xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jul 26, 2011 15:57:34 GMT -5
Except that nobody knows what Jesus looked like - assuming he ever existed.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jul 13, 2011 12:17:23 GMT -5
Not really. Ihave a vague recollection of something about an actor playing the role of the Scottish King being really killed by a real weapon when a stage prop should have been used.
Incidentally in Gaelic (Irish & Scottish) Mac Betha (Macbeth) means 'son of life'.
Anyway, none of this seems to have bothered Rowan Atkinson.
And we are way off topic, except that I would love to see AC playing Lady Mac. I think she would be perfect in the role.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jul 13, 2011 7:24:20 GMT -5
scotsgitAh yes. By the pricking of my thumbs, on a blasted heath, the Three Weird Sisters come: "When shall we three meet again...etc." Except that in the Scottish Play they were probably more tolerable that the modern ones. Enjoyed the clip!
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jul 13, 2011 5:42:53 GMT -5
It occurs to me that a society that produces the likes of Bachmann, Coulter and Palin, and allows their fascisitic views such political prominence, is a society that is all but ready to set out on the road to a loss of democratic freedoms.
I note, also, that they are women. Why do I think of the opening scene of Macbeth?
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jun 9, 2011 5:20:40 GMT -5
A a gay man I would be the last to even try to defend what was done in this case. It was nothing other than child abuse. but that's the way things were in those days. You did not admit you were gay, and you led a double life.
What I do not understand is the father's savagery. Nor do I understand that the mother could have permitted such horrific beatings of her little boy. I hold them just as responsible - actually more so - than Rekers. They should have been aware that beating a little boy until there are welts on his back and buttocks is not parenting. It is torture. It is patently wrong. And as adults they should have seen through the sheer wrongness of what was being proposed to them, the end result of which was that they contributed to the death their little boy with the help of the 'therapist'. There ought to be some way Rekers can be sued for this. I am all too conscious that this kind of treatment could have been meted out to me when I was a kid. I am thankful that my parents had more sense than to submit me to quackery.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Jun 5, 2011 4:40:50 GMT -5
Sorry for the bother.
I'm not sur if this is the right place to report the problem,but I don't see anywhere else.
I have been trying for two days to submit a response post to Pamela on FSTD. It is timing out on every attempt. I did try a test - one word, but a nuisance, I freely acknowledge - to see if that would clear the block. The test went through fine, but the block remains.
I'm not aware of having broken any rules, nor have I received any warnings. Everything else on the computer is working really fast...
Is there a problem of FSDT servers? I'm in France, btw. Thx for help
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 25, 2011 5:37:51 GMT -5
I have to say that I don't really understand the American system, so I am somewhat puzzled. I am used to a system where the rule is 'innocent until proven guilty in a court of law'. And until that is done, the the accused although in custody in the case of serious crime, is accorded privacy and respect due to any citizen. If found guilty in a court, then it is open season on the individual.
However, it seems to me that there are two schools of thought. One has already made a judgement that DKS is guilty - although on the most spurious basis. The other seems to be suggesting that it is a set-up. Me, I prefer to suspend all opinion until the court has handed down its decision.
It is alleged that DKS has a dubious reputation in this matter, but even so, that might be an Achilles heel that has been used to get him - or maybe not. If the allegations of former sexual aggression are true, then it doesn't look good for him.
Hotel maids come in many differend kinds. There are those whom it is a pleasure to reward for their kindness and helpfulness. There are others that are quite the opposite I have no way of knowing which category this lady falls into. But it does seem odd that she was almost kept in protective custody - at least that is what was reported in the papers I read. I was left wondering what exactly was going on. I would be used to the alleged perpetrator and victim of an alleged sex crime remaining completely anonymous to protect them pending a judicial outcome. the anonymity of an proven victim always remains private.
A final thought, if a woman, decides to call 'rape', even against an innocent, then it is very difficult to defend oneself against it. Consequently such cases require the most careful handling for justice to prevail (No I am not trying to protect sex criminals. I am trying to protect justice!). As it is, there has been a whipped up 'fair' trial by media and DKS can be taken out a publically hanged. I am left with an impression that this is the technique of the KKK, lynching - in reverse.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 25, 2011 5:01:51 GMT -5
How can Camping get away with this sort of annihilation mongering. It is alleged that people are handing over their worldly goods, so surely, if this is so, it is getting close to being a scam, or am I missing something. I would have no wish to wrong the a preacher...
But the amazing thing is that there are people who are prepared to take such claims at face value. I'm sure they exist in Europe too, but I think that they would be at less danger from being misled as the misleaders don't seem to be so thick on the ground here; and they probably would find themselves in trouble with the law in short order. Absolute freedom of speech is a two-edged sword.
I take it none of the dosh allegedly handed over will be returned?
