Some Words of Wisdom

A very good sampling from a wide range of outlooks and personalities.

Have a God blessed time of thanksgiving to all.

"Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for -- annually, not oftener -- if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments."

Mark Twain

There you are Sam, I hated it when we weren't talking. Just so you know, I didn't write those words (that's what those little thingies are at the beginning and end of the paragraph above the first and last word...it's also why I wrote Mark Twain at the end).

Nope, I just figured that since you were sharing quotes about thanksgiving some other perspectives deserved to be shared also....you know this being America and me being free to do so and all.

Here are a couple more:

"They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our land, and they did." --Red Cloud

"I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land." --Jon Stewart

"You know that just before that first Thanksgiving dinner there was one wise, old Native American woman saying, "Don't feed them. If you feed them, they'll never leave." ---Dylan Brody

"Wait, we can not break bread with you. You have taken the land which is rightfully ours. Years from now my people will be forced to live in mobile homes on reservations. Your people will wear cardigans, and drink highballs. We will sell our bracelets by the road sides, and you will play golf, and eat hot h'ors d'ourves. My people will have pain and degradation. Your people will have stick shifts. The gods of my tribe have spoken. They said do not trust the pilgrims, especially Sarah Miller. And for all of these reasons I have decided to scalp you and burn your village to the ground." --- Paul Rudnick

Um, no I am not a lawyer

Guillterra,

So quickly were you anxious to show your toxic view of America and Americans, that you make stuff up. In all of the quotes Sam had in this blog, I don't think any of them were about Thanksgiving. They were just good quotes, with Sam saying "Happy Thanksgiving".

But the hateful person that you are, you thought you take swipes at Thanksgiving, and Sam called you on it. Then you condescend. My oh my, what a brilliant and marvelous and talented man you are, in your own mind. To me, you are a small man, probably in more ways than one.

Sam, some time ago you said the Guillterra craziness would clearly demonstrate the hatred in liberals hearts, and the insanity of leftist thought. I have had friends and family members, not really in to politics, but after reading Guillterra's vile comments, as well as these other liberal haters, they are beginning to see the danger liberals pose to our country. I am understanding why you write and tolerate the Guillterras. You're in our prayers.

Mr Inglaterra

News flash, Mark Twain is a fictional character. It isn't very wise to base your attack on Mr Eldridge on a fictional statement.

Yes, real or not real? Do you see the differance.

I have spent a fair amount of time reading the blogs and the lobs that seemed to be hurled at each other from both extremes. As you can see from my site name, I once was much like Sam and Duffer. I voted for Bush (twice), I watched Fox News, I went to a very conservative church that supported (and even secretly applauded) killing of abortion doctors and taught that the world was created 6,000 years ago. Mr McLoud, you would hav fit in very well there.

But then something happened: I started to ask questions. I did my own research and found out the things that people like Rush and Glenn Beck were saying were wrong, and hateful, and were meant only to create fear. In short, I began to think for myself. I began to see the consolidation of wealth in the hands of a few, and it made me shudder to think of what huge conglomerates with giant tax loopholes and tax breaks were doing to small businesses.

Now, I'm not saying that I agree with the likes of Guillermo or Carl. You two may have some valid points, but every time you participate in the insult games, I lose respect for you. Case in point, Guillermo, why did you choose to disparage Thanksgiving in this blog? Like someone commented, the blog wasn't about Thanksgiving really. I think sometimes you intentionally do things like that to antagonize. It makes for great comedy, but does little to further your cause. Now, you are right, America has made mistakes, and those mistakes should be discussed, but you take them to the point of making this great country the root of evil in the world.

Now Sam, don't think I will spend a lot of time defending you if do decide to devote any more of my time to this blog. Anyone who quotes (and I am assuming reads) Ayn Rand most likely has the intellectual capabilities of a teenager. Her grand theories and diatribes on self reliance were hardly applicable to any real world situation, and the contradictions in her reasoning are flawed to the point of ridiculousness.

I hope I can provide what seems to missing from these blog discussions: a view from the middle, which is where most Americans find themselves (Sam you are NOT the mainstream, and neither are Carl or Guillermo). And any of the right wingers on the board, just keep in mind that as you spout your talking points, I know exactly where you are coming from and where you get your information. Because I used to be you.

Candy, I appreciate you folks very much.

I am "mostly" native American. My mother is native Indian, born on a reservation. Many years ago, mom taught my brothers and me lessons on life that included, of course, what happened to native Americans.

Oh yeah, there were treaties broken, promises made repeatedly, and then broken, lies, more lies, treachery and deceit.

I can remember a question mom asked us boys years ago. That question was, "do you want to hate all your life because of mistakes made by men you didn't even know, and circumstances you had no control over?"

Her solution, as a native American woman, was to embrace America, the good ideas, and the good people, and the good principles. She was a warrior, no doubt about it. There were at least two times that she had to sue, go to Court, to reverse racist and sexist workplace decisions. But she never complained, or berated the USA. No, she believed that if we would embrace the liberty that America offered, and carry God in our hearts, that God would look out for all peoples, of all colors.

Mom fought through the growing times for women's' opportunities, and was tremendously successful, all the time reminding us that liberty was the solution to our problems, not government, not bitterness, not resentment.

She also reminded us of the fact that we natives, we not perfect by any means. Mom was honest in her assessment of we natives. We were living like barbarians when the western expansion began. We were harsh to women and children and we stole and looted, and had little regard for anyone but ourselves.

To those that claim they hate America because of what early pioneers did to Indians, who asked you? Clearly you seek any reason to tear at traditions and foundations of this country while you strive for your liberal utopia.

My English ancestors came over here as indentured servants, economic slaves, so, if we listened to whinny liberals, I should be running around demanding my economic justice. Where's my check? Where's my check? And being hateful and spiteful.

