To Kill a Mockingbird
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To kill a mockingbird
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Shannon wrote: "Terrorists of Middle Eastern descent have spoken out against America's freedoms, for years. And, regardless of everything else, ... Bush, wars, female troops in Saudi Arabia driving vehicles or flying planes, oil, etc... there will always be Israel. We voted for Israel's independence and we support Israel. "The Islamists wouldn't be here if we weren't over there. At least not al Qaeda. Osama made that clear, but our press has chosen not to report this, probably coerced to do so by our government.
During and after the first Gulf war, we built seven (last count) military bases in Saudi Arabia, a place considered Holy under Islam. What we're calling terrorism they justify as a holy war, jihad against sacrilege.
We need to stop depending on foreign oil for our energy needs. We can spend trillions in military effort, and are, and will never change the mindset of Islamist extremism.
The only real solution is to go green as fast as we can. Conserve, by all means. But being over there is stupid. If we were to fully cost ME oil and add in the cost of the naval and over military resources devoted to protecting Exxon's tankers, plus the ME wars, gasoline would be $10 a gallon.
How many more wars will it take?
How many more bombings will it take for the picture to become clear?
Monty J wrote: "The Islamists wouldn't be here if we weren't over there. At least not al Qaeda. Osama made that clear, but our press has chosen not to report this, probably coerced to do so by our government."
I find the things you choose to respond to somewhat interesting ....
Be that as it may, ....
Regardless of whether or not we're there or not, they would be here.
President Obama could pull every single member of the military from the Middle East next month, not that it would happen ... ever.
Those who hate Israel and want to drive every Jewish person in Israel into the sea would still have a score to settle with us. There were the three wars, nothing will change that. We did send female troops into Saudi Arabia, without being covered from head to toe and with jobs instead of being tasked with servicing male troops.
In addition to that, though, and probably more importantly, we supported Israel. It's just that simple. We supported Israel in independence and in the wars that followed. That has not been forgiven or forgotten. Not everyone has the short-term memory issues exhibited by Americans.
Oil is an issue. It is, by far, the only issue.
I find the things you choose to respond to somewhat interesting ....
Be that as it may, ....
Regardless of whether or not we're there or not, they would be here.
President Obama could pull every single member of the military from the Middle East next month, not that it would happen ... ever.
Those who hate Israel and want to drive every Jewish person in Israel into the sea would still have a score to settle with us. There were the three wars, nothing will change that. We did send female troops into Saudi Arabia, without being covered from head to toe and with jobs instead of being tasked with servicing male troops.
In addition to that, though, and probably more importantly, we supported Israel. It's just that simple. We supported Israel in independence and in the wars that followed. That has not been forgiven or forgotten. Not everyone has the short-term memory issues exhibited by Americans.
Oil is an issue. It is, by far, the only issue.
Grag wrote: ""Progressive" "liberals" like you are so narrow-minded, oppressive and ignorant."
Actually, I'm a very proud Independent.
I'm very conservative on certain issues and liberal on others. I can't imagine abdicating my right to thought in order to follow in lockstep with a party that expects me to believe and promote all of the talking points.
Actually, I'm a very proud Independent.
I'm very conservative on certain issues and liberal on others. I can't imagine abdicating my right to thought in order to follow in lockstep with a party that expects me to believe and promote all of the talking points.
It is good to see a lively and impassioned debate going on in here. As an outsider, knowing little about the education system in the USA, I was appalled to read that a child’s educational goals & expectations might be determined by its race. I view that as very divisive.
"Realistic goals are motivating. Unrealistic goals are demoralizing."
How demoralising is that racially divided system on the bright non-white kids?
Monty J - I think got close to the problem stating that the schools with most learning demands should get the highest funding. Seems very logical to me. The other model will polarise the school system.
Shannon - A friend of mine, an English teacher in Connecticut, recently used ‘invisibility’ as an essay theme. I suggested she started with NAI, who’s plight is similar to that of the Aboriginals in Australia. Two very shameful stories!
Grag – grow up.
This whole thread I will chalk up as a victory to Harper Lee...
Alan wrote: "How demoralising is that racially divided system on the bright non-white kids?"
No kidding!
No kidding!
Alan wrote: "Shannon - A friend of mine, an English teacher in Connecticut, recently used ‘invisibility’ as an essay theme. I suggested she started with NAI, who’s plight is similar to that of the Aboriginals in Australia. Two very shameful stories!
This whole thread I will chalk up as a victory to Harper Lee..."
Glad you gave your friend that idea.
I agree that this is a testament to Lee's brilliance. I just hope Dylan and his classmates check in.
This whole thread I will chalk up as a victory to Harper Lee..."
Glad you gave your friend that idea.
I agree that this is a testament to Lee's brilliance. I just hope Dylan and his classmates check in.
Shannon wrote: "J.D. wrote: "Errr, changing the subject here, my thoughts about the 'Boston Massacre 2.0' is that a human being or beings did a heinous thing to innocent other human beings. Why? #1: He/she/they wa..."Hi Shannon, I seem to follow you around here, I like what you say. I would for you to friend me and I you! I have an Author's page: JD Langston. I also want to be your fan. Thanks, JD aka Janet www.iniquitousconnections.com
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Satan and evil .... That's quite a topic ....
I don't know how much I want to focus on Satan and evil here. So many don't believe, non-believers, etc.... Then, we have people of other faiths that don't believe, I don't think, in Satan. In addition, a lot of Christians I know don't believe in Satan or evil either. They believe everyone is healthy and unhealthy in varying degrees and unhealthy behavior is responsible for evil. Therefore, would it be somewhat limiting? Not sure. I can tell you that I'm 100% certain that evil exists. In addition, I believe Satan exists, though I'm not sure what that means. I don't visualize a pointy tail and pitchfork.
However, coming from a secular point of view ... and a spiritual point of view ... it would be one's choice, I think we can take it back to the book.
The Atticus quote regarding conscience .... I think people could define evil as knowing what's right and refusing to do it given that there might be a cost. I think it can also be defined as knowing what's wrong, looking it in the face and refusing to do anything about it because there might be a cost.
What would other people think? Just go along with the crowd. Go along to get along. What if I lost friends or worse? Etc....
How many times do people know evil is going to take place, yet they do nothing to stop it?
Love, yes.
I also advocate for action, being true to one's conscience regardless of the cost. Of course, there are some who lack a conscience. Sociopaths. However, even they are surrounded by people who know the truth; what can they and what do they do with that truth ...?
Silence or not?