Gems from the right: "Liberals want to ban the Bible!"

[DukeLeto]

This has got to be THE STUPIDEST argument the right has made against Kerry.  In a recent mailing, that may or may not be from the Republican National Committee (no on in it really has any clue, in more ways than one), it is warned that by electing Kerry, you will be banning the Bible.

This is, of course, the one of the most rediculous things I've ever heard, and this administration has said a lot of stupid things.  Since when does the left want to restrict your freedoms?  Yet I hear it again and again.  "The liberals want to take away my hunting rifle (Handgun, AK, RPG, tank...)!"  "The liberals want to stop me from practicing my religion!"  "The left wants to take away my cigs!"

Let me say something, (hopefully) on the behalf of liberals throughout the nation:

1. I don't care if you want to keep a hunting rifle around.  But you don't need hollowpoint bullets and assault weapons to hunt deer!  What are you after, the elusive bullet-proof Grizzly?

2. I don't care what the hell you do with your religion, just don't impose it on me!  I don't care if you want to practice religion in your own home, or at a church, or in a big public assembly.  I don't care if you want to sacrifice a goddamn goat!  Just don't do it at school, don't do it at work (unless you work at a church, obviously), don't use it to justify crimes, don't come to my house, and don't you DARE try to convert me!  If I want "saved", I'll save myself, thank you!

3. OK, I'll give you most of that one, I would almost totally ban smoking if it were up to me.  You may smoke in your own house, so long as you have no kids, and special bars, and that's it.  I don't want to smell your smoke, and I certainly don't want years taken off my life from your suicidal hobby.

And as for gay marriage, I have this to say to those who favor banning it:

You are all a bunch of f#%@!ng redneck bigots.  What if I said that blacks couldn't marry whites, or that hispanics couldn't marry Germans?  That would be wrong, and banning gay marriage is, too.

Anyway, rant done.  Here's the article: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040917/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_mail_2

[Dante]

Hm, what can I say? Nothing to disagree on.

[VigilVirus]

The assault rifles are useful to shoot down the people who come to your house and try to convert you.

[TMA_1]

beh...

isnt it kinda silly on posting something like this from somebody as liberal as you dukeleto? lol

damn it I want my hollowpoints, and I want my semiautomatic rifles. I have one myself, and some hollowpoints by the way. if you shoot a can or bottle with one the effect is different, and quite fun. Why is it fun? well why do you play video games? It is a challange to have good marksmenship. Will I ever need to have my two guns to defend myself? almost definitely no, and I dont have them for that reason. I just enjoy shooting them out in the mountains. Unlike many who like shooting guns at people on videogames, I like shooting the real thing out in the beauty of nature, with the real feeling of the kick that it gives. Of course I am safe with them, and wear ear protection as well as eye protection and all that. just so some of you dont think I am an absolute nut, but by now some of you are probably leary of me.lol

I would like it if some snooty athiests and to a certain degree agnostics and liberal christians and people of other faiths to stop hounding me for my faith. In person, I dont talk about my faith much. When it comes out though I always get a good whipping for it. But I believe that if I want to, I can talk about it any damn time I want to. I also dont like people making extremely generalistic assumptions like us sacrificing animals and freaking out in our churches. Heck, if you want I can play at that game (like saying that all athiests are assholes with nothing better to do but spread their anger towards those who believe in something higher. Or to say that all athiests love to arrogantly assume that their opinion is right, and to play the moral game to appear nicer, when in reality are just hedonist bastards.)

Now were those things nice to say? No! In fact it is damn horrible, and could hurt people's feelings. In fact most athiests are secure in themselves and their ideals, and are just like every other human being out there. It is horrible to assume things about a group of people, and it is inhuman to say things to such a degree.

ANd I smoke, if you have a problem with that then take the cigarette that I have in my mouth at this moment.

I am not a bigot, as I dont hate homosexuals. I believe it is a deviant practice, as sticking a penis inside the rectum of another male, or salivating on a vagina of another female just doesnt seem biologically or ethically correct to me.

Dont assume too much man. Dont say things that could hurt somebody who is sensitive enough. Just because this is the PRP board, where almost anything goes doesnt mean that it is proper to be an ass. There is such a thing as being a good person, with sensitivity towards how others feel. There is also such a thing as understanding that preaching views in moderation and sensitivity can lead to more people understanding your point of view.

There is nothing wrong with being a sensitive person, and there is nothing wrong with trying to understand those feelings to be a nicer person towards others. God knows I need to be more understanding in that area. I try though, why dont you?

[HasimirFenring]

The assault rifles are useful to shoot down the people who come to your house and try to convert you.

