Originally posted by knapperjaWell said.
The world of yesterday (50 years ago) was great for white males. It wasn't so great for anybody else.
Ivanhoe, the views that I hold are the ones that I believe to be right, morally and with regard to respecting my fellow man. I am a heterosexual white middle-class male so I suppose it is easier for me to be libertarian than some. But I also spent the first 18 years of my life in Belfast in Northern Ireland, and know firsthand the results of closeminded thinking. In Northern Ireland the right-wing people are generally closely associated with Unionism and the Protestant way of thinking. Iain Paisley (who is the strongest and most popular Unionist voice) once stood up in the European Parliament and proclaimed that the Pope was a snake and the devil. The very far left wing are mostly associated with Sinn Fein who want to create a united Ireland under communism. I disagree with both sides of the divide. I truly believe that the vast majority of Northern Ireland want to live in peace and live in the middle ground of political division, as do most people evrywhere. However, because religion is so tied up in the politics of Northern Ireland, no headway can be made for the people who want peace. Hmmm, I seem to have strayed from the point and the question you were asking to give my tuppence worth on Northern Ireland.
Anyway, the views I hold are not ones that have been taught to me, I am not an atheist because I have seen religion tear up my home land (although that is one of the reasons that I have strong disagreements with religion in governance), I don't believe in the rights of homosexuals to marry because I am gay (I'm not), I don't believe in liberalism because that is what I was taught by my Father or school. I follow the events in the world and draw my own conclusions. It is one of the reasons that I find it very hard to vote for any of the political parties in England because none of them match my beliefs, but that is my own problem. I guess the point of democracy is that you find what fits everyone best. But I digress (again), I hold the beliefs I do because I have considered them and they seem like the way for me to live my life so that it is fair to others and myself. I hold the beliefs I do so that I can look at myself in the mirror.
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Originally posted by ivanhoeSorry, that was too big to read, but I can guess what's in there 🙂
Killing Us with Kindness: How Liberal Compassion Hurts
by Don Feder
Heritage Lecture #574
January 13, 1997
The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest -- It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ' Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes the throned monarch bett ...[text shortened]... ly, to say the least.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL574.cfm
Originally posted by garyminford
Well said.
Ivanhoe, the views that I hold are the ones that I believe to be right, morally and with regard to respecting my fellow man. I am a heterosexual white middle-class male so I suppose it is easier for me to be libertarian than some. But I also spent the first 18 years of my life in Belfast in Northern Ireland, and know firsthand the results o ...[text shortened]... s fair to others and myself. I hold the beliefs I do so that I can look at myself in the mirror.
The Northern Ireland conflict is always presented to us as being a religious one. I know of course that the division line in the conflict is drawn by religion, but until now nobody has been able to explain to me what kind of religious disagreements they are fighting over. I mean it isn't about the virginity of the Mother of God, nor is at stake the question whether Jezus is the only begotten Son of the Father. Now what exactly makes this conflict a religious conflict ? I've NEVER heard a discussion between Sinn Fein and the Unionists about religious issues .......
Isn't it true that this conflict isn't a religious conflict at all, it is in essence a political problem. If you disagree with me I'd like to hear from you what religious questions or disputes play an important part in solving the conflict.
.
Originally posted by ivanhoeone little girl aged 14 commited suisicide.The priest because he had to 0bay rules buried her remains in un sanctified grave. He was so upset.He was angry.He said never again.That was how the Samaritins began.
Killing Us with Kindness: How Liberal Compassion Hurts
by Don Feder
Heritage Lecture #574
January 13, 1997
The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest -- It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. ' Tis mightiest in the mightiest. It becomes the throned monarch bett ...[text shortened]... ly, to say the least.
http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/HL574.cfm
1 edit
Originally posted by missleadWho are the Samaritins you are referring to and what do they do ?
one little girl aged 14 commited suisicide.The priest because he had to 0bay rules buried her remains in un sanctified grave. He was so upset.He was angry.He said never again.That was how the Samaritins began.
