People pushing their beliefs onto others | WrestleZone Forums

People pushing their beliefs onto others

Hyorinmaru

Sit Upon The Frozen Heavens
I got the idea for this thread at work yesterday.

I smoke and at work we get a smoke break every 2 hours and I when those 2 hours were up I asked if i could go smoke a cigarette before it got busy (Keep in mind I didn't have to say anything i just wanted to let them know where I was in case they needed me.

Instead of saying yes or wait a little bit she went off on me saying I don't need to smoke and I'm slowly killing myself and crap like that. I'm aware of all of this but I don't want to hear it from someone I've only known for two hours.

This is just a small case and there's more small cases like this as well as ones like Religion which always has people trying to shove Christianity, Judaism or Islam down everyone else's throats.

Sorry this turned into more of a rant than I had planned. Feel free to add when someone has tried to shove their beliefs down your throat.
 
Just another example of someone walking around like their shit don't stink. It seems more and more common these days, people making choices, and think they are better than you because of those choices.

Its amazing how many times I see smoker getting harassed, for nothing more than standing and smoking a cigarillo. With the smoking, all these Truth ads seem to make people think that if they are above smoking, than they are above you, and that's a fucking Joke!

I don't even want to get into the superiority religious complex, as that has been around since the begging of time, or at least since the start of organized religion.

As a out in the open "pot head" I hear it all the time, I tend to just laugh it off these days, as its a fucking joke anyways.

Its those smug ass holes who will end up with that second hand cancer later on in life, Its hard to avoid the full circle karma train.
 
I just get sick to death of atheists trying to tell me there is no God. I leave you the hell alone. It's in just about every book I pick up, just about every online or newspaper article I read seems to take a shot at God, and all you internet people with grudges against society seem to carry it in every one of your posts.

So there you go Kettle, it's me the Pot, I'm calling you black.
 
I just get sick to death of atheists trying to tell me there is no God. I leave you the hell alone. It's in just about every book I pick up, just about every online or newspaper article I read seems to take a shot at God, and all you internet people with grudges against society seem to carry it in every one of your posts.

So there you go Kettle, it's me the Pot, I'm calling you black.

It's funny, but I just don't see all these atheists running around, promoting no god, I know it out there, just like everything else; but there are far more religious groups pushing what they believe. I mean, I still get mormans on bikes at least once a month knocking on my door, trying to give me free bibles, and get me to join their congregation.

Religion is a touchy subject, and organized religion can be some crazy shit, for example, my girlfriend of almost five years was raised in a "southern baptist" household. These people don't let women wear jeans, they regulate what music you can listen to, and on top of it all, I was not allowed to date their daughter because I am half Jewish. She has pretty much been disowned from her family because of organized RELIGION. It was not because I'm a practicing Jew, I was simply born with the Jew blood in me, and that was enough of a reason for people who I had never met before to decide that i was a Worthless sack of shit. I was told the first time i met these people that I was going to HELL. How someone can sit and defend this kind of behavior is beyond belief. This is just the tip of the Iceberg for me and my religious views

Teh Universe and Teh Cannibis makes me a happy camper.
 
Atheists are always trying to get rid of God. Right now there is a case involving a cross on a hill that is a memorial to veterans. It has been there for over 50 YEARS and now some atheist is trying to get it and ALL memorials like it taken down because of their anti-God agenda.

Also, there is a guy trying to get the words "under God" taken out of the pledge of alligience and the same guy trying to get God taken off all money.

Before you libs start with the stupid seperation of church and state arguement, IT'S NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. The constitution says"Congress shall make no laws ESTABLISHING religion". Under God and a cross on a hill are not establishing a religion.

Libs just like to be offended by everything they don't agree with, instead of just ignoring it.
 
Atheists are always trying to get rid of God.

Well that's a rather humorous statement considering the very definition of being an Atheist is to believe that God doesn't exist. So, not sure how they're always trying to get rid of something they already don't think exists.

