I paused before, so here’s the remainder of my reply:
I don’t think so. The american flag represents the countries history as well, and there are many dark sections of history to this country. You don’t have to be that far from the center to recognize that.
You have to be actively seeking out negativity, because it’s nearly impossible to find unless you go looking for it.
The personality type of leftists (admittedly I’m painting with a very broad brush here) is the type of person who feels comfortable when they’re criticizing things. I think it makes them feel smart, or better than whatever (or whoever) they’re criticizing, or maybe the motivation varies from person to person, but whatever the reason, leftists typically seem to find comfort in criticism.
One of the most visible manifestations of this preference is the rise of CRT, which is like a cancer spreading to all of our institutions. CRT is a part of Critical Theory, the broad set of philosophical works lauded by leftists for attempting to “deconstruct” western civilization. To a normal conservative American, the very fact that Critical Theory (CRT included) has the word “critical” in its name indicates that it’s an evil way of thinking, seeking out negative thoughts instead of praising God. The fact that the theory lives up to its disturbing name, and actually uses criticism as its core methodology, only goes to show that this is one of those cases in which it’s valid to judge a book by its cover.
To normal conservative Americans, we know America is blessed because our Lord is God. Our history is chock full of divine providence. When you criticize America, you criticize God. Criticism is an evil way of thinking. That’s not to say we’re perfect, at all, because we’re all sinners. But as we each repent for our individual sins, seek continued favor from God, and work to do God’s will on earth as it’s done in heaven, we know that our fate is in God’s hands, so we choose faith and love where leftist criticizers choose discontent, anger, and hatred.
You are suggesting the death penalty for people’s beliefs. That is antithetical to the principles of our nation.
I certainly wasn’t suggesting lethal injection. I was looking back to our nation’s early practices. Someone might get tarred and feathered if he deserved it, while someone else might be drawn and quartered. We burned witches at the stake. These are the principles of our nation, and our early history that gained us favor with God. So it’s certainly not antithetical to the principles of our nation at all. But it is antithetical to God’s will for us to practice forgiveness, which is why I instead call for compassionate deportation.
Once you permit the government to punish people for their beliefs, you open the flood gates to a tyrannical government.
I do agree with you on this, believe it or not. I enjoy this discussion because I enjoy the free interplay of beliefs. I wouldn’t want you silenced.
But at the same time, I believe there’s a limit to how far it extends. Just as you can’t legally yell “fire” in a crowded theater (remember crowded theaters?), I see the toxic hatred for America as being principally unwelcome.
And I’m not really advocating for the government to do anything, other than say “if somebody hates America then we decline to offer that person any police protection for their natural rights.”
There is simply no evidence for [us each having a natural relationship with God]. And forcing children to partake in religion is a form of forcing religion. There isn’t any way I can explain it other than that, as this is an issue so straightforward as ‘square goes in square hole’.
There’s an abundance of evidence for it, everywhere I look. Our Creator put us here for a purpose. To ignore that fact is evil. We are responsible for raising children to become moral, and that’s impossible without a firm reliance on Christ. Again, you’re either with God or you’re with Satan. To raise a child without emphasizing God’s role in everything we do and think is to raise that child as an unknowing agent of the Beast.
You have to be actively seeking out negativity, because it’s nearly impossible to find unless you go looking for it.
We had an entire civil war about whether black people were actually people, and it was one of the biggest events in our nation’s history. It is far from impossible, and I don’t believe I am seeking out negativity. I think I am seeing things as accurately as I can within my limited power.
The personality type of leftists
I think everything you said here could just as easily apply to conservatives. You spend the entirety of the next two paragraphs criticizing leftists/CRT.
the word “critical” in its name indicates that it’s an evil way of thinking
Critical thinking is a good thing, not a bad one. It is what allows us to see what is wrong so we can make it better. You can’t learn from your mistakes if you think you have none.
Someone might get tarred and feathered if he deserved it, while someone else might be drawn and quartered. We burned witches at the stake.
All of which were horrifying ways to die, cruel and unusual punishments, and therefore an 8th amendment violation.
These are the principles of our nation
You keep saying that these violations of the constitution are the principles of our nation. Doesn’t that seem a little silly to you?
compassionate deportation.
Deportation of U.S. citizens is in no way compassionate.
Just as you can’t legally yell “fire” in a crowded theater (remember crowded theaters?), I see the toxic hatred for America as being principally unwelcome.
The reason you can’t legally yell “fire” is because it causes a direct and present danger because of the potential of a stampede. Hating america for what it currently is and wishing it to be better is nowhere near the same.
“if somebody hates America then we decline to offer that person any police protection for their natural rights.”
And that would make them a target for criminals, which would again be an 8th amendment violation.
There’s an abundance of evidence for it, everywhere I look. Our Creator put us here for a purpose. To ignore that fact is evil.
“Looking everywhere” is not a form of evidence.
and that’s impossible without a firm reliance on Christ.
Under your definition of what’s moral, sure that may be true, but I don’t think you hold a reasonable view of what is moral.