Mom taught us that life isn't fair, however, the harder you work, the luckier you get. You get beat sometimes, you win sometimes. It would be wonderful if just once, liberals could spare us all from their phony righteous indignation.

reformedrightwinger - welcome. Sincerely, thank you for taking time to read and comment.

I enjoyed your frankness, so allow me to be frank as well, I don't like moderates.

Did I hear you right, you no longer are a believer? Or are you a moderate on God now as well? Jesus said, "I wish your were hot or cold. If you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth."

I am mainstream, whether you like it or not. This is a center-right nation. I disagree with you regarding Glenn Beck, he is a patriot, and is doing the work the extreme media should be doing.

I am glad you ask questions. We all need to ask questions. However, it would be so nice to get some answers, instead of insults, attacks, smears, and lies.

I don't quite understand your puny attack on my intelligence. First off, I have never claimed to be intelligent. Second, I have never claimed to be a Ayn Rand disciple. Sure I have read Ayn Rand, but I do not agree with her every utterance. For example, Ayn Rand was an atheist, am I believe in the God of The Bible.

Also, I do not need defending. I appreciate defense when it comes, but I speak from my heart, and as best as it is possible within me, I speak the truth.

The truth needs no defense, merely an audience.

I also think you have bought a bunch of lies on wealth. You were nebulous in your attack, so I cannot be as specific as I would like.

If you start believing the liberals lies regarding wealth, then you'll end up envious. If you were truly once a conservative, then you know that liberalism will make everybody equally poor, except for the oligarchy of course. Is that what you want to be, a member of the oligarchy?

I'm glad to hear that you aren't a Randofile. I guess I drew from experience of other people who quote her. Her writings were one the beginning of my questioning of my political views.

But honestly Sam, saying you are center-right is like saying Mark Mangino has a little weight problem. Olympia Snow is center-right. Ben Nelson is center-right.

I'm sorry you don't like moderates, but I have come to realize that not everything is black and white, and no issue is inherently good or bad. Most people want to know both sides and not just hear "my side is correct, and their side is stupid" that seems to come from a lot of people on this board. I will listen to both sides of issues, and will most likely ask questions more than anything on this board.

God, what a bunch of assholes!!!!

Sam makes a sincere Thanksgiving wish to his readers, and 5 comments later the resident smartass start pontificating and politicizing!!!

I can't wait for Christmas to see what the windbag scoops up in response to "Merry Christmas"!! Careful what you say Sam!!

Thanks for the good wishes Sam, and we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving also!!! Stay safe!!

Thanks for demonstrating my point, Carl! You are just as bad as PP the smartass. Can't let any opportunity to pontificate and deficate slide by, can you?

Oh come on Carl!! The Pukelosi Punk, Iggy! Can't you keep up???? Not really a yardstick, just a steaming pile in the park!!!!

Oh, I didn't catch that as I usually just ignore your senseless name calling blather.

God bless America

You see Carl, duffer is not (ahem) very (how do I put this gently)...smart. And since Sam, or Rush, or Beck, or any other right wing screwball hasn't given him his counter argument to what you or I wrote, and because he lacks the (uh), you know...intelligence to formulate his own arguments, all he is left with are silly insults, that really aren't terribly insulting.

See what happens when Pelosi walks her puppy in the park without taking along a do-do bag????

Don't you mean "doo-doo" bag?

Ok Carl or Gill...which one of you is Duffer in disguise? Seriously, that much asinine drivel cannot come from a real person.

And there it is...

Thank you Carl - very "Johnny on the spot" of you. What a sad sad person you are. Pathetic.

I don't pretend to know the date when Jesus was born, but I am not ashamed to celebrate it in the winter.

knowledge of the new "true God"??? Wow, in quotes - How can someone that uses your tag line take a shot at the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ?

The shame you must feel...

It does however shed light upon your past comments. "God Bless America" coming from someone claiming this garbage shows that you certainly have some personal guilt issues.

Seriously...how can you say something like "God Bless America" after every post and then say "the missionaries realized it would be easier to convert the "heathens" who hadn't any knowledge of the new "true God" if they could correspond their holy times with those of the heathens."

If you say "God Bless America" and we discover that you don't believe in the "new true God" (your words - not mine), then how can we trust that you believe in America?

Pathetic...transparent...shameful. You have zero credibility.

Like Danny Torrence's finger in "The Shining?" Or, like I said, maybe it's you or GI, trying to paint this over exaggeration of a right winger to make the people that agree with Sam look bad.

So Guillermo, you are saying that I am a figment of my own imagination? Well, I tell you buddy, I just punched myself in the face. And it hurt.

Sorry, reformed, your accusation does not apply, duffer is not me. Although, that isn't a bad idea.

Reformed, at the risk of you dealing yourself more bodily harm:

Im not saying that, I was informed by Randyp that this is the case for people who write publicly but don't use their real names. What is worse is that nothing we write can be valid because we aren't real.

"you guys can be real a******s and keep it smart"?????????????????? Are you Fredd in disguise??????

Well Sean, if you are content to bend over, grab your ankles, and let them spew their crap, its your choice! I am happy for you!

Speaking to conservatives, it's obvious what guillterra's game plan is. He lowers the level of the debate, hopes to infuriate, and ultimately discourage mainstream people from becoming involved or speaking out. In fact the formerconservative pointed that out. guillterra and his buddies attempt to intimidate anyone that agrees with Sam. You three bozos may want to try something different. I don't think your bully tactics are working.

Hmmm, perhaps you haven't been reading this blog. So far the only people really debating anything are the Democratically leaning posters Candy. I will give some credit to Sam for actually participating in the conversation this time (something he seems to rarely do these days). BUt realistically, it is you and your ilk that have done nothing but attack, levy accusations, hurl insults, and act un-Christian.

