Originally Posted by nuttyjoe

I'm glad to hear of your cousin and his wife. I would definitely agree to calling them a model family.
Please don't misunderstand me, H80. I wasn't trying to start a race blaming discussion with my post (We've already had enough of that on this forum!). The point I was making is that the drug problem has sread from ghetto upwards to gated communities. Drug users nowadays are wearing Botany 500 and Percy Ellis suits in the male sector, and sporting Donna Karan and Minola in the female sector.
I'm just of the opinion that we as parents must take on the resposibility of seeing to it that our children are raised with a good sense of values. We must not blame a celebrity figure for our child's mistakes in life- we must accept it a our failure as a parent ( or parents). Hopefully, we want these mistakes to be something that we can correct. If not, then society will with prison sentences and other forms of punishment. I don't believe there is anyone out there who can truthfully tell me that it is their wish to see their child in prison. I know I don't. That is why it is my job to instill upon my child the best set of values that I can, and not hope that somebody else will do so.

Originally Posted by jhb90277

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ha! I forgot to address the toy thing. Damn, but those cabbage patch dolls are butt ugly. I remember the Tickle Me Elmo frenzy and remember Beanie Babies? WTF?

In many ways, I am glad I have boys. I don't have as many as some posters here (yes, knot...I mean you!), but I would go nuts if I had girls. The overly sexualized marketing geared toward ever younger girls is disturbing. Bratz dolls come to mind. Bratz babies are just ridiculous. Some parents don't have a problem, but if I had girls, I would have a major problem with toys that suggest that young girls should be vamping it up and looking to party.

My sons love Legos, Hot Wheels, pirate stuff--pretty much anything you can build with and use your imagination with. Heck, they play a game with a paper and some crayons called "dot wars." I don't get it, but they can make a military campaign out of crayons and paper. It seems like the marketers and the toy makers have taken the imagination out of the toys. Kids are spoonfed whatever the toy corps want them to think.

Fow what it is worth, I don't have a problem with school uniforms. Some might say that it stifles individuality, but I don't see it that way. I figure that if kids aren't hung up on what clothes the other kids are wearing, maybe they'll look past the superficial and actually get to know their classmates and get down to learning. I realize that not all kids are hung up on appearances, but in schools where this is a problem, I think uniforms are a reasonable solution.

Originally Posted by highway80west

Point well taken, Joe.

I don't know why adults, as you mentioned, want to do drugs when they are successful. I guess they must be bored with anything else.

My cousins have taken on a tremendous responsibility, and they certainly are being rewarded with good kids.

Even though I live far away from my cousin, I predict a great future for his adopted children.

Originally Posted by highway80west

People of the Web - Playing Chicken

More news about cockfighting. Say what!?

Originally Posted by fxashun

I don't see the problem with it. Don't like it don't watch. It's still gonna go on since the fights are legal there. You know if he succeeds, dogfights are gonna be next online.

Originally Posted by highway80west

AYE YIE YIE YIE.

Whatever you wish.

Originally Posted by fxashun

Your point? They are animals. It's their culture. It's not like a snuff film or something. They are friggin chickens. A cock fight is just a couple of orders of hot wings before they hit the plate.

Originally Posted by nuttyjoe

You know, all of our point of views really don't mean a thing outside of legality and what we think is acceptable. To an Oriental, a dog can be considered in the same light. It's just that in America, we tend to treat our dogs almost as a human member of our family.Just ask anyone who served in Vietnam just how many dishes can be prepared from dog.
Even more interesting though, I think the NFL commisioner must have put a clamp down on the Michael Vick angle. I heard no mention at all of him during opening day of football,and none during Monday Night Football either. I'm happy that he is not going to let this story dominate the whole season.

Originally Posted by Nightrider

I agree. Furthermore, I don't think that Vick should ever be allowed to play football again. What he did was highly reprehensible (to say the least) and he also has embarrassed the Atlanta Falcons beyond repair. Frankly, if I was the judge, I would sentence him to 30 or more years in prison (he will probably only get about 6 months to a year - being that he is Michael Vick, if you know what I am saying).

Anyhow - good for Arthur Blank for condemning his actions!