I found that this is a different and, perhaps, easier way to discuss some of the perennial social issues that seem to plague us......and our "government"???
I have a friend #1.....who is a staunch fiscal conservative like me !!! We balance our books all the time !! If we can't "fit it in our budget", we do without.....until we can afford it.
.....and we don't like to waste money and time on frivolous things, especially when "times are tough".
We "detest" fraud, and avoid cheats or dishonest people. We expect and demand "personal responsibility"!!
I also have a friend #2 ...who is quite the opposite.... a "liberal" .......always finding a compassionate reason to help out the less fortunate in one way or another; ........ always finding a reason why its OK to let everyone "do their own thing" regardless of the consequences. I'm sick of it, of course!.....Where's the "personal responsibility"?? She always points out that... "Well, some of us are less fortunate than others"!! And I then respond, "Does that mean we are all destined to simply take our places in whatever the "most common denominator is"??? "Doesn't that take away any motive to excel at anything, if it will just get taken away and given to others" ??
The only response I get back is...."Well, that is supposed to make you feel good and a part of the "community"!
OK! ....So... Moving on.....
My friend #3 is a homosexual !! (Ugh!!) I didn't learn about that until later on. He was a great cook, hard worker, and a very nice guy. One day, he introduced me to his "boyfriend"....one that he had a "relationship" with for years! Wow!!! ....and I never knew it. Yeah, this one was "tough".....certainly not my "cup of tea"! He later explained to me some of the difficulties he had....like in trying to buy a house "together with his boyfriend"..... the unfair treatment he encountered (legally & civil) due to his sexual preference. Had to sympathize with them a bit here. They didn't "interfere" with anyone....didn't try to ram their "sexual preference thinking" down anyone's throat, didn't try to "teach it to my kids", or flaunt it around in some of the vulgar ways I've seen on the streets of NYC & LA......so, YES this seems unfair !!??
Now for friend #4 , a nice lady who generally is soft spoken and like me, is generally quite "conservative". She is a Lutheran and goes regularly to church. She is also PRO-CHOICE on the issue of Abortion. I tend to understand her position since I have a somwhat modified position myself, which would basically allow for a woman to make that choice only in the case of rape, incest, or medical necessity. An interesting quoted phrase makes one think: "....if you take an egg from a woman, it's an abortion..... If you take an egg from a chicken, it's an omelette."
The obvious reaction here is that there is a difference between a woman and a chicken;... but is there a difference??? And then, subtle point of "necessity" or "reason for taking the egg is not even addressed (as it should be)".
Friend #5 is a devout Muslim who has lived and worked his whole life in his family business since his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1956 from Morrocco. They are now closing up the business since many of their former customers have stopped patronizing their store for fear of reprisals to themselves, and assorted other peer pressures. It's a shame.... he is a "proud" person and refuses handouts, but can not sustain himself here any longer. He chooses now to leave and go back "home" where he came from !!??
He is not a "terrorist"; and does not subscribe to Islam's adoption of Sharia Law as some do......yet they are accused of it regularly. I guess he will have to take that ship and leave just like the Puritans did when they came to America, huh??
With all these different friends, I began to wonder what was wrong with some "people"???
I got quite frustrated.....and finally asked GOD to step in and grant me one wish!!!
I felt HE was on my side and would do this in order to keep my sanity.
I asked GOD to put all these people in ONE ROOM !!!
Then, to let them come out, one at a time, with the "proper mindset" as only HE truly intended them to have!!
WELL.....Slowly, each one came out.....and to my "amazement and befuddlement".....they all seemed exactly the same as they went in ????
I immediately said to myself :
"Well, I guess GOD DIDN'T GIVE ME THAT WISH !?"........
or DID HE ???
It may be that, even though, we have social & moral differences among us... (Remember, our own Founding Fathers escaped persecution, too !)
....that social tolerance of others is a virtue also; and that what we may see as an apparent "degradation of moral values" may not always be what it seems!