All of the above!!!

And why was the company bought by a larger company, which in turn sold to a larger company still?? Could it possibly have had anything to to with regulations, taxes and mandates that the mom & pop could no longer afford to pay and still make a profit? (they were allowed the privilege to make a profit, weren't they?)

Big business has not destroyed the middle class in America, the government has done very well with that on their own! And, you ain't seen nothin yet!!!!

What do you do Fredd, keep all your posts and cut and paste from blog to blog? Do you really ever have an independent thought or do you just continue to scoop the same old BS into a different pile? I suppose the next words of wisdom from you will be either blast Sarah Palin or tell us that Jesus was a liberal!

Back in 1803, the French and English were at war, and on a British Ship, far out into the Atlantic Ocean, the ships' lookout cried: "Captain! There is a French war ship on the horizon."

Quickly the Captain called for his aid. "Bring me my red shirt!" The aide retrieved the Captains red shirt, the Captain put it on, and the battle ensued, the British ship won. Later the aide asked the Captain about the red shirt. The Captain explained that he wore the red shirt in case he was wounded. He could hide the blood from the crew, and they would not lose heart.

The following day, the ship's lookout cried once more, "Captain! There are seven French warships on the horizon!" The Captain quickly turned to his aid, and said, "Quick! Bring me my brown pants!"

Courtesy of Bill Engvall.

Just thought we could use a little levity.

reformed right winger - Do you think it is possible to oversee business and not increase the size of government? If so, I don't mind that. I hate the idea of government taking over a function and doing it twice as bad.

Mickel - the story of Thanksgiving with the new settlers here was a great and powerful story. One that completely repudiates leftist thinking. They tried the communist way, and they damn near starved, almost half of them died. The following year, they tried capitalism, and it was wildly successful. That's why the left attacks Thanksgiving.

Don't you love the selective indignation of liberals. So upset over the treatment of Indians hundreds of years ago, yet, they yawn at the daily murder of three thousand precious children. It doesn't mesh. Their concerns, are what liberal concerns always are, political.

Liberals say they are concerned for women, yet in two areas, pornography and taxation, which directly affect women, they are silent. Prostitution is hard on the women who are victims of that trade. And over taxation steals much of the income women work for outside the home. And with the left, it's political, power games and mind trips.

Yet, we are asked to believe that these angry leftists voices against Thanksgiving are rooted in some deep spiritual feelings for the Indians. We know better.

I must agree with our middle of the roader on this one. Guillermo and his pals act like the USA is the root of all evil, and so I can understand the anger coming from duff and Sean. Folks are getting damn tired of these constant liberal attacks against America and Americans.

The mistake allot of us make, is that we assume that there is some logic behind liberal thinking. There is no logic behind liberal thought, only envy.

To the formerrightwingerguy, I am going to take a little time to read again your comments. Maybe we can agree, more than we disagree, we'll see. I'll be glad to get back to you. I actually had some grandpa duties today, and I fell behind in my reading.

Uhhmmm, thank you?

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Sarah Palin supporters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKKKgua7w...

Hey Monte - don't you find it odd that we keep hearing the word genocide from these Obamunists? Yet, they shed no tears for the daily murder of thousands of innocents.

Hey, I'll pull a Guillermo as well. When we point out the murder of thousand of babies that occur every day, Guillermo says it's "not murder." He tells us it's just a little 'o medical procedure. Okay, so this Western Expansion wasn't genocide. It was just some folks figthin' over a little 'o land.

Thus the phony leftists are on display. They bemoan and cry with great anger over Columbus, yet they cannot even recognize true victims of cold blooded murder right before their eyes.

How can one explain such nitwittedness?

To be a liberal, you simply ignore truth and let animosity rule your thinking like a political dog in heat. Here in the mainstream of thought, people like you and me, look honestly and soberly at facts to draw the right conclusions. That takes intellectual honesty, and intellectual honesty takes effort.

"Arguing online is generally just a halfhearted attempt to stimulate the part of our brain being choked by productivity in another window."

-Anonymous

Guillermo, whatever semantics you want to use, abortion has killed tens of millions in the last forty years.

Your assertion that the United States has engaged in the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group, is false.

You want to excuse the killing of our own babies using fancy words, that is unacceptable. A nation, a people, that would go along with this nonsense, are easy prey for further government atrocities, which is becoming more evidence daily.

You speak out both sides of your mouth, so I must agree that your indignation is political in nature, not altruistic.

Leo,

Who is playing semantics? I gave you the DEFINITION of the word. If you want it to mean something else, it is you who is playing semantics. I am sorry that the word genocide doesn't cover what it wants you to. I believe language is fluid and I know that definitions change. I propose if you want abortions to be thought of as genocide you work tirelessly to change the definition. There is of course the slight problem that woman terminating a pregnancy is not exterminating an entire population. There is also the slight problem that genocide presents an existential threat to a HOMOGENEOUS culture or society, based on racial hatred, or political tactics, and abortion fits neither of these criteria. You fools have your work cut out for you.

Husker23,

No, abortion is not murder. Abortion is not genocide. Abortion is choice, abortion is freedom, abortion (according to the US Supreme court, and I agree) is Constitutional. A woman removing a mass of congregated cells from her own body, be it a tumor or a fetus, are both her own medical choice. It is the responsibility of a progressive society to protect the freedom and choice of women, not impose patriarchal restrictions of them. The banality of the right's "daddy knows best" mentality is exactly what is wrong in this country and the world.

As were you..or are YOU special somehow?

Well I wouldn't know it she had chosen otherwise, would I?

I never said that it is only males that are pro-life. I said that patriarchal impositions are a detriment to the freedom of women. Women can support patriarchy, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I stand by that whole-heartedly (so does history by the way). Muslim men subjugate women in similar (albeit more extreme) ways. Their culture puts heavy pressure on what women can and cannot do, and the result is that women have very little freedom to act as rational agents; free to make decisions with their bodies as they see fit. But Muslim women STILL support their own subjugation, just like your mother, grandmothers, and wife.

Also, you didn't have an "evil white male" fight with me. I don't think ANY group of people are inherently evil, but certain circumstances of life push people (or groups of people) towards evilness.

Rmont, I am curious as to how my religious views are a load of crap to you. Also, could you inform me as to how I could possibly have been wrong?

I'm dying to know.

God bless America

Sir Duffus,

When you call me a FREELOADER --

You are a miserable, lying, sorry excuse of a worthless human being.

NOW, IS THAT PLAIN ENOUGH?

I am pushing 80 years of age, and for the past THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENTURY [Since 1937], I have AVERAGED WORKING more than 14 hours daily, six days weekly, about 51.5 weeks annually.

For the past three years, my typical day has been 5 a.m. through 9 p.m., seven days weekly, trying to prevent losing my own investments from being eaten by the Bush/Cheney/CitiGroup/BofA/Merril-Lynch/Lehman Bros financial fraud.

While at the same time helping blue collar Americans save their homes and small businesses.

Without knowing their lives and backgrounds, I would never call anyone a slacker, or lazy or freeloader -- Have even been known to help many of that kind of person, knowing their ways.

This has included working complete decades without a vacation, sometimes operating three businesses and personally working 80 hour weeks between them.

It is your kind of sorry-assed excuse of a living person who is the major problem in America.

You don't know what the HELL you are talking about, but you will BS day and night.

From your own words, DUFFUS, there is no doubt you are an IDIOT.

By the way, for those trying to understand why one business can absorb another -- even a larger business.

IT IS CALLED THE IRS CODE.

To be specific, carefully crafted portions of the IRS TAX CODE slipped in during the various Republican administrations and GOP controlled House and Senate terms -- Starting with Ike, then amended and amended and amended.

How do I know?

From reorganizing numerous small and large businesses across the U.S.

A "bankrupt" Colorado operation, sold to two NYC corporations for a combined $13-Million.

The business entities brought $8-Million from one publicly-held corporation, primarily for the customer list and intellectual property, copyrights and fee-simple titled property.

The corporation brought $5-Million from another even larger corporation, for the "carry-forward tax losses of $7.8-Million. Those nice folks wrote off those tax losses of their new subsidiary during the two subsequent years, and each quarter paid a share of the $5-Million, clearing $2.8-Million before spending a dime.

With small businesses from Coastal California farm towns to eastern Pennsylvania and Virginia, through the Great Basin, Southwest Deserts and Rocky Mountain states; repeatedly I got the business back on its feet and sold it at a nice profit for the owner -- more than 90% of the time selling to a "group" of "chain," which used the IRS tax code to buy with 15-30 Cent tax dollars.

The result, millions of small businesses have been swallowed, because the code allows big business to buy them with tax dollars.

Highly profitable smaller firms can buy in reverse, because they either invest with those dollars or send them in as taxes.

That is why businesses are being swallowed -- big fish eating little fish.

Fredd...you are the poster boy of why late term abortions shouldn't be attempted.

Hi Fredd

You ought to take a break Fredd, you are violating several of the posting rules.

you deserve to be banned.

gi

Can you really be that stupid? Maybe you and fredd are the same after all.

You are a tumor...no attack on your mother. Read again my misguided unwanted fetus.

Although since you insist on continually taking it there, it is obvious that she did fail in many ways with you.

You volunteer...wow, guess you're some kind of hero. Three continents...I'll bet you think that impresses someone.

I volunteer too gi, don't feel the need to gloat about it on some blog anonymously. Does it make you feel good...take away the guilt of being you?

I'm through playing down here in the mud with you. You have sufficient rope now and have exposed yourself for the vile person you are.

You are a punk with a keyboard and a thesaurus...nothing more.

"It is not volunteerism that made America great, it was the liberty for a man or woman to make a profit!"

Sam, sorry to do this, my very old, very weak, very sad, idiotic friend, you are back to being Sham. Here is why I know more about your Bible than you do (and coincidentally why you are a bad Christian just like Husker).

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GREED (PROFIT)?

"the greedy man curses and spurns God" Ps. 10:3

"the treacherous are caught by their own greed" Prov. 11:6

"everyone is greedy for gain" Jere. 6:13; 8:10

"be on guard against every form of greed; life is not in possessions" Lk. 12:15

"Gentiles...practice every kind of impurity with greediness" Eph. 4:9

"we did not come with pretext for greed" I Thess. 2:5

(deacons) "not fond of sordid gain" I Tim. 3:8

(false prophets) "in their greed they will exploit you with false words" II Peter 2:3

(false prophets) "have hearts trained in greed" II Peter 2:14

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT GIVING OF YOURSELF AND ASKING NOTHING IN RETURN (VOLUNTEERING)?

"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." Luke 6:35

"For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you." (TLB, Luke 6:38)

"Feed the hungry! Help those in trouble! Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you shall be as bright as day. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you with all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." (TLB, Isaiah 58:10-11)

"He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who shuts his eyes will have many curses (Proverbs 28:27)

It is about time to stop calling yourself Christian old man. Your God is the American capitalist system--you hump that like some sort of hellbreed cross between a false "profit" (haha) and the anti-Christ. Keep spewing your filth and I will be here to keep you clothed in stupidity.