If you check out any history books you will see the root of the problems started in Northern Ireland because of religion in the 1600's. Culminating in the Battle of the Boyne. Ever since that day, Catholic and Protestant have been at each others throats in Ireland, North and South, and it became the basis for people to form their politics. You will NEVER find a protestant voying for Sinn Fein, nor will any catholic EVER vote for the DUP. The politics were kick-started by the religion and the divisive entanglements are there for all to see now
Isn't it true that this conflict isn't a religious conflict at all, it is in essence a political problem. If you disagree with me I'd like to hear from you what religious questions or disputes play an important part in solving the conflict.
Originally posted by garyminford
If you check out any history books you will see the root of the problems started in Northern Ireland because of religion in the 1600's. Culminating in the Battle of the Boyne. Ever since that day, Catholic and Protestant have been at each others throats in Ireland, North and South, and it became the basis for people to form their politics. You will NEVE ...[text shortened]... cs were kick-started by the religion and the divisive entanglements are there for all to see now
The religious issues they are fighting over are still not clear to me. I know that religion and even more than religion European power politics lay on the basis of the problem but I still haven't heard from you what kind of religious questions they are fighting over nów in Northern Ireland/Ulster.
Isn't it strange that people call it a religious conflict when nobody can tell me what religious issues are at stake. What are they fighting for and are these goals religious ?
It is a religious conflict because the two sides are defined by the religion. You know the difference between catholic and protestant don't you? The battle lines are drawn according to what side of the divide you are born on. The fact that neither side has goals that are religious does not stop it being a religious conflict, same with any conflict that starts because of an accident of birth.
10 edits
Originally posted by garyminfordAbsolutely correct. The division line of the conflict is drawn by religion.The content of the conflict is not religious at all. It happened many many years ago. It had to do with European Power politics. People wanted to become more independant from the ruling powers in Europe. In that time they did not have political parties. For that reason political differences were fought along religious lines. If you want to be independent from Rome or Spain find a new ideology (religion) that will do the job for you of organising the people against the enemy.
It is a religious conflict because the two sides are defined by the religion. You know the difference between catholic and protestant don't you? The battle lines are drawn according to what side of the divide you are born on. The fact ...[text shortened]... ame with any conflict that starts because of an accident of birth.
In the Netherlands The House of Orange was one of the first to follow that very tactic. One of its members even became King of England in order to lead the fight for independence.
After Ireland became independent the North (Ulster) remained in British ["Orange"] hands, because they were afraid being pushed away by the Irish Catholic majority. They wanted the protecting hand of the Union above their heads. It is in essence a political conflict of who is ruling who and therefore the content of the conflict has nothing to do with religion, although, as you pointed out, the division lines are drawn by religion.
We see the same problem of who's ruling who in for instance French Corsica, the Bask region in Spain and France, the Liga Norte in Italy. These are the same type of conflicts. Nobody calls them religious, however they are the same type of problems we see in Northern Ireland/Ulster. Some politicians, like the one you mentioned Mr. Ian Paisley, like to present the Northern Ireland/Ulster issue as a religious one. It fits into their (his) political agenda.
If people/politicians call the Northern Ireland/Ulster problem a religious one it will be very difficult to understand and as a result of that it will be difficult and even impossible to solve the problem.
Joe,
It goes to the fact that our children are all smarter and more creative than we are. Without "liberals" there would be no art. Why do you suppose that "all actors are liberal"? It is because in order to "pretend" you must be a child... or childlike in nature. Why do you suppose that most great adventures in science begin with a liberal mind? (Except for Edward Teller😵 ) It is because the child is able to let go of "what must be" and seek "the rainbow".
A liberal is not tied down by 'consequence' and all that action implies. A conservative has no options but to consider every action.
Nature... in its' infinite wisdom, has given us three types of humans. One which "grows up early" and weighs every event as to good and evil... and one which "never grows up"... by their own admission. And a third that sees both, but will never be happy because both are only part of the truth.
We call these three groups "Conservatives", "Liberals" and "Cynics".
Some of us... who really like pain... subscribe to a "game site" (RHP)which by definition is played by children... thus ensuring that it is totally "liberal".. eg... adults can't afford to play games. Survival depends on 'not playing' games.
So. Celebrate the fact that our kids are "smarter and more creative" than we are. That is about the only way to remain sane. If you worry about the fact that liberals can't identify evil... be thankful that they do recognize "unfair" as being "that which I can't have".