[kj] FW: jaz date change 4 spoken word

[The Exorcist]

No, Dear Brendan, as far as I am concerned your interpretation is off.

First off, regarding your opening paragraph, 
well, next time someone on the list goes off on a bible thumper,
politician, preacher for trying to impose their 
will on the masses you be sure to point out to them that it's all alright.

Having a vested interest in society and being all 
the things you mention below means that "your" opinion must be
adhered to? I never said one needs to ostracize 
or be ostracized. There are laws that we can and should vote on.
Then there are things we should not.

So next time abortion comes on the table, or gay 
rights, which many religious people have issues with (both) be sure to say
" They might be a son / brother / uncle / nephew 
/ cousin / employee / friend / colleague / 
taxpayer / consumer / fellow sentient conscious being. They
have a vested interest in society, they 
contribute to it, they educate themselves about 
it, take part in debate about it, it affects them 
and they affect it, every single day."
When a fella is gonna say, "The bible says one 
male humping another male ain't right. Now see 
here, I don't want none of them gay folk
around MY son and daughter. They're gonna corrupt 
her and are a buncha blasphemous sinners". You go tell him Preach On.

Re:Weed---
Whoa...... I did not attack weed as much as say I 
don't CARE for it. In my eyes and for MY body I have issued with it.
Nevertheless, I think making it illegal is 
stupid. See, I'm not ostracizing myself here... I'm just deciding that though I
personally disagree with a practice doesn't mean I need to ban it.

Re: friends on weed.
I knew them from the time of early teens. I've 
had about 17 years of observation. They're not telly watchers.
There are plenty of people that smoke weed (and 
more) and many amazing things. It however is NOT the issue
here.

Re: Food---
I don't eat most junk food, don't care for it. My 
niece and nephews don't get fed an overload of junk.
It's up to the parent to say "yes or no".  An 
overload of say red meat it is just as bad as an overload
of sweets. Shall we ban red meat? Moderation is 
the key (excluding truly harmful substances such
as certain pesticides, chemicals smoke pollution 
as you mentioned. When the weather gets nice I
tend to bike to work from Brooklyn to manhattan 
everyday. Being stuck behind trucks and shitty cars
makes me understand the plight of street horses.) 
However, when the gov't decide to start imposing
all their beliefs (say trans-fats or salts) I 
think it's overboard. If they promoted exercise as opposed to
food banning, kids (and adults) would be a hell of a lot healthier.

I never meant to imply that anything you said is 
a "cop out". If it came across as such I assure you it
was not meant.

What you think about other who defend it, I can 
not answer for that. However I think, I've given a somewhat clear
explanation on what/why/how my opinions are 
formed... Am I correct? Who knows. I can only say things as I see
and understand them.

I'll respond to your other emails later. I must head out to work soon. :)

Cheers Brendan!

At 11:40 PM 3/18/2009, Brendan Quinn wrote:

>You're missing one thing. Ones inherent moral 

>values should not dictate society.

>

>That implies that I’m not part of society, 

>which I am, very much so

so I have to vehemently 

>but amicably disagree with you on that. 100%! 

>I’m a son / brother / uncle / nephew / cousin 

>/ employee / friend / colleague / taxpayer / 

>consumer / fellow sentient conscious being. I 

>have a vested interest in society, I contribute 

>to it, I educate myself about it, take part in 

>debate about it, it affects me and I affect it, 

>every single day. Remove someone from the 

>feeling that they are part of a tribe and they 

>get ill, they lose their spark

look at all the 

>people who slip between the cracks in society. 

>Ostracism from society (self or other inflicted) 

>can be enough to cause mental illness, take 

>bullying for example. We are social, tribal 

>beings, without it we lose some of our sense of 

>meaning. My morals are affected by and affect 

>society. Society includes me! One six point six 

>billionth maybe, but that’s as much as anyone else



>

>Re weed - I know several people who have 

>achieved plenty while smoking weed daily (First 

>class honours Masters in Psych for example), so 

>I’d hesitate to diagnose your friend’s 

>problems as actually *caused* by weed

(alcohol 

>will do a far more effective job if you want to 

>destroy neurons, plus all sorts of other nice 

>side effects). If you sit around all day 

>watching daytime telly, or drinking, you’ll 

>end up in the same boat as the average clichéd 

>pot-head. It’s the lack of spark that’s the 

>problem, not the weed, as far as my 

>understanding of the evidence suggests. 

>Personally I’m more worried about sweeteners, 

>colourings, flavourings, preservatives, 

>pesticides, chemicals in shampoo, deodorant, 

>exhaust fumes, pollution, (and the fact that I 

>live within 50m of a cellphone tower, work 

>nights, and in an open plan office, all of which 

>are bad for health

oh and I sit right next to a 

>fucking laser printer, which has recently been 

>implicated in lung problems due to toner dispersal

awesome)

>

>Oh that’s right

I have a mate who won a 

>competitive car rally whilst stoned. Then 

>there’s Michael Phelps, arguably the best 

>swimmer of all time

etc etc. Not saying weed is 

>totally harmless, but you have to have some 

>perspective. (Anabolic steroids are another drug 

>that doesn’t deserve the rap it gets either, 

>but that’s another kettle of fish). Joe Rogan 

>has some interesting things to say about weed 

>smoking, I agree with him when he says that 

>practically everything he does is enhanced by 

>smoking weed, he gets shitloads done

>

>In terms of prostitution – good call, 

>criminalising it doesn’t get rid of it. I have 

>no real stance on its legal status, I’d have 

>to meditate on that one for a long while. I was 

>commenting on its moral status. That’s not a 

>cop out, just saying I haven’t given it enough thought.

>

>I think a lot of people who defend it aren’t 

>being honest with themselves. It’s gotta be a degrading thing to do.

>

>I suppose at the end of the day, you have to 

>weigh up the harm it does vs the restriction in 

>personal freedoms. Personally I’m fine 

>relinquishing my right - unexercised, so far - 

>to give head for cash. Doing quite well getting 

>shafted by The Man already

(it really doesn’t hurt if you breathe out
)
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