Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences 
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- The increasing awareness of sexual orientation and the desire to discuss and compare among friends is indeed a product (maybe good, maybe bad) of the gay 'revolution' of the last 20 years. Certainly people deserve to be judged and dealt with on a fair and impartial basis - gender and choice of orientation should have nothing to do with fair competition for employment; the provision of housing and all manner of social services, etc.
However, there exists a certain element in the lesbian and gay community that wishes to annoy and harrass anyone not of their orientation. I cannot imagine anything more counter-productive, but it is a factor I observe almost on a daily basis in my city. The increase in mutual discussions is most likely due to a heightened awareness of and acceptance of alternate sexual orientations. My personal feeling is: 'Fine, do what you like; only don't bother me or my family. When my kids are old enough to understand themselves, I'll accept whatever choice they make. Until then, I am not bound to promote gayism just because other straight people damn it; and I have no intention of granting greater favor to a gay person (over a straight person). I insist on everyone being evaluated on their own merits - not as part of any special interest group.
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Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I'm surprised that the many Jewish readers and posters to Y? Forum missed this cute little question. 'Schmuck' (or any other spelling variation) is Jewish (actually the language is Yiddish - a European polyglot of German, Russian, Polish, etc.) slang for 'penis.' The equivalent in modern-day U.S. English would be 'dick.' The use of this word is to diss someone, as in 'You schmuck!' The idea is to demean the other person, not specifically to name them as a penis. Get the picture?User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Every belief system that is founded by humans or amended by human intervention is going to have loopholes, in order to help those in the power structure avoid the very penalties they prescribe for others. Judaism as currently practiced has no connection with what God commanded Moses to teach the Israelites when they communed on the Mount. The religious practice called Judaism is a product of rabbinical (rabbi means teacher, not holy man, by the way) invention over the centuries. Not surprising, there have been several pretenders to the Messianic title (rabbis who pretended to be as Jesus Christ - the Savior) over the last 2,000 years. Your situation is merely one more example of 'sincere' but very misguided hypocrites further bastardizing what God originally commanded. He said that no work was to be done, and no profit or gain to be derived, and no work to be CAUSED on anyone's behalf - on the Sabbath. In our modern age, this is not feasible. Yet these folks you speak of are worrying about where they walk, and can they travel to and fro without profaning their Sabbath! Try chatting with one or two of these folks, and see if they hold any stocks, bonds, notes, retirement savings, etc. If so, they are in gross violation of the Sabbath law, since the banking system calculates interest seven days a week, and earning interest is a clear transgression of working and gaining a profit on the Sabbath. See what they say then. If they try to weasel out of this, then you will quickly see the hypocrisy of their practices.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,This bad behavior is certainly an abuse of the system, as well as of other rule-obeying customers. Unfortunately, in today's hyper-competitive shopping world, the majority of store managers put up with rotten customer attitudes rather than risk losing business. The old credo that "the customer is always right" has never been more misused, abused and misinterpreted than in the '90s.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,As one who has recorded thousands of voices during my career - both amateur and professional voices, I must say that all things being equal, it is not possible to discern race (black/white) from voice quality alone. I have had the privilege of working with James Earl Jones on one occasion, and not having ever seen him before that time, I assumed he was white, a long-time radio professional and in his sixties. Imagine my surprise to find that incredible voice and diction attached to a much younger (then) but very distingished black gentleman. Anyone with talent can imitate regional and ethnic dialects (I do a few myself), but pure vocal characteristics - timbre, dynamics, diction, articulation, renonance, syllabification of words, do not - by themselves - indicate racial makeup.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I know that this subject is covered elsewhere in Y? Forum, so I'll be very brief: Circumcision is commanded by God to the Jews, so they don't consider it defilement, but rather a holy observance of their religion (see Genesis 17:10-14). Medical evidence is divided on whether there is a health benefit from circumcision - but almost all doctors will agree that it is not mutilation - as opposed to female genital mutilation practiced by some races, which is not in any written religious text to be found anywhere.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,People who believe that the Holocaust was faked or its extent exaggerated, are either intentionally refusing to investigate carefully - or have been duped into believing a number of mistruths. Conclusive prove exists that many of the nazi camp commanders falsified records of burials, deaths, total number of inmates, names, etc. in order to hide much of what was done. These people knew very well that an overtaking army would demand answers for the horrors to be found in places like Auswich, Bergen-Belsen, etc. etc. These falsifications, together with the natural turmoil and upheaval of records and vital statistics are what cause minor inconsistencies to exist in the testimony of Holocaust victims. In an ironic way, these dis-believers are victims too, as they are destined to repeat the horrors...maybe even suffer them since they cannot accept the truth of what did happen.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I too, like animals, and enjoy pets. However, certain fur-bearing animals have been harvested for centuries to provide warm clothing for humans, which cannot be successfully duplicated by synthetic fibres. As well, the animal populations were always in harmony and balance with the ecology existant in those particular regions. Ask any cod fisherman what has happened to his fish? - The answer is that too many seals have caused over-consumption of the stocks, leaving nothing for humans. The same is true, more or less, in every single case where so-called animal rights activists have stifled or stopped trade. These folks are probably well-meaning, but I think that their ignorance has created more strife and hardship for certain peoples than the supposed destruction of innocent animals. Then too, if you are a believer in Creation, God made the animals to serve MAN's needs - not the other way around. The mass hysteria caused by some of these advocates of animal rights, is more to be feared than anything else.