Save the children...

[""]

I watched the 700 Club once. They claimed the reason behind the existance of the European Union was as a precursor to the entire world uniting against Israel as part of the End Days. If I wanted to give money to crazy people I could donate to the local insane asylum.

Simply because somebody disagrees with your beliefs doesn't mean they're crazy. It might make them wrong, but it doesn't make them crazy.

In this instance, I believe they are right. If you heard them speak of the European Union in relation to the tribulation and Israel, then they are correct. You'll find it in the book of Revelation in the bible.

You may disagree with the book of Revelation and with the Christian bible, but that doesn't mean that those who do believe in it are crazy. We're just not a carbon copy of you. It is entirely possible to live in the same world without hating one another.

The members of the 700 club all sit on golden thrones (like they are kings or gods) so it makes me question that they provide any help to anyone but themselves.

I don't see any thrones. I see comfortable chairs that look like they belong in a living room or family room setting.

As far as giving money to charity. I give to local charities, and to charities that help children and families here the my own country. I believe in also giving to the charities that help children and families in Israel. I'm not sure if any others are reputable charities, but these are the choices that I make for myself. I see many starving American children, and I believe it is my responsiblity to provide for them first, because they are here, and they need me.

He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' Matthew 25:33-40

 

[Nymphalidae]

Simply because somebody disagrees with your beliefs doesn't mean they're crazy. It might make them wrong, but it doesn't make them crazy.

In this instance, I believe they are right. If you heard them speak of the European Union in relation to the tribulation and Israel, then they are correct. You'll find it in the book of Revelation in the bible.

You may disagree with the book of Revelation and with the Christian bible, but that doesn't mean that those who do believe in it are crazy. We're just not a carbon copy of you. It is entirely possible to live in the same world without hating one another.

Usually you'd be right. But if you believe that locusts wearing tiny crowns are going to emerge from the earth to torture you at some point in the near future, and that the European Union is a portent of this, you're at best delusional. Revelations reads like the fever dreams of a madman.

I don't hate anybody. It does frighten me, though. These people are insane, and look how much power they wield.

 

[""]

Revelations reads like the fever dreams of a madman.

You are right. It certainly does. Unless you know how to interpret it, it's pretty strange. Why don't we make a topic and discuss the book of Revelation or perhaps one topic at a time to discuss certain sections of Revelation? I'm sure that you have questions. So do I. I have studied quite a bit of it, but I bet that there are people here who comprehend it much better than myself.

 

[PariahDivine]

Usually you'd be right. But if you believe that locusts wearing tiny crowns are going to emerge from the earth to torture you at some point in the near future, and that the European Union is a portent of this, you're at best delusional. Revelations reads like the fever dreams of a madman.

I don't hate anybody. It does frighten me, though. These people are insane, and look how much power they wield.

Theres a fine line between belief and insanity, some people are just a little more flirtatious than others

 

[""]

I didn't mean to forget this part of your post

I don't hate anybody. It does frighten me, though. These people are insane, and look how much power they wield.

I can appreciate that it frightens you. You know what? It used to frighten me too. I used to think they were insane as well. There's really nothing to be frightened of though butterfly girl. These are just different beliefs than your own. We all have the right to believe as we choose, and even Christians, as well as Jews, will tell you that is how God intended it to be. We are to choose to worship Him, and to choose to accept Jesus Christ as the final sacrifice. If you choose not to believe it, no human should attempt to force you to do otherwise. God is the final judge. We all have the right to respond to one another on forums such as these, when our beliefs are discussed, of course.

I enjoy witnessing to those who want to hear it. I like to talk about my life and what Christ has done for me, for those who are interested in listening. I don't want to, nor would I enjoy, making somebody who wasn't interested, listen to the story of my life, or about my faith in Jesus. It must be the same for you, right? Do you like to talk about the things that you hold dear to your heart? I'm sure that you do, but probably not to people that don't want to hear it.

Anyway, I did mean what I said in the first post. If you'd like to, go ahead and make a topic about the book of Revelation and ask your questions.

 

[ebia]

Either create a thread for Revelations, or don't. Please don't destroy this one.

 

[""]

I don't hijack threads, so you don't have to worry about me.

 

[one love]

Giving people enough food to survive on doesn't solve poverty.

No, but it solves hunger.

[quote[
We have to give them enough to survive on, plus educate them, plus stop stealing from them with an economic system that is completely imbalanced.[/quote]
The only viable means is to colonize them and establish our education systems which have done very great.

We have to stop dumping cheap food from our subsidised farming systems (EC & US) and pay fair prices for the stuff that poor countries produce.

This will only starve them to death faster.

Remove barriers that stop them selling to us and even (in the short term at least) allow them to protect their own industries.

This would eradicate sectors of their economies and cause further unemployment. They do protect their own industries. So far we are not the one's in control of their nation's government.

Giving them a small amount in aid (much of which is "given" in a form that advantages the giving country as much as the recipient) while taking back large amounts in debt repayment and unfair trading isn't even trying to solve anything.

This would hurt the American standard of living, but colonization would allow for tax revenue to go to a non-corrupt government.

Start solving poverty with education and trading systems that work, and the rest will follow.

Colonization would establish an American/European style education system as well as the same for the economy.

 

[ebia]

<posted in error>

 

[ebia]

No, but it solves hunger.

