freeflybella

It certainly is. The biggest and most sustainable changes are the ones that grow from within. Slowly, over time. Like losing weight - you get a big impact when you starve yourself but you have a much better chance at success when you make small measured changes to your diet and exercise habits. The power of talking about things is WAY underestimated. I think we inherently know this - and why we are here doing it right now. AMEN! to Wendy! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Agreed. I guess the argument comes down to that. Is it worth it? Do we really know the long term effects? Did we know feeding cows other cows would cause BSE? What about DDT? And who's really to say that GM food or pesticides is the only answer? Until the quality of food supply becomes an issue for the masses (ie, people start to take notice), what incentive is there for further reasearch and study? As long as people can get rich growing the biggest and most with no regard to what it's doing to the public - why would they stop? Or investigate alternatives? It's just so easy to look the other way as long as "you" have money and as long it's convenient for "you". Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Food is not 'happiness' people! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

You're right. I stand corrected. It's greed and gluttony. Stuffing yourself full of crap all your life messes with your bodies ability to tell you when you're full. With an abundance of food in our country - why would we ever gorge ourselves!? Because from a young age, we've been taught food is 'fun' and we have no concept of what food actually does inside of us. The popularization of fad diets counts on us not having a clue. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I understand capitalism. Like basic health care, I believe basic healthy food should the most affordable and plentiful option. Washing food removes external residue. This produce absorbs runoff residue in the water. Organically 'grown meat' is much less toxic than industrialized meat. Then there is still the issue of genetically modified food. It's not about all or nothing. Just because the air is unhealthy doesn't mean you shouldn't do everything possible to be healthy. I couldn't, in good concsience, "grow" my child on excess fat, processed and refined food, hormones and pesticides. I believe I would be putting him at a severe disadvantage for the rest of his life in many, many ways. "Grow" your kid on healthy, unpoisoned food (to the best of your ability) - when he has strong bones, a sharp mind, and a mature respect for the occasional indulgeance, he can eat what he wants. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I agree. Apples and broccoli are cheap. Apples and broccoli without hormones and pesticides are more. That, is what I mean by the unhealthy quality of our food being a product of greed. Additionally, those foods are not readily and plentifully available to many people. I also agree that there is $$ in marketing the gourmet fru-fru stuff. Take the marketing equation out of it - and I stand by what I wrote. Food that is not genetically altered, processed, infused with chemicals, etc. is more expensive than food that isn't. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Because children have no money. They have no buying power. They are being 'sold' things and enticed by things when they don't have the experience and maturity to know better. Granted, it's up to parents to ulitmately decide what their children should/will eat. Additionally, again my personal opinion, children should be taught the rules before they are taught to break them. Food is nutritious first, enjoyable second. If that's taught from the beginning, nutritious food might be preferred over McDonald's in the long run. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

The unhealthy quality of our food supply is a result of pure and total greed. Families should be able to afford healthful, natural food. I'm not sure what the deal is about warnings on french fries but if it's true, my guess is it's less for parents, and more for the FF makers. If labels reveal health risks, it makes them look bad. Consequently (hopefully) forcing them to do what they can to make them healthier. My personal opinion is that marketing food to children in a 'fun' 'happy' way is disgusting. In a related story, 15% of kids are overweight in this country. I find that way more 'nuts' than not being able to get french fries in a Happy Meal. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

What about: Adjust his/her 'teaching style' to fit the 'learning style' of his student? To know what he knows, so well, that he can articulate it in more than one way? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

You know, I designed the logo you're wearing in your avatar! (Please don't change it - it's a beautiful reminder to me that we're people first, we're skydivers second, and we're guessing at what's important in life next.) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

And thanks to you! Who knew there could be room for love in the abortion debate.

I'm wasn't saying all aborted pregnancies are the result of accidents. Sometimes it is irresponsibility. Sometimes is lack of education, lack of guidance and more. (I was responding to the idea that everytime you have sex, you should be willing and able to have a child as a result.) All of these things (education, a sense of responsibility, self-respect, parental guidance) should be the focus in finding a way to reduce the occurances of abortion - by parents, by teachers, by peer pressure, by example... Summarily outlawing abortion addresses the symptom, not the disease. I'm all for making abortion obsolete! (Re: your avatar. I meant, how could I not defer when 'you' are giving me that 'look' ) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Absolutely nowhere did ANYONE say he had no right to be born. The right to HAVE a child isn't in question. You said you made the choice that was best for you. I fully support that. I also support that right for a woman who did not want to bear a child conceived by rape. Nowhere is this a judgment of your son - you helped to make him who he is. Who would he have been if you, your family, whomever, did not want him? Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Sex does not equal children. People like to have sex. Accidents sometimes happen. What is being proposed is taking away the ability to correct that accident. The message that sends to me is sex is meant only for procreation and that if you do it for fun, you're taking your chances. Obviously this argument does not work for those who base their views on subjective things such as religion. Again, this is why I do not have a firm view of whether abortion is 'right' or 'wrong'. But again, that's also why I wouldn't vote to take away the choice. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

I think the 'Wiggle Room' is where I'm coming from. I'll defer. (When the face of Jim Carrey makes a point, how can you not?) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Agreed. As I wrote in an afore-mentioned thread, until I am stricken with omniscience, I would never vote to have that choice taken away. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

That's what I meant. You can't make someone who is not conducting themselves responsibly - responsible through legislation. I don't initially agree with that, but could be conviced otherwise. The law states that it is 'legal' to abort a fetus. It allows for personal resposiblity. The context in which the woman became pregnant and the decision to abort of not is what makes it responsible or not. (Thanks for the kind words) Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

And yet you will take away another woman's right to decide what's best for herself? You can't legislate personal responsibility!! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Ironically enough, if the proposed answers were compelling, I could easily rethink my position. I'm glad the debate rolls on! I'd just love for it not to be the same few arguments over and over again. In my best Breakfast Club shout: "Just answer the question!" Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Angie Everhart was a regular at Perris for awhile. Dated a few freeflyers out there. Also, the cute girl from Dead Poet's Society (Alex Powers) was a regular. The writer, producer, director of Sundace Award winner (2000) Dark Days, Marc Singer is a regular at Crosskeys! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Interesting topic. In another "abortion debate" (which is what these things usually come to) I asked the same question. I didn't get an answer either. I have yet to find a "pro-lifer" who will express thoughts on what a sudden reversal of legality might lead to. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

Me, either! To paraphrase a great George Carlin line: Somewhere out there is a bungee-jump crane put together by carni with a wicked hangover, with a cord measured by someone with a 5th grade education...and someone is buying a ticket for it...RIGHT NOW! Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

That's what I said. The study of the human form is not necessarily - and most likely not sexual. Agreeing with Zenister that the viewers mind gives it context is why I don't say it's absolutely not sexual - as I did before. But also agreeing with BOTH Zenister and gmanpiilot: The mind of the viewer gives it context. When nudity is used to promote or sell or in representation of something else, it absolutely sends a message. That message could be "women's bodies are beautiful" or "This is an example of a life-giving being" or "Hey check out my tits" Whatever the message, it's there. And when associated with a debilitating illness and a body ravaging illness - I only pointed out that one should examine and be certain of the message they are sending. Is a fundraising calendar for breast cancer an appropriate place to test people's sexual boundaries or their views on what is considered porn? If the answer is yes, don't be surprised when others voice an opposing view. If the answer is no, check and double check that you're not doing just that. If you're certain that is not what's happening, move ahead! Be strong and determined with the knowledge you're doing soemthing good for a good cause. You can't please everyone! (This above paragraph is not directed to anyone in particular. Just rhetoric for the purpose of discussion) "Art" when tied to a cause becomes advertising. Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

EEK! I apologize often for not being clear, sometimes I type stream of conciousness - I know that's bad in these situations. VanillaSkyGirl, I did not mean to imply that you had issues with Jan. And the rudeness comment was in support of what you said about some being abrasive. I don't quite understand your exasperation - if it was apparent to you that I was agreeing with you, why did you respond as if I wasn't? I'll assume it was an honest misunderstanding.