Our BetterMost Community > The Polling Place
The Morality Quiz
Kerry:
--- Quote from: garycottle on December 01, 2007, 12:49:55 pm ---P.S. I just wanted to add that I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my comments. I didn't meant to be insensitive to any Catholics, or former Catholics here. :)
--- End quote ---
Certainly no offence taken by me, Gary. I thoroughly enjoy reading your intelligent, insightful posts. :D
Kerry:
--- Quote from: garycottle on December 01, 2007, 12:40:20 pm ---Thanks for that infromation, Kerry. But a priest can deny to hear your confession or give you absolution, right? And wouldn't these things, in a Catholic's view keep you from going to heaven when you die?
Gary
--- End quote ---
You are absolutely correct, Gary. Point taken.
Australia's most senior RC prelate is Sydney's Cardinal George Pell. A despicable, hate-filled homophobe of the highest order, if ever there was one. He refuses to give Holy Communion to "practising" homosexuals. Every now and then, members of the Rainbow Sash organisation front-up at the altar rail at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, draped in their rainbow sashes. They are always quiet, dignified and respectful of their surroundings. Even their rainbow sashes are sombre and understated. It's not as though they enter the cathedral in drag, disruptively chanting gay slogans. No, they solemnly join the other communicants at the altar rail. And what does Cardinal Pell do? He refuses them HC and instead makes a sign of the cross in their general direction. Despicable. >:(
Kerry:
--- Quote from: Kelda on December 01, 2007, 02:38:04 pm ---Oh and to add, although I don't know anyone personally that was involved directly in ther holocaust (My sisters ex grandad in law had his number tattoed on to his arm but I never met him and apprently he never EVER talked about it and she never saw that number) but having visited Auswitch - I had a very VERY strong emotional reaction to it - as most people do. If you have such a strong reactyion to it 60 years later, imagine what you felt to actually be there.
--- End quote ---
I recently read a wonderful quote, Kelda, that had me in tears. Apparently it stands at the entrance to one of the concentration camps:
"When they came for the Communists, I did not say
anything, for you see I was not a Communist.
When they came for the trade unionists I did not speak up,
because I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews, I did not protest, because
I was not a Jew.
And when they came for the homosexuals, I remained silent,
because I am not a homosexual.
Now they come for me, there is no one left to speak for me."
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: Kerry on December 01, 2007, 11:01:45 pm ---I recently read a wonderful quote, Kelda, that had me in tears. Apparently it stands at the entrance to one of the concentration camps:
"When they came for the Communists, I did not say
anything, for you see I was not a Communist.
When they came for the trade unionists I did not speak up,
because I was not a trade unionist.
When they came for the Jews, I did not protest, because
I was not a Jew.
And when they came for the homosexuals, I remained silent,
because I am not a homosexual.
Now they come for me, there is no one left to speak for me."
--- End quote ---
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’
underdown:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on December 01, 2007, 12:37:11 pm ---I know. But then, as philosopher Peter Singer always reminds us, many starving or sick people could be saved on what regular old middle class people spend on normal everyday luxuries.
One of his famous dilemmas: You see a chlid standing on a train track with a train bearing down. You could save her, but to do so you'd have to leave your $25,200 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid on the tracks and have it totalled. Would you save the child anyway? Just about everyone would say, of course.
Well then, he responds, how can you spend $25,200 on a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid, knowing that by doing so you are spending money that could otherwise be used to save countless starving or sick children?
--- End quote ---
Scenario 1:
Driver leaps out of car, leaves it on the tracks, saves the child and the car is smashed.
This story of sacrifice and courage makes headlines and inspires selflessness in a host of people.
Driver refuses reward from parents of saved child, and says he/she is just glad that the child is ok, and wishes that all children could be saved.
Parents of saved child donate to childrens' charity.
Car manufacturer gives the driver a new car, benefits from the publicity and inspires even more goodwill.
Scenario 2:
Driver does nothing, watches as the child is killed, sells the car and donates the money to save starving children in Africa.
Driver inspires a 'Why should I do anything ... I'll just give some money' attitude in others.
Driver suffers depression, can't work, and his/her children starve.
He/she is never again in a position to help anybody.
Gary, you mde a great point when you mentioned the ripple effect.
Good or bad, it can have a real influence on the morality of Governments, religious groups, society and relationships.
Love the story about the starfish, Shasta. Who knows if such things are merely local?
I read your story in Australia, and I'm sure that, within Bettermost, a lot of these posts are appreciated globally.
Maybe they have a far more reaching effect than we realise?
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