Responding to JasonH
You have good thoughts. I appreciate your comments. I have a few things to say to them.
JasonH:
Just look at our voting system and you can understand my first statement. We don't elect people based on popular vote except for local elections. The Senate races were not originally popular votes.
See Electoral College system.
The United States is a Democratic Republic, not a straight-up democracy. The founders made our country a republic in which we elect state representatives to elect our President.
I agree with you on that. And the electoral college is whole another thing to discuss. I won't go into that right now. I just know a history teacher who wouldn't be surprised if we changed the way we elected presidents in the next 50 years.
2) The majority is not always right. Yes the prez needs popular support, but did you know that Jefferson himself had election troubles?
Without a lot of popular support, the prez would not win election. That does not mean the majority is always right in their thinking.
That statement would make one think that you don't trust the minds of the American people and might prefer a dictatorship to a democracy. On the topic of Jefferson, I could write up a bunch on Jefferson. I know that he tied Aaron Burr with 73 electoral votes during his reelection. The decision went to the House of Representatives. I know a lot more. Is there a specific point that you want to make on Jefferson rather than having me fish around for something?
I forgot to post this quote in my last comment:
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
3) About Christian principles giving us liberty, I will refrain from posting about this, since this isn't about religion but rather politics. Unless of course you want me to.
Good quote. Yes, go ahead and talk about religion. It comes through in a lot of political situations today so I would like to hear your thinking.
4) Yes, there is no gray. That's what I believe. Keep in mind this is coming from a hard core Jesus freak. ;)
There is a right and there is a wrong, the gray comes in when we reject a part of the right because the wrong would benefit us. Its selfishness.
Take abortion for instance. I will speak for my wife on this one since I can't have a baby. Is it right to kill a baby under any circumstances(yes or no)? NO. Why then do we say it is? Because the woman is selfish and doesn't want to "ruin her life" because she's too young. Another big gray area we create is in the case where the life of the mother is at risk. What kind of mother would not give up her life so the baby can live? My wife totally agrees with me on this. What kind of father would choose to kill the baby so the mother could live when he doesn't know the outcome either way?
Stem cells - big gray because we want to sacrifice embryos (read live humans) to find cures to save our sorry necks.
Everything is black and white, but since we don't know the mind of God we get gray in our decision making.
Alright, you've said nothing I haven't already heard. I respect what you say because you are saying it based on your religious background. So are you totally against stem cell research? Another question, what if the person having the baby was raped and that's why she is pregnant? Should she be able to have an abortion?
Oh...by the way, separation of church and state... I assume the God you are referring to is a Christian one. So what about the Jews and Muslims and the Native Americans, etc.? We're supposed to make decisions based on principles of Christianity but not all of America practices Christianity. So if right and wrong is in the eyes of God, what if we are doing the wrong thing for Jews, Muslims, and/or Native Americans?
posted by Kevin @ 10/19/2004 06:53:00 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
>That statement would make one think that you don't trust the minds of the American people and might prefer a dictatorship to a democracy.
No it does not mean that at all. It is simply another form of checks and balances. All the power given to the majority is simply not smart, especially considering this report.
Giving power to people through their state electors and representatives does not take power away from the majority, but it does lessen the likelihood of mob legislation.
>Is there a specific point that you want to make on Jefferson rather than having me fish around for something?
No I was simply pointing out that Jefferson had a weak majority supporting him back then (much like Bush) no matter what we think of him now.
Romans 3:23
All men equally fall short of the glory of God.
Acts 10:34-35, Romans 2:11
God is no respecter of persons. He does not show favoritism to any sinful man.
John 19:9-11
No one has power unless given it by God.
Galatians 5:1
We have freedom in Jesus.
Galatians 3:27-29
All are equal in Christ. There is no slave, master, man or woman. No favoritism.
These are the underpinnings of our reasons for Revolution and our Constitution.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - Declaration of Ind. (emphasis mine)
Good commentary.
>So are you totally against stem cell research?
No, stem cells are fine, its how we get them that is in question. Adult stem cells work just fine. Embrionic stem cells require an embryo to be destroyed in order to harvest the cells. This is wrong.
>Another question, what if the person having the baby was raped and that's why she is pregnant? Should she be able to have an abortion?
No. The baby is still a person. It may not be recognized by the state, but it is alive and in my view, has as much right to live as you or I do. It played no part in the rape. Yes the mother is a victim, but that gives her no right to kill.
>Oh...by the way, separation of church and state... I assume the God you are referring to is a Christian one. So what about the Jews and Muslims and the Native Americans, etc.? We're supposed to make decisions based on principles of Christianity but not all of America practices Christianity. So if right and wrong is in the eyes of God, what if we are doing the wrong thing for Jews, Muslims, and/or Native Americans?
Good question. Christianity does not assert itself by the sword or by the state. Jesus said, "He who lives by the sword will die by the sword." (Matt. 26:52) It formed and thrived and thrives today in hostile environments. Why? Because it is the embodiment freedom. Jesus also said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt. 10:28)
The goal of Christianity is not to legislate religion. Every man has the freedom to choose Jesus or not by their own accord.
As far as I know, there is no harm being done to other religious groups and no one is saying they cannot participate in the process. But for the most part, all people have morals which are basically the same. We just tend to ignore them when its expedient.
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