Belgian_Draft

It would seem so. It was in the mid-80's when I sat in on the lecture. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

As told to me by a Professor with PhD's in both anthropology and biology, the reason is based on the way the slaves were brought to the new world. The trip was Hell. It was not unusual for 50% or more of the slaves to die at sea from any number of causes. The one thing virtually every slave had in common on the ship was dehydration. Drinking water on board the slave ships was as good as gold. The crew got their share, but very few, if any, slaves got enough water to stay healthy. On the African continent there are many regions where the inhabitants have adapted to the climate by the presence of a hormone that causes retention of sodium, which in turn retains water. Those "lucky" enough to have that hormone withstood the stress and effects of thirst far better than those who didn't have the hormone. When the ships finally reached shore on this side of the Atlantic most of the survivors had the genetic disposition to retain sodium. The very thing that kept them alive is now responsible for serious health problems for their descendents. On every ship that made the crossing loaded with slaves, selective breeding was an unintentional consequence. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

The word "marriage" is legally used by people such as myself who have no intention of raising a family. I have also been divorced and re-married, and some people have been married many times. And there are probably many opposite-sex married couples who have lifestyles that you or someone else may find disgusting. Yes, the word "marriage" is already used, but not necessarily by people who have the same reverence for the word that you have. I never said it should only be used by couples raising a family. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Perhaps you don't really understand genetics... How many generations of inbreeding did Cleopatra come from??? The closer you are genetically to another person, the higher the likelihood that he/she will posses the same recessive genes. This means that there is a higher chance of your offspring displaying these recessive traits. These traits can include diseases but also things like blue eyes and blond hair and a resistance to certain diseases... There is a reason why (some) dog and cat breeders like to create "pure breeds"... Yes, they may be more susceptible to some ailments, but also they are more likely to display the characterictics they like in that particular breed. Note: I still find the idea of inbreeding icky!!! Sleeping with my brother??? No thanks ETA - In case anyone was going to criticise, just wanted to point out that I picked "blue eyes" and "blond hair" purely because they are recessive traits/genes. The high incidence of hypertension in African-Americans descended from slaves is not related to inbreeding. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

You may want to look into that yourself. It was proved wrong when they studied (and found low) hypertension in African countries. Probably has more to do with diet and stress in low income areas ... You have no idea what you are talking about. The theory i am referring to is backed up by those findings. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

I think you need to study up on genetics. Selective breeding can have huge influence in as little as one generation. Look into why Americans directly descended from African slaves have a much higher incidence of hypertension than other groups. You may be surprised at what you. Find. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Affirmative action exists because people assumes one group is superior and discriminates against that group. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Are you asking if there was a disaster, the media made what happened into a disaster, or was there some nanothermite in the buildings that blew up. Carried in by super secret stealthy ninja rabbits no doubt. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

affirmative action, by definition, is anti-racist... Wrong. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

So what does that mean? Good, bad, indifferent? So there's a semantic difference, who gives a fuck? In terms of the things that actually matter (wanting to marry the person you're in love with) it's exactly the same. For me it matters not. People should be able to form a union with whomever they choose. It is more than a semantic difference. It is a physical difference. It is a difference that matters to a great many people who stand in the way of peoples rights. Ignoring the fact that there is a difference will not make it go away and will only delay advancement in gay rights. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Yes, Bill, it is different. An Asian marrying a black is not the same as a Latino marrying a caucasion. The same as a Ford 4-door sedan is not the same as a Dodge 4-door sedan. Even if it offends people. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Except affirmative action, by definition, is racist. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

In the good ol' USA you cannot speak the truth if it insults a group of people. Jimmy the Greek can attest to that. For anyone unfamiliar with his case, Jimmy the Greek was a bookie and a sports announcer. He lost his job when he said blacks are better athletes because their ancestors here in the US were selectively bred, as slaves, to produce the strongest offspring. He was right and he lost his job because he spoke the truth. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Therein lies the catch. By wanting to marry someone of the same sex they are not living their lives like everyone else. It is different. Eh? People who want to marry someone of the opposite sex aren't living their lives like everyone else either. The overwhelming majority of people who get married marry someone of the opposite sex. Even when same sex marriages become commonplace and accepted they will still be in the very small minority. Don't take the word "everyone" literally. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Some may feel they can just change the concept of a word merely by saying it is changed, but it isn't that simple. The history of the word "gay" over the past 50 years proves you wrong. I object to the hijacking of the language in this way, but fact is, groups have hijacked it in the past and doubtless will continue to do so. I agree 100%. "Gay" is a very good example of how long it takes. As i already stated, I am certain "marriage" will also encompass gay unions some day but the transition will not be as easy since "gay" did not have a radical group of religeous zealots holding out. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