I don’t believe I am seeking out negativity. I think I am seeing things as accurately as I can within my limited power.
When a demon suggests a negative thought to you, do you turn to God? Or do you reject God and allow the demon’s suggestion to fester in your mind? Do you believe the demon when he claims there is no God? Do you find contentment of “seeing things as accurately as you can” when you spend time focusing on negativity?
Critical thinking is a good thing, not a bad one. It is what allows us to see what is wrong so we can make it better. You can’t learn from your mistakes if you think you have none.
I never claimed we have no mistakes. We are all sinners. That’s why we need to repent and be saved.
That has nothing to do with being critical. See Proverbs 2, which I almost want to quote in full here, but I’ll leave it at a link.
therefore an 8th amendment violation
Technically the truth. But the Bill of Rights is only intended to protect Americans. It is my contention that anyone who hates America is evidently not American.
Deportation of U.S. citizens is in no way compassionate.
Correct. But someone who hates America is not a valid citizen.
The reason you can’t legally yell “fire” is because it causes a direct and present danger because of the potential of a stampede. Hating america for what it currently is and wishing it to be better is nowhere near the same.
A hatred for America is no less of a clear and present danger. A person who hates America is deep into a terrorist mindset.
Wanting one’s country to be “better” is universally agreeable. But when it comes from a perspective of hatred, there’s no way to trust the subjective meaning of “better”.
America’s essential culture and values were cemented in 1776. The only way we can make it better is to undo all ways in which we’ve strayed from our essential culture and values.
And that would make them a target for criminals
The word “criminal” means someone who breaks the law, for example illegal immigrants. If the government were to decline to protect an individual’s rights, then it would not be a criminal act to forcefully deport said individual, say by means of a catapult.
“Looking everywhere” is not a form of evidence.
You sound like a blind fool attempting to refute the notion that anything could possibly be seen. You are surrounded by abundant evidence, but you don’t recognize it as such because you haven’t yet accepted Christ.
Under your definition of what’s moral, sure that may be true, but I don’t think you hold a reasonable view of what is moral.
I am no arbiter of morality. I look to God for His guidance. No one who rejects God could possibly know His law. It would be hubris to suppose otherwise.
When a demon suggests a negative thought to you, do you turn to God?
I don’t believe in demons. My thoughts are my own.
Do you find contentment of “seeing things as accurately as you can” when you spend time focusing on negativity?
I don’t think I focus on negativity all that much to be honest. I think the version of me that you are interacting with is one in which you need to account for survivorship bias. We deeply disagree on basically everything, and so simply as a part of this conversation we will both be expressing negativity. You’ve done so about atheists, the LGBT, secularists, leftists, etc. That’s kinda just how these conversations work out.
I never claimed we have no mistakes.
Then we need to take a look at the negative to fix it. You can’t fix something that you don’t understand.
It is my contention that anyone who hates America is evidently not American.
Correct. But someone who hates America is not a valid citizen.
That is not what the constitution says.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
A hatred for America is no less of a clear and present danger. A person who hates America is deep into a terrorist mindset.
Neither of these things are true. When children state that they hate their parents, does that mean that they are a clear and present danger? Does it mean that they intend violence? No, it simply means that they wish their parents were different.
The only way we can make it better is to undo all ways in which we’ve strayed from our essential culture and values.
The founders intended for the law of the country to adapt to change because there was no way to foresee it’s future.
If the government were to decline to protect an individual’s rights, then it would not be a criminal act to forcefully deport said individual, say by means of a catapult.
It would be a criminal act under current constitutional law. Especially the catapult part.
You are surrounded by abundant evidence, but you don’t recognize it as such because you haven’t yet accepted Christ.
That’s how the burden of proof works. The evidence has to come first, then belief. Anything less is irrational.
No one who rejects God could possibly know His law.
No one who “rejects god” thinks he or his law exists.
Unpause, part 1 of 2:
I paused before, so here’s the remainder of my reply:
You have to be actively seeking out negativity, because it’s nearly impossible to find unless you go looking for it.
The personality type of leftists (admittedly I’m painting with a very broad brush here) is the type of person who feels comfortable when they’re criticizing things. I think it makes them feel smart, or better than whatever (or whoever) they’re criticizing, or maybe the motivation varies from person to person, but whatever the reason, leftists typically seem to find comfort in criticism.
One of the most visible manifestations of this preference is the rise of CRT, which is like a cancer spreading to all of our institutions. CRT is a part of Critical Theory, the broad set of philosophical works lauded by leftists for attempting to “deconstruct” western civilization. To a normal conservative American, the very fact that Critical Theory (CRT included) has the word “critical” in its name indicates that it’s an evil way of thinking, seeking out negative thoughts instead of praising God. The fact that the theory lives up to its disturbing name, and actually uses criticism as its core methodology, only goes to show that this is one of those cases in which it’s valid to judge a book by its cover.
To normal conservative Americans, we know America is blessed because our Lord is God. Our history is chock full of divine providence. When you criticize America, you criticize God. Criticism is an evil way of thinking. That’s not to say we’re perfect, at all, because we’re all sinners. But as we each repent for our individual sins, seek continued favor from God, and work to do God’s will on earth as it’s done in heaven, we know that our fate is in God’s hands, so we choose faith and love where leftist criticizers choose discontent, anger, and hatred.
I certainly wasn’t suggesting lethal injection. I was looking back to our nation’s early practices. Someone might get tarred and feathered if he deserved it, while someone else might be drawn and quartered. We burned witches at the stake. These are the principles of our nation, and our early history that gained us favor with God. So it’s certainly not antithetical to the principles of our nation at all. But it is antithetical to God’s will for us to practice forgiveness, which is why I instead call for compassionate deportation.
I do agree with you on this, believe it or not. I enjoy this discussion because I enjoy the free interplay of beliefs. I wouldn’t want you silenced.
But at the same time, I believe there’s a limit to how far it extends. Just as you can’t legally yell “fire” in a crowded theater (remember crowded theaters?), I see the toxic hatred for America as being principally unwelcome.
And I’m not really advocating for the government to do anything, other than say “if somebody hates America then we decline to offer that person any police protection for their natural rights.”
There’s an abundance of evidence for it, everywhere I look. Our Creator put us here for a purpose. To ignore that fact is evil. We are responsible for raising children to become moral, and that’s impossible without a firm reliance on Christ. Again, you’re either with God or you’re with Satan. To raise a child without emphasizing God’s role in everything we do and think is to raise that child as an unknowing agent of the Beast.
We had an entire civil war about whether black people were actually people, and it was one of the biggest events in our nation’s history. It is far from impossible, and I don’t believe I am seeking out negativity. I think I am seeing things as accurately as I can within my limited power.
I think everything you said here could just as easily apply to conservatives. You spend the entirety of the next two paragraphs criticizing leftists/CRT.
Critical thinking is a good thing, not a bad one. It is what allows us to see what is wrong so we can make it better. You can’t learn from your mistakes if you think you have none.
All of which were horrifying ways to die, cruel and unusual punishments, and therefore an 8th amendment violation.
You keep saying that these violations of the constitution are the principles of our nation. Doesn’t that seem a little silly to you?
Deportation of U.S. citizens is in no way compassionate.
The reason you can’t legally yell “fire” is because it causes a direct and present danger because of the potential of a stampede. Hating america for what it currently is and wishing it to be better is nowhere near the same.
And that would make them a target for criminals, which would again be an 8th amendment violation.
“Looking everywhere” is not a form of evidence.
Under your definition of what’s moral, sure that may be true, but I don’t think you hold a reasonable view of what is moral.
When a demon suggests a negative thought to you, do you turn to God? Or do you reject God and allow the demon’s suggestion to fester in your mind? Do you believe the demon when he claims there is no God? Do you find contentment of “seeing things as accurately as you can” when you spend time focusing on negativity?
I never claimed we have no mistakes. We are all sinners. That’s why we need to repent and be saved.
That has nothing to do with being critical. See Proverbs 2, which I almost want to quote in full here, but I’ll leave it at a link.
Technically the truth. But the Bill of Rights is only intended to protect Americans. It is my contention that anyone who hates America is evidently not American.
Correct. But someone who hates America is not a valid citizen.
A hatred for America is no less of a clear and present danger. A person who hates America is deep into a terrorist mindset.
Wanting one’s country to be “better” is universally agreeable. But when it comes from a perspective of hatred, there’s no way to trust the subjective meaning of “better”.
America’s essential culture and values were cemented in 1776. The only way we can make it better is to undo all ways in which we’ve strayed from our essential culture and values.
The word “criminal” means someone who breaks the law, for example illegal immigrants. If the government were to decline to protect an individual’s rights, then it would not be a criminal act to forcefully deport said individual, say by means of a catapult.
You sound like a blind fool attempting to refute the notion that anything could possibly be seen. You are surrounded by abundant evidence, but you don’t recognize it as such because you haven’t yet accepted Christ.
I am no arbiter of morality. I look to God for His guidance. No one who rejects God could possibly know His law. It would be hubris to suppose otherwise.
I don’t believe in demons. My thoughts are my own.
I don’t think I focus on negativity all that much to be honest. I think the version of me that you are interacting with is one in which you need to account for survivorship bias. We deeply disagree on basically everything, and so simply as a part of this conversation we will both be expressing negativity. You’ve done so about atheists, the LGBT, secularists, leftists, etc. That’s kinda just how these conversations work out.
Then we need to take a look at the negative to fix it. You can’t fix something that you don’t understand.
That is not what the constitution says.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Neither of these things are true. When children state that they hate their parents, does that mean that they are a clear and present danger? Does it mean that they intend violence? No, it simply means that they wish their parents were different.
The founders intended for the law of the country to adapt to change because there was no way to foresee it’s future.
It would be a criminal act under current constitutional law. Especially the catapult part.
That’s how the burden of proof works. The evidence has to come first, then belief. Anything less is irrational.
No one who “rejects god” thinks he or his law exists.