thelerner

Terrorists mostly just try to kill you, but babies.. those buggers steal your money, sleep and sanity. I admire the thrust of the OP yet suspect that in this quote 'For example, in 2013, there were 152 terror attacks in Europe. Only two of them were “religiously motivated,” while 84 were predicated upon ethno-nationalist or separatist beliefs.' that if we looked into all 152 terror cases closely we'd find many more then two examples with links to Islamic radicalism at work.

While its good to beware of groupthink, I find most people use the word sheeple as an insult to those who don't agree with them. When you find someone wise and they've passed some of your bullshitological tests and have gotten an ok from some of your trusted associates, then its so bad to surrender to there wisdom. To give yourself over to one who has gone before.

From the online 'Humble Bundle' I bought a pdf of the graphic novel 'Saga, Book One'. Its very well done, harsh, scorched earth, sexy anti war novel. Its themes come to bare on discussions we're having on the bums now. Enemies, pawns really on two warring sides, come together and have a baby. Both soldiers who've abandon there posts and warlike philosophy they pledge love to each other, see the destruction of creed and violence and try to escape it. Despite there enlightenment and morals, to survive they have to get violent, increasingly so. Growing up and working in the sometimes mean streets of Chicago, I've learned 'Don't be so good, so altruistic that you make yourself a target.'.

Most people are amazed at how liberal the writings of Adam Smith actually are. Just as interesting, Ronald Reagan the 'father', some might say 'saint' of the modern conservative movement was way more liberal in policy then his predecessors evolved into. From clemency for millions of immigrants, running up huge deficits or (horrors) compromising across the aisle, Reagan did it. Its doubtful he'd gain any nomination in the past decade, he (& his record) would be far too liberal.

Since you bring it up, how do you relate to the child murderer? How do you relate before they murder, while they murder and after they kill? I've found your past arguments to be flawed and unrealistic. Perhaps a real life example would be more instructive to me.

No, its not. The fact you have to reach for an extreme like Hitler ("Only if Hitler wasn't a murderer") to try to prove your contention shows such ivory tower thinking that you've moved away from the real world. Do you think what the people did who used machine guns in that french office were wrong? Maybe I'm a simpleton, not able to comprehend how Hitler's definition of justice enters into it, but by god, I'm got my head on straight enough to know that was wrong and attempts to philosophize it away may be wonderful intellectual gamenship but its morally bankrupt. In the ability to compare apples to apples makes it possible to think of offending people sensibilities to be on par with murdering people in an office. Without some common sense definitions (not Hitlers) it makes it easy to compare the actions of say ISIS which is okay with murder, rape and slavery with say a police departments. You can do it intellectually, but hopefully in real life we know better.

That's an important statement and we need it in civilization. Too much of it though, and your civilization is wiped out. When loving meets the murderous, they die just like everyone else, maybe fearless dead but thats not a whole lot of consolation. There may have been hundreds of Gandhi's and MLK's that we'll never know of (and some we do) who met evil with love and were promptly killed. Beyond philosophy there's a survival mechanism only available with being willing to defend oneself. In the real world love and fearlessness are great, but they don't conquer all. Without a soldier and policemen to protect them they get destroyed by evil. Course I'm talking history, not philosophy.

Yet we are not all murderers, those who are need to be named and brought to justice. We lose the fight when we give up on justice and protecting the innocent.

Owledge, you seem to be bending over backwards linguistically and morally to defend people (their sensitivities) who'd rape, murder and enslave you. ie such as ISIS, one of the groups who took credit.

Perhaps a new subsection. In the The Pit, putting in subforum Pit Fight- it'd be for the more active, no holds barred, only for audiences mature in years yet immature in judgement kind of thing.

When a thread has so much good stuff in it, I hate to see them locked. It kills the discussion and means it moves off screen too quickly before its time. I'd rather see multiple warnings then see a thread locked. The Hu Yaozhen thread was a great example of how a historical master still affects the modern gi gong world. How several bums are part of his living legacy in the healing arts. There is much precious and real about the story. http://thetaobums.com/topic/19484-some-info-on-hu-yaozhen/?p=603966

here here. i think this captures the essence of the matter. also no more then ten angels per pin head & the immovable objects wins unless the unstoppable force gets a head start. Actually I guess if its in reference to the Iching there is a correct answer.

I don't do long youtubes either. Is that Gematria as in taking Hebrew words and translating them into numbers and considering similar numbers to point to the same thing? I had a few meals with Guru Gil many years ago in Jerusalem. Gil had translated the entire 5 Books of Moses into Gematria. A book that read like a quarterback waiting for a hike. You get instances of gematria every now and then in sermons. I find (like a good corporate accountant) you can get the numbers to point any way you want.

I remember reading from a well informed european sword expert that in a set tournament a katana/samurai would lose to an equally skilled fencer but on a chaotic battle field where there was less finesse and the killing stroke meant everything, the samurai sword and technique would have the advantage.