Right now there is a case involving a cross on a hill that is a memorial to veterans. It has been there for over 50 YEARS and now some atheist is trying to get it and ALL memorials like it taken down because of their anti-God agenda.

Jeez do you take your lines straight from the Rush Limbaugh Handbook or something? The case is over the fact that a religious sign is on a federally owned preserve. It's not like we're talking about a cross in Arlington here, we're talking about a federal preserve. This is public property, and religious iconography belongs nowhere on it.

Also, there is a guy trying to get the words "under God" taken out of the pledge of alligience and the same guy trying to get God taken off all money.

Both of which make perfect sense. There's supposed to be separation of church and state. Surely having your children proclaim their allegiance to God every morning at school is a violation of that.

Before you libs start with the stupid seperation of church and state arguement, IT'S NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION. The constitution says"Congress shall make no laws ESTABLISHING religion". Under God and a cross on a hill are not establishing a religion.

They aren't establishing a nationwide government-approved religion, but having religious items on federal/public property is far too close to government advertisement of religion.

Libs just like to be offended by everything they don't agree with, instead of just ignoring it.

Why the fuck should someone ignore something if it angers and offends them?
 
This statement is uttered so often it's become rote at this point, but it bears repeating here since it's applicable. Freedom OF religion doesn't guarantee freedom FROM religion. That's an important fact to keep in mind when we start talking about things like the pledge of allegiance and "In God We Trust" on our money.

Also remember that the founding fathers were primarily Deists (link) that believed in no particular god. The article associated with the link there is a good read, but to sum it up, Deism is the belief that reason is a god-given gift and that utilizing that reason, in the absence of faith and organized religion, leads to the conclusion that "The Supreme Architect" (i.e. god) created the Universe but does not directly interfere in human endeavors.

It's certainly an interesting philosophy, but it's hard to call that a religion in the strictest sense, therefore it's difficult to play the "separation of church and state" card on mentions of god in the pledge and on our currency given the fact that there IS no organized religion being referenced here... no particular god is being endorsed. Furthermore, as I stated earlier, freedom of religion is not freedom from religion, so one has no reasonable expectation of avoiding the dreaded "G" word. If the dollar bill was covered in Stars of David or crucifixes or stars and crescents, there might be some cause for concern, but that's simply not the case.
 
As an outside observer, I find that in America it seems that the loudest groups are those are those at the farthest ends of the spectrum; in this case the Bible-thumping Christian evangelists who will condemn me to Hell not only for not visiting church regularly but drinking alcohol, having sex out of wedlock or jay-walking and the militant atheists who want to destroy everything even remotely linked to religion.

Most people are happy to keep their beliefs, whether in God, Allah, Yahweh or nothing, to themselves while the loud minorities tend to get entire peoples/nations tarred with the same brush.

I freely admit that I am an atheist but I could not care less what other people believe in so long as they do not try and push their beliefs on me or ridicule me for not believing in God. I do not ridicule those who have faith. In fact, I have respect for them for being able to hold true to their beliefs even in this most cynical of ages.

My atheism also does not mean that I will not set foot in a church, synagogue or mosque because it is a place of worship. It also does not mean that I want "God" eradicated from everyday life. Do I want "God" removed from the national anthem or money or that I want religious icons like crosses removed? Hell no.

Quite frankly, I think that anyone who does is "anti-religion" rather than an atheist and to me those are two very different things.
 
Quite frankly, I think that anyone who does is "anti-religion" rather than an atheist and to me those are two very different things.

Very well put, and frankly I'm one of those that is in opposition to organized religion. Now, that doesn't mean I'm against faith in a God or spirituality, but organized religion disgusts me. The amount of pain and suffering these entities are responsible for is absurd so that some people can feel better when they go to sleep at night about when they die. I don't look down on anyone who's religious, I hold several spiritual beliefs myself (though those are Eastern religions), but organized religion to me is a joke.
 
