Raj Feridun <rferid@NOSPAMyahoo.co.jp> wrote in message news:<sunh60hs175bii4l9qjaocorj879mb1j2g@4ax.com>...
> On 29 Mar 2004 13:13:15 -0800, worthj1970@yahoo.com (John W.) wrote:
> 
> >> I dislike proselytizers of all faiths but particularly the religious
> >> Christian right in the USA.
>  
> >I remember this guy at the University of Tennessee, standing on a
> >street corner preaching. He drew quite a few hecklers, people arguing
> >with him, debating him, and insulting him, all because he was
> >Christian. Wonder if they'd have done the same thing had he been
> >speaking about freedom of speech.
> 
> The hecklers were exercising their right to free speech as was the
> preacher. The topic is irrelevant.
> 
It's very relevant. It is amazing the extent people will go to to
insult/heckle/ridicule Christians.

> >I'm far from a religious fanatic, but the Christian conservatives
> >provide a much needed balance in both politics and society. And like
> >it or not Christanity forms the core of most Western nations.
> 
> Yeah, well it's a rotten core and a very very dangerous problem with
> the religious strengthening their ties to the Republican Government in
> the USA at the moment. They are no better than the Taliban with their
> hatred of homosexuals, opposition to medical research (stem cell) and
> assault on the first amendment of the Constitution as they seek to ram
> THEIR values down all our throats.
> 
I wouldn't go this far. Certainly there is a strong anti-homosexual
faction in the Christian community, but you obviously don't read the
news if you think it's the only Christian opinion out there. Ditto for
stem cell research etc. And it's interesting that you believe
expressing their opinions on these topics is an attempt to ram THEIR
values down all our throats; you could just as easily say the same
thing for the opposition.

> I'm not too worried though. Bush will lose in November.
> 
Still got a long way to go. I kind of hope he does, but considering he
somehow got himself elected the first time around I'm worried about
his reslience. But my hope for a new administration has absolutely
nothing to do with the perceived Christian conservativism of Bush; I
just want someone that can turn around the economy and stop catering
as much to big business.

John W.