Solutions, Not Division.

This is my first day back after a LONG break.

Firstly, I can tell by some of the posts that many of you haven't changed. Some of that is good, but some of it isn't.

I can tell you that I have indeed changed. I'm a lot more respectful and a lot more at peace with the system around me. While I disagree with people, I agree with them on a human level more. I try to see the good in all people, even when I disagree with them.

I used to be the first one to bash a President when they did wrong. I regret everything I ever said bad about any President, and you should too. Our President is the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, first and foremost, and deserves our respect, not our discord. Say what you want about President Bush, but looking back, I was disrespectful and I was wrong. I issued an apology to him and his father.

We have to be more aware of what we are saying. We have to watch what we say. You may think you are just on some Prince forum, but there are people watching everywhere. You think I'm playing? You should check out your IP traffic information with your service provider and you would be very surprised. Be very aware. If you simply respect one another and issue your opinions based on reasonable thoughts and have reasonable reactions, you will do just fine.

What we should be focusing on are things that unite us, not divide us. Our nation and world are now in a different place than they were the last time I was a registered user. We've been through a horrible economic crisis that some would argue is a depression in our times. Many people are struggling more than they were a year ago. Many are without a job, including me. Many have lost their homes. Crime has gone up and continues to rise in many areas. We need help as a world right now. Instead of tearing each other down, let's find ways to help one another. In America, let's find the most productive and Constitutional way to make sure that every American retains their Unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I know we can do this together. We need to be beyond "hope" and be about "action". It's time to get out into your communities and help people. Have a barbecue. A pack of hot dogs is 89 cents at the grocery store, a bag of chips about the same. Bring people together and help.

I see these pundits on TV trying to divide people, like the Becks and the Maddows, and we need to be beyond this. We need to defend our freedoms and our human dignity. Those pundits are richer than you and I will ever be, and are more than happy to be comfortable while we struggle and fight with one another.

Rise above it. Help each other. Don't "hope"- ACT.

Very well put. But you know, like we all know, that we can never come together, the divide is to great. I agree that we can disagree and respect each other. But we ewill never come together. Good post though.
[Edited 10/29/09 4:15am]

JDODSON said:

This is my first day back after a LONG break.

I can tell you that I have indeed changed. I'm a lot more respectful and a lot more at peace with the system around me.

What system?

I used to be the first one to bash a President when they did wrong. I regret everything I ever said bad about any President, and you should too.

Why should I? Not only am I not American, hence I have no silly patriotic pressure to adhere to, but healthy scepticism and critical questioning of those in power is a vital part of a functioning democracy.

Our President is the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, first and foremost, and deserves our respect, not our discord. Say what you want about President Bush, but looking back, I was disrespectful and I was wrong. I issued an apology to him and his father.

Really? What, did you write them a letter? give them a call? Why on earth do you imagine they care whether you have forgiven them or not? What kind of person issues formal apologies to ex-presidents? Bizarre.

We have to be more aware of what we are saying. We have to watch what we say. You may think you are just on some Prince forum, but there are people watching everywhere. You think I'm playing? You should check out your IP traffic information with your service provider and you would be very surprised. Be very aware. If you simply respect one another and issue your opinions based on reasonable thoughts and have reasonable reactions, you will do just fine.

Thanks for the head ups So if I disrepsect you, will "they" come after me? Dear oh dear.

What we should be focusing on are things that unite us, not divide us. Our nation and world are now in a different place than they were the last time I was a registered user. We've been through a horrible economic crisis that some would argue is a depression in our times. Many people are struggling more than they were a year ago. Many are without a job, including me. Many have lost their homes. Crime has gone up and continues to rise in many areas. We need help as a world right now. Instead of tearing each other down, let's find ways to help one another. In America, let's find the most productive and Constitutional way to make sure that every American retains their Unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. I know we can do this together. We need to be beyond "hope" and be about "action". It's time to get out into your communities and help people. Have a barbecue. A pack of hot dogs is 89 cents at the grocery store, a bag of chips about the same. Bring people together and help.

Again, thanks for the advice, not patronsising at all. I'm sure that bbq will sort things out.
As for the rest, nice and idealistic but not pratical, realistic or even necessarily wise. What divides us is often what drives us to progress. Causes of division should be met head on, discussed, debated and ideally resolved. Not ignored so we can play happy families. Hard times like these are often the periods that bring generational changes in industry, policy and social attitudes. And that is precisely because people do not ignore their divisions of opinion, but discuss them.

I see these pundits on TV trying to divide people, like the Becks and the Maddows, and we need to be beyond this. We need to defend our freedoms and our human dignity. Those pundits are richer than you and I will ever be, and are more than happy to be comfortable while we struggle and fight with one another.

Rise above it. Help each other. Don't "hope"- AC

How are these pundits taking away your freedons? How are they reducing your personal dignity? What does their wealth have to do with you, or indeed with anything? We "fight" with each other because we choose to, not because they tell us to. Or do you beleive that your fellow americans are all simply sheep who have no minds of their own? Rise above what?
.

Cooking cheap fries and hotdogs at high temperature is only the solution for how to be obese, get diabetes and cause free radical cell division. Take another long break and plan the menu better.

Dsoul said:

JellyBean said:

Very nice to see you back JDODSON

Dsoul said:

JDODSON said:

You see Razor, that's one of the reasons that I left P&R and the reason that I will stick to the Musician's Forum, because people like you take a message that wasn't meant to be argumentative in the least, and find something about every bit of it to debate. There's no debate.

All I'm saying- Razor and Dsoul, is that you should help people. I don't care how you do it. My use of "89 cent chips and hot dogs" was used as a completely innocent suggestion- that it's possible to help people without a lot of money. You should bring people together instead of dividing people.

But Razor, I guess you will forever be a victim of your own mind- criticizing everything, finding the wrongs in everything, opposing people just to oppose them, etc. God help you. And you should talk to some people who will tell you what being in your mindset does to a human body- it's not good. You may not believe in anything like this, but being argumentative and contrary all the time isn't going to be good for you. And many are sheep- just like you, Razor.

I'm just glad I haven't been here for the last 12 months or I wouldn't have achieved anything. Good luck with that, Razor.

JDODSON said:

JDODSON...I wasn't here when u were here before but I like the way u think
Great to have some positivity around here amongst all the 'mean-ness' (in whatever way they may come).

JDODSON said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Dsoul said:

Dsoul said:

I wasn't trying to be messianic in any way.

I was simply saying that I believe that people should try to come up with solutions and help their communities instead of constantly bickering and bringing forth criticisms.

And I was explaining my apology because 1, I'm related to the family, and 2, I honestly felt bad for being critical over the years. You may think I'm just some regular schmo on a Prince forum, but you're quite mistaken.

I still think it's funny that whoever "Wesley M. Curtus" is- that he still won't come out from behind his Prince.org username and be a man.
[Edited 10/30/09 10:38am]

JDODSON said:

JDODSON said: