Neo

JOE!!!! You can't say JIHADIST AND ISIS in the same sentence. Jihad is an internal struggle associated with a religious journey. ISIS is a terror organization. They're unrelated. Haven't you been paying attention? Black lives matter. Say it! Safe space. Language orthodoxy trumps ideas. The first amendment is dangerous. Sorry, couldn't resist. I dig Joe and just used him to make a snarky post. Guilty. Now, with something cool. These two links will require an hour of your attention. Very cool to me as I start an investigation. It'll take years. I have good advice from some of you, and my first book. The viseo linked provides Muslims an opportunity to discuss their religion in their own words. Produced by David Burke for PBS. it may have never aired, however. I don't know. Interesting, regardless. Islam vs. Islamists Part One https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MtmUtfT3MF8 Part Two https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vvBlmqLTaKc

In a little back and forth with Liger, I mentioned that his RJ jokes didn't offend me one bit. I was commenting on my understanding of those who are offended. Allow me to add you to the same list of people I hope I didn't unintentionally refer to. I hope you didn't feel called out, either. I enjoy your work, too, you whacky self described heathen. Ironic smiley face !

Probably both with some justification!

LTS: great read. Buffalo, a "visionary city".

There are some big dogs who've been banned. There are some big dogs who've chosen to take a break. There are some big dogs considering sabbaticals. I'm happiest when you're all here. Insight on Eichel, dirty places and Disco Dan. I learn and I'm grateful. Oh, and "colorful" is fun. When I think of the World Juniors in Buffalo, I think of Casablanca and both The National Anthem and O Canada being sung in 716 at HarborCenter. La Marseilles and Die Wacht am Rhein! Forgive my obscene juxtaposition of circumstance and importance.

Those I've talked to don't feel their faith is challenged one bit. They also don't feel any more or less conviction. They don't need challenges to affirm. They need nothing. They're offended by people who are rude and insensitive. They're tired of people telling them what their faith needs and how they should feel. They understand science and math and don't understand why others don't understand faith, whether others share it or not. I have no view on their faith. I also have no sense of self that allows me to tell them what they should feel or think or believe. This isn't a religion issue. It's a common decency and respect issue. Substitute hairstyle for religion. The same construct holds. They're not offended by the religious commentary, solely. That's the topic. They're offended by smarmy people telling them they're dumb. It's quite a bit different to say I disagree. It's another to say you need to be challenged (says who) or you don't understand carbon dating (do so). I see boorish behavior and people who substitute their judgment for others. I think that's the rub. Your post moves from the original topic, telling people of faith what to believe and providing evidence with a sneer, to telling people of faith how their feelings represent the strength of their conviction. Where do you get this confidence? And sure, the shoe's on both feet. If a devout person sneers and tells an atheist he or she is faithless and doomed for eternity, the same offense is committed. Does the "one can't be belittled if one doesn't take offense" apply when an African American hears a racial insult? When I was a boy, blacks "weren't smart enough to play quarterback". I'm glad we came to understand that's offensive instead of telling black people that we were just challenging them and allowing them to affirm themselves. Further, telling them that failing that, maybe they really weren't smart enough to play quarterback. Why are people of faith the only category of people to whom we can say "it's your job not to feel offense when I'm offensive"? I don't buy into the "I'm rude to you, but if you feel it, maybe you're not what you say you are" thing. Faith is different. Everyone's is theirs and different. Beautiful. I have zero standing to belittle anyone else's. You are a great poster. I'm explaining my view more deeply. I know you harbor no ill will.

That was awesome. "Oh, we want the funk ...".

I need to get out more. I didn't hear those conservative responses.

Your timing's perfect. I'm about to leave for dinner and then an evening with The Florida Orchestra and Handel's Messiah ... Hallelujah! (I truly do have philosophically apocalyptic musings when watching the clash of nations, ideas, religions and words in the world today. At this point, they're interesting and fascinating, not debilitating! I won't worry until the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl. This, of course, is the final sign ... )

My "faith" in you is undiminished! I have loved ones, with advanced degrees in smartness, who believe the earth is 6,000 years old. They understand your evidence to the contrary. Me? I'm your "can have both" guy. Some would say I therefore have neither.

I'll await the SabreSpace posting of web memes of non-Christian religious figures pointing out the absurdity of their teachings. To be clear, I wasn't calling you out. I forgot you even posted ol' Raptor. I'll point out I'm not offended. Not remotely. I'm aware, though, of the feelings of others around their beliefs. I won't refer to the faith of others as absurd. I feel a pop culture immunity around Christian absurdity memes. Maybe it's me. I couldn't pronounce meme a year ago. What's absurd? Offering proof against faith is absurd. The faithful get proof. Some don't get faith.

