It is about control, I believe. If you can be convinced to bend to the will of others as to what is obviously yours, you begin the journey toward being under their total control...
This is a great idea, the success of which will be keeping people who hate out of the discussions. Perhaps the "Comparative Religions" is the place to put it, since "debate" is prohibited there. It will need good moderation to work, methinks...
I agree with the thoughts of Jordan St. Francis.
When you think about it, OBL must now meet his victims in the hereafter. So, praying for his soul is praying for a reconciliation of all those souls in another life. Hopefully hate is disallowed there...
I find that many people conflate respect and courtesy. I will always be courteous regarding the belief of another, whereas respect, to me, connotes admiration, even seems to require esteem.
Perhaps the answer to the famous "it depends on what the definition of is is" is that thin line...
Some very brave men took an extremely serious risk, and I like to think it was partly on behalf of every US citizen who suffered through 9-11. I am too busy thanking and saluting them to worry over the demise of the coward who engendered our national grief.
james
Hi, Songbird & Hi, Kathryn!
I think the complexity of the issue is astounding, especially in view of the fact that one is generally making a lifetime decision based upon what they see early on. Few in business, politics, science, etc. would be so, shall we say, brave.
I could discuss this...
Certainly a lofty position, and one I once strongly adhered to.
The result was that my friends who went "dallying around" are still happily married, while I took a financial, emotional and social bath by having the "guts to be honest"...
james
"I need insight as to how insensitive is it to have such a post, or is the Jewish kid taking this too personal."
I see nothing wrong with your son's post. All this "civility" is just scrim, for the world is getting meaner and meaner. That other kid was mean-spirited to start a controversy...
I disbelieve in the trinity to a level that makes it difficult to understand how anyone else can. However, I have grown weary of debating it. I think debating "belief", which by its nature is undebatable, is like engaging in a jello fight- you're going to get messy even if the other guy...