Sam,

I think your response to GI sums up the conservative movement quite nice. And your words should be remembered and repeated to everyone you meet. I think you should go to your pastor and tell him how you feel. I think you should go to a local shelter and tell all of those freeloaders to get their own turkey dinner and let the volunteers eat the meal.

Sam, views like these are why I have abandoned many of my conservative positions. I disagree vehemently with GI on many, many issues, but how dare you downplay and ridicule charity the day before a holiday established to give thanks for what we have in our lives.

I also find it baffling that a conservative think people shouldn't volunteer to help those less fortunate than them. Who does that leave? The Government? Or No one? Which do you prefer?

Sam,

You are on fire today...well written, to the point, and unlike with me, they haven't dragged you into the mud with them. Great points.

They are predictable and continue to read what they want to read, ignoring the facts...misguided perhaps, but I have had my fill of them all. They are not here looking for a debate, only a fight.

Good work Sam.

Here is a more complete statement of what Ayn Rand thought of Thanksgiving:

"Thanksgiving is a typically American holiday. In spite of its religious form (giving thanks to God for a good harvest), its essential, secular meaning is a celebration of successful production. It is a producers' holiday. The lavish meal is a symbol of the fact that abundant consumption is the result and reward of production. Abundance is (or was and ought to be) America's pride--just as it is the pride of American parents that their children need never know starvation."

http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/thanks...

I have always known Inglaterra's intellegence was over stated, but not knowing the difference between greed and profit proves it.

Hey CPB - thus Guillermo illustrates educational malpractice. It is not that he isn't bright, but like allot of young folks, their "living water" has been poisoned with mailgnant liberalism.

How else can you explain Guillermos' utter disgust with almost all things American?

Spain is a Socialist country, I wonder why Guillermo doesn't stay in Spain?

I can answer that. America is perhaps the greatest idea in recent human history, and this country's government needs to be helping America live up to its potential, as opposed to trading off its foundational ideologies like "promoting the general welfare" for something so banal as profit, something so fleeting as power. Which is not to understate the crucial role that profit has had in advancing our economy to the point we are at now. But it is clear that many Americans, like you Sham and your ilk, worship profit over humanity, over your own religion.

Spain is a great country, with a long and beautiful (and also terrible) history. But Spain is not a world power anymore, and so the work to be done there isn't as important to me as the work that needs to be done in America. The power and influence wielded by the US is so immense that a well educated, democratically minded, socially critcal citizenry is absolutely essential. This road begins with education, and so this is where I begin as well, like it or not.

Chunk,

I think I can safely assure you that my knowledge of the Bible is quite adequate.

As far as greed and profit, I watched Christmas Vacation yesterday, and there is perfect example of profit inspiring greed in that movie. I am referring to Clark's 17 years at his company being rewarded by a Christmas bonus that enlisted him the "Jelly of the Month Club," rather than the money he was counting on. The reason for this decision was simple: Clark's boss was more interested in profit and a healthier bottom line than his employees. What inspired this move? His avid desire for wealth and possessions, or put simply: greed.

This story is so simple and understandble because it is an example of art imitating life. Thus it is easily generalizable to real world America, where corporate whores like the recently imprisoned Bernie Madoff, the wild boys at Enron, auto and banking execs, and basically every Wall Street whiz lives and dies by profit (or the appearance of profit), and they do so because they are greedy little pigs. Capitalism would be impossible without people's desire for excess wealth and possesions. You cannot extract profit from greed, not honestly anyway.

Sorry I didn't anticipate that you would lack the creative ability to apply a moral in a story to real life scenarios. But do you really think that the situation in Christmas Vacation is not, as I argued, a reflection of the real world? That situation was not unbelievable because we know this kind of thing to happen in the corporate world all the time.

Profit is excess, the want of excess is greed, therefore the desire to profit is greed. There it is in a tidy little syllogism.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the crown jewel of modern American education, Guillermo Inglaterra.

Chunk, Christmas bonuses have nothing to with it. That was simply an example that we could all readily recognize. Profit is, by definition excess. Put another way, gain. The Bible I read is quite clear about profiting and gain...or as I have argued, greed. Deny this if you will, although it may be at your own peril if you take the Bible seriously.

Husker,

That is not logical. People eating does not inhere over-eating, as your syllogism suggests. You make an illogical leap: people that eat must therefore over eat, which is not logical.

The difference between your attempt and mine is that profit is, by definition excess. Or as I wrote above gain. You can substitute any definition into my argument and it does not affect the logic...

Profit is gain, the desire for gain is greed, therefore profit is greed.

Keep in mind, I acknowledge fully that profit therefore greed has propelled America to become the enormous economic juggernaut that she is, but that does not reduce the simple and inevitable logic that profitting, and the desire to profit, is anti-Christian.

Here are more quotes from the Bible that display Sam's poor reasoning (profitting is better than volunteering) from a Christian perspective:

"They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." 1 Timothy 6:17-19

"For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."1 Timothy 6:10

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

No, I do not need to believe that God was properly defined by the Bible in order to be able to read and understand and form logical arguments from what it says. Nor is it necessary for me to believe that Jesus was devine in order to believe that the Bible is a good way to arrange my own personal morality when it comes to earning and giving.

To reiterate: profit is excess, the desire for excess is greed, therefore profit is greed. The Bible is clear when it comes to profit. It says (among MANY other things):

"[If a man]...lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself."

The Bible is also very clear regarding greed as I demonstrated above. Therefore, to profit or to desire to profit is an "abomination" and thus un-Christian.

Where Sam believes that his greed is better than my volunteering (which is what Jesus asks of us) he contradicts his own claims that he is Christian. Thus, it is Sam (Sham), not I, that is a "HYPOCRITE."

Guillermo,

How much of your profit/wage do you give to the needy?

Doing what?

"[If a man]...lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself."

http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ezeki...

Chunk, you could say I am being greedy with my time by posting on this blog (this is the only one), but I never claimed to be a Christian, Sam did/does. The origin of this discussion began when Sam called volunteering "gutless" and "not a solution," as he argued that business and profit is what makes people and America great. This is a blatantly contradictory argument for a person claiming to be a Christian to make.

This is why fredd is right when he says Sam's God is money. This is true of so many people. For them profit and money, wealth and possesions come before religion, before community, before their fellow humans.

"It is not volunteerism that made America great, it was the liberty for a man or woman to make a profit!

I have much more respect for a man/woman that takes a chance, engaging in self interest, and then having the ability to hire and pay workers.

Guillermo takes the easy way out, (what a shock there), and instead of taking risk, he wusses out and hides in the volunteer world.

Volunteerism is fine, but it is not a solution, merely a feel good step by the gutless. You really want to make a difference? Start a business, see if you have the ability to make a profit, and maybe you can one day offer employment, instead of a half-assed handout."

Sam Eldridge

There is no assumption Chunk. It is quite clear what Sam believes about giving to others. Any handout, "half-assed" or otherwise would be against the conservative dogma that Sham values and worships well above Jesus's teachings.

Who said I can't tell the difference? The removal of either from a woman's body is a medical decision that is left up to her. That is where I didn't make the distinction. I am not surprised that I had to explain that to an imbecile like you.

Somehow,

I fail to see how being a numbers-reliant conservative businessman requires me to switch off my own brain regarding complex issues.

Single issue political litmus tests will never solve local, state or national problems.

The only way to provide workable answers to questions is to consider all possible solutions.

Ruling out 50% to 90% of solutions for being politically incorrect is not businesslike or truly conservative.

Democracy is the messiest form of government.

That said -- It still is the best form of government created to date.

The problem comes when corrupt politicians rig elections and the top court votes along party lines in resolving serious constitutional questions.

In the case of the 2000 Florida elections -- quite possibly the single most important Supreme Court decision in history.

It gave us two wars, total failure to pursue elimination of our nation's and the world's greatest single threat, total disregard for this nation's citizens' constitutional rights, overwhelming financial irresponsibility, debt and federal deficits, endless dispensing for public monies to political cronies and finally -- near total national and global economic collapse.

And for the past year, it has resulted in non-stop vitriolic carping attacks upon a legitimately elected president with whom his critics will disagree regardless.

Tragically, primarily because of his bi-racial reality.

GI beat me to the cheerlead but great post Hank. Someone will be calling you very unflattering names very soon.

God bless America

Hank, you are the one that brought up his race, again, by the way. Are you consumed with race?

These liberals say you have made a brilliant post. Personally, I have never seen any brilliance from you, just anger, hatred, envy, jealously, and a complete lack of understanding of how a Republic works. Well, I guess I do see why these liberals think you are brilliant. You also have a marvelous way of not letting the facts get in the way of your hatred.

The Florida 2000 election was a case of Democrats trying to still an election, and change the rules in the middle of the game, again, typically liberal. The Supreme Court did not let the very liberal Florida Supreme Court, re-write election law in the middle of an election.

So I must conclude that you are ignorant on purpose.

What is wonderful to see, is the American people are becoming wise to liberals and their tactics. It will be an expensive lesson, one that will take decades to correct, but Americans are good folks, regardless of what you liberals think.

You know I don't think these guys hardly ever get out of their cubicles.Keep up the great work Sam...

Fredd,you sir,are so blind to real life.

Sean, you are quickly lumping yourself into the same category as Chunk and Duff, which is to say your posts are the blog equivalent of pornography that has been edited for prime time television. Since I know subleties like metaphor and simile are out of your league I will it out for ya...your posts have absolutely no content worth subjecting myself to read.

Having said that, I should note that I do derive a strange joy from reading the senseless, pointless, and devoid of any independent thought blatherings that you and your cronies spew. It pleases me greatly to know that, despite Sam's affirmations, ignorance like yours is just the death rattle of a thankfully endangered beast. May God have mercy on your spiteful souls.

God bless America

My hatred lies only with ignorance Leo.

Hey Sammy, glad to see your cheeleaders are out again givin ya some western grips but offering nothing of substance...as usual.

God bless America

Fredd is right. What Sham passes for "facts" are simply the regurgitated OPINIONS of Rush/Beck/Savage. Sam says, Obama hates America; that liberals are out to get him; that greed is a good thing (while also claiming to be Christian); that homosexuality is a disease tearing at the fabric of our society; that evolution is wrong (despite the overwhelming evidence against him); that all media sources that aren't right leaning are in collusion with the left; that our legal system is a puppet for the left; he says honest hard-working "lady police cops" simply doing their jobs are liberal whackos...and on and on...

No leo. and other worshipers of Sham, these are not facts, they are the half-bright opinions of a self-proclaimed ex-hippie whose new psychedelic trips is a.m. radio and the open road. Keep on trippin' Sham, I'll be here when you sober up.

Oh snap, Husker! I guess I will stop posting. Err, no wait...you are barely capable of a reasoned thought, let alone determining what is or isn't worthy of Howie's esteemed approval.

You know fredd, there was a time in my life that I thought that the xenophobia that Conservatives are often stereotypically accused of was unwarranted. Part of me believed that any population claiming to be so in touch with a benevolent God couldn't possibly be hostile and intolerant towards any of God's creatures, even those that appeared different to them.