Feminism is a good idea. Basically it calls for equal rights and opportunities for woman. Like any movement it gets a little crazy at the extremes, where an enemy must be found and unfortunately that unifying enemy is All men and the patriarchy. Thus the radicals waste energy and at times look ridiculous. I want my daughter and and nieces to have the same rights and opportunities as any one else. Society loses potential when some are kept from there aspirations. Let the individual decide there path without prejudices.

and sometimes what looks like a demon is really an old childhood anger or grudge that's throwing a tantrum and if left alone will settle down all by itself.

I've never heard of him or his school. On your recommendation (which I value) if he were close to Chicago I'd go.

and that's why I always keep 2 rocks in my hand. One for reserve, the other for existential mathematicians.

This is an oldie (1989) but goodie. http://www.amazon.com/The-Tao-Health-Sex-Longevity/dp/067164811X The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity by Daniel Reid Edit by Admin: Fixed Link by Staff

When going through hell, keep going. - Churchill Still Hell is better with the company of friends or to a good sound track. I really like this song when I'm down. It's smooth and bluesy and reminds us to Breathe, just breath.

Call me an abstinence lightweight, when I go past 8 or 9 days, I get angrier, less patient. I'm increasingly negative, I want woman/sex but my thoughts about them turn a little darker. After 2 1/2 weeks of abstinence I get a bit more even, maybe even a dullness. The day of and a few days after sex I'm clear and happy, then the cycle begins. It probably is a testosterone thing, a hormonal cycle both powerful and subtle. I'm at my happiest having sex twice a week. edit add> Its like men have a 'PMS' cycle tied to ejaculation. So many eastern traditions have 100 day gung celibacy rules that there must be something to it. Couse without a holistic system to transmute such retention into spirit/energy/whatever it can create more problems then it solves.

Yes, definitely. Because its so damn easy to quote something thats out of context. Without someone raised in that tradition its easy to misunderstand the relevance and importance (or lack of) of any statement. As I said its a very easy game to play and on the internet you can find it against every religion. Quotes (& histories) that prove what black-hearted murderers they are; its vitally important to get input and explanation beyond a quote. We need the explanation of a native, without proper knowledge of the historical context and modern interpretation we'll never get to the truth. And we are likely to be manipulated by someone's agenda. A dead book can't explain the intricacies of a living tradition. Its a game played by many racists and without someone to put things into perspective its easy to be infected by it. The antidote is to talk to a knowledgeable person of that religion, without appearing to want to sabotage them, and learn. Often we find out its been dropped, the religion has moved on, or that it was always a minority opinion. <more editing & addition> I'm just putting out here, that we should be careful about saying and implying All (X) believe (Y). Because often such generalities are wrong. You know what I've gotten from this conversation. I disagree with the apologists who understand, sympathize and rationalize the murders actions. I'm also weary of those who'd blanket blame on all of Islam. It should be pointed at the segment thats responsible. Its also made me reconsider my thoughts on the death penalty. It made me turn against it. You need to draw a line somewhere. The apologists were getting dangerously close to 'in these conditions its understandable to kill these people'. How far does that go?? If you're religious enough is it okay to kill or throw acid on your daughter as an honor killing? Where does a license to kill begin and end? For me, I acknowledge and approve of self defense and killing someone who's attacking can be justified. I understand war happens and is always horrendous and full of lies yet at times necessary. The attackers shouldn't be killed. The highest principle of civilization is to value and defend lives. Obviously in the U.S we've fallen short of that ideal, yet things change and history's pendulum moves back and forth. Beyond our primitive violent instincts there has been a slow but accelerating movement away from many historic prejudices. Most violence is caused by fear. I guess we should all get a little braver, and greet and talk to those we perceive as enemies.

I'd also ask that we do our best to keep this thread clear of vicious sentiments aimed at any religion (though I'm certainly guilty of expressing some of that myself), especially when ones that tend to be 'All blank are blank', because like all generalities they tend to be untrue. We don't have a large Moslem group here to defend itself, and in the past when we have its devolved into My Religion (or lack of) is So Much better then yours. One its against board policy, two it brings out the worst in us. E

In my view, and its shared by many, maybe..hopefully most of the adherents of the 3 Abrahamic religions is that we are indeed well.. cousins, if not brothers. We have gotten into some pretty viscous fights at times, yet at others we've gotten along okayishly. Its not unusual for some sub group to get crazy, yet I think the majority tends to be saner, yet the crazies tend to rise to power. As far as the internet goes, I find its poisonous to get information on a religion solely from sources that are obviously against it, and/or hate it. In other words its better to find out about Islam (or Christianity/Judaism) from an internet source that is Islamic, or better yet ask a Moslem, visit a mosque, talk to an Imam. As part of there religious education my temple has the kids find out about Islam by going to a mosque, talking to an Imam. Likewise they go to Cathedrals and find out about Catholicism from priests. Because there are sects and periods where religions and countries go nuts there will always be a way to paint a religion or country in the darkest light. Its very easy and its not accurate. If you been around a 1000 years + you've got skeletons in your closet. That's not to be too lovey dovey, imo there are problems with radical Islam. It has not always been so and hopefully will continue. You can historically point to Saudi funding of 100's of Wahhabism schools that have helped poison some of a generation.

A high of 4, low of -7 and no sun. brrrr rrr. yet.. the investor in me thinks.. when the going gets cold, look at all the beaten down natural gas stocks.