I like it. A human being's plea. I hope I'm seen as caring for all, and accusing no of not caring. I'll debate efficacy. I hope I don't accuse anyone of not caring. Interwebs and me - who knows.

Life's funny. I had the same thought about my post after posting. I watch a lot of news and get my share of Fox. "War" on Christmas is over the top. So is "war" on women. Words do matter. Good point.

One of my favorite scenes in the Godfather trilogy is Kay, telling Michael, how naive he is. Michael stops, looks at her, and asks "Who's being naive, Kay?".

You know, I can completely see that being the standard answer, now that you point it out. It was soooo many years ago. You made me remember something. Another boozy night out with the boys, in college, and I was not driving. A cop pulled us over and then escorted us home, driving behind us all the way to my house, where my friends all spent the night.

Amazes me every single day ...

^ You can't disappear until you do a summary of DD's start, as you see it.

Robert Gordon Orr, of Perry Sound, Ontario Son of Doug and Arva Orr Lived on River Road ....

I hope I was clear. I agree with you completely. Word quiz ... Who does or doesn't think Isis is an existential threat? Thought of the day .... IF this is terror, we are on the cusp of a dramatically changed lifestyle. When targets go soft, metal detectors and no-fly lists aren't helpful. Behavior and the access to quiet enjoyment in life changes. Israel profiles everywhere. Word quiz, two .... Does profiling enter your thoughts, whether with dread or glee?

First cousin of (intent) criminal background check. I'd support. Felons can't have CCPs in Florida. I'm not sure about purchasing or owning.

I get around to things slowly, but I'm going to find Armstrong. I was hoping you'd reply. I also want the Qur'an. If you know of one that's annotated for a newbie, I'd be grateful. Amazon has hundreds. Let me ask. Your first words were "the Qur'an." Is there a link between that first response and the belief that the Qur'an is the unadulterated word of God? In other words, is that always the best answer? You may recall President Obama calling the Muslim call to prayer one of the prettiest sounds on earth. I've youtubed it. It is beautiful. Grateful to you and XB. It won't be. The first go around wasn't, either.

Wait, wait, we're not supposed to link weapons and religion! Challenge flag! Not every believer is a murderer! You can't generalize. It's a small portion! Oops, sorry. On review, you never said any of that when making your connection. My mistake. Kidding, of course. I certainly agree that religion, a belief, is the root of more violence than atheism. I also agree with Whiskey. My Christianity is more likely to illicit a condescending sneer from Atheists. Certainly not always, before someone points that put. Raptor Jesus, anyone? I'm a believer. There's nothing exceptional about my belief. The exceptionally devout don't ridicule me.

*snip* Good stuff ...

I've been driving for 38 years. Best guesstimate, I've probably been pulled over ten times, warned three and ticketed seven times. I believe each ticket was the result of a legitimate infraction. Speeding seven, rolling through a stop sign or something similar, one. I know I was ticketed twice for expired registration stickers. Mail it! I'll borrow from others to give my response. Adrenaline always. I can feel it. Not fight adrenaline, but stress adrenaline. "Do I have all of my information, is it current, etc." I get all the docs out and two-ten my hands. Yes, sir, no sir, thank you, sir. Period. A cop's job is hard. The outcome is in his/her hands. Nothing else makes sense. Respectful answers. Fortunately, my respect is sincere. It's a brutal job. Someone said "always professional, not always polite". I agree! Regarding being followed. It's happened to me. That's the worst. I believe my driving suffers. My assumption is that the cop's running plates. I have no idea. No following policeman ever pulled me over. I have two memories from sobriety checkpoints. I was driving a group of five guys home from a bachelor party. The other four were loaded. I designated drove all night. Seven iced teas! The officer asked where we were coming from and I told him. He asked me to say the alphabet backwards. I said "I can't, drunk or sober". He looked into my Jetta, noticed that the car was packed with five big guys (I'm the smallest at six foot, two hundred pounds) and said "you've got a lot of big men packed into this little car". My drunk friend awoke, looked up, and said "Farfegnugen". Cop laughed and said "be safe". Another checkpoint involved me and my wife. We were going home after dinner out at a restaurant. At the checkpoint, the cop asked if I'd had anything to drink. Remembering the words of my best man's dad, a cop, I said "yes, two glasses of wine with dinner". My friend's dad once told me a cop knows the answers to all the questions he's asking you. He just wants to learn if you're a straight shooter or a bs'er. Cop looked around the interior with his flashlight and caught a glimpse of my wife's drivers license. It was upside down and across the cab. He asked "who's that" after looking at the tiny rectangle, in the dark, from across the car. My wife said "me". He said "your hair's different". He was right. A glimpse, upside down, in the dark, with a flashlight. He said " be safe". Thank you for your service!

This is just awesome news. There is a world where Buffalo is big league.