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who am i?
what am i?
self doubt?... not here...
...I surf the net, therefore I am.
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It is not enough to do things just because you can.
Power without rightness, right action at the right time, is mere force,
and that cannot last against nature.
Monkey Magic
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We think we earn what we have, but it is a gift.
Monkey Magic
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You make yourself and others suffer just as much when you take offence,
as when you give offence.
Handbook to Higher Consciousness - Ken Keyes
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Think of this life as a journey that we have all made, to a 'distant
land'.
...but soon after arrival here, almost all of us 'go native'!
Have a nice life! ...and try to remember, that
[from choices] there are 'consequences'.
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"...apparently we're all born spiritual and free, and then [this] life
entraps us."
Frankie, trying to work it all out - LOVE MY WAY
My Family Up A Tree
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"Home is behind. The world ahead. And there are many paths to tred..."
song of Peregrin Took, for Lord Denethor - ROTK
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"We are who we protect, i think. What we stand up for."
Sophie Neveu - The Da Vinci Code [movie]
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Those who expect to reap the blessing of liberty must, like men,
undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
Thomas Paine
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Liberty has never come from Government.
Liberty has always come from the subjects of it.
The history of Liberty is a history of resistance.
The history of Liberty is a history of limitations of Governmental
power, NOT the increase of it.
Woodrow Wilson
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Among a people generally corrupt, liberty cannot long exist.
Edmund Burke
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Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human liberty.
It is the argument, of tyrants.
It is the creed, of slaves.
William Pith, 1783
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The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood
of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure.
Thomas Jefferson
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Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little
temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
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The rapid progress of the sciences makes me sorry, at times, that I was
born so soon. Imagine the power that man will have over matter, a few
hundred years from now. We may learn how to remove gravity from large
masses, and float them over great distances. Agriculture will double
its produce with less labor. All diseases will surely be cured... even
old age. If only the moral sciences could be improved as well. Perhaps
men would cease to be wolves to one another... and human beings could
learn to be human.
Benjamin Franklin
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Most of us believe everyone has a right to his own opinion -- as long
as it agrees with ours.
Andy Rooney
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I'm proud of my Irish heritage, but I'm not Irish. I'm not even
Irish-American. I am American, period.
Andy Rooney
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Guard with jealous attention the public liberty.
Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel.
Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force.
Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.
Patrick Henry
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The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing.
Edmund Burke
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Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery?
Forbid it, almighty God!
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty
or give me death!
Patrick Henry, March 23rd, 1775
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Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue.
unknown
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THIRD FISHERMAN: Master, I marvel how the fishes live in the sea.
FIRST FISHERMAN: Why, as men do a-land: the great ones eat up the
little ones.
William Shakespeare - Pericles act 2, sc. 1
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In this world, then, as now...
"Right is only in question between equals, and while the strong do what
they can, the weak suffer what they must."
Thucydides (460-400 B.C.) Greek Historian
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Prejudice, Violence, Ignorance, Despair... the parents of
Poverty.
Learning, Knowledge, Wisdom, Peace... the parents of
Prosperity.
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Minds are like parachutes - they function better when they are open.
Thomas Dewey
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We had thought that we were human beings making a spiritual journey; it
may be truer to say that we are spiritual beings making a human journey.
Teilhard de Chardin
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Light is good from whatever lamp it shines.
unknown
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"There are no answers. Only choices." see also
Gibarian - SOLARIS [movie]
[SOLARIS, is this one explanation [analogy] of what this 'life' is, or
maybe is? Or, is this just sci-fi for
Buddhist's? :-) ]
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The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is
suffering from some form of mental illness.
Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.
Rita Mae Brown
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All the world is mad except me and thee, and I’m not too sure about
thee!
unknown
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One survey found that ten percent of Americans thought Joan of Arc was
Noah's wife....
Rita Mae Brown
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Suffering arises from our desire/attachment.