I've really never had to experience people shoving their beliefs on me. For the simple reason, I don't share my personal and private life with my professional associates. If I'm at the work place or in class, what I did the night before doesn't need to be discussed. I assume that I would get pissed off if someone did try to tell me that I was living my life wrong or whatever, but, as I have said, I have never really experienced it.

On the topic of pushing ones beliefs on people. I think that it is totally ridiculous. Why should anyone, especially people who don't know me that well, care what I am doing? If I want to slowly kill myself by smoking, then let me. I don't smoke, but that was an example. If I want to have promiscuous sex, then let me.

I never understood the need to make others around you believe what you do. It just doesn't make sense to me. If asked my opinion on something, I will give it, but I won't stress that you should believe what I believe.

Everyone has their own life to live and their own mistakes to make. Why should someone interfere with that?

That is all!
 
Meh, fortunately I just ignore people when they try pushing their beliefs upon me. The only one that really gets me is when my associates try convincing me to smoke with them. They know my past with drugs, but still push the pot on me. No matter how much I tell them no, they still get pushy. So, yeah, that's the only time I don't like being pushed with beliefs. Religion, politics, etc., and I'm fine.
 
I wasn't trying to rag on YOU, Gum, but I experience quite the opposite. Newspapers always making fun of believers, bloggers making fun, Barnes and friggin Noble as soon as you walk in the door, it's the newest book about how we should stop believing.

Xfear, you know I respect you, but I have to say this....It isn't the religion that causes the problems. Most people that do bad things to others would have done it regardless. God and religion isn't to blame. Some other bad person that has influence within the religion is egging them on, not the faith itself. I grow weary listening to people use things like the Crusades against religion. The pope at the time was corrupt with power, and used influence and fear to start the wars, it wasn't divine inspiration.
I wasn't trying to start a religious fight on here, I don't go to church, but I DO believe, I was just doing a rant like the post suggested I could do. Hopefully, people see that there is two sides to every story.
 
It's funny, but I just don't see all these atheists running around, promoting no god, I know it out there, just like everything else; but there are far more religious groups pushing what they believe. I mean, I still get mormans on bikes at least once a month knocking on my door, trying to give me free bibles, and get me to join their congregation.

Religion is a touchy subject, and organized religion can be some crazy shit, for example, my girlfriend of almost five years was raised in a "southern baptist" household. These people don't let women wear jeans, they regulate what music you can listen to, and on top of it all, I was not allowed to date their daughter because I am half Jewish. She has pretty much been disowned from her family because of organized RELIGION. It was not because I'm a practicing Jew, I was simply born with the Jew blood in me, and that was enough of a reason for people who I had never met before to decide that i was a Worthless sack of shit. I was told the first time i met these people that I was going to HELL. How someone can sit and defend this kind of behavior is beyond belief. This is just the tip of the Iceberg for me and my religious views

Teh Universe and Teh Cannibis makes me a happy camper.

I know, but I'm saying it goes BOTH ways. And like my other post, it isn't the religion, it's the people saying others should hate you for your ethnic background or relgion. I have friends that are atheists, and I cringe when I hear them talk shit about Christians and other believers, making sure that their kid will grow up with the same prejudice. Religion gets the finger pointed at it, but that's just the scapegoat.
 
Xfear, you know I respect you, but I have to say this....It isn't the religion that causes the problems.

I know. That's why I said organized religion, i.e. the churches themselves and the religious groups, not the actual religion itself.

Most people that do bad things to others would have done it regardless. God and religion isn't to blame.

Religion is different from God. Spirituality and religion do not need to be hand-in-hand.

I'm not against religion. I'm against the groups that use it as a tool to further their own hackneyed agenda.
 
