Should words that haven't meaning outside of a religious context be taught in public elementary schools? Do words like - Blasphemy Blessing Damnation Heresy Prayer Sin Soul Have a place in vocabulary tests? Spelling bees?
Yes. Words mean things and school is where you are supposed to learn. There is no right to pretend religion doesn't exist in the world to make a few people feel "comfortable". Besides, those words are needed to teach about history and current events...the Inquisition and terrorism for example. You can't understand those things without at least a passing knowledge of religion and what it means to people.
Ah, therein lies the rub! History classes are one thing, elementary school vocabulary lessons are quite another.
Another what? Of course they should be able to know how to spell words that have an association with religion, and they should also be taught about religions, including what a crucifix is. There is a very large difference between knowing about something and being taught that it is true.
Were you one of those parents in the California school district who wanted yoga classes removed from the phys ed curriculum because they didn't want their kids "learning to be Hindus"?
If you don't understand these words, it will be difficult to make sense of western civilization, history, or literature. I'd find any attempt to expunge these words--whether in the service of some political goal or not--to be very Orwellian.
That's what I love most about you lib'rulz. It's only thanks to western civilization that you morons get to sit in air conditioned or heated homes, in front of computers -- the most advanced technology that has ever existed in all of history -- and mock the very same civilization that has so completely and totally pampered you. You really hate western civilization? Do ya? Do ya, really? Then I have some ad-vice for you, little buddy -- take your ass to the fuckin' Congo. Go on -- take your soft little posterior as far away from western civilization as you can get. Nut up or shut up.
...and the road to get there was just paved with gold encrusted gumdrops, and Carebear hugs, and not a single tiny drop of blood.
And? So fucking what? How many American aborigines did you personally slaughter? 50? No? 10? No? 5? Even one? No? Then quit actin' like a fucking Catholic and taking on guilt for shit you didn't fucking do, idiot. And quit blaming other people who didn't fuckin' do that shit, either. Western civilization isn't any worse that any other civilization, and in point of fact, it's historically and currently a whole lot fuckin' better than most of the competition.
If people shouldn't be guilty for things they didn't do....then they don't get to get uppity, and puffy, and high-falutin over things they didn't accomplish either. "But...but...that's just human nature..". I don't even care. *Face grab, gets creepily close* I don't....even...CARE.... "*Sniffle*...you don't even let people be human! ". No.
Shyaddap, weirdo, this is MY time to be obnoxious. *throws an empty soda can* Freak! *throws an empty Chikin-In-A-Biskit box* FREAK!
Dishonest quote clipping to facilitate usual glib nonsense. [/QUOTE]You asked a question and I gave you a direct answer. If you consider that dishonest that's on you.
You didn't give a direct answer actually. And you clipped the quote to avoid the substance of what I said so that you could trot out the blindingly obvious. Are you pathologically incapable of making a reasoned argument in favour of any of the positions you take?
As pathologies go, no I don't believe I suffer from rickdeckardism. For one thing I haven't the symptoms - Insults in lieu of substance Lack of humor Inability to admit mistake Rep madness Generally sour demeanor Fortunately I hear there is a cure! It's a simple procedure that involves removing the chip from ones shoulder and the rod from ones ass.
I've got no problem with Western civilization or the path that got us here. I have a big problem with people who refuse to see the history of Western civ as one of progress and change. Conservatives want to lock us in to a fixed and final point, the end of history. Fuck that. It's good and proper to evolve from the old school definition of Clyde's words to Dicky's mocking definitions. He needs to post those, btw.
No. Just no. There are a lot of things I disagree with conservatives about, but if we're going to diss them, it ought to at least be about something that has to do with reality, rather than some ridiculous strawman. Conservatives aren't Amish.
Gotta be honest here, while I wouldn't mind taking credit, you and I both know I provided no definitions.
