gdp's Comments

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:07:50 +0000

As I explained to Boberin, I "misspoke" when I wrote "...shoot down the people who try..." The point I meant to communicate is that we act as if the very expectation of fidelity is somehow less valid because a few public spokespeople are discovered to be unfaithful. I don't mean to defend those who perpetrate the scandal as victims; they've earned the scorn that's fallen upon them, although we do have the obligation to exercise forgiveness toward them. My main concern is that the cause they promoted is no less valid for their failure to live up to it. Additionally, I was responding more to the Sarah & Bristol Palin side of your comment. Bristol has been lifted up as the poster-child for how abstinence doesn't work, as if Bristol's failure to abstain (as millions of other kids across the country have successfully done) is evidence that her mother's stand for abstinence is somehow flawed. Would we say the same thing if Sarah decried handgun violence, only to have her daughter perpetrate a school shooting? Doubtful; she'd be comforted for her pain and given greater fuel for a fight against gun violence.

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:46:37 +0000

" 'And why is adultery resumé enhancement ...' Ask John McCain, Newt Gingrich, or Rush Limbaugh! You could also ask Sarah Palin about child rearing, and the fornication of her offspring!' " -SaneScrappler

...versus...

"OK, Sanescrappler. It's time for your nappy-poo. Ask Mommy for your milk and cookies and your soft banky. After you've had some rest you can come back and try to act like an adult." -IndyJohn

Which of those posts seems more "adult"? "SaneScrappler" posed a fair question (in the form of a statement) in response to UpNorthLurkin's goad. Who's the "troll"? Again, I'm not taking his/her side ideologically, but if you're going to claim the high road, you should probably walk it.

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:51:53 +0000

"...we assume that the accuser is guilt free and when we discover they are not then it surely detracts from the message...even though perhaps it shouldn't"

Exactly. It should detract from the accuser's own self-righteousness, but not from the core, unchanging fact that the act they were accusing another of is still wrong. To reference another common quote, "Remove the plank from your own eye, so that you may see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (paraphrased). The fact that I have a plank in my eye doesn't negate the fact that the speck in my brother's eye is still there. It just means that I shouldn't approach him self-righteously, as if I don't have issues of my own. The goal is to eradicate the "speck" while preserving my brother. All that to say that wood in the eye is a bad thing, regardless of what anyone says or does about it. Clear as mud?

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:28:42 +0000

"Well, there is the 'glass houses' thingy; and the 'cast the first stone' thingy"

Right, neither of which is negligible, but it doesn't change my point. Or maybe it does. I guess my point is actually that it's pathetic how attention is driven toward the person's failure, so that their original message is completely lost. In the "cast the first stone" case, the point is driven in that, while the woman was guilty of adultery, those who would stone her were equally guilty of their own sins, adultery probably among them. HOWEVER, the point that most people miss from that story is that Jesus was not excusing the sin, but the sinner. He forgave the woman and let her go, but he instructed her to "sin no more." The act of adultery (or any of the other sins represented in the crowd) didn't become any less wrong simply because it was a common sin. Why, then, do we act like people who succumb to sexual sin, drug abuse, or financial scandals are somehow evidence that their prior stands against such causes are worthless?

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:01:39 +0000

While I'm not going to argue with you about Craig, McCain, Gingrich (previously unaware), or Limbaugh, I would posit that it's not fair to attack Palin's "child rearing" skills.
Bristol obviously knew the difference between right and wrong, and she chose to do wrong. That's her mistake, not her parents'; their job is to raise her to an awareness of right and wrong, not to keep them from ever making mistakes.
I think it's pathetic how we shoot down the people who try to hold up a standard, even though they might fail to meet the standard themselves. It's like someone saying that smoking is bad, but they succumb to a cigarette. Does the fact that they failed to resist mean that smoking is actually okay, or that they were bad for decrying it in the first place? Absolutely not. It should just raise greater awareness of the dangers associated with smoking (or unfaithfulness, or teenage sex, or [insert cause here]).

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:53:21 +0000

I just click "Last Activity" at the top, which pulls all of the recent threads to the top.
I'm guessing that your problem with the missing buttons/links might be due to you not having an IntenseDebate account? Maybe there are extra functions available to those of us who had to sign up for one (as I mentioned, ID didn't like my two character "JQ" login, so I had to create a new account).

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:36:58 +0000

It's kind of weird, but it appears that we can edit our posts, so long as we're the "originator" of the sub-thread (replies aren't editable, apparently, although I do have a "Delete" link). If your browser is acting like mine, you should see "Edit" and "Delete" next to the "Report" button at the bottom-right of your originating post. [EDIT: OK, paint me a liar. I guess we're allowed to edit our replies for a limited time...? Whatever.]

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:09:11 +0000

...but you are allowed to edit your posts, at least with this new system. Go ahead and fix your typos in the original...we'll pretend not to notice your third-grade spelling.
:)

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:05:35 +0000

It would definitely be easier to keep costs down if we all just got the Barack Obama cut; a few passes of the electric razor, and voila! Haircut's done. This is even a solution for the "balding old white men," as a shorter cut draws far less attention to balding than does a combover.
Hopefully, they'll allow for an optional "Michelle" cut, as I'd rather not see my wife sporting the "Barack"...

ScrappleFace : Obama: 46 Million in America Live Without Haircare

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:59:03 +0000

I see where you're going with this, Boberin...

"This REVOLUTIONARY home haircutting system..."

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCION! Che would be proud...

