, beyond the scarring of an abusive upbringing.

blacksheep

Oops...I meant to say shut the *plaintiff* up...

50

Michael Jackson in the news again.....

by DebraDoll in

jw
friends

so sad..........arrest warrants were just executed against him for multiple counts of child molestation.

as a mom i am deeply appalled, as an ex witness i am saddened at his lack of power over his own life and ability to move forward, beyond the scarring of an abusive upbringing.

blacksheep

"Aren't people presumed innocent until they are actually proven to be guilty?"

Or, until they can completely circumvent the justice process and fork over $24 million to shut the defense up.

10

Research Linking Wealth, Religion Shows JWs Among the Poorest

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

here is a very interesting article from today's local paper.

a reseacher from ohio state university is showing that american jews develop substantially more wealth than christians, including jws, based upon education and early investments...... .

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2003/09/25/20030925-c1-04.htmlosu sociologists study jews criticize research linking wealth, religion thursday, september 25, 2003felix hoover the columbus dispatch .

blacksheep

Interesting. I believe very much in the JW/non-wealth issue. I see it as a two-fold issue: those who were raised as JW and those who converted as adults.

1. First, for those raised as JWs, higher education is discouraged. This obviously impacts their chances for future wealth.

2. Due to prohibitions on pre-marital sex, the average JW marries several years earlier than most of society. Early marriage curtails higher education, promotes having children early, and tends to limit women's (in particular) future education.

3. The rigorous requirements of meetings, preaching, assemblies, etc., takes a great deal of time away from pursuing a economically profitable career.

4. JW's whole negative attitude toward the "pursuit of weath" directly conflicts with many of American's view toward pursing prosperity.

5. JW's belief that Armageddon's right around the corner affects their desire to invest for the future. (Also related to this is not financing their children's education).

Secondly, with regard to converts to JW'sm, these people are more likely

1. To not have highly professional occupations

2. Are not highly educated

3. Are generally dissatisfied with life (sighing and crying over this system...), so are generally less likely to be economically, socially, and professionally successful. Once they convert to JW'ism, this perceived alienation only intensifies.

25

Violins in rock music?

by blacksheep in

so the dixie chicks are abandoning country for rock.

apparently because they're not appreciated or understood by the country music industry and fans.

didn't we have some sort of post-anti-bush discussion about how they were making more money since their ill-fated comments?

blacksheep

"It's possible, and probable--that people who don't listen to country music, rock fans, bought the Dixie Chicks record after the incident, who otherwise wouldn't give them the time of day. That was my experience. I don't listen to country at all--but I wanted to hear them for myself."

Could be. But I'd be willing to wager a big ol' bet that if the Chicks were doing well in record sales, etc., they wouldn't be abruptly "leaving country."

Ah, the violins...sniff, sniff.

25

Violins in rock music?

by blacksheep in

so the dixie chicks are abandoning country for rock.

apparently because they're not appreciated or understood by the country music industry and fans.

didn't we have some sort of post-anti-bush discussion about how they were making more money since their ill-fated comments?

blacksheep

So the Dixie Chicks are abandoning Country for Rock. Apparently because they're not appreciated or understood by the Country Music industry and fans.

Let's see. Didn't we have some sort of post-anti-Bush discussion about how they were making MORE money since their ill-fated comments? I seem to remember Michael Moore quoting those stats...

So what gives? They were igored at the grammy's. They are not appreciated. They are leaving country for rock.

Poor, poor Dixie Chicks...Wonder what their new name will be?

40

California Election a GO for 7 OCT

by Yerusalyim in

jw
friends

i'm assuming ya'll knew that....i was really suprised though, in reading the decision...that the phrase "in a nutshell" was used by the judges in writing the decision....i didn't know that was proper legalese.

blacksheep

Whoohoo! I've been buried in work the last couple of days and felt, what will be will be.

As a Californian, I'm ready to go to the polls to get this SOB out of office. If anyone had doubts about his political machinations prior to the recall, they'd do well to see what legislature he's approved since his butt's been on the line.

This cannot be ignored.

48

Are You A Happier Person Than When You Were In The "Truth"?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i see a lot of hopelessness and cynicism now.

are you actually happier now than when you were a jehovah's witness?

blacksheep

Absolutely. Since leaving the truth, I've felt more, experienced more, been open to new situations, taken more risks.

I think I was pretty much numb all those years as a JW. Life isn't perfect by any means; it's how you deal with it. Most JW's IMO are just passive observers to life.

I'm way, waaaay happier out!!!

81

Bowling for Columbine

by drwtsn32 in

i just watched this documentary tonight and enjoyed it.

it's amazing to me the number of gun-related murders in the us... over 11,000 in one year.

i don't remember the exact figure, but canada, japan, and germany combined had less than 500 gun-related murders.

blacksheep

"Are we going to sit here crying boo hoo or are we going to get people together and say what do we want for our children and how do we go about it so everyone benefits from it."

Oh, and you think this movie helped do this? Sounds like it made a lot of money for Moore. But I can see it doing little else.

81

Bowling for Columbine

by drwtsn32 in

i just watched this documentary tonight and enjoyed it.

it's amazing to me the number of gun-related murders in the us... over 11,000 in one year.

i don't remember the exact figure, but canada, japan, and germany combined had less than 500 gun-related murders.

blacksheep

"I don't think anyone can seriously argue that there isn't a problem with gun related violence?

Whether you agree or disagree with BFC, there has to be consencus (sp) on that."

So that's what it's reduced to? We know we have a gun problem. So that excuses creating largely fictional film that is cleverly passed off as a documentary? I think we have a problem with rape in this country as well. But I don't think the way to deal with it or to raise awareness of it is via a movie that cleverly slants facts about the reasons for it, and/or unfairly implicates certain well-known people in promoting rape.