04-03-2008, 04:13 PM
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#65 (permalink)
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| *Premium Member* Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles Gender:  Posts: 11,785 Country:  Points: 39,412, Level: 100 | Level up: 0%, 0 Points needed | | Quote:
Originally Posted by OKgrannie Obviously, to everyone but you, paying taxes, which is required, doesn't mean the taxpayer endorses everything the majority votes to do. Some things are properly subject to majority vote, and other things are not. How to spend tax money is properly subject to majority vote, and what and how to worship or think is not.
Infact the shoe is on the other foot.
Whilst you have no way of avoiding paying taxes to support programs which you may oppose, such as the Iraq War, you still have the freedom to choose your religion, or lack thereof, in a country with a state run religion.
Tolerance as per your definition means to allow or endure something you dislike or disagree with, whereas respect means knowing it is not your responsibility to "allow" something, that person has an equal right to free belief. You are working very hard to parse words in an effort to support your semantical argument. If homosexual marriage became legal do you think that means people would respect homosexuals any more or less?
If abortion were made illegal would people respect that decision or merely tolerate it? "Surviving" is not the issue. Living with respect for one's personal beliefs is the issue. Living with equality regardless of one's beliefs is the issue. __________________ | And how is equality of religious belief compromised in western countries that have state religions?
Ironically I can't think of any other western country that believes its foundational principles are God given!!
Like many Americans I think you are a victim of "World Series Syndrome". knowuryder: and I should care what some dullard on a message board thinks about me because why exactly? |