The following arrived in my email inbox today, and I find it interesting. It is a perspective, as is the quote from Margaret Thatcher and link to a NY Post article about Liberal Myths, and the truth about them.
What I found even more interesting was Father Clement Agamba's final prayer at the 7 am Mass at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton this morning. It was a prayer for peace, including peace between and among Democrats and Republicans, something that might be easier for him as a Ghanan citizen and me as a Canadian citizen to pray for than for the local citizenry.
A young woman was about to finish her first year of college. Like so many others her age, she considered herself to be a very Liberal Democrat, and among other liberal ideals, was very much in Favor of higher taxes to support more government programs, in other Words redistribution of wealth.Here are the other two items a quote from the Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher, and a link to a NY Post article.
She was deeply ashamed that her father was a rather staunch Republican, a feeling she openly expressed. Based on the Lectures that she had participated in, and the occasional chat with a professor she felt that her father had for years harbored an evil, selfish desire to keep what he thought should be his.
One day she was challenging her father on his opposition to Higher taxes on the rich and the need for more government programs. The self-professed objectivity proclaimed by her professors had to Be the truth and she indicated so to her father. He responded by Asking how she was doing in school.
Taken aback, she answered rather haughtily that she had a 4.0 GPA, and let him know that it was tough to maintain, insisting that She was taking a very difficult course load and was constantly studying, which left her no time to go out and party like other people She knew. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, and didn't really have many college friends, because she spent all her time studying.
Her father listened and then asked , 'How is your friend Audrey doing?' She replied, ' Audrey is barely getting by. All she takes are Easy classes, she never studies, and she barely has a 2.0 GPA. She Is so popular on campus; college for her is a blast. She's always invited to all the parties and lots of times she doesn't even show up for classes because she's too hung over.'
Her wise father asked his daughter, 'Why don't you go to the Dean's office and ask him to deduct 1.0 off your GPA and give it to your friend who only has a 2.0. That way you will both have a 3.0 GPA, and certainly that would be a fair and equal distribution of GPA.' The daughter, visibly shocked by her father's suggestion, angrily fired back, 'That's a crazy idea, how would that be fair! I've worked really hard for my grades! I've invested a lot of time, and a lot of hard work! Audrey has done next to nothing toward her degree. She played while I worked my tail off!'
The father slowly smiled, winked and said gently, 'Welcome to The Republican party.' If anyone has a better explanation of the difference between Republican and Democrat I'm all ears.
If you ever wondered what side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test!
If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat..
If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for
everyone.
If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.
If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Liberals demand that those they don't like be shut down.
If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
(Unless it's a foreign religion, of course!)
If a conservative reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have
a good laugh.
A liberal will delete it because he's "offended".
Margaret Thatcher, the former Conservative Prime Minister of Great Britain said in a TV interview for Thames TV This Week on Feb. 5, 1976, "...and Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess. They [socialists] always run out of other people's money. It's quite a characteristic of them."
You might find the linked article from the NY Post interesting titled Liberal Myths vs. Reality.
3 comments:
I suppose this can be interpreted either way. I think the fathers response was inappropriate and very narrow in respect. I do not believe that what needs to be accomplished in America is "giving" up your wealth just so others can enjoy a free ride. I do believe there are a lot of folks out there that require help. Our help, for are we not our brothers keeper? I could lash out about "Republican" beliefs that they don't give a damn about a person down on thier luck (which would be true). Do you contribute to Charity? Why. If you do then do you contribute enough, seriously, view what you give
and tell me if you can't possibly do more. Do you view life as spiritual or as a one time thing and the winner takes all? Do you have the ability to turn up your heat when you're cold, to air condition when hot, to have a hot shower, a warm bed and a full stomach? Why do you then denigrate others for their lot in life through an example that is such a narrow view. The young lady probably led a comfortable life and had her education paid for by her family or through Government loans, the father may or may not make his money through illegal venues and is taking a high road answer because I'm sure he wouldn't see himself or what he does as wrong, he feels justified and his glib smart allecky answer fit the sphere of his life at that moment. Don't forget and throw in all the people who this email denigrates who can't take care of themselves or are untrainable. Just because a man lives in a homeless shelter doesn't mean he is lazy and chosing a "free ride" at our expense.
We view life as what "we" think it should be and how it fits our perseptions. Republicans (or folks with this view) think that the poor are out there partying it up on the handouts they get. Baaaaaah (sheep sound)
Poverty in America? One of the richest countries in the world?
Yes, poverty is a reality in America, just as it is for millions of other human beings on the planet. According to the US Census Bureau, 35.9 million people live below the poverty line in America, including 12.9 million children.
This is despite abundance of food resources. Almost 100 billion pounds of food is wasted in America each year. 700 million hungry human beings in different parts of the world would have gladly accepted this food.
Instead of worshipping the dollar we should value that which is of importance. First of all ourselves and our neighbors (family, friends and people in general). Try not to form perceptions that at the moment fit the scheme of life but look down the road. Walk in someone elses shoes before you judge their lives. Remember the famous saying "judge not lest you be judged" or something similar and remember the one about stones as well.
The case of the girls friend with the barely 2.0 is valueless, that is what she chooses for her life. What about the 10-20 others who for whatever reason are only making a 2.0 GPA and are working their butts off to improve their life and the lives of those they touch or will touch in the future due to their unselfish desire to help others but are presently accepting a helping hand to achieve their goal and didn't even have health care. What about the others who can't seem to get their lives together for a multitude of reasons, reasons you would never be able to understand and would think "how could this be" in the America you envision.
Foward this to the people who send you these stories as a reminder that they are blessed and that they should never forget that others are not as lucky as they. "Blessed" could be a double edged sword if we point it the wrong way. I consider you a friend and always will, I am not perfect, you know me.
I would offer a few edits that immediately come to mind:
If a conservative is homosexual, he won’t admit that he is.
If a conservative is not a homosexual, he wants to suppress the rights of those who are to marry, teach, etc.
If a conservative is a believer, he wants to legislate his beliefs into law.
If a conservative is down-and-out, he blames illegal immigrants or “socialism” or anything but himself.
If a conservative doesn't like a talk show host, he blames it on “media bias” and liberal conspiracy.
If a conservative reads this email, he'll think it must be the absolute truth and would be shocked that could there could be anyone who would think differently from him.
As to the story, I’d modify it slightly to have the daughter suggest that she go help out Audrey a little bit, perhaps tutor her a bit? To which the father replies, “absolutely not, you must not!” “According to the everyone-for-themselves philosophy you must just let her fail because that’s how the free market weeds out the failures. Therefore, you must make no attempt to help her, it is good that she will fail and lead a miserable life.”
Well said, Anonymous! I object to the assumption that those people not earning a comfortable living are somehow "slackers" and all people making big bucks are being deservedly rewarded for their hard work and ingenuity. I would bet there are countless executives making more than I do who don't work nearly as hard. Many people in the service industries are working more than one job to make ends meet and working hard. Granted there are those who had they made better choices in life could have done better for themselves, but the father seems to assume that we're all on "an even playing field". We're not.
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