I am a-religious. That's a fact. The fact that I don't belong to any church or religious body does not qualify me as being religious.

David, what court decided this? It's incorrect in my case.

Rick
---- A Phillips <[log in to unmask]> wrote: 
> Atheism a religion ?   I knew Americans could be a bit weird, but to decide that ......!!!  :)
>  
> 
> > Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:19:37 -0800
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Taboo Topics
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > 
> > I don't have a problem debating the "right/leftt" issues you and Rick bring 
> > up, but the only purpose to continue, (on either side) would be to 
> > influence an undecided party to come over. If there was one response from a 
> > member asking questions or stating they are undecided it would be worth my 
> > time.
> > 
> > It isn't, and especially in the context of what has been written below, 
> > i.e, comparing conservatives to the Taliban; returning to the "Dark Ages", 
> > crazy conservatives, Republicanism being a religion; never mind that atheism 
> > was, (thru a court ruling), identified as a religion.
> > 
> > The beauty of being an American has been our freedom, established and 
> > maintained by the blood of our heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice to 
> > defend it. Rick, you talk about losing personal rights, pointing to the 
> > issues mentioned on this site. That's like swatting at gnats and swallowing 
> > camels...and Ray, the Tea Party movement is in direct response to the 
> > decades of the political spectrum sliding further and further to the left. 
> > It may still have to swing further to the right to get back to where it was 
> > when I first voted Republican in 1962.
> > 
> > O.K., so I couldn't resist, forgive me; but the threats to our freedom are 
> > much bigger than mentioned here. If the loss of freedom is the issue, 
> > start with the present administration....wow!
> > 
> > Dave
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Rayilyn Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 7:11 PM
> > Subject: Taboo Topics
> > 
> > 
> > > Rick
> > >
> > > I'm interested in why people think the way they do. I don't know about 
> > > others, but in my case it was probably my mother, whose word was law. 
> > > Being a Republican was kind of like a religion, hard to discard. She was 
> > > an atheist (yes you could be one and a Republican in those days), but she 
> > > never tried to influence me one way or another about religion. Maybe 
> > > because force was lacking in this area, our religion was being 
> > > Republican. Upon reflection I have concluded that politics and religion 
> > > are similar in that they don't make much sense but people believe in them 
> > > anyway. As a teacher of controversy in AP classes I made a point to be 
> > > neutral as I wanted students to think for themselves. I was so involved 
> > > I forgot to think myself.
> > >
> > > I still so wish these were not taboo topics.
> > >
> > > PS - when Bush 43 banned stem cell research in 2001 my mother and my 
> > > brother like me were no longer GOPers
> > > Ray
> > >
> > > -----Original Message----- 
> > > From: Rick McGirr
> > > Sent: Saturday, February 18, 2012 12:17 PM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
> > >
> > > Thanks for your comments, Ray. I respect you for embracing change, not 
> > > only
> > > in medical research but also in your personal views on party politics. I
> > > also respect you for continuing to live independently, despite your
> > > difficulties. And I respect your enduring hope demonstrated by your being 
> > > a
> > > fountain of information for this group. Thanks for all you do.
> > >
> > > Rick
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
> > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown
> > > Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 6:57 PM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
> > >
> > > Rick
> > >
> > > You have my complete support. What could be more important to us than
> > > getting some relief from this cruel disease. I fell yesterday in my 
> > > kitchen
> > >
> > > and luckily suffered no serious injuries, but for how long?
> > >
> > > It is 2012, not 1312 and we are debating contraception as a campaign 
> > > issue.
> > >
> > > When I applied for SS disability in 1998 after doing menial jobs to earn 
> > > my
> > > credits, due to Reagan's "Double Dipper" law, I had it cut 60% from the
> > > $400-$500 I earned to $143 a month because I got a poverty level teachers
> > > pension. I know now that Republican war on the have-nots was in effect
> > > before Bush 43, but it took his stem cell restrictions to FINALLY get me 
> > > to
> > > think about what I really believed. With Tea Party politics we can see 
> > > what
> > >
> > > conservatives really believe and it does not resemble the GOP I grew up
> > > with.
> > >
> > > I have noticed the gradual takeover of state governments by conservatives
> > > like Scott Walker and his union-bashing and all this crazy legislation
> > > which will, if successful, further stymie stem cell research.
> > >
> > > I am old, but still like it loud and will continue to report their
> > > activities which do not bode well for us. But what will it take to stop
> > > this stampede to the Dark Ages?
> > >
> > > -----Original Message----- 
> > > From: Rick McGirr
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:59 PM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Re: Virginia personhood law
> > >
> > > Personhood! Peace be with y'all. I know that many members of this listserv
> > > would like to avoid the issues which are politicizing many conversations
> > > today. I wish each and every one of you nothing but happiness and good
> > > health. But I find it very difficult not to respond when dogma threatens
> > > progress. I shall do so elsewhere, and I'll try not to mention anything
> > > upsetting here.
> > >
> > > Except for this one, last time. Don't you ever feel that our rights are
> > > being steamrolled by hysterical hypocrites who would take our laws and our
> > > understandings back to pre-enlightenment times? Aren't you concerned by 
> > > the
> > > fundamentalist threat to liberty represented not by the Taliban, but by
> > > conservative groups in our own country? Do you know how many directions 
> > > this
> > > threat takes in American society? Do you plan to hold your tongue as the
> > > last of our rights are dismantled, piece by piece? To speak, to support, 
> > > to
> > > advocate for ourselves sometimes causes heated debate. That's what our
> > > system is all about. Are we to keep the conversation nice and soothing
> > > because we don't like to hear or say words like "embryo", "fetus", "God",
> > > "democracy", etc? I for one would welcome an increase in volume. But I'm
> > > just an old rocker. I like it loud.
> > >
> > > I will continue as a member of this worldwide group. I feel that this is a
> > > special community with a lot to offer. I also feel that we have more at
> > > stake today than most groups, and it confuses me when people shy away from
> > > the debate. Yes, these can be subjects upsetting to discuss. I think even
> > > more upsetting will be our realization that we no longer have a say in
> > > matters of life, death, science, taxes, and religion, if we disallow our
> > > voices to be heard.
> > >
> > > But enough from me. I will inform the list if I happen to write anything 
> > > of
> > > tolerable quality. This is not goodbye. I will be around. Thank you all 
> > > for
> > > your kind attention.
> > >
> > > Rick McGirr
> > > Buffalo, NY
> > > 58 yrs old, diagnosed with PD in 2001
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network
> > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rayilyn Brown
> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:50 PM
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: Virginia personhood law
> > >
> > > all 4 Republican candidates support this:
> > >
> > > http://floridaindependent.com/69499/virginia-personhood
> > >
> > > Ray
> > > Rayilyn Brown
> > > Past Director AZNPF
> > > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation
> > >
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