BJean

Tell me, did you claim to be agnostic before you became an atheist? Or did you just go straight from religion into atheism?

Bubble: I've also lived in Arizona. Where I lived was influenced much more by the wild west and Geronimo than by Mexico. We lived in Sierra Vista for 5.5 years. God's country for sure! High desert, best climate in captivity! That was many years ago and I miss it to this day! Gotta tell you though, I do not miss the taxes in Arizona!

Bubble- most people do think that TEJAS refers to the Mexican influence, but we toured something or other in San Antonio and they told us that using the word Tejas didn't originate from Mexican influence. Carlene could probably enlighten us further. I'm not a real Texan. Only married one and hopefully that stuff doesn't rub off on me with any regularlity. I'm from Oklahoma and proud of it. Although I try not to proclaim that aloud around here. There is some cowboy discrimination here against us redskins. And many of those ya-hoos pack pistols!

Yeah, like a $10 tip entitles you to a free ride - if you'll pardon the expression. Oooops. I think it's getting late. The next thing I know I'll be getting myself into real trouble. I better sign off.

Aaahhh - fundamentalist - muchas gracias... ooops, sorry I forgot to whom I was speaking. I mean, thank you!! (I don't actually speak Spanish, it's just something we do here in Tejas) (not that there's anything wrong with that...)

Hello - I'm really needing help tonight. Whatza fundie turned atheist? :paranoid

P.S. I forgot to mention Mark. I love to read his posts!

Carlene: That IS funny! One night 4 couples of us went to a Gentlemen's Club in Orlando because all but one of us women had never been to one. The blond I told you about, got her husband to buy me a lap dance. I had no idea what was happening. I didn't know what a lap dance was. I'm sure they all got a huge kick out of the look on my face. It's funny though, the young girl and I started talking and she must have spent 15 minutes telling us all about herself. I think the guys just like to objectify the girls in their minds, not get to know them. I'm pretty sure I have a good idea of how your daughter felt.

Hey Bubble, I gotta tell you that I really enjoy your posts. I feel like you and I share many of the same viewpoints. Maybe not 100%, but that's what makes it so interesting. When I see it's you who has posted, I always take the time to read it, as well as TOMs, TommyO's, Green's, laurend's, lethea gs, geezersue's, and others... even Ron's. His language can be so colorful, in a condesending way. :help: :embarassed:

not that there's anything wrong with that.......

mini me: What happened? Did you go to bed without telling me the name of the movie and who said the line? Rats! :bored

lethea g: Thanks, I'll check it out. And aren't we all learning here, whether we agree with each other or not? I know I am. I hope I am becoming more tolerant too. I have a very difficult time understanding extreme right wing politics, but reading many posts here (not this thread, but others) has helped me soften a little, I think.

Sacreligious, freaky old coot. :heh:

Did you read about the guy who was just released from prison after being convicted for using marijuana? He had received a LIFE SENTENCE for using!!

Glad you asked that TOM. I've never heard the word "intersexed" before.

Carlene: Believe it or not that was the point of my post! I just put the part in about my friend to titillate and to brag a little.

mini me: Sorry if I made you (or anyone here) uncomfortable. But good effort in getting us back to the important stuff! I give up... I have absolutely no idea who said that or in which movie it was said. Tell us please!!!

It isn't a choice and they shouldn't be crucified for it.

Yes indeedy. I will be completely honest here. I had often wondered if homosexuality was a choice, as so many around me had argued from time to time. Once I actually started exploring the idea, reading, listening, talking to gay people I knew, observing, reading more, delving into the possible genetic possibilities that there might just be an extra little sumthin' sumthin' that is present or lacking, it just made no sense whatsoever to believe that true homosexuals are gay by choice. I do think that in my case, for instance, if I had decided to exeriment with my friend, just to see what it was about, I could have done so without being gay. Yup I believe that people can choose to do things that go against their natural instincts. But for those whose natural instincts are homosexual rather than heterosexual, it isn't a choice.

Carlene: I remember distinctly when I realized I was a heterosexual woman. It hit me in the head like a sharp rock. Bam! I knew!!! For Sure!!!! It was when a very dear friend of mine with 2 children, married to an extremely successful and attractive man, who is a 5'10" natural blond beauty (drop dead gorgeous, the kind of woman who when she walks into a room all the talk stops for a few moments and you hear audible gasps while they take in her beauty), hit on me by kissing me on the lips one night as she was leaving my house and then paused to ask (as I was sputtering in shock) if I would please consider going to bed with her. That was it. If I ever had any doubts before, there were never any doubts after that. My answer was a resounding NO! And please do not put me in such an uncomfortable, awkward situation again! GAG!

P.S. If you believe that I think that some of the clergy mentioned above are the only people who are greedy and hateful, you would be incorrect. I was merely pointing out how shocking and abhorrent it is if done by someone who is considered to be deeply religious.

Yes indeed, all manner of people can be mean and greedy. And it is never a good thing. You must admit however that for someone who claims to live in the light of Jesus the Lord and our Savior, and who speaks from a position of great influence by representing their church and its doctrine of loving the Lord and spreading the word of the Bible, greed and meanness are truly abhorrent.

Oh Karen, I am so very sorry about your dad. Please know that I am sending good thoughts your way. I have been through cancer with my mother and sister and it is a tough road. My heart goes out to you and your entire family.

Good. I like that analogy Carlene. It makes perfect sense.

How is leaving off the phrase "In God We Trust" threatening anyone's rights? I can understand how some people find it distasteful to make that kind of change, especially nowadays when there is such a right-wing movement to fight against anything that doesn't pledge that God is part of the United States Government. But I don't understand how it does anything to abridge anyone's rights. I thought this was all settled and everyone knew that it was an error that has resulted in a recall of those coins? I have one of these new dollar coins and it clearly has "In God We Trust" on it.