The Status of America Today

  Yeah, it has been "fun" educating you trolls. 

Then please educate me further: 

why do you think it is proper for an 18 year old to be denied the freedom to vote while asking them to potentially fight and die for the freedom of others to vote?

All you guys are conflating 1) drinking age, 2) voting age, and 3) age for military service beyond my ability to logically reply.  Bear in mind that the lights in my 79 year old brain cells are starting to flicker.

Interesting conversation between David Miller and LiveFreeNW.  I don't know why David's posts inflame all of you so much.  If he wants to cut and paste from a 'piece' that expresses ideas he agrees with, and maybe he believes the piece says it better than he could sit there and re-say it, and it maybe not come out so clearly (not necessarily to everyone's agreement, but clear), so be it.  Doesn't mean you have to agree.   David has as much right to his ideas and opinions as anyone does who disagrees with him.  Making this an issue, his pasting things, is getting very tiresome.

Actually I agree with several points in David's initial post, whether a robot created it or David did.  Doesn't matter to me.  David gets no credit for the absence of filty insults in his postings.  It seems you all prefer the smutty nasty retorts pervasive in Kevin's posts.   I don't get that. 

But, LiveFreeNW I applaud your ability to post with manners and civility.  That's the only way many people ever will pay real attention to what is said, myself included.  I try to do the same, and I believe it helps me put thoughts together more cogently than if I just run on without considering others' feelings.

So, my opinions:

There is medical evidence about the damage to brain cells from drinking alcohol, which may or may not have gone into the legal limit being set at 21.  I didn't take a drink until I was close to 21, maybe 20.  I just wasn't interested in drinking at that time.  Didn't do me any harm to wait.

I'm guessing the age for military service was established before, or at the time of, the Civil War.  I am probably mistaken, just a guess.

Voting age?  At 18 there should be enough high school graduates that have had a class or two in civics, journalism, history, etc. to at least have an idea of what they are voting for.  Not that they have the smarts to vote as you or I would, but then neither do many 40 year olds.

Were I queen of the world I would set both driving and drinking at age 20.  Not that it would accomplish anything.  Haven't I seen/read about there being a few underage drinkers?  LOL.  And Lordy how not being able to drive until age 20 would change the world?  Yeah...not a viable suggestion.  But drinking and driving has the worst consequences than voting or military service by far.  JMHO.

Candy

Candy, you seem to have a thorn in your side for Kevin lately.  

I'd respect David's opinion and ideas if he ever came up with one himself.  Until then, I am probably insulting chimps by linking them to David.  

Candy has been against me ever since I criticized religion. Not necessarily HER religion--but she's a believer and believers don't like unbelievers.

Candy has also been a Miller cheerleader for some time, which is nigh inexplicable. But he desperately needs friends, so...Candy has been an infrequent target of David's insults, but he has called her "obtuse" (his favorite word) and a liar. Candy evidently considers David to be the picture of decorum, even as he throws insults at EVERYBODY who disagrees with him.

I guess Candy's David-love is like Trump-love. Hard to fathom, but indubitably real.

What a load-a crap.  Kevin, get a grip, and stop looking for what you'd like me to say about David (negative, I'm sure) that I've never said.  

Kevin, once and for all, I don't dislike you for being a non-believer.  That's your business.  I don't really know you, but we've had some decent discussions. 

I'm no saint.  Reading through some of Proverbs the other day, Solomen's instructions (God's actually) on how to live life successfully, deal with practical affairs of everyday life, parables and and wise maxims, common sense and perspectives on handling life's issues.  I was wishing my mom had insisted I read it through.  If I had done so and had taken it to heart, it would have saved me a bit of misery and regret along my very imperfect life.  You'd like those, no hard ancient historical stuff to tax the brain and memory.

I don't really care whether what David posts are what he "came up with himself" or not.  Some of it I agree with, some I don't.  Some of it informs me.  So, overall I get something out of his posts, like I do everyone's.

Candy

Candy, I'm aware that one thing a believer will NEVER do is admit to themselves, let alone others, that they have disdain for those who don't believe--because that would be uncharitable. So I totally understand the posture you must adopt.

I saw a video of the previous pope--Freddo or whatever his name was--holding a small public meeting with people who were asking him questions. One boy, about eight years old, told the Pope that his father had just died and that he had been an atheist; though he had had his four children baptized. The boy tearfully asked him if his father was in heaven or hell.

The Pope prevaricated. He praised the boy's father, observing (correctly) that it was much more difficult for an atheist than a devout Christian to do that. But then...he said, "He's a good man and God would never leave him behind."

Now, what the fuck was that supposed to mean? The Pope couldn't admit that according to Church doctrine, the boy's father was definitely in hell right now? The Pope couldn't just LIE? After all, he had no real knowledge either way! Maybe God saves atheists who are good people? Who knows?

I think someone not shackled by religious doctrine would have told the boy (who was clearly devastated) that good people go to heaven whether or not they're believers. Why not say a very mild white lie to make that poor boy feel better? Wouldn't that be an act of charity? (And I think the boy was smart enough to realize what the real answer to his question was.)

BTW I believe that in the very unlikely event that there is a heaven, the above is the way it actually works, whatever your beliefs may be. 

Oh, and Candy, I was raised by penguins and had read the entirety of Proverbs, as well as the rest of the Bible, by the time I was eight. So I'm very familiar with that book. My favorite passage is, "If thou dropst thy toast, yea, verily, will it land butter side down." I've used that as a guiding principle throughout my whole life.

I like 15:1 "A soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels."

I also like:  13:10 "Pride leads to arguments; be humble, take advice, and become wise." 

IMHO the Pope's reply to the little boy was spot on.  The father raised four children, had all baptized for their souls to be saved, so there was belief, perhaps hope that the father made it to heaven.  "He's a good man and God would never leave him behind."  Excellent.  And you are right that we cannot know, will not know until our own passing.   Many really good people say they aren't believers.  I always wonder why, what happened, like you being overchurched perhaps?  One thing about it, I believe, is that God knows you and hasn't given up on you.

Candy

I like Matthew 3:14  "David is a shortbus nimrod"

Matthew was pretty smart.