I just invite them into my Satanic worshipping chamber and ask them if they would like to join me for evening prayer/sacrifice.  Works like insect repellant.

[TMA_1]

lol thats pretty good fenring, though it seems a bit mean spirited, I have to admit that would be kinda funny to see.

[HasimirFenring]

lol thats pretty good fenring, though it seems a bit mean spirited, I have to admit that would be kinda funny to see.

Havn't had a chance to try it yet, sadly.  People came to try and convert a very physics-savy friend of mine, and he went into a lengthy argument over the big bang and the creation of the universe, the compilation of the bible at the order of Constantine (I think), in general just giving them a hard time.  Takes much longer than just sitting there quietly and then showing them out.

EDIT:

I am not a bigot, as I dont hate homosexuals. I believe it is a deviant practice, as sticking a penis inside the rectum of another male, or salivating on a vagina of another female just doesnt seem biologically or ethically correct to me.

Ah, but the important question is: do you believe it is your/the government's business when people do that?

[TMA_1]

hmm, those things dont conflict with my beliefs. lol 

and I am afraid that the knowledge of physics can only lend to one thing: knowing a fraction of a bit about how this universe works as a whole. of course the bible says something interesting about knowing a bit about something, "a little knowledge puffs up".

[HasimirFenring]

I can understand that, but when someone believes that every word of the bible is literally true (over 1/5 of Americans, I think), then the big bang theory contradicts the idea that the universe was created in 7 days (we just read genesis in my Western Civ class, it's all fresh in my mind right now), and evolution also could present some difficulties to a literal interpretation.

[TMA_1]

yeah I see waht you mean, and many of them suffer from the same thing, except they are usually more emotional about stuff (and that is why it is funny to see their reaction, I admit it.lol)

I take the bible literally, its just I read it differently than a few others.

[Andrew]

Dukeleto you should move to Canada :)

Why do people need guns? Other than to hunt for food. If everyone has a gun, and someone decides to go rob someone (who also has a gun) you end up having a shootout.

Some provinces are banning smoking in all public places (shopping malls, bars, all work places (with exception to say farms and fishing boats :P)

Smoke free places

Dalhousie Univeristy in Halifax Canada banned smoking on all of the campus. It seems to be working well. Nova Scotia also has a smoking ban. New Brunswick also implemented a smoking ban recently. Newfoundland also has a smoking ban in effect.

I'm guessing other provinces may have a smoking ban or are wanting one. (but they are larger so harder to do)

Does any US states ban smoking in any public places and work environments? (Look at the links I provided as to what and where it is banned.)

As for gays, as long as they don't try to hit on me, I dont care what they do. (Gay parades are stupid, unless we start having heteroexual parades.) Guess same for gay rights. They should have the same right as anyone else. I dislike how minorities get more rights than nonminorities.

I don't care if people dislike gays, whether it is religious, or they just dislike them because they are gay. Everyone has their likes and dislikes.

Moral of story:

1. Bush = stagnation

2. If Bush wins and you don't like his policies, you may want to move to Canada. (If you think it is too cold, we will ally ourselves with Cuba soon and call ourselves Canuba. We would have America Surrounded.)

[DukeLeto]

Does any US states ban smoking in any public places and work environments? (Look at the links I provided as to what and where it is banned.)

Florida actually has a similar ban on smoking in resturants or workplaces, but it certainly isn't as extensive.  (And its not very well enforced, either.)

[TMA_1]

yeah, because only nuts would enforce something like that.lol I mean really if it is a place of business, a private one, then if you dont like what goes on there than you should not go there in the first place. Legislating morality is a plague for america, and it gets worse and worse. It obviously isnt healthy, but if a owner of a pub, bar, or whathaveyou, lets smokers enjoy a smoke in their place of business, than whats wrong with that? if somebody does not like the smell of smoke, or does not want the dangerous effects of smoke, then he can go to a non-smoking place of business. Why force those who dont mind it to do what they dont want?

not only this but what a lot of people dont understand is this really effects business'. For example there are some casinos in washington that are forced to not allow smoking. This actually has lowered income and is bad for business.

sheesh! whats the deal?

[Andrew]

Nuts? So Canada is nuts eh? ;)

Smoking bans are great! I don't come home from bars smelling like shit.

And private businesses are allowed to have designated smoking rooms. Sure they are expensive, but if they want to get smokers to smoke indoors they need them. Most big bars have smoking rooms.

Yes it at first would effect a business, but eventually if everywhere is smoke free, people don't really have a choice but to go buy something from a smoke free place. The only large problem is with tourists. But they are still coming to PEI (although it has declined in the past couple years).

PEI also has a wastwatch program to sort our garbage at home. Island Waste Management Corporation.

I believe there is only 6 garbage disposal sites on the island, and there used to be possibly a hundred.

And if it is of any relevancy, strip clubs are banned on PEI. Which forces us to go across the bridge. Always fun.

It is always great in our -40 degree weather to see smokers freezing outside. Lol, maybe they will quit smoking.

And a pack of cigarettes is over $10 on PEI. So you hear of lots of people robbing stores in nova scotia for smokes.

Smoking has been decreasing over the past couple of years in Canada I believe.

[DukeLeto]

if somebody does not like the smell of smoke, or does not want the dangerous effects of smoke, then he can go to a non-smoking place of business. Why force those who dont mind it to do what they dont want?

Because if one side or the other has to be inconvenienced, it should be the minority: the smokers.  And think of it this way: A business owner can't say you're allowed to shoot other people in their resturant, so why can they let you smoke?  You are harming them (against their will, I might add) either way.

Besides, if you admit it has dangerous effects, why do you still do it?  That's just plain stupid, period.

[TMA_1]

that is the thing though, in america we have the freedom to do these sorts of things. It doesnt matter who is convienienced, it is just a matter that we all have the freedom to go or not go to places we do or do not like. If a business wants to allow smokers to smoke in their place, that is their business and if a non smoker doesnt like it, he can find a nice place where there are specific places for smokers, or a smoke free spot.

You are limiting freedom, and you cannot deny that. I just disagree with you, as I think it is rather undemocratic to say. "Well if you are going to take away freedoms, it should be the minority". Well why cant smokers smoke in a place where it is okay to do so? why cant you just find some other place? It sounds more like pride than anything to me, and that is silly.

[nemafakei]

Try thinking from these lines:

You have a right to freedom up to the point where you're harming someone.

[TMA_1]

and I would agree if we were talking about public places and other locations where sometimes people are required to go.

but honestly there are many business' which are smoke free, and a lot of bars and pubs which are smoke free. Plus it isnt a requirement to go to these places. dont you see what I mean?

[nemafakei]

But by restricting the places they can go - for health reasons - you are indirectly harming them. You are reducing the number of places they can work, and their financial opportunities.

[DukeLeto]

You are limiting freedom, and you cannot deny that. I just disagree with you, as I think it is rather undemocratic to say. "Well if you are going to take away freedoms, it should be the minority".  Well why cant smokers smoke in a place where it is okay to do so? why cant you just find some other place? It sounds more like pride than anything to me, and that is silly.

That is exactly the point of a democracy: The majority makes the decisions.  I could understand if you were being told that you couldn't smoke at all, but you can - just do it in the privacy of you own home, or in areas specifically designated for smokers only.  I know it's limiting your freedoms, but guess what - if you had absolute fredom to do whatever you damn well please, society would fall apart.  And by smoking around people, you are killing them, period.  And killing people is NOT a right - it's a capital offense.

[Andrew]

So basicly, a business would conduct discrimination when hiring, simply because they can not hire nonsmokers. As working in a smoking environment is against smoke free regulations in place (if you were to have those regulations).

So if I were to go work for someone, but I did not like the smoke (say workers and clients), I would be forced to quit. I'm pretty sure that is illegal forcing someone to quit because of health and safety issues.

And you cannot discriminate when hiring people, to just have smokers apply. That is not equal opportunity.

Smokers get smoke breaks, but are in a designated smoking area.

[SurlyPIG]

Are you a smoker, TMA?

but honestly there are many business' which are smoke free, and a lot of bars and pubs which are smoke free. Plus it isnt a requirement to go to these places.

Yes it is.  You have to go to work, the grocery store, the bus station, the post office, the bank etc.  It was decided long ago that places of business are public places and thus things like racial discrimination is banned from the workplace.  Businesses may be privately owned but they must interact with the public and the vice versa.  There's a difference between being private and privately owned.

[ordos45]

I live in West Virginia, and the only place I've seen it is on the web.  It's the same with everyone I ask.  I want to see it, it would be funny.

[Andrew]

I live in West Virginia, and the only place I've seen it is on the web.  It's the same with everyone I ask.  I want to see it, it would be funny.

Seen what? And how do you see it on the web if it is smoke free places?

TMA-1 said in this thread

ANd I smoke, if you have a problem with that then take the cigarette that I have in my mouth at this moment.

Hope that answers your question ACElethal

[ordos45]

the original ad. ;)  The one with the banned Bible.