Public Teachers

Dean, why would accomplishing great things necessarily shorten your life? "Live long AND prosper!" ;-)

Post 121

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 11:53am

Thanks Dean

For the computer tuition. I'm too dense to understand; but I appreciate your efforts. I'll reread those posts and ask my daughter to help.

As for forgiveness. It cannot be earned. Look at the errors committed against all of us during childhood; by people who were abused in unknowable ways during their childhoods. It's all about a failure of love. It's not enough love, all the way back.    Nobody has ever had enough love!      Forgiveness begins with the self.

Have a nice weekend.       My garden is filled with winter aconites, and the sun is shining here in the thawing north. I'm going biking.     (check out the winter aconites with Google)

Keep Shinin' Dean   ,**,

Sharon

Post 122

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:08pm

William-

I don't think I've encountered you here before, and your style of writing took some getting used to. Its content, however, kicked ass. Thanks for the very level-headed posts.

Dean-

Maybe switch/case statements would reduce your stress? :)

The only real reason to go to court for the traffic ticket would be in hopes the officer didn't show up. An impassioned speech about individual rights and arbitrary traffic laws isn't going to get you anywhere. Remember, in the real world, Roark would have spent the rest of his life in prison.

Post 123

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 12:59pm

Ed writes to me: "...you're always welcome at MY dinner table -- but you're not always welcome to dessert (unless earned)."

Then I won�t come.

Michael

Post 124

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:07pm

"What we have here is a failure to communicate... a sick puppy."

Or two? or three?

(Edited by robert malcom on 3/17, 2:08pm)

Post 125

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:14pm

After that last nuance, I'm counting one very sick, twisted puppy in the kennel.

:-)

Failure to communicate, my AS ... -- er, uh, ... scratch that.

;-)

Ed

(Edited by Ed Thompson on 3/17, 2:15pm)

(Edited by Ed Thompson on 3/17, 2:15pm)

Post 126

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 2:17pm

If the shoes doesn't fit - don't claim it........

Post 127

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 4:14pm

Dean,

Some food for thought:

"A forced compliance is not a sanction. All of us are forced to comply with many laws that violate our rights, but so long as we advocate the repeal of such laws, our compliance does not constitute a sanction. Unjust laws have to be fought ideologically; they cannot be fought or corrected by means of mere disobedience and futile martyrdom."
Ayn Rand, "The Wreckage of the Consensus," Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

"A mixed economy has to reach the day when it faces a final crossroad: either the private sector regains its freedom and starts rebuilding--or it gives up and lets the absolute state take over the shambles."
Ayn Rand, "A Preview," The Ayn Rand Letter

"The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live."
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Dean, I don't believe it is time to shrug yet. So long as we still have the freedom of speech and press, there remains hope for cultural change. And cultural change must precede political change.

You are not crazy. You are not as seasoned in Objectivism and life as some of us, perhaps, but certainly not crazy. Our lives are value driven. Remember to always pursue your own values. I have confidence that you will have a successful and happy life but only you can ultimately determine that. This is a wonderfully benevolent universe we live in. Enjoy it.

Post 128

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 5:09pm

I guess I'm more like the Jewish God and the Christian God than I had ever imagined.

I guess I should explain what I meant there. I meant that the personality behind the God of the Christian Bible is kinda like mine (And of course I lack properties such as omnipresent etc). But of course I do not agree with every single one of the "Though shall/Though shall not's" nor every single one of the moral teachings in the Bible, nor do I agree with many of the stories that are claimed to have been history. And one huge difference between me and the proposed Christian God is that I'll communicate with you even if you sin : ), and even if you do not accept that I exist : ), and I don't punish you for eternity : ), and I don't reward you for eternity : ). But I may reward you for doing things I that I have determined promote my life : ).

Post 129

Friday, March 17, 2006 - 8:26pm

Dean, how will you interact-if the need arises-with those who neither fear your punishment or seek your rewards?
(Edited by Mr. L W Hall on 3/17, 8:42pm)

Post 130

Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 7:31am

Dean Wrote:

"Its in the advantage of the life forms with higher intelligence and more resources to promote moral self sacrifice."

And that's the answer to Joseph Rowland's question of why Objectivists are poor.

Hmmm.... I think there might be a more obvious explanation. Money can be used as a measure of how well one serves other people. When you provide a product and/or service that people like or need, you get paid. It is a rough approximation of how well you SERVE (not to be confused with altruistic service though) others. Serve, in your own self-interest maybe, but service nonetheless.

I would say that some who call themselves Objectivists are highly selfish in the more destructive sense, not the way Rand described it, and as a result are poor at serving others in any way, and as a result are financially poor.

Bob

Post 131

Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 8:43am

Bob, there are other ways to gain money then by producing value and trading for it. Have you ever heard of organized crime? But anyways, I was making too big of generalizations and those words were weak.

Mr. L W Hall, you have yet to give me a reason to interact with them.
(Edited by Dean Michael Gores
on 3/18, 8:46am)

Post 132

Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 11:25am