Diversity

So, who is going to win the presidential election?



Maybe Donald Duck or Pluto, or the pig with lipstick, maybe the hocky mom with lipstick, certainly somebody has lipstick on his/her face!

LOL



R

Yes, a bunch of half truths, lies and mixed messages can make their way on so called "serious" topical blogs, and in askew humor. And I am like you, I do not like to get unsolicited junk that piles up.



You get the part about a rousing debate! And I am happy for you.



Let me point out this about the change from the mid 1880s until now. We have to deal with much more stuff, meaningless time wasteing stuff, AND it is most often stuff that comes electronically, or in the paper mail, WITHOUT the ability to make a full conversation with a living breathing (and in near proximity) PERSON.



I look back at great grand and grand and think that they took the time to be FACE TO FACE on a weekly basis ( usually Sat or Sun) to get caught up. In MANY WAYS, this may have ACTUALLY BEEN MORE INFORMATIVE, PRODUCTIVE and SATISFYING.



Do you hear me on this?



Maybe we should begin some in home reading and discussion groups and have leaders that make "circuits" through designated cities to share what is going on at the grassroots level. These can then share with the local mayor and then the senators and govenors.



E mail designated within the group can be regulated more easily that trying to delete hundreds of junk mailings weekly. Also, once subjects are handled regularily with study and with face to face contact or confrontation, there is less ability for falsehood and twisting to be seriously enertained on the net.



Certainly weekly home visits and sharing may be a little slower than the net, BUT it will be ultimately safer as far as truth and the ability to change one's mind using good information.



For now this is only a dream ! LOL.



R

I agree that a rousing political debate can be both informative and stimulating. However, I am talking about emails that are base in their humor--or false, such as the story that was circulating on the Web for a while about Senator Obama ignoring our troops during his visit to Iraq (which was beautifully debunked by Snopes.com). Those types of emails are useless junk.

Hi,



I am old enough to have heard the stories of America's roots from my grandfather and greatgrandmother.



People came knocking on doors and talked about their view points. They even stayed for dinner.



What a differance from today!



Great mom lived in the middle 1800's, grandfather lived from 1880's to 1968.



People used to sit on the front porch and serve cookies and tea or apple juice. Sometimes they got beer and wine. They talked about their town, there state and the nation. Many town folk knew the leaders of their town and State personally. They studied the newspapers and went to the library and shared the the books before returning them to the library.



Charismatic and knowledgable leaders would travel on "circuits" to bring political or religious news to the people. Preachers would put up tents and preach. Politicians would meet in local halls, or saloons, and occassionally put up a tent. Later on these leaders would travel by stagecoach and then by train.



IT WAS CONSIDERED RECREATION, AND AN AMERICAN DUTY TO EXPOUND ON WHAT ONE BELIEVED AND TO ENGAGE IN VERBAL JOUSTING.



I can not say that there were no divisions within townships or states, but I can say that people managed to get along, the economy thrived, and when threatened, Americans banded together to defend their territory, state or country.



Grandpa said that one of his best friends was rarely one who thought the same on either religion or politics but that they were always able to trust eachother.



Back then, people always had instruments such as mandolines, guitars, banjos, harmonicas, violins and foot pedal organs. They taught eathother. They had their own "jamm" sessions as they sang and played hymns, folk tunes and various ethnic tunes of the Irish, German, English and French who settled the U.S.



Later the Radio provided talk of political things, religious sermons and stories. Fiber MaGee and Molly, and The Shadow were the most popular. Neighbors who had no radio would often come listen with those who had a radio.



I believe that the freedom to discuss beliefs can only cause people to learn from eachother.



Of course you are free to NOT LISTEN or to NOT SHARE.



People who decide that they are right and that there could not be any reason whatsoever to re think something, are living on a premise that they are the best thinker possible.



Historically, it is PROVEN that the GRATEST ADVANCES in human history took place when someone began to think "OUTSIDE" of the norm. We used to think that tomatoes were poison, the world was flat, and new life arrived through spontaneous generation. These were debunked PRECISELY because people studied together and shared and talked and had moments of agitation over it.



THE KEY to progress is RESPECT for the place that you are at. RESPECT for the place that another is at.



We all PROGRESS in our understanding. We are all children developing into more and more ability.



WITH RESPECT WE CAN DISCUSS ANYTHING!



My grandpa and greatgrandma should tell you how important this is, but since they are happily in the hereafter, I have spoken for them.



Respectfully,



R