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Recent Comments:
My son sucks his thumb because... I don't love him enough? {ParentDish}
Oct 19th 2009 10:25AM I am in my 50's and still suck my thumb...so what? It's free, legal, doesn't interfere with the space of others (like smoking for instance), convenient, effective and, frankly, feels great. It's a great sleep aid too.
I have discovered that a ton of adults continue their habit but secretly due to the ideas that others have about this.
To me, it's about the same as nail biting but less damaging. Most of us adult thumb suckers don't have much occlusal concerns since, if we did, braces would have stopped the habit years ago, typically.
It would be great if society would just accept it all. Think of the money we can all save not to mention the simple effectiveness in releasing the dopamines needed to center ourselves.
Men are not allowed to walk dogs (or cats) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia due to newly passed law {Gadling}
Aug 4th 2008 11:15AM Furthmore, Valerie,
I strongly believe that we all have equal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness but to do so without unjustly infringing on the legitimate space of others. I believe these rights are inalienable and correct for everyone, from all cultures. Thereto, I believe in freedom of expression, as long as it doesn't directly endanger others (as in shouting, "Fire", in a movie theater when there isn't any fire).
The Saudi culture/government is obviously in conflict with this belief and, just because they have a political boundary defining the borders of their nation does not mean that the definition of freedom is any different there, or even should be different as defined above, in this post.
With your ideas, and correct me if I err, that each nation can set a new definition of what freedom means, progress or change for the better can and will be critically hampered. They need to question their beliefs, as we all should, and truly determine the real reasons for their oppressive laws.
I submit this law is based on a cultural assumption that males have a right to not control their sexual impulses and that, therefore, the laws should cater to them by preventing anyone in society from expressing sexual inducements that may excite a male. How's that for male dominance?!
Women must, thereby, walk about completely covered, regardless of the weather conditions while men can dress as they please, as long as their head is covered. Women are killed if they are raped while the man gets a relative slap on the wrist, if that.
You don't see something wrong with this?
Men are not allowed to walk dogs (or cats) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia due to newly passed law {Gadling}
Aug 4th 2008 9:10AM Hi Valerie,
I see that stating, "What is it about this culture...." disturbed you. Perhaps, by me rephrasing, you wouldn't be deflected so much from the actual point I was raising.
So, to rephrase for clarity:
Why is it that we find, in countries whose legal system is based on Moslem philosophy, such repressive laws designed to prevent sexual expression?
Note, too, that merely critiquing another culture doesn't automatically mean that I don't have criticism for my own culture or that I'm not open minded and am ignorant. To say so indicates that you may be suffering from that which you accuse since there is not only nothing wrong with valid criticism but this type of exchange may, instead, serve to illuminate and connect since it asks for information based upon what most anyone can easily observe and, if denied, leads one to wonder what biases may exist in the mind of the one doing the denying.
Questioning is not indicative of close mindedness or ignorance.
Also, good to be thought of as a "typical" male, something that no one who knows me ever accused me of! :)
Men are not allowed to walk dogs (or cats) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia due to newly passed law {Gadling}
Aug 2nd 2008 11:59AM Wouldn't it be a lot easier if they'd all just admit that the real problem is not being able to control their sexual impulses and, after this admission, start working on doing this internally, as opposed to making absurd laws designed to control these sexual proclivities externally?
What is it about this culture that is so incredibly uptight about their sexual feelings? Just realize that freedom of expression is good. Expression of our sexuality is wonderful. And laws based on the Bill of Rights are much more sensible, human and realistic, not to mention practical.
Passenger stabbed and decapitated on Greyhound bus; passengers question bus safety {Gadling}
Aug 2nd 2008 11:36AM Without any facts I see commentors come to the conclusion that the passengers only thought of themselves in their actions. How judgementally ignorant!
Trained professionals have a hard time controlling violent mentally unstable perps without using their weapons, even with tasers and pepper sprays, and that's when they are trained and organized.
I think evacuating the bus and securing the perp inside it, shielding passengers, many of whom were children, was remarkable enough but to actually expect that anyone could have stopped this travesty is as ignorant as it is arrogant. And, to judge them too? Totally absurd and naive.
As to traveling by Greyhound. I already am planning to this summer. Why not?
Yes, it wouldn't hurt to do security checks but, given the number of incidents, it may be wasteful to do so.