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 10, 2011 11:33:00 GMT -5
FPTP is a crude, and basically loaded system. AV is marginally better. But for the electorate to be able to vote really strategically full proportional representation with multiple seat constituencies is best. Not sure if that's what Scotland has, but Ireland does have it, and it gave the electorate such power that in the electiois two months ago they massacred the former leading party in the coalition so that they were reduced from 70 seats in the Dáil (Assembly) to only 20.
It is possible to warn a party or government by giving their candidates a second preference vote. The candidate will perhaps still be elected, but will have to wait a nail-biting day or two to know if they have made it onto the political gravy-train. The counting of votes also is nail-biting TV, and the looks on candidates faces as they get closer to, or further from election is worth the long time it takes to get the final result in - usually two days.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 10, 2011 6:19:57 GMT -5
Jodie wrote:
"I've seen this story popping up on many blogs all of a sudden, but the original incident happened in like 2006 or something. Why is it suddenly being revived like it is recent news?
It's still stupid of course, but old. "
Old? Maybe. But the set of beliefs that gave rise to the comment is still going strong. Are people really allowed to be that stupid and still qualify as sane and intelligent? Or should they be re-classified as Brainwashed, Mindless, Ignorant, Possible Dangers to the Wellbeing of the Country? The thought behind that is that they are inculcating this blinkered mindset into their children as well. It is the mentality of the 17th century that is being perpetuated. Even the Roman Church allowes more freedom of thought than this.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 10, 2011 6:08:38 GMT -5
I received a plea from a straight friend to sign a petition to President Mussaveni to put a hold on legislation which, if it goes ahead, will be a literal death sentence for gays. It is being pushed by Christians in the parliament of that country. All the information is at the link I give below. I appeal to anyone with even the minimum amount of compassion for their fellow human beings to sign the petition and in this way to contribute to the pressure on the Ugandans to behave justly towards their own citizens, who just happen to be gay. (They are also looking for funds. I neither support nor oppose this. Each one must make their own decision on that element. If supporting, check to your satisfaction that all is above board. Sadly African 'schemes/scams' have made me leery. So be careful! However, my reservation still does not negative the need to put pressure on Uganda.) www.avaaz.org/en/uganda_stop_homophobia_petition/?vlThis is my first time to start a thread, so I hope I have not trawnsgressed any rules and that this is the right place to post this. If not please re-assign it to the proper forum.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 2, 2011 16:15:38 GMT -5
"There would probably be a strong negative reaction among the gay community who have essentially made their sexuality a core part of their identities. "
@ Maybenever
You can take it from me that sexuality is a core part of one's identity. In the case of this gay man it is so to a heightened level. I spent a considerable part of my already long life concealing who I really am. Happily I have come through into a more enlightened age than that of my youth. Many of those I knew could not make the effective denial of who the really were and committed suicide. So I know that I am one of the lucky ones.
Sexuality is only one part of one's make-up, but it is a potent element that one denies sometimes at a terrible cost. It is not a question of making one's sexuality a core part of one's identity. It just IS a core part of that identity. The same is true for the heterosexual. The difference is that for heterosexuals there is never any need to conceal or deny.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on May 2, 2011 4:24:02 GMT -5
Askold makes a good point. I see Al-Qaeda as a hydra. Osama was only one of the heads. Worse, he is now validated as a saint by his death at the hand of the infidel. What an icon for recruiting! Far better to have captured him alive and to have tried him in New York for his responsibility in the Twin Towers carnage. However, I have little doubt but that he would ever have allowed himself to be taken alive.
The bottom line is that, thanks to Reagan, Bush and others with vested interests, the west still needs oil. that really leaves only two options: 1] get on with the Arabs, who have the largest quantity of the stuff, or: 2] wipe out all the millions of Arabs and take over the oil fields. Option two is inhuman and barbaric, so only option 1 remains. That would have a knock-on effect necessitating changes in the US's Middle East policy, which would probably not be overdue. A more even handed approach might have at least mitigated the Arabs' view of the west and the US in particular. It might even have avoided the Twin Towers barbarity.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Apr 25, 2011 18:06:41 GMT -5
@ Shane
I think we are not so far apart in our thoughts. Our difference was semantic, more than substantial, I believe.
As I said to Zachski, it is past midnight (well past!) here and I am not really able to get into argument now. Please excuse that I leave matters at this point. I will glad y take it up again when rested, if you wish.
|
|
xotan
Full Member
Posts: 112
|
Post by xotan on Apr 25, 2011 18:00:45 GMT -5
Dragon Zachski"Not all religions have churches." No argument here. Nor am I confusing Christianity with religion. It would be ridiculous to suggest that Christianity is the only religion. We can certainly agree on this. Yet the significant point that you seem to miss is that the word 'church' is used in the poll at the head of the thread. For all arguments that may be raised to the contrary, I hold that 'church' refers in a very particular way to Christianity, and that it refers only much more loosely to other faiths. The quote of your posting which I made above would support this view, do you not think? Forgive me if this is not as full a response as you would have wished. It's past midnight here and I am ready to fall into the arms of Morpheus.
|
|