Buddhism - 2nd of The Four Noble Truths
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The more we know... the more we come to know, how little we know!
The lesson, from the mantle of human scientific inquiry.
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When a man’s knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has, the
greater will be his confusion.
Herbert Spencer
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My Goal: To live forever.
Current Status: So far, so good!!!
unknown
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"I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve
it through not dying."
Woody Allen
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When the truth dies, very bad things happen.
Tripping - Robbie Williams
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Every day, embrace life!
But always remember that...
Today is a good day to die.
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If work were such a good thing the rich would have it all and not let
you do it.
Elmore Leonard
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You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when.
But you can
decide how you're going to live!
Joan Baez
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Don't tiptoe through life in order to make it safely to death.
unknown
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Man cannot discover new oceans until he has the courage to lose sight
of the shore.
unknown
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Life, is a search for meaning.
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The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than
those who try to do nothing and succeed.
Lloyd Jones
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our
abilities."
Professor Dumbledore to Harry.
Harry
Potter and
the Chamber of Secrets - J K Rowling
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“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he
treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J K Rowling
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Figuring things out for yourself is the only freedom anyone really has.
Use that freedom.
Make your own choice, Rico.
RASCZAK - Starship Troopers
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Reading the Quran is much like eating an apple; one doesn't have to eat
(read) all of it to understand that it is rotten.
Pelayo - http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/018289.php#c456426
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The ox is slow, but the earth is patient.
Confucius
[meaning,
for those who have asked...
However slowly an ox pulls a plough, the earth
is waiting,
patiently for
the [slow] ox.
i.e. The earth is not impatient, like some people!
See! Easy wasn't it!]
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From a
scene in the movie Starship Troopers
RASCZAK
Here in History and Moral
Philosophy
we've explored the decline of
Democracy when social scientists
brought
the world to the brink of chaos,
and how the
veterans took control and imposed
a stability
that has lasted for generations
since...
You know these facts but have I
taught you
anything of value ? You.
Why are only citizens allowed to
vote ?
Rasczak points at LANNY, 17, with his stump
.
LANNY
It's a reward... what the
Federation gives you
for doing Federal Service.
Rasczak is crestfallen, makes a big show of patience.
RASCZAK
No. Something given has no value !
Haven't I taught you dimwits
anything ?
I guess they ought to revoke my
teaching credential...
RASCZAK
When you vote, you're exercising
political
authority. You're using force.
And force, my
friends, is violence, the supreme
authority
from which all other authority
derives.
CARL JENKINS, 18, a superintelligent geek, jumps in.
CARL
Gee, we always thought you were
the
supreme authority, Mr. Rasczak.
Laughter. Rasczak grins.
RASCZAK
In my classroom, you bet. Whether
it's
exerted by ten or ten billion,
political
authority is violence by degree.
The
people we call citizens have
earned
the right to wield it.
DIZZY FLORES, 18, athletic, pretty, no nonsense,
chimes in.
DIZZY
My mother always says that
violence
never solves anything.
RASCZAK
Really ? I wonder what the city
fathers of
Hiroshima would have to say about
that.
You.
Rasczak points at Carmen.
CARMEN
They probably wouldn't say
anything.
Hiroshima was destroyed.
RASCZAK
Correct. Naked force has settled
more
issues in history than any other
factor.
The contrary opinion 'violence
never
solves anything' is wishful
thinking
at its worst.
RASCZAK
People who forget that always
pay...
They pay with their lives and
their
freedom.
From a
scene in the movie Starship Troopers
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Here, is a [partisan] selection of
comments that took my
interest, comment that was made regards this online article....
The
Times October 31, 2006
Why there is no God
Richard Dawkins
People
who claim to have seen God are delusional and Thomas Aquinas's logic
was flawed, our correspondent argues in an extract from his bestselling
book
E-POLL: are all religious experiences
a delusion ? VOTE here
to find these comments [below], on this
link page,
SELECT, Read all comments ( 441 )
The
debate on the existence of God and true spiritual experience is
very
much like the debate on mankind's arrogance. Does it exist or not?