It doesn't solve hunger unless you are happy to keep supplying aid forever.

The only viable means is to colonize them and establish our education systems which have done very great.

Colonisation didn't work - it has been tried before, remember.

This will only starve them to death faster.

How does removing barriers that prevent them selling to us destroy their economies?

Subsidised EC and US agriculture (and consequentual food dumping) destroys the enconomies and agriculture of 3rd world countries. That is why virtually every NGO and aid charity is demanding that it stop.

This would eradicate sectors of their economies and cause further unemployment. They do protect their own industries. So far we are not the one's in control of their nation's government.

Through the World Bank , WTO, etc, yes you are. Third world countries are prevented from implementing the kind of trade restrictions that the EC and the US get away with.

This would hurt the American standard of living, but colonization would allow for tax revenue to go to a non-corrupt government.

So you want to milk the third world for taxes too? This is a wind-up, right?

Colonization would establish an American/European style education system as well as the same for the economy.

Much of the third world has as close to a European style as their economies can support already - after all, most of them have been part of the colony of one or another European country. And for those who have access to it, it often compares quite favourably - US education (for example) doesn't have that terrific a reputation around the world, and some asian countries knock all the English speaking countries for 6 when it comes to high school maths education (as an example).

 

[Multi-Elis]

Colonisation didn't work - it has been tried before, remember.

Good point. I also don't think that Europeen or American styles are the only correct way to do things. I hope that other systems can be found to suite the mentalities and values of these cultures without violating humain rights or being corrupt.

 

[Illuminatus]

Colonization of those countries so that we have full authority, control, and responsiblity.

Colonization and withdrawal is what caused a lot of problems in the third world in the first place.

 

[Jetgirl]

Colonization and withdrawal is what caused a lot of problems in the third world in the first place.

I think that's because the withdrawal was usually quite rapid, and completely without care for what would happen to the country after the colonists were gone.

 

[Multi-Elis]

If you look more into colonialism, you see that it was opression. Read Maupassant's literature, where he talks of how they would kill the locals as if it were a game. Watch the documentory "Les maitres fous" by Jean Rouch. It's about a sect of demon posesed people in africa. The cruelty of their sacrifieces can be argued to be less than that of the occupents. Read literature from back in the time. Is it really right? Do we really have all the answers? The only thing I like about what we have is education: the ability to self criticize so that we can reach solutions. That ties back with the original post... education...

 

[Jetgirl]

If you look more into colonialism, you see that it was opression. Read Maupassant's literature, where he talks of how they would kill the locals as if it were a game. Watch the documentory "Les maitres fous" by Jean Rouch. It's about a sect of demon posesed people in africa. The cruelty of their sacrifieces can be argued to be less than that of the occupents. Read literature from back in the time. Is it really right? Do we really have all the answers? The only thing I like about what we have is education: the ability to self criticize so that we can reach solutions. That ties back with the original post... education...

I've also seen colonialism, in our recent history, that helped bring a nation into the first world, constructed a sound ecomomy and was going to be, with some patience, a native-run country on par with Austrailia or New Zealand.

Edit to add: What I'm trying to say it that it's not always good, but not always bad. It has great potential do go wrong though, I admit.

 

[ebia]

I've also seen colonialism, in our recent history, that helped bring a nation into the first world, constructed a sound ecomomy and was going to be, with some patience, a native-run country on par with Austrailia or New Zealand.
.

Go on.

 

[Jetgirl]

Go on.

The rest of the world had no such patience, and was mostly blind to everything but racial issues. The country was used as a pawn in some other political shenanigans in the surrounding area. Colonists tried to stay and keep up the economy and infrastructure, were mostly run off, and now the country lies in squalor and mahem.

 

[DrFate]

We've all seen the ads- a starving child living in filth and a well meaning spokesperson tugging at your heartstrings. Send a small amount of money per month to a given charity and this poor child will benefit. This is all well and good, but is it the right thing to do?

You can give support to this child, but who will be there when this child grows and is trying to feed their own children? Are you really helping or are you easing your own conscience for having everything you need?

Some considerations:
1. The child will benefit (assuming the charity is honest)
2. How long will the child benefit?
3. How does this help the community beyond the money sent?
4. Could this end up hurting the community and child by making them dependent on outside help?
5. What is a better way to help populations in poverty and desperation?

I will come back to my opinions after a few from others.

Collect the whole set!

 

[one love]

Colonisation didn't work - it has been tried before, remember.

Colonization brouhgt an end to the slave trade, established a centralized government, brought an end to all most all tribal disputes, gave back economic growth to dying regions of Africa. Now Africa has all these problems due to a lack of control.

Through the World Bank , WTO, etc, yes you are. Third world countries are prevented from implementing the kind of trade restrictions that the EC and the US get away with.

Why are they prevented? This seems more an issue with government officials than with the Europe and US. Can you elaborate?

So you want to milk the third world for taxes too? This is a wind-up, right?

This was a statement ment to imply that existing taxes and public spending would be better managed.

 

[ebia]

The rest of the world had no such patience, and was mostly blind to everything but racial issues. The country was used as a pawn in some other political shenanigans in the surrounding area. Colonists tried to stay and keep up the economy and infrastructure, were mostly run off, and now the country lies in squalor and mahem.

Doesn't sound like a great success for colonisation to me.