en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2436791 Comments by Pennstate20 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144638375 (Continued) We should fear attacks from people that we have literally “stolen” from throughout the years. Then, as I kept pealing layers away to really uncover the truth, it is not that hard to belief that Jihad exists. We steal their oil. We make their country poor. We have invaded them a certain number of times. Now, I’m saying that they are right in the way they hate us. What I’m trying to say is that I am not surprised. I do not think anyone should wish death on another. It is wrong and unethical, but for all the pain we have caused to people to make sure our country is healthy and rich, than no wonder something like Jihad exists. I agree with what America does in trying to be the best country with the most oil and money, but it is just like everything else in life. If you are going to be the best, than you are going to have a target on your back. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:27:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144638375 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144637272 “Behead those who insult Allah”. Those five words give me the chills and probably most other Americans. We have the right to fear Jihad in every way. Obviously, I never even heard the word,”terrorism” until the September 11, 2001 attacks. After that, our minds were filled with fear and anger at the people who try to destroy our freedom and country. The question is “Why?” Why does something like Jihad exist? I used to believe it was because of jealously, or that America was simply the greatest country in the world. But now that I have had listen to Sam, he has opened me up to a whole new world of terrorism. I hate to say it, but the fact of the matter is that we are not the perfect country that everyone makes us to be. We tend to stick our nose in places that will benefit us in the best way possible. When Sam opened this world up to me I first felt as that we should have people that hate us like this in drastic ways. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 22:22:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144637272 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142892760 (continued) Why would they want so much money? The only reason I can come up with is that oil will eventually run out and they’re trying to make as much money as possible why they can, or the fact that they are just plain old greedy. Congress has to find a way to eliminate this monster that controls them. They need to find a way to pass a law without the oil companies shutting it down. I believe the only way to do this is to try and take it one step at a time. Congress needs a simpler method that will work over a longer period of time then just a decade. If you purpose a law that is going to take 40 billions of dollars away from the oil companies of course it is not going to pass. They need to find something that the oil companies can maybe agree with and make it a much slower process. This cannot just happen overnight, it has to happen over the next 30 years. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:34:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142892760 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142892676 I do not even know where to begin when I think about how the oil companies seem to rule the world. It almost seems like a joke. They are truly an unstoppable force that controls Congress. They are equivalent to a big bully pushing around the all the congressman, making them do whatever they want. I have to admit that as a conservative American, I was pretty frustrated after reading this article. First of all, I never had a problem with oil companies. I figured they were making all this money and creating jobs for the public. Boy was I wrong! This article explains how the oil companies are 100% profit. This has to be a joke. I cannot believe that the money doesn’t revenue into the economy and make it increase. The fact that these oil companies are making so much money is ridiculous. To try and understand this, I think about putting myself in their shoes. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:34:17 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142892676 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142891060 I do not even know where to begin when I think about how the oil companies seem to rule the world. It almost seems like a joke. They are truly an unstoppable force that controls Washington. They are equivalent to a big bully pushing around the all the congressman, making them do whatever they want. I have to admit that as a conservative American, I was pretty frustrated after reading this article. First of all, I never had a problem with oil companies. I figured they were making all this money and creating jobs for the public. Boy was I wrong! This article explains how the oil companies are 100% profit. This has to be a joke. I cannot believe that the money doesn’t revenue into the economy and make it increase. The fact that these oil companies are making so much money is ridiculous. To try and understand this, I think about putting myself in their shoes. Why would they want so much money? The only reason I can come up with is that oil will eventually run out and they’re trying to make as much money as possible why they can, or the fact that they are just plain old greedy. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:29:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/4827/#IDComment142891060 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment141073205 (continued) People need to work for their money and jobs need to be created. It is that simple! Big corporations and businesses need tax breaks so they can create the jobs for the lower classes. That’s how the world goes round. When you try and spread the wealth, it is just one big step towards Communism. Many people in America do not understand this. They feel like if the wealthy businesses get tax cuts that they are not going to benefit from it but they are wrong. It is called “Conservatism”, and it is the way our county has to be run. If we continue on the spreading of the wealth path then our economy will never get any better. We’ll just be passing money around like were playing Monopoly. America’s main problem is simple. People have to stop being so lazy and stop pointing fingers. We need to enforce the true meaning of the “American Dream” back into the minds of us Americans and until we do this, our economy will suffer. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 19:49:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment141073205 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment141073145 “Spread the wealth”. That phrase right there might just be my least favorite phrase of all time. I hate the thought of the words even being put together. People in this country have many issues backwards and it needs to be cleared up before the United States goes down the drain. Here in America we have what is called the “American Dream”. The American Dream is simply the freedom of having the opportunity to make a good living in the United States, to have a family, to be friends with whomever you choose. The American Dream is a privilege and lately people have but a burden on it due to stupidity. Recently in America, people believe the “American Dream” has turned into the “American Gift”. What I mean by the American Gift is that people honestly think that they can just receive money from the rich and wealthy due to a few simple tax cuts. Are you kidding me? This is why are economy is so bad. You cannot just give money to people. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 19:48:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment141073145 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment138981696 (continued) People are either too caught up at work, on their cell phone, or on Facebook. Where is the time for religion? The fact of the matter is that there is none. People who do not believe anymore rub off on other people and they become nonbelievers. It spreads like a wildfire. Another reason why people do not have as much faith these days is the tremendous advancement we have made in science. Science and religion have been battling it out since religion started. Religion always over-powered it without question; however, science decided to step its game up recently. It has become such a big issue with the search for extraterrestrial life or even the show Ancient Aliens. People are much more interested in those sorts of things rather than church. Science vs. Religion has been going on forever and more and more people are jumping on the Science bandwagon. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 01:22:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment138981696 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment138981619 I was not surprised at all after reading this article. Religion is obviously declining. I know few people that tend to go to church every week recently and that number keeps declining. People are simply becoming bored of religion. All we ever hear in the news and on television is negative. The media drowns are head in thoughts of what a horrible world we live in. This is the reason why people do not want to believe anymore. They are losing faith in religion because they are giving up hope of a prefect, save world. I am not saying that we live in a bad world, but the media over-exaggerates the most ridiculous stories in order to get “their rating up”. It is all about money anymore in this world. People rather make a few bucks on Sunday morning, rather than go to church, but how can you blame them? Religion is simply becoming a moot thing in our society. It is seen as a waste of time and money in many people’s eyes right now. Something big needs to happen in order to get people to start believing again. “God” needs to show his people a sign or the world has to go through a traumatic experience to bring everyone together and make them believe in something. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 01:21:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment138981619 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/m-s-story/#IDComment137368087 (continue) This man blames himself for not having compassion at the time of the murder. How much compassion can you possibly have at the age of fourteen? I am not saying he wasn’t wrong because he was, but let us be honest. This man was charged with murder because he was just a child that was too afraid to know right from wrong. People need to really take these sorts of things into consideration because it’s not just one case. It’s thousands of cases. There are people in prison that have been fully rehabilitated, but they are still in prison. Why? Isn’t the job of prison to rehabilitate the inmates that go there? The answer is “somewhat”. The job of a prison is to protect the community from the people that should not have the right to be involved with the community. Believe me. There is no way this man is a danger to the community, and I think anyone who cannot see that is narrow-minded. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:44:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/m-s-story/#IDComment137368087 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/m-s-story/#IDComment137368035 Wow, this was such an interesting letter to read. I have to be honest in saying that I stereotyped inmates, especially Lifers. I just figured they were all the same in being bitter, stubborn, and just angry. After reading this letter, a whole new world was opened up to me. These prisoners can truly be rehabilitated. They can change for the better. This man writing the letter does not want sympathy, but he earned mine. This man does not want pity, but he received pity from me. The man does not want to be let out of prison, but I feel that I would have no problem letting him out. People do not realize that these men can change into good people. They believe once a murderer always a murderer. What happen to forgiveness? Forgiveness is one things are world needs to learn. People are too stubborn to listen. Honestly, anyone who reads this letter could see the remorse in this inmate’s tone and attitude. He should not be in prison and everyone knows that. Does everyone realize that we are paying for him to be in prison? That’s the problem with this country. We have trouble forgiving. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:43:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/m-s-story/#IDComment137368035 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment135922174 (continued) . I have a family that loves me. Everything is at my finger tips in life and it took this letter to make me realize that. I need to start respecting my life for what it is and that will make me a better person, a freer person. Freedom is not about what you are allowed to do; it is about what you allow your mind to do. I tend to get nervous around people. Why? This answer is because I am not free. I have no reason to get nervous. I am a very good guitar player, but I usually do not play in front of people because I am not free. I need to break all of these strings off of me that tell me I need to have this and I need to have that to be happy. If I can allow my mind to do that, than I will be a much better person. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:20:11 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment135922174 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment135922053 Do I feel free? Wow, what a question. When I sit back and think about what this questions mean, a lot comes to mind. “I feel freer than ever now that I am in college. I can do whatever I want.” This is a good answer right? Well before I read this letter that would have definitely been my answer, but now that this Lifer has made me look at life in a totally different way, I think I get it now. How free am I actually? Do I get up each morning and actually realize how good my life is? No. Do I talked to my family ever day and let them know how much I love them? No. I do treat other people nice, but I can treat them nicer. My problem is that I do not find happiness in the moment like this Lifer explains. I try to create happiness in my life and I do not realize that it’s all around me. I have the best friends here. I am at one of the best colleges in the world getting an outstanding education. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 22:19:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/freedom/#IDComment135922053 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132263045 (continued)Also, spending it on traveling is another great idea. Materialistic things can only keep you happy for so long. You will eventually get sick of them. On the other hand, memories will last a life time. If you use your money to make memories for yourself by going on trips, than your money is buying you happiness. Money is a funny thing because at the same time it can make you happy; it can ruin your life. I cannot imagine what that poor man went through that lost his grandmother and daughter. Still people are breaking into his house looking for a piece of his fortune. The lady that worked four jobs must have been thrilled when she won the lottery, when in reality it seemed to tear her family apart. The problem is that people in this world are greedy, and they feel like any way they can get money is the right way. The lottery can be a dangerous thing. People need to know that they are getting themselves into, and be prepared if they win. Fri, 4 Mar 2011 02:50:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132263045 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132262922 “Can money buy happiness?” This seems like a question that is always asked and the answer is always “yes” or “no”, but mostly “no”. People don’t realize that this isn’t a “yes” or “no” question. This article finally explains the real answer to this question. It explains that if you are smart with your money and can use it the right way, than it can definitely buy some happiness. People win the lottery and think they should just get it all at once and it will always just be there. This is the problem with winning the lottery. Most people are not educated enough to understand how to deal with money once they win it. This is what causes the “unhappiness”. Money is what makes the world go round and people need to learn how it functions. The part of this article that really interested me was how it explained the way to use your money to be happy. It makes sense when it explains how giving your money away makes you feel really good about yourself Fri, 4 Mar 2011 02:49:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/28/the-lottery-as-a-blessing-or-a-curse/#IDComment132262922 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129035343 (continue) The best part about this video is that is shows that these people are succeeding with their sociological ways by climbing up the ladder of society. They are obviously becoming wealthier year by year by the amount of satellites on the roofs of their houses. If this kind of practice was brought to Western civilization, it would never be accepted. The women would automatically be called “sluts” or “whores”. People would never adapt to that life style here and let it exist. Once a society is established, it is so hard to change; therefore, I believe that the practice of polygamy will never spread throughout the world. It will tend to always exist and be successful to some extent, but I feel that it will never get beyond that point. When you truly love someone, you do not want to share her. That is the bottom line. Love is a big part of life, and I feel if I had to divide it with other men, I would never truly be happy. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:23:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129035343 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129035096 After watching this clip, I feel very shocked. I cannot believe there are women out there that are accepted with more than one husband. I have heard of husbands with more than one wife and even that seems very unethical to me; however, when you talk about women with more than one husband, than that seems crazy. As soon as I started the article and stumbled upon the part with the women having more than one husband, I did not give it a chance. I figured that there was no way they can more it work, but after watching the video, I have to admit that I was proven wrong. These people seem extremely happy and socially in control during the entire video. It had me completely baffled. Then I see how each husband can do a family job and take turn with the wives. Also, the husbands tend to be all brothers so it is a family decision. The man in the video claims there is no jealousy, and I believe him. These people make it work every day, and they found a way to live in an exceptionally controlled matter. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 04:22:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/15/social-structure-shapes-free-will/#IDComment129035096 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127350207 (continued) Let’s take alcohol in college for example. Most people were not big drinkers or did not drink at all in high school. Then they come to college and most of them are out drinking on a Thursday night. Why? That is just the way our world works. People come to college and they think “Well, everyone else is doing it so why not?” These sorts of things are happening all day every day. Some of them are good and some are bad. I am positive the use of Marijuana for the average person goes up a ton when they come to college because so many other people are doing it. They feel like they have to fit in. The strings that attach to us make so much more sense to me know especially after watching this video. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:38:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127350207 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127350137 Besides the fact that this video was hilarious, it is also very useful in the fact that it shows how easy it is to give in to social pressures. We are all guilty of it whether we want to believe it or not. The video shows perfect consistency in the fact that every person in the elevator conformed to the way the others in the elevators were acting. People don’t realize that this happens to us in everyday life. The strings that are attached to us that pertain to social pressures are tighter than you can imagine. How we act when we come into a classroom is a great example. If I walk into Soc 001 at 2:30 and everyone is standing, I am certainly not going to walk in and sit down. I am going to conform to the group and stand there with everyone else. Then if we are standing there and everyone starts to jump around, I most certainly well too. It sounds ridiculous but it is so true. Those strings that attach to us are more powerful than we know. Everyone wants to fit into the group mostly to save themselves from embarrassment. So what happens when we look at these strings on a bigger level? Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:38:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment127350137 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126004060 (countinued) Republicans need to start standing up for what they believe in, and loosen-up a little bit. They need to look at this entire situation and say, “Hey wait, this is not what we Americans are all about.” People make careless mistakes and they become suspects of a big conspiracy. Maybe the boy’s stepfather accidentally left his glove compartment unlocked, or maybe the gun was part of his job. The boy did not want to hurt anybody. He most likely thought it was a toy and thought it would be cool to show his friends. The boy might need counseling after he goes through all of this questioning and interrogating just to make sure the judicial system doesn’t ruin him for life. The bottom line is that us Americans need to be able to step outside of the box here and there because that is what freedom is all about right? If America happens to be the “freest country in the world”, than we should be able to make dumb mistakes. Fri, 4 Feb 2011 22:16:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment126004060