Certainly the state of the
world would suggest that it does?
Personally I would disagree that arrogance does not exist and point to
Richard Dawkins as proof. But then again that might be classed as
changing the subject. Or is it? Clever words can't prove or disprove an
individuals own spiritual experience. Lack of any spiritual experience
would suggest that we have lost our way and the sooner mankind is dead
the better for everyone and everything based on current efforts to feed
the starving and heal the sick. Maybe we could just take a spiritual
leaf out of the bible where it comes to Jesus and his way of working.
Sam Denniss, West Kirby, Wirral
and...
I
believe in G-d but don't claim to have personal experiences of his
voice or presence. The reason for today's secular society is that
people just want to feed their own desires and denial is a convenient
way of relieving their conscience.
Meir Grosskopf, Manchester, UK
and...
It is
evident that Richard Dawkins has chosen to confine himself to the
limits of his own little world. The malevolent face in the window that
turned out for him be a crumpled curtain thus "proves" there can be no
such thing in the real world. The ghostly voice at night that turned
out for him to be the wind whistling through a key hole "proves" that
there can be no such thing as supernatural voices. This reasoning is as
crazy as the Russian astronaut who returned to earth and pronounced
the non-existence of God on the basis that he had not seen any such
being in space. Mr Dawkins
would do well to ponder what Jesus meant when he took a child into his
arms and declared such to be prime candidates for discovering spiritual
realities. Kids are great for being open to new experiences and
being willing to be taught. Their world is so much bigger than
themselves - and for that reason Mr Dawkins' one suspects.
Grahame Wray, Leeds, UK
Those
who have found Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord cannot be argued out
off their personal experience as he is someone who is there at all
time. He does not jump in and out of our lives to tease us, but his
spirit align with our spirit and witnesses within to whom we belong.
That is the seal which the Almighty God gives, not to the high and
mighty know-alls of the earth but to the meek and lowly of heart. The
onus is on the individual as we are invited to humble ourselves before
our Creator if we do not wish to be humiliated by our own self
deception.
Ronald Thomson, Falkirk, Scotland
As
Richard Dawkins says, men and women are prone to all sorts of
delusions. Incontestable. But he appears to go on from that to say that
any sort of experience not dreamt of in his philosophy must also be
delusional. If I thought he would understand my meaning, I would have
to say "My God!"
David Wade, Tunbridge Wells, UK
I
used to be an atheist, but then I lost my faith. And not even the
clever Mr Dawkins' new book can restore it. In his world, all
"faith-heads" are blind to evidence and reason, like children believing
in fairies at the bottom of the garden. However, Christianity is rooted
in historical evidence that can withstand the closest scrutiny, and
clearly there are many other scientists who believe in God. Any atheist
reading this book will no doubt feel reassured, but John's gospel would
be a better place to start for those who are really interested in
knowing God. Dawkins is a man of faith just like the rest of us, he
just has a little too much faith in himself.
K J McConville, Newtownards, Northern
Ireland
Well
done! Richard, create a straw man and then knock him down.
Of course there are all kinds of people who have had strange
experiences that prove nothing. The body of evidence that leads us to
believe in God is overwhelming and does not start with visions! Start
where God starts - His own self disclosure - The Bible. If people want
to know whether or not God exists they need to become acquainted with
the book through which He has revealed Himself. Anyone who looks
carefully at and studies the Bible will discover that God does exist
and the evidence is both compelling and convincing.
Steve Baker, Liverpool, Merseyside
and one for Phil...
If
religion is right, then why are there so many of them and which God is
the real one? Religions are finely honed brainwashing techniques
perfected over millenia to exert control over the masses by the few.
Jim McNally, Kingston, UK
and...