This was, of course, pure folly. Conservatives on this site confirm this stereotype with every divisive post. They cannot tolerate alternative opinions from their fellow countrymen and women, they cannot tolerate debate, they turn in abject fear of facts or logic that challenge or dispel their perspective. If they can't tolerate their own people, why should it be surprising that they are just as inhospitable and exclusive to foreign outsiders? Realistically, with their warped version of God and Christianity they are just about the least tolerant, least accepting, and consequently least Christian people that I have come across in my life. Grow up McCook Gazette Cons, do the right thing.

Is there a Conservative handbook that somewhere states "when an opponent gets the better of you, and points out something that makes you look like a total idiot (which will inevitably happen) accuse them referencing a make-believe liberal handbook?"

Talk about a warmed over tactic.

I am glad we agree that your comment was juvenile.

Maybe, (as Husker23 so Christianly implied in another thread) our mothers made the wrong choice and should have had an abortion?

Interesting note: you are the second Conservative to attack an argument by bringing up the mother's of posters you disagree with.

Question: What is it about being imbecilic, uneducated, narrow-minded, and Conservative that impels you to such a mind bogglingly illogical and inappropriate tactic? Is it one of these individual characteristics that describes you, or is it a mixture of all of them?

Surprise, surprise...there's the old liberal stab at Christianity - yet again. You are laughably predictable.

I think gi has debate dyslexia. Reading the blog and rearranging the words into a form that he can argue with.

Let me help you out with that: fool what pathetic you a are!

The Lord killed the Egyptian Army, eh Sean? I wonder, is there any archaeological evidence of that? Or is this one of those, "you just have to have faith" things? Like Joesph Smith's cataclysmic battle between the Nephites and Lamanites that apparently occurred in North America? You know, one of those, well its in the Bible and that's all the evidence I need kinda things?

Here is a the illogical thing about that argument:

The Bible is the word of God, and therefore is true.

How do we know that statement is true?

The Bible says so.

But you are wrong about one thing, it wasn't the Lord that killed the Indians, Europeans and subsequently Americans carried out that genocide. Do you know about free will Sean? If you are Christian I am certain you do. Let's assume that any decent and loving God doesn't conduct genocide, rather, he lets humans carry them out according to their own free will. And in that regard, man is a bad animal, Sean.

But I don't blame you for hating me. It must be frustrating to never have facts or logic on your side, and be constantly reminded of this fact.

Boys, boys, boys. Play nicely. I'm sure there's something compellingly attractive from/about each of you that can be shared on this blog.

Sean,

Don't let the vile from these two (one?) get to you.

gi is like a kirby vacuum salesman who owns a hoover...he appears to be knowledgeable regarding bible verses, then turns around and condones the murder of unborn babies (or as he calls them "tumors")...even using Christianity as a dirty word when he disagrees with someone. He picks and chooses which parts of the Bible are valid depending on the argument at hand and his perceived position.

Didn't you know that the Bible says profit is bad? According to him, the Bible is correct there, but incorrect when you use it to defend your beliefs. I guess you didn't know but he is more wise than God. Just ask him.

fredd...well fredd is his intellictually impaired alter ego who seems to have a man crush on gi (wouldn't that be some kind of narcicist incest?). To respond to anything fredd says gives him too much credit. He is like a monkey randomly pushing the buttons on a keyboard...lucky if his keystrokes make a complete sentence.

Since you insist on continually taking my comment out of context, I suggest you go back and reread it and our discussion leading up to it.

gi,

A) And I never said your mother should have aborted you...I asked if you thought (in your pro-abortion mind) that she made the right choice in keeping you in an attempt to make you think about how the decisions your mother made affect your very life.

B) The Bible also maintains Seans point which you were so quick to attack simply because the Bible said so.

C) Sam did not say greed was good...profit rather. You can't seem to wrap your warped mind around the concept that profit is not only good, but necessary.

D) Yes, I know...the point is that at times it appears that you don't.

E) If you are going to pick and choose, how can you justify attacking someone (Sean) when he does the same. How can you argue..."just because the Bible says so" in one sentence and turn around and quote from the Bible.

You are correct...I pick and choose too, but I don't attack someone for their interpretation and call them Un-Christian. That's the difference. Whether you or I agree with Sean is irrelevent. Disagreement is one thing, but attacking him, his religion and the Bible to prove your point are another.

Attacking his sources and using those same sources to justify your liberal political position is hypocritical.

Sean, you are quickly lumping yourself into the same category as Chunk and Duff, which is to say your posts are the blog equivalent of pornography that has been edited for prime time television. Since I know subleties like metaphor and simile are out of your league I will it out for ya...your posts have absolutely no content worth subjecting myself to read.

Having said that, I should note that I do derive a strange joy from reading the senseless, pointless, and devoid of any independent thought blatherings that you and your cronies spew. It pleases me greatly to know that, despite Sam's affirmations, ignorance like yours is just the death rattle of a thankfully endangered beast. May God have mercy on your spiteful souls.

God bless America

Hey Carl,

"Sean, you are quickly lumping yourself into the same category as Chunk and Duff, which is to say your posts are the blog equivalent of pornography that has been edited for prime time television. Since I know subleties like metaphor and simile are out of your league I will it out for ya...your posts have absolutely no content worth subjecting myself to read.

Having said that, I should note that I do derive a strange joy from reading the senseless, pointless, and devoid of any independent thought blatherings that you and your cronies spew. It pleases me greatly to know that, despite Sam's affirmations, ignorance like yours is just the death rattle of a thankfully endangered beast. May God have mercy on your spiteful souls.

God bless America"

-- Posted by Carl Leibowitz on Tue, Dec 1, 2009, at 7:51 PM

and;

"Sean, you are quickly lumping yourself into the same category as Chunk and Duff, which is to say your posts are the blog equivalent of pornography that has been edited for prime time television. Since I know subleties like metaphor and simile are out of your league I will it out for ya...your posts have absolutely no content worth subjecting myself to read.

