Denzel says "the system is rigged..."

John Ehrlichman in 1994 stated "... the drug war was simply a way to vilify African Americans and the anti-war left."

So it is clear that the people in power directed the nations institutions and resources by the creation of laws and policies which resulted in millions of people being incarcerated. Then as Denzel clearly explains generations of young black males ended up fatherless and the cycle repeats itself.

If religion is the disease, then why did we have over 100 million deaths from atheistic regimes in the 20th century? They made it their express goal to exterminate religion and in the process committed some of the worst atrocities in history. No, the problem is clearly human nature. When man tries to get rid of God he just replaces God with himself. I agree with you, that religion itself has contributed to the suffering and degeneration of the planet. Jesus hated religion. That's why He drove the moneychangers out of the temple. That is why He railed against the pharisees. He said, these people worship God with their lips but their hearts are far from Him. Scripture says this about religion:

James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The problem has always been that people follow the traditions of men rather than demonstrate the love of God. Even just a few decades after the cross, Paul wrote about men who preached a different gospel, one that glorified men rather than God. The contamination is universally human nature. Nothing is pure in the hands of an impure heart.

Examine history and see the parallels. Humanity is just repeating the same story, over and over again. There is nothing going on today that hasn't already happened before. The set and props have changed, but our nature hasn't changed. Man corrupts everything he touches because his scheming is against the will of God. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end are the ways of death. The problem is outlined in this video. Yes we have more knowledge, but knowledge doesn't help us. What we need is wisdom. However, wisdom doesn't come from man, it comes from God. Wisdom isn't something you can engineer..explore some philosophy and you will see that ultimately it has no real answers.

The divine wisdom, however, ordained that Jesus Christ would come in the flesh to give us our answer. It says that message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. The world in its wisdom knows nothing of the ways of God, so God chose what the world would consider foolish to shame the wise. God chose to save us in a way people would consider foolish, because the foolishness of God is wiser than mans wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than mans strength. You think it's ridiculous, but God is simply showing up the wisdom of the world for what it is: foolishness.


>> ^Fletch:
Religion is the disease, Blurry. You're feverish rants, nonsense ramblings, and tone-deafness are primary symptoms. Reason is the only thing that can save you or this planet, but I fear it is too late for you and your fellow carriers. The infection has mutated into hundreds of different, self-preserving variations, and reason, although a powerful medicine (and requisite for wisdom), cannot cure those who refuse treatment in the first place, or have simply become immune to it's healing due to past, repeated undertreatment. Religion has evolved into a superbug.
Can the next version of VS please hide ignored comments that have been quoted in a subsequent comment?

>> ^shinyblurry:

I'm sure as an unbeliever you think it is purely coincidental that founding this country on Christian principles led to it being the greatest country in history within 200 years.
I'm sure that you also think that its a coincidence that since they started taking God out of our schools and public life in the 60's, violent crime has gone up 500 percent, murder rates have tripled, divorce rates have doubled, STD rates are up 200 percent, fatherless households increased from 6 to 40 percent, unwed birth rates of 10-14 year olds up 500 percent etc
This isn't how it ought to be, or how the founders intended. We have a society that accepts all of these diverse views because of the Christian principles of personal freedom and liberty. Atheists, using these great freedoms afforded to them by our judeo-christian heritage, want to use them to dismantle the very foundation of what gave them those freedoms in the first place. What in the world do you think is going to happen when you tamper with the foundation? It is all going to fall apart, as we see it happening today.
This country was founded on a covenant with God, and much like israel, when we reject our Creator, judgement isn't far behind. The secularization of this society is basically suicide.

>> ^rebuilder:
>> ^shinyblurry:
If you don't believe that America is founded on judeo-christian beliefs then you don't know anything about American history.
There's little point in debating the way things used to be, when you should be debating how they ought to be.


Nobody got that? He says it right there: "I'm a Troll, I'm a Troll!"

I'm sure as an unbeliever you think it is purely coincidental that founding this country on Christian principles led to it being the greatest country in history within 200 years.

I'm sure that you also think that its a coincidence that since they started taking God out of our schools and public life in the 60's, violent crime has gone up 500 percent, murder rates have tripled, divorce rates have doubled, STD rates are up 200 percent, fatherless households increased from 6 to 40 percent, unwed birth rates of 10-14 year olds up 500 percent etc

This isn't how it ought to be, or how the founders intended. We have a society that accepts all of these diverse views because of the Christian principles of personal freedom and liberty. Atheists, using these great freedoms afforded to them by our judeo-christian heritage, want to use them to dismantle the very foundation of what gave them those freedoms in the first place. What in the world do you think is going to happen when you tamper with the foundation? It is all going to fall apart, as we see it happening today.

This country was founded on a covenant with God, and much like israel, when we reject our Creator, judgement isn't far behind. The secularization of this society is basically suicide.


>> ^rebuilder:
>> ^shinyblurry:
If you don't believe that America is founded on judeo-christian beliefs then you don't know anything about American history.
There's little point in debating the way things used to be, when you should be debating how they ought to be.