Sadly
it is true that there have been many instances of abuses committed in
the name of 'religion'. However, the existence of a counterfeit never
disproves the original. True, authentic Biblical Christianity has done
much good for this nation. It created the NHS, the education system in
the main and produced certain eminent scientists. It campaigned for the
abolition of slavery, care for vulnerable children and justice for the
oppressed. And, it still does much good for society today. Jesus
preached and demonstrated peace and forgiveness. So one should not
judge 'religion' (and 'God') on the basis of it's abuses, as Dawkins
often does. If people stuck to the basic truths of the Bible then there
would be less injustice, oppression and prejudice. And, people would
not be restricted and denied freedom, as Dawkins' asserts - true faith
is liberating and life-enhancing! I pray for the atheists, that the
true God will open their eyes to the glorious truth of Christ as he has
done for me.
John, Droitwich, UK
and...
Dude,
i have seen God move, tangibly. The trick is to scratch a little
deeper. The things these 'religious' lot talk of is indeed an
experience, how do you communicate to a blind man what colour is until
he can see himself. They're prompting you to experience what cannot be
communicated. Seek God, an you will find.
Carolyn, Manchester, UK
and...
To
say there is no God is to say that there is no hope, and that we are
cosmic accident. I for one never confuse God with religion, as much
evil has been done in name of religion. And I too am highly skeptical
when people claim God 'speaks' to them, like President Bush claims or
the gentleman that runs Iran these days. But wherever there is beauty,
selflessness, good and love in this world, there is God calling to us.
His kingdom truly is not of this world. If it were, and if it were easy
to comprehend in terms of how we understand the 'rules' of the world,
this debate would not be happening. 1Cor 3:18
Michael Foughty, Alexandria, VA, USA
and...
How
simplistic to think all believers in God base their faith on a sensory
perception! "Each man/woman is given a measure of faith." Ecclesiastes.
As a believer in the Christian God (with no extra-sensory experiences
upon which to base my belief !--)I believe in the God of Christ's
teachings who admonish us to Love God and our neighbors as we love
ourselves--what better way to live? Who but God could come up with such
a simple effective message? Godless societies speak for themselves. I
find it amazing that one could NOT believe in a master designer. It
seems to take as much faith to believe in the accidental evolution of
the universe with one of the endpoints being a conscience
driven/reasoned/emotional/caring human being. Why would evolution
select out for a physically slow, mentally driven, small jawed, bipedal
creature OVER the 4 legged, fast, large jawed hunter supposedly that
man evolved from?
Nan, Bend, OR
and...
Is
life an egg, or a bubble? If it is a bubble, then good and evil are
only relative terms. Camus wrote: "there are really only two
questions... why is there something rather than nothing? and why not
suicide"? If life has no meaning then there is no difference between a
clump of mud and a sunset. It's just how the atoms happened to arrange
themselves. If God doesn't bring order and purpose, then all is
permitted, nothing is sacred. I believe life is an egg, that gives
birth to our future. It is only by respecting the divine order and
goodness of God that we can live today with hope for a future.
Randall Bergquist, Bakersfield,
California, USA
and...
To
paraphrase Professor Dawkins: some people experience delusions for
various reasons. God does not exist, therefore, anyone who says he
does, is or has been, either deluded or mad. Hardly an argument to
worry St. Thomas Aquinas. I really do not mind if Professor Dawkins
does not believe in God. I just wish he'd stop boring us about it.
Jolyon de Fossard, Bath, UK
and...
These
arguments and opinions are all interesting but ultimately not very
helpful to the poor traveler on this Earth. Tomorrow I will arise and
will have to make decisions about how to live my life. If biology is my
guide, I will kill or be killed; take or have taken from me. If "God"
is my guide, I will strive to love my neighbor. I think I prefer the
latter vision of the future of mankind. Let's not focus solely on the
past; instead, ask yourself what should mankind look like in a thousand
years. Science tells us where we were. God shows us the way forward.
Rod Smothers, Louisville, Kentucky
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