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 00:56:20 +0000

Hey, UpNorth; we had snow here in Montana today, too. What the HECK? :)

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 21:40:35 +0000

SS- Thanks for the tone of your response to Darthmeister, which is far more respectful and constructive than the originating post. While I'm 50/50 in agreement and disagreement with your statements, I appreciate the fact that you're discussing them without sniping. That's something we could ALL do a bit better at. I actually believe that the majority of the juvenile, catty comments come from my conservative "compatriots" here, so I appreciate your attempt to be "the bigger man" in this situation.

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 23:38:00 +0000

"JAQ,
I note JQ, has been silent too! "

I never made any mystery about my identity, which was pretty obvious anyway; I came right out and explained that IntenseDebate required a name 3 characters or longer, so I had to throw in a 3rd letter. You're the one who's avoided letting us (the ScrappleFace forum) know to whom we're speaking.

"Gee, when you say 'us,' is that like the royal "we", or are you the spokesperson for a group?"

To a degree, I believe I'm speaking for the majority of the ScrappleFace forum, of whom I seem to be one of the more civil representatives towards you (possibly L@Y, since you haven't denied it), Boberin, and all the other screen names that pop up to irritate the conservatives in this forum. I try to have patient conversation, as it's the only kind that seems to get anywhere where dialog is concerned, but you folks always do your best to stir things into an argument. It certainly does nothing to change my impression that you're only here looking to irritate some conservatives. I'm sorry if I've given the impression that I think myself to be "pious." I've got plenty of my own issues, top among them a susceptibility to be drawn into arguments. I'm well-aware of my position as a sinner saved by grace. Here are a few verses for YOU to consider, assuming you take them as seriously as you claim to:

"A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel."
Proverbs 15:18

"A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."
Proverbs 16:28

"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
2 Timothy 2:23-26

(Gee, why did he have to "demonize" that one?)

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:57:34 +0000

"Can't you just reject a thing without demonizing it!"

Usually, yes; however, the origin of the Koran (as described by Mohammed himself, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here) sounds extremely demonic. If he didn't believe what he wrote, then it's still an evil work designed to deceive.

"If a 'Christian' would destroy Islam by violence, how does he differ from the "Islamic extremist"? "

Where'd you get that from? When did I suggest violence?

"Seek God's face!"

I'm getting a tad bit tired of your forced piety, SS. We all get that you're playing a part in order to irk us. Oddly enough, Laughing@You has been relatively quiet today...

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:31:34 +0000

SS:

"That is the name! It is a noun, not an adjective!"

Um, no. The name is "Koran" (or "Qu'ran," or however else you want to spell it). "Holy" is and always will be an adjective. When we say "Holy Bible," it's a term of reverent respect. The book itself is called a "bible."

"Most Muslims refer to Christians, as 'People of the Book', like themselves. If they are respectful, should we not reciprocate?"

You sure do toss around that "most" pretty confidently; I sincerely doubt that "most" Muslims refer to us as their religious kinfolk. That we most certainly are NOT; Islamic belief breaks with Judeo-Christian belief after Abraham. Muslims believe that their faith dovetails into Judaism and Christianity, so of course they respect some variation of our Bible (although they dismiss it practically in its entirety; ask all your Islamic friends). We, on the other hand, believe that the Koran is a misleading work of Satan, placed here to befuddle people and lead them away from Christ. Why would any Christian show any respect to such a weapon?

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 21:06:07 +0000

I'd like to make it clear (as I thought I did in my original post) that by and large, I approved of Obama's speech. I agree with most of it, and I even acknowledge that a significant level of Islamic kiss-up was appropriate. What I didn't approve of was when he crossed the line in multiple places by stamping Islam and the Koran with his approval. I didn't expect much different, because I understand (as does everyone here, if you're honest) that Obama's primary goal is uniting humankind in a secular, humanistic utopia. I honestly don't believe that he cares whether or not his "Christian faith" falls by the wayside, just so long as he continues to unite humanity. Atheists and agnostics will say that this is to his credit, but true Christians will see this as the rejection of God that it is.

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 20:58:30 +0000

By the way, I suppose I'm resorting to originating comments, since my inline replies seem to be by and large ignored. Boberin, I responded to your "eye for an eye" post, but it doesn't appear that you've read it yet, given your "few if any" comment. Any Christian who "scoffs at the notion" of turning the other cheek is in need of a good slappin'...

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 20:54:46 +0000

"So I have known Islam on three continents before coming to the region where it was first revealed."

Interesting use of the word "revealed" as opposed to "originated;" this lends credence to the Islamic belief that Islam was "revealed" to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel (after his belly was cut open and stirred up a bit, of course). He also used the term "Holy Koran" no less than five (5) times.

"Among some Muslims, there's a disturbing tendency to measure one's own faith by the rejection of somebody else's faith. The richness of religious diversity must be upheld -- whether it is for Maronites in Lebanon or the Copts in Egypt."

So, multiple religions are actually a good thing, huh? There's a great Christian concept...

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 20:41:36 +0000

So, SaneScrappler, what other "nom de plume" have you gone by at ScrappleFace. All of us carried our old names over to the new system (more or less, in my case); it's only fair that we know who you are, as well.

ScrappleFace : Obama Cairo Speech Settles Muslim-Jewish Feud

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 20:39:38 +0000

Darthmeister says:

"Unemployment reaches 9.4% Boy, Obama and the Congressional Donks are sure making good on their promise of "change". Oh, I forgot, it's BUSH'S FAULT! "

Actually, the layoff rate is slowing; it's far lower than projected.