>> ^bareboards2:

promote
You tell it sister.


Did she mention that African tribes were the sellers of other Africans who she would say were "kidnapped?" In fact, Africans are still being sold by Africans today--just America isn't buying them anymore.

I don't ask that first part to belittle her thoughts and expressions, I ask that first part to note the difference of the vast world hundreds of years ago.

And you know what's truly sad? I can respect this woman immensely (Even if I doubt she might understand the world isn't a static concept or that right or wrong isn't as easy as 1+1.) But the new culture trying to emerge in the African American society itself is scary and she would be disappointed. QM might use Oprah, Bill Cosby, and all the other role models as a flag piece for his own opinion, but that means little to the fatherless child who doesn't feel loved. Unfortunately, that's a lot of African Americans. These, I think, are worse than the past because self-corruption is by far worse than fighting other people's corruption. IMHO.

That could all be very well true, but it's not for me or you to decide, just for him. I defend his right as an adult to choose these things, choose them without having the entire world tell him it's not a choice that he made but a succumbing to some mental illness. If he leaves his children fatherless, I still would.

I didn't mean he was necessarily in control of them, that's why I also said some embrace their addictions. It's the complete unwillingness of other people to accept the fact an adult can make that choice that bothers me. If he had no wife? No children? Would his habits be acceptable then? It's not easy to admit but many find more solace in hedonistic pursuits than they do in what is generally accepted as healthy/productive/"good". And even when they "want" to quit, don't make the mistake of thinking that when they don't it's not at all the product of rational thought. Drugs are wonderful, they can take all your cares away, they can make you experience things you would be unable to without them. A user uses first and foremost because he enjoys using, accepting that is healthier than not.

>> ^spoco2:

>> ^NinjaInHeat:
Rocknroll Charlie boy. The only thing that bothers me about this interview is how much disdain this conforming bitch has for hedonism, that and the fact that he agreed to entertain this retarded interview in the first place, he should know better. Some people like to enjoy life, some people can't grasp that notion. I like how black and white "normal" people think the mind of a drug user is. As if when one is using he is immediately completely physically addicted, he is sick and needs help, he does everything not out of choice but as a result of having a sick mind. Some people choose to take drugs, some people manage their addictions and even embrace them to certain extents. If you don't understand that that's fine, no one asks you to understand, just accept.

Really? You seem to think that not being 'normal' is a noble thing, and it is. To be unique, different, original is great. But Charlie is not any of these things. He is just another person who has physiological issues and has chosen drugs and alcohol to treat them.
And now he has had an 'epiphany' and sees everything so clearly, and has fixed his own brain. Yeah, well, I'm sure he thinks he has at the moment, but will you be championing him in the near future when he has crashed back to reality and has discovered that what he thought was the answer to life, the universe and everything was bullshit, and that he will have to self medicate again and then, whoops, he's dead, he died via suicide or accidental overdose or combination of things that should never be combined?
Will you still be championing him then? When he has left his kids with no father? When they will forever look to their dad as a fuckup who didn't get the help he needed when he should have?
HE has not got his addiction under control, he has problems, they will end his life very early. That is not to be applauded.

>> ^honkeytonk73:
Jesus doesn't believe in healthcare. That is why the Repugs are blocking it. They simply want everyone to use magical prayer.. because as we all know. It works far better than what any health practitioner can provide. If a priest is not available.. a voodoo doctor will of course suffice.


Wow, your ignorance and prejudice astounds me. Have you ever read the Bible?
Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
You will find that compassion and responsibility to the poor are a recurring theme throughout the Bible.
To say Republicans are Christians and Democrats are not is pure nonsense. Why the hateful post? Did some hypocritical Priest abuse you? Sure the world is full of hypocrites, that doesn't make Gods word non-effect. Open your mind and you may find some of the kindest people do believe is Jesus.
Otherwise if you can't be tolerant of Christians at all, you could move to China where the government shares your disbelief in God, and all human rights are controlled by the government. I'm sure their medical benefits for the common peasant/man are wonderful.

Yeah they are totally blowing this out of proportion, I thought it was a GREAT response and I was shocked the next day to turn on CNN and they were like
"OBAMA EVISCERATES ED HENRY, FAMILY OF FOUR LEFT FATHERLESS" and crap.

It's a perfectly legitimate answer, they also are trying to play this whole "Obama dodged the question" how is it dodging the question? If it took you a few days to look at everything before you wanted to answer isn't that an answer??? Did Obama need to explain what he was doing everyday up until he answered so people would know if he was truly focused on what was most important in THEIR eyes?

Gah!

Just an FYI, I was watching CNN the other day and one "iReporter's" response to Obama's speech was "He takes too long to answer questions. I mean, after the first two sentences I space out CMON!"

Which comes back to my original point of killing stupid people so we have less to worry about.

I found the lady I was talking about, in her defense she said "After the first two sentences" *rolls eyes*

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-234716

Here is a column Ed Henry wrote about the "incident":

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/25/henry.obama/index.html