Political and Religious debates aren't for the "faint of heart".

 

 

I really doubt that any of the three of us quoted would be called "faint of heart". :lol:

I will tell you I wasn't playing coy. I will tell you that I am telling the truth. If those run counter to your "feelings" then, yes, they were inaccurate.

 

The overall gist of my initial post was emotional. But it is something I believe. I understand that many have a much more pragmatic view of life. But, for me, it's served me well to let my Catholic beliefs (which you bring up in a previous post) shape my views. And faith, my friend, is emotional. So, if my beliefs are more emotional on this matter than pragmatic, I'm quite comfortable with the fact that I may face derision. The intent of my second post was to say that I would take a second look at my feelings on the subject. I wasn't expecting quite the reaction my post got, but probably should have.

I'm still reeling from your responses...

 

I still do not see how you could conclude that anything I stated in post 17 or post 20 was a negative swipe at you.

 

In post 17 I outlined why I choose to attribute the good things in my life as blessings worthy or praise to God rather than random chance or "luck". I was merely building upon premises you laid out in post 1 with the caveat of (backed by my reasoning for) calling my good fortune "blessings" rather than "luck". I am still interested to hear your response to my points in post 17... which rightly or wrongly I assumed that a Catholic believer in the same God I love and worship might share. If you do not, I am interested to learn why. I am less concerned with being right or wrong than I am in learning and understanding the truth... wherever I may find it.

 

In post 20 I introduce my understanding of your multiple self-proclamations over many years on BGP of being a "moderate". I don't dispute your assertion. I accept it with the understanding that a genuine moderate is open to reason and the choosing the best option regardless of where it may be generated. Again, I am assuming that you are nothing more, nor less that what you have said about yourself many times on this board. If I am wrong in this assumption... I am genuinely interested to understand where I am missing something.

 

By post 23, with no response at all to the substance of what I had posted to that point I did slip into silly mode only to get bitten...

 

You are a complex and fascinating being. I would be interested in your response to how I am assuming wrongly as regards your faith or your moderate views. But if that's asking too much... I'm content at this point to move on.

I'm still reeling from your responses...

Well, I suppose an apology is in order. I was reeling from yours and posted before thinking.

 

I still do not see how you could conclude that anything I stated in post 17 or post 20 was a negative swipe at you.

Your posts struck me as a rebuke for feeling the way I do. Whether that is emotional or not, that's how they read to me.

 

In post 17 I outlined why I choose to attribute the good things in my life as blessings worthy or praise to God rather than random chance or "luck". I was merely building upon premises you laid out in post 1 with the caveat of (backed by my reasoning for) calling my good fortune "blessings" rather than "luck". I am still interested to hear your response to my points in post 17... which rightly or wrongly I assumed that a Catholic believer in the same God I love and worship might share. If you do not, I am interested to learn why. I am less concerned with being right or wrong than I am in learning and understanding the truth... wherever I may find it.

I am Catholic. But I don't understand why luck has to be negative. In that post, it was like a lecture on why "blessings" were good and "luck" was bad. The way I perceive the terms, luck is completely uncontrolled by the individual. It's a set of circumstances that cause a situation. Blessings are gifts from God. One can be blessed without being lucky. One can be blessed to be of such a loving, faithful and passionate heritage as to be Hatian. On the other hand, one can be a blessed Hatian who isn't lucky enough to live in a country where building codes require that concrete walls be reinforced. I don't think I'd call government regulations or lack thereof blessings or non-blessings. God doesn't grant those, governments do. God blesses one with resilience and inner strength to endure. I'm sure many feel that surviving the earthquake are blessed. But they aren't lucky.

But, you also have to understand, as a Catholic, I am blessed in that my heritage has a lot of the mystical. So maybe the concept of luck is one that I can understand because I'm Catholic.

 

In post 20 I introduce my understanding of your multiple self-proclamations over many years on BGP of being a "moderate". I don't dispute your assertion. I accept it with the understanding that a genuine moderate is open to reason and the choosing the best option regardless of where it may be generated. Again, I am assuming that you are nothing more, nor less that what you have said about yourself many times on this board. If I am wrong in this assumption... I am genuinely interested to understand where I am missing something.

I don't know why my choice of words indicates I'm not a moderate. As I have laid out above, I don't believe the terms "blessings" and "luck" can be used interchangeably. I believe there is a distinct difference.

 

[quote name=Fastbreak[

By post 23, with no response at all to the substance of what I had posted to that point I did slip into silly mode only to get bitten...[/quote] I've re-read your post, and I guess I'm missing the substance. I still feel that your goal was to point out that luck has nothing to do with it. But, again, as outlined above, I do.

 

You are a complex and fascinating being. I would be interested in your response to how I am assuming wrongly as regards your faith or your moderate views. But if that's asking too much... I'm content at this point to move on.

I'm still wondering how my post is indicative of liberal, moderate, or conservative views? If it isn't moderate, then I can't help that. I consider myself a moderate, because frankly, I lean left on some issues, right on others, but most I'm squarely in the middle. How my post had anything to do with politics, I am at a loss to understand. It was simply a written statement of what I felt in my heart. I will admit wholeheartedly that it was emotional. But, frankly, I don't understand what's wrong with the way I feel about my blessings, my luck, fate, destiny...whatever you want to call it. On the one hand, I can say "There but for the grace of God go I." On the other, I can say, "I'm so lucky that I was born to the parents I have, in the USA." I guess I'd say I'm both blessed and lucky.

I'm still wondering how my post is indicative of liberal, moderate, or conservative views? If it isn't moderate, then I can't help that. I consider myself a moderate, because frankly, I lean left on some issues, right on others, but most I'm squarely in the middle. How my post had anything to do with politics, I am at a loss to understand. It was simply a written statement of what I felt in my heart. I will admit wholeheartedly that it was emotional. But, frankly, I don't understand what's wrong with the way I feel about my blessings, my luck, fate, destiny...whatever you want to call it. On the one hand, I can say "There but for the grace of God go I." On the other, I can say, "I'm so lucky that I was born to the parents I have, in the USA." I guess I'd say I'm both blessed and lucky.

 

You fence-rider, you.

I'm still wondering how my post is indicative of liberal, moderate, or conservative views? If it isn't moderate, then I can't help that. I consider myself a moderate, because frankly, I lean left on some issues, right on others, but most I'm squarely in the middle. How my post had anything to do with politics, I am at a loss to understand. It was simply a written statement of what I felt in my heart. I will admit wholeheartedly that it was emotional. But, frankly, I don't understand what's wrong with the way I feel about my blessings, my luck, fate, destiny...whatever you want to call it. On the one hand, I can say "There but for the grace of God go I." On the other, I can say, "I'm so lucky that I was born to the parents I have, in the USA." I guess I'd say I'm both blessed and lucky.

 

You fence-rider, you.

 

That's moderate to you, liberal.

Count me among the lucky.

 

I once asked a good friend - a Methodist minister - why God would allow disasters to occur. His response, in a nutshell, was that God has nothing to to with it.

Count me among the lucky.

 

I once asked a good friend - a Methodist minister - why God would allow disasters to occur. His response, in a nutshell, was that God has nothing to to with it.

 

I have to disagree with your friend the Methodist minister. I'm pretty sure that if you read the Bible you will find a few "disasters" directly from the will of God. God is in control.

 

We're lucky alright, we're lucky God blessed us with forefathers that had vision.

 

STAND UP FOR THE FLAG AND LET'S ALL RING THE LIBERTY BELL!

^ The devil brought about his share of disasters in the Bible too.

 

 

I'm not sure why we are arguing semantics in this thread. I'm thankful I live where I do for many of the reasons RM lists in her initial post and I don't care if you call me lucky, blessed or fortunate. (as long as you call me for dinner).

^ The devil brought about his share of disasters in the Bible too.

 

 

I'm not sure why we are arguing semantics in this thread. I'm thankful I live where I do for many of the reasons RM lists in her initial post and I don't care if you call me lucky, blessed or fortunate. (as long as you call me for dinner).

 

:thumb:

Well, I suppose an apology is in order. I was reeling from yours and posted before thinking.

No apology necessary. Thanks for taking the time to respond in such detail.

 

It is my opinion that “luck” denotes random, impersonal chance… whereas, “blessing” indicates a directed intent. This is my opinion, no one is obligated to agree or feel rebuked by me. My intent is simply to express my gratitude to those I feel are actually responsible for my blessings… God, the founding fathers and patriots who risked everything to birth and establish this great nation, the many brave men and women who gave their best day after day, year after year to build this nation… from soldiers, laborers, scholars, teachers, engineers, inventors, doctors, nurses, you name it… many, many have paid the ultimate price to provide for and defend our freedoms. IMO, we didn’t get here by accident. For me to believe what I believe and to then merely attribute the quality of life my family and I enjoy to impersonal luck would be extremely ungracious. Again, not scolding anyone here… but for me, this is true.

 

The one thing I believe we can all agree upon regardless of the reason or terminology is we are all extraordinarily, blessed/lucky/fortunate to be Americans.

No apology necessary. Thanks for taking the time to respond in such detail.

 

It is my opinion that “luck” denotes random, impersonal chance… whereas, “blessing” indicates a directed intent. This is my opinion, no one is obligated to agree or feel rebuked by me. My intent is simply to express my gratitude to those I feel are actually responsible for my blessings… God, the founding fathers and patriots who risked everything to birth and establish this great nation, the many brave men and women who gave their best day after day, year after year to build this nation… from soldiers, laborers, scholars, teachers, engineers, inventors, doctors, nurses, you name it… many, many have paid the ultimate price to provide for and defend our freedoms. IMO, we didn’t get here by accident. For me to believe what I believe and to then merely attribute the quality of life my family and I enjoy to impersonal luck would be extremely ungracious. Again, not scolding anyone here… but for me, this is true.

 

The one thing I believe we can all agree upon regardless of the reason or terminology is we are all extraordinarily, blessed/lucky/fortunate to be Americans.

 

Amen.

You've essentially written my thoughts on the situation. That's one reason why I rarely frequent the political forums.

 

I don't mind reading some of the posts, but they're far too predictable and hostile. In the end, you get to vote for whatever you'd like and, although it may not go exactly as you hoped, it'll be alright.

I agree 100%!

I have to disagree with your friend the Methodist minister. I'm pretty sure that if you read the Bible you will find a few "disasters" directly from the will of God. God is in control.

 

We're lucky alright, we're lucky God blessed us with forefathers that had vision.

 

STAND UP FOR THE FLAG AND LET'S ALL RING THE LIBERTY BELL!

 

Maybe Pat Robertson was right.

I really doubt that any of the three of us quoted would be called "faint of heart". :lol:

I know, it was a joke.

I know, it was a joke.

 

 

6. No putting incorrect or false information on the site.