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I'm not now, nor ever was a member of this group. But your question deserves an honest answer. The facts related here are from various history textbooks used in schools in the United States & Canada. The Klan was formed by a small number of ex-Confederate soldiers after the U.S. Civil War. The name Ku Klux Klan is a rather fanciful method of rendering the sound of a musket rifle being cocked, ready to fire. The purpose was to exact revenge on both Black and White people for the defeat of the South by the North. In the ensuing years, the Klan has made itself more of a political entity than a secret society. Nevertheless, the history of the Ku Klux Klan is replete with murders, violence, and hatred for other races and cultures. It seems rather an odd mindset to me, when one considers that most of the fine old families of the South were immigrants once themselves - from France, England, Germany, Denmark, and other countries. I guess if we look deeply enough, ALL of us are foreigners in one way or another.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,As one who had performed many hundreds of volunteer hours in prison chaplaincy, I believe I can answer this simply and logically. The person in question has to have an earnest and overwhelming desire to 'make it' completely on their own - with no societal crutches. At the same time, they must be prepared to accept limited intervention in their life for the first two or three years, and then be ready to accept suspicion and fear on the part of many potential employers and associates. Only someone who is completely de-criminalized in their mind (not desiring EVER to return to crime as a lifestyle and willing to do whatever it may take) will succeed. The rate of return is very high - more than 95% of cons seek to return to prison as a means of retreating from an unloving world. Wanting to go straight is not enough -- one must act straight, live straight, keep only straight friends, etc. It is impossible to play the part and survive for very long on the outside. To whomever this may come, I wish you the best of luck; if you really desire to adjust and stay out - go for it!User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Your perceptions are basically correct: Many people around the world are in a fear state regarding the impending millennium and the supposition that the "world will end." Sadly, many Christian believers are responsible for this nonsensical mindset. I do not claim to have any future knowledge, but I do know this: If one is a Bible believer, the clearly given set of "marching orders" from God is to Love thy neigbor, Tell them about God's love and Share with others what good Jesus had done for you. Even non-believers will be unoffended if spoken to with genuine brotherly love, rather than dire warnings and threats of God's wrath. To be sure, if God is really there, and He really is going to judge people, then those who choose (of their own will) to deny Him will go to their destiny, anyway. The Scriptures do portray a fearful "last few years" before the Second Coming of the Lord. Better to point folks toward reading for themselves and making up their own minds.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,The separation of Church and State doctrine was included in the U.S. Constitution to prevent the English monarchy from imposing state-ordered religious observances on the common people. The intent was to allow freedom of choice - not to cause the absence of religion. The Congress and Senate open daily with prayer. The President and Cabinet, etc., are sworn into office on the Bible. The underlying operative fact is that the United States was formed in the Christian context of freedom to worship God without influence of authority. Perhaps all of the so-called civil rights upholders who have championed the banning of Christianity from various public places, schools, etc. would do well to ponder this in their hearts. Maybe the civil rights of Christian believers have been grossly denied.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,The Old Testament does indeed have a prohibition against making any "markings" or "cuttings" in one's flesh - which is basically what a tattoo is. However, only an ultra-orthodox rabbi or funeral home would raise any objection. As for the blue markings on one's arm, etc., as made by the Nazis, these are involuntary, not sought or desired by the bearer, and are therefore exempt from this ruling. Please remember that most orthodox and reform rabbis would be happy to help organize a dignified Jewish burial - tattoos or not.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Your question is a good one, and posed seriously, and I will not undermine your intentions by giving you a trite, cliched response. If you will study the four Gospels, you will find what Jesus told His followers and disciples. Jesus Himself taught that we need to approach the Father through Him; and that if one had looked on Jesus, that one had seen the Father as well. The peace spoken of is spirital peace - the assuredness of salvation and redemption from sin and death, through Jesus. I bid you God's blessing as you study to understand. Perhaps a chat with a knowledgable evangelical believer would give you more insight.User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,You are absolutely right! Many popes throughout the ages have legitimized the wholesale persecution of the Jews, God's chosen. I know, I was born and raised in Judaism. I converted to Christianity about 20 years ago - that is, evangelical, authentic, no bull, bible-believing, God-fearing Charismatic Christianity. Those who persecuted our forefathers, and called themselves by Jesus' name, will get their just reward at the Judgement Seat of the Almighty. Anyone who is a genuine Christian, cnnot help but have love and respect for anyone who is of the Jewish faith. My original posting was somewhat tongue in cheek - referring to certain gay pride protesters who accuse the Church of trying to kill them, deny them rights, etc. Blessings on you in Eretz Yisroel!User Detail :
Name : Al, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 49, City : Ottawa (Ontario), State : NA Country : Canada, Occupation : audio engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,