I'm going to say something that obviously needs to be said. This may not be the correct forum in which to say it, but here goes…

You people are idiots… oh hold on, I’ll fully explain why I’m saying this… here we go:

A simple question was asked about trying to force one’s beliefs on someone else. The question of religion was brought up as an example. When did this become a debate, no… I’m sorry, a pissing contest between the Theologians and the Scientologists. Let me explain something…

There is no such thing as an atheist, you people with your self-righteous views about what is and what is not, are flawed. We can look at this from a scientific approach if you want to, if that will make you happy: “The Big Bang Theory”. Energy appears from out of nowhere, after creating itself out of nothing. A tiny sparkle of light caused itself to be in the great void. This light, having no form of its own, chose to take on a task onto itself, to shape what we have come to know as our very existence. This light expanded until it burst, exploding into smaller fragments of light, illuminating that which was the void, spreading throughout and causing a chain of similar explosions, shaping the negative cosmos into a living being; keeping only the core, which was the original light itself. These fragments which were of the light, expelled similar fragments within the cold emptiness and was made to freeze. Masses of rock and stone formed from this, pulling unto itself, thereby bringing forth the existence of relation between one or more masses known as gravity. This gravity in turn, yielded fluctuating systematic changes on each of these rocks called asteroids, evolving them into planets. Oceans and seas were later formed, shaping the landscape of each new world, the light having named each one. Each planet, because of the varying degrees of gravity, was given its own natural rotation around its own fragment of the light called a star, which in turn would provide both a heat and an energy source. These rotations caused each planet to not only follow the degree of alternation in concurrence with the other planets within its gravity, but caused each individual planet to have its own degree of revolution as well, making each one unique. The original light travelled, bouncing from each of these new worlds, bringing life large and small, infinitesimal and beyond measure. As each new world formed, many inhabitants sprang forth from the simple to complex, the most exquisite and beautiful, to the hideous and grotesque; again, the light having named each one, all within the master plan of the light itself. Much of the very same chain reactions took place throughout that which was the void, forming what was to become the universe, comprised of an infinitesimal number of galaxies, in turn comprised of an even more incalculable number of star systems and quadrants; all containing yet an even more untold number of worlds. On this particular world, a fish just one day decides on its own, to hop out of the water and spontaneously evolve into the most intelligent species on the planet, and yet, we are the only ones in the entire universe? This same universe that holds an infinitesimal number of star systems and quadrants? And all of this just happened to take place at the same time, with no outside help? If you believe that to be the case, then you follow Scientology whether you want to admit it or not… which is an organized religion. But wait? How can you have a religion based on the Big Bang Theory? Ask Tom Cruise.

My point is, shout it from the rafters all you want, atheism doesn’t exist. You’re all Scientologists, which is now a religion.

So guess what? By pushing Atheism (if that’s what you’re calling it this week), you’re also trying to force your beliefs on someone else… you’re just as guilty…
 
I was going to sum up my views on this with a simple...

I let you have your beliefs and you let me have mine

...but then I got to thinking more about the specifics of what's been said. Of course if you apply that attitude to everything, nothing would ever get discussed so you have to get specific.
Now I fucking hate smoking, seriously I turn into one of the most militant, angry "I don't give a fuck what you think" people when that subject comes up but only when that subject comes up as part of a discussion. As that little motto above says I'll pretty much leave you alone because it's your life and you can do what you want as long as you're not bothering me. I never really get why smokers take such offence at the anti-smokers as it seems like a minor thing, it's not like I'm insulting your mother, fucking your sister or telling you that I'm condemning you to hell for no reason whatsoever...

(See what I did there? :p)

So let's switch it around now shall we? But before that, a little summation

Loveless hates smoking (not smokers) but live and let live

Now onto religion. I was brought up a Christian. I'm largely Christian in my behaviour, attitude and such but be in no doubt about this, I am not a Christian. I'm not a believer and I never will be. This was a concious choice around 8 years old when I sat in school assembly, while the headmistress was telling fantastical bible stories, and I thought to myself "Hang on, this is a load of crap". I suspect most of you will have had a similar experience.
Now, to be brief, my experience of religion since then has been of people knocking on my door, trying to convert me to whatever they are following. I look on these people in the same way I look at the salesmen who come trying to sell me washing machines. If I wanted a washing machine, I would go to the shop. Are you implying that my washing machine is faulty or not good enough? Because I'm quite satisfied with it.
Except, it's not a washing machine they're selling, it's an entire belief system that I totally don't buy into. I don't know about you guys but I'm quite insulted when someone comes up to me and implies "Hey your life sucks ass, copy us and you'll be fine". I find this especially offensive when I actually live a fairly Christian life.
I don't allow ANYONE the right to judge me, because it implies superiority, so for someone I don't know and who doesn't know me, to tell me I'm going to hell because I won't do what they say... it doesn't go down well.

