Controversy Meme, stolen fron the flist
Monday, 20 October 2008 16:21![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
preussisch_blauApparently this is a Q&A meme of controversial topics. Whee! I might flock this so I don't get any discussion. I'm sick of discussion. It's very annoying when all the discussion I get is, for the most part "You're so wrong your wrong is wrong and let me tell you why" or "One sentence that explains nothing".
Anyhow. Meme.
1./ Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
...This has got to be the STUPIDEST question ever. Would I have posted this if I didn't? </snark>
2./ Would you do meth if it was legal?
No.
3./ Abortion: for or against it?
...If you're reading this, and have been reading my journal regularly, and do not know the answer to this question... Just go back and look at some of the discussion posts, among other things. I'll repeat it here for the lazy. Against, against, a thousand times against. Murder is murder, no matter what you call it. You don't want a kid, use some fucking birth control. You can't have a kid or it'll kill you? Well, fine, have the abortion, then get thee the Pill or something so you're protected in case of rape.
4./ Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
The entire world? No. The U.S.A.? Well, it hasn't been doing so hot with 43 (soon to be 44) terms of male presidents, so a female one might be a welcome change. Except I highly doubt a president alone could bring about the fall of the nation. I mean, there's that system of checks and balances for a reason.Oh, wait, I take that back. If Obama wins, he could theoretically bring about the fall of the nation because checks and balances don't work when you've got a Democrat president and an unprecedented, unbeatable majority in the Congress from the same party.
5./ Do you believe in the death penalty?
Murder is murder. So no. I don't believe in the death penalty.
6./ Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I really don't care.
7./ Are you for or against premarital sex?
Is this a serious legal issue? No. Why is this here? For the record, I'm against premarital sex, at least for myself. There's no need to test drive someone for how good they are in bed. In fact, if that's the only thing that would keep you from marrying an otherwise wonderful person, I'm afraid I have no respect for you.
8./ Do you believe in God?
Yes. I also believe in the reality of science, evolution, the existence of the dinosaurs, the world being millions of years old, and quantum physics. Now, anyone here care to call me stupid and brainwashed?
9./ Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I don't think marriage should be a government institution, given that, at least in the U.S.A., the government idea of marriage is too heavily influenced by the Judeo-Christian institution. Separate church and state and leave marriage as the religious institution and come up with something else for the legal one. Oh, and having a church ceremony doesn't automatically entitle you to the legal benefits. You have to have the legal one too, otherwise it doesn't count in the eyes of the law.
10./ Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the U.S.A.?
Yes. Just because illegal immigration happened in the past, and just because European settlers weren't invited over and given visas and committed horrible acts agains the native people, doesn't change the fact that these people are breaking the law, draining off of tax benefits designed for legal citizens, and killing legal citizens in car accidents and such because they can't get a license and don't follow American traffic laws. Does it suck that it's hard to get here legally? Yeah. Still, I don't want Americans who can't be bothered to go through the process and become actual Americans, but instead sneak in and cling to the culture of their former home and cry "racist" whenever someone expects them to be loyal to the country as a whole and not just their race. This country has no room for hyphenated Americans. Either be an American or don't if you plan on living here. I sure as Hell wouldn't move to Mexico, refuse to learn Mexican Spanish, and demand to be called an American-Mexican. In fact, Americans who go to other countries legally and refuse to learn the local language and culture are considered horrible. Yet it's okay for people to enter America illegally and never learn a spot of American English or any of our culture, and if we say something about it, we're racist! Fuck. That. Shit.
11./ A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Already mentioned my feelings on abortion, so let's just say it was decided that she ought to carry the child to term (by the way, I think this is something that should be left to the discretion of qualified medical professionals and the parents of the girl involved). She should not have to raise the child, as she's still a child herself. The baby should either be raised by the girl's parents or given up for adoption.
13./ Should the war in Iraq be called off?
At this point, when we're very close to being able to sucessfully withdraw and leave behind a stable government? No. We shouldn't just bring everyone home. We need to stay and finish what we began. Right now, in the Anbar province, the Marines have almost finished withdrawing from Fallujah out to their desert base, and are considering leaving the province entirely. Violence is at an all time low since the start of the war. We're almost done, no need to call it off now.
14./ Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
Yes, it should stay illegal. In my college medical ethics class, we learned about cases where countries that had legal assisted suicide had doctors who would, to help empty hospital beds, assist patients who couldn't really decide for themselves to die. I don't like the potential for abuse.
15./ Do you believe in spanking your children?
Yes, I do. It's about the only thing that kept me in line.
16./ Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
No, no I wouldn't, and I'd punch anyone in the face who is American and would. Get the fuck out of this country and renounce your citizenship if you hate it that much. I wouldn't burn ANY nation's flag, but that's because I have enough brains to know that a nation's flag is the symbol of that nation and is therefore worthy of respect; the same respect I'd accord to an ambassador or citizen of that nation.
17./ Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Of the two? McCain. If I had my way? Senator Tom Carper.
18. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
You mean they don't already? Bring it on. *cracks knuckles* I may not believe in legalised murder, but I do believe in ass-kicking.
Anyhow. Meme.
1./ Do you have the guts to answer these questions and re-post as The Controversial Survey?
...This has got to be the STUPIDEST question ever. Would I have posted this if I didn't? </snark>
2./ Would you do meth if it was legal?
No.
3./ Abortion: for or against it?
...If you're reading this, and have been reading my journal regularly, and do not know the answer to this question... Just go back and look at some of the discussion posts, among other things. I'll repeat it here for the lazy. Against, against, a thousand times against. Murder is murder, no matter what you call it. You don't want a kid, use some fucking birth control. You can't have a kid or it'll kill you? Well, fine, have the abortion, then get thee the Pill or something so you're protected in case of rape.
4./ Do you think the world would fail with a female president?
The entire world? No. The U.S.A.? Well, it hasn't been doing so hot with 43 (soon to be 44) terms of male presidents, so a female one might be a welcome change. Except I highly doubt a president alone could bring about the fall of the nation. I mean, there's that system of checks and balances for a reason.
5./ Do you believe in the death penalty?
Murder is murder. So no. I don't believe in the death penalty.
6./ Do you wish marijuana would be legalized already?
I really don't care.
7./ Are you for or against premarital sex?
Is this a serious legal issue? No. Why is this here? For the record, I'm against premarital sex, at least for myself. There's no need to test drive someone for how good they are in bed. In fact, if that's the only thing that would keep you from marrying an otherwise wonderful person, I'm afraid I have no respect for you.
8./ Do you believe in God?
Yes. I also believe in the reality of science, evolution, the existence of the dinosaurs, the world being millions of years old, and quantum physics. Now, anyone here care to call me stupid and brainwashed?
9./ Do you think same sex marriage should be legalized?
I don't think marriage should be a government institution, given that, at least in the U.S.A., the government idea of marriage is too heavily influenced by the Judeo-Christian institution. Separate church and state and leave marriage as the religious institution and come up with something else for the legal one. Oh, and having a church ceremony doesn't automatically entitle you to the legal benefits. You have to have the legal one too, otherwise it doesn't count in the eyes of the law.
10./ Do you think it's wrong that so many Hispanics are illegally moving to the U.S.A.?
Yes. Just because illegal immigration happened in the past, and just because European settlers weren't invited over and given visas and committed horrible acts agains the native people, doesn't change the fact that these people are breaking the law, draining off of tax benefits designed for legal citizens, and killing legal citizens in car accidents and such because they can't get a license and don't follow American traffic laws. Does it suck that it's hard to get here legally? Yeah. Still, I don't want Americans who can't be bothered to go through the process and become actual Americans, but instead sneak in and cling to the culture of their former home and cry "racist" whenever someone expects them to be loyal to the country as a whole and not just their race. This country has no room for hyphenated Americans. Either be an American or don't if you plan on living here. I sure as Hell wouldn't move to Mexico, refuse to learn Mexican Spanish, and demand to be called an American-Mexican. In fact, Americans who go to other countries legally and refuse to learn the local language and culture are considered horrible. Yet it's okay for people to enter America illegally and never learn a spot of American English or any of our culture, and if we say something about it, we're racist! Fuck. That. Shit.
11./ A twelve year old girl has a baby, should she keep it?
Already mentioned my feelings on abortion, so let's just say it was decided that she ought to carry the child to term (by the way, I think this is something that should be left to the discretion of qualified medical professionals and the parents of the girl involved). She should not have to raise the child, as she's still a child herself. The baby should either be raised by the girl's parents or given up for adoption.
13./ Should the war in Iraq be called off?
At this point, when we're very close to being able to sucessfully withdraw and leave behind a stable government? No. We shouldn't just bring everyone home. We need to stay and finish what we began. Right now, in the Anbar province, the Marines have almost finished withdrawing from Fallujah out to their desert base, and are considering leaving the province entirely. Violence is at an all time low since the start of the war. We're almost done, no need to call it off now.
