Disney just shot up in awesome points

[jvcarroll]

I have to say I agree with Banannasketch, in that there has been a bit of a strong anti Christian sentiment pushback from the left, whether if they mean it or not.
We must remember that in other countries, Christians are still persecuted.

Here's a recent example of Catholics being more liberal than most liberals: protesting all these nasty conflicts Obama and NATO have been continuing around the world
http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2...gn-headquarters-starting-week-of-protest?lite

Most of the Christians I've met who claim persecution are usually the same ones who use it as an excuse to enforce their beliefs on the rights of others. The United States is statistically over 78% Christian and that number rises to 86% when all the Americas are included. I can't stand intolerance of any sort. However, I have little stomach for a majority crying persecution either. To me that's kind of like the 1% of wealthy Americans crying poverty because they can't afford everything they want.

Overseas is another matter. There's definitely religious persecution there. There's also persecution of gays and anyone who goes against the one narrow view of the state. America's social politics often have that same disturbing notion, but it's nothing compared to areas like Africa or China. It can be downright scary over there.

 

[CensoredAlso]

I have to say I agree with Banannasketch, in that there has been a bit of a strong anti Christian sentiment pushback from the left, whether if they mean it or not.

It's just that no one is really innocent. People are the bullied one day and the next they are the bullies, and then back again. We're all like this. We just like to think it's always the other guy.

Here's a recent example of Catholics being more liberal than most liberals: protesting all these nasty conflicts Obama and NATO have been continuing around the world

I went to a Catholic college and we had group meetings about the then new Iraq war and discussed the Jesuit's Just War Theory which both the students and professors decided the Iraq war did not meet.

Catholics can occasionally be more liberal than other denominations, also for instance in being more open to embracing evolution. But it's always a struggle against the more authoritarian leaders of the Church.

 

[Drtooth]

I went to a Catholic college and we had group meetings about the then new Iraq war and discussed the Jesuit's Just War Theory which both the students and professors decided the Iraq war did not meet.

Catholics can occasionally be more liberal than other denominations, also for instance in being more open to embracing evolution. But it's always a struggle against the more authoritarian leaders of the Church.

The scary thing is, other than views on sex (that the followers actually disagree with to an extent), the Catholic Church has become pretty lefty. They want the government to be more helpful and mindful of the poor. Heck, the Pope has been denouncing the Middle East Quagmires since Bush was in office. In some cases, they even want a better health care system. But because of the stubborn old school beliefs on gays and birth control (which the majority of Catholic women don't even follow anyway), they side with the same party that they're basically condemning... just because of two little things they disagree with the left about.

But I have to say... you know who's worse than the left to Christians? The Neo-Cons. You know all the nasty thing leftist Atheists say about Christians? They say the same things behind their backs, but at the same time USE them for votes, pretending to give a crap about their morality. The whole "war on Christianity?" That was made up by Neo-Cons to scare the crap out of Christians so they'll vote for them. There was even a time when they were selling Evangelicals the belief that God actually does want them to destroy the planet so the big corporations that run the party/they hold stock for don't have to use a dime to curb their own emissions. neo-Cons don't care about Christianity OR even traditional conservatism. They care about getting as much money as dang possible.

So basically, while the left is infuriatingly passive aggressive and has a lame "better than you" attitude about everything, the Neo-Cons are downright Machiavellian. I'd rather someone up front not like me than have someone use me for their own gain and pretend to be my friend while laughing behind my back.

 

[newsmanfan]

----------------
My minister friend is fond of quoting the verse which states the hypocrites will wind up in the lowest level of **** next to the murderers and rapists.

Which...in the neocons' case...they are, figuratively...

--------------

 

[CensoredAlso]

But because of the stubborn old school beliefs on gays and birth control (which the majority of Catholic women don't even follow anyway), they side with the same party that they're basically condemning... just because of two little things they disagree with the left about.

Well there is a third thing, which many Catholics actually do follow.

The whole "war on Christianity?" That was made up by Neo-Cons to scare the crap out of Christians so they'll vote for them.

I scolded someone once for being happy that Wal-Mart had the nativity scene on their coupons, lol.

 

[beaker]

There's been a rash of hate crimes against gay couples lately where I live. Mostly its suspected its gangs targeting what is perceived to be effeminette men to attack and rob them. A teen also committed suicide last month here from jumping off the local mall after what he said was a long amount of anti gay torment at school.

Bullying overall though is a topic that Im glad is finally getting so much attention.
I've heard of so many horror stories regarding all races, genders, classes, etc by mean kids. And teachers completely oblivious or uncaring.