Having said that, I should note that I do derive a strange joy from reading the senseless, pointless, and devoid of any independent thought blatherings that you and your cronies spew. It pleases me greatly to know that, despite Sam's affirmations, ignorance like yours is just the death rattle of a thankfully endangered beast. May God have mercy on your spiteful souls.

God bless America"

-- Posted by Carl Leibowitz on Thu, Dec 3, 2009, at 5:58 PM

Have you run out fresh ideas? Carl?

Well, Sean the first problem with your scenario is that Conservative women get just as many abortions as anyone else. In fact, there is some data that says because of the tendency for young Christian women to have premarital sex, and the conflicting dogmatic requirement that young Christian men and women cannot use contraceptives, this is leading to disproportionate numbers of unwanted pregnancy rates among those affiliated with Christianity. This is in turn raising abortion rates among this demographic as well.

The other problem with your scenario is that abortion cannot be genocide. One woman aborting one fetus is not deliberately and systematically destroying, in whole or in part, an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group--which is of course the definition of genocide.

Hey Sean - just so you know, you're appreciated. It is difficult to understand the mindset of a leftist, but then, pure hate is difficult to understand.

Would we be better Christians if we just kept out of your way?? Didn't have passion about the issues that you spew??

Perhaps we should be wearing robes and sandals, being more passive, and just allow you and your left wing cronies to spread the liberal gospel without fear of accountability.

What a relief you must feel not to have that "burden" of Christianity to hold yourself accountable for, yet have that tool in your arsenal to use anytime you become cornered.

The arrogance it must take to be you..."I'm not Christian, but YOU'RE acting like a bad one". Kind of like a terrorist complaining about inappropriate pictures, while beheading a civilian on the internet. We have rules to play by while you don't, huh? If only the rest of us could be more like you, without a belief in God...and if we do, then our Faith should dictate that we measure our words when debating the great gi.

I'm not that kind of Christian gi...don't misinterpret me again. If arguing with you (using your own words against you - e.g. fetus vs tumor) makes me "Un-Christian", then I guess I'm Un-Christian. Like you always claim, gi - I'm in this until the end...I will call you on your bullying, arrogance, and lies until this gets settled or you go away. Let the "Un-Christianity" begin tumor boy.

Sean, close your eyes for a moment, and let these thought roll through your mind...

Think of all the gay people and the progress they keep making in attaining civil rights, think of all the illegal immigrants that nobody is really doing anything about, think about the increasing number of other ethnicities and the decreasing numbers of white people in America, think of abortions, think of the inevitable overhaul of health care, the publicization of private industries like banks and car manufacturers, think of the green energy movement and the increasing number of Americans attending liberal colleges, think of increased regulations on business, and the rich being fleeced by the government.

Think of all these things happening around you right now and ask yourself, "Do I really want to be in America?"

Fredd, let us talk about God's will for a minute. It is God's will for American women to kill off over fifty million of their own children?

I will give you no credit for bringing up Sand Creek. You had to go back to November of 1864 to find a nutcase like Chivington, who was an ordained minister, to claim that the United States slaughtered 22 million Indians.

Your 22 million figure is completely bogus, but even if it was correct, you have supported the murder of more than twice that amount since Roe v. Wade. Can you say hypocrite?

There are some that believe that our lives, and what happens to us in our lives, has already been "pre-ordained". If you believe that, then you must conclude that whatever happens to an individual, good or bad, was God's will.

Of course, I don't believe that you can put the Creator of all things into a box. It was not God's will that any innocent child be murdered, whether they be native Indian or not. However, God has granted us free will on Earth, and humans, being the imperfect creatures that we are, will make mistakes.

In your zeal to slander America, you forgot that not everyone who was with the crazy Chivington agreed with his hideous actions.

Did you forget about Captain Silas Soule? Or did your Marxist professor fail to school you properly? It was Captain Soule who said, "I refused to fire and swore that none but a coward would, for by this time, hundreds of women and children were coming towards us begging for mercy..."

Captain Soule was later murdered on the streets of Denver for standing against the cowardly acts committed by Chivington and the others. Not surprising that in your hate, you would conveniently forget that small fact.

To take the massacre of 165 souls, and turn that into 22 million is silly, and blatantly untrue.

Maybe you should request a refund on any money that you spent on education.

My mom is native Indian, and if anyone should have a bone to pick, it would be her and not you. You seek any chance, any excuse to profligate hate, and show yourself to be a fool in doing so.

What I am curious about is your sins bro! You are so good at pointing out Rush's mistakes, or O'Reilly's or Becks, what about you fredd? Are you perfect?

Since none are perfect, except for Christ, then can no one ever speak, or act or believe? Did you support Bill Clinton, I suspect you did. So his sins are okay because he was a liberal?

If we listened to the insanity that you put forth, only liberals can act after their sin is discovered. That is ridiculous, as you are.

No sane person ever claimed that the United States is perfect, or has always been perfect. What is perfect is truth. What is perfect is liberty, what is perfect is respect for life. WE, being imperfect, can therefore cling to what is perfect. Is this just too much for your little brain to comprehend.

I have given you much more time than your deserve, but your arguments are so crude, so incendiary, that I had to speak out.

Next time, try a better argument, will you? You are beginning to bore me.

Clint Eastwood said in the movie, Heartbreak Ridge, "You can beat me, you can hit me, you can kick me, and even kill me, just don't bore me."

Upon further review, fredd and Guillermo are the same person.

fredd/Guillermo,

I believe the title of this blog was "Some Words of Wisdom". My how this degraded.

of all the arguments I have seen that accuse liberals of being anti American...let it be me, a liberal, on the anniversary of the day that will live in infamy, to be the first to honor the fallen...

God bless America