14./ Assisted suicide is illegal: do you agree?
Yes, it should stay illegal. In my college medical ethics class, we learned about cases where countries that had legal assisted suicide had doctors who would, to help empty hospital beds, assist patients who couldn't really decide for themselves to die. I don't like the potential for abuse.
15./ Do you believe in spanking your children?
Yes, I do. It's about the only thing that kept me in line.
16./ Would you burn an American flag for a million dollars?
No, no I wouldn't, and I'd punch anyone in the face who is American and would. Get the fuck out of this country and renounce your citizenship if you hate it that much. I wouldn't burn ANY nation's flag, but that's because I have enough brains to know that a nation's flag is the symbol of that nation and is therefore worthy of respect; the same respect I'd accord to an ambassador or citizen of that nation.
17./ Who do you think would make a better president? McCain or Obama?
Of the two? McCain. If I had my way? Senator Tom Carper.
18. Are you afraid others will judge you from reading some of your answers?
You mean they don't already? Bring it on. *cracks knuckles* I may not believe in legalised murder, but I do believe in ass-kicking.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 22 October 2008 20:59 (UTC)2. No. Meth is evil. Really, really evil. Totally destroys people in such a short period of time and the ability to kick this one is very, very (did I mention VERY) difficult.
3. For. No equivocation or qualification.
4. OK, this one made me laugh out loud 'cause it's ridiculous in so many ways. Your point is a good one (re: the quality of the male presidents so far). Also, the USA is not actually the center of the universe. We are so egotistical to think that if our country implodes the rest of the world will somehow be unable to keep on functioning. I think history bears out that no country/civilization is safe from becoming obsolete. On a more specific note, I think female presidents will be just like male presidents - some good, some bad, some just okay.
5. Nope.
6. Yes. Think of the tax revenue! And all the money that will be saved from the portion of LE budgets dedicated to enforcing these laws.
7. This one should be completely personal choice and am not sure why it's anybody else's business one way or the other.
8. Yes. And I agree 100% with your perspective on this.
9. Yep. And my reasoning is almost identical to yours. Plus, again, good for the economy - increase in licenses and fees, catering, etc.
10. I think this one is a lot more complicated that a short answer can handle, but given that. My preference is legal immigration, if possible. But the history of immigration laws is often sordid and biased and ever changing, so we need to take the human factor into account, too. I agree with several of the other comments that what often motivates illegal immigration is desperation, a view of life here as being much better, and a desire to improve the individuals'a and/or family's lot in life. So, I think we need to be compassionate in how we respond to the vast majority of immigrants. That said, I don't think we should be tolerating criminal activity from anyone, legal or not, particularly violent crime. And as to the language issue, I think it's important to embrace the language of your new home, but I also think we need to be careful about people feeling the need to "lose" their original language. My mom was first generation, and both her parents were German, and she doesn't speak a word of German. It was forbidden, even in the home, because of the bias in the country against German immigrants at that time (WWI & II). That seems a shame to me.
11. OY! Using your assumptions, I'm pretty much with you on this one.
13. I'm not certain you can just "call off" a war, like cancelling a dinner date or a dentist appointment. If it's possible, I think we need to withdraw in a way that is thoughtful and strategic (whatever the timeline) and as non-chaotic as possible. I'm not sure we will be able to prevent the inevitable chaos that may erupt/continue after we leave, given all the different sects/tribes/factions, but that is a history that was there long before we came along (whatever your feelings about the war).
14. I'm torn on this one, and there is a measure on the ballot in my state (Washington) as I write this. I still haven't made up my mind.
15. Yes, in limited situations.
16. I don't have strong feelings on this one, though I do think it falls under protected political speech. Mostly I don't think it's a huge issue affecting too many people's lives. Back when Congress was trying to get a constitutional amendment passed to ban flag burning, my wise (and sarcastic) father, who is very conservative Republican, groused, "Yeah, 'cause there are just idiots burning flags on every corner in my town. It's such a rampant problem."
17. Obama. Though he is actually my third choice.
18. I'm someone who just wants people to HAVE an opinion. I don't care if I agree with you (and am open to hearing others views and even occassionally changing my mind), but how can you NOT have an opinion? That I just do not understand!
no subject
Date: 23 October 2008 00:25 (UTC)3./ Oh come now, I think you need to have reasons for holding an opinion. Right now you don't sound like you do.
4./ Yeah, that was a ridiculous question. I mean, unless we all become members of a worldwide union and the first female president of that union is a total nitwit...
