Hate does nothing but poison the hearts of the people who hold it. Even for the worst humans imaginable, one should never hate, never rejoice in suffering, never wish them worse.
I do. And I also believe Shodan is under a moral obligation not to carry a grudge.
My first question was actually genuine (the second, I admit, was pretty combative). I’m not a Christian, nor have I been in a long time, so I certainly admit that there may be a passage in which Jesus reserves forgiveness for those who repent; I was and am genuinely curious which passage that is. If someone else knows the passage, I’d be interested in hearing it, too.
The second question, of course, points out the idea that such vindictiveness is like the pharisees and the harlot.
Daniel
Are you kidding me? I’m a Catholic…I know I’m lower than dirt.
“Forgive them, father, for they know not what they do.”
I don’t recall that particular quote being preceded by a bunch of Romans repenting, but then, I’m not a Christian, so what do I know?
Seems to me Shodan was attempting to make light of the senators predicament and it just kind of snowballed. Surely not his finest hour, but you can see he later changed his mind, although he did doll it up a bit. Mr. Kennedy has led a long and prosperous life, I personally don’t agree with all his policies but I’ve never lived in his district either. His family are the primary concern as they will be left behind to mourn his loss. Everyone can say they miss him but only the family knows the true sorrow of his eminent departure.
The sacrament of reconciliation (going to confession), IIRC, is premised on the understanding that the absolution of the priest is only valid if the penitent is sincerely repentant.
That said, I couldn’t quote you chapter and verse where Jesus himself placed that restriction on the right of his disciples to dispense absolution. Maybe he said it; maybe he didn’t.
OTOH, as a Catholic himself (and one who is documented as having gone to great lengths to keep himself straight with the rules), he probably accepts that as being one of Da Rules (as Jurgen von Strangle might put it).
Another facet to the issue, however, is that the sincerity of his repentance for anything at all is a matter to be assessed by himself and the deity he professes to worship.
ETA: That’s imminent, Omegaman.
I wouldn’t post this unless it solicited from a pit thread. I was thrilled at the breaking news of a terminal brain tumor even as a citizen of the state of Massachusetts. Kennedy’s die. That is what they do best even if they have to take innocent women out with them. They are a repulsive family overall and even worse than the Bush family many times over (the Bush family has some explaining to do as well).
I think it is hypocritical for anyone to show outrage at this view. Unless you are a saint in waiting, most people wouldn’t shed a tear if say, David Duke had a serious health problem. Plenty of people around the world hate George W Bush. I could understand why they would want him dead although I don’t completely hold that view myself. What is the difference?
Are people here so pure that they hold all human life so sacred that it has to be revered at all times including dirty, old scandalous men that kill people? He was a long-time senator. He is a massive alcoholic (as I was) that went on autopilot years ago to rubber stamp anything the Democratic party proposed. He is certainly not a leader on any sense of the word except that he has the last name and seniority to step in and give some keyword speeches when it is required.
I wouldn’t volunteer such commentary like Shodan did because that is generally in poor taste to wish ill for an ailing person but I think we can all think of someone that we would like to have incapacitated in a hospital room rather than in active service.
The universe has a way of balancing such grotesque hatred. When **Shodan ** is gasping his last breath, he will realize with utter clarity that the number of people who care about his passing add up to bare fraction of the thousands who love and respect Ted Kennedy.
*** “Here’s to those who wish us well;
All the rest can go to Hell!” ** *
I despise Cheney as much as anyone, but he does have a family that loves him and I don’t think they deserve to go through a prolonged deathwatch of someone in pain. Once a person steps out of public life because of illness or retirement, I think basic human decency demands that we not wish them ill or rejoice in their suffering.
Seriously, surprised? It was obvious the Shobot was going to start generating predictable threadshits the instant the Kennedy story hit the headlines. It’s how it’s programmed. Don’t condemn the Shobot, it can’t help itself.
Well, you know, I don’t see Shodan doing any of that in that linked thread. He doesn’t seem to me to be hating, or rejoicing, or wishing anyone anything. He’s just not acting all that sorry…I don’t think you are characterizing his reaction accurately.
Why?
I’ll say I never liked Teddy. I think he’s a complete slimebag who gets by on his last name and he acted reprehensibly decades ago.
But I’m still having trouble with the whole “damage he’s done to this country”, thing. Care to explain, or is this a drive by shot at all democrats?
what a fucking waste of oxygen you are.
Bad karma. Adds red and black to your aura. Puts knots in your* chi.* And, it isn’t cost-effective.
It’s a drive by shot at Teddy Kennedy. The immigration “reform” that he sponsored and pushed through in the 60s has done more damage to this country than eight years of George W Bush’s freespending idiocy. The list goes on from there.
You know, I’m not much surprised that there isn’t any major grief going on here, Teddy ain’t that much. He’s more than I ever thought he’d be, but my expectations were low. In light of that moderate indifference, I’m still repeatedly surprised by how much some people hate this guy.
I mean, “murderer”? Get real! Murder is an act of caculated malice, thats what makes it evil. Being drunk and/or stupid, or losing ones temper, or woefully negligent, and thereby causing a death? Yeah, that’s pretty bad. But it ain’t murder, and very few of us have it in us. Ted Kennedy could no more commit murder than I could give birth. If you just gotta hate somebody that much, at least try and save it for someone more deserving. And if you can’t find anyone, well, maybe thats better all the way around.
Whoa, big horse, steady up there! Teddy is a worse person than GeeDubya? Is psoriasis worse than leprosy?
you forget that ** dave** is a recoverinng liberal?
I actually agree that what he did isn’t murder. But being drunk and/or stupid, or losing ones temper, or woefully negligent, and thereby causing a death IS pretty bad. And when it’s combined with enough family pull and sense of entitlement to never have to answer for it and get off scot-free brings it pretty close to “just as bad” in my mind. I don’t hate the man, but I certainly can’t bring myself to respect him, either.
is no different than driving drunk and being unlucky. there is no difference other than sheer luck or lack thereof.