Religious groups don't like Loveless but won't live and let live

Religious people, let me ask you a question. If I came to your house and told you that you're living a fantastical lie, borne out of denial and fear, how would that make you feel?
I've a certain amount of respect for personal, private and dignified beliefs, even if I don't agree with them but if you create this war of ideals and force me to defend my own, I will and I won't be merciful in doing it.

Oh and the Scientology guy above, are you smoking crack? That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in weeks. While we're on it though, I consider Scientology about as legitimate as any other religion.
 
I have to dismiss everything obiwansidisi said not only because it was an idiotic rant but because he/she's a DMX fan.

I think people are really confused about the definition of "atheist." The rejection of God or Gods falls under the label of "Anti-theism." Many who claim to be atheists may well just be Anti-theists. Many who claim agnosticism are in fact atheists. Atheism does not denote an opposition to theism. It however denotes an indifference to it. I'm sure there is a better word to utilize as an example of this point but I have to rely on "asexual." It contains the same prefix as atheism and that prefix has the same essential meaning, implying an indifference to the subject. Agnosticism on the other hand is defined better as a belief that matters of the metaphysical and supernatural are unknown and will remain unknowable. Semantics has certainly thrown a monkey wrench into this entire debate that has gained momentum over the last few years.

I never really cared about the "under god" line in the pledge of the allegiance. Who takes the pledge of allegiance seriously anyway? It was just a mindless ritual we went through every morning before class started, we didn't think anything of it. Kids don't give a damn about the pledge. As far as money goes, it's just currency. Does it really matter if "In God We Trust" is on the dollar bill you roll up to snort blow through? The government can print whatever they want on the money, as long as I can still exchange it for goods or services I'm peachy.
 
There is no such thing as an atheist, you people with your self-righteous views about what is and what is not, are flawed.

You call someone "self-righteous" and then go off on an ridiculous rant? Clearly you must have all the answers.

My point is, shout it from the rafters all you want, atheism doesn’t exist. You’re all Scientologists, which is now a religion.

This is up there with one of the most idiotic things I have ever heard.

Just because I do not believe in that an indefinable "God" took six days to create everything does not automatically mean that I accept the "Big Bang Theory" as the truth.

It certainly does not make me a Scientologist. Do you even know what they believe in? If you think that they believe that science proves everything then I suggest you go look up about the mysticism and alien visits.

So guess what? By pushing Atheism (if that’s what you’re calling it this week), you’re also trying to force your beliefs on someone else… you’re just as guilty…

If you had looked carefully, the discussion on "anti-religionists" pressing their beliefs on others has already been brought up and yes, they are as bad as the snooty Christians who appear at my door trying to convert me but no one here from what I can see has aimed any ridicule at anyone else for believing in God.

That said, we should thank you.

Thank you for reminding us what kind of nonsense a debate on beliefs can bring up and how many people maintain a "with us or against us" attitude to religion. It is that kind of thinking that have allowed atrocities to be carried out in the name of religion.
 
Actually, and this is pretty common, the most vivid time i can think of someone imposing their views is at school, both when i was in high school, and somewhat in college. Teachers were ALWAYS trying to sway us to a position, and it didn't even occur to me till about my senior year of high school. I had a lot of teachers telling us how to feel on certain issues, or how things should be instead of just teaching students. Public schools, for what ever reason, are somewhat liberally dominated. I don't know why, but alot of my teahers in high-school were heavy democrats, and we didn't even have a "young conservatives" club till my senior year, which i didn't even care, but i thought was odd still. I really dislike teachers imposing their views on students, either republican or democrat, especially since students have no other venue to explore, other than what they are told.
 
