Bettina

JohnB. I wanted to get out of this thread but to answer your post, you owe me no apology. I find this thread too much of an emotional struggle for me because I find it hard to comprehend why people are evil and twice as hard to comprehend why people put up with it, don't fight it, or say its not their problem. I just don't understand that kind of thinking. Because of it, I don't express myself well in these kind of threads, or positions, and I often attack people for being either blind, ignorant, or having a total lack of any empathy whatsoever. The scenario of the women getting beaten up in church, and those who would not respond to her distress, was an example. At 97 pounds I would not be able to do it myself so I let my emotions rule because its the only way I know how to fight. I know its immature of course, but its what I feel inside me and its what gets me in trouble here. I am a solid atheist because of the feelings I have and because of the continuing pain I see committed every day in the world I see. From terrorists killing people today, the ones that will be killed tommorrow, all the way back to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I didn't need Martin to mention that to me because years ago when I read about that event, I could see vividly a young Japanese women pushing her baby carriage down a sidewalk with her young daughter and son next to her and in an instant being burned alive. I could feel that literally. Those people were not soldiers, they were civilians living in a city, like you and me, and although that was not in my lifetime I am still ashamed of being an American with that blood on my face. I consider that to be much worse than the orginal sin thats mentioned almost every Sunday in church. I will never forgive my government for doing that because I know the real reason that they dropped the bombs was to test them on a live target before the war ended. I also will never forgive those who kill kids for any reason, those who behead people for the dumbest of reasons like culture, religion or whatnot. My convictions on those types of people, what they stand for, and the death penalty for those who commit them, are solid and will never change. I'm very sorry for calling people cowards and other names and surprised still that I didn't get a warning. I at least got the RevPres connection and its been bothering me for a few days now. How I acted here was not me in real life nor how I was brought up. My dad still worries that I'm too naive in many things and still notoriously quiet.... except when I'm here. Reverse. I commend you on your actions because what you encountered is the exception not the rule. Don't hesitate next time to save someone in distress because next time she may thank you, and that thank you will make you feel that life is important. Bettina

I have an idea that may work Cut out six squares of mylar balloon material and put them together to make a cube but were not done yet so don't glue it all. This material does not stretch very much, yet is flexible enough to compact to something small. Inside this "balloon" you are going to add four rectangular shape balloons (the kind you make balloon animals with) so one end connects to one corner of the cube while the other end connects diagonally opposite to the other end of the cube. The theory is that when you blow up the internal balloons, they will push out on all of the corners of the mylar balloon forming your perfect cube. I'm not sure how to blow up the internal balloons unless you make those too so one inlet blows them all up. We have used only balloon material, and it can be compacted and blown up later. I think this would work. Bettina

Does the balloon need to be in a deflated initial state then blown up square? I'm asuming it does. Bet

Ok, I get the message and I didn't even have to read between the lines to find my name. I apologize to any of you that I've offended. I have to realize that this forum consists of people who speak logically and intellegently while everything I do is emotionally based. So, forgive me please, and I promise to keep my personal emotion to myself and either speak logically or not at all. Unfortunately, I posted to Matt Grime already. I hope he forgives me too. Again, I'm sorry and I'm sorry that this thread had to even start. Bettina

Matt Grime..... I don't care what nationality Bin Laden or his pilots were. He was based in Afganistan and was protected by the Taliban which was the "ruling government" at the time. A government who not only supported terrorism, but oppressed their women and children to a degree never realized anywhere else in the world. It was under Bin Ladens orders that those pilots flew the planes into our buildings and it was that government who was unwilling to give him up when we found out it was him. To me, this was an act of war, metaphorically speaking, or otherwise and I am proud of the soldiers who went in and toppled that government. I would have gone in just to free those 8 year old girls who weren't allowed in school. I don't care about past history of any country. I care about the now that is now. I care about the world thats going to be, but unfortunately I see death coming from Islamic extremists. Another thing. You are dead wrong that I don't have to worry about any attack and I can't believe you treat whats going on so lightly. The rest of your post about how many people are killed on the highways was useless information that had nothing to do with the intent of what I posted. Either way, in my scenario of the man in church, you pretty much just told me what you would have done. Bettina

Thanks Martin My dad said I should have no problem with my connection speed. I will be looking forward to seeing those lectures. Thanks Bettina

Section A)... We are not trying to push our lifestyle on them. We are trying to change theirs to a more civilized one so they fit into what the rest of the world is doing. There lifestyle, calls for the killing of infidels....you and me. That has been brewing for years and needs to be changed no matter what. Section B)... This bothers me the most. The car bombs going off in Iraq, are from Islamic Muslim Terrorists not from the Iraqi driving a taxi or the women baking bread, the new policemen and firemen, or the people who want to be free. As far as the "Do we have a right to step in" is concerned, its an emphatic YES. Sure, you care about justice in the middle east as long as they don't ask you personally. So what does that make you. Section C)... Who's job is it then? And...does "Isolationism" ring a bell? Now, I will grant you that I have issues with us going into Iraq militarily. I still have not seen the reasons for it and it most probably could have been handled diplomatically. However, we have a fool for a president. But not with afganistan. I would have gone in there anyway even if they didn't bomb us. A hypothetical story..... Lets say while I'm singing in church, (I really do) I see a muslim man suddenly stand up and start physically beating his wife. (forget that he is in my church) He continues beating her because she spoke when she wasn't supposed to, or maybe lifted her burka and showed her face, or the multitude of other rules I gave you in those links. He continues to beat her relentlessly, until a man in the rear of the church runs down and punches him into the floor until he bleeds and had to be brought out on a stretcher. I commend that man for standing up and defending that women even though she didn't want to be defended because she feared more retribution. Or, it was customary for her to be beaten if she didn't follow the rules set down by allah for the meaning of her existence. However, I condemn those who stood there in front seeing first hand what was going on and did nothing, because they didn't want to get involved. That basically sums up my feelings on life and certain countries, like Russia, China, and the Swiss especially. So, which one in the crowd are you? From your post above, you kind of made that clear to me. Since this is no longer worth your time. I will give you the last word and will refrain. Bettina

