as stated and ignored before (even after reading these posts) i'm still not convinced that this wasn't thrown out in an attempt do do nothing but start drama
like throwing a flame on an anthill.
to me this is tantamount to asking members of OTHER faiths the question: how can you follow a God who ALLOWS people to be persecuted, abused, etc?
or asking a child: how can you love a parent after they punish you?
or asking a student: how come you still go to school after you've failed a test?
or a parent: how can you love your child after they disobey you?
or a message board moderator: how can you keep on doing it without pay when the people you volunteer to help ignore/disrespect you?
in every case it takes a certain amount of maturity within responder to seperate the concept from extranous circumstances.
in the case of faith, some people are able to seperate the evil of humankind from the perfection (and example) of the holy.
i'm amazed at the fact that this discussion has been entertained to this degree.
y'all will discuss what you want, and i don't have a problem with that, but i sincerely wish you all would understand that polarized discussion rarely leads to any form of education, understanding, or even real satisfaction (beyond that which comes from "saying what you gotta say").
As moderator it is my hope that we would use this board to COMMUNICATE, learn and grow -- as well as make change through doing, but sadly too many would rather discourse than do.
such is life.
right now we have a book drive going. have you donated? have you even peeped the post? if that isn't your bag, what HAVE you brought to the table besides hot air. this isn't to disrepsect the value of activism through dialog, but truth be told how many of us want this to be a message board that's noting more than a sundae with tons of whipped cream and sparkles, but no ice cream (hopefully that analogy isn't too far out for y'all)?
are you the sound or the noise? do you only RESPOND to the sound, or the noise?
(those are rhetorical questions)
call it elitist or whatever if you like, but THIS board is supposed to be about something better than the same old bull that you can find on countless internet message boards. how about we all make a concerted effort to help it be just that?
stay blessed
your ever-observant friendly neighborhood moderator.