I submit that in a free society, any group of citizens has a right to negotiate as a group if they wish. Just as any group of stockholders is free to negotiate as a corporation, or not. Absolutely. But I submit that those rights should not extend to excluding non-union workers from negotiating their own contracts with the same employer. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Let's take a look at the sequence of events in this thread, shall we? Wendy posts a thread asking why someone elses marriage impacts people. I post a response indicating I was hesitent to reply. I post my opinion and reasons for such. Right on queue you through in a "fuck you". So, tell me again who jumped on whose shit? I think it is really funny how much it bothers you that I don't like gay unions being called marriage even though i rarely express that view. I have a handfull of friends who are gay/bi, they know how i feel, and it doesn't bother them a fraction of how much it bothers you. Once again, i apologize my 99.99% support of gay rights is not good enough for you even though it is more than enough for the gay friends i have. If you want a pissing contest you'll have to find someone else. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Wendy asked for peoples' opinions. I stated mine. I do not believe it was her intent to create a thread for people like you to insult people for doing what she asked. I am sorry that somebody using the term "marriage" to describe a union between people of the same sex bothers me but that is how I feel. You may think it triviual, which it is, but it is very obvious that me being bothered by that bothers you even more and that, my friend, is so trivial it borders on paranoia. I have truly led my life in an attempt to make you happy. I am sorry I have failed. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Therein lies the catch. By wanting to marry someone of the same sex they are not living their lives like everyone else. It is different. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Some may feel they can just change the concept of a word merely by saying it is changed, but it isn't that simple. Marriage has described a union between a man and a woman for a very long time. Maybe someday it will not distinguish between male-female unions and male-male or female-female but, for the majority of the population, not today. If two people want to become partners for life and form a legally binding union to enjoy the benefits of such, have at it. No skin off my back. That is, until they use the term marriage to describe a same sex union. My previous post explained how i feel and why. If somebody takes insult to that or can't understand and respect that opinion...fuck 'em. because when somebody insults my beliefs it IS my business. Insulting your beliefs? WTF - get over yourself. It's non of your damned business WHAT they call their relationship. You have your opinion, I have mine. Yours just happens to suck. Your attitude is what I had in mind when i asked why I can support gay rights 99.99% but get spit on because i am not 100% behind them. Would you rather I spend my time fighting gay rights? HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

I find myself questioned for dissapproving of homosexuality because I am agnostic. Are only religous people allowed to dissapprove? I find myself questioned for supporting gay rights even though I dissapprove of homosexuality. Are not the two mutually exclusive? But what really confuses me, and it has popped up in this thread, is that I can support 99.99% of what gays are trying to achieve....yet I am spit on because there is one small point that I disagree with. Is supporting gays rights and all-or-nothing ideal? HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Some may feel they can just change the concept of a word merely by saying it is changed, but it isn't that simple. Marriage has described a union between a man and a woman for a very long time. Maybe someday it will not distinguish between male-female unions and male-male or female-female but, for the majority of the population, not today. If two people want to become partners for life and form a legally binding union to enjoy the benefits of such, have at it. No skin off my back. That is, until they use the term marriage to describe a same sex union. My previous post explained how i feel and why. If somebody takes insult to that or can't understand and respect that opinion...fuck 'em. because when somebody insults my beliefs it IS my business. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

http://www.godvine.com/Christian-Veterans-Protect-the-Funeral-of-a-Fallen-Soldier-278.html HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

Well, ok...at the risk of being slammed by several who will not like my opinion, even less that I state it. First off, and this will probably be ignored by more than a few, I recognize a persons right to live their life as they choose, as long as it is within the laws, regardless of how I may view their behavior. Some people like rap music, I like everything but rap and hip-hop. People have every right to listen to the music I dislike until they pull up next to me at a stoplight with their stereo so loud I can't hear my own. That being said, and ignored by many, I will state that I am not against gays forming a life partnership, civil union, whatever you wnat to call it.....just don't call it marriage. I feel marriage is one man, one woman. My parents were married. Their parents were married. So were their parents. All were one man, one woman. So, in my eyes, referring to an action that I find disgusting as being marriage is an insult to the lifestyle and committment to raising a family that those ancestors of mine had. In brief, find another word. "Marriage" is already taken. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

I had a reply all typed up and ready to hit "post"....but then realized discretion is usually the wiser choice. I ain't gonna bite on that hook. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.