It may just be that the "human nature" in us all, will, in the long run, enable a CIVIL SOCIETY to adjust to changing times and still prevail over ANARCHY !!
OUR GOVERNMENT MUST BE TOLERANT, TOO
(and learn to stay within the confines of the Constitution)
I also have a friend #2 ...who is quite the opposite.... a "liberal" .......always finding a compassionate reason to help out the less fortunate in one way or another; ........ always finding a reason why its OK to let everyone "do their own thing" regardless of the consequences. I'm sick of it, of course!.....Where's the "personal responsibility"?? She always points out that... "Well, some of us are less fortunate than others"!! And I then respond, "Does that mean we are all destined to simply take our places in whatever the "most common denominator is"??? "Doesn't that take away any motive to excel at anything, if it will just get taken away and given to others" ??
The only response I get back is...."Well, that is supposed to make you feel good and a part of the "community"!
OK! ....So... Moving on.....
My friend #3 is a homosexual !! (Ugh!!) I didn't learn about that until later on. He was a great cook, hard worker, and a very nice guy. One day, he introduced me to his "boyfriend"....one that he had a "relationship" with for years! Wow!!! ....and I never knew it. Yeah, this one was "tough".....certainly not my "cup of tea"! He later explained to me some of the difficulties he had....like in trying to buy a house "together with his boyfriend"..... the unfair treatment he encountered (legally & civil) due to his sexual preference. Had to sympathize with them a bit here. They didn't "interfere" with anyone....didn't try to ram their "sexual preference thinking" down anyone's throat, didn't try to "teach it to my kids", or flaunt it around in some of the vulgar ways I've seen on the streets of NYC & LA......so, YES this seems unfair !!??
Now for friend #4 , a nice lady who generally is soft spoken and like me, is generally quite "conservative". She is a Lutheran and goes regularly to church. She is also PRO-CHOICE on the issue of Abortion. I tend to understand her position since I have a somwhat modified position myself, which would basically allow for a woman to make that choice only in the case of rape, incest, or medical necessity. An interesting quoted phrase makes one think: "....if you take an egg from a woman, it's an abortion..... If you take an egg from a chicken, it's an omelette."
The obvious reaction here is that there is a difference between a woman and a chicken;... but is there a difference??? And then, subtle point of "necessity" or "reason for taking the egg is not even addressed (as it should be)".
Friend #5 is a devout Muslim who has lived and worked his whole life in his family business since his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1956 from Morrocco. They are now closing up the business since many of their former customers have stopped patronizing their store for fear of reprisals to themselves, and assorted other peer pressures. It's a shame.... he is a "proud" person and refuses handouts, but can not sustain himself here any longer. He chooses now to leave and go back "home" where he came from !!??
He is not a "terrorist"; and does not subscribe to Islam's adoption of Sharia Law as some do......yet they are accused of it regularly. I guess he will have to take that ship and leave just like the Puritans did when they came to America, huh??
With all these different friends, I began to wonder what was wrong with some "people"???
I got quite frustrated.....and finally asked GOD to step in and grant me one wish!!!
I felt HE was on my side and would do this in order to keep my sanity.
I asked GOD to put all these people in ONE ROOM !!!
Then, to let them come out, one at a time, with the "proper mindset" as only HE truly intended them to have!!
WELL.....Slowly, each one came out.....and to my "amazement and befuddlement".....they all seemed exactly the same as they went in ????
I immediately said to myself :
"Well, I guess GOD DIDN'T GIVE ME THAT WISH !?"........
or DID HE ???
It may be that, even though, we have social & moral differences among us... (Remember, our own Founding Fathers escaped persecution, too !)
....that social tolerance of others is a virtue also; and that what we may see as an apparent "degradation of moral values" may not always be what it seems!
It may just be that the "human nature" in us all, will, in the long run, enable a CIVIL SOCIETY to adjust to changing times and still prevail over ANARCHY !!
OUR GOVERNMENT MUST BE TOLERANT, TOO
(and learn to stay within the confines of the Constitution)
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