Posts by Berengaria

"the u.s. supreme court turned away an appeal from a new mexico wedding photographer found to have violated a state anti-discrimination law when she refused to take pictures of a commitment ceremony for a same-sex couple.. the photographer, elaine huguenin, argued unsuccessfully that she was being unconstitutionally forced to convey a message conflicting with her religious beliefs.

Berengaria

That’s the way Adam Smith envisioned a perfect economic model. He was right. But we humans – and our congressmen/women - don’t want the textile industry to go away if we depend on it for food or political power. We don’t want Chrysler to fail if we work for Chrysler or within the supply chain. And so on. The egoist, some of which rail against government controls, etc., seeks assistance from the universalist when they need it (bail me out, subsidize me, build a wall around me, keep those mean Chinese away, increase tariffs, etc.). As expected. The egoist will always think of themselves first and last.

The egoist (businesses) also seeks assistance from the universalist (government) by lobbying for and demanding better roads, schools, airports, utilities, etc. to help its business thrive.

So it comes off as more than a bit hypocritical for a business, a completely egoist enterprise, to think it can serve only who it wishes, especially when it has asked and gotten so much from the government – which has a competing interest of the common good for all – that has helped make their business thrive. And how many of you haters have or have had government backed school and/or home loans, lived in subsidized housing, were on food stamps, welfare, WIC, worker's comp, etc., etc.. To paint with such a broad brush about the mean ole violent government, especially when one has benefited from it so much, is hypocritical.

Those businesses which discriminate against others, even or especially based on their own peronal relgious beliefs, are on very shaky ground when it comes to the U.S. egoist/universalist capitalistic environment and the U.S. Constitution. To try to hide behind religion is a sham, and the courts have consistently upheld the rights of all citizens when they faced such discrimination. Courts in state after state are ruling that discriminating against gays is unconstitutional and numerous anti-gay marriage laws have been overturned (many of these decisions are currently stayed based on appeal).

77

What are you reading?

by Berengaria in

jw
friends

what is on your "to read" list in the immediate future?.

Berengaria

Some recent reads that I enjoyed immensely,

This one was absolutely fantastic. Read like a novel.

40

Naturalism is Dead - Why Are Believers Stuck in the Past?

by Perry in

sigmund freud, karl marx and charles darwin are considered the pillars of modern western thought.

they differed in many ways but had one thing in commonthey were reductionists who claimed that all higher realms of existence could be explained by lower natural causes.

they were the pillars of naturalism.. but their ideas were tested during the twentieth century and found wanting.

Berengaria

Hey guys! Two of my favorite people! How are you?

You know the kind of threads that interest me , and there just haven't been many lately. And I've discovered that when I am not on the computer so much, I read a heck of a lot more books!

40

Naturalism is Dead - Why Are Believers Stuck in the Past?

by Perry in

sigmund freud, karl marx and charles darwin are considered the pillars of modern western thought.

they differed in many ways but had one thing in commonthey were reductionists who claimed that all higher realms of existence could be explained by lower natural causes.

they were the pillars of naturalism.. but their ideas were tested during the twentieth century and found wanting.

Berengaria

Snare&racket, you are correct that this is another cut n paste from Perry, but it was lifted from a site that sells "Intelligently Designed Apparel and Merchandise" http://www.cafepress.com/accessresearch/964771

From the blurb for one specific T. When he pasted he left off the last sentence

but his theory is rapidly eroding as modern biological science reveals amazing complexity and design that cannot possibly be explained by Darwin’s proposed mechanism of random mutations and natural selection. This led Phillip Johnson to summarize the situation one day with the phrase that appears on this shirt: “Freud is dead, Marx is dead, and Darwin is not feeling very well.”

Same old Perry

11

let 'er go, let 'er go, god bless 'er!

by Hortensia in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbk3jwnsteo.

Berengaria

And then there's this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ5gCGJorKk

11

let 'er go, let 'er go, god bless 'er!

by Hortensia in

jw
friends

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbk3jwnsteo.

Berengaria

Ohhhh one of my favorites!!! Cab is the bestest..... noooo maybe Louis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzcpUdBw7gs

107

How do you feel about Common Core education?

by nonjwspouse in

especially if you are a teacher, how did you learn about it to begin with?

was there a common core rep doing a slick presentation?.

how do those of you with kids on school feel about, among others, things such as the deemphasis on the great works of literature ?.

Berengaria

First of all this was not directed at you, as per the quote. Second, you continue to make clear your lack of understanding. It doeesn't matter what the textbook companies provide, because it is up to each individual State/District to choose what they will use. Stop with the hysteria and use your head.

Not to mention, do you think there is a possiblility that these texts may have included "errors" in previous publications? In other world pre Common Core?? Or didn't it worry/interest you then?

17

Ice storm in Texas - climate change happening yet?

by Simon in

so, with the ice storm hitting texas does this mean that they will now accept climate change is real?.

or will they just try firing guns at the clouds ....

Berengaria

You Brits and Canuks have hit the Texas nail on the head.

You know what I saw down the street tonight (and I live in California, SF Bay Area even)? One of those hideously gauche inflatable snow men on someone's lawn. But that wasn't the worst of it. The dipshit householder had put an inflatable assault rifle in his hand. I have to drive by that crap twice a day.

How do these idiots reconcile the birth of Jesus, Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men, and that spectacle???