I dont believe I have had anyone shove their religion onto me. i have been in a church, manly duee to school, but I wouldnt appreciate someone forcing Religion onto me. I was younger then, and just got on with what I was supposed to. I am an Atheist, and although I don't believe in God, I am one of those people, who believe that seeing is Believeing. So I dont want any religious person on hear saying, well if you can;t see the wind, then it doesnt exist, well I can feel it, but I niether feel, hesar or see God.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem peoplew practising religion, but they have no right forcing people, to practice or believe. I wil definately not have anyone religious telling me what music I can listen to, If you try stopping me from listening to bands like AC/DC or Whitesnake, or even Black Sabbth, or to stop drinking, then you are taking away my RIGHT to do that. Anyway, the point is, Im an atheist, and people can believe in what they want, as I believe there is no God. People have the Freedom of the right to choose, whatever country or religion they are from.
 
I had a two hour long 3,000 word post written, which might have been the best post I have ever made and somehow, clicking in the spellcheck caused it disappear, so here we go again.

This debate has been narrowed down to street corner profits and office preachers, but that is not the problem facing the forcing of beliefs on citizens. These people spoken about in this thread lack an enforcement mechanism to truly force their beliefs onto you. The government, and the system in which we live is nothing more than one's forcing their beliefs on you. I would love to say that we are governed by common sense and logic, but that is not the case at all.

All of the posters on this forum come from nations that are based on some sort of social contract. Most social contracts in effect today are the result of John Locke or Jean Jacques Rousseau. The American economic system is based on the economic systems of Adam Smith and Milton Friedman. Say what you will about these theories, but the fact remains this is where we are. Without further analysis, we are already living under the brutal hand of another's beliefs. Social contracts tell you how to find liberty, which is a contradiction in and of itself. I have no problem with the system, but it would be naive of me to think that no one is forcing anyone's beliefs on me. The laws in our nations spring from the puritanical beliefs of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Progress has been made in evolving our legal systems, however laws dealing with censorship, obscenity, and even when and liquor can be sold are based on belief systems hidden under the veil of public safety and concern. Blue laws and drug laws are based on the beliefs of the evils of booze and drugs, with no regard for natural liberty and self-reliance.

Individuals lack an enforcement mechanism to truly force their beliefs on you. The example in the first post is an example of this. She can tell you that smoking is bad, and even limit your breaks, however, she cannot force you to quit smoking. What she is doing is simply espousing a belief. This is not a crime, and is actually a right provided for in the first amendment to our Constitution. It may be an annoyance to have hear her bullshit, but in the end, it is a small price to pay for you to maintain your right to tell her to fuck off, or petition the government for a redress grievances. I am an ardent believer in the first amendment. A lot of the nonsense I hear annoys, even offends me, however, I respect one's right to espouse nonsense in order to have the right to call it that. Someone may annoy you with their preaching of the benefits and Word of Jesus, however, they cannot force you to believe in the resurrection and ascension. The problem lies when a body with the power to enforce their beliefs begins a transformation of the every day life of America.

Both sides of the aisle are guilty of enforcing belief systems. The Patriot Act is enforcement of legislation to limit liberty. The tax code is enforcement of a belief system to limit and redistribute property. It is all done under the guise of protecting society from dangers foreign and domestic. Some of these measures are necessary, but that makes them no less an infringement on our natural rights. Simply, the enforcement of one's beliefs is essential part of government, and always has been. We will never be able to escape the grasp of a belief system that may run contradictory to our own, however, when the balance of order is overstepped or upset, that is where the dangers lie.

