gdp's Comments

Big Journalism : What Andrew Taught Me

Mon, 5 Mar 2012 02:43:08 +0000

"Greeley1987" -- You are certainly entitled to your opinion. And your post does not tell the entire story about either man. Although you certainly do sound angry about both. Of course, it only takes a coward to criticize not one, but two, people *anonymously*. This is something you can't deny, is it?

Big Journalism : What Andrew Taught Me

Sat, 3 Mar 2012 04:31:59 +0000

hahaha! Mr. Barlow would've thought that was hilarious!

Big Journalism : What Andrew Taught Me

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:00:18 +0000

Humbled by your kind words. As one contributor told me yesterday, "there's an army of Davids right here to replace Goliath".

InvestorPlace : Diamonds Aren’t Forever. Sell Blue Nile Now

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:40:53 +0000

Ah, I was unaware of this stockpile release. Thanks for the info!

Big Government : The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of the Minimum Wage

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:08:39 +0000

All correct, of course, Mr. Lepant.

InvestorPlace : 5 Stocks Saddled With Debt

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:53:04 +0000

Never underestimate the zeal of solar investors..... ;-) First, mea culpa on the reverse merger. We are correcting that now. However, I find the company an attractive short nonetheless, not to mention the fact that the head of its audit committee resigned last summer. Further, what specific aspect of my "guesswork" on LDK do you object to? The ONLY statement I made was that it is saddled with debt. And it's never too late to short a company going out of business.

Big Government : Native Americans Get the Last Laugh on Government Regulation

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 05:38:04 +0000

LOLOLOL!

Big Government : Native Americans Get the Last Laugh on Government Regulation

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:06:46 +0000

You are most kind to extend the invitation, sir! Nothing would please me more.

Big Government : Obama’s #Occupy Movement Will Win the Election…for the GOP

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:36:33 +0000

Dear Mr. Lepant, Thank YOU, Sir. Sincerely, Lawrence Meyers

Big Government : Obama’s #Occupy Movement Will Win the Election…for the GOP

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:36:06 +0000

Thanks for the compliment! I'm not belittling the Movement. I'm merely saying it is playing right into the hands of the GOP.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:42:35 +0000

I really appreciate your presence here, and hope you will continue to post on this and on other threads of mine that interest you. You will get no argument from me regarding your 5th and 6th paragraphs. However, I will take issue with your 4th paragraph. "I do have a problem with any and all attempts to create a systematic belief system or social construct (e.g. religion, nationalism, etc.) around a shared or collective "experience" of god (some refer to that as a cult, others as their particular religion of choice, not sure that there's any discernible difference). " The issue at hand actually comes down to freedom, including freedom of religion as provided by our Constitution. There is no difference in creating a social construct along these lines than any other, whether it be centered around God or even the lack thereof (unapologetic atheists). There is quite a discernible difference between a cult, which in its most simplistic form has its iNTENT to control others and restrict their freedoms and has almost always ended in the cult's implosion and death of its members, and modern religions (that eschew extremism). It is not your right, and certainly not your place, to judge the benefits and/or curses of those establishments. Your perspective on faith vs reason is a rational one and one would take pains to argue it. Which is why I'll instead leave it to this author, and await your intriguing perspective on it: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/323... I understand where you are going with your final 3 paragraphs, but I would assert that (at least in my case), you are being misled regarding the conception of God. As the article above suggests, there are other types of evidence that are neither tangible nor physical. I'll close with this though. First, I have no problem with atheism. My problem, like you, is when atheists mock the beliefs of those with faith or try to strip away something from other people against their will. Nothing wrong with calling them out over a lack of "evidence", but the "bigfoot" and "imaginary friend" talk is really rather demeaning and unnecessary. It isn't "tolerant", which is something that Christianity teaches and the best Christians also practice. Indeed, the lack of a belief is itself a belief.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:23:12 +0000

I think this is a very reasoned approach. Much of the difficulty in this argument stems from the inability to separate the concepts of faith, spirituality and religion from each other. When I hear the kind of demeaning nonsense that God is "an imaginary friend" just like "Bigfoot", it tells me this individual has not really educated himself on the numerous conceptions of God. This individual assumes God is some kind of Being and also projects that assumption onto others, when my own conception (for example) is nowhere close to that. I differ from the Christians (who patiently honor me by reading my articles) in that I do not buy into story of Jesus, and I have a lot of trouble with the way religious text anthropomorphizes God ("He", "Him"). Language really acts as a limitation in any discussion involving God. I don't believe that one can *objectivity* prove the existence of God, although Aquinas provides a pretty good pathway. God's existence and one's experience thereof is, I believe, subjective. I certainly understand that neither Atheists nor people of faith wish to have the others' beliefs foisted upon them, nor should they be. However, I am dismayed by the rather rude and mocking tone of some who denigrate people of faith, just as I am dismayed at some of the nasty comments delivered at homosexuals by those who identify themselves as Christian. Returning this discussion to Mister Barlow -- whom I hope you will read about -- he found there was no conflict between faith and reason, and that the two are not mutually exclusive. A Google search will reveal several interesting articles on the topic.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:11:56 +0000

yes, I think Mr. Guzman offers a very reasonable perspective that excises the hateful and angry rhetoric.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:09:46 +0000

The "imaginary friend" or "invisible man" comment has always struck me as a rather infantile way of thinking of God. It demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding of the differences between faith, the spiritual, and religion. But this doesn't surprise me coming from you. Take Christianity. I believe some of our Christian readers will agree that everyone is, in fact, in full control and accountable to themselves for their decisions and actions. That does not invalidate that they also are accountable to God but that God does not control their actions at all. Emotional and intellectual maturity is also the acceptance of far wider perspectives that what appears to be a rather narrow one coming from you.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:35:11 +0000

That's correct. Anyone who hands over control of their own fate and the direction of their own lives is deceived. Then again, if you actually had an understanding of some of the major religions, (not to mention non-religious faiths), you'd know that none of them actually tell anyone to do any such thing.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:19:53 +0000

Wow. I am humbled and honored by your comments. Thank you for such kind words. I do hope you'll have a look at the book and let me know if I met your expectations for it.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:18:53 +0000

Thanks very much. Please check out the book and let me know your thoughts after reading it.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:17:45 +0000

Steve Kroft of 60 Minutes said the same thing in his blurb for my book. I do encourage you to check it out and let me know what you think.

Big Peace : In Crisis, Faith and Reason Trump Atheism and Radical Islam

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:14:36 +0000

Thank you! I hope you'll do me the honor of buying the book and letting me know what you thought.

Big Government : What’s More Compassionate for the Poor, Dependency or Self-Reliance?

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:46:51 +0000

While sitting in on my daughter's Hebrew school on Sunday, the kids were taught about charity (or, tzedakah). The absolute best type of charity one can give is one that allows a person to become self-sufficient. Go figure.