7./ I didn't get that question either. I was like, "Huh? That's pretty personal..."
10./ I guess I wouldn't have so many problems if it weren't for the sheer number of illegals near where I live who have no respect for the law. But then, why should they? I mean, one of my high school friends, her car was hit on the driver's side by an illegal driving a truck. Her hip was shattered and she had severe head injuries. To this day she has lingering mental problems, can no longer run, and is PETRIFIED of the idea of driving. The illegal? Spent some time in jail until bail was made. He was never deported. Same with some drunk, licenseless illegals who ran a kid over. Got to stay here. I'm sorry, but that sort of crime should always mean being deported.
As far as language... I mean, there are problems when you have kids who were born here to two Spanish speaking parents who still can't speak English properly by high school. It sucks to lose that native language, but my great-grandmother wouldn't teach her children and grandchildren Italian because they NEEDED English to survive in an English-speaking country. I think it's a disservice to your children to prevent them from learning the local language and then complain that everything ought to be in Spanish for you. *grumbles*
13./ Yeah. Really, with how the Anbar province is going with the Marine Corps withdrawal, I think we can expect peace in Iraq. After all, Fallujah used to be the most chaotic, war torn city, and now? Peace. It can be done. We just need to think and be respectful.
16./ LOL. Banning flag burning? How do we respectfully dispose of used, worn flags, if we can't burn them? (I know, they probably exempted the ceremonial burning from this, but still.) I dunno. I explained a bit better to Skew.
no subject
Date: 23 October 2008 01:10 (UTC)3. I hesitated to get into the details of my opinion on abortion, due to the exchange above and your very definitive stance on this one, and my pretty much completely opposite views. And let me be clear that I respect your views (and appreciate the consistency with being anti-aborion and anti-death penalty), both based on sacredness of life. I'm not one of those wing-nuts who thinks because someone is opposed to abortion that they are somehow an irrational idiot. The fact is most of my family members are anti-abortion and shake their heads at me in confusion on this one (especially since I am also a practicing Catholic). And don't think THAT isn't challenging, since the Catholic Church defines abortion as intrinsically evil. What FUN conversations I have with my fellow parishioners.
Anyway, so the short version for me is I do believe life begins at conception. I just don't believe that that life has the same moral weight/status as the mother's and father's. I struggle with the idea of the soul and whether that is present at conception, but I think I fall more in the Jewish camp on this one than the Catholic camp. No doubt I will continue to struggle on this point.
I also believe that it should be a last resort and not used an ongoing means of birth control. And most of the women I know who have had an abortion have had only one, though I also know a few who have had more for a variety of reasons. And that's the crux of the matter for me, humans are imperfect and so are our current support systems. Given that, unwanted pregnancies are going to happen for a wide variety of reasons, and I don't think anyone should be in on the decision on how to respond to that situation (be it having and keeping the child, giving up for adoption or abortion) other than the people involved, their doctors and anyone else whose counsel they choose to seek. And I certainly don't think it should be criminal for the very eloquent reasons you stated above.
So, now you know.
10. I don't think you and I are that far apart on the immigration issue. We both seem to be people who want other people to be responsible and civil. And I don't disagree on the language issue. If possible, I do think children should be encouraged to learn the language of their new country as soon as possible, and there shouldn't be an expectation that everything will be be in several languages. (That said, there's a bunch of English/Japanese going on in my part of the world!)
no subject
Date: 23 October 2008 14:32 (UTC)3./ See, I can understand your views on abortion. Actually, they remind me very much of another person's.
If you go by the Bible, the life and soul are in the blood (don't ask me the passage, but I'm fairly certain it's in Leviticus, as it's the reason why the Israelites are forbidden from drinking the blood of animals). A foetus doesn't have it's own blood until the 6th week of development. You can add that to your considerations if you want.
Hopefully the support systems will get better with time, so there are less women who think they have to have an abortion, otherwise they won't have any support for raising the child or finding it a home where it can be taken care of. Although I don't know if this will happen, as I once got in an argument with someone online who thought it was "stupid" and "ridiculous" that a Christian charity would give pregnant women and new mothers anything they needed to raise the child through toddler-hood for little or nothing, yet wouldn't offer birth control or abortions. (The annoying part of that argument was that random passers-by proceeded to get on MY case when I argued that the owners of the charity might not agree with abortion, and were instead offering support so that maybe a woman who felt like she had no choice but abortion might reconsider. That, and why should a group focused on providing child care supplies, like formula/food and car seats, provide medical care as well?)