Wow, I'm sure glad I don't live anywhere near Decatur, IL...

As far as all that internet pornography in the library, DAMN YOU PUBLIC LIBRARY and your access to books, art, etc.

I say we burn down the whole damn thing and maybe kill us some Jews while we're at it.

B-Line...

I see no reason to post personal insults. I posted an opinion; I think 27 years in uniform maintaining your right to your opinion gives me the right to mine.

I salute you.
I think being a member of this forum since 2005 makes me qualified to spot someone trolling for a debate.

- But to answer you with dignity and respect.

- It's okay to have your values and beliefs. The problem presents when you feel that your values and beliefs should be forced onto other people. Isn't it okay to say, "I don't like abortion" so I will not practice it cause it goes against my religion.
-- But in the same breath say, there are other people whose beliefs are not the same as mine and I should not force my values on them?

- I am Jewish, my religion states "That the mental and or physical health of an expecting mother is more important than an unborn life. And if a fetus growing in the womb can cause emotional or physical damage to the mother, the termination is justified. Furthermore, according to my religion, life starts when the baby leaves the womb, not before.

My point is not that my religion is right or that your religion is wrong. My point is, I'm not asking you to accept my religion as your beliefs nor am I forcing it. But when the Christian agenda tries to force it's beliefs onto the bodies of people who do not share it's value system, that for me is a problem. You should respect other people's values even if you do not share them.

And that is where this country has gone wrong. Not in a liberal agenda. But in the chair of people such as yourself who think they have the exclusive right to a moral compass by which other people should live.

You don't like pro-choice, gay marriage, liberal media, FINE.. All well and good, until you start trying to legislate your beliefs into my life.

Amen BROTHER!

No the country isn't dying on the vine.

If you believe the country is dying on the vine what do you suggest is changed?

How valuable is diversity in your view of the US? Does it make us stronger or does it make us weaker?

Ok I'll bit too.

The country is in the middle of a world wide financial meltdown and that is new and no one has a solution other than time. The rest of your comments are every day events, even the internet kid. The internet sees some new form of expression every day.

That is not to say the Kid killing himself was trivial, it's only to point out that new and sometimes destructive ways to use the internet are discovered regularly.

I just re-read my original posting and did not see anything that could be identified as "forcing" my views on anyone; just stating my views. You are absolutely correct in your right to an opinion and should be allowed to voice it and post it; without fear of someone calling you retarded or accused of sniffing glue. I came to this forum because of the MANY people I know who own BMWs. As a rule they are fine people and I assumed, not incorrectly I hope, that this forum housed the same caliber of people. I would NEVER insult you for voicing your opinion nor would I verbally attack you even if you tried to force your opinion on me. It was not my intent to “troll for a debate” as you suggest. If you feel I am wrong in every instance then so be it; I respect that opinion. If being a member of this forum since 2005 gives you the right to insult someone you do not know then perhaps this is not the forum for me. I need a forum where everyone respects each other sort of like, “You should respect other people's values even if you do not share them” as you mentioned. If you think everything in this country is all well and good then maybe you need to spend time in the Sudan (as I have) or Poland right after the wall came down (as I did) or Somalia (yes, there too), or spend three years in Iraq working with Iraqi forces to take back their country or Iraqi children who have NEVER been to school. We have the best country in the world but I believe we are letting it slip away slowly. Obviously you do not agree and that is fine. This will be my last posting on the subject so as not to be accused of perpetuating a debate; wouldn’t want to offend you.

PS: Spent time in Israel too - 1974

Shouldn't this thread be in the Poli Sci Fourm? :confused:

Interesting "question", but it is so loaded with anecdotal
stuff and bait...no dis to OP but it reads like a high school
debate team pop-up question. :rolleyes:

And, agree that it is an unusual "question" for a 2nd post
on a "car board".

My Qtrs' Worth:
-"dying"? No...nothing is the same as 2 centuries, 2 decades or,
2 weeks ago. Things change, societies evolve/devolve.
-As The Cleaner so aptly stated, we/the US, and the world is
going through a remarkable and acute financial situ.
-Not a chest beater, but the US is still the place most countries
treauries & investors run to for safe harbor, ala the current TBill/Tbond situ.
-Not many US citizens leaping into planes, tossing their passports
and ex-patting to some other country...
-Am I worried and concerned? Absolfookinlutely...esp. for my adult
kids and their kids, and for the avg age poster here of ~30 yrs old.

Maybe the OP was writing a term paper and needed some filler for
his paper. ;)
GL,mD

buy the dips, sell the rallies.

:iagree:
and that's not easy for me to say. :D

FWIW I'm with B-line here and a nod to Quicksilver's comment as well.