@Jamie: Yeah in parts of the Carribean and Africa, both politicians/preachers/pop singers advocate hunting down and killing gay people. Like in Jamaica, Senegal, Uganda, etc. So called "Christian nations". Thats why I was opposed to the government giving tens of millions ot Uganda, because of their violent anti gay laws.

The Muslim world as well is notoriously bad toward gay people. In Iran they'll just string you up if you're suspected of being gay, and in Egypt they routinely round up and arrest men meeting at singles groups.

I was more referring to Christians being persecuted overseas, as yeah Christians are by far the majority on the US. But I do think attitudes are changing. I will say I feel the frog/pot approach can be better than sudden change. The cover of this week's newsweek Im sure is bound to ruffle a lot of conservative feathers for a number of reasons

 

[beaker]

I know exactly what you're referring to, and that's another big religio-political fail. The very same party that speaks against it ONLY does so for votes and will crush any assistance needed to raise a child. Be it welfare, health care, or food stamps. They trot out a certain Alaskan politician's daughter and call her a hero for keeping it when her family is rich enough to afford the highest of care for the child. That's hypocritical.

I hate the concept that life is sacred until the baby's born and then it's every man for themselves. It's like saying "I'm a Vegan, but I also love to eat meat." The two are utterly incompatible with each other. Especially since it's the same party that doesn't mind killing much more children by dropping bombs on them, and letting the rest of them starve. There's no compassion there... just scare votes.

I consider myself pro life, but statistics show women of color and just poor/struggling women in general end up going to Planned Parenthood for pap smears, breast exams, OBGYN care in general, and contraception. I fully support all forms of contraception.

The anti abortion crowd never offers ideas or alternatives. It is completely ignorant of them to be against contraception, and then also be anti abortion. Its also ignorant to expect poor women to have nowhere to go for checkups.

 

[Slackbot]

<skips over pages of political bickering that I've already read in too many other threads>

I thought this was a very touching video. Thanks, Disney. I'm going to point it out to some friends.

 

[jvcarroll]

Here's another video from Pixar that was made a year prior to the Disney one. Enjoy!​

​

Statistics are now coming out that Obama's support has diminished some among women voters since his announcement about supporting the idea of gay marriage in this country. I had the feeling this would happen, but I felt it would be the men. Go figure.​

​

My Little Soapbox:​

​

People often bring up marriage being an issue for the states, but is it really? If a couple is married in New York is it not recognized in Tennessee? Marriage is a national issue and it is my belief that gays should have that right. Civil unions are not a step forward. In fact, they're practically meaningless and here are a few reasons why.​

​

• Civil Unions are state run and not nationally recognized. This means that when civilly-united couple moves, their spousal rights do not necessarily travel or move with them.
• Civil Unions do not come with at least 1,138 legal protections of marriage.
• Non-US spouses civilly-united to US citizens are not protected from deportation.
• Civilly-united spouses are not guaranteed hospital visits or a say in life and death matters.
• There is no exemption from estate taxes for civilly-united couples or right to a spouse's pension when they die.
• Social Security benefits upon death, disability or spousal retirement are not guaranteed for civilly-united couples.
• Family health insurance isn’t guaranteed when one spouse is injured or laid off.
• Divorce/dissolution requires citizenship registration in a state that recognizes civil unions.
• Civilly-united couples have no legal protection against discrimination due to the Defense of Marriage Act.
• Although contracts can be drawn up between civilly-united couples in order to retain some rights, third parties are not necessarily required by law to follow them. This means it is possible for estranged family members to make next-of-kin medical decisions and sue for inheritance over the rights of the spouse.

Gay Marriages won't change one thing about "traditional" heterosexual marriages. It won't require churches to perform ceremonies if they disagree with gay marriage just like Catholic churches aren't obligated to perform inter-faith marriages or any ceremony for that matter. Straight kids are not going to grow up wanting to get gay married because it's a legally recognized right. Marriages are not necessarily religious and do not require any authorization or rights from any church.

For those thinking about the economy, well consider how an increase in ceremonies will impact the marriage industry. There is a view from religious radicals that tolerance of gays and their right to marry will open America up to a moral crisis that will expose us to terrorist attacks among other such "smiting," but I encourage those people to realize such horrific attacks are perpetrated by people who hold the same kind of religious radical thinking.

The workplace, the institution of marriage and the world is big enough for all of us. Marriages are no longer about property, sexism or some simple rite of passage. They are about love, commitment and family. I think we all deserve that opportunity. /soapbox

 

[Phillip]

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