en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2455462 Comments by lighter3891 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/08/30/why-your-religion/#IDComment189230642 I am a Muslim who follows the religion of Islam. I have thought about other religions, but in reading from the holy book of Qur’an and reading about the life and examples that Prophet Muhammed has left us as human beings, there seems to be no closer choice. Islam organizes your relations with God, with yourself, with your children, with your relatives, with your neighbor, with your guest, and with all of human kind. Islam clearly establishes your duties and rights in all those relationships. Islam establishes a clear system of worship, civil rights, laws of marriage and divorce, laws of inheritance, code of behavior, what not to drink, what to wear, and what not to wear, how to worship God, how to govern, the laws of war and peace, when to go to war, when to make peace, the law of economics, and the laws of buying and selling. Islam is a complete code of life. Islam is complete constitution. Thus Islam keeps the Muslim away from confusion, because Islam is logical and rational. Allah is one. Allah has no sons. Allah is not trinity. Allah does not kill to save. No mediation is required between Allah and man. Islam organizes human nature, but does not go against it. There is not a class of clergy in Islam; nor is there celibacy. Islam is complete code of human life. You learn the best guidance for ALL aspects of life. History has proven this, where an Islamic society has brought harmony between people of different races, and cultures, and given every person within it equal respect, rights and through this - flourishing civilization. You have the best example in one man - Muhammad, who has truly changed the course of history and is the most written about man in the world since his time, and has provided mankind with the best source of guidance at a personal, as well as social level. If you're in doubt, then read about his life. Read any aspect of his life, compare and apply it to your life, and see how you become the most well-mannered and effective person amongst the masses. Islam has a balance between science and belief in God. So we believe that science is a pattern of God's creation. You'll notice that there isn't much detail about the specifics in science in the Qur'an or Sunnah, simply because Allah has given us senses and tools to understand the universe around us. I also believe in the Prophet Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon them.) The Jews reject him and curse him, saying he was an imposter. The Christians raise him to the level of God, or a part of God. We say he is a servant and Messenger of God, and is of the greatest of Prophets like the ones who came before him like Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc. We follow him and his virgin mother Mary more than any other people too even in the way we dress. This is why I follow the respectable and accepting religion of Islam. Sat, 3 Sep 2011 03:59:20 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/08/30/why-your-religion/#IDComment189230642 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137630548 In the Lifer’s response to the politically incorrect terminology that my colleagues have used, I feel empathetic towards the Lifer in that being unjustly accused of something is something that I personally cannot tolerate. My father and I have an inseparable bond, but even so, I did not speak to him for a whole month until he apologized for what he had done. Many may think that I am a stuck up brat, but the truth of the matter is, is that I was raised in a household that keeps justice very high and everyone accepts their mistakes. Having said this, my father inaccurately accusing me for an incident that I had no involvement in caused our month of not talking to each other. One morning, my father came to me while I was asleep and woke me up. He said that he saw a dream where he was stuck on the ground while I was in a helicopter rising above. Interpreting this dream as me being the one that was wronged and that I was rising because I surpassed him and his ill judgment, he apologized for his mistake. If a father, a grown man, can apologize to his son, I believe some of these people that criticized all Lifers as murderers should apologize. As for the kid in class that felt very strongly about murderers deserving to go to jail, no matter the reason, I would like to say, “If a someone laid a finger on my family, whether it is my sisters, mother, or even my father, I would not hesitate to get justice. And if the justice system which is blind, deaf, dumb, and stupid can’t serve, I would not think twice to take matters into my own hands.” This doesn’t make me a murderer does it? I would not go out and kill anyone right now for any reason, but in a situation like that, I would have a lot of trouble holding myself back. I guess if you want to see less murders though, you should increase the penalty on crimes that instigate murder like rape. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 04:00:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137630548 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135972040 Zach Wahls is a wonderful example of a child from a family of lesbian parents. He is the epitome of the kind of child that any family would want. He is smart, an amazing speaker, in control of peoples’ feelings, and accomplished. He seems to be just as normal as any kid in college. On the other hand, we must recognize that this is one case out of thousands across the United States. Unfortunately, as we spoke in class, our system of government, policies, and enforcement is very unfair and biased. It is less concerned about truth, statistics, and facts, but is more influenced by emotions, bribery, and many other factors that make the system of fair lawmaking and law enforcing impossible. In this case, Zach is trying to convince lawmakers to allow his parents’ marriage to be legalized in the state of Iowa. As far as the lawmakers are concerned, it is morally wrong, but if a decent speaker comes up and mixes with their emotions and makes them feel as if it is not necessarily a bad thing. Just as lawyers do for defendants that are not necessarily innocent, and vice versa, our system is based on nothing but emotions. Whoever can sway the jury’s emotions towards their side, wins. It is that simple. Either way, the system is broken and if this testimony is able to sway the lawmakers to change their position, it proves the truthiness of my argument even further. Furthermore, in a country that already gives lesbians and gays a comfortable environment to live and be together in, I feel they are asking for a bit too much. In some countries, forget living together, you could not live alone. It is so looked down upon that crowds of people could beat you to death. In a country that offers this much freedom for these couples, I believe they are pushing their limits. Constantly attacking the family ideals in this country has been a pastime of these people, but I believe it needs to stop. The morals of this country are being taken out one at a time and this is just another stepping stone. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 03:44:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135972040 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/rethinking-education/#IDComment130766029 As Sir Ken Robinson elaborates in his presentation, there are many things wrong with our public education system. The fact that this system, which is supposed to help us advance in areas like math, science, and the arts, has not itself advanced is an indication of its imperfection. After all, it takes many years to perfect a single thesis, so the whole basis of our education should constantly be developing. It seems like since there was a lot of opposition during the development of public education, the founders passed as much as they could and made many compromises that may have brought it to the effective yet inefficient level it is at now. Students are always complaining about standardized tests. On the other hand, colleges are complaining that they have no way of telling the level of education and experience under a student’s belt just from a GPA that is very biased from high school to high school. There needs to be a system that eases the stress from both parties. Otherwise, the consequences are severe. It could be students’ drug addictions to Ritalin-type focus drugs. In some cases, students are overwhelmed by work from a university that they should not have placed into and end up dropping out or worse committing suicide. The public education system was developed with opposition. This means that there had to have been some kind of compromises made as there are in any controversial decisions. This means that many ideas from those in favor may have been ruled out that may have helped or improved the system. It is a system that has rusted through the ages since the industrial revolution. It seems like it is time for more than just a spit-shine here and there but maybe an educational revolution of itself. Ultimately, our public education system is in need of urgent reformations because it is outdated, not as efficient in an evolving world, and because it is incapable of providing students the environment and platform on which they can excel to their maximum potential. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:59:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/rethinking-education/#IDComment130766029 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126077333 Conformity is the concept behind the “social strings” that come down and seemingly control or have an effect if nothing on our actions. It is what makes us who we are as a community, a society, a country, a species. Conformity is represented in almost all parts of life. Even animals and plants conform to others like them. This draws the question, “who is to blame for individuals actions, the individual or the society?” With all species, from birth to death, we conform to our surroundings. Like the men in the elevator, there is a psychological pressure that makes us feel that if we are not conforming and we are wrong, we are, as the cartoon said, made to look like an ass. Thus, non-conformity is a risk. Just like in business, you can fail and there are consequences like a loss of time, money, power, and prestige; on the other hand, there is also the factor that if the odds are on your side, you may gain more time for yourself, more money, more power, and prestige and popularity. Every entrepreneur faces these risks when starting a business or advertising a product. Does conformity only lie in business? What happens when we conform to wrongdoings that are widespread? In the case of the holocaust, many Germans either looked the other way or joined in the horrible and horrendous acts. So what is to say conformity is always good? In the case of the cartoon, not conforming makes you look very foolish, if not worse yet, conforming makes you no different than everyone else. In the video, conforming seems like the best idea because if everyone’s doing it, it has to be right, right? Had those men not conformed, they would have felt very awkward. So, apparently not conforming is very nerve wrecking because we have come to be very self-conscious. It seems only those that have self-confidence are able to be nonconforming and shrug it off. Whether it is a business or a wide spread phenomenon, conformity has its costs and benefits. To weigh those and make the correct decisions is up to each and every individual. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 04:59:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126077333 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment124474534 With the NRA and those opposed the Second Amendment having at it for years on end, there have been some very strict laws enacted, especially in schools about firearms. In compromise, the Second Amendment has not been repealed; however, there have been some additions to gun control that, in some respects, are absolutely absurd. In the case of the 5-year-old, we can see a system that is not only resource and time-consuming, but also comical. The zero tolerance policy is a good idea to the extent that it is strict, impersonal, and may just prevent some acts of school terrorism. The point in which it fails is when it is enacted on the most unlikely of terroristic candidates. Of course, that is where the impersonal part of the policy comes into effect. Never the less, a 5-year-old child being suspended for picking up a gun he most likely thought was a toy, is even more childish than the child’s acts. The most infuriating part of this situation is the fact that, in the article, the assistant chief says “the boy's youth isn't much of a complicating factor, with Griffith saying that he "seems intelligent (and is) able to communicate well." Apparently, he is relying on the old saying, “children and drunks always speak the truth.” If you are assessing the story of a child, he should not be allowed to incriminate himself as is said by our laws, let alone be suspended for it. Basically, in a “conservative,” point of view the punishment for the child is justified and deserved. Hmm? I guess this brings us back to the question, “are we truly responsible for our actions?” Even more importantly, is a child at the age of 5 responsible for his actions of which he most certainly had very little influence on? That being said because we live in a country that has been at war since the child’s birth, the myriad of games that involve weapons, and the fact that this child had parents (or stepparents) that had possession of firearms that were apparently readily available to the child as a “toy” gun. So, who is responsible again? Sat, 29 Jan 2011 04:30:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/americans-gone-wild/#IDComment124474534 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/21/letter-from-an-inmate/#IDComment122920317 This lifer’s experience is the exact explanation of the Ying-Yang theory. The best of people that we describe as kind, friendly, warm, affable, and generally good have in them some bad that is prescribed to us as some kind of darkness or evil. Likewise, a bad person has in them some good. Which of these sides dominates, is determined by the sociological environment that people belong to. As a child is raised, the child learns everything from compassion to hatred. Furthermore, as an adult lives his life, his environment shapes and even controls his actions. In the end, every human has some knowledge of every type of interaction that they can make with others. A man with a wife and kids, a good career, and friends that comfort him, is most likely going to be good with his bad side suppressed. On the other hand, a man that lives alone and jobless with a few friends that simply befriend him for a round of drinks once in a while, is most likely to have an imbalance in his character and may release the bad side more frequently. Biologically speaking, each human being comes from 23 pairs of chromosomes. We know that the dominant trait from each of these pairs comes out on top and characterizes that person. Just as these traits, qualities, and characteristics dominate one another, a person’s different emotions dominate them. The only difference is that these emotions are not only chosen once in a lifetime like chromosomes; they vary many times a day. A lifer may beat on an inmate in the morning and be comforting him in the afternoon, feeling bad after finding out that his inmate has lost his son or daughter. The things that we experience shape our lives. Apparently, some of the lifers have taken enough time to take a step back and see their sociological strings. According to a saying, “we have come to this world yesterday to buy a sheet to cover ourselves today and in which we will lie tomorrow,” we live finite lives, which can be seen as a 3-day life. The inmates unknowingly have recognized that there is no point of emanating the bad side of oneself in this 3-day world, and seem to be bringing about the good again. Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:57:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/21/letter-from-an-inmate/#IDComment122920317 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cc%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122868528 SOC 001 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 23:19:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cc%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122868528