Again, I hear you, but what bothers me is that out of the billions of muslims, not many are condemning what there evil brothers are doing. Yes, some do, but most don't. Maybe what I should say is "What I find disgusting about the Islamic Muslim terrorists is the fact that they target women and children" I'm still the Bettina you know, its just that I can't deal with what I see on TV, especially when I know the worse is yet to come and it will be done by Muslim extremists and fanatics. They have the desire and the will to kill as many innocents as they can. Wait till they get a nuke. Edit... This is why I feel all civilized nations, US, Britain, France, Germany, etc, should all go in and fight them, not just leave it to a few, like the Swiss have always done. Bettina

I might be wrong when I say this, but America didn't have a problem with the Islamic religion until Afganistan declared war on us. They flew planes into our buildings killing over 3000 people because they didn't like our way of life, our freedoms, our democracy, and our bikini clad women. To me, that was an act of war and when we ordered them to surrender their mastermind Bin Laden, they refused and backed up his works. They protected him so we went to war against Afganistan....which, to the mideast, is an attack on Islam itself. What I find disgusting about the Islamics is the fact that they try to kill as many women and children as they can thru suicide bombings instead of trying to kill soldiers. To them, killing children must be a turn on as is beheading people. Sorry, but I see them as savages and barbarians. Now, lets look at the news today when Iran, another backward place, is helping Hamas in Palestine. They will funnel millions for weapons to be used against Israelis because both Iran and Palestine want to "wipe Israel off the map". So, are you willing to let the Iranians "sort things out themselves" ? Or do you think we should let them build nukes in the name of allah...and maybe give some to Hamas. Awhile ago, in London, terrorist explosions blew up the subway stations. Many were killed, but a young man wrote four words on the palm of his hand and held it up high. It said "We are not afraid"....Well I'm not like that. I am afraid. Bettina

JohnB, you put me on a wild goose chase. A: That link you provided dosn't show me where it says anything about false testimony. Morales openly admitted guilt in front of the judge for raping and killing a teenage girl for pleasure. Please show me what you meant. B: The other link showing the countries I call barbarous and savage, and your comment above is proof that you have no idea what I'm talking about. In answering my question, your only reasoning is that you do not want to make a mistake and kill an innocent man. I said, the man is not innocent. He has admitted guilt in killing a little girl for his own pleasure. There is no mistake here. So are you saying your only reasoning is that "We do not kill our people"? Thats it? Thats all you would tell the mother? I respect you for your convictions, but nothing on the face of this earth, no god, not people holding signs, would ever convince me to spare a person for killing a little girl...never, ever. Bettina

JohnB Your previous posts indicated to me that you are against the DP in any form and your question one was in two parts. Where I drew the line, and what I would tell the parents. I already answered the first part and thought the second part was answered by that. In any event, I would simply tell the parents that justice was served. He is being locked up for life without parole which satisfys your feelings on the DP. The law in my scenario was "You kill the child, you die. Let her live, and you live". The parents may not like it, but that would be the law. I don't know how to clarify it any more than that, but to me, it removes the person from society... but just remember, it he killed her, he would get death. I have no moral problems with that at all. As far as your comment on future injustices.... I'm not Henry Lee. I just don't know enough about how accurate DNA testing is. There is a man in the news today, MIchael Morales, who has admitted guilt for kidnapping, raping, and murdering a 17 year old teenage girl for pleasure. Some people want to save him....I don't, I want him dead. So, what are you willing to tell the mother of that girl, why you want to see this man live? Bettina

I did answer those questions JohnB. We are not talking about past injustices to innocent people. I am talking about now, so there is no innocent man killed. If he kills the girl he dies. If he tortures her for three weeks he gets life. I would wish him dead, but he didn't kill her so he lives. I won't change my mind ever, and I know emotionally you and I are the same. Bettina

Because some people have a need to believe in something. They would follow god or jesus if he was here, but he's not so they turn to the next person with the right charisma. They believe Popoff, or people like him, are gifted people who may help them. Some people, for example, are sick and are looking for a cure that doctors can't give them and when word gets around that this person has the "gift" and can cure them, they come running. I don't blame them because I don't feel what they feel. When I sing in church, I know for a fact that some people come just to see and hear me and I know that if I put on a show, I would be like Popoff. The difference between me an him is character. I could never do that. Its sad really. Bettina

I watched the whole thing and it was great! But that was a dirty trick on the tonight show. What I saw was a magician who was being asked to reveal his secrets. He had a clever cover, but a magician was all he was. So I thought it was a bit unfair what Carson did to him. However, I never heard of Uri Geller. The Peter Popoff ministries reminded me of the movie "Leap of Faith" with Steve Martin. He acted just like that character. People who take money like that should be ashamed of themselves. They prey on people looking for help. Bettina

I'm assuming sarcasm in your quote so: I want the parents of the girl he killed to have first options to pull the switch. Only if they opt out would I want the state lottery. But in any event, would you be there to defend the beast? Bettina Edit: Another thing to continue with the OP.... Look at the news today about how much killing is going on over that cartoon, and look at the million dollar reward to kill the cartoonist. What a treacherous religion Islam is.