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Dear gerry,
Look, brother:
1. I didn't single anyone out in this post. But,
see, apparently someone comes immediately to mind,
huh?
2. I respect and tolerate anyone's right to
believe in God or to be an agnostic or atheist,
whatever.
3. I also respect and tolerate anyone's right to
meditate, or not.
4. I respect anyone's right to pray, or not.
5. I respect anyone's right to subscribe to
evolution theories, creation theories, creative
evolution theories, devolution theories, symmetric
theory, Big Bang theories, whatever. Furthermore,
there is no single politically correct theory of
evolution or creationism -- there are rather a
myriad of such variations and offshoots. Prove any
one of them conclusively. Who can? Nobody here. To
condemn and degrade others for their own views on
this subject (as has been done here) is tyrannical
and nonsensical.
If we're discussing the guru or a book [for
example], sometimes I personally enjoy humour
that does not make the other person I am conversing
with here the actual target. For instance, Sandy
mentioned a book he read - ok, I am familiar with
some of that stuff. I did my SNL skit without
degrading him personally as the target of the
humour, in the process. Rather: the Urantia book,
the ascended brotherhood, etc. Years ago, I read a
lot of books on those subjects. Plus, now some of
these ascended master channels and gurus are on
cable tv [e.g. Elizabeth Claire Prophet].
You will notice that I didn't say 'yer so -----in'
stupid' etc. That would be a personal attack,
gerry. There's a difference.
Now, I certainly think it's fair play here to
rip a greedy guru - who is plainly in dysfunctional
denial. I think those who come with clear good
intentions merit our courtesy, however, and those
who are at least polite likewise deserve some
measure of civility -- even if we disagree with
their opinions or beliefs.
On the other hand, what I do not respect or
countenance is the attempt by anyone to behave
harmfully or sadistically to those who are clearly
in pain, trying out their wings, expressing their
own sense of freedom or vulnerability, or
questioning their previous belief systems.
I also think that it is patently uncivilized,
anti-social behaviour, and counter-productive to
routinely engage in demeaning buzzwords and
expressions that stereotype other people here, to
degrade, abuse and humiliate other exes and premies
for sport - or out of sheer malice, to degrade
those who are receiving professional/medical
counselling, therapy, or using medication, or to
rotely dismiss other's points of view with
profanities (or blatant racist and sexist terms).
That's not just politically correct, either --
that's called being a civilized being in the modern
world.
Further, the usage of language IS important,
gerry. Sure, it's a lot easier to tell someone to
bleep off or call them a vulgar name, or label
anything we disagree with as 'new agey', etc. than
to simply take the time and care to practice
civility and intelligence -- or to just exercise a
little self-restraint and practice sensibility.
I also don't respect aggressive, nasty bullying
of the meek. Never have, and never will.
These are my opinions, too, of course, gerry.
But, I have observed that Many others here have
shared and repeated these same concerns regarding
civility and empathy. For, when there is no empathy
or compassion for others, when we do not recognize
or respect the humanity in others, then we are
practicing the path of despicability.
I believe in a forum free from fear -- yes, it
is a fact that many exes and questioning premies
lurk but don't post here, for that very reason;
they simply do not wish to be degraded as human
beings, or insensitively savaged, or have their
wounds or scars reopened or rent asunder by the
fangs of any would-be jackals or hyenas in human
form.
Of course, these expressed concerns may even
seem idealistic to some. However, to me, they are
the mark of whether someone is civilized, a genuine
human being, or worthy of engaging in any
conversation. In every place where I have worked in
the last 15 years, such factors are considered a
matter of basic, common decency -- and necessary
for general social harmony, well-being, and
productivity.
After all, do we want to be snakes and hyenas,
or respectable men, Gerry? I mean, we talk about
the abuses of the cult; what about modes of abuse
in communication here, too, and in the other areas
of our lives? Same thing. Have we learned nothing
about how to treat our fellow human beings? Sure,
there is the easy low path that leads to the
disfunctional and filthy stye, and then there is
that road of fellowship, a little harder, but which
leads on high -- where we treat each other
respectfully as brothers and sisters, and politely
acknowledge each other's respective rights to
her/his own individual perceptions and inherent
identity.
Even in democratic republics, it is said that
your right to freedom ends where another person's
nose [or face] begins. Same thing with
words here, gerry. The written word can be a
powerful tool - however, once written, it may be
even harder to retract. Words and written
communications can also be abused; frankly, I don't
see the need for an ex-premie Mein Kampf or an
oppressive mentality that instills fear,
suspicions, loathing or misapprehensions among all
these good and decent people.
Now, rather than respond curtly or dismissively,
see the time I have taken to communicate my
thoughts here to you?
Ok, better sign off here now.
Peace and lentils,
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