The harmful beliefs can be religious, economic, environmental, etc. They truly run the gamut of human thought. Our legal system, as stated, is still based loosely on our puritanical beginnings of a nation. The systems of punishment are still biblical. Laws forcing business to bend to the will of the natural world exist. Not all of our laws cause inherent harms, however some do, and it makes me wonder at what cost we are willing to enforce belief systems. I will provide some examples from the current state of America which I feel cause harms that are more than negligible.

1. Cap and Trade - This is legislation that forces companies to buy carbon credits for an emissions beyond a standard set by the environmental lobby. This is done in the name of global warming. Global warming is a theory. For every piece of evidence claiming it to be true, I can sing from the mountaintops that global warming does not account for the thickening of the ice on Greenland or the reduction of tropical activity in the Atlantic during the last two hurricane seasons. The term global warming has even disappeared in favor of climate change. It is tough to declare that the Earth's heating when there were blizzards on the Atlantic seaboard in April. I, personally, think that it is arrogant of us to assume that man can undo the cycles of climate that have existed for four billion years in only one hundred plus years of industry. When man has battled nature in the past, man has always lost. Whether it be Katrina's refusal to allow man made barriers from keeping the sea from moving inland, tsunamis in the Indian Ocean, tornadoes, earthquakes in San Francisco, etc., nature's path of destruction cannot be limited by man. There is no reason to think that we can aid it as well. Frankly, when there is more water coverage on the Earth's surface, more sun is reflected, cooling the Earth's temperature. This allows for more surface area of land to be exposed, which absorbs heat, and melts the ice caps a bit, releasing more water to reflect sun, and so on. For billions of year, this is how the Earth's climate has changed, and it is pure arrogance to assume we can undo this a century. I am not naive enough to say that there is no harm in releasing chemicals into the air, but the harms presented by Al Gore just don't strike me as being legitimate.

The government's misguided belief is one thing, but enacting legislation in its honor is quite another. This theory is costing businesses billions of real dollars. Where do you think these costs get passed onto? You're right, the consumer. Now, the extra few cents for tires is not a big deal to the individual consumer, however, this is how we get inflation. The same tire costs more than it did a year ago, meaning the dollar has lost purchasing power. Those few cents add up when making purchases of millions of items. Now, the entire economy is set back by this inflation. Furthermore, the dropping value of the dollar affects every other economy in the world, in that large commodity trades are paid for with dollars, and then converted into home currency. The standard currency's retention of value is key to the stability of the global marketplace. Worldwide inflation would cause people to starve, create a new underclass, and cause widespread poverty and death.

This shows how an enforcement mechanism makes forcing one's beliefs a bit more than the annoyance felt in the office setting. Enjoy that cigarette more now, knowing that the bitch in the office doesn't effect global policy when she talks out of her ass.

2. Atheists vs. Christmas - Now, my war on Christmas spectacular will be published soon enough. I have started some research already, so expect 5,000 words on why this Jew loves Christmas. Here is a small preview.

For all of the times in this nation, municipalities, state governments, and even the White House have had holiday displays. This was not an issue until recently. Minority groups found this offensive, and menorahs and, I'm sorry for my ignorance on the subject, Kwanzaa artifacts were added in addition to the Christmas Trees and lights. This was suitable until the recent atheist requests that all of this be removed. It is defined as an endorsement of God (even if these are pagan symbols all relating the Egyptian sun god), and the atheists are offended. Now, the country id awash in legislation resulting from court decisions that forces removal of the symbols. What's next? No fireworks on the 4th of July, because anti-war zealots feel that it is an endorsement of war? Excuse me for hyperbole, but I don't think it's that much of a stretch. At the court's request, cities are now required to endorse atheism, by default, as the national religion. I live in a city called Corpus Christi, named after Jesus by the Hispanic settlers of the area. I wonder what this city will be called in ten years.....

The problem lies in that the court systems decisions to remove these symbols fuels paranoia and isolation. I believe Hillary Clinton was right when she paraphrased, "It takes a village to raise a child." Social values and norms must be instilled in children, and this is just another example of how those norms and values are muddled to a point where children don't get to identify with any culture. No culture is now preferable any sense of belonging a community has been known to foster. The court system has made us all question our neighbors and pigeonhole each other into roles. The government would rather pit us against each other in the season of togetherness, which only fosters a widening of the divisions already present in this nation.

3. Government support of unions - The harmful belief here is that business is out to crush its own employees. This belief fostered Anti-Trust legislation. This legislation was designed to protect worker safety and ensure that business did not collude to keep wages down. Well, the safety part of unions has been null and void since the enacting of OSHA, and the wage situation has gotten out of control. UAW workers get three times as much to build cars as do non UAW workers in Toyota's and Nissan's Texas and Ohio plants. This sounds all well and good, but it is harmful. UAW workers for GM get $45,000+ every year to screw on lug nuts. Seems like a good job. Well, it gets even better. UAW workers get lifetime insurance and full salary for five years after retirement, and then their massive pension kicks in. Awesome!

Well, not exactly that awesome. The negotiating power of the UAW is what has led to the destruction of the American auto industry. All of these costs have been passed on to the consumer, and now comparable Japanese cars cost thousands less than the American version. Unless one is swept by an overbearing sense of Patriotism, they buy the Camry and pass on the Impala. Ten of the top twelve selling cars in America are foreign. The belief that business is inherently evil has led, overtime, to increased union power, and has destroyed the American auto industry. Furthermore, even American companies buy foreign steel for their cars. The steel workers union has raised the prices of steel so high, that the only hopes for GM and Ford to compete are in buying Chinese and Japanese metals.

It is easy for the government to point to million dollar bonuses for executives, and demonize success. The problem is that these bonuses are a tiny percentage of the losses experienced by GM and Ford, and that the bane of these companies is the unions.

4. The Patriot Act - Now, I am going to start this by stating that I am not that offended by the law. I have nothing to hide, and feel that the government has better things to do than listen in on a phone call from me to a friend trying to get an eighth to get through the weekend. That being said, the belief that safety is more important than liberty has fundamentally changed American life. The overarching reach of conspiracy and racketeering laws has forced real changes on American life. Ben Franklin said, and I paraphrase, "One who values safety over liberty deserves neither." How safe are we in a nation where the government can restrict our liberty on a whim? For all I know, the Patriot Act could be step one in a government attempt to exert more control over us. Step one was Bush taking away our freedom. Step two is Obama's attempt to take our money. Step three will likely be the next President's attempts to take away our minds.

We cannot let one's beliefs on about our safety restrict the balance between order and liberty. The Patriot Act definitely restricts liberties. It is harder to travel. We face more government intervention in every aspect of life.

This is all the result of one misguided belief.

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We will never be able to live free from other people's beliefs. Society is empowered by the subjugation of certain individual liberties in order to benefit the electorate. As long as politicians pander for votes, someone's beliefs will be forced upon all of us. The key is elect officials who understand that maintaining a balance between order and liberty. Ordered society requires that some beliefs be enforced as law, however, we need to determine what point the enforcement of these beliefs tramples on the individuals right to progress and mature.

In conclusion, be thankful that the street corner prophets and office preachers do not have an enforcement mechanism to force their beliefs upon you. They have every right to tell you what they believe, but no right to force you to buy in. The government, on the other hand, does have mechanisms in place to force you to fall in line, and that is where the true dangers lie.
 
It hasn’t happened to me many times, but when people do try to shove their beliefs onto me, it bothers and annoys me. I am a Christian and so is my family. We made that decision because we wanted to. I don’t need someone else coming to me and telling me I should become a Mormon or any other religion. If I wanted to be a Mormon then I would become a Mormon.

But it’s not only in religion when people try to shove their beliefs onto me. There have been other instances and I’ve been bothered/annoyed those times too. Now, I do have manners so I wasn’t disrespectful to those people but I would honestly appreciated if people stopped preaching to me about why I should do this and that. If I wanted to have the same beliefs as them then I would have them, I don’t need them pushing their beliefs onto me because I don’t want them.
 

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