Get and keep a job, don't commit crimes of violence, coercion or other force against others, see about doing something for your community as far as money or time for non-profit institutions go. It's not hard to make a difference; people just don't.
If you can, try to create one job via entrepreuniarlism of some kind during your lifetime. Creating a new productive job where there was previously none is probably the highest moral good one can do.
As far as soldiers "laying it on the line," I fail to see how they're making America a better place. The military in the U.S., while certainly big and strong and filled with neato equipment and al that, has been barely more than a tool of politicians for over a century. I have no problem with Bush, Clinton or anyone else attempting to dodge the draft; staying out of Veitnam was the moral high ground, not signing up to go "defend American interests" viz. an idiotic and disproven political theory (the "domino theory" as applied to USSR expansion.) Anyone who would brave public ostracism and possibly even jail time in order to not fight in such a war took the high road.
Phaedrus
If you can, try to create one job via entrepreuniarlism of some kind during your lifetime. Creating a new productive job where there was previously none is probably the highest moral good one can do.
As far as soldiers "laying it on the line," I fail to see how they're making America a better place. The military in the U.S., while certainly big and strong and filled with neato equipment and al that, has been barely more than a tool of politicians for over a century. I have no problem with Bush, Clinton or anyone else attempting to dodge the draft; staying out of Veitnam was the moral high ground, not signing up to go "defend American interests" viz. an idiotic and disproven political theory (the "domino theory" as applied to USSR expansion.) Anyone who would brave public ostracism and possibly even jail time in order to not fight in such a war took the high road.
Phaedrus
Phaedrus,
Does it disturb you as much as it does I when our leaders that are also "draft dodgers"/"war evaders" (not insulting anyone here - I would have done the same) order our troops into similiar unnecessary wars as they once avoided many years before their corrupt political careers took off? (and yes, I'm referring to former president Clinton too).
Does it disturb you as much as it does I when our leaders that are also "draft dodgers"/"war evaders" (not insulting anyone here - I would have done the same) order our troops into similiar unnecessary wars as they once avoided many years before their corrupt political careers took off? (and yes, I'm referring to former president Clinton too).
You are making the world a better place every day if you believe in something and make it show in your interactions with others.
If you are a Darwinist like me then you can encourage women to look better and act friendly to men by giving nice tips to cute women who serve you and ignoring/avoiding the uglier ones. That contributes to the world being a better place IMO.
If you are against alcoholism then any time an alcoholic asks for a helping hand, say "no because I don't help alcoholics. Sober up and then we'll talk."
Your consumer choices are also an important expression of your views. If you are patriotic, then buy only domestic-made goods to the extent that you can. If there are certain countries you are against, boycott them in your purchasing.
Every day we interact with people and spend money and each of those events gives us an opportunity to influence things in the direction we feel is right. If we have children and we raise them right then the effects will get multiplied when they grow up.
I think it's key not to expect to change the world all by ourself. The goal should be to make an impact which is a few times larger than our own size. It doesn't have to be 6 billion times larger. In fact, we are making the impact whether we like it or not. It is then our decision if we want to improve on it, be satisfied with it, or have a defeatist attitude. It's our choice.
If you are a Darwinist like me then you can encourage women to look better and act friendly to men by giving nice tips to cute women who serve you and ignoring/avoiding the uglier ones. That contributes to the world being a better place IMO.
If you are against alcoholism then any time an alcoholic asks for a helping hand, say "no because I don't help alcoholics. Sober up and then we'll talk."
Your consumer choices are also an important expression of your views. If you are patriotic, then buy only domestic-made goods to the extent that you can. If there are certain countries you are against, boycott them in your purchasing.
Every day we interact with people and spend money and each of those events gives us an opportunity to influence things in the direction we feel is right. If we have children and we raise them right then the effects will get multiplied when they grow up.
I think it's key not to expect to change the world all by ourself. The goal should be to make an impact which is a few times larger than our own size. It doesn't have to be 6 billion times larger. In fact, we are making the impact whether we like it or not. It is then our decision if we want to improve on it, be satisfied with it, or have a defeatist attitude. It's our choice.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>You want to make the US a better place? Give the liberals ( who aren't really patriotic Americans anyways) a one time handout - a one way ticket to the country of their choice. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Then you would have just what you want in the US - a monarchy. Just keep changing Bush family members as president every eight years.
wil.
Then you would have just what you want in the US - a monarchy. Just keep changing Bush family members as president every eight years.
wil.
So you want to make the wolrd a better place eh ?
Plant a tree. Get a hybrid automobile (or ride a motorcycle atleast). Turn your television off forever. Get an education on the world and all it's cultures. Listen more than you speak. Don't take up arms against another. Follow the golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated. Smoke marijuana. Open your mind. Reserve judgement. Give more than you receive. Take responsibility for all your actions.
But above ALL ... DON'T VOTE !!
Plant a tree. Get a hybrid automobile (or ride a motorcycle atleast). Turn your television off forever. Get an education on the world and all it's cultures. Listen more than you speak. Don't take up arms against another. Follow the golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated. Smoke marijuana. Open your mind. Reserve judgement. Give more than you receive. Take responsibility for all your actions.
But above ALL ... DON'T VOTE !!
Can I vote this stupid comment of the week:
"Give the liberals ( who aren't really patriotic Americans anyways)"
I beg your pardon? I guess Bush really has brainwashed the "right" into thinking they have cornered the market on patriotism. Patriotic Americans have always stood for the right to have freedom of expression and expressing an opinion opposite that held by the President most certainly fits.
I have an idea, maybe you should do a poll of the soldiers in Iraq and find out what party they are affiliated with and who they plan on voting for in November. If they are Dems or will vote for Kerry, tell them they can come home today because obviously they aren't patriotic Americans! We certainly don't need soldiers that vote for Democrats fighting the war I suppose if I take you at face value for your comment...
"Give the liberals ( who aren't really patriotic Americans anyways)"
I beg your pardon? I guess Bush really has brainwashed the "right" into thinking they have cornered the market on patriotism. Patriotic Americans have always stood for the right to have freedom of expression and expressing an opinion opposite that held by the President most certainly fits.
I have an idea, maybe you should do a poll of the soldiers in Iraq and find out what party they are affiliated with and who they plan on voting for in November. If they are Dems or will vote for Kerry, tell them they can come home today because obviously they aren't patriotic Americans! We certainly don't need soldiers that vote for Democrats fighting the war I suppose if I take you at face value for your comment...
WildBill,
Good points. I used to think that Republicans had to be smarter than Democrats because of the obvious superiority of the Republican economic model, but when they go off on anti-American rants and threaten to kill the Democrats and then complain about hate etc. it makes me rethink my position. The left also has the right idea on religion and environmental issues IMO. If I were American I would probably do like WildBill and just keep voting to change the current government.
Good points. I used to think that Republicans had to be smarter than Democrats because of the obvious superiority of the Republican economic model, but when they go off on anti-American rants and threaten to kill the Democrats and then complain about hate etc. it makes me rethink my position. The left also has the right idea on religion and environmental issues IMO. If I were American I would probably do like WildBill and just keep voting to change the current government.
PHAEDRUS: Get and keep a job, don't commit crimes of violence, coercion or other force against others, see about doing something for your community as far as money or time for non-profit institutions go. It's not hard to make a difference; people just don't.
BAR: What he said.
BAR: What he said.
Four easy to remember ideas, but not quite as easy to always practice....take it from me, it's a full time job I expect to last my lifetime:
LOVE...thy brother as thyself.
LAUGH...As much as possible, as often as possible. Given sufficient hindsight, ANY EVENT in our lives can be viewed with a smile....Therefore practice to find that smile sooner than later in all cases.
SERVE....your brother. And as often as possible do it for a reason other than financial renumeration.
SERVE...Yourself. Don't think yourself less worthy of love than anyone or anything else (see above..."...thy brother AS THYSELF".
and most important and also most challenging:
FORGIVE...your brother. Every brother, for everything you perceive as a 'fault', every time, as many times as needed until you get it.....As a wise teacher said, "Seventy times seven".
I've found that by focusing on these four principles, I have little time for less productive thought processes, and believe
you me, I have plenty of experience with less productive thought processes....
LOVE...thy brother as thyself.
LAUGH...As much as possible, as often as possible. Given sufficient hindsight, ANY EVENT in our lives can be viewed with a smile....Therefore practice to find that smile sooner than later in all cases.
SERVE....your brother. And as often as possible do it for a reason other than financial renumeration.
SERVE...Yourself. Don't think yourself less worthy of love than anyone or anything else (see above..."...thy brother AS THYSELF".
and most important and also most challenging:
FORGIVE...your brother. Every brother, for everything you perceive as a 'fault', every time, as many times as needed until you get it.....As a wise teacher said, "Seventy times seven".
I've found that by focusing on these four principles, I have little time for less productive thought processes, and believe
you me, I have plenty of experience with less productive thought processes....
"If you are a Darwinist like me then you can encourage women to look better and act friendly to men by giving nice tips to cute women who serve you and ignoring/avoiding the uglier ones. That contributes to the world being a better place IMO."
That's freaking hilarious, Darryl! Classic.
That's freaking hilarious, Darryl! Classic.
