RhondaLea

That is not the case. Yes, they owned slaves, but the fact is that the people who wrote the constitution wanted to get rid of it. http://www.wallbuilders.com/resources/search/detail.php?ResourceID=10 Not all of them, and not even enough of them to prevail. You will note that slavery was not abolished until nearly one hundred years later, after a long and bloody war, and that it took another near-100 years for blacks to obtain legal recognition of the same rights accorded to free white men. Please consider how much "free speech" people of color were permitted during that time. Then please address the right of free speech accorded to women and children in the context of the founders view. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I scored 25 to the left of 0, i.e., female, but less than average. I had some weird individual results, however. On most of these kinds of tests, I usually score much more male than female. On the finger test, I have one "male finger" and one "female finger." How in the hell does that happen? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/volusia/orl-vpilot1705nov17,0,7409293.story?coll=orl-news-headlines-volusia If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

The products liability "industry" being what it is, you would be wise to talk with a lawyer before going ahead with this. For all practical purposes, the personal injury sharks don't have much interest in individuals--corporate entities have deeper pockets--but in the context of a larger lawsuit, it's no skin off their nose to party you into the action. For you, it means legal fees and a lot of hassles. It's all well and good to bemoan the current climate, but it is the current climate, and saying that it's wrong (it is, IMO) isn't going to help you any if the shit hits the fan. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

No, they accorded that right to all citizens. Don't believe there are any qualifiers in the Bill of Rights, even if our notion of which classes of people have full rights has evolved over time. There are no qualifiers in the Bill of Rights, just as there are none in the Declaration. But the laws and climate of the time precluded the extension of these rights to much more than half the population. There was an underlying assumption that "all men are created equal" means "all free white landowners over the age of 21." Have you ever been unemployed for an extended period? Find two people--one who has been jailed and one who has been unable to provide for their basic needs, and ask them to compare their experiences for you. It's enlightening. My own belief is that people should be able to do anything they want to do, so long as they aren't stepping on someone else. Unfortunately, the "right to free speech" as exercised today allows a great deal of damage to be done to someone without ever laying a hand on them. Verbal assault is no different or better than physical assault, and at this point, we use the right to free speech to justify exactly that. The right to free speech also allows like-minded crazies to find each other and put action into the program. At one time, David Goldberger was my hero. Now I am coming to wonder whether his choice actually created new boundaries rather than protecting the existing ones. The more "free speech" we allow, the worse things seem to get. I have the feeling that "free speech" gives a greater benefit to those who would impede individual freedom rather than to those who want nothing more than to exercise their right to go about their lawful business without interference. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

It also gives them an opportunity to gather like minds together. And in these days of instant communication, more and more groups of people with very strange ideas about the world are finding each other. Strength in numbers. It makes me a little nervous, especially when I take note of how rabid some of these people are about their ideas. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

JimmyD has already made part of my argument for me. All I'm going to add is this: the founding fathers accorded the right of free speech to white men. Not to women, not to children, not to any people of color. The underlying documents that support our way of life were intended to uphold the rights of free, white, property-holding men over the age of 21. So I'm not quite so sure as you are. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

You'll get over it. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Log off for 24 hours. I don't believe in moderation. I believe in pounding on people who are not capable of moderating themselves...till they bleed. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Maybe the manufacturers should stop selling gear and instead distribute it only as part of a long-term lease with a provision for surrender of the gear under certain circumstances. Then it wouldn't be illegal. Edited to add: But it would be a real can of worms otherwise. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I don't agree. I think we've gotten so bound up in the idea that free speech means "I can say what I want, when I want, no matter how cruel, evil, offensive or false it happens to be," that we forget the society of the time did set limits. I wonder what the founding fathers would say about our idea of free speech today? rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Aren't personal attacks allowed if the "victim" doesn't post here? At this point, I think there's no need to do anything else to him. Public exposure is a far more fitting and long-lasting punishment than hypothetical physical violence. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Well, part of the posting more over the last few weeks has to do with my job--it's a long story, but I have times at work when the only thing to do is log on. Those are times when I'm not in a position to be doing what I'm supposed to be doing, but feel compelled to keep my mind occupied anyway. (My boss is elderly, and he likes having someone to talk to and I can't get him out of my office. I can't do anything productive when he's talking, because my work requires concentration, but I can post.) And then a few days ago, I did something incredibly stupid (having nothing to do with work), and I am outstandingly miserable as a result thereof. Under the theory that if I'm posting, I can't obsess about it (yeah, right), here I be. Sometimes we are our own worst enemies. For me, this is one of those times. I'm an idiot, and you may quote me on that. Thanks for asking. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

It's a crime because Austria's legal system says it's a crime. Irving knew it, and he went anyway. To hell with him. I really wish we could put all such numbskulls in an isolated place and let them work it out with each other, regardless of their particular pet delusion. I'd pay to watch. rl Edited to add: Hate crimes are to some extent a matter of perspective. I can understand why the Austrians would consider Holocaust denial to be such a crime. For those of us in the US and even in parts of Europe, it was not our neighbors who were carted off to the ovens. A lot of the survivors came here, it's true, but we didn't know them before it all happened--when they were merely normal people living normal lives. I suspect that for those growing up in a culture where these kinds of stories are handed down by your grandparents, it has a much different feel to it than in a culture where none of it is particularly personal to the large part of the population. My own experience is that the idea of the Holocaust was always horrifying, but it was never entirely real to me until I had a close relationship with a man whose parents were tattooed dating to their time in the camps. I didn't change anything I thought about it, but it certainly changed my feelings. Me, I'd dance at this guy's funeral--hoping the entire time that his death was as painful as possible. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Nice try. Being a pain in the ass isn't exactly the same as wanting a pain in the ass. As for you, Chris, I always knew you were a little weird...now I know why. Southern belles? No problem. Southern boys, on the other hand... rl C'mon, Nick, get crackin' on that book. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

I quit for 2.5 years; then I quit for 4 years. This year I quit for Bridge Day (5 days) and the following weekend (48 hours). For as long as I continue to live in Florida, I'll probably keep smoking--the entire time I was in WV, I had no desire for a cigarette, but about 3 hours from the Florida state line, I would've killed for one. It was the same the weekend after--4 hours out, I wasn't smoking, on the way back, I had to stop for a pack. And even if I weren't in Florida, I don't do anything as part of a mob, and I have already smoked twice as many cigarettes today than usual. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Any violent death is treated initially as a homicide. It's not just skydiving. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

If you got it in your arm pit then you'd have a peach pit And if I give up shaving every day and start sweating, it'll be indistinguishable from a real peach, right? Maybe I'll skip the tattoo, after all. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

http://www.ihateclowns.com/ If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Can I get a warning for a personal attack on the old man? I wasn't kidding, he's a dork! Twice. Happy Birthday, Trent. You deserve it, if only for having to put up with your old man for all these years. Parents are such a waste of space. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

That was very cleverly done. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Thanks for the first good laugh I've had all day. You sound just like my daughter. Kids. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

In order for this to work, you have to be a clever and brilliant bastard to everyone else in public, but show your soft side only to the babe of the moment. Women are biologically programmed for attraction to alpha males, but they also want to be treated lovingly. It's impossible, of course, but the men who can fake it will have a line coming out the door, while the genuine nice guys have to wait until a woman has been kicked around often enough to say "enough." Sorry. Didn't mean to bring a serious bitter note into your thread, Sudsy. rl If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Four months ago in this forum. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb

Nick, it's time to finish the book. I knew you were a peach the minute I laid eyes on you. Nick, it's time to finish the book. You did notice how he equivocated? I think he needs more nagging. Lately, I've been sending him subliminal messages, but it remains to be seen if they'll work. Nick, it's time to finish the book. rl P.